masterblaster72

So the desire for gun rights is based on ignorance? I believe the point is that the solution to mass shootings demands much reasoning and thoughtful, respectful debate as it is a very complex problem that won't be solved in such a climate of willful ignorance. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

First sign of anti-intellectualism: using the world liberal as a pejorative. Second: boiling the world down to us vs. them, black & white, willfully evading complexity and nuance. Third and fourth. Your hyperpatriotism showing. It sure doesn't when so many are willfully ignorant and proud of it. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Here's a psychologist's point of view on what's ailing American society these days. I think it's spot-on. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Claro. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Here's a depressing read: it's not just a California problem... Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

"Tongue in cheek" -- yah. It's the essence of what you believe -- that you want this world and everyone in it to burn and suffer except for you and your "saved" "brethren." It's a cowardly and despicable thing to believe, really. Expect to be called on that quote time and time again, so that it's clear to readers here exactly what you're about and where you're coming from. PS the only rapture that will happen is the earth opening up with a six-foot hole to take you and your "brethren" in when the time comes. Line up just like the rest of us sir -- you're not as special as you think. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Try this Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

I've not seen any news outlets do that; if they do such things I would immediately stop using them. Fox News might do this, but I don't watch that network as it has zero integrity. Reliable news outlets report facts. If certain newsworthy facts occur again and again, the news will report those facts. The news outlets I use don't make it a point to paint Muslims in a bad light. News outlets will report violent acts. They will report on Boko Haram and recent bombings of Shiite mosques in SA. They will also report on mass graves in Mexico or biker gang shootouts in Texas. What reliable news outlets won't do is refrain from reporting violent incidents for the sake of the facts being very inconvenient to followers of Islam. I'll direct you to the Global Slavery Index 2014. Refer to rankings of prevalence by country on page 10, and where UAE and Qatar rank in relation to the US. There are a number of other countries in addition to UAE and Qatar I would not visit for various reasons. Oddly enough, the Global Slavery Index shows 1100 persons in slavery in Switzerland. I don't get that, but I think it's because the Index seems to include such things as forced marriage, rather than simply the garden-variety, chained-to-the-oars stuff. Wonder where these numbers come from...? mh . Decades ago you could have attributed it to state sponsored forced labor; these days, I'm not so sure. My guess would be desperate migrants coming north from Italy and getting caught up in some bad business. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

I've not seen any news outlets do that; if they do such things I would immediately stop using them. Fox News might do this, but I don't watch that network as it has zero integrity. Reliable news outlets report facts. If certain newsworthy facts occur again and again, the news will report those facts. The news outlets I use don't make it a point to paint Muslims in a bad light. News outlets will report violent acts. They will report on Boko Haram and recent bombings of Shiite mosques in SA. They will also report on mass graves in Mexico or biker gang shootouts in Texas. What reliable news outlets won't do is refrain from reporting violent incidents for the sake of the facts being very inconvenient to followers of Islam. I'll direct you to the Global Slavery Index 2014. Refer to rankings of prevalence by country on page 10, and where UAE and Qatar rank in relation to the US. There are a number of other countries in addition to UAE and Qatar I would not visit for various reasons. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

I will read Noam Chomsky's Manufacturing Consent -- numerous friends recommended this book over the years and I've long had the intention of reading it. I realize that media can be full of shit and misused -- Fox "News" in the US being an excellent example. I get a balanced diet of viewpoints from Reuters, BBC, refrl.org, Al-Jazeera, Memri, and used to read RT until I realized it's just the Russian version of Fox. I'll ask again -- what was distorted or dishonest about the reporting over the 2006 cartoon riots, or the brutal and savage murder of Farkhunda? What subtleties am I missing, and is it a lie or distortion that both destructive acts were motivated by religious fervor? Regarding slavery -- that this still happens in the US is absolutely wrong and should be rectified. At the same time, the US allows criticism without fear of jail: note the ACLU is an American organization. You can't say the same about UAE or Qatar. Entire [url "http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/05/201352375248751541.html"]cities are being built by slaves">https://www.aclu.org/blog/us-admits-modern-day-slavery-exists-home[/URL] add to this slave shop fueled business of corporations and you'll see that every country uses the same tactics and models. And just like everywhere else above mentioned cases are exceptions. Majority of immigrants in UAE are paid well, and work in proper conditions. But to see that u need to get a ticket and visit. ;) I will read Noam Chomsky's Manufacturing Consent -- numerous friends recommended this book over the years and I've long had the intention of reading it. I realize that media can be full of shit and misused -- Fox "News" in the US being an excellent example. I get a balanced diet of viewpoints from Reuters, BBC, refrl.org, Al-Jazeera, Memri, and used to read RT until I realized it's just the Russian version of Fox. I'll ask again -- what was distorted or dishonest about the reporting over the 2006 cartoon riots, or the brutal and savage murder of Farkhunda? What subtleties am I missing, and is it a lie or distortion that both destructive acts were motivated by religious fervor? Regarding slavery -- that this still happens in the US is absolutely wrong and should be rectified. At the same time, the US allows criticism without fear of jail: note the ACLU is an American organization. You can't say the same about UAE or Qatar. Entire [url "http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/05/201352375248751541.html"]cities are being built by slaves in Dubai, with no possibility for recourse or justice. I could go on about Qatar and the 2022 World Cup, but I would rather stay on topic. I'm open to recommendations. Go to UAE or Qatar? No thanks. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

This theme of media comes up in many of your posts. What exactly are the media distorting or lying about? For example, do you think the cartoon riots of 2006 or the mob killing of the Afghan teenager last month are fabricated, distorted or taken out of context somehow? Might be hard to convince some of us -- see this and this thread. Personally, I wouldn't put my money into regimes that support slavery. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

I can give this a try: history of imposed secular governments by foreign powers (think the Shah, Hussein, Assad, the kings in Afghanistan preceding their Marxist revolution in the 70s). To these countries, going full Islamic is a one way of being authentic to who they are while rebelling against that secular history imposed by foreigners. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

In patriarchal sexist societies? Former colonies that still can't recover and get their business together? Low % of education? Islam gave women right to own a business, get divorce, get education and work (or not work even if her husband wants her to work). I can't speak for Tunisians, the only thing that j can tell u is Islam's position on women's rights. Going back to the event that spawned this thread. A woman was brutally killed by a bloodthirsty mob in Afghanistan when falsely accused of burning the Quran. The bloodthirsty mob happened to comprise Muslims entirely. Yet by your reasoning, what these Muslims did has nothing to do with Islam. I find it difficult and I think it's denial to separate a religion from the actions of its adherents. Same goes for the global cartoon riots of 2006. I mean, what in the world was that all about. Another cultural problem? Perhaps the type of Islam practiced in Afghanistan and some other countries? It's a shame this type of thing is happening in this day and age. Regarding the bikinis: at least the women wearing them choose to wear them and have the freedom to do so -- knowing full well how objectifying we men can often be. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

What we're talking about is the threat to a woman's safety for voicing her desire to don a miniskirt -- not the "lies of the media" or objectification of women, which I agree occurs in diverse forms in many cultures. With the exception of parts of India, a woman generally doesn't have to fear for her safety there, nor does she in the US Brazil or Russia for voicing how she wishes to dress in public. So assuming the media are correct in the instance of the Tunisian women wearing miniskirts as I can't travel there to hear first hand accounts from the interviewed women -- what kind of cultural problem is this if a threat to a woman's safety for wanting to wear a miniskirt has nothing to do with religion? Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Culture. Islam clearly states that "The is no compulsion in religion". No matter what media or backwards cultures or islamophobes say What type of cultural problem is this then? Is it a problem of Tunisian culture? Pan-Arab culture? This same type of threat to a woman's well-being occurs in similar circumstances in Iran and Somalia as well -- neither of which have Arab populations. How can such cultural issues be remedied in places like Tunisia so that women can be vocal about their choice to wear miniskirts without fear of harassment or attack? Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

On BBC News this morning: The Battle Between the Veil and the Miniskirt Is the fear for one's safety when speaking up related to religion or is it related to culture? Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Then make FGM part of the culture for that extra edge. mh . With the exception of Iraq and Yemen -- where FGM is practiced rarely -- FGM is an African phenomenon rather than a Muslim one. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Jon Stewart's bit hints at an ulterior motive: USA was in the bidding against Qatar for 2022. Far more compelling for an indictment than a series of shady transactions facilitated by US banks. Imagine all of the $ the US government might miss out on in 2022 (still 7 years away...not too late ) Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

"Hell" is a fiery fence of fear that keeps you believing in a religion. Beyond that fence is freedom. As a youngster it took me a while to go beyond that fence, and once I did I never went back. Fortunately, no burns to show for it. I really do find the concept of hell utterly detestable and wicked and will always call bullshit whenever I read about it. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

I've seen plenty of good in Islam, as described in my experiences at the Sufi mosque. I have fond memories of the people there, and if you're ever in Philadelphia, I recommend visiting. Regarding the recurrent theme of hellfire in Surah 4, I've stated this before about Christianity as well: I find the idea of hell to be utterly abhorrent and hateful. Imagine someone roasting in fire forever. How can this possibly reflect a god that has any bit of love? Even the most sadistic of people wouldn't leave someone burning for an eternity, and I readily question any religion that teaches such a concept. Frankly, I found the Surah 4 read disturbing. For example, 4:34 appears to condone wife-beating, and I can point out a few others that really left me scratching my head. Though you advise I should study Islam, that short read didn't exactly inspire me to go further. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Thank you for the link. I read from the beginning of the chapter to 4:56. I dunno, perhaps it's because I don't know Arabic or Islam well enough...because even with the background of the chapter to give context I found the commentary to shed little light on what (to me) stand out as rather sadistic words. Anyhow I believe this all comes down to how a person chooses to interpret, due to their inclinations, their environment, experiences and their nature -- just like anything else. Some take it word for word, literally (ISIS), others interpret in a good way because they are simply good people (sheikh Bawa). Judging from the fact that you are having a dialogue with non-believers, I get the idea you lean more in the direction of sheikh Bawa.

This was my first exposure to Islam as a teenager, since I went to school with many whose parents belonged to the Fellowship. After attending one of his recorded lectures, I left with a very favorable impression of Islam and for a long time I had the idea that sheikh Bawa's words of love and compassion represented Islam. During this time, I read the entire Quran, which for me offered no new words of wisdom that the bible (which I also had already read by that time) did not offer. Instead I returned numerous times to the fellowship through my high school and college years to hear Bawa's interpretation of the Quran. Though I never adhered to the faith, I was always free to return to the fellowship and was always welcomed. Over the course of my years living in New York, I met quite a lot of Muslims. None of them was a Sufi -- and when I shared my experience of attending the mosque in Philadelphia, I often got the swift reaction that Sufism is not real Islam. It didn't take long to realize that Sufis are only a small minority among Muslims today. I could make this a much longer post, but I won't. Instead, google Sufis and persecution. Consider also what is the penalty for apostasy in wahhabi or salafi Islam. For me, this was a real eye-opener. IMO ultimately, words do not represent a religion or anything that's part of the current human condition for that matter. In the end, the actions of people define everything. Just like I believe on an individual level that a person's actions define who they are rather than their words. However, taking words into account, I am genuinely curious to know what the spiritual interpretation of Surah 4:56 is. I went to the Bayyinah website you recommended and found no text version of the book. Is the English interpretation of this verse on quran.com completely misconstrued? Salaam. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

There's a debate about this subject on YouTube -- definitely worth watching. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

This seems like a phenomenon that won't go away anytime soon. On one hand, who of us wouldn't do the same if we were completely desperate, had no other option, and simply wanted a livable life. On the other hand, the destination countries can only bear so much of this burden. How do you see solving this problem, if at all? Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Likewise -- thank you too. Keep a thick skin here, especially with the unique perspective you bring to these forums. Hope to see you stick around here for a while. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.