I am not looking into holy books to find prejudices. I see many conflicts in the name of religion today and in the past, both Christian and Muslim. The difference is that I do not pretend that it is a prejudice that some Christians believe they have "God on their side" when they fight people of other faiths. It happened in the crusades a thousand years ago and I guess some Christians still believe the same today. And I also do believe that some Muslims think the same from their perspective.
We had plenty of those discussions here before and for some reaons I do not understand all Muslims on this forum continuously argued that everything positive is connected to religion and everything negaitve cannot come from the religion but must be some individuals weakness. Are you seriously trying to say that there are no Jihad fighters who kill in the name of Islam for example in Sudan based on the text I pointed at?

Interesting that in the Arab world this is a non-story, most of the news agencies never even picked it up, it shows what sort of status Ghadafi has in the Arab/Muslim world, little or none.

Makes me also muse about the culpability of the western media in the "war on terror" a little bit more of ignore the loony and less hysteria might be a useful future strategy.

Phos is on a short break at the moment, so can we try to leave the interpretations of religious texts and the implications of belief in the great spiritual unknowable out of a thread which is dealing with a political leaders call for a holy war (let's not kid ourselves that he meant anything other than that) against Switzerland, and which is in the Swiss News/Politics section of the forum, please?

I'm sure that we could easily get a good 500 posts in a thread dealing with the true meaning of the term Jihad, and how it became one of the defining terms of the last decade, but that would really belong in a different section.

Yes and there are enough dumb f**ks who will follow their lead also in the name of religion (and I don't differentiate between Christians, Jews or Muslims here).

The point is not whether or not a religion is bad. I don't think anyone said that, even after you posted your comment about casual racism.

What most "Western" folks (if you'll permit the generalisation) understand regarding Jihad is that it is indeed a call for a physical struggle against (usually) the West and its influence.

Despite shedding light on the exact meaning of the term (for me anyway), nothing you've posted has changed my view of the understanding of the term when used (or, abused, if you prefer) in the context under discussion here.

There are plenty of people who kill in the name of Islam, Christianity and a multitude of other things. That does not mean they are representing the genuine beliefs of that group. It is simply that they have appropriated a cause to justify their means.

Which, and getting back to the reason for the post, is exactly what Gaddafi has done. I wouldn't exactly call him devout...

Please don't try to put words into my mouth, the whale analogy is plain.
Or are you trying to say the whale is like Gadaffi and the trainer Switzerland?

Oh dear, I think the jihadists are onto me! There's an Arabic fella over the road looking suspicious. I think he's found me. He's turning round.... aha, it's ok, he's selling the Surprise.

You give infidels a bad name...

Yusof, when I pop into your shop later on tonight for a falafel, please make sure to drop in an extra sheeps eye.

But anyway, we're going off target here.
A fellow muslim of yours (Gadaffi) has called for a Jihad against Switzerland. You being a good muslim (though you sound like a convert to me), what's your next move? Do you ignore your faith and beliefs and continue to take the Swiss CHF, or what ?

Sada called someone a sadist.

I thought I was the only one who preached at the altar of Sada.

Are the Armies ready?

When do they start marching?

Is Swiss Army on standby?

Do we need to evacuate and head for the bukers?

Am I too late for fun.. again?

Oh hai, everyone.

This isn't turning into a discussion on Islam, is it? Clearly The Colonel has nothing to do with Islam, unless it suits his purposes.

According to the BBC journalist John Simpson, Muammar is quite the farty pants, hence he likes to be in his Bedouin tent everywhere he goes so the air circulates somewhat. Negotiations are frought for diplomats when Gaddafi farts every few seconds. Must be hard to keep a straight face.

Ghana. I'll have a brioche.

Well, he was there as a Profiteer, well briefed of the dangers to both himself and the hundreds of people involved in trying to free him, yet he went ahead and decided to chase the Dollar. Although his beheading was heinous, his presence had nothing to do with him being a Christian. But maybe I'm missing your point. It was a shame Tony Blair attended his funeral yet not any funeral for the soldiers killed in Iraq. But this is really OT...

Surely someone is running a poll to vote for who the Israeli* hit squad should "see to" next? I think we could have a winner...



Although maybe using European passports to get into Libya won't work this time round.




* allegedly

Ignoring the cheap shot about being a kebab shop owner (although my brother can attest to it being a very profitable business), the main point is that Gadaffi is not a spiritual leader. He is a politician or, if I were to be less kind, a military dictator who is using Islam to score personal shots against a country which once arrested his son for criminal behaviour.

Just because he claims to be a Muslim and says something offensive does not mean all other Muslims must follow him. People don’t even do that for the Ayatollahs in Iran!

If the Pope announced a crusade against Switzerland (and it wouldn’t be the first time), would you attack your colleagues?

Yusuf, why do you bother. Let the white boys wiggle their small pen*ses amongst themselves.

Brilliant spoof by the Daily Mash as always...

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/i...-201002262510/

No, but potentially some nutcase would do something stupid. Because there are plenty of stupid people, some of which have some egocentric and narcissic complexes, which can turn into overreaching religiousness and a feeling to be the chosen one to fix a perceived problem. And this is why you do not want those type of news on the fron pages. Somebody might want to get the same attention.

Ignoring Gadaffi would be the most effective way to counter potential terrorism, but that is unfortunately not the way our media works.

He may have a problem with his guards.

But back to Gadaffi. He is elected and seems to be doing ok, probably helped by the oil he's got.
Also you don't here about any stonings or the like coming out Libya, so maybe he's not all bad after all.
Certainly his daughter in law (p # 11) doesn't seem to be repressed, only a little bruised.

I bother because it gets depressing to see how regularly and easily people resort to condemning Islam as a violent, heinous religion all the time. Not to mention the casual association of Kebab Sellers with derogatory terminology. Is the same applied to hot dog vendors in Marktplatz?

Every now and again, I just want to put my head above the parapet and say: “we are normal people too”. Yes, some people who are Muslims are brutal murderous thugs, others are ignorant and childish (like Gadaffi) but the majority are normal people who are trying to live their lives in a way that gives them meaning and purpose.

Anyway, what is Gadaffi really trying to do here?

well gadaffi is a disgrace to the islamic world. he is a moron and i dont think anyone is that stupid to follow him...

Here is what he said last year during a walkout in a summit:
"I am an international leader, the dean of the Arab rulers, the king of kings of Africa and the imam (leader) of Muslims, and my international status does not allow me to descend to a lower level."

And last but not the least:
The Al-Gaddafi International Prize for Human Rights was established in 1988 by Muammar al-Gaddafi who initially granted 10 million US$ to the Swiss-based foundation North-South which awards the prize.