Jan,
you illustrate the fundamental difference between the Christian faith, and the Islamic.

One, if following its founder will "turn the other cheek" when you mock it.

The other will assasinate you.

If you know a bit about the deep darkness that is Islam, you will understand why.

You should read as much as you can Jan, about the early years of the prophet. There was one occasion where some 14 yr old boy claimed 'prophethood' and one of Mohamed's companions wanted to immediately slice and dice the kid, but given Mohamed has ordered murders and other atrocities, it was not his compassion which saved the child, it was some whim of on the spot logic. "If he is right, u can't stop him, if he is wrong, what do u gain by killing him"
Pity that didnt occur to him for the 600-800 Banu Qurayza males slaughtered.

Nothing about 'We are not here to kill and judge.... we are here to Save (as Christ said on a number of occasions)

The saddest part of the freedom the secular world has to blame, stererotype, accuse, misrepresent and parody Christianity, is that a large number of people now do not have open minds to Christ, all they can see is the repeated stererotypes, and for those responsible, (as for us all)if they leave this life without repentance, they may be assured of an adequate reward when they stumble and stutter the 'why's of such action before Almighty God. Just as those from among us will have the same stutter in regard to evil perpretrated that we all know abundantly well about.

Personally I love Southpark, and even the Simpsons with Ned etc, some churches NEED a wake up call. If nothing else, those shows are food for reflection and very good discussion starters.

"God is not mocked, whatever a man sows, he will also reap"

But to repeat, the important difference is that in Christ, God is judge, in Islam, Allah's Followers' are judge jury and executioner.

'If you know a bit about the deep darkness that is Islam, you will understand why.'

No need to debate this guy, he talks himself into a hole every time.

Jan, you seem to be unaware of SBS's Pizza (aka Fat Pizza) comedy which includes the slapstick antics of Lebanese pizza delivery "boys". Pizza laughs at the the whole gamut of society's fears - if only SBS could bring it back!

For right or wrong you do get some in religions or other minorities who marginalise themselves. Whether laughter is the best medicine to bring them out of themselves depends on the circumstances.

Some minorities are not yet ready to be laughed about. It can takes years of integration before first or second generation Australian are ready. Your examples are off the mark. For example Con - actually an "Anglo" - and his "Greeks", are European and Christian hence they integrated faster and could be laughed with sooner.

Incidentally, laughter about particular groups go in and out of fashion - just watch reuruns of the Paul Hogan Show or Monty Python on video to see how jokes about aborigines are no longer funny (and were pretty lame then).

Noone knows whether a pointed campaign of humour about radical Muslims in Australia would increase the the likelihood of violence from them or towards them.

If you are unaware of the broad humour about Muslims (and just about everything else) in Pizza this stems from ignorance of the subject matter of your article rather than people being faint hearted about Muslim Australians.

I also wanted to bring "Fat Pizza" to your attention. I remember being horrified by the show when I returned to Australia after a couple of years of listening mostly to the BBC World Service - but I have come to enjoy it (somewhat) for the self-deprecating fun.

Team America is also amusing in demonstrating Western ignorance about Islam - when an actor is sent in to be an Islamic terrorist with one nonsensical phrase: "Dirka dirka Mohammed Jihad".

The last thing I want to do is get into a quotation war with Boaz - but here goes.God forgive me!

In Matthew 18 Jesus said if your brother sins against you tell him. Maybe he blew up your grain store or something.

If he then fails to see a problem, dig up some witnesses and let them know - your brother still doesn't give a black rat about yor feelings - so you then tell the Church. Even with church support your brother remains un apologetic.

So what did Jesus say to do then?

He said treat your brother like a gentile or a tax collector. Shun them you might think! Noooooo, not the big JC!

And how did The Big J treat gentile and tax collectors? He embraced them, he was inclusive, he was understanding!; even during Easter when he was just hanging around he was full of forgiveness for them that done him wrong.

I dont get too much of that ( forgiveness, understanding and the like ) in your world view Boaz old buddy.

You strike me as the sort of guy who is keen on retributive justice; read what Martin Luther King had to say on the subject and lighten up on those you fear.

And u seem to be pretty scared; God knows why. I fail to see all that much that alarms me, apart from the fiasco that is N'orleeenz and the laying bare of Americas underclass and the wrath that might rain down onto the heads of the evil doers whose policies of avarice and greed created them. Now there's something to worry about - more so than a bunch of god fearing muslims who are more like you and me than you might care to think

Abraham Lincoln said by embracing your enemy you destroy him - there should be a lot more huggin' goin' on. I'm up for it. C'mon BD give us all a fond embrace.

An interesting and thought provoking article, which I agree with in principle (although it's a shame to miss out on the Pizza tv show ... I haven't seen it either, but it sounds like a good laugh).

Such a shame that in the current cliamte of political correctness in Australia you have to use a nom-de-plume to write it!

Why do so many of our Posts appear to be manufacturing dislike towards the Islamics, when our leaders still seem to support the occupation of their lands for contraband and hegemon?

We do not have much of this happening in our universities, thank goodness, where we have such a mix of nationalities.

Here we have to be careful that our right-wing leanings caused these day by the fear of terrorism, might make us like our Germanic cousins were, the Nazis, this time not towards the Jews, but towards the Arabs and Islamics.

George C, WA - Bushbred

Why do our Posts generate so much dislike towards the Islamics when at the same time we intrude into their lands for hegemon and contraband? You do not get much of this sort of thing in our universities, especially in our schools of Humanities, where we do have a mixture of nationalities, thank goodness. It is well to remember that us so-called Christians have failings too. Here we can cite the Nazis whom if you read your Western geneologies, you will find that many of us are closely related to the Germanic stock.

Sadly this does prove that if we move too far to the right, as the fear of Islamic terrorism appears to be doing to us and our leaders, because we are mostly the same stock we might become cruel and callous like the Nazis, this time not towards the Jews but towards the Arabs, or the Islamics.

George C, WA - Bushbred

I am disappointed that bushbred and others have not got the message on the middle east. I think the best two sayings on the subject come form British politicians in the 1940's.

Selwyn Lloyd said: The problem is that the kingdom of heaven runs on righteousness, the kingdom of earth runs on oil, and the arabs have got the oil.

Stafford Cripps said at the UN that he hoped the arabs and the jews would settle their differences in a true christian spirit.

isnt the standard criterior for any fundamentalist is that they havent got the joke.

Q: How many Muslims does it take to change a lightbulb ?
A: None. If the lightbulb has died, it is the will of Allah, and it would be blasphemy to attempt to change it.

Q: How many Christian fundamentalists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None. The Bible doesn't mention light bulbs.

Q: How many Hindus does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Two. One to change it and one to do the puja.

OM.

Q: How many agnostics does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None. I can't see any light bulb so I don't know if there is one.

(just so I feel included too)

R0bert

'he hoped the arabs and the jews would settle their differences in a true christian spirit'

Now THATS funny. Those jokes were alright, but get a load of that sentence!

Love the article.
You might be interested in a similar piece on New Matilda; "Let's put the fun back into fundamentalism."

WHAT! mock a pagan religion that promises craven, gutless, suicide bombers or murderers an XXX - rated paradise. What is it ? 70 perpetual virgins and 32 perpetual untouched poofta boys. Mock a pagan religion such as that - NEVER! numbat

Wellll not quite a feeding frenzy on poor old BOAZ and I'll resist the temptation to describe my opponents as 'Pirhana's :) but its all good.
Nothing quite like a bit of 'rabid fundamentalism' (to some) to bring out the equally, or perhaps 'surpassing' rabid secularism :) of others.
Nevertheless, I don't mind a whack or two, or even three, just keep it biblical and I'll be fine.

Now.. SNEEKEPETE
-just a mild correction there brudda... (and we don't need a quoting war, just correct use of the Good Book)

The reference you made was a most important one. The 'progessive and proportional' approach to wrong doing.

A crime or offence is committed against you:

1/ Tell the perpetrator between you and him alone. If he listens, you have gained your brother
if not
2/ Call witnesses, 2 or 3, if he still does not accept responsibility,
if he still does not listen..
3/ call the deacons/Church/gathering/community and if he STILL does not accept responsibility.. KILL HIM.... oops... wait.. I misquoted :)

It actually says "Treat him like a pagan or tax collector" now.. that has teeth doesn't it ? Pagans, and tax collectors. Jews would not have fellowship with them, associate with them, intermarry with them.
but nowhere is there any suggestion to hurt them, kill them, punish them with anything other than social ostracization. UNLIKE... the darkness I've been regularly attacking.

Of course, anyone can pull the 'my religion is better than yours' card out, but its not a trump. What matters is the reality and the facts. People can decide which is 'better' when they know the truth.

Sneeke.. Jesus did not embrace 'unrepentant' tax collectors, he did mingle with them, as their Savior, his mere presence was enough to melt their corrupt hearts "Lord, look, I return 4 fold what I stole" (Zachaeus) "Come, follow me" to Matthew.

Mahatma, they are quite funny.. good 1.

Even the Malayians poke fun at black burkha wearing arabs.

Q - What do muslims yell out in a strip bar?

A - Show us your face!

I thought the joke was that no one had specified the age or sexual attractiveness of the virgins...

Actually the joke might be that the virgins are male. Rounding up 72 male virgins might be a Sisyphean task but it must be undertaken nonetheless to please the mighty one. However, I don't recall reading that the virgins must be female.

Imagine a suicide bomber entering paradise and asking for his 72 virgins. He is escorted to a room and told: "Enjoy yourself". He opens the door and he spots 72 unshaven, sandal-wearing, ugly, fat, sweaty men smelling of camel dung and all pouting their lips.

A chap walks in to a sex shop in London and asks for an inflateable doll.

The sales attendant ask him whether he'd like a male or female. "female, pls" , he says.

Black or white, sir? "White, thank you" he replies.

Christian or Muslim, sir? "I say, what on earth has religion to do with a sex toy" exclaims the customer.

Replies the attendant, in a whisper, "the Muslim dolls tend to blow themselves up, sir"

[came from London, a few days after 7/7 ]

I agree with the gist of the article - that Islam should be sent up along with everything else. However, it should be Muslims themselves who laugh at their own religion, and I have seen precious little humour in the world of Islam. Any religion that decrees execution for 'apostates' (those who leave Islam) really doesnt have many prospect for humour or irony).

sneekeepete: "Now there's something to worry about - more so than a bunch of god fearing muslims who are more like you and me than you might care to think" ---

well, I dunno about that one. Perhaps they are like *you* - but I dont see much resemblance to myself in the Muslim worldview. For example:

THE founder of Australia's first Muslim political party says he wants Koranic law put in place nationally. "We want leaders who believe in Allah and will legislate accordingly for the laws that Allah prefers for our personal lives."

Senior Kuwaiti Official: "Katrina is a Wind of Torment and Evil from Allah Sent to This American Empire"

'In reaction to Hurricane Katrina and the destruction in its wake, a high-ranking Kuwaiti official, Muhammad Yousef Al-Mlaifi, who is director of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Endowment's research center, published an article titled "The Terrorist Katrina is One of the Soldiers of Allah, But Not an Adherent of Al-Qaeda."

"Have the storms have joined the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization?"

"The Disaster Will Keep Striking the Unbelievers for What They Have Done"

"But before I went to sleep, I opened the Koran and began to read in Surat Al-R'ad ['The Thunder' chapter], and stopped at these words [of Allah]: 'The disaster will keep striking the unbelievers for what they have done, or it will strike areas close to their territory, until the promise of Allah comes to pass, for, verily, Allah will not fail in His promise. ' [Koran 13:31]."

I dont see that we have anything in common with these people, or that we ever will. Australia has had to alter our laws and enact new ones to restrain Muslim behaviour. Not funny.

I note in Dee's post how Muhammad Yousef Al-Mlaifi, who is director of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Endowment's research center, said: "The Terrorist Katrina is One of the Soldiers of Allah". I wonder if his view of the Tsunami is the same. If he responded with aid to the Americans like the Western infidels responded to Aceh.

I say - Please POST MORE JOKES! We could put together a joke book for Muslim Immams lectures.

Does this mean that referring to Arabs as towel-heads is no longer considered to be in bad taste?

Imagine if the Global Caliphate were a reality and there was a David Letterman-type TV show (The Late Show with "Jihad" Jack Thomas, or something) and it had Top 10 Halal (permitted) songs and Top 10 Haram (forbidden) songs. Let's all have a laugh before the Shi'ite hits the fan.

Top 10 Halal songs
1. Everybody must get stoned. - Bob Dylan/Ayatollah Khomeini
2. On the Sunni side of the street. - Various/Abu Musab Zarqawi
3. The train in Spain lies mainly on the slain. - Julie Andrews/OBL
4. Hello Mullah, hello Fatwa. - Alan Sherman
5. Yasser, that's my baby. - Various/ Jacques Chirac
6. Taqiyya Sunrise. - The Eagles/Keysar Trad/Waleed Ali
7.You can leave your hijab on. - Joe Cocker/Cat Stevens/John Howard
8. Pub with no beer. - Slim Dusty/Sharia Council
9. Baby you can bomb my car. - Beatles/Mujahedeen
10. Horse with no head. - (Death to) America/Blind Jihadis

Top 10 Haram songs
1. I don't like Moslems. - Boomtown Rats/Dhimmis
2. I wanna hold your ham. - Beatles/Apostates
3. Guantanamo Bay. - Christina Aguilera/The Glove Puppets/Harry Potter/Interrogators
4. Sisters are doin' it for themselves. - Annie Lennox & Aretha Franklin/Asra Nomani
5. Days of wine and roses. - Various/Infidels
6. Young Americans. - David Bowie/Najis
7. We don't see eye to eyeslit. - Mike and the Mechanics/Kaffirs
8. Love for sale. - Cole Porter/The Sex Workers
9. Glad to be Gay - Tom someone or other/Freddie Mercury/Reg Dwight/Najis
10. Die, Mister Mujahedeen-man. - Bob Dylan/The Non-Idiotarians

Here is a joke from a muslim:

A very beautiful woman was walking on the roof of a building and she suddenly trips over something and falls down. On her way falling down, an American man catches her, she says: "Oh thank you, you saved my life, I'll do ANYTHING for you..."

The man says: "Okay then, sleep with me."
She says : "You PIG!NEVER!"
So he says "FINE" and he drops her down.
So she's falling and screaming...
Suddenly a German man catches her in the air from his balcony, she says:"Oh thank you, you saved me, I'll do anything that you ask..."

The guy says : "Fraulein, sleep with me."
She replies: "Oh you nasty pig!NEVER!"
So the man says : "Fine!" and he also drops her down again.

She's falling and thinking that it was better if she slept with one of those men and now she's going to die.

Suddenly, a Muslim man catches the woman from his balcony, she says : "Oh thank you, you saved my life, I'll SLEEP with you!!"

The Muslim man replies : "Oh God forgive me" and he drops her.

Now that is fine self-aware humour Fellow Human... not only that but it's funny!

Q: How many Muslims does it take to change a light-bulb?
A: 7. 1 to change it and 6 to rant about how it was all a Zionist conspiracy to have light-bulbs that wear out in the first place.

The world's shortest books:
Muslim female tennis champions (swimming teams, stand-up comediennes, astronauts, jelly-wrestlers etc).
Muslim tolerance and honesty.
Self-analysis and Islam.
Practical uses of the burka and FGM.
Muslim Pin-Ups (except, of course Irfan "Mr. Potato-head" Yusef).
Public executions in non-Muslim lands.
mulsim speling bez.
"I'm only showing you this once"- Suicide bomber instructors.

The world's longest books:
Church, bible and library desecration in Islam.
Muslim tyrants and despots.
Hate speeches and mouth-frothing tirades against Jews and Infidel pig-dogs at friday Khutbahs.
"Kill a Jew? Don't mind if I do!" - Various.
"Four wives AND concubines and slave-girls! Knob on, boys". - Muslim blokes-world.
Taqiyya and Kitman in the West.

Thanks reason, I am surprised at people who think we don't have humour.

1. Hasan cannot perform the Ramadan fast-- No matter how hard he tries, he just loves eating.

One day, a group of his friends come up to him on the street.

One speaks, "Hasan, we are your friends, and we have noticed that even though you do not fast for Ramadan, you do join with your family and partake in the predawn meal of Souhour. What we want to know is, if you do not fast, then why even bother with Souhour?"

Hasan replied: "my dear friends, if I cannot do what is compulsory (Fasting) at least I can do what is recommended (sunnah)

2. A Hindu, a Muslim, and a politician are traveling across the country together. In the middle of Kansas, their car breaks down, so they push it to the nearest farm to fix it, but it gets dark by then. They ask the farmer if they can spend the night, and he says, 'Yup. We gots us a guest bed that will hold two of yer, but one of y'all gonna have to sleep in the barn.'

The travelers agreed and the Hindu voulenteers to sleep in the barn. The politician and the Muslim go up to the guest room, but five minutes later, they hear a knock on the door. Its the Hindu, who says, 'Guys, I was lying down to go to sleep, but then I see this cow near me, and my religion won't allow me to sleep under the same roof as a cow.'

The Muslim understands, so he voulenteers, but five minutes later, when the Hindu and politician are getting ready for bed, there's another knock on the door. It's the Muslim, and he says, 'Hey, I'm truly sorry, but I was going to sleep when this pig started oinking near me, and my religion won't let me sleep near a pig.'

The politician finally agrees to sleep in the barn. Five minutes later, there's another knock on the door. It's the cow and pig.

Numbat and others on a similar line, please read some good books on Western history in university libraries.

Unfortunately over the many years of Western dominance over coloured races, Westerners have been able to stare a coloured man down thinking they have culture and power behind them. But as experienced with our Aborigines, watch their eyes as we should watch the eyes of our Muslims, and see if you can tell the difference between feelings of hurt and hatred. During WW2 in the Middle East, unfortunately, Arabs tended to drop their eyes when they were not much better than lackeys for Western troops, so-called successful Western colonialism and economic imperialism having rendered them that way.

What we are left with in the West, is a worry about a culture that has not made the grade compared to what it was when Westerners were still classed as barbarians and Muslims helped to get us out of the Dark Ages. It is understandable that now like our Aborigines many of these people will lower their eyes to hide their envy and possible hatred, but down deep it is understandable that they would have feelings of some sort of revenge. Thus among Arabs, we have mothers gifting their sons and daughters as suicide bombers to fight for their rights. Also the story about dying for an afterlife with multiple virgins could be mostly a furphy, for what do the young Arab females ever get for giving their lives, but for the gift of giving the ultimate for their people, similar to the Tamil Tiger girl who blew herself up killing young Rajiv Gandhi, leader of India at the time. Surely that girl should not be called scum, as Mr Beazley has intimated for all terrorists.

George C, WA - Bushbred

We were doing well with inclusiveness there for a while ...

Q: How many atheists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: One. Atheists are accustomed to taking responsibility for their own actions.

Kim

Love the article. hear hear! A really popular comedy show that makes fun of ozzie mozzies in Australia would actually be very theraputic for the whole country. Skits about aussie mozzie girls carrying bombs underneith their burkas, or new burqa fashions eg. see thru burkas made out of plastic that would not only keep the rain off, but also ensure that no bombs could be hidden. Hijabs that look just like hair so as not to offend your peers at school.
A bit of humour might actually enhance the image of muslims! Come on Australian muslims, lead the way!

We don't make jokes about Islam for the same reason as we don't generally tend to make many jokes about mentally and physically handicapped kids--because these kids are to be pitied not laughed at. We also suspect that the vast majority of Christians don't really believe what they say--they are fair game. Sure Christians use the rhetoric for polical effect and sure they enjoy a good sing, but they don't really mean it. There are enough Jerry Falwells and Ian Paisleys for us all to have a good laugh. However, Muslims are different, they actually believe in their religion and therefore they are like the handicapped kid, they can't help it and you don't make jokes about people who can't help themselves. It would be fine if they played at their religion like most catholics and protestants and even the Jews. For us in the west religion is a life style choice, something we to do, to fill the day. But not for muslims, they believe and as such they just aren't funny, to be pitied but not to be laughted at.

JB1

Have you not bothered to follow this thread?

On it you will find plenty of humour, ranging from the not-so-well-meaning/borderline offensive 'humour' of skidmarx (relieved I don't have to do his laundry) to the laugh-out-loud variety provided by Fellow Human.

Or perhaps you deliberately ignored these posts in order to promote the stereotype of muslims-not-having-a-sense-of-humour? Why lose an opportunity to denigrate some people, hey?

Never let reality get in the way of a chance to vilify.

Fuzzman, you nearly got it right, only you missed the punchline (remember, this came from London....)

A chap walks in to a sex shop in London and asks for an inflatable doll.

The sales attendant ask him whether he'd like a male or female. "Female, please" he says.

Black or white, sir? "White, thank you" he replies.

Christian or Muslim, sir? "I say, what on earth has religion to do with a sex toy" exclaims the customer.

"The Muslim dolls blow themselves up, sir"

"And the Christians?"

"They never go down on you."

JB1, your comment is so funny.

Anyway on the topic, more Muslim jokes from a muslim:

1.
Child: why there was no Television in Afghanistan?
Father: cause they have a ‘tele-ban’ movement son!

2.
A Muslim, A Christian and a Jew were talking about charity:

- The muslim said, Our zakat is compulsory 2.5% of all we own.
- The Christian said: the priest tell us to dig a hole and throw our money in the air, what lands in the whole goes to the church and what land outside we take home.
- The Jewish guy said: we dig a hole and throw our money, what lands in the whole belongs to the temple, what lands outside we take to our kids and what the winds take goes to charity.

3.
A missionary landed in Indonesia and hired a rickshaw pulled by a Muslim worker. Not wasting time, the missionary started preaching about his faith, the glory of God and the Muslim was listening with interest. Until the missionary mentioned the ‘son of God’ then the rickshaw stopped: “how many sons does your almighty, all powerful, all wealthy God have?”. Only one, replied the missionary. The rickshaw stopped and the muslim worker looked puzzled: "I work all day to feed 12 sons and your God can afford only one?"

Q: What do you call a fundamentalist agnostic
A: An athiest

R0bert

Why do people persist in believing all Muslims think the same it's like saying all Christians are like BOAZ_DAVID! My contribution

One day an atheist was taking a walk through the woods.
"What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!" he said to himself. " And to think they were all created by a cosmic accident"
As he was walking alongside the river he suddenly heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to see a seven foot grizzly bear charging towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path but he looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing in on him.
Suddenly he tripped and fell to the ground. As he rolled over to pick himself up he saw the bear right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him.
At that instant the Atheist cried out: "Oh my God!"
All at once time stood still. The bear froze. The forest was silent. As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky: "You deny my existence for all of these years, teach others I don't exist, and even credit creation to a cosmic accident. Why do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?"
The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask You to treat me as a believer now, but perhaps could you make the BEAR a believer?"
"Very well," said the voice. The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And then the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together and bowed his head and spoke:
"Lord, bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty , Amen.

Nice thread :D

Forgive me if I add this probably apocryphal story about my namesake being met by reporters:

Reporter: “What do you think of Western Civilization, Mr. Gandhi?”

Gandhi: “I think it would be a good idea.”

Really enjoying this thread people. A leetle more religious humour.

The Revised 10 Commandments.

" * Thou shalt shut thy gob when politely asked, and not drone on endlessly.
* Thou shalt not use circular arguments, such as "God exists, because the Bible sayeth so, and the Bible is True because it is God's Word."
* Thou shalt notice when thy audience is bored rigid. See Commandment 1.
* Thou shalt not use a cop-out such as "God worketh in mysterious ways" when backed into a corner by thine own convoluted logic.
* Thou shalt use thine own imagination, and not just quote from the Bible all the time.
* Thou shalt not tell atheists what they believe, nor that thy God loveth them.
* Thou shalt not get upset by jokes about thy God. He is big enough and old enough to looketh after himself.
* Thou shalt not define how thy God worketh. Thou canst know.
* Thou shalt not state that the Bible is consistent and hath no contradictions. Thou wouldst be a fool to doeth so.
* Thou shalt not say Grace without also thanking the farmers, truck-drivers and shopkeepers that actually did the work required to get your food to the table.

© Adrian Barnett 1997"

Now I really wasn't thinking about BD when I posted this. Truly, honestly, may I burn in hell if I tell a lie.

Hey Sneekipeet or whatever,
why are you attacking Boaz?
You seem to completely miss the point! Boaz's angle is :

There are certain groups of people who don't want to "embrace"
the rest of us for many reasons, usally due to racism, extreme ethnocentrism, and when it all boils down, "fear". That's right!
It is the very people that Boaz, myself and others attack that are the ones that don't want to "embrace", mix in with the rest of us, or even tolerate us.They fear us; we don't fear them! However, I think you and ilk do fear them, as you can't even criticize them even when they are clearly racist. What is wrong with wanting to rectify such horrible people?
How can you miss the point so fully? It is really quite simple :

We attack nazis, kkk, racists across the board, irrespective of colour; you and those who think like you only see words like bigot or racist next to white people. The reason is because our media and education system have obviously brainwashed you into being extremely selective on these issues, and to see the "other" as some kind of sub-human that needs to be patronised, not treated equally, No way! This would mean occasionally getting cranky with them as is the normal course of things! You wouldn't want that would you?
Think about this very carefully : you are treating them like some kind of lepper that you don't want to offend, because you arrogantly assume that they are less than you and need to be patronised.

Don't get it still. Think Freudian slip!

Eyes that don't see ears that don't hear M.S.Burns can you give an example of your alerting us to white/Christian extremism? The only post’s I see you guys making is about Muslims, blacks and Asians. The cure to racism and other intolerances is the same as alcoholism realize you have a problem Monty.

Trinity - so much righteousness. What's it like up there on the moral high ground? And bossy too, with the "stay on topic" guff. I do my own laundry, by the way. Are you some kind of "Better Dead Than Rude", holier-than-thou washerwoman?
Sure, my 'humour' is blunt, but then, in case you hadn't noticed there's an ideological global war being waged and our "leaders" and the media refuse to name the enemy, in their present state of denial. It's like wading through treacle. The window of free speech about Islam and terrorism is closing; half-truths and wishful thinking dominate public debate.

bushbre(a)d (damper) - Mr. moral-equivalence/cultural-self-loather/apologist/quisling/propaganda-victim/logically-challenged dimwit all rolled into one! Good books in university libraries? You gotta be joking. Muslims helped to get us out of the Dark Ages? Do you mean the historical revisionists Karen Armstrong, Edward Said, the "myth of Andalucia" created by such writers as Maria Rosa Menocal, Chateaubriand and Irving? Dream on.
Try these historians (if your uni has them) - Bat Ye’or, Samuel Huntington, K.S. Lal, Jadunath Sarkar, Sita Ram Goel, J. B. Kelly, Mary Boyce, Dadrian, W. R. W. Gardner and Patricia Crone for starters. Then, I suggest, Ibn Warraq, Andrew Bostom, Robert Spencer, Oriana Fallaci and the Gertrude Bell diaries.
As for ".... afterlife with multiple virgins could be mostly a furphy", there are multiple examples of Muslims believing this on the internet and in print. See Qur'an 44:51-56; 52:17-29; 55:46-78.
If THEY say they are martyrs in the name of Islam and go to paradise with multiple virgins, we must believe them. Is it not the height of illiberalism and arrogance to deny them the right to define themselves?
Since the 1970s academia has been dominated by Edward Said’s view that any critical look at Islam by Westerners was ipso facto racist and imperialist. This idea has coalesced nicely, of course, with the multiculturalist dogma that the Judeo-Christian West is responsible for all the evils in the world, and that those outside of and set against Western civilization can only be victims, never perpetrators.

Back ten centuries ago, the Pope decided that all the Muslims had to leave Jerusalem. Naturally there was a big uproar from the Muslim community. So the Pope made a deal. He would have a religious debate with a member of the Muslim community. If the Muslim won the debate, all the Muslims could stay. If the Pope won, all the Muslims would have to leave.
The Muslims realised that they had no choice. They looked around for a champion who could defend their faith, but no one wanted to volunteer. It was too risky. But they finally picked their representative, an old Mullah who unknowingly agreed without knowing what he was getting himself into. He agreed only on the condition that neither side be allowed to talk but communicate by miming. The pope agreed.
The day of the great debate came. The Mullah and the Pope sat opposite each other for a full minute before the Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers. The Mullah looked back at him and raised his middle finger..
The Pope waved his fingers in a circle around his head. Mullah Nasruddin pointed to the ground and stamped his foot.
The Pope pulled out a wafer and a glass of wine. Mullah pulled out an apple. The Pope stood up and said, 'I give up. This man is too good. The Muslims can stay.

cntd...

cntd...

An hour later, the cardinals were all around the Pope asking him what happened. The Pope said: "First I held up three fingers to represent the Trinity. He responded by holding up one finger to remind me that there was still one God common to both our religions. Then I waved my finger around me to show him that God was all around us. He responded by pointing to the ground and stamping on it, showing that God was also right here with us. I pulled out the wine and the wafer to show that God absolves us from our sins. He pulled out an apple, reminding me of the first sin. He had an answer for everything. What could I do?"
Meanwhile, the Muslim community had crowded around the Mullah in total astonishment. "What happened?" they asked. "Well,"said the Mullah, "First he said to me that we Muslims had three days to leave Jerusalem. I told him up yours. Then he told me that this whole city would be cleared of Muslims. I said none of us leaving this land!"
"And then?' asked a woman."
"He took out his lunch and I took out mine," said the Mullah.

A few years back when Jimeon had his show on TV he did this skit about how to make home made goods.

All he did was take the labels off and put a piece of checkered cloth around the top with a rubber band.

He went through with jam, and pickles and all kinds of things until he picked up a picture of Yasser Arafat and said - "He's homemade".

So the muslim jokes have been around for a while.

t.u.s

Another joke by Muslims,

In the Egyptian army, an army general known for his tough military attitude was leading the Friday prayer. After he started praying and coming to the part where followers should say "amen". (Amen should be said in a quite peaceful manner).
He stopped the prayer and turned around facing the muslim soldiers saying:
"As you were! No soft Amen allowed here, I want a loud enough Amen to bring the mosque down on our heads!".

I think so far most jokes here are from muslims 'who don't have a sense of fun' according to Jan Martel!.

Regards

I agree Muslims all over the world whereever they are living should integrate with the respective societies. If they think that they cannot (for what ever reasons), they must ensure that they do not cause any problems for the people of other societies.

However, i believe that a persons religion may be a sensitive matter for him/her and if they cannot take a joke, let not turn that into a BIG JOKE!! After all we live in a free society and we have to care about every ones rights.

I believe that the person who commented in the rape case, then he should be ashamed for himself. Rape is considered to be one of the biggest sins in Islam with a very high degree of punishment.
The perso making the statement should not be givig such excuse for it..A rape is a rape, you just cannot make any excuses and the victim must be provded full justice and the committer of the act punished asap.

There are good and bad people in every religion and to generalise an opinion about a specific religion based on a sample of bad people from that religion to the extent of criticising or misqouting the Prophet(s) of that religion must be avoided.

As far as terrorism is concerned, the terrorists (irrespective of their religion) should be dealt with full justice. I strongly condemn terrorism.

Unfortunately, a certain class (i believe) of Muslims (and those claiming to be Muslims) have misinterpreted the true teachings of Islam and hence the prevailing image of Islam.

I believe that the people of Australia are one of the friendliest people in this world (i mean it).

If the Muslims etc as seen on tv are not wanting to be part of the Australian society, they should/must leave this country rather than making life embarrassing for the other Muslims trying to integrate with other societies.

By writing this, i am only trying to create a friendly relation between people of all religions and to sort out the differences, after all we are human beings first and then anything else.

John Smith – I would agree with much of the sentiment of your post.

However, religion can be a sensitive matter for many – jokes about it might offend. However, part of the Western and Australian way is to make jokes at the expense of all and every religion, social group etc. I recall the late departed Dave Allan and his incisive stabs at Catholicism with hysteria. I myself, being a “pome”, have been on the receiving end of many a comment – my only response – to give back as good as I have received and left smiling with my adversary.

Thus, Muslims and anyone else needs to understand – if someone wants to migrate and live in Australia, part of the price they pay for migrating is to assimilate by observing and adopting Australian ways and manners.

I have observed, being the butt of a joke is part of that way and manner – no sacred cows, no taboos. Everything is up for a laugh and damn us all if we let the politically correct tell us what we can or cannot laugh at.

That also means that Solomon Rushdie is free to write whatever he wants about anything and worthy of our defence against any fatwa just as writers of books which criticise roman Catholicism are rightly free and worthy of defence from the Office of the Inquisition.

Don't worry Col, at least you whinging Poms can't complain about the cricket anymore. lol

t.u.s

Just so the PC crowd won't feel left out:

Q. How many feminists does it take to change a light bulb?
A. That's not funny!

Yes, John Smith, rape is a very serious offence in the Islamic culture.

In Pakistan, women who claim that they have been raped have admitted to "fornication" which is a crime under Islam. Her fate, if she is not immediately murdered by her family for bringing "shame" upon them, is to be charged with "Allowing Oneself to be Raped" (no kidding) She is then immediately arrested by the Pakistan police and locked up in a cell where she is usually gang raped again by the police.

That woman can not have the man or men convicted of that rape unless she can produce four Muslim men of good character who watched the rape from start to finish, and who will testify against her rapist. Since that is hardly possible, one can only conclude that rape,or the threat of rape,is a means that Islamic men use to keep women under their heels.

Think I am making that up? Punch in "Amnesty International"+ "Pakistan"+ "rape" and read for yourself.

If you have a religion which tells youing men that women who are raped deserve it, and if it tells them that women who do not behave in a set way are the lowest form of sluts, and if that religion tells it's young men that all men have a right to chastise women for their behaviour, then you are creating attitudes conducive to an acceptance of rape. That explains the very high incidence of rape by Muslim men in western societies.

That is why this particular religion is dangerous and the presence of Muslims in this country represents an unacceptable threat to Australian women.

Redneck,

Rape crime is punshiable by death or life sentence.
Adultery is a sin in Islamic religion. Not sure what is the Pakistani rules u refer to is coming from but probably its there habits.

This guy goes to a 'Christian' dude ranch, he wants to have a ride on a horse.
The manager tells him "This is a Christian ranch, and the horses only respond to christian talk... example.. to make the horse move, you say "Praise the Lord"... to make it stop, you say "amen".

Ok.. here is your horse.. jump on it. Now.. off u go.
The guy digs the horse in the flanks.. nothing. "Giddyup".. nothing.
Then he remembers.. aah. "Praise the Lord"... and off the horse trots..
clippety clop... etc.. as they are going along, the horse breaks into a trot.. and then a gallop..the man notices in the distance what appears to be a sudden drop... then as he draws closer he can see its a CLIFF... he pulls back on the reigns.. whoaaaaah horsy.. stopppppp.. WOAAHHHH...... nothing... the horse keep galloping... then at the last second.. he remembers.. AMEN !... and the horse stops.. just at the edge of the cliff... in relief he exlaims.. "man that was CLOSE.....praise the Lord".....

I am just wondering why do people get such a thrill in degrading Muslims? why do u care about how they dress? honestly the way you all degrade the Hijjab is sick. Would you ask and catholic Nun to take off her dress? what about Mary (peace be upon her) ( jesus mother peace be upon him) would you degrade her and say bad jokes about her Dress? infact any of the other prophets wives who wore clothes just like muslim women do now would you degrade them?
Do you know why the hijjab is worn? i am guessing not. it is because GOD asked women to cover from head to toe, even in christian bible the one that has not been changed. Also to protect her from the evil and sick mind of the men who can not control themselves around women wearing short skirts g'string swimmers etc. so before you go judging what muslim women wear with respect for themselves their husband and their love of GOD. why not ask them about it first, you will see muslim women have a lot of freedom you don't see it because you just listern to the press.

Muslims want to integrate, but it is hard for them when they face stuff and racism like what is printed in this article. Would you like it if someone Joked about what you believe in? see that is difference with some that believes in GOD and his prophets, and someone that doesn't believe in GOD or his prophets. Anyone that can poke fun of someone elses religion and their culture does not believe in GOD. Because incase you have forgotten WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE THAT PERSON? IF YOU JUDGE THAT PERSON BE PREPARED TO BE JUDGED on judgement day.

Who is going to help all you people that are judging muslims and other religions when you are buried in your grave waiting to be questioned about your life?

Before you judge Islam why not learn about it first, why don't you go to a mosque and talk to the sheik?

St Ilk

This is a modern civilisation, we knock the christians all the time, they take it on the chin. Jews, Athiests, everyone get made fun of, its not a huge problem to us here.

The poster Boaz just above is a dedicated christian, he just made a christian joke.

There is movment to have female preists or some postion which they have never had access to before... Some christian churches allow it now some don't, people debate it lobby either for or against etc...

islams bad behavior rioting killing etc is not our way.

st_alk: Degrading islam - no! that's how we see pagan islam, that's how islam is portrayed for us.
I look at women wearing bikinis etc and control myself. Whatever a woman wears is her business whether it is provocative or not.
yes! we read all the time the wonderful freedoms islamic women have, in various moslem nations.
1. Women cannot drive a vehicle.
2. Cannot be educated
3. Can be sold as a bride
4. Their word is only worth half a man's.
5. Women must be accompanied by a male relative whenever they leave their house.
6. They can be murdered by a male relative - called "honour?" killing
7. If a woman is raped and goes to court there must have been at least three men who have watched this alleged rape to witness for her. If not then the victim is charged with adultery and executed.
Why go to a pagan mosque to learn about a pagan death-loving cultish religion. We can see just what islam is like by watching and/or listening to the daily news. numbat

Muslim Joke

One day a group of IBM scientists were having a discussion about what was the true religion and if there was a god at all. They decided to post the question to IBM's supercomputer Deep Blue the same computer that beat chess grandmaster Gary Kasparov. After months of programming the computer the programmers started the computation. The computer worked on the problems for months and its microprocessors kept getting hotter and hotter even though it was in an airconditioned room. IBM then interfaced Deep Blue to Deep Red and Deep Green which are later more advanced models and soon all of them were overheating as well. One night there was a huge explosion because of the intense heat and everyone then knew the answer to the question of what was the true religion. Islam.

KarlEricson,
How did you arrive at that conclusion? Was it because Islam is the only religion that is verified by an intense heated explosion?