She is a pretty girl covered or not.Don’t say bad things about her just because she is not covered.Thanks that she not an atheist….yet.At least if she still believe that she has a religion,that muslims should guide her actually not condemning her or supporting her as well of doing such thing.Even a decent christian,buddhist,hindu,jews,etc american woman would not give such a pose.They have dignity.That what it is.Every religion in this world wants to give us the best.But we ourselves who ruined it.Because of our lust,anger,greeds etc 7 deadly sins.What makes her to that pose-lust (the pose itself connotes lust),anger (grudge to her family,life,relatives ,greeds (to have more money,popularity,glamour).She is young and fragile.Pray to Allah,pray to God that she one day will have the very best understanding of her religion.Don’t support her for showing that legs because actually you are denying her dignity.Don’t condemn her for showing that legs because that might angered her and she’ll be worse.But guide her,pray for her.If in our hands we could not help her than submit it to Allah.

Don’t let her be the ‘Berlin’ wall between Christians and Muslims
or other religions.Don’t let her personal grudge that makes her like that become the reasons for us to blame the fundamentalist,extrenist whatsoever.Bombing is bombing.The Irish suffers it too.And it’s not between Muslims.The African suffers it too once maybe uubtil now and it’s not between Muslims.African American too one time ago.Racism.It’s not between Muslims.The slave owner are they not Christians and why are they denying human rights.Apartheid (is that In Christianity).No.Why don’t they make it a big deal like the muslims bombing.What i am trying to say here is that it’s not the religion,its the people and their own personal grudge plus 7 dealy sins.The world is out.Christians have extremist,muslims too.Know why? That it has the biggets worshipper.Connected between each other actually.This extremist just can’t bare to see this new generation trying to modify the words of gods just to fulfiill their lustrous needs.Words of gods is not like the secular law.Law that can be mend and modify when a group of people believe it should be altered.They are trying to be God.Words of God is definite and true to the end.

So get to know our strength “aqidah’(faith).

What your saying, again if I hear you correctly, is that the lies the US is spreading through the media is that we use our power for benefit others around the world, while the truth is that we suck other countries resources dry, give them a ballot box and a list of unattainable requirements to be a part of the UN, get back on the world stage (media) and tell the world how we’re spreading freedom while secretly packing up and leaving that country to puppet leaders who can’t even define democracy, much less implement the system in their society.

The result is the “greatest good for the greediest government’. John Stuart Mills would be rolling over in his grave if he heard that, right?

So terrorism is the extreme response by groups representing the common man’s fight against US policies which have lead to the rise in power of corrupt local politicians and American influenced leaders, isn’t it? If it is, why call it a Gihad against infidels? Why not call it what it really is? Don’t you think if terrorists clarified their cause as “An uprising against American policies and corrupt US supported governments that suppres the rights of the common man” more people would understand what the resistance is all about? How about if terrorists issue a press release to Al Jazere and every other major media source in every language outlining their justification for ‘fighting back’? You’d think that there were enough anti-American and anti-war publications that the information would eventually make world news.

There I go again, implicating fundamentalists as ‘terrorists’. I guess if they weren’t they’d be issuing a press release saying ‘we are not terrorists and we don’t resort to terrorist methods (i.e. killing all who oppose our ideals, be it americans, those who support american policies, or middle eastern citizens weconsider ‘traitors’ for supporting US efforts). We do, however, relate to some of the justifications terrorists use and thus we believe that we stand to benefit more if terrorist’s goals are achieved. Our parallel justifications for opposing the US are the following…{list common ground w/ terrorists}, however, our movement is not a Giehad” it’s for Justice for the common man.’

Wow, all of a sudden there is clarity. There’s separation between fundamentalists and terrorists and an opportunity for dialogue and resolution with fundamentalists. The more people know the difference, the more they can learn and understand. If the US media has unfairly portray fundamentalists as terrorists, fundamentalists should use the world media to correct, clarify and get their message across in order to gain support for their cause. I would think if the tide turned against us, we, the US, would be forced to acknowledge what’s been going on that resulted in this rise against america and try to reconcile. You obviously know that the average citizen, including myself, has been baffled since 9/11 as to why there’s so much resistance and hatred towards us in the middle east. Common logic was telling us that “they must all be crazy” to “all be willing to blow themselves up because they hate the way we live..we’re only trying to help them” . Americans should all know that not every middle easterner is a terrorist. What we don’t know is who the enemy is. We have to visualize an enemy, so we call the enemy “al Queda”. We’ve painted such a haenous picture of our opposition i.e. “the enemy’ that we would not dare make consessions. Our policy has always been “we do not negotiate with terrorists”
Little do we (the average US citizen) know that if we can separate terrorizm and fundamentalism, we could try to find common ground with fundamentalists (who are actually reformists). We would have to make concessions and do everything we could to bridge the gap of distrust before moving forward, but there would be a possibility for a win-win situation, wouldn’t there be?

Hypothetically speaking, If you were a “reformist’, what would your terms for partnership be?

America lies about its professed goals of world stability (especially in places that control the natural resources it DESPERATELY needs to continue its ‘progress’). For any stability out of reach to american hegemony it views as a destabilizing factor to its interests. A stable unified (unified in its interests, that is) middle east (as it was once), for example, would be a wealthy and powerful one (not a starving, ‘begging’ one as your limited american imagination would lead you to believe) and therefore it is viewed by america as a major threat simply because it would mean that america will no longer control its life-supporting fuel, and would have to make a FAIR trade. Obviously that would be best for everyone, for it means that different nations would have a chance to be more independent of external interference, improve their living conditions, and rise above the pursuit of bare necessities to pursue endeavors that would contribute to the advancement of technology, and overall human progress (History proves that different people have come up with alternative inventions of comparable ingenuity in response to similar needs and problems.)
But that would mean that America can no longer claim and impose its absolute authority- no technological superiority, and not enough resources to satiate its appallingly abusive consumerism. This is what TERRIFIES America. (America already cannot conceal its paranoia regarding fast-advancing nations like China, and is using all its power to make allies with its regional neighbours, India, for ex). But also, there is a historical issue. America once ‘SAVED’ the civilized world, i.e. Europe, and thus has become the undisputed master of the civilized world, and is foundering in its despair to keep up that illusion even though the reality of the world has changed since. It has no longer its tight grip on th UN that will permit her to push on, the only way she imagines possible is by continuing to build and advance her dreaded military monster and by destabilizing those regions whom she peceives as a potential threat. But in her rashness, lack of wisdom, in her ignorance of the world outside, she more often than not creates REAL enemies. You surely must be aware of the role that america played in creating Al Qaeda in Afganistan, and you mention Americas role in empowering Saddam Hussein?(by the way it is not a matter of probability, it is a fact!)
But let’s not turn amnesic regarding her destabilizing campaigns in Central & south America?
How did any of that contribute to overall World stability? And in the end, and that is what really matters after all, who paid, and is paying the heaviest price for America’s paranoia?? Surely not you, basking in ‘the comforts and conveniences of the west’ thoughtlessly glorifying mighty America….These comforts, by the way, are the continuation, and the accumulation of millenia of human ingenuity. Once humans come up with something new it is bound to become part of the collective human experience. But it is in your interest to believe that you are the SOLE owner of technology, that it would’nt have happened without you. For without you, without your ignorant, but oh so, generous tourists (I suppose your military is another form of those) people everywhere would be starving- (Is there a limit to American arrogance!!!) But you, yourself, state the essence of the problem when you say ‘however unequally’! Is it not this ‘unequality’ that feeds the wrath against America? I am baffled that you are assuming that we would not want to sell OUR oil! The problem is not (to-sell or not- to-sell) it is the nature of the imposed transactions by mighty America that are not advantageous to us (and it must be mentioned that your greed is not restricted to oil- look at your escalating problems with your neighbors, Canada, for example, regarding, timber, electricity, etc)… No one can make such a stupid assertion that trade is a ‘bad’ thing. Trade has been the essence of exchange for millenia. But for an exchange to be truly effective it has to be fair, otherwise it will only generate resentment, anger and violence.
It is hard to understand why you imagine that others would|should accept America’s morsels when what they have to offer her in return is the very essence of her existance as she stands today (it doesn’t have to be that way, but perhaps America is not ingenious enough, too lazy, too dependent to look into alternatives- Oh yes, I know, you have been blabbing about that since the 70’s, but what did you do about it? Unfortunately for you your dependence on our oil has not progressed at the same rate as the sophistication of your bombs)
Today, especially today we are no longer dependent upon your greedy market, there are other insatiable flourishing markets elsewhere (China, for example) and we have every right to be concerned about our own future, and not yours, to get involved into more profitable transactions that would bring us power and benefits, that would allow us to take our future from underneath your boots and into our own hands. That is what TERRIFIES America! Competition! Opportunity and competition are catch-words when confined to the borders of the land of the free, but it is willing to resort to any tactic, ethical or not to crush external competitors.
When the day comes when you can no longer ‘vampirize’ on our blood there will still be clean water running, and perhaps even reaching more people, more kilowatts, more projects programmes that serve our needs. Look what your vile policies reduced the once-strong and rich Iraq to, while the billions of oil revenus are flooding back into you corporate pockets. Either you are living on a different planet, or America is, in fact, a fortress of indifference!
Then again what makes you think that the middle east would be reduced to famine without your generosity? For your knowledge there are vast stretches of agricultural land across the region, there are rivers running through them, this has been fertile ground for civilizations (and invention) for millenia (way before anything comparable was imaginable where you live now). It has flourished way before you mighty country even existed and will no doubt continue to do so long after you leave, and here you are speaking of our desperation, that we are at your mercy as we supply you with the very matter that runs your factories, your vehicles, your miserable lives!

Just imagine if we were not forced to sacrifice so much (lives and resources) to appease to your unjustifiable, ever-growing material demands and to consecrate this wealth and energy to truly benefit the world- as you say, cure diseases, stop famine etc, imagine if you were to inject the billions from your ’stabilizing’ wars into your own lives. Imagine if you were to lure other nations into partnerships instead of forced submission. Perhaps then ‘terrorism’ will become extinct!
But America is Afraid, and so instead billions go into the arms industry and military facilites (oh, but that creates Jobs! What stupid logic!) and the surplus necessitates the creation of a MARKET. Just how hypocritical of the west to whine about the escalating arms race when it itself is its manufacturer and supplier? You sell your weapons to governments that you have installed and supported to fight your own foes. But what do WE gain in all this? Oh yes, your ‘however unequally’ morsels, of course. This is the source of the resentment that is sweeping across the planet against you, and not, as you arrogantly love to think, envy of your unique achievements that no other nation would have been capable of.. That surely resembles world domination more than anything else! Look at the plan for The Future Stablized Iraq that you have initially conceived- it was to be the new home to your mega military bases that would reconfigure your already extensive network of bases around the world! From Iraq you will efficiently fan out and control the whole region. You cannot be so naive (or uninformed) as to believe that the purpose for these bases is World stability?
How can anyone deny that funds are necessary for research and progress, but how these funds are obtained is as crucial as the funds themselves! You speak like progress justifies murder! Well, fortunately, there are still humans on the face of this planet (and in very large numbers) who will vehemently disagree with you. The pursuit of the common good requires the mighty buck! True! But the pursuit of one’s own mighty buck with complete disregard to the COMMON good (i.e. the needs and interests of everyone else) can only be condemned as ugly and selfish (even when it sometimes indirectly results in a limited common good).
The American insistence on its compassion and the ‘good’ it has done to the world, and I repeat, is propaganda. Just look closely at the paradoxes. What did you do with all your advanced progress to fight AIDS? Not a hell of a lot? Why? It is annhilating a continent named Africa, not a supplier of anything that vital for your mighty buck! (same applies to human rights abuses in Africa. Obviously, not an urgent issue for Justice-obsessed America. There is no Economic interest for America in an improvished region.(Darfur is a recent exception, you wonder why? Well, it turns out it is a region with important oil reserves.) As for the rest, America is oh so content to drop its parcels of humanitarian aid for another handome, self-aggrandizing, photo opportunity of its human compassion.

So much for thought and wisdom.

Look, life is hard enough as it is for all of us. If more people all over the world could set aside their religious beliefs to try to create a society of equality and justice for ALL, you and I would be talking World Cup soccer instead of politics.

BTW- Thanks IntuitivelyBlue. and Duke, you know you’d hook up with Wafah if your friends wouldn’t find out.

As for US humanitarian aid, it has always been politically motivated, extremely selective and tainted with hypocrisy. I would rather hear these facts stated than the nauseatingly false compassion that belches our of american mouths, both official and non-official. But i will refrain from making any specific conclusions regarding your personal reasons, as I
don’t know you personally, you maybe simply a naive idealist who buys into the myth of a compassionate ‘good’ America
that owes its success purely to its perfect unparalleled system, unparalleled anywhere else on this earth- no even more than that unmatched throughout history, and unlikely to improve upon- by the way even the romans believed that in their own time- yeah the nation with the perfect system and therefore justifiably the ethical leader of the world who will be responsible in eradicating everything negative in the world at the same time as prospering beyond the imaginable, you are already painting the US as some sort of a paradise of equity in contrast to the richer getting ever richer and the poorer getting poorer elsewhere which is a debatable assertion- go ask some of the black and latino populations in the US). Or you may not be so naive after all but its your national pride that blinds you from perceiving what appears to be factual to an imposing majority of the inhabitants of this planet regarding almighty free America.

There is a terrible shallowness in the reduction of the palestine-Israel conflict to dirt. It is not a conflict about dirt, sir, it is a conflict about a nation being treated like dirt! it is a conflict about a nation deprived of its most basic rights, the very same
rights that you are constantly boasting about as the source of pride and success of your nation. It should not be so difficult for you to understand their necessity for other nations now should it?
A little bit of historical research would open your eyes to the origins of this conflict. It is a conflict that was imposed on the region by the super power of the time, the UK- comparable to the conflict that the US, the current super power of today has imposed on Iraq with equal colonialistic intentions. In sharp contrast to americans,most informed and educated Brits today (in hindsight) accept the historical resposibility to that and admit to the role that their nation’s former colonization is in fact a determinant factor in the current instability in the region. The majority of the french too with regards to north africa, and in fact large parts of africa (of course Le Pen and the extreme right are exceptions, as they very much share the american views about how retrograde the middle east is). So no sir, it is not a question of a victimization obsession that we arabs suffer from it is historical fact that the arbitrary division and colonization of the middle east during the first half of the 20th century by the ‘West’ has had a devastating effect on the region. And it continues through ‘our’ selfish corrupt leaders whom you say you would despise, well got news for you, they are despised! And if it wasn’t for the support that they received and continue to receive from the ethical beacon of freedom America, they would not be at the head of our states, with complete disegard to all your humanitarian values, unless of course, they manifest the slightest ‘disbediance’ to almighty US, then these values suddenly become paramount and these rulers turn from friends, allies into evil dictators. The examples are too numerous and obvious to list. Sir it is not our pride that is blinding us, it is not our pride that stands in the way of change, it is your insatiable greed for the wealth that nature has endowed our nations that drives you to meddle constantly into our affairs, to prevent the natural evolution of our societies towards self-realization and the prosperity that we deserve.

Societies, civilizations change, evolve, progress, regress they always have done, always will do. And they follow specific paths guided by their histories needs riches, how arrogant of you to assume that only way possible is your way?
How dare you impose upon the rest of us your will in order to serve your wretched interests? But, of course, you can. Because you are the superpower of the day (but only of the day, a look back to history is usually very instructive). Empires always end up losing themselves in their own megalomania, and as some observer recently stated in an article- mighty America is bogged down in tiny helpless iraq- should give you reason to pause and THINK
May wisdom guide us all

Anarchist: Have you ever read about the ‘Abbasid Empire? Ever heard of Al-Farabi? Did you ever read about the beginnings of Islam, what it stood for and why it became so popular in the world? Please, go read some history and then rant. Check out works written by Ira Lapidus.

“Neither freedom of opinion nor any other intellectual freedom has ever constituted a dimension of Arab society and culture.” Thank you, Anarchist for this perspective becuase it is true and no believer in any religion wants to hear the truth.

This is America, thank god. I can express myself like a genius or a jackass. Whatever. Whenever I choose and wherever. I don’t have to wear a beard and my girlfriend doesn’t have to cover her Victoria’s Secret thong and Ipex bra beneath a burkah. Ignorance is the true crime, death is only the consequence, along with more ignorance. When American soldiers die to defend Arab kings and backward ass clerics, I never hear a single Muslim give thanks to those American men and women who chose to do so, who had the freedom to choose to do so. There’s a word for that–ingrates. I’d like to see a single Arab lift a finger to help an American. I won’t hold my breath because it won’t happen.

Bin Laden’s neice knows exactly what she is doing whoring herself gor the West because it is a stick in the eye to the Fundamentalist, the same Fundamentalist who secretly practice rampent homosexuality and shoot up Afghany heroin. There are no saints in this world, admittedly, but as Said showed, Arabs who live in glass houses are the first ones to throw stones. Sadly its their women that are hit most, and then anyone with a mind to think for themselves.

Of course if Wafah went back to Saudi Arabia according to Sharia law she would be gang raped. I call that porn. What do you call it?

And his crime?

Ahmed learnt that the government wanted to increase the hours of teaching Quran and Islamic religion in schools and that would be on the expense of the music class. So Ahmed “committed his crime” and wrote the following on Assiyasah (The Politics) newspaper:

Is there no end for this backwardness?

I don’t want my son to receive lessons from some ignorant people who teach him to disrespect women, non Muslims and many others and I don’t want those culturally retarded uneducated people who choose the curriculums to fill my son’s head with myths about Satan.

And frankly speaking, I don’t want my son to learn *”Tajweed” because I don’t want him to become a cleric or a Quran reader, reading the verses over dark graves. I also want to protect him from the possibility of joining terrorism whether
practically or mentally.

Bottom line is, I want my son to have a future that makes me proud of him, his knowledge, mentality and work and I don’t want to have him raised and taught in a way that makes me ashamed of his doings in the future. Is there no end for this backwardness?

Neither freedom of opinion nor any other intellectual freedom has ever constituted a dimension of Arab society and culture. Censorship of publications and artistic productions and laws restricting freedom of opinion are tangible proof that these societies are narrow-minded or lack the desire — not merely the capacity — to accept the opinions of others. Arab peoples believe, as the Islamists would have it, that the crisis of their societies resides in alienation from religion, and are hence haunted by the spectre of religious sanctions and prohibitions.

Some may ask whether I believe that freedom of opinion should be entirely unrestricted. To this, my answer is an unequivocal yes. If this freedom is not absolute, it cannot exist. The only punishment facing a writer who allegedly defames religion should come from society, through the boycott of his works or through direct debate, in order to prove the fallacy of his ideas and to grant him the opportunity to retract them voluntarily. Rabble-rousing, death threats, book burning and the promulgation of laws targeting particular bodies of opinion can mean only one thing. They tell us that the Arab nation is incapable of rational debate, and is therefore a nation disposed to terrorism.

“We buy their oil, they buy our real estate”, learn your country’s politics man. Oh I forgot, it’s all annoying to you. Well tough deal! Don’t whine if you don’t wanna understand.

Also I think “butt ugly” is kind of the same thing as “mildly attractive”. I didn’t say I wouldn’t do her–but that would depend on how she smells.

You see, the media often uses stereotypes. There protrayal of middle easterners is no less insulting than their portrayal of in Alabama resident as a back woods redneck. Honestly the portrayal may even hurt our economy by discouraging people and businesses from moving here. My attitude of the news media is that I can change the channel or turn off the tv if I don’t like what I’m watching.

If it’s true that most non-Americans form an impression about our country based on what they see in the media, shouldn’t they be just as guilty of stereotyping as the medial? My point is that its important to put “media influence’ in perspective. Is the media guilty of stereotyping? Sure. Can you get information form sources other than the media? You bet, at least in the West!. Our society allows us the freedom of speech that can be used to say almost anything..unless it is a lie and intended to damage an individual or companies reputation. Laws governing slander and libel protect individuals and companies from harm caused by untrue, damaging statements.

The bottom line regarding the media is that if you dont like the news, tunr off your tv, put down your newspaper, or Google another subject. These actions shouldn’t be interperated as burying your head in the sand like an ostrich. If your that much into politics, get involved in the political process. There are a miriad of non-violent ways to get things done. Rally grass-root support, write your congressman or state representative, go on strike, picket, protest, gather support and run for office, etc.. There are ways you can actually utilize the media for your benefit, also. You can pass out fliers, start a news letter, contact local media for an interview, write to the editor of a local or national news publication. I can go on, but hopefully I made my point.

You talk about Americans having access to thousands of choices of food, ect whiel people in other parts of the world are starving. My answer to that is that as Americans we are aware of our surroundings and we care. You should know we’re the largest supplier of free food and medicine to non-developed countries in the world. I
m sure you know that and the reason I mention it is to provide an example of good things Americans , or Government and American companies do. Sure we can probably do more, but please give us some credit for what’s been done and is continuing to be done.

Regarding our interest in the Middle east, people don’t change over night. Look at the Arab-Jew conflict; you guys have been fighing that senseless war for eons. over what, Land? God gave everyone life and you all are sacraficing it regularly for dirt. Sorry, it’s holy dirt, right? We are showing interest. We are all gradually learning about your culture. With all the sports statisticss to remember, work and family life pardon us if we’re not experts on life in the middle east. The fact is that the “evil’ media has created a curiosity and interest in your culture and country. Many Americans were far more “stereotypical’ in their view of the middle east before the war. We as a country are taking ‘baby steps’ with regards to learning about the middle east. Most can now separate a “terrorist” from a Muslim. Did you know that I, being of Egyptian decent, was mocked by my peers after the first war in 1990. I even served in the United States Marine Reserves! Sure it hurt, but at the end of the day I knew people didn’t understand anything about my heratage other than what they saw in movies or in the news. Those who chose to understand and befriend me eventually helped their friends see me as someone more like them than what their perception of me was. I still come across people who view me as a ‘terrorist’. I soetimes joke that I’m “sleeper cell # 39″. It doesn’t bother me. I have more important things to think about and do thn worry about how someone’s perception of me.

I want to briefly comment on a few more things. The reason our society is so succssfull is because we have opportunities protected by our government and constitution. We’ve learned how to negotiate and trade with other countries. The more democratic the world becomes the better it is for us. For everyone. Your high level politicians and government reaps most of the benefits of trade. It doesn’t trickle down to the common man. How come you have the richest and poorest people in the world living within a stones throw of eachother. The answer is because your laws are unequal. Your country uses religion to suppress you. While you are doing your best to survive and get ahead for the benefit of you and your family, your princes and polititians are in Monaco spending money on women, booze and gambling. Talk about humiliation. I would despise my leaders for such double standards.

You blame the west for all the problems in the world, or at least in the middle east. It seems to me that if you swallowed your pride, accepted a change in government and used all your energy to help create the most equitable government and society you could, you would become the Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, or John Adams future generations would thank Allah for.