Sic Semper Tyrannis

Regarding honor killing

It is very disgusting and horrible. But these people were not Iranian they were Afghans. Yes a great number of Afghans speak Farsi and are part of "Greater Iran". However their culture is much more radical than Iranians.

I am not sure if reforming Islam will fix this problem. We need to reform the culture that promotes it. Of course an "Islamic ban" on honor killing will go a long way. More important is to show the DISHONOR of murder.

That there is nothing honorable about murdering anyone. In particular your own family. A man who kills his own family is shit and even that is too good a word for him. No only should they be prosecuted but also stigmatized for dishonorable act.

This Is So Outrageous

Islam needs a complete reform.

It's about religious mentality; not only Islam.

I am also sharing a new story about a Farsi speaking Muslim family in Ontario since the blog is about Islam in Iranian.com.  My assumption is that blogs at IC are mainly about Islam (among other major religions) because we were hurt badly by belief of the majority of Iranians.  

//www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1668566&archive=true 

Or/and

//www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/11/14/man-accused-of-killing-daughters-shafia-kingston_n_1092663.html

As you read in the news, a crime of honour is all about one's fear about a person's sexual attitudes; in this case family's daughters targeging Zeinab.  If you would like to be more emotional please Google and listen to their interviews in Farsi. 

"It's not about what we believe. It's more about how we behave and influence." Comments

'Throat slitting' is indeed

An islamic ritual.

Brother slits the throat of his sister in PUBLIC to restore 'family honor:'
//www.ansamed.info/en/news/ME.XAM93277.html

Mohammed =Ron Jeremy of prophets!!

Thanks Fesenjoon bro.  That video was funny, sad and scary all at the same time.  Mohammed sure knew the "ins and outs" (pun intdended) of every sexual act.  He was the Porn Star Prophet for sure.  I am sure though that there will be plenty of Iranians, like Ms. Laleh Bakhtiar, who will spend year of their lives trying to show that what Bukhari said wasn't really what he meant!

Dude, you should write a blog about this video. 

AO

Dude, you should check out this video cartoon. Excellent stuff:

//www.myspear.org/sex-in-islam.html

thank you VPK jaan

All of these things are important, it is important to reach the religious leaders and the more enlightened persons to make change. Nothing is impossible, I really believe that. Multi tasking is a good concept.

Dear Truthseeker9

I am aware of my local animals welfare groups and support animal welfare. I really am not in disagreement on principle. It is the implementation which is difficult. The simpler actions are things like preventing cruelty. 

Or providing shelters for animals. The more difficult ones are when it comes to religion or culture. It is relatively easy to get people to be kinder to dogs; cats and so on. It is nearly impossible to get them to give up their religious stuff.

So I think start with the simpler tasks. Get the cats and dogs off the death row. Stop torture of animals. Then move to other things. For example in USA fur is pretty much out. Why because of the groups you mention. 

VPK jaan

Please google search some Animal Welfare Organisations and see their work and achievements, especially in far away places like Asia. They work with local charities and support them in funding and by giving them clout. It is a slow process but is getting stronger and stronger results as time goes on. 

Some examples

www.hsi.org/

www.wwf.org.uk

www.ifaw.org 

and more ... 

Dear Truthseeker9

I am not mixing issues just pointing out the complexity involved. Once again who is going to tell over 1 billion Muslims not to do this? How will it be enforced. I am being practical.

If anyone tries to do it they will be called Islamophone. There will in USA be issues of religious freedom and so on. I am simply warning people of what they are up against on this.

Hehe... just a bit of info

The Nazis out of all people banned cruelty to animals. I guess they had a double standard when it came to actual people though.

dear VPK

I do not understand why you try to mix issues. What you may be passionate about may not be same as other people, but luckily there are many causes in the world, and different type of people who may be interested in them. 

What I do not think is right is for others to STOP efforts being made where it is not a priority to them. With regards to what is civilised, education has introduced concept of Humane treatment of animals. Humans have a conscience  and different from a snake that suffocates its prey.

Dear Truthseeker9

we run the risk of adopting a defeatist attitude

The other side of this is running a risk of interventionism. Are we the police of the world? And if so where do we start and stop. Who sets the rules and judges the results. What is there to prevent politicization of the process for personal gain. 

How do we decide what gets priority. Should we stop Whaling or sheep sacrifice. Given some Whale species are about to be wiped out. But sheep are not going extinct. How about clear cutting of the Amazon.

There are a ton of worthy causes and limited resources. Besides who decides what is civilized and what is not. Should we stop people eating dogs because we find it wrong? How about a more modest start I would say:

• Put a stop to practice of slavery.
• Female genital mutilation.
• Various genocides.
• Rescue endangered species. 
• Prevent pollution.
• At least make sure the meat gets to hungry people.
• Help victims of natural disasters.
• Provide global education.
• Get our own act together !!
  

defeatist attitude

However dreadful the state of parts of the world, humans can improve their thinking and, by implication, improve their lives and the lives of those around them. History has shown that ethical/humanitarian progress can happen, so it is essential that we continue working toward that goal (think of the work of Amnesty International and many the animals rights groups). If we don't keep working toward change, we run the risk of adopting a defeatist attitude which will only make things worse. The uncritical state of thinking around the world can be depressing. It starts with EDUCATION, there are many Animal Welfare groups in parts of the world which need our financial and moral support. At least we can play our part.

AO

I didn’t expect any reply, but that’s nice of you.  It makes sense now.  I usually comment based on the information on the blog, and I sometimes read only comments of interesting people. 

"It's not about what we believe. It's more about how we behave and influence." Comments

Dear Rea

I agree with you in principle but it is not realistic. Who is going to impose rules on Saudi in a realistic way. I mean we aka Americans are hard pressed in Afghanistan. If we do really well we may keep Taliban in check.

If we try to impose rules on Saudi they will just give us the finger. Besides how about "Female Genital Mutilation". Why not ban that one first it is humans. We just do not have the forces to impose our will on that many people.

Are these practices wrong and vile: yes in my opinion they are wrong. But there is nothing we may do to stop a billion people doing it. We would have to occupy every single Muslim neighborhood! Best we may do is to ban it in America or West.

Dear Comments

Thank you for your input.  However, I really do not have much to add beyond the reasons that I enumerated in my comment below (the one with numbered paragraphs).  I believe that paragraphs number 2 & 6 are responsive to your comments.  

Dear Rea - I will custom make you an effigy for Christmas

complete with a Santa Claus outfit, and just small enough to fit in your firepalce.  :-))

You are correct about being marked for life after seeing an animal killed.  You want to know why I'm a vegan?  here's the story:

We took a trip to Iran when I was about 12.  During the trip, we visited a relative in a rural part of the country.  They lived in a small village, and as is the norm, raised animals.  The morning after our arrival, I started playing with the farm animals.  There was a small little black baby goat there that I played with and fed (no sexual jokes please--none of that sort of "playing." :-)).  We then went for a hike in the mountains.  When we returned for lunch, I went back to play with the goat a bit more.  But it wasn't there.  So, I aksed the family what happened to the goat.  And they told me that it was on the grill!  It was sacrificed in honor of our arrival and was being cooked as kabab for lunch.  They then showed me its bloody severed head that was still there and not disposed off.  I cried, got physically ill, vomitted and stopped eating meat that day, and have continued to do so eversince despite my parents' many years of attempts at explaining what happened.  They gave up though after a few years and learned to live with my decision to be a vegan.

Now, all of that being said, I really don't blame that family.  This is their way of life and the meat was used to feed the family.  It was not a ritualistic cult killing.  This is how humans have survived for hundreds of thousands of years.  But for me personally, it was a traumatic event.    

VPK

Sometimes you just have to impose rules, by choice or by force. And too bad for democracy.

If rules had not been imposed by force, we'd be still burning women at stake. Do you know that in the 19th century Europe there were still women executed as witches?  Do you know the death penalty in France was only abolished 30 yrs ago ?

Well, the same goes for animals. Let them keep their tradition (pigs for freezer), or their religion (sheep for sacrifice), but let's make it decent. And if force of law is needed, so be it. 

To cut the long story short. If it were up to me, I'd impose law of all sorts. Now, you can call me little Hitler. ;o))

Outta here my friend. 

PS. hate just as much videos of poor baby seals clubbed to death as those of sharks cut alive for their fins. But at least, they do not pretend it's their tradition and/or religion.

More islamic kindness

Directed 'against' non-muslims in a muslim-governed society:
//www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2099185,00.html#ixzz1dcqZ0nar

Would you like McDonald or Berger Kings?

The reason that some readers relate the blog photo to dietary need is because they knew the purpose of killing an animal is to feed poor.  We could suggest them to go to strawberry picking instead and pick some for poor.  It’s very similar that McDonald and Berger Kings provide happiness for kids.  They enjoy a meal, and they really don’t care where the meat came from.  Should parents educate their children where the meat comes from and to clarify the kids how an animal is killed?!  Why not?

Are you OK with killing a person, but you are in doubt about if he should die in private or public.  What about educating Iranian parents (someone from our own nationality) do not take their children (and themselves) to watch man slaughtering process (i.e. hanging in public execution)?  Don’t they know their action is worse than taking their children to watch public group sex?  What about asking people not to go there, which automatically makes that area private?  Is this what you really want?  Just privacy?   

"It's not about what we believe. It's more about how we behave and influence." Comments

Would you like Coke or Pepsi sir?

Coke makes the person asphyxia relating to respiration physiology.  It is a condition caused by inadequate intake of Oxygen, which is an inability a person to breathe.  It is economical and less expensive, and it may also cause slightly damage neck cell tissues.

Pepsi makes the person being poisoned like being exposed to Carbon monoxide that is a non-irritating toxic gas.  It’s not as economical as Coke.

Does it really matter how to kill a person?  Does a fear mean something to a dead?  A suicidal person is advised not to suicide because the reason for his suicide means nothing in his death body.  Are you okay with killing a human being, but you are arguing how to kill him?!  Do you know how many of man slaughtered people became innocent after their death in the US; a country wherein people at least could investigate the reason behind man slaughtering?

"It's not about what we believe. It's more about how we behave and influence." Comments

Dear Rea

Would only add that slaughtering in the name of "tradition" should be eradicated as well.

It will never work because majority of people in those nations want it. Do you want to go against democracy? If you did ban it people will find an excuse to do it anyway. Saudi and others are following will of their people.

A referendum on it in all majority Muslim nations will uphold it. There is just one way to stop it. That is when people give up religion. 

Your effigies AO

I'll get one if there is Xmas special. Then I'll burn it in my fireplace like they used to burn male and female witches. ;o)

Otherwise, agree wholeheartedly with everything you said in your umpteenth comment. Would only add that slaughtering in the name of "tradition" should be eradicated as well. In the early nineties, I witnessed pig slaughtering in my home country (tradition, they say, meat for winter). What a horrible scene, marked me for life.

Ufff, courageous me, finally managed to put in a comment. Haven't dared so far for fear of having maggots crawling over my laptop screen.

And here is

A list of acts of kindness commited by the muslims:
//www.thereligionofpeace.com/index.html#Attacks
They seem to enjoy bloodshed more than any other cult!

In light of my comment below, please note that my effigies

are available for sale for those who just gouged their eyes out in blind religion induced hate and ran into streets to chant "marg bar AO."

The are available for burning at the next demonstrations in the streets of Pakistan. They come in various designs. You may order one with an Uncle Sam hat or with a giant star of David painted on it. And they are pre-soaked in gasoline for quick flammability. My "contact" button in now operational in my profile.  I'm selling them myself.  

Order your now before they're all gone!!!!

For the umpteenth time

I will repeat myself as follows:

1) I am a vegan, but I am also a realist.  Neither me nor any other vegan on this planet will "reform" people into not eating meat.  Meat is part of human diet and will remain so till eternity--or until we have mass production of laboratory grown meat, to which I posted a link somewhere below in one of my comments on this thread;

2) Comparing mass ritualistic animal sacrifice for religious purposes to meat production for scoeital consumption is comparing apples and oranges.  There is no dietrary need for these animals to be sacrificed by the millions each year.  It is done simply to satisfy cult (religious) superstition;

3) most, if not all, of this meat foes directly to waste;

4) In light of all of the above, Islam needs to reform itself to provide--at the very least--an option for charitable donation in lieu of killing an animal; 

5) A religion that tolerates such needless killing of innocent animals to satisfy a ritualistic thirst for blood devalues human life as well. This is because there is a very, very thin line between spilling an animal's blood not for food--but to please God and doing the same to a human being who is identified as an infadel.

6) Meat processing and animal slaughter in the U.S. and other places in the world needs dramatic improvement. 

I hope that I have made myself clear. 

Truthseeker9

Yes, I agree.  I also believe that one's ego is the essential part of one's life especially when it becomes firm and established at an older age.  As a result, when one thinks/speaks/writes in a subject it automatically relates to his own ego intentionally/unintentionally.  Also, when one believes on his own ego I don't have any objection they promote their own ego. 

I found this specific blog of AO very typical.  It reminded me comments on "No without My Daughter" movie, which were discussed years ago.  Considering that I just saw the movie once again a few days ago.  This time I realized that a few sections that I found them insulting before, they are educational indeed.

"It's not about what we believe. It's more about how we behave and influence." Comments

Comments

Thanks for your comment addressed to me. I'll try to clarify what I meant - it would help if people read the previous comments before commenting, because a lot of the points put forward lately have already been addressed by AO and others, like his reply to someone "I'm not saying that people shouldn't eat meat" and explanation for it. I also think some of the comments are so naive, people commenting for the sake of commenting on a subject that they may not care that much about or not have any knowledge about. Sometimes perhaps it is best people dont claim to be expert on every subject and be prepared to read and learn, instead of spamming. 

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Brother Truthseeker9: Why don't you share your own egos with all IC fans?  It will be fun.  I promise you will get some special attentions that way.  Let's be a dude for a while:

//www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/toronto-mayor-said-to-have-lost-cool-in-911-call-using-f-word-that-wasnt-ford-132710823.html?viewAllComments=y

JahanKhalili:  I think some finally watched "not without my daughter movie".  It's not yet too late.

VKP: The word of "our own country" at that email reminded me a book "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl".  I remember Ann asked her parents the reason she had to leave school and hide, but the rest of her classmates, who were Christians, didn't have to hide.  Thanks for the explanation about the parade.  To think about a religion is not my priority. 

"It's not about what we believe. It's more about how we behave and influence." Comments