Originally posted by OLOL: Now, history is back where it was a decade and half ago. Signor OLOL, there seems to be a pattern in this cycle that repeated itself after a decade and half ago. I hope this will be the last cyclone.

Originally posted by Bambina: I bought her book " The trouble with Islam and oh boy!it took me patience and perseverance not to even rip each page before I finished the entire book. Nowadays, when you want to buy a product, you read its reviews. Reviews will tell you if it's a prospective product you want to buy. Not only that, reviews will tell you if it's the kind of product that could appeal to you. You don't just buy it outright. You can read a book's reviews at many sites, like Amazon.com. This is an excerpt from the reviews of the site mentioned: I recently read a book named, "The Trouble with Islam" by Irshad Manji. It was quite a piece of work. She is basically a self-professed lesbian Muslim "Refusenik". (Whatever that is supposed to mean.) Her premise was that she was questioning the validity of Islam because some Muslims have done bad things, chiefly her parents, but also ordinary Muslims in third world countries. I'm not kidding. This is the entire crux of her argument: some Muslims are bad so Islam must be bad. Try that standard with Christianity and ordinary Christians! It would fare far worse. In chapter after chapter she berated one ignorant cultural custom after another, cited terrorist activities here and there and traced a meandering path through the ideology of the Wahhabis and came away saying that she was "on the brink" of stepping out of Islam and that Islam was darn lucky she was giving it one thread of a last chance. Conversely, she had nothing but praise for the Western world. Nothing bad ever happened or happens. Western religions are noble and kind. Everyone is a free thinker and savvy human rights pacifist. Women are well respected and they have complete freedom and equality and the civil liberties and rights of all are sacred. So, in her conclusion, Islam had better shape up or she would leave it. There is a word for arguments such as hers and anyone who has ever taken a course in logic and rhetoric will know it: fallacy. A fallacy is an argument that is not only not proved but ill-conceived at its core. It is contradictory, disingenuous and easily disproved with logic that will uncover where the mistakes in reasoning occurred. Sadly, however, Ms. Manji is not the first to use this odd type of mis-logic. If we turned her logic on its head we could make the case for every Christian to leave Christianity and convert to Islam. She, and others like her, point to ignorant customs in the Muslim world as a sign of Islam's invalidity, well then, let's look at the opposite side of the mirror. Let us judge the West in as likewise a shallow fashion. Hmmm. Let's see. Where do we begin? I know, let's start with ignorant superstitious customs. In the modern Western world, a huge percentage of the population believes in astrology. They look for their horoscopes in the newspapers and even call "psychics" to get their future predicted. Each year millions of rabbits lose their feet so Americans can carry "lucky charms" in their pockets. In all American urban centers one can find storefront Tarot card readers, crystal ball gazers and even places to go to get a spell put on someone. Oh my gosh! Westerners are backward, superstitious fools! (Don't even get me started on the billion dollar drug trade or gambling.) In 2004 the Catholic Church put out the figure that 3,900 priests (these are "representatives" of the religion) have been convicted of being child molesters. Imagine how many have not been caught in the last thousand years! United States government crime statistics report that a very large number of children are molested by non-priests every year as well. Incest is also widespread. Oh my gosh! Does Christian culture teach, or condone or tacitly support child molestation? Every few minutes a woman is raped in the United States by fellow Christian and Jewish citizens. It is so pervasive that it has been called an epidemic. Are Christian values really that depraved? And let's not forget the thousands of annual beatings, murders and abuses of women and girls by spouses and boyfriends. It is an everyday fact of life. Does Christian culture encourage spousal abuse? The Bible does say that women must submit to their husbands. The Bible also says to kill all the men, women, children and even babies of your captured enemies, (but to save the virgin girls as slaves). It's all there in the Bible, have you looked lately? Then we turn to the real shocker: slavery. Christianity (and Judaism) explicitly encourage slavery in their holy books. It was just 150 years ago that slavery was perfectly legal here. But that was the past. What about today? There is still a lively slave trade in America with over 20,000 men, women and children sold yearly as slaves in the United States, according to the United States government. They are mostly involved in the sex trade...what! What kind of trade? Oh, pornography, prostitution, nude art, public sex, nude beaches, vulgar rap music promoting images of violence towards women...Oh the West is quite a depraved place! How else do you explain the conduct of "professional" American soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq? And hey, weren't they all Christians, the Germans who killed 6 million Jews just sixty years ago? How about the French killing 1 million Algerian civilians or the Italians killing the Libyans or the British massacring people in India or the Crusaders who killed everyone in Jerusalem in Jesus' name? (I could list many more examples of Christian atrocities and even many where the Bible was used and clergy encouraged violence. Hey, the Catholic priests in Rwanda actually directed massacres!) Now, if I were to follow Irshad Manji's kind of reasoning, I would have to say Christian culture is backward, women are oppressed, the Bible is flawed and filled with human rights problems and that Christianity better feel pretty darned lucky that we haven't given up on it yet. We could examine the extremist views of the Christian Right as an example of how the religion was "hijacked" and we could cite the enlightened attitude of Islam on all the above listed issues. Now I know the world is not so simplistic as to say I don't want to stay on the team because a few players are lousy, but a lot of people are just not that aware that they are making that kind of fallacious leap.

Originally posted by OLOL: The media pundits with their hidden agenda have coined it to program people's mind.... Signor OLOL, what has been programmed on those people's mind will not decide the outcome of the struggle between Islam and the West. It's true those people's mind are consumer-based, but they are mere idle bystanders in this struggle.

Originally posted by Bambina: Why would Nedjma's bestseller book come as a surprise? It's not bestseller. If you look at this Amazon page (under Product Details), it will tell you Nedjma's Amazon.com Sales Rank is: #1,540 (as of now). That's not a satisfactory rank to qualify for bestseller.

Originally posted by Bishaaro: Perhaps I'm not so smart to seek their guidance There're two kinds of smartness; you're smart in the first kind. The second kind of smartness is more important than the first. It can sometimes lead to survival. Many people are too proud to use it, just because they have to try or do things by themselves. Reviewing the past mistakes of those before us is critical and important. It could take you a lifetime to realize you were wrong, whereas if you had heeded an advice, you will come to realize it was very useful and has saved you headaches and agonies.

Originally posted by professer: i second that motion Court adjourned.

I like SCI-FI, but not those 3 you've metioned. I don't know if it's only me, but the McGuyver guy talks slow & intermittently, and acts weird. The series seemed ok when it debuted, but become monotone and predictable afterward, especially with its happy-endings. It lacks realistic plots. I used to watch the old BATTLESTAR GALACTICA in Egypt; way original and better than the current one. There's not much innovation nowadays; what we are left with is the good old reruns.

This part of the article: All contemporary ‘Islamic states’, from Iran, Saudi Arabia, the Sudan to aspiring Pakistan clashes with this part: Not surprisingly, authoritarianism, theocracy and despotism reigns supreme in the Muslim world. How much size do Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan & Pakistan constitute in the Muslim world? Pakistan could hardly be called of the contemporary ‘Islamic states’. So is Sudan. Much of the Muslim world's leaders & governments are based on secularism. What has led authoritarianism and despotism to reign in the Muslim world is secularism. Theocracy doesn't reign supreme in the Muslim world; a simple fact like that isn't hard to miss. What the author, using a long route, aided by shiny & made-to-impress terms, is trying to say is: Islam has to be reformed the way other religions (namely Christianity) have been reformed, in order to be considered a civilized religion, and in order for Muslims to catch up with the civilized world. But, what he neglected to note is, much of the leaders/governments of the Muslim world didn't or do not use Islam in a significant way- yet, it didn't lead them to catch up with the civilized world.

Originally posted by Ofleh: I'm not sure your analogy is appropriate here. One person here could find it appropriate. How about you?

I have read somewhere Harry Potter dies in this book.

Originally posted by Bachelor: Which one would you choose? I would choose: 1. An old lady who is about to die. The reason: 2. My old friend isn't in life threatening situation. He might even encourage me to save the old lady. 3. A perfect woman exists only in our mothers, jannah, and imagination.

Originally posted by Haniif: For those of interested in such books, there is nothing literary or artistic about them. Yep.

Originally posted by Bishaaro: NOW, How in the world are we suppoused to find one? Through arrangement. Let someone who has been there done that guide you. You want to learn how to drive a car? Ok; would you rather someone who knows how-to teach you, or try to learn it by yourself (personal how-to)? If the latter, you might learn after many hurdles, including physical injuries, and with luck escape a fatal collision. After succeeding, would you recommend your personal how-to to your relatives & friends? No. A student learns from a teacher. There are many in your family who can wisely guide you. If someone is smart, that someone would seek such a guide.

Pornography, June 29, 2005 I purchased this little gem after reading a favorable review in the International Herald Tribune. I read about half of the book before tossing this porn into the garbage where it belongs. Unsure What to Make of It!, June 26, 2005 Read this because I was curious about the obvious contradiction between reportedly puritanical Muslim life and the book's content. The supposedly true story begins with a young girl (Badr) in a marriage arranged by her mother to a man who had rejected two prior wives because "they were barren." Badr becomes the third, realizes he life is going nowhere, and takes a long, somewhat dangerous trip to stay with her aunt in Tangiers. After reflecting on her earlier curiousity about sex, she meets and falls in love with a doctor who rouses and satisfies her inner desires. Badr is not the only Muslim with carnal thoughts - numerous references are made to other women making baudy jokes about men. Still, given all the reporting about Muslim limitations on women, I am highly doubtful about how representative of Muslim life the book really is. Would have preferred a less personal, more objective (eg. survey) source. Source

Originally posted by 7 of Nine: I'm borg. You mean an ex-Borg?

Originally posted by Seven: How does one decide to sacrifice themselves? Inside the Mind of an Iraqi Suicide Bomber

Originally posted by rudy: i did this post as an fyi about natural fruits that help with fighting cancer!! Sir rudy, sorry to have kidnapped your topic. The above one is going to be my last comment about xalimo drama scene. Rest assured my next comments in your future topics will solely relate to the topic. Yes sir!

Originally posted by Rahima: So basically because you see yourself as a person of average intellect you would prefer a woman who is of the same intellectual capacity, not greater right? Not necessarily. The operative word I used is too. Let's assign that word a percentage and make it a generous +-20%. ...but then what do you make of Hayams point about some men? Well, she made a valid point, for there are such men. Equally, there are such women.

Originally posted by Mizz-S.Lander: enjoy being 31 31 isn't old. People get old after 55.

Originally posted by Sky: PS. Haddad, Soo bari means nighty night as in I'm gonna sleep now marka soo bari. You could be correct, however, Xamari people also use it for daytime as "Good bye." The meaning of certain phrases vary from one to another region. For example, what Southerners term suugo is maraq to Northerners.

Originally posted by ADNAAN: Hello in somali equals to point fingers and shout from distance by saying "waryaa" or s/thing similar. What's the word you say when you answer a phone? Originally posted by A-Ladiif: one word please, not awhole sentence Yeah, it's too long.

Originally posted by Sky: Micro-Chip Factory That could hardly be called a Factory, and it's not Micro-Chip; it's an assembly hut.

Hello..........We ain't talking about the telephone hello here.......... but more like hello as in hello children. Haloow..........Haloowga meeshaan aan ka hadleeno ma aha kan teleefoonka..........ee waxaa waaye haloowga kan "Haloow caruuroow." How are you? See tahay? I am fine. Fiican badan. Have a nice day. Maalin fiican baan kuu rejeenaa. Good bye. Soo bari. Please. Bilixsaan. Thank you. Mahadsanid. Short positive description: Somalia is the size of Texas, with two fertile rivers, 1880 miles of beautiful coastline and strong livestock resources.

Sir Nur, this was a balanced and well read analysis. Originally posted by Nur: Historically, in the seventies and beyond any armed group that caused a terror act was know as guerillas, they targted governmet installations and even civilians to get their point accross, so, if you go back and read old magazines, you will not find the popular buzz word "terroirsts" anywhere, all you will find is guerillas, rebels and the like. The popular buzz word has evolved a number of times during the past few decades. Many, including Westerners, are no longer buying that word. If you check Google News, the word insurgents is overtaking the other outdated word. When the Iraq invasion started, all kinds of fanciful words (including the outdated one) were bestowed on Iraqis fighting the invaders, but much has changed since then. I believe, the reality, the fact an unmatched opponent has humbled the sole superpower, has changed much. I wouldn't be surprised if those remaining outdated words are decommissioned at some time in the future. When that happens, some of our misguided brothers/sisters will follow suit, by ceasing to use those words.

Originally posted by Rahima: For a man of your intellect and obvious love of the diin... I consider myself of average intellect, similar to some here, others being actually better than me. Of course, I treasure my diin. Why would you opt for a woman of average “smartness†as opposed to a woman who is intellectually well endowed? Because I believe average “smartness†is best for me. I don't mean average “smartness†by someone who isn't intellectually well endowed (example) in Islamic knowledge- that kind of someone is the kind of intellectually well endowed person I admire.