Half a century ago, observers guffawed at the spectacle of Barelvis and Deobandis excommunicating each other over minor difference of opinion and trifles (in one case over the pronunciation of the Arabic letter dad in the final word of Suratul Fatihah, dhaleen). Well, 200 couples in UP in India recently had to retake their vows as Muslims and remarry after they were excommunicated by a Barelvi mufti for the crime of attending a funeral prayer led by a Deobandi cleric.... Read more
A particularly eye-opening example of the shameful embrace since 9/11 by "our" government under Bush Jr. and his malevolent pack of bumblers of nihilism and lawlessness. The most prominent evident target (and casualty) of the "war on terror" continues to be America’s crowning achievement, the Constitution. Maher Arar is a victim of ‘immoral’ U.S. policy (Canada’s Leader-Post) Maher Arar is Canada’s greatest contribution to what has become a worldwide battle to safeguard democratic principles and the rule of law. […]... Read more
For all of Latinos’ gains in recent years in the political arena, poverty and marginalization still remain a serious problem for too many. BBC News: One in 20 Hispanics ‘goes hungry’ Five percent of Hispanics in the US regularly go hungry and as many as 20% do not have sufficient access to nutritious food, a US report says. Poverty and lack of awareness about state entitlements are the causes, says the study by Hispanic civil rights group the National Council... Read more
Well, ISNA’s saying it’s Sunday, but my local mosque in Athens and the biggest one in Atlanta (Masjid al-Farooq) have declared Saturday Eid al-Adha, so Eid mubarak, folks. For those of my dear infidel friends who are not in the know, Eid al-Adha is greatest of the Islamic holidays. It commemorates the Prophet Abraham’s (AS) willingness to sacrifice his son at God’s command. A familiar story to Christians and Jews (who refer to it as the Akedah or "binding"),... Read more
The more you dig, the more bogus this whole controversy–rightly dubbed "banaltiy and barefaced lies" by veteran Middle East journalist Robert Fisk–around Carter’s supposedly outrageous rhetoric becomes. First, there’s Fisk’s timely reminder of how Israel was a lifeline to South Africa during its dark past as an international pariah state for its apartheid system. [HT: AbuSinan.] "But in this context, why, I wonder, didn’t The New York Times and the other gutless mainstream newspapers in the United States mention Israel’s... Read more
[Originally Posted on Eteraz.org] ————————————————– First, respected scholars Mearsheimer (whom I noticed today sits with Daniel Pipes on an the advisory council of The National Interest) and Walt were tarred as raving conspiracy theorists for acknowledging the impact of that 800 pound gorilla–the Israeli Lobby spearheaded by AIPAC–on Washington Mideast policy and debate. Now, President Jimmy Carter is being called an anti-Semite for talking honestly about how Israel’s treatment of Palestinians looks to its critics. His cardinal sin? Using... Read more
As we approach the New Year and ponder the Christmas Season (accompanied by the now obligatory call for peace on Earth, at least till after the New Year), it’s important to stop and reflect on how riven the world is with strife and suffering. For all the contemporary talk of peace, human rights, and the universal brotherhood of Man, the world remains brimming with conflicts. Some are achingly tragic conflicts that in other circumstances–more plentiful resources, different cultures, a different... Read more
Came across some intriguing observations and historical analogies in the Jewish Virtual Library concerning Hannukah and, indirectly, the multi-cultural Borg that is Christmas for many of us non-Christians in the American Melting Pot. Chanukah is probably one of the best known Jewish holidays, not because of any great religious significance, but because of its proximity to Christmas. Many non-Jews (and even many assimilated Jews!) think of this holiday as the Jewish Christmas, adopting many of the Christmas customs, such as... Read more
A hearty Merry Christmas to all. I just wish you Christians would stop closing down my beloved cafes and bookstores during your holidays. If there’s one of the yearday when I really want to go unwind over 60 oz. of Columbian with a stack of obscure periodicals, it’s Christmas Day. While others excitedly tear open their gifts, I howl in fury at the bolted doors of my favorite haunts. Year after year. Were we still in Washington, DC, we’d at... Read more
Well, SisterScorpion went and memed me on things that are weird about me. Normally I don’t do these things. Not because I’m above them, but because I end up putting way too much time & thought into them. Still, like Mr. Burns on "The Simpsons" I periodically feel the need to do something warm & cuddly to humanize my cold, analytical image with the masses. This could take all day, but here goes: 1. "Dried plums" don’t get the respect... Read more
Akram's Razor
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In