plural

Original Article

A schoolgirl was stoned on Wednesday in playground for non-observance of Ramadan.

A schoolgirl of Jean Mermoz college in Lyon's eighth arrondissement (postal district) was pelted with stones on Wednesday morning in the playground because she ate a snack. The argument that the incident stemmed from the non-observance of Ramadan is confirmed by the Lyon prosecutor's office, based on initial results from its investigation.

Azzedine Gaci, president of the CRCM (Regional Council for the Muslim Religion) , states that "if the facts are proven, they are unacceptable". He deplores the ignorance of the pupils, who should be taught the Koran at school, and who are unaware that "women who are not feeling well" * are exempted from observing Ramadan.

You know what pisses me off here.

It isn't even the dumb ass ignant fucks who would throw stones at a girl.
I'm deplorably used to the idea that such ignomy exists.

Its the response of the Muslim elder -

He doesn't say the pupils were misguided because stoning women is wrong
[or even god forbid that beating someone for exercising freedom of religion might be a wee bit inappropriate]
but rather
that
she wasn't feeling well
and the pupils should have asked how she was feeling before pelting her with rocks

I'm all about respecting peoples culture and the differences which make us all well interesting,
after all how boring would the world be if everyone and every place were the same

but there has to be limits
boundaries

a line in the sand

There are many practices around the world
which I personally disagree with or find objectionable
but which for the sake of culture or sovereignty
I can overlook

Then there are practices and customs
which I cannot overlook
which I must judge and protest

I do not care what your culture is
I do not care what your religion is

There are things which are universally wrong

Like fucking an eight year old

It is just fucked up
there is no excuse
there is no cultural norm which makes it permissible

Smashing a guy (or gal) in the face with a rock
because they have a different religious belief
is also fucked up

Someone said to me yesterday. and I'll quote

"I think suggesting that "western powers" are advanced or any more civilized than anyone else is rather foolhardy, personally. Different? Yes. Equally savage, merely in somewhat different ways? Also, yes."

What a crock of shit

Are we perfect? No
Do we have some ugly ugly issues to work on? Yes

But to draw a moral equivalency between a society which as a rule values human life and dignity
and one which to this day practices slavery, honor killings and stoning is absurd and intellectually dishonest.

There is no question that the US and other Western powers
have a tremendous amount of work to do on walking the walk

We stick our noses where they don't belong
Our corporation exploit people and nations
We have rampant issues with corruption and bigotry

The difference between the Western powers and Islam is in what we aspire to,
even though we often fail, and will continue to do so.

That isn't to excuse us for our failings
for I believe that if the US and other Western powers had behaved in the past
more in line with the values and ideals which we espouse
the world would be a different, and I'd like to think better place.

I remember years ago hearing a quote by Elie Wiesel which struck a cord within me

"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest."

It comes down to me
to simply what kind of world I want to live in

if you want to live in a world where women are cattle, say nothing
if you want to live in a world where children are property, say nothing
if you want to live in a world where brutish behavior in the name of culture or religion is the norm, say nothing

I cannot accept these things
I cannot live in such a world

Don't be fooled by this cultural relativist bullshit
It is not racist or prejudicial to stand against such malignancy

There is a difference between culture and oppression
and culture is no justification for abusive behavior.