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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
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An Islamic friend who also speaks fairly fluent Arabic told me some years ago that jihad is one of those mutable words which acquires its meaning as much from the context as from its base definition which is "a striving". Arabic is full of allusions, and you are expected to understand what is meant by some words from the context they are used in. Therefore "jihad" in the religious sense is a "holy struggle". What kind of a holy struggle depends on the context. The Taliban called the war with the western alliance a jihad but appeared to lose a lot of moderate support in doing so because it was clear to most educated Moslems that it was no such thing. It was just another tawdry political war. If the attack had been on say Mecca or Medina on the other hand, it would have been another thing entirely! From the Taliban's point of view, however, it was probably a fair enough call. They did seem to believe that they were the keepers of a "pure" form of Islam completely lacking elsewhere, and that the attacks against them were an attempt to stamp it out. They didn't seem to want to understand that most of the world just saw that as a beneficial second-order effect! 
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Joined: Jan 2001
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journeyman
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journeyman
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 96 |
Soccer - related .......Scottish Goalkeeper
the Duncster
the Duncster
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 679
addict
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addict
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 679 |
Soccer - related .......Scottish Goalkeeper
Cruel..... but necessary.
When a well-known Scottish goalkeeper was recently diagnosed with a mild form of schizophrenia, opposition fans got wind of this and they started to shout from the terraces: There're are only two Andy Gorams!
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Joined: Aug 2001
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
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It may be only the USn's who can appreciate that the city of Humble, Texas is oxymoronic.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2000
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>Soccer - related .......Scottish Goalkeeper
OK - howabout:
English Skier
(or at least English Olympic Medal Winning Skier)
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Joined: Feb 2002
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2002
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not original, so don't wail on me - but I've heard people argue that "American English" is an oxymoron ...
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Joined: Dec 2001
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addict
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addict
Joined: Dec 2001
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How about "hot water heater"?
And can anyone tell me why we drive on a parkway, but park on a driveway?
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 833
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2002
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Hi Bel -
haven't been on in awhile, sorry! but think Captain Kiwi put it better than I could have.....
My understanding, from the talks I attended, was that "jihad" just means "struggle" and must never be mistranslated as "holy war" - Muslims don't believe in any such thing. They do believe in war, but only under certain circumstances and only when conducted according to certain principles. The attacks on the World Trade Centre towers DID NOT fall into the realm of acceptable war actions, for example.
It's interesting that the Taliban think they are the "pure" Muslims and that all Muslims in the world should be like them....The Muslim who gave the talks I attended was adamant that the Taliban is WRONG - an extremist group. I think I'm remembering correctly if I say that he rejected the notion of fundamentalism in Islam (someone must've suggested it with regard to the Taliban). According to him, the Taliban is an example of a COUNTRY'S culture messing with the true message of Islam - something that happens a lot. Another example would be some Middle Eastern countries (his examples were Jordan, Egypt and Syria, I think? could be misremembering, should've taken notes!), in which the Muslims drink - something that is a no-no in the Qu'ran. And he said that what Muslims in Kingston (where I am) hoped for, was to lose the cultural implications from their home countries and focus on the true meaning of Islam. Another interesting note regarding the Taliban and the practice of Islam: this speaker told us that women are much respected in the Qu'ran and are definitely seen as independent human beings, with control over their own money/possessions/destiny. Education is seen as important for both sexes. I've heard that about Judaism, too. Wonder why Christianity doesn't stress the importance of education? Something I find sort of disappointing about my religious background.....
I've also heard of a Muslim, living in North America, saying he found it much easier to be a Muslim in a non-Muslim country....
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,146 |
Captain Kiwi Thanks for the promotion, boastless deity-of=-the-female-persuasion. I've been made up to "captain" before, but I keep getting busted back to buck private ...  You said that I've also heard of a Muslim, living in North America, saying he found it much easier to be a Muslim in a non-Muslim country....Don't think you'd find that the Muslims living in Britain would be saying that just at the moment. The Muslim taxi drivers in Peterborough, just up the road from where I live, were attacked and reviled shortly after September 11, to the point where they often stopped working. Things have settled down somewhat, but not all that much.
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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Joined: Feb 2002
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 833 |
Whoops - hazard of posting late at night when should be in bed....! Sorry to re-name you, Capital!
The Muslim I heard of, who said he found it easier to be a Muslim in a non-Muslim country, said that BEFORE Sept. 11, I believe. Don't imagine he would have said it of living in a Hindu country, either....and probably especially not about the Indian province of Gujarat.
WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?!
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