The Insolence of some Muslims

With news circulating that Iran has pulled the film ‘A Cube of Sugar’ from consideration at the Oscars over the anti-Islam film I can’t help but let out a large sigh.

I have tried to avoid writing anything about this subject mainly because I kept wrongly thinking the fuss would all die down. But to no avail as a couple of weeks in from the film first scouting controversy people are still talking, tweeting and protesting about it. Not to mention the fact that the controversy surrounding that damned film has been topically name dropped by nearly all the relevant leaders in their recent speech’s at the UN summit.

So not wanting to be left out of the fray, here are my two cents on the subject.

Disproportionate reaction:

First things first, I believe the outrageously violent protests that were sparked by this film were firstly un-called for. I don’t care how offensive it was, you don’t respond to a movie that practically labels the people who follow the faith of Islam as savages by acting like savages. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. Go ahead and protest, that is a right afforded to all, but protest like dam human beings. Having said that there were of course many protests that were carried out peacefully in many locations around the world. But with the world being the way it is, peaceful protests don’t enlist the media coverage as well as some angry flag-burning insult taunting Muslims losing their general shiz at a US embassy do.

US Focal point:

Another thing that has also annoyed me with regard to these violent protest is the fact they seem to be all aimed at US embassies or, in some cases, US franchises. Now correct me if I’m wrong, but last time I checked it wasn’t Barack Obama or any US senator or government official that was listed as a producer, director or even simple stage-hand in the credits of this nonsensical film. Too boot, I don’t remember any governmental budgets being set aside and stipulated for funding films *and to be honest, even calling it a film is in my mind giving it way too much credit* that spout hate-filled nonsense. This film was made by some twat who happened to have a U.S. citizenship. Hitler was born in Poland but you didn’t see the allied powers aiming all their ammo at Austria for simply being the homeland of the damned Fuhrer as opposed to Germany where boy had clearly set up shop during the war. Him being American is beside the point.

Over-Hype:

Another issue I find with all this controversy is the fact that the idiot who produced this beyond-a-low-budget-film-its-practically-replacing-the-Dead-Sea-as-the-lowest-point-on-Earth is that this tool has achieved what he set out to do. He has not only offended the people he set out to offend but also enraged a minority of those people enough to publicly make a**holes of themselves and further reinforce this negative ‘Muslamic Ray Guns’ rage stereotype of muslims. It’s like we Muslims aren’t complete unless we are seething with anger and burning a flag or 2. It’s utterly disgraceful. Adding to the fact that with all this extreme protesting more attention has been drawn to this film therefore affording it more publicity. The publicity means that more people are being exposed to the films insufferable views. Plus a point to note is that all the hits that are garnered on this video on Youtube do translate into money being paid to the uploader. The guy must be minted by now.

Priorities: Messed up:

And lastly I feel like these protesters who are so vehemently protesting the vilification of their prophet and religion are missing the bigger picture. Yes, the video was offensive, yes it was tacky. But can you not maybe think in this day and age of anything worse occurring that might be bringing a greater harm to your people? If you care so much about the muslim ‘ummah’ and the image of Islam surely you should be more outraged at the thousands of muslims being massacred in Syria? Have none of these hardcore touting muslims ever read this ayah in the Quran?

‘On that account We ordained for the Children of Isra`il that if any one slew a person – unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole humanity: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the whole humanity.’ Surah 5, verse 32

So where is the unbridled outrage at the death toll which numbers in the tens of thousands and which by far over-shadows the one person metaphor in this ayah? Or can the US flags you have stockpiled not wait to go up in flames?

I think the adequate response to a video like this is to simply give it the attention it deserves…which is none at all. It isn’t worth anyone’s time of day.  Don’t get me wrong, I do believe as a Muslim this the movie is disrespectful, grossly offensive, racist and intolerant. I just believe the response to the hate eschewed in this film shouldn’t be more exaggerated and violent hate. You don’t win by one up-ing bigots.

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Back Track

The Palestinian Authority has supposedly offered the United States and Israel a deal in which it would freeze all its current plans to achieve full membership for Palestine in various UN agencies until the end of January. In return for this freeze the United States and Israel would have to resume transferring funds (which they have currently halted) into Palestine.

Surprise surprise, once again we see the Palestinian Authority seceding to the pressure mounted on them. This is mainly because the pressure they have received from Israel and the US has been absurd to say the least. It especially absurd considering what the Palestinians are trying to achieve which is simply to be treated as equals (if only by title) on the world stage and therefore being granted basic recognition on par with any other state on this planet.  Nothing too radical or out of the ordinary there.

Though I do not claim to believe the situation the Palestinians find themselves in is an easy or simple one, I do think this move hinders rather than helps their plans. The fact that what they are asking is nothing short of the bare necessities is even more reason for them to stick to their guns and not allow Israel and the US to continue to dictate to them their every move. It is not them who are in the wrong so it shouldn’t be them who should be conceding. Most, if not nearly all, of the UN members are also sympathetic or in agreement with the Palestinians on their quest to be granted membership on the UN.

If the Arab Spring has taught us anything, its that the underdog can prevail.

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Two Sides of the Same Coin

Despite speculation that it would heed international calls to end the freeze it imposed on Palestine two weeks ago, Israel has decided to continue to refuse to pay the Palestinians the £100 million in duties it owes them. The £100 million are mainly composed of customs revenues Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinians under the interim agreement. The reason why a freeze was called in the first place was over Palestines application and further acceptance into UNESCO (Untied Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization).

Makes perfect sense doesn’t it. How dare Palestine even think to join this kind of twisted organization, which get this ‘Encourages international peace and universal respect by promoting collaboration among nations’. Pure Madness. Who does it think it is? A state? Seriously, at this point you would think there would be greater uproar at Palestine trying to integrate itself in the world governmental structure than if it was to declare another Intifada of sorts. 

The icing on the cake though had to be the Israeli officials explanation on Israel’s diplomatic approach to Palestinian negotiations which involves ‘both carrot & stick’ … In which of course by carrot he also means stick.

Priorities Israel…..Get them right.

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Hot n’ Cold

You change your mind

Like a girl changes clothes

Yea, you PMS like a bitch

I would know

And you always think

Always speak cryptically

I should know

That you’re no good for me

‘Cause your hot then you’re cold

You’re yes then you’re no

If you didn’t know any better you’d think that these words by Katty perry were aimed at the countless Israeli leaders who have come and gone in the past few years. Why you hear me ask is it addressed to them? Because it seems to be a bang on trend for an Israeli leader to be elected on there *tough-hard-won’t-budge-an-inch-to-the-Palestinians-right stance* and then find them claiming to want to do good-by getting caught up in so-called ‘peace’ negotiations. It’s like they want to have their cake and eat it. And so far, they have succeeded in doing just that. Examples I hear you ask? How about Ariel Sharon who once famously quipped and urged Israelis to settle more land fast by “Grab(bing) the hilltops, and stake(ing) your claim” . Simply put he was encouraging the growth of Illegal Israeli settlements. And if you want a more contemporary one, just look at the current Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He heads one the staunchest right-wing parties in the Israeli government and its no secret that he is a staunch supporter of illegal settlements being built and believes their should be no ‘concession on settlements’ .

Now with all that being true its funny how each these leaders have found them self at a time engaging in ‘peace’ negotiations. Now before I broach the absurdity of this subject, let me just quickly recap some small brief facts. Under international law and in the view of the UN and the majority of  member countries the  pre-scribed border for Israel and Palestine is the internationally recognized 1947 borders. Anything built over these lines by Israel are considered illegal settlements as they are built on land that is meant and prescribed for the Palestinian people. Now lets look at a picture of the prescribed 1947 borders and how the map should look today;

Ok, so Israel seems to have lucked out majorly in this little agreement because as far as i can see they have been given the most land. lucky them, guess that means they won’t have to complain about the lack of land …….*glances at current map of Israel*

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh *awkward silence*.

My bad, looks like they weren’t happy with their fairly substantial share. Talk about taking the piss and pushing boundaries. Looks like Israel practically hasn’t looked at a map SINCE 1947 and has kept building thinking sooner or later they will come across a thick border line of some sort. Someone should have told them the line on the map was only an imaginary border, not a physically present one.

Now Regardless of why, how, or when they acquired it the land they have acquired over the borders is ILLEGAL. Its land that belongs to the Palestinians and is land that under any future or current peace deal will be returned to the Palestinians in one form or the other.

So basically, any Israeli leader that enters negotiations KNOWS that this land grabbing will be an issue and if there is to be a successful deal reached this matter will have to be resolved and the land repatriated to the Palestinians. This whole issue of Palestine and Israel has been going on for many many years and each successive Israeli government has engaged in brief talks that if followed through would return that very same land that they had previously laid claim to.

So now back to the present and the issue surrounding the current crisis in the peace talks. The crisis revolves around the settlement freeze that Israeli enforced for over 10 months and which recently ended. Lets not comment on how amazing the timing of the ending of the settlement freeze is as it just comes a mere 2 weeks after talks first started.  Now that it has ended Benjamin won’t reinstate it or even extended it to help facilitate the talks. WHAT THE HELL, they were imposed for a good 10 months or so and as far as I can see Israel is still standing so there is no good reason why it can’t be extended for a few more months for the sake of ‘peace in the middle east’.  The US has literally been working to sweeten the deal for Israeli *and trust me the deal was sweet* to extend the freeze but to no avail. Without the freeze being implemented the negotiations will simply will fall apart. This is because the Palestinian delegation headed by Mahmoud Abbas is already in a weak state and has had to make enough concessions to just get the talks started. It is one of the few conditions they have asked to be implemented for the talks to go on.

This request makes complete sense as if you are coming to negotiate how to give back the land you took you’d think that maybe you’d want to stop taking land. Would make the process MUCH easier. So why in god’s name is Benjamin Netanyahu not extending this settlement freeze for the sake of maybe resolving a crises and conflict which has engulfed the middle east for countless of years?

Answer is, he probably doesn’t care to be the one to resolve this crisis. Because resolving it would mean combating the hard right members of his party and government who got him into power. Whilst also combating the zealot religious right who see the whole of the Palestinian land being rightfully theirs as its their god given right and religious mission to acquire and lay stake to this land. To dismantle their settlements would result in an internal conflict as they have no interest in letting go of this land and going away quietly. To do so would be an affront to their so-called religious beliefs.

Regardless of how hard it is it is something that MUST be done if the conflict is to be resolved. So for this to happen their needs to be a tough no  nonsense leader who cares to actually seriously resolve this crises head on. Till then peace negotiations will simply come and go acting as mere symbolism of Israeli leaders pretending to care about the plight of the Palestinians.

Till Next Time

 

Blood Diamonds

So the news that interested me today surrounded the trial of Charles Taylor the ex-president of Liberia and Naomi Campbell’s brief appearance at the court. The trial surrounds Charles Taylor alleged role in the bloody Liberian civil war in which he is accused of committing  war crimes and crimes against humanity.  Some of the crimes levied against him involve the case of him being involved in supplying blood diamonds.  For those who don’t know blood diamonds are diamonds mined in forced and harsh conditions in a war zone area where they are used to fuel an insurgency or a warlords activity. So the involvement of Naomi Campbell in the trial surrounds events that happened at a party hosted by Nelson Mandela in 1997. There Naomi met Charles for the first time and after that meeting Naomi was alleged to have received blood diamonds from Charles Taylor. So Naomi’s appearance and testification was needed to help prove a link between Charles Taylor and blood diamond’s.

But the point that interested me was Naomi’s blatant reluctance towards having to appear at this trial. She constintley tried to dodge having to make this appereance at the trial and even when she did appear she complained that she ‘didn’t really want to be here,’ and that  ‘This is a big inconvenience for (her)’. This being said even though she was ONLY cross-examined for 2 hours. She’s had to work fashion runways for longer then that but somehow she feels the need to act like a right old bitch when she is asked to play an important role in what is unarguably a very important trial politically and internationally. This trial involves war crimes and surrounds the loss of many peoples lives and yet she can’t seem to fathom the slightest bit of respect or duty to carry out a task that arguably requires nothing more then her recalling events for a short period of time. I just can’t comprehend the mindset of someone so shallow and self-engrossed to think that her inconvenience merits even a slight mention when we are talking about the massive pain and suffering that the people of Liberia caught in the crossfire of this civil war have had to go through. But this so called  ’inconvenience’ i’m sure will be short-lived as she jumps back onto a plane and out of the country to her pampered and lavish life whilst those whose lives have been affected by Charles Taylor’s actions have to live with their inconvenience for the rest of their lives.

No wonder the woman chose modelling as a career. Its something she is obviously a pro at….having a face that screams sulky whilst keeping that gob of hers tightly shut. Lets hope she spares us all the inconvenience of ever having to see or hear of her again.

Till next time

 

Post Correction: Lebanon-Israeli border clash

So this post is just going to be a post clarifying some details that I posted up on in the last post. I didn’t have access to this information at the time of posting but its come to light that some of the UN findings on this event say that the tree was actually on Israel’s side of the border. Not only that but Israel did convey the message to the Unifil *the UN border patrol monitoring the borders since the ceasefire in 2006* that they would be carrying out this clearing process. Unifil also insist that this message was relayed to the officials in the Lebanese army. Though the investigation is still under way to clarify the rest of the events unfolding regarding the actual shooting.

So I’v learnt a thing or two about hastily commenting on an event without knowing the full details first and in the future will wait a while before adding my titbit of commentary. This saves me from having to post a correction post whilst also bypassing me sounding  like a complete un-informed A hole. I say this because I know the frustration of coming across and reading something which someone unequivocally believes is right whilst all evidence points to the contrary. Not only that but its never smart to jump the gun with events as serious as this because at the end of the day lives where lost and to mis-portray events would be an affront to those who passed.    Plus it does take a bit of the sting out of my argument as once one thing is proven false the rest of it can seem to be less convincing.  So far that I am sorry and I guess that this is first mistake out of many ill be making as I progress and develop this blog onwards. Lets just hope the mistakes are on the low side of things number wise.

But that’s not to say that the whole post should be ignored as the argument  comparing it to the flotilla incident still stands. I do believe that if things where the other way round *as they where in the flotilla incident* Israel would be able to legally justify the events unfolding in its eyes.

But I do wish that governments states and people in power would do the normal human thing and admit they are wrong when they have f***** up. We aren’t perfect, we are human, we have flaws and we make mistakes, it just seems this basic human truth escapes those in power. they believe they are immune to it generally and that admitting they are wrong is a sign of weakness. B*******, the reason why trust in government and people in power is at an all time low is because this people will spew any amount of crap to escape from having to admit they are wrong or mistaken. The only time they do admit it is when they are backed up in a corner and their PR managers have jumped ship and left them with nothing else to say. From the ex-BP oil chief exclaiming that the BP oil spill is small compared to the body of water on earth *really? that’s ALLl you could come up with in defence? really?  Couldn’t go with something less  obviously  irrelevant? Surprised you didn’t bother to work out the percentage ratio to add more grit to your seemingly solid argument* to the Israeli deputy UN minister claiming that the Gaza aid convey was anything but a ‘humanitarian mission’  *obviously his definition of humanitarian is much much much more exclusive* in justification of the illegal raid on the ships whilst still in international waters.

And on that note ill end this post with a quote since I couldn’t find a good enough picture to digitally alter sophisticatedly on my purpose built picture software *minimizes the Paint tab on Microsoft*  to summarise this post:

‘ A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.’ John C. Maxwell.

Till next time

 

Lebanon-Israeli border clash

So the story that interested me today concerned border clashes between Israel and Lebanon. The border between these countries has been tense and on high alert ever since Israel invaded Lebanon in the 2006 war. And with the recent events surrounding Israel and the Turkey flotilla incident tensions have become ever more prickly with that of its continents neighbours. Lets just remind ourselves briefly of this flotilla incident. A flotilla of aid and materials was being shipped unofficially from Turkey by a humanitarian group to Gaza in response to the blockade in Gaza. They where there to assist and provide much-needed materials to the closed off city. Israel had not approved this ship to enter Gaza as it would breach their ‘blockade’. So they met this flotilla in International waters *an important point* and through the following confrontation killed 9 people on the flotilla.

Now lets look at the recent clash between Israeli and Lebanese border troops. The Lebanese say that Israeli soldiers crossed their border to uproot a tree and shrubbery that was blocking their view of a town in Lebanon . The Lebanese claimed to have fired warning shots and where met with artillery fire from the Israeli side which sparked the direct clash which resulted in 3 Lebanese officers being killed along with 1 Israeli officer and a Lebanese Journalist. Now the Israelis say that they where on their side of the border and the troops that were fired on where 300 – 400 meters away from the border watching over their fellow troops as they cut away at shrubbery that was falling on their side.

Now regardless of which side is telling the truth *though i doubt with Israelis recent track record of honesty we have much trouble deciding on the truth* Israel would be hard pressed to be able to defend its actions. This is bearing in mind the fact that they don’t believe they did anything unlawful with their handling of the flotilla incident.  The flotilla was a distance away from the Israeli waters but was still attacked because Israel believed that they would be infringing on their territorial sovereignty even though they hadn’t reached there shores just yet. So using that argument the Lebanese soldiers could easily argue that regardless of the fact that the Israeli soldiers weren’t at their border as the Israelis claim they where close enough to threaten their territorial sovereignty.

And since when did gardening become such a top Israeli priority. Overgrown shrubs? not in my neighbours backyard if i have anything to do with it. it’s all about the scenery, It’s the little details that make a big difference as any keen gardener will tell you. Who knew Israeli border officials had such green fingers.  Aid and much-needed material for the imprisoned Palestinian population in Gaza, not really that necessary. A shrub and a tree infringing on their view or land, Unfathomable. It’s good to see their priorities are in place correctly. Not only that, if it is true that the shrubbery was infringing on their view of a village in Lebanon and which they needed to be able to view for security reasons im pretty sure they could have taken the common courtesy of communicating this to the Lebanese border officials rather than doing what they do best and taking matters into their own hand and lauding about the place as they see fit. Especially with all the recent hoopla over Israelis over-aggressive and i’ll-do-what-i-want-regardless-of-what-anyone-thinks attitude being questioned and criticised in the wake of the flotilla incident.

You’d think they would have wanted to buck the trend this time and maybe take a more diplomatic approach especially considering the tense nature of things in the middle east at present. But no, I guess when a shrub or tree has got to go, its got to go asap. That train ain’t waiting for no one, your either on the green carriage or your left stranded on a shrubbery platform. It’s the kind of can-do attitude people welcome at gardening shows who knew it would blossom so passionately in the Israeli border patrol.

That’s all for now

till next time