Hey Sixy... check this out:
http://www.city-journal.org/html/14_2_when_islam.html
From the Manhattan Institute
(excerpt follows)
...But his model left Islam with two intractable problems. One was political. Muhammad unfortunately bequeathed no institutional arrangements by which his successors in the role of omnicompetent ruler could be chosen (and, of course, a schism occurred immediately after the Prophet?s death, with some?today?s Sunnites?following his father-in-law, and some?today?s Shi?ites?his son-in-law). Compounding this difficulty, the legitimacy of temporal power could always be challenged by those who, citing Muhammad?s spiritual role, claimed greater religious purity or authority; the fanatic in Islam is always at a moral advantage vis-à-vis the moderate. Moreover, Islam?in which the mosque is a meetinghouse, not an institutional church?has no established, anointed ecclesiastical hierarchy to decide such claims authoritatively. With political power constantly liable to challenge from the pious, or the allegedly pious, tyranny becomes the only guarantor of stability, and assassination the only means of reform. Hence the Saudi time bomb: sooner or later, religious revolt will depose a dynasty founded upon its supposed piety but long since corrupted by the ways of the world.
The second problem is intellectual. In the West, the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Enlightenment, acting upon the space that had always existed, at least potentially, in Christianity between church and state, liberated individual men to think for themselves, and thus set in motion an unprecedented and still unstoppable material advancement. Islam, with no separate, secular sphere where inquiry could flourish free from the claims of religion, if only for technical purposes, was hopelessly left behind: as, several centuries later, it still is.
The indivisibility of any aspect of life from any other in Islam is a source of strength, but also of fragility and weakness, for individuals as well as for polities. Where all conduct, all custom, has a religious sanction and justification, any change is a threat to the whole system of belief. Certainty that their way of life is the right one thus coexists with fear that the whole edifice?intellectual and political?will come tumbling down if it is tampered with in any way. Intransigence is a defense against doubt and makes living on terms of true equality with others who do not share the creed impossible.
Not coincidentally, the punishment for apostasy in Islam is death: apostates are regarded as far worse than infidels, and punished far more rigorously. In every Islamic society, and indeed among Britain?s Muslim immigrants, there are people who take this idea quite literally, as their rage against Salman Rushdie testified.
The Islamic doctrine of apostasy is hardly favorable to free inquiry or frank discussion, to say the least, and surely it explains why no Muslim, or former Muslim, in an Islamic society would dare to suggest that the Qu?ran was not divinely dictated through the mouth of the Prophet but rather was a compilation of a charismatic man?s words made many years after his death, and incorporating, with no very great originality, Judaic, Christian, and Zoroastrian elements. In my experience, devout Muslims expect and demand a freedom to criticize, often with perspicacity, the doctrines and customs of others, while demanding an exaggerated degree of respect and freedom from criticism for their own doctrines and customs. I recall, for example, staying with a Pakistani Muslim in East Africa, a very decent and devout man, who nevertheless spent several evenings with me deriding the absurdities of Christianity: the paradoxes of the Trinity, the impossibility of Resurrection, and so forth. Though no Christian myself, had I replied in kind, alluding to the (Truncated by lauralisa)
lauralisa
JoinedPosts by lauralisa
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14
Just another ho-hum beheading or two. Move along, nothing to see here.
by SixofNine insomehow this didn't make a very big an impact with people around here.
odd that.
human nature isn't pretty to watch sometimes, and i'm not refering to radical muslim human nature.
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lauralisa
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The Star is one year closer to ideal
by lauralisa inhappy birthday, star, you amazing person, you.
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insert image of fireworks now
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lauralisa
Hi Bug,
LOL.... I've always had this irrational belief that "33" is the ideal age. Perhaps it was learning about Jesus' age in Sunday school or the weird fact that Rolling Rock beer had that cryptic little "33" on the bottle..?
Hope YOU are having a great day too, Bug! Got any fireworks in your portfolio for Star? *smile* -
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The Star is one year closer to ideal
by lauralisa inhappy birthday, star, you amazing person, you.
.
insert image of fireworks now
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lauralisa
Happy birthday, Star, you amazing person, you.
insert image of fireworks now -
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I need a hug (vent)
by Billygoat inwhy is it i always end up working for companies that don't give a crap about their employees well-being?
i've been here since march as a temp; got a full-time offer in december and almost immediately the workload has increased and there is no new hires are on the horizon.
the political games in some of these departments is mind-blowing.
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lauralisa
{{{Andi}}}
Having a great boss is worth $25K right off the top. It is very difficult to find such a thing, of course. I'm so sorry that you feel the pain you do, but it makes you scream out in protest, and this helps all of us, kinda, in a weird way, so thank you for being conscious.
Ack, like this is any comfort, but I think you know what I mean.
No matter what, take a picture.
love, lauralisa -
25
Almost a year later, and I am still angry...
by DanTheMan insome of you may remember that last march i was nearly fired from my job.
what happened was that i was having a casual, seemingly friendly conversation with a girl who i had once dated, but the conversation seemed to take a wrong turn when i told her that i was sorry things hadn't worked out between us.
her negative reaction (conveyed via body language) told me to change the subject, which i immediately did.
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lauralisa
Hey, Dan !
I remember this event very well also. What that twerpy female cost your business during that ordeal -
your "paid vacation" *ha*
time taken for "interviews" during working hours
lost productivity while everyone "wondered" wtf was going on?????
etc.
It adds up, and I'm sure it was not insignificant in terms of money.
What it cost YOU....... what I'm reading just enrages me. I'm so saddened to hear that you're suffering so. When you get it all figured out, (I'm being facetious here) please let me know, because virtually everyone I've known, including myself, who's been "betrayed" in this manner can not forget easily and carries the damage for a long time.... depression, suspicion, lost esteem and dignity, et al.
The only thing that happens to lift my spirits (I MOVED to this stuck in the 50's mentality little town for a job that turned sour in no time at all - my ex-employers are dysfunctional alcoholics - but they are RICH.. you know the rest) is to FIND people who know the truth of the matter and hold me in high esteem. Of course, that is difficult when you simply can not go blabbing sordid crap all over the place to anyone who will listen. *sigh*
And my mantra has been for years: "Living well is the best revenge" - Estee and others touched on that; time reveals the truth of the matter but sometimes it takes so freakin LONG it's sickening, huh?
Hope you get a break here, and soon..... is there any recourse at ALL that you could take at work to "clear" your name at least in your OWN mind?
Lots of warm hugs, lauralisa -
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Can you point me in the right direction? (again!) :-)
by Billygoat ini just recently received an email from a friend of mine (see below), where she has asked for some advice.
i have no idea what to tell her or even where to direct her.
i've found this site to be a huge help in getting pointed in the right direction.
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lauralisa
Hey there Andi,
This is a great place:
http://neuro-mancer.mgh.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi
(sorry it's not clickable....*sigh*)
Virtually any neurological subject has a category and discussion group community on this site. There are sections for legal advice, SSDI information, support for families in this type of crisis... you name it
Mayo hospital also has an incredible online information center.... (it's like Mayo.com?)
There is also a National Head Injury Foundation based in Massachusetts... if ya google it it will come up.
My heart goes out to your friends and hope they find some relief soon...
lauralisa -
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Turning 41 and Moving ON- smile
by JT ineveryone can't be in the front row!.
well hell i thought i could read- .
or they were just the outcast of their congo- so when they come to the net they are mad as hell .
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lauralisa
JT.
You never fail to amaze me utterly with your posts; you are one of the reasons I continue to check in here from time to time. I can NOT believe you are such a young person *smile* Where did you get all that wisdom....... happy birthday, you major dude, you...
lots of love, lauralisa -
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Thinking about moving to Cincinnati...
by DanTheMan inmy employers' intranet website recently posted for a position located in cincinnati (which is about a 2 hour drive from columbus, where i live).. the requirements/skills listed on the posting seemed right up my alley, so i submitted my app online.
today i get an email from the hr lady asking me when i can interview.. i'm so nervous about this!
i've never lived far from home, and i'm very close with my family, to be honest they're all i've got, i don't have friends or a social circle to speak of.
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lauralisa
Hi Dan,
I'm sorry, you can NOT move, no matter how great the prospects are for greater life, job, etc. are. I had NO IDEA you lived in Columbus. I visit there often and would love to meet you some time.
On the other hand, I would love to see this work out for {{{you}}}!!!
LOL and here's my best wishes. lauralisa -
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Our new baby girl !!
by Gopher inveronica was born to proud parents (yourschelbie and me) at 8:30 a.m. this past saturday morning, january 3rd.
she weighed in at almost 7 pounds (3.15 kg) , and is 18 inches (46 cm) long.
we're all doing fine.
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lauralisa
{{{Gopher & YoursChelbie}}}}
So excited for you...... thanks for the huge smile on my face.
Where's some pics???? (of Veronica *smile*)
love, lauralisa -
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Dean's Scriptural Expertise Revealed
by Pork Chop inlately dean has been trying to portray himself as a religious individual.
the following is interesting:.
asked his favorite new testament book, dr. dean named job, adding: "but i don't like the way it ends.
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lauralisa
Here's another Dean article that might be interesting to you guys. Unfortunately I can not make the url clickable or I'd post it...
By Marjorie Williams
Wednesday, December 31, 2003; Page A19
At long last, the revelation I've been waiting for: the reason why -- beyond the prospect of epic, McGovernesque defeat -- I feel so uneasy about Howard Dean.
The man is a doctor. This is the least-examined chapter of his career. But suddenly it all makes sense: Where else but in medicine do you find men and women who never admit a mistake? Who talk more than they listen, and feel entitled to withhold crucial information? Whose lack of tact in matters of life and death might disqualify them for any other field?
As it happens, I've spent almost two decades observing politicians, whom on balance I quite like, and more recent years observing doctors, who . . . . Well, let's just say that mine is a grudge tenderly nurtured over two and a half years of illness, encompassing roughly 32 doctors in six hospitals, plus scores of the medical students, fellows, interns and residents in whom we can see the doctor in larval form.
A doctor who has told you one thing at Appointment A might propose an entirely different course of action at Meeting B. Fair enough -- except for the pretense that nothing has changed. It is the very rare doctor who will say, "I've changed my mind," or, "Sorry, I was wrong when I said X at our last meeting." Usually, what he said last time has simply become . . . inoperative.
Now let's turn the clock back to September, and watch Dean answer George Stephanopoulos on "This Week" about his 180-degree turn, over the years, on the North American Free Trade Agreement:
GS: "On NAFTA, you used to be a very strong supporter of NAFTA."
HD: "George, you're doing it again. I supported NAFTA and wrote a letter to President Clinton in 1992 supporting NAFTA. That's different than 'you used to be a very strong supporter of NAFTA.' "
GS: "You were a strong supporter of NAFTA."
HD: "I supported NAFTA. Where do you get this 'I'm a strong supporter of NAFTA'? I didn't do anything about it. I didn't vote on it. I didn't march down the street demanding NAFTA. I simply wrote a letter supporting NAFTA."
Dean was not in the least abashed that he had described himself on the same show, eight years earlier, as "a very strong supporter of NAFTA."
Now, we patients rarely dare to have such pugnacious dialogue with our doctors. George Stephanopoulos doesn't have to wear one of those demoralizing gowns with all the confusing snaps, and if you're sick you have more important things to do during your tiny portions of face time than bicker with your doctor.
(A disclaimer: Naturally, all the doctors who are presently treating and advising me are paragons of sagacity and compassion, nothing at all like the men and women I am so broadly lampooning. You know who you are.) The odd thing is that most of Dean's unacknowledged shifts in position are of the kind any other half-good politician, with some vaporous wording, could explain away in his sleep. But even when Dean makes what is clearly a blunder, it takes him days to make the apology that a rival campaign would instinctively produce before the next news cycle.
Which brings me to the irrationally strong impulse, shared by doctors and politicians, to hoard information. Consider the high-handed way Dean has tried to shield great portions of his gubernatorial records. Similarly, doctors seem bent on ensuring that you not read the runic scribblings they have made in your chart. During one hospital stay, as I sat in a wheelchair outside Radiology waiting to be pushed back to my room, I began idly flipping through my chart. A young female doctor-in-training I had never seen before stopped in front of me and said, "You know, you really shouldn't be reading your chart." I thanked her for her advice and continued reading. She repeated her admonition. I explained that I was 43 and couldn't possibly read anything worse there than I had already been told by five real doctors. Upon which she actually wrested it from my grasp. (From this I learned always to go to a stall in the ladies' room when I want to read my chart.)
Finally, let's turn to what newspapers delicately title "the temperament question." Dean's been called arrogant, angry, condescending, prickly. He has gotten this far by playing his chesty irritability as a sign of honesty and integrity.
But I have enough brusque, irritable doctors in my life without sending one to the White House. My most memorable brushes have been with an eminent surgeon whose method is to stride into the examining room two hours late, pat your hand, pronounce your certain death if he can't perform an operation on you, and then snap at your husband to stop taking notes, he can't possibly follow the complexity of the doctor's thinking. Dr. X swats away questions like flies. He spends five precious minutes swearing at the wall-mounted phone, which decades of surgical experience have not equipped him to operate, and then finally pronounces that he can't perform the surgery. "Unless you want me to. But there's a 50-50 chance I would kill you."
Why is it, I ask my husband on the way home, that I'm the one who's sick, but they're the ones who are allowed to have the big, operatic personalities?
I have the same concern about Dean. Why should Democrats choose to stand around all spring and summer holding their breath against the moment when Dean says something arrogant or impolitic? (Think Southern guys with Confederate flag decals on their pickup trucks.) We're the ones who are supposed to be allowed to go on with our temperamental little lives, while our major-party nominees are the poor chumps who have agreed to adhere to the rigid, Ken-doll theater of politics.
And so I bring to my assessment of this year's Democratic candidates one requirement that never crossed my mind before. First, do no harm.