Reverend Greg

The teacher is to blame for what goes on, she was in control. Let's say something similar went on in the United States and the children voted to name the teddy bear "F*cking Dog Sh*t" and the teacher allowed that and had the children take turns keeping the stuffed animal and writing their essays. When some problem arose, as it almost certainly would, following your logic the teacher would be blameless. I am highly skeptical that that is the way it would work itself out. I'm not saying racism isn't a factor in the emotionalism of it. But if you break the law your minority status is no defense. And if you want to break the law move somewhere else or be willing to pay the penalty. I agree with the Syrians throwing her out of the country. But she chose to live there. Peope get whipped there. They would have been doing nothing wrong in subjecting her to the lash, they were being merciful in not doing it, even though they were caving in to political pressure. Now when you say the kids should be stoned I wonder who is really racist.

To be perfectly fair, it was the children that voted to name the teddy bear. Since that was the despicable act, it is they who should be stoned.

Unless of course, this is just racism.

"In the culture war betwwen the west and Islam, I'll go for the underdog. Go Moslems!!!"

If this seems harsh, let me put it into context. One group of people are living their lives and their country is attacked and taken over by a stronger country that wants to control the natural resources and economy of that country. Which side would you be on? You can answer on the basis of nationality, or of who is stronger, or you can answer on the basis of right and wrong. To me there is absolutely no question of who is right and who is wrong.
ch

I just happen to believe that th ereal villain in the world is the United States and not the Muslims they have been successful in riling up. I donj't know what you mean about something about my character, it is certainly no worse than a patriotic american such as yourself. Anyway I saw something on Christian violence that you probably don't want to look at. http://www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/parallels.htm

ch

Philip, you wrote:

"In the culture war betwwen the west and Islam, I'll go for the underdog. Go Moslems!!!"

All righty, then. No point taking this any further, I guess. Funny fact, though: you can say this, even shout it from the roof tops, in this country, and other than getting some dirty looks and comments, you'll be just fine. If, however, you shouted the opposite in, say, Iran, you'd be stoned or beheaded, or arrested and tried, and THEN stoned or beheaded.

But hey, it's certainly your choice to love what you love. Says a lot about your character. Enjoy.

Cheers!

Andy

To Quote Andy:
"That said, I'll proceed with my disdain for a religion whose founder was a murderer, genocidalist, rapist and pedophile. I have no particular animus toward the followers of that twisted and erroneous belief, just pity... until they mess with me and mine."

Actually you and yours are messining with them and if they are as violent as you claim perhaps you'll get what you so richly deserve.
ch

Sure Andy, in it's first few centuries Christianity was peaceful. So what? Christians are as blood thirsty as Moslems. And my main point is that for an American to say Moslem's are violent is a sick joke. Pot calling the kettle bl;ack and all that. In the culture war betwwen th ewest and Islam, I'll go for the underdog. Go Moslems!!!
ch

Patrick, you wrote:

"Sorry to hear you do not care about or for people of Muslim origin."

Well, I don't know where you heard that, because I did not say it. Read again, for content, this time.

Cheers!

Andy

Philip, youwrote:

"While it seems from the history I have seen that the Muslim religion spread through conquest (just as christianity spread through the Roman Empires conquest)..."

Ummm... you are correct about Islam, but no, that's not how Christianity primarily spread. As I mentioned previously, get back to me after you've studied real history a bit more, and we can have a meaningful discussion.

Cheers!

Andy

"Playing the blame game is like sucking an emotional crack pipe--and we all know crak is wak!
"

But Andy, it was you blaming the Muslims. Do I blame the United Stateds for the problemsin the world? Indeed I do. Who else meddles in the affairs of other countries by influencing elections, financing rebellions, training terrorists, bribing dictators, selling arms, etc. as much as Americans? Who is the prime proponent of the over consuptive life-style that is ecological suicide? Yes, in this era it is the United States of America that is the most at fault for the problems of the world. It's no game, they really are to blame. Take another hit of fresh air.
ch

Is radical Islam going through a phase similar to the butchery done in the name of Christianity in the past. Probably. We've been there, done that. The issue is what is the correct response in non-Islamic societies? In this era?

Thanks in large part to the viral nature of the internet and media, there are jihads raging across the world, for reasons that have nothing to do with America. Isn't it a bit narcissistic of us to assume, always, that it's "our fault?"

As for the teacher, meh. The students voted to name the bear and, foolishly, she permitted it. I understand she was teaching at a rather elite school, equivalent to The American School or the L'ecole in NY. People usually choose such schools because of the curriculum, to produce polished, well-rounded children, no?

Btw, one of Hitler's goals was to create a pre-Christian, and in fact, pre-Roman Germany (he might have called it a return to their tribal roots). To this end, the Nazis bullied and murdered Christians--somewhere around 1.5 million of them also died in the camps, plus several million others, in addition to the Jews. My personal dislike for Pope Pius is offset somewhat by the fact that he didn't really have much choice in terms of protecting Catholics. Hitler informed him the church would be permitted to remain as long as it didn't interfere. If anyone is interested in learning about the Nazis, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich is still the best general history. Again, IMO.

Every morning I chant for peace, mutual peace, and disarmament. For you, for me. Playing the blame game is like sucking an emotional crack pipe--and we all know crak is wak!

cheers

While it seems from the history I have seen that the Muslim religion spread through conquest (just as christianity spread through the Roman Empires conquest) I can't see where they were more blood thirsty than the Christians. And the consensus seems to be that Islam has spread more widely than Christianity in Africa because Christianity is associated with European imperialism. I think that the evil Muslim idea is more xenophobia than historical fact.
ch

Andy,
Mutual respect is a function of Bodhisattva nevber Disparaging, which of course Nichiren indicates is the source of 'being of the same mind as Nichiren."

Just like Nichiren says, "you must reform the tenenats you hold in your heart," based upon the understanding, "It is the heart that matters most."

Sorry to hear you do not care about or for people of Muslim origin. That would put you at odds with at least a third of the world.

Patrick

I believe the christians commited the holocaust against the Jews in the very recent past, but almost the entire native american population as well. Of course these are not the only abominable acts of the west, but what exactly do you accuse the Muslims of that is worse?
ch

Patrick, I apologize. I seem to have given you the impression that I give a shit about what happened with that silly school teacher in Sudan, and this is not the case. As far as doing the "mutual respect" thing with adherents of Islam, get back to me after they've done a Reformation and joined the modern world. Until then, I'm happy to coexist peacefully (when they are), but "at arm's length" works best for me. Tolerance is fine, but it does not equal acceptance, or even respect.

Philip, get back to me when you've studied a bit of the history of the spread of Islam. Your ignorance on that topic is too vast to make any meaningful discussion worthwhile.

Cheers!

Andy

Andy,
Here is a link to a newsweek article about the activities in Sudan, from another perspective. I cut and paste a small portion of the article for brevity. Posted in todays, Washington Post web site.

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2007/12/the_real_teddy_bear_tragedy.html

Hamza Yussef says, "Our current world can go one of two ways at this crossroad. We can go down the path of more violence, more hatred and more alienation, or we can attempt to understand each other, recognize our real differences, and display mutual respect. True religion -- as well as the highest secular values -- demands we take the latter road."

I think the article speaks for itself. Spoken like a true humanist.

Clown, I agree with you. You never know when monkeys can fly!

Patrick

"...murderer, genocidalist, rapist and pedophile." Sounds like all religions to me, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, whatever. Of course when your founder is like Abraham, Moses, Jesus, or Krishna, it's a little harder to have evidence against people who never existed outside of legends. But I can't see where Muslims are any more guilty than others. The most amazing thing to me is I didn't think Patrick and I would ever agree on anything. Watch out for flying monkees!
ch

Patrick,

Let's just stipulate that you are a finer human being than I am, and get that out of the way. I don't pretend to be anything other than what I am.

That said, I'll proceed with my disdain for a religion whose founder was a murderer, genocidalist, rapist and pedophile. I have no particular animus toward the followers of that twisted and erroneous belief, just pity... until they mess with me and mine.

The idiot school teacher is indeed a moron. I wasn't defending her, anyway.

You have a stick up your butt. Hope it doesn't hurt too much.

Cheers!

Andy

Andy,

American's do not name their children Jesus out of respect for the Christian beliefs.

Muslims take the name Mohammed out of respect for their beliefs in Islam.

Respecting other people in their own beliefs is what Nichiren Buddhism teaches through a complete understanding of Expedient Means.

I don't get a positive emotion or feeling; "would be pretty funny"; of creating negativity in another person's life based on their faith or belief's. Just me though.

What the teacher did was thoughtless and the outcomes should not have surprised her or any other casual observer of the situation, in any way.

Mutual respect or in Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, Bodhisattva Never Disparaging; I will never disparage you for you all are seeking the Buddha Way.

Naming a Teddy bear Mohammed is not being Bodhisattva Never Disparaging. Whether one is a buddhist or a non-buddhist, the result is the same in the world of cause and effect.

She made her causes and she gets to reap the benefit from those causes.

Just like Nichiren says, if you want to understand the effects being realized now in your life,, look at the causes you made prior to now. If you want to understand the effects of the future look at the causes you are making now.

Patrick

Patrick,

In Spanish speaking countries, they pronounce Jesus, as you have pointed out, "hay-soos." But they pronounce the pseudo-diety Jesus and their uncle Jesus the same... "hay-soos." Just as every other Muslim male is named "Mohammed."

As far as naming a dog Jesus (Or Hay-soos), it could be pretty funny, but not nearly as much so as naming one Mohammed. Muslims hate and shun dogs as being defiled creatures before Allah, so they would be REALLY pissed off, issueing fatwas and such. Christians more or less like dogs, and would range from mildly offended to mildly amused.

Cheers!

Andy

Byrd,
I believe they say hesus and not Jesus. Quite a difference in Spanish than English. Something is lost in that translation.

How many anglo-saxon American's do you know named either hesus or Jesus?

I believe the teacher knew what she was doing. She is a teacher and is aware of cultural differences.

Andy,
I would expect that level of thoughtfulness from you.

As I said, in America name your DOG JESUS and see what your neighbors think of you. Probably the same as the muslims feel about others denigrating their religious ideals of Islam. No different than Christains, mjewish, or Catholics in America and elsewhere.

There are other names they have for Muslims, but the names are so deragatory I would not repeat these racist names for others to repeat.

I can say American's use the same derogatory name for Muslims as they use for Black American's in closed circles where Black's do not wander. The N-word of course.

Patrick

I would vote for a presidential candidate if he/she would get a dog and name it Mohammed and bring it to the White House. That would be a hoot!

Cheers!

Andy

Actually, Patrick, there are a lot of people who are named Jesus - my gardener/leaf blower guy is named Jesus.

I don't think she meant anything bad by it it's just a common name in that country.

Jesus! Lighten up! ;)

Best, Byrd in LA

Mutual respect. if you want to be respected respect others belief or faith.

American's sem to believe they can denegrate any other faith they do not understand, and all is just fine.

Maybe American's could name their DOG JESUS and see how the neighbors feel when they call their dog out loud, J-E-S-U-S-S-S, and see what the neighbor's say about mthat name.

regarding the british teacher, she knew better as she had been there for years. She understood the naming of an inanimate object with the name of their prophet is blashpemy.

I have been acused of blasphemy by American Christian's in the past, for acknowledging in not believeing in GOD. Go figure the difference in attitude, the same attitudes to me.

Patrick

After four days in jail she got a presidential pardon and was deported. A lot of people can say it's no big deal, but they are not religious fanatics. To a rational person all of the religious fanatics are going to seem insane. And if you already don't like the offender of course they are that much more offensive. While the president was pardoning her their were people in the street who wanted to blow her head off. I'm sure that the people in that mob are in their own way as racist and as elitist as they suppose the english to be. Muslims do not permit images of any of the prophets. Is naming a teddy bear a great offense against that? Go live in Sudan and name your dog Mohammed and find out.I still say it was a stupid move on her part. She's home now. Hopefully the kids aren't too disgraced in their own community.

Yes, Andy, you are history at Zadankai.

Now, to the topic of this blog, which is naming a Teddy Bear "Muhammed".

I was in Sudan over 20 years ago, during a break in the civil war. EVERYBODY is named Muhammed, or so it seems.

There was a funny scene in the Elaine May film, "Ishtar", where Warren Beatty is told to go to the camel market and ask to speak with Mohammed. He does this, and everybody in the market turns around when he asks or Muhammed. Truly, in Egypt the same thing is true. I mean, there have to be rapists and murderers named Muhammed,and they don't take those guys' names away from them. So, what's the big deal with a Teddy Bear?

Have a good time in Japan, Greg,

Best, Byrd in LA

Vanya,

Greg hasn't told me a thing. I wrote to "owner" at Zadankai, and got no response, which is why I thought I'd try for one here. All I know is that all of a sudden that group ceased appearing on "My Groups" and I couldn't see it or access it in any way. That's why I thought maybe the group had gone away.

Is it still there, really? If so, I'm a bit disappointed, after all this time, that Greg couldn't give me the courtesy of a "Dear John" letter, at minimum.

Cheers!

Andy

Andy: what, Greg didn't tell you? Yes, you did get kicked off zadankai. No one objected (except me, half-heartedly. Sorry). Greg takes himself too seriously IMO.

Hey, Greg, what happened to the Zadankai group? Did you shut it down, or did I just get (finally) kicked off?

Cheers!

Andy

How dumb would you have to be to think that naming a Teddy Bear Mohammad wasn't going to offend some one? Apparently the idea was to teach the children about voting. Hard to see the point of that either, Sudan is an authoritarian government where all politicians are appointed by the president, so I don't get the point. Still I think they should deport her rather than put her in prison or use corporal punishment.
ch

Rev. Greg -

Have a great trip, and travel safely!

Namaste, Engyo Mike Barrett