Not a Muslim? Can't say Allah in Malaysia.

This is really more of an issue of a powerful lobby trying to claim ownership and exclusive entitlement to a word. The surrounding agendas are moot; this is simply selective censorship. Of course, I find it foolish, but I'm not a Muslim, I don't attach any more value to the term "Allah" than I do "God" or "Buddha".

Originally Posted by Zergrinch

I get a distinct feeling - fair or not - that Muslims really want to impose their will on everyone else.

Naturally, but this shouldn't be a stark revelation. Hasn't world history been an unending series of bodies attempting to impose their wills on those perceived as weaker? Isn't this the basis of the two-party system right here in the United States?

Quote:

If they're in the minority, they protest about religious discrimination and start rebellions (vs. Catholics in the Philippines, vs. Buddhists in Thailand, vs. Hindus in Kashmir). If they're in the majority (say, Middle East), they start discriminating against other religions.

Again, not a radical leap forward for society. This describes the behaviors of many minorities. I don't mean to defend zealots but history proves that this behavior is certainly effective. Wheedle and whine until you get what you want, then start building picket fences to keep your most recent benefactors out.


This is overstating the issue, I'm aware. Clearly the Muslims are stepping over boundaries whose relevance is proven through ancient texts; the term "Allah" is multitheic. To put it another way, imagine if the Vatican tried to lay claim to the term "Jesus", stating that no non-Catholic church could keep or distribute texts containing the word "Jesus". Can you imagine the noise that would be produced by the Baptists? Can you deny their right to speak the name of "Jesus"?

I'm curious to know about the political connections and history of the Malaysian security ministers. The leaders of the Muslim faith, the true spiritual advisors, likely wouldn't seek this sort of censorship. It's the fringe organizations within the faith that most often seek to erect such social borders.

This isn't what Islam teaches.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Smelnick

Personally, I must concede to the fact that I am too drunk to participate in this argument in this exact moment. But I must make this statement.

"I hate Muslims"

Their beliefs do not coincide with natural moralities. At least in the situaion that Zergrinch brings up anyhow. Why should non Muslims be restricted from saying Allah. What if someone wants to say 'Allah' in their novel? Do they have to go through the Arabian Embassy to get approval? They should be allowed to just say it. Its a factual name in the culture and therefore there should be no restrictions. That'd be like my church hating on people who don't attend saying 'You can't say Jesus'. I'd be like, "Go fuck yourselfs, I'm not helping out a at a church that doesn't accept others no matter the differences."

I don't think the Muslims have any right restricting the rights of who can say "Allah". It's just stupid to try and restrict that.

(P.S. I pressed the enter key but i missed and hit some other key, and my screen started freaking out. Imagine that.)

Way to let the actions of a few distort your perceptions of the many. There's really nothing wrong with the Islamic faith. I don't agree with some of its values but when followed purely, the practitioners are mild, peace-seeking folks. It's a conservative religion to be sure, but once you dig beneath the sensationalism, they share many of the same virtues and goals as Christians, Hindus and Jews.

The Muslims that you see in the news, radicals, terrorists and hatemongers, they don't represent Islam any more than Charles Manson represented Christianity. They're fringe outsiders, estranged from the central faith by their extremist views. They're denounced by the Islamic council and are within the infinitessimal minority of Muslims. They're funded not by churches but by those with desperate political motives. Osama Bin Laden may speak of the Qur'an but he is certainly no true Muslim.

Drunk or not, Smelnick, open your eyes and gain some perspective.

There's nowhere I can't reach.