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sex with mother in law enemas from her mother and aunt Pioneering screenwriter Nigel Kneale, best known for the Quatermass TV serials and films, dies aged 84...

November 3, 2006 9:41 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on November 3, 2006 09:41

loves america:

I hope that you excercise your right of protest by never visiting the united states. i wait in lines at the airport for too long as it is because of your "religion of peace." maybe you can stage a peaceful travel boycott of the united states by your muslim brothers as well. people might be impressed that muslims can act out peacefully for once.

October 11, 2006 1:56 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 11, 2006 13:56

karim:

loves America:

The US government is nothing but peaceful.

The world doesn't hate your government for no reason.

Why do you think Hugo Chavez, the President of Venezuela called your President the devil?

Because Chavez, who is Christian and lives in South America, like many South Americans is quite familiar with the decades long of US violent and murderous policy in their lands.

Now tell me who even among Western nations defend your government? Practically speaking: NO ONE.

I rest my case.

October 10, 2006 9:08 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 10, 2006 09:08

karim:

toshiro:

I am not defending those criminals.

October 9, 2006 10:33 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 9, 2006 22:33

toshiro:

Who cares about the bragging marine, Karim? Your boys brag about cutting off heads.

October 8, 2006 2:35 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 8, 2006 14:35

loves america:

death is good said the prophet mohammed. we love life and that is why our culture flourishes while yours do not. you love death. are you waiting for your 70+ virgins? you hate us so much but we cant keep you out of the gloriousness of our nations because you love what we have created.(something your "culture" can't replicate... peace and prosperity.) but you still want to destroy it. talk about conflicted. we are still laughing at your "culture." keep blaming israel and the united states for your internal problems and i promise you will see another thousand years of stagnation and poverty. you know that to be true deep down. revel in that knowledge while i live in abundance and travel the civilized countries of the world.

October 7, 2006 9:51 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 7, 2006 21:51

Karim:

no one grants me any freedom, certainly not your governments that killed millions of peole in the last 40 years alone, I was born free, my friend.

You see no one of us here are defending Saddam or any other criminals, but you are defending your many criminal governments that have killed so many people with impunity. Our leaders do pay the price one way or the other, yours don't. You just put new ones in office to kill more people.

As to freedom of press, we do have Al-Jazeera that your neo-fascist government tried to bomb and silence many times. They already killed 2 of its reporters, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq.

October 7, 2006 8:51 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 7, 2006 20:51

loves america:

karim,

the difference between our wonderful republic and your sandy wasteland is that we have a free press. i'll bet egypt or whatever one of those awful countries you are from is that we have self reflection. you hear about gitmo and stories of torture "true or not" exactly because we are a great country. maybe we should repress the journalists (and the truth)as you do in your awful countries which no westerner would ever want to move to. maybe the totality of information from your pighole country would frighten you. the torture like i saw in videos from pre war iraq...lighting people on fire...throwing them off buildings...You are more content to complain when the very countries that grant you the freedom you do not deserve, open their own dirty laundry. we love freedom and obviously you do too. the joke is that you cant find it in your host country. ha ha ha.

October 7, 2006 3:39 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 7, 2006 03:39

Karim:

This just came in...comments? These people are trained by the US government....how much abuse goes on unchecked in Afghanistan or Iraq where it is the jungle law?

AP learns Gitmo guards brag of beatings

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Guards at Guantanamo Bay bragged about beating detainees and described it as common practice, a Marine sergeant said in a sworn statement obtained by The Associated Press.

Other guards "also told their own stories of abuse towards the detainees" that included hitting them, denying them water and "removing privileges for no reason."

"About 5 others in the group admitted hitting detainees" and that included "punching in the face," the affidavit said.

"From the whole conversation, I understood that striking detainees was a common practice," the sergeant wrote. "Everyone in the group laughed at the others stories of beating detainees."

October 6, 2006 2:43 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 6, 2006 14:43

Karim:

Truth or Dare, loves America:

Pakistan, a Muslim country, already elected a woman prime minister (which is the head of state there), Ms Benzair Buttu. Turkey another Muslim country also elected a woman as Prime Minister: Ms Tansu Ciller. Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world, also elected its female prime minister: Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri. Little Bangladesh had 2 female head of states: Ms Hasina Wajed and Ms Khaleda Zia.

Now I am sure you never heard of these women but the real question is: where is the woman president of America?

Not anytime soon for sure. America needs "tough" men to lead it in its never-ending unjust wars against weaker foreign nations (aka spreading democracy and liberty around the world!!).

Everyone on this planet will tell you that Americans are perceived as more arrogant than other people. I can provide polls to show you what I am talking about.

Patriotism is fine but in America patriotism can take extreme forms to the point where people dismiss every other country out there. It is not a coincidence that many evangelicals believe the US is some kind of chosen nation despite the great institutional injustices that were going on in America itself little over 50 years ago.

Try to learn how to respect others. Stop showing contempt for others who don't agree with your violent government's policies (that is, France, and other European countries).

You don't have to put down other nations in order to feel good about yours.

Finally and most importantly, try to think outside bombs, military battles (they look good on propaganda Hollywood movies), and use of state sponsored violence.

The planet earth is not the property of the US government.

October 6, 2006 10:47 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 6, 2006 10:47

Center:

'What is your excuse for the way millions of blacks were treated up to 1964?' Karim asks.

Karim, I have NO excuse for that! I did not do it. I could explain why it took place.

The world has seen much injustice, such as what the Blacks went through in the South. The fact one should remember is that those conditions are no more. This fact says that the social system is by the people and it is for the people.

Could you honestly say that about places like Jordan where the whole country is (owned ) by a family and that the ownership is passed from father to son, pretty much like passing property in Ireland after a father dies.
What happened to the Blacks was not OK; what is happening to the Blacks is not completely OK, even now. The fact one needs to remember is that Blacks and others are able to affect legislation to make an unfair situation more equitable.

Could you say that about where you are if you are not living in the West?
(Please note that religion is not the issue, at least for me.)

October 4, 2006 7:44 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 4, 2006 07:44

loves america:

Islamic Countries = Backward and Intolerance
If thats not so explain to me why Pakistan's neighbor India is so vastly better educated than they are? If you think that your suicide bombers will avange the crusades just remember that laes can change in the countries where it is nice to live and all of you middle easterners wished you lived. It is not impossible at some future point to say. no more muslims. we have had too much violence. if when that happens the joke is that you will protest. but if you think your cultures are superior than stay there. people in the usa would give a second though to a muslim country closing is borders to us. it would become a joke on late night comedy shows. we would all laugh. you are living in your tormented past. we are living in our very comfortable present.

October 4, 2006 4:34 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 4, 2006 04:34

Truth or Dare:

Give me a break! Do you actually expect us to believe what you say Karim. Discrimination is rampent in the Middle East men treat their dogs better than they treat their wives and daughters. The Muslim religion is inhuman disease. I have read your so called bible and it turns my stomach. Sadly, the believers of Islam, have been sold a load of bull for decades, hundreds of years but you want to blame the West for all your failures. The Middle East would still be living in sand huts if it weren't for the West helping industrilize that part of the world. Quit whinning and get a grip. Islam doesn't kill? Yeah, tell that to the families of 9-11.

October 3, 2006 11:38 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 3, 2006 23:38

Karim:

Center:

That means, there was no liberty in America in the 60s, period.

In the 60s, the majority of countries in the world didn't discriminate in their laws against blacks like the US did. The only one that did it was South Africa under the apartheid regime. It just happened that blacks in America were a minority.

Do you realize this?

What is your excuse for the way millions of blacks were treated up to 1964?

October 3, 2006 10:47 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 3, 2006 22:47

Nan:

I posted two brief, reasonable comments on Friday that never appeared on this blog, even though you have posted many wild and vitriolic remarks since then. Did I post my submissions incorrectly? I read the rules and thought I was following them.

October 2, 2006 9:02 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 2, 2006 09:02

Jim:

Reading more posts I see a lot of critics say that most, many, all Muslims are extremists and want to kill westerners. What do you all base these claims on? The news you see? Distorted websites? Ignorant politicians or biased commentators? Have you ever lived in or visited a country with a Muslim majority?

I live in Jordan, was in Gaza a few months ago, and Lebanon and Egypt a few months before that and Yemen about two years ago. Nobody threatened, kidnapped or hurt me. How many innocent civilians have westerners killed in Gaza and Lebanon in the past 6 months? Thousands. So why is it that I (white, blond hair, blue eyes) am safe when i travel to these places if they hate westerners as much as you claim?

October 1, 2006 10:36 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 1, 2006 10:36

Jim:

Read the papers in the US, there are death threats and attacks against Muslims there every day. A mosque or two get vandalized and burned there almost every day. Local communities are refusing to allow mosques to be established there with increasing frequency. Airline passengers have free reign to accost and vilify anyone looking Muslim.

When these things happen in the West, we ignore them because we know it is not the majority doing it. When they happen in Muslim countries it gets headlines, and westerners think it is everybody who is doing it.

October 1, 2006 10:19 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 1, 2006 10:19

Center:

Karim,
No. there was no liberty for the African Americans in the 60s in parts of the country. There is now. I would venture to say, not all African American and others enjoy liberty 100%.

The question you should ask/answer is;

was there liberty where you are in the 60? Could citizens of your country speak their mind freely in the 60? Better yet, could they speak their minds NOW? (i am assuming you do not live in the West).

as to Bahrain etc having foreign residents, it is because these states must have foreign guest workers, else children would go without food and dust would accumulate in homes.

Are these foreign residents protected by any law. My guess is that neither the foreign residents nor 'citizens' have any form of protection from the state arbitrary arrest and deportation or imprisonment.

A resident in the US while not having the same rights as a citizen, they are offered protection against discrimination and arbitrary arrest.

October 1, 2006 1:39 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on October 1, 2006 01:39

Karim:

was there liberty in 1960 during which Jim Crow laws were enforced against black citizens?

How many immigrants came to the US in the 60s?

Percentage of foreign residents in few Gulf countries:

Bahrain: 28%
Qatar: 75%
Oman: 18%
UAE: 81%

Most of these countries don't have income tax or sales tax at all.

September 30, 2006 8:05 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 30, 2006 20:05

Center:

Not all immigrants come to America for money. America offers money + liberty.

would you say the gulf states (on either side of the gulf) have what America offers?

September 30, 2006 4:43 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 30, 2006 16:43

Karim:

People come to America mainly because of money and standard of living.

Do Mexicans who can't even speak English know or care about "American ideals"? They don't.

They come to make money the same way many American corporations go to other countries to MAKE money and sometimes STEAL other people's wealth.

Didn't IBM have business in NAZI germany? They sure did. How about Coca-Cola? where was Fanta first marketed? in Nazi Germany.

Make no mistake that even if Nazi Germany survived today, they will be immigrants in it because people would be attracted by its highly developed and modern aspect of life and social standards (save for Nazi racism).

I often hear that "America accepts immigrants more than any other country".

This is one big MYTH and factually inaccurate.

Few Arab gulf countries have more foreign immigrants than citizens. Can you imagine this im America? Impossible. There would be a revolution. How about the fact that most of these Gulf countries have generous welfare programs (free schools, health care, water etc)? Can you imagine this in the good ole USA especially the red states? not in a million years.

Please guys, stop with your myths, your "we abhor violence" bs when war and the military is worshiped in America like they are Gods, when less than 50 years ago, black lynching was some kind of sport, etc.

I can go on, but I think this is enough.

September 30, 2006 2:55 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 30, 2006 14:55

Usama:

Interesting how it goes:
-insult followed by "be reasonable".

-Invasion followed by "you're too violent".

-Exploitation of resources, monopolization of markets and imbalance in trade followed by "you're materialistic".

September 30, 2006 2:53 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 30, 2006 14:53

Usama:

Shaban Malik, good sentiments are wasted on this crowd. The Wash Post is an imperious rag lock step with the Neo cons.
So it should be no surprise that it spouts bigotry and denigration to anyone who stands in the way of American global imperialism.

It seems to me if Germany ever wanted to do business in the Muslim world including buy Muslim oil and gas, they wouldn't insult the most beloved people to Muslims. If Germany can survive on Russia oil and kick all the Muslims out of Germany, then they can do what they want. But since Germany needs cheap Turkish, Arab, and Muslim immigrant labor, they should expect Muslim people willing to surrender their freedom and German civil liberties in defense what they value: i.e. the dignity of the prophets of God.

September 30, 2006 2:48 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 30, 2006 14:48

idamente:

I'm concerned that Abraham's decapitated head was not included in the Berlin Opera production of Idomeneo. What's going on here? Is Judaism not a "major" religion? Or have German's already incorporated one form of self-censorship? Years from now, this production will include only one head: Poseidon's. Unless the pagan community expresses its outrage.

By the way, Mozart's libretti were not cheap or silly - they were written by the best and most popular librettists of the day, based on contemporary taste and style. Da Ponte, Schickenader, Verasco and Metastasio were the best money could buy - and they still hold up in the same way that the language and style of any classical art form still holds up. Especially as treated by Mozart.

September 30, 2006 12:15 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 30, 2006 12:15

SomeWhatLucid:

First I would like to say that it is rediculous that people have begun to use racism, and names such as "crusador" in this discussion here. These usages are only meant to flame Muslims.

Malik:
It is not a crime in most of the west to deny the holocaust. If I remember correctly, only Germany has that as a law.
You seem to miss a big point here. This show was not out to disrespect Islam. It showed the prophets of multiple religions headless, including Jesus. Many movies, TV shows, political cartoons, and other outlets take on the role of Chrisianity in the west. We are allowed to poke fun of or question religion's place in society.

I loved my visits to Dubai, Bahrain, and Ohman, but if I remember correctly, it was ILLEGAL there to question Islam.

September 30, 2006 9:56 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 30, 2006 09:56

Jon:

Karim, you are a fool. Islam is a sick and intolerant force for subjugation. Islam is the opposite of Enlightenment and Reason- the principles on which the United States of America was founded.

You muslims are making it worse for yourselves each and every day. The facts on the ground speak for themselves. You cannot hide or deny what Islam is.

September 30, 2006 9:51 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 30, 2006 09:51

center:

'i love america'

me too love america. i still remember the song that goes this way: this land is my land, this land is your land, from California to..........and on and on. dig it?

immigrants come to america because there are good and decent people here, and there are many of them. nasty and hateful people, the hypocrites, are drowned in the sea of goodness that is the USA.

ilove america, you should speak less and enjoy the forgiveness of the indian tribes and the children in the hood. your tirades remind me of nasty muslims i ran into on my way to the park......

wait, you hate them so much you are turning out to be like them. Huh!

September 30, 2006 9:37 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 30, 2006 09:37

Sidney:

Do moslems, including those that have posted here, realize that their use of violence to repress any "disrespect" for Islam creates the hatred of Islam among the rest of us that they fear?

September 30, 2006 6:34 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 30, 2006 06:34

I love america:

If you're countries were so wonderful why would you be in the west? hmmmm. Because your supposed enlightened Islam is murderously oppressive. How many westerners move to your sandbox of death? God help you all when we figure out how to draw power from something else than what is sitting under your feet because you will be as insignificant then as you were before. What wonderful contries of peace you hail from. We don't give a sh** about what you think about our religions because they are strong on their own. They do now require oppression of the sword as does Islam. Why is it illegal and fatal to convert from islam in the middle east. I intentionally did not capitalize that because your religion is sad. There are no virgins waiting. You can't invent anything modern. You complain about your "humilliation" until the glorious day when you can humilliate others. Your murderous acceptance of criminals will lead us to a nuclear holocaust and while i don't want that let me tell you something...we are bertter prepared for it than you. But then again you love death we don't so what you think is your power will fall apart when you are the ones subjected to the unmerciful nature of a formerly benign power. Seriously we in the west don't want that at all but you will bring it if you don't reign in your madmen. You did'nt see people cheering in the streets of the USA when there were reports of torture at guantanamo or iraq. Thats why we are civilized. We abhorr violence as a people. you rejoice at the death and suffering of infidels. If we carpet bombed your little insignificant village there would be no victory parades in th eusa like we see on your awful al jezzera in your mudhut towns.. there would be an investigation here as to why...could fewer people have died...why was it neccesary...etc etc. we love life. even the lives of you savages. you love death.

September 30, 2006 5:46 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 30, 2006 05:46

Shaban Malik:

Why is it ok to insult Islam in the name of free speech? Why is it a crime to even question the Holocaust in a negative light? This hypocrisy is the main reason why Muslims are stirred up about these issues, be they the Pope's comments or the cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammed as a terrorist bomber.
Whereas Muslims make it a point to always respect Jewish and Christian faith, post 9/11 Islam has become fair game to the West; the Muslims are sick of this.
A few bad seeds do not mean all Muslims are terrorists - the same as criminal Israeli policies never mean all Jews are bad. We need to get rid of this notion that Muslims are open game; hands off Islamic faith.

September 30, 2006 12:08 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 30, 2006 00:08

me:

All I Have To Say Is That Muslims Are A Very Ignorant,Savage SubSpecies That Is More Monkey Like Than Human....Hmmmm Mohammad The Monkey? Lets All Get Tshirts That Say That and Cry And flail In The Streets Every Time A Muslim Disagrees With Are Opinions....

September 29, 2006 8:02 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 20:02

Liberal:

Karim, I truly hope you don't live here becasue you have an incredibly distorted view of my country. American's are unusually open and kind hearted to strangers. We view ourselves as the boyscouts of the world and try to live up to that. We do get the diea, hpwever, especially when listening to most Islamic spokesmen, that Muslims would gladly slaughter us if they could. We hear of Osama Bin Laudin and other fruitcakes asking some idiot Muslim preacher how many American's it would be "permissable" to kill in a nuclear attack. Now, that is pretty outrageous stuff. We look at Iran and Turkey and see the government murdering Kurds and Bahiist, and other minorities, we look at Iraq and see Shiites and Sunnis bombing each other, and we see rabid mobs cheering some of the most hidious attricites imaginable. So, what are we to think of the Muslim world? The violence and sheer insanity defies anything we have ever imagined. In many ways Islamic culture is mmore murderous than anthing the Nazi's ever did.

September 29, 2006 7:00 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 19:00

Karim:

Toshiro and Egar:

If these death threats were not serious then why the concered parties hired bodyguards or police protection?

Right!! I forgot this is America, the most peaceful country on the planet.

Oh please. Take your racist ignorant rubbish somewhere else.

I can only imagine how this would be if the WP was a right-wing newspaper!

September 29, 2006 6:45 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 18:45

SomeWhatLucid:

Karim:

I constantly follow the news and world events, so I am not so blind as to have to be enlightened by you in regards to the flaws we have here in the west. I have seen the radical Christians on the news that threaten and have killed abortion doctors. We've seen these people hijack their relgion and followers into turning their temples into fortresses and having it out with the governemnet.

My point is that there is a very sizable portion of Islam that has become hostile, and is muscling its way to some agenda. There seems to be a double standard in which they can spit forth fiery rhetoric including ethnic and religous put downs, but the west is not permitted to create political cartoons or question the religion's method of advance.

I have no intent to be controversial or insulting, I am just getting involved in this dialogue.

September 29, 2006 6:43 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 18:43

Simon:

I am puzzled by the reaction of some here. The principle is simple. No one would want children being shown nude or exploited in the name of free speech, nor should it be allowed. Yet we are quick to condemn muslims because we don't understand what they find offensive. I only disagree with two things from the muslims: one, they should not limit the protest just to the Prophet Mohammad but to Jesus as well; second, they should use political process to express disapproval which they are not doing enough.

September 29, 2006 6:10 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 18:10

Egar:

The difference between the hate mail that Christians and Jews may write in opposition to a movie or art exhibit and that written by Muslims is that Christians and Jews don't resort to violence.
While many people of various faiths may say, "I'd die for my religion," it seems that the radical Muslim believes "you'll die for my religion."

September 29, 2006 4:09 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 16:09

MR:

Shame on those so called artists who are trying to exploit religious friction that world is going through. Nobody in media or politics is talking sense. Everybody is trying to play to extremists in their religion. These extremists, be it christian or muslim, are turning the clock back to medieval era. Where are the leaders who can calm these tensions and promote religious harmony?

September 29, 2006 2:43 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 14:43

Crusader:

I find it unbelievable that people are on here defending the islamic overraction and intolerance to any perceived slight. muslims demand AND receive religious freedom in every country in the world, but they do not necessarily afford that freedom to other religions! Islam is the most dangerous thing facing our planet. That's not to say there aren't peaceful non-hateful muslims, I know there are and have met some before. But, even so called moderate muslims will defend reprehensible things.

Liberals are just as guilty as muslims are, because they blame everything they do on us. They cave in to muslim pressure all the time, setting the bar higher and higher. I am concerned that one day pork products will no longer be sold or consumed because it offends muslims. I can see them proposing to close restaurants during the day during ramadaan, so no muslim will be tempted to break their fast.

I am sick and tired of how we go out of the way to not offend muslims (i.e. non showing the 'offensive' cartoons), and they repay us by buring down the churches of OUR faith, and murdering our brothers and sisters. It's time that we stand up to the demented mentality of islamic nations. We should NEVER cave into their demands.

September 29, 2006 2:40 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 14:40

Joy Roy Choudhury:

Dear Mr Brockhoff,
Its sad to know that the opera came to an end because of some threats given by an anonymous tipster. But for a general consideration the incident throws much light on the entire sentiment and falacy of a great religion like Islam. First, the decapitated head of the prophet connotes to the world or order of form and shape. Conversely, the muslims believe in the formless notion of the creator. So why the problem? Its a paradox. Like for every truth, the mother is its paradox. Christ/Mohammad/Buddha were all living embodiments of the formless. But they had a particle existence. They had death. Its like the dying of the fertility gods and with it comes renewal and rebirth. Its a constant cycle. So why the fuss about the decapitated heads I dont understand. One must try to get deep beyond the particle existence into the realm of wave to decipher the mystical sense of Islam. Its sad that these days people find one issue to discriminate and divide. If true brotherhood is one of the most beautiful aspects of Islam, then why does it restrict itself among members of their own community? Its always easy to blame others and point fingers towards the sky , but difficult to move an inch because of a collective ego of the individual races that constitutes the mankind.

September 29, 2006 12:25 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 12:25

toshiro:

Death threats are one thing, Muslims really kill.

The Muslim community worldwide went nuts over the cartoons -- unprecedented.

Theo Van Gogh was KILLED by Mohammed Bouyeri over a movie he made. The script writer, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, was eventually forced out of the Netherlands because the of hassle that protection from Islamic intimidation was causing.

The French/Algerian journalist, Mohammed Sifaoui caught Imam Shaykh Raed Hlayhel on secret camera confessing, "I think that the pressure should be maintained in order to create a climate of hate against the newspaper, God willing". (http://bibelen.blogspot.com/2006/03/danish-imams-on-candid-camera.html)

Even in the Bashir Goth WaPo blog on censorship-- which is currently running, a veiled threat was made against a blogger who criticized the censorship in Muslim society.

See through the diversions and smokescreens, like those of Karim. Those are patented tactics of Islam. The precedent of real violence has been set, followed up by a systematic use of targeted intimidation. Perhaps, Karim, you can explain how Theo Van Gogh deserved what he got?

September 29, 2006 10:39 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 10:39

Karim:

SomeWhatLucid:

It is the media that gives you that perception my friend.

You only realized that it also happens in the West after I posted few examples. Remember one poster here claimed they never heard any death threats in response to Dogma when in fact there were few.

Think about it, which sells more:

1- Few Americans threatning 2 British producers in Canada because they made a film about the assassination of Bush, Or

2- One phone call from a Muslim in Germany threatning some Opera productions because they depicte the beheading of Mohammed.

September 29, 2006 9:42 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 09:42

SomeWhatLucid:

While I agree that there are probably countless numbers of death threats sent out here in the western world in reguard to controversial issues, and even a certain amount of violence, there is a difference. I am sure that the vocal and violent side of Islam is a minority, but it sure appears to be a large minority. We constantly see violence and huge over reactions from these types of situations. That is why even one possible prank phone call would have to be taken seriously. A track record has formed.

September 29, 2006 6:56 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 06:56

Fisch, BN, Germany:

Neuenfest is a very sensitiv man who likes clear messages. Havent seen Idomeneo, but I once saw Pentesilia.

Brain Eno etc once republished an old record, minus the song called "Quoran".

Westeners have a right to be stupid sotosay, there are limits of globalisation.

And there is a big difference between the very low spirited Danish cartoons, that did want to insult, cheap humor, and the high art of Neuenfels, describing enlightment, anyway. The Berlin Verfassungsschutz is a crowd of idiots. Schmuecker etc.

September 29, 2006 5:20 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 05:20

Brigitte Meier USA:

I am not familiar with the opera Idemeneo. But I love Mozart's music and opera in general, and I agree with the Berlin Opera to cancel.

Art when it is genuine is insight; it expresses the universal. That universal truth is not always flattering, beautiful or easy to accept. But the universal is never vulgar, condescending, judgmental or abusive in any way or it would lose its own truthfulness.

Judging by the descriptions I read, that the major religions are decapitated as a statement against organized religion: I agree with this statement. Organized religion is a body without a head, or, conversely, a head without a body. Religion, when it is genuine, is the opposite: the fusion of mind and body. All true genius comes about that way.

The fear of the Berlin Opera that their interpretation of Idemeneo could offend Muslim sensitivity at a time when it was badly abused by vulgar, mediocre cartoons, implies that the images created by the director do not convey his standpoint against organized religion in a truly universal way. As one reader noted, the Jewish religion wasn't decapitated. Why not?

It is also true, that Mozart often didn't have the money to hire good storywriters. Many of his operas have mediocre librettos. The text of The Magic Flute (Zauberflöte) is downright racist; it propagates the most destructive stereotype against black Africans, by claiming the black skin color proves evil person. Sad to say, subconsciously that stereotype still persists in the world. Mozart's music is sublime; the text is German and not too many people ever read it; all agree that it is mediocre. That was the only reaction to it. No performances were cancelled. Why was the text never changed? Surely, for respect of blacks, it should have been changed. The racism against blacks has largely, or at least officially, been abolished. It makes the Magic Flute text a historic marker of the shortcomings of the white race.

With regard to adversity against Islam, that stage has not been reached. Racism against Muslims has never been as destructive as it is presently. Anyone judging from a bit of nationalistic distance will ask if the Bush administration intends to create a worldwide totalitarian regime complete with secret prisons, indefinite detentions without proper legal trials, torture, coerced and secret evidence, preemptive strikes wherever it deems fit for its interest; all made possible with a new racism against Muslims to rally the masses behind some abstract war on terror, fuelled presumably by Islamic fundamentalists (in reality more likely by the CIA). These means of the current U.S. policy are not unlike those used by the Nazis and the Soviets, but amplified by high-tech surveillance and persecution and the ease to use nuclear bombs.

These are different circumstances. And the Berlin Opera understood and didn't want to use art as a cover to participate in these circumstances. Their actions to withdraw the opera are very courageous and true to genuine art.

September 29, 2006 1:19 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 01:19

Karim:

I can fill the entire blog entry with examples of death threats issued in America against singers, movie makers, artists, etc.

It is true that if posters can't remember any of them, it is only because the media has failed them.

This immoral anti-Muslim media combined with people's ignorance and prejudice is the primary source for the way people perceive Muslim-related issues today.

Wake up people.

There is hidden dehumanization war waged against Muslims by the media and few interest groups.

It is up to us to reject this hate campaign waged by the media under all kind of slogans while innocent people, who happen to be Muslim, are paying for this hate.

In the end, Muslims are just a minority in this country. Even if they wanted clarify things against this CONTINUING SLANDER against their faith, they would not be able to keep up.

You could have been born to Muslim parents too, and you would then know how it feels to read this slander almost on a daily basis in almost every newspaper in the country.

September 29, 2006 1:16 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 01:16

Karim:

How about this?

can't criticize Bush like that?!

http://movies.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=223104

Dixie Chicks Recall Death Threat

NEW YORK -- Natalie Maines says one of the death threats she received after criticizing President Bush three years ago was "definitely scary" because the sender "had a plan."

September 29, 2006 1:02 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 01:02

Karim:

Or this?

http://fametastic.co.uk/archive/20060504/1155/lindsay-lohan-support-from-yoko-ono-after-death-threats/

Lindsay Lohan turned to Yoko Ono for support after receiving death threats. Lohan started receiving the messages after agreeing to a role in Chapter 27, a film about Mark David Chapman, the man who killed John Lennon.

September 29, 2006 12:56 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 00:56

Karim:

Or these death threats against the producers of the film "Death of a President"?

http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/id/3552558

Sept 13, 2006

Bush 'Assassination' Team Receive Death Threats
Makers of the controversial film depicting a fictional attempt on President George W. Bush's life are receiving assassination threats of their own.

Death of a President has been hit with a torrent of criticism for depicting the imagined slaying of the leader, but now director/producer Gabriel Range and studio bosses fear for their own lives.

Bodyguards were hired to protect the team at the British movie's Toronto Film Festival premiere last weekend after a string of unsettling letters.

September 29, 2006 12:52 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 00:52

Karim:

KJ:

You wrote:

"However, for those of you that think that it's only Islam that has this reaction towards this stuff, think again. How many Jews protested during "The Passion of Christ" ? And just how many Catholics got pissed off at the movie "Dogma" ?

The difference is, in those cases, there were no threats of violence that we heard of."

Are you sure?

How about this (Dogma):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogma_(movie)

"Although there was no opposition to the film while the actual filming and pre-production was taking place, the following months of post-production and publicity were plagued with controversy over a perceived anti-Christian message read into the film. Over time, the filmmakers received over 300,000 pieces of hate mail including two-and-a-half death threats."

Why do you guys make blatant false statements?

I just don't understand.

September 29, 2006 12:34 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 00:34

Rick:

Really, this is all so dumb, including the headline of this post. ONE call was made. Anonymous. For all we know, it could have been a prank by some twisted person who used Islam as an excuse. Heck, for all we know, it could have been a schoolkid, or a competing Opera company, or a lunatic. Or a Christian who was offended by the Christ depiction. There was no violence. There were no riots. The Muslims who were aware of this didn't even see to care all that much according to reports.

But somehow, this has been turned into YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE of how Muslims are intolerant and violent, and bigots, and whatever other hateful things some commenters on this blog want to believe. Without one shred of proof that this had anything to do with "Muslim intolerance" vs. an over-reaction by an over-cautious Opera company.

Please. There are plenty examples of religious intolerance in the world, violently and peacefully expressed. Do we really need to make up one?

September 29, 2006 12:06 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 29, 2006 00:06

Robert:

I wish they could produce similar modern interpretation of Wagner's Twilight of the gods by burning all religious symbols.

September 28, 2006 9:46 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 21:46

Liberal:

Randy, *Most* Muslims are problem solvers, but rember, that poll of Muslim's taken in the Middle East tells us that 80% of them are violent bigots. That means 20% of them are decent, moral human beings who deserve our support. I've met Muslim's from Turkey and Pakestine and Saudi Arabia who were good people, people of faith and peace and good will. So, challenge the monster's, kill them if we must, but preserve the innocent, few though they may be.

September 28, 2006 8:46 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 20:46

randy:

muslims are problem creaters but some like that of pakistani lineage are tho most horrible lot ,they r related to every terrorist activity while muslims of turkish descent are far better so usually there are two sets of muslims like one of turkish descent quite liberal and secular while that of pakistani genre very orthodox,violent prone and nuisance makers wherever they are

September 28, 2006 8:32 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 20:32

SomeWhatLucid:

This is how a people of lesser political, military, and economic (except for oil) influence are attempting to and succeeding in changing the world to fit their own agenda. Through fear, the radical side of Islam is turning back the clock in their own countries, and intimidating western nations with rising Muslim populations. By playing the part of bully, this movement has quieted the moderates in its part of the world, and made its own voice heard. With the murders we have seen in Europe, and the Persian gulf, you can't really blame people for wanting to stand as far away from controversy and Islam as they can, but by caving in, they empower the movement. I don't envy people having to make these decisions.

September 28, 2006 8:30 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 20:30

S. P. Lo:

Beheading Prophets, Berlin Style
Washington Post, United States

On your above headline in freely promoting and re-engineering religous hatred, where are WashingPost's morals and conscience ?

from Malaysia

September 28, 2006 8:21 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 20:21

toshiro:

Wow. So you're condoning the violent methods used to censor, Gabriele?

That's pretty cavalier of you to sell out all of the hard fought freedoms of Western society.

September 28, 2006 7:32 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 19:32

gabriele:

what I find refreshing is that this act of cancelling an opera production provokes a discussion about the basic tenets of a society. This is the kind of reaction that would have been much more productive after 9/11 than rushing headlong into a "war against terror". Their values and grievances have to be countered by our values and ideas. And we have to live by these ideas (freedom, human rights, etc.) Only this way will be be able to convince the other side and reduce the amount of "terror".

September 28, 2006 7:21 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 19:21

toshiro:

Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile.

Berlin can concede this one if they wish, but unless they convert to Islam, they will infract on Muslims at some point in the future.

They will have to stand up for the things that they value sooner or later. Is it not obvious?

September 28, 2006 7:04 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 19:04

Liberal:

Zoyd - Don't you get a little sick and tired of Muslim sensabilties being put before everything we value in the West? I AM a liberal. Every value prized by liberalism, however, appears to be a threat to Islam and is somehow such a grave insult that they will burn down some building or blow it up or kill people. How about some reciprocity? Let's say, if what the Islamist's are advocating in Arabic newspapers today comes to past, they blow up the Vatican, how about we, in return, promise to launch undesignated and nuclear armed cruise missiles at Mecca and Medina and blow them off the map? How about we treat Muslims in the West *exactly* as Christian and Jews and Bahiists are treated in Muslem countries - taxes, public humiliation, bans on public worship, and all? If Muslim's seek to rewrite the Bible, let's allow Christian's to rewrite the Koran as they see fit, and force Muslim's to use that rewritten version? Let's publicly whip or execute Muslim missionaries and, just for good measure, let's take over every other mosque in the Western world in turn them into a church of some sort or another? Muslim's need to understand that the vast majority of mankind doesn't think they have any sort of "corner" on truth and we have reached a limit where we will accord them respect or special treatment and we are waaayyy past the point where we will tolerate violence of any sort directed at us without there being some very dire consequences.

September 28, 2006 7:01 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 19:01

Zoyd:

I've never watched Idomeneo and I'm not much of an opera fan, and hence I can't really empathize with those who might have to miss watching it in Berlin.

However, I think that we are in a critical period of time regarding the Middle-East, with wars and instability in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan and Somalia, not to mention a fragile and nuclear armed Pakistan and a potentially nuclear armed aspirant in Iran.

Under these circumstances, I feel that we shouldn't encourage a cultural showdown, or as someone already mentioned, throw fuel on the fire in this already burning region of the world.

But then again, I'm not an opera fan.

September 28, 2006 6:45 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 18:45

Liberal:

Muslims have no understanding of Western values or freedom and, instead, seek to impose their warped sense of values on the West. Look at "emir's comments: "What is wrong with the Muslims in Germany to allow this sick and twisted opera to continue. It is amazing how little morals or ethics westerners have". As if their rewriting of Christian and Jewish scripture and imposing that on followers of those religions was somehow okay. As if forbidding Christians and Jews from even building a chruch isn't sick. As if their stupif Dome of the Rock, originally an wooden shack built as an insult to Jews and enlarged using materials the Jewsish residents of Jeruselum were using to rebuild their temple, as if the thousands of Christian churches taken from Christian's and converted to mosques was some sort of practice of religious enlightenment. Islam, at least most of Islam, that cloddish and blood thirsty claptrap collection of Arabic folklore is an embarrasment and the worst con job ever perpetuated on humanity. Please excuse us emir, but Mohammid was a flimflam artist and a con man and the West has been far too gentle in dealing with Islamic sensibilties. No more.

September 28, 2006 6:13 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 18:13

Zathras:

The cartoons published in Denmark made a political statement, and the Pope sought to explore the relation between reason and faith. Unless we are all being badly misinformed about Neuenfels' production, this is just vulgar bad taste.

Just because one has the right to do something doesn't mean it's a good idea, and not everything an artist produces is actually art. In the United States a production like this would be ignored unless it was made using taxpayer money, and perhaps the Deutsche Oper might be asked to show that it hadn't subsidized an offensive production with any funds not given to it voluntarily.

I am all for fighting battles for free speech and defying intolerance, especially the ascendant Islamic variety of intolerance, but I would prefer the ground for such a battle not be chosen for me by some German mucking up Mozart with a gratuitous display of this kind.

September 28, 2006 5:53 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 17:53

Infidel Dave:

You can't insult Islam but they are free to insult, enslave, behead and subjugate the infidel.

If thats what they believe, fine. have at it. What turns my stomach is how the Dhimmis in the West tip toe around the Religion of Peace (TM).

Guess artists aren't so "edgy" and "defiant" when someone threatens to lop their heads off, eh?

September 28, 2006 5:05 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 17:05

Responding to S Peterson:

S. Peterson -

Your entry is yet another example how people try to promote their religious beliefs onto others, unwantingly.

This whole 'chat' is about bowing to pressure from a religious group.

Would you feel the same way about this pressure, if it was from your religion?

If not, then why are you wasting our time, with your dogma?

September 28, 2006 4:51 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 16:51

Another Atheist:

Coming from an atheists' perspective, religions are a choice of faith - and they are all pretty much the same to some degree - they offer hope to the followers who don't otherwise feel hope, optimism, etc..

If any one religion was seen by the god-fearing people of the world as 'right', we would have only one religion. But we don't. We have, I imagine, hundreds, if not more. The big 4 - Islam, Christianity, Judiasm, Buddism, (forgive me if I missed other 'biggies'), don't agree on 'religious facts' - how can any one religion be the right one with so many followers of each? And to quote the Koran, the Bible or the [Juadiasm text], is a mistake - who EXACTLY WHO, wrote those texts? (forgive the lack of knowledge for the Judaism book title) Oh and "God", is not an acceptable answer - because in all cases, PEOPLE wrote them. Ask a Muslim who wrote the Bible, ask a Christian who wrote the Koran. I'm not sure what they would say, but they certainly would not say God - not their God.

From my perspective as an athiest, I don't 'get' how one religious group cannot be tolerant of another - especially since religion is SUPPOSED to foster peace and understanding and all that good stuff.

While I understand how a religion, currently Islam, can be hi-jacked by some radicals, where are the moderates from that religion? Why don't they speak out, and LOUDLY?

South Park - the best comedy ever invented, holds no punches for anyone. When they make fun of religion, they make fun of everyone who believes, and those of us who don't. I laughed and laughed when they poked fun at athiests.

Grow up, and laugh at yourselves. Wouldn't god want it that way? (whomever your god is)

September 28, 2006 4:46 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 16:46

S. Petersen:

Doesn't the author of the Opera realize, Jesus already died. He also rose from the dead; death could not hold him.

September 28, 2006 3:39 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 15:39

KJ:

What crap - the show should and must go on. If we were to stop every performance because it offended someone, there would be no theatre, no movies, no sit-coms. Can you imagine how many people would threaten the creators of South Park?

However, for those of you that think that it's only Islam that has this reaction towards this stuff, think again. How many Jews protested during "The Passion of Christ" ? And just how many Catholics got pissed off at the movie "Dogma" ?

The difference is, in those cases, there were no threats of violence that we heard of.

I won't question whether Islam is a religion of peace or not. I've read about it and know that it supports peace. The problem is the current teachings and mindset of the fundamentalists whom have hijacked this religion. EVERY religion was hijacked at some point in its history.

Every religion has its quirks too; another reason why it feels so good to be an Atheist.

September 28, 2006 3:18 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 15:18

Sanity Sam:

Freedom comes with responsibility, and that means respect for every person's beliefs regardless of any religion. This play will still deliver its message without having to stoop so low to the level of South Parkiness. How much more disrespect and depravity can humanity tolerate in the name of freedom?

September 28, 2006 3:09 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 15:09

N salamon:

Sir:
With great respect it is not necessary for an opera director to change Mozart's work. If he is in need of a political and or religious statements, I bid him to hold a widely dispersed pre-taped interview, where he can insult any and all religions, if that is his wish, to his heart's content. If there are repercussions, then those are solely against him, not against his Mozart loving audience, nor against the musicians nor against the rest of the people involved in such a production.

Personally, I am getting tired of the need of media's and art's constant need to attack any and all religions, sans Judaism - for attacking the last will get FAR REACHING public disapproval [including legal sanctions]. I am aware that attacking the other religions seems to be a great sport of those who prefer the amorality of such great man of today as those who turtured in Iraq, Afganistan, etc .
Thank your for your interest.

September 28, 2006 3:06 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 15:06

emir:

What is wrong with the Muslims in Germany to allow this sick and twisted opera to continue. It is amazing how little morals or ethics westerners have. We do not allow the personification or insulting of any of the prophets including Jesus. It sickens us all to think that our religions nad prohets would be insulted in such a way.

September 28, 2006 2:58 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 14:58

MW:

I really liked Idomeneo. My recollection is that the original opera included no beheadings and no denigration of Jesus or Mohamet. What unbelievable ego to append such a gratuitous insult to the end of such a beautiful and enjoyable work.

September 28, 2006 2:46 PM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 14:46

sarfaraz:

Religious provocation in the name of freedom of expression.

Lets pour petrol, lots of it and lots of it, on the fire and sit back and enjoy the spectacle.

as a muslim I denounce your provocation because thats what it is. I would have thought that the Germans might have had a rest after the recent brush with fueling friction between the muslim world and the west but not a chance.

You have Neo Nazis being elected in Parliament and nobdy bats an eye. You ahve lost your humanity and your morality. You need to turn to the Quraan, a book which goethe after having read proclaimed: If this is Islam...then we are all Muslims.

September 28, 2006 11:53 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 11:53

Elsie E Connelly:

I really am afraid that in caving into 1 phone call they are setting a dangerous precedent. It is okay to denigrate Jesus, Buddha, any other religious figure except for Muhammad. I don't understand. If Islam is such a peaceful religion, you would have thought that they could get beyond all this. I for one, don't really give a tinker's d--n about what the Islamic people think. They don't care what I think but I am supposed to be all "so sorry about offending you". Not in a pig's eye. As far as I am concerned, get offended, if you get offended then don't go to the opera. PERIOD!!!!!
If Muslims want to be part of the world fine, but let them get some tolerance on their part, they shouldn't expect everyone to kowtow to them.
As far as I am concerned, I could care less what they think and how offended they are. GROW UP!!!!@!

September 28, 2006 10:58 AM | Report Offensive Comment

Posted on September 28, 2006 10:58

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Bowing to Muslim Pressure in Berlin?

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