Well said Phil Tang. Notice Irfan doesn't respond to your valid points?

Also well said TR. Neanderthal beliefs deserve no respect. Just mild amusement. Perhaps that's why so many "believers" get so angry. No facts.

Ybgirp. Agree. Invisible, non existent friends. TRTL has actually made a correct statement on this. Few will ever consaider anything but what they have been brainwashed with. Or can do so.

Runner. Left? Define it please.

TNT. Horrors abound. Seen or read the news on Iraq at all? I saw the number of dead civilaians there has now exceeded 650,000. Not a horror? Just accidents perhaps? Suicide bombers aren't horrors are they? Rational, educated and reasonable missiles yes?

Indonesia? Any Islam country. Toddle off and live there. I've seen it too and it sucks. For all but those in power. Sounds like Australia doesn't it?

As to following their Imans? Have you actually heard what they preach? Real good stuff. Worth followng indeed. The problem is not Islam? You are right. It's religion. Of which Islam purports to be one.

TRTL. Irfan is not "reacting to bigotry against Islam". He's using it to achieve high numbers of posts in order to seem to be succesful as an OLP contributor.

Online east. Dylan. How about this :

"Stealers Wheel was guitarist Gerry Rafferty and keyboard player Joe Egan. They wrote the song."

OK?

Irfan. You've cracked the ton, again although you had to write many posts yourself. Time for another dirge? Could I suggest racism or bigotry, Muslim, Christian? Just to expand your repertoire.

Aqvarivs. Pegasus makes a good point. It is humour. Have you noticed he rubbishes both sides of politics? Really.

Happy Harmony Day to Betty and the other bigots :)

No, TNT, I'm well travelled in that part of the world - I even travelled through Afghanistan in Nov '04! (My wife didn't want to go with me, strangely enough)
I certainy don't give details about where I am at the moment as I wouldn't be too hard to find if I offended the wrong person. It's not the sort of country to go mouthing off!
Agreed, generally these countries are 'safe', especially for foreigners living in the 'right' areas. However, at what price to society is this 'safety'. What about the abhorrent supression? Don't forget that the locals you mixed with probably were quite liberal / western, and perhaps can't be used as a real indication of the gereral population.

Betty, I only have the experience of the show during the "Bush years" tied to recent memory and have noticed the great majority of his guest are democrats or disgruntled Republicans who have written books or articles attacking the government. I can not remember his take on the "Clinton years" and I'm waiting to see how aggressive he is towards the Democrats as they begin to battle for political position and the Presidency. My take of what is behind the humour is very much left of centre.
I've always been interested in what people say with humour and how they communicate it. So far I've found that it isn't all that funny. Quite often there is a cruelty not far below the surface. A dig. A put down.
An implied superiority of thought and behavior.

aqvarivs speculates: "Islam does not offer choice and neither does the Muslim community."

Really? So there is just one monolithic Islam we are all forced to follow at the point of a sword or a medieval Afghan magistrate?

And what is this entity you describe as "the Muslim community"? Where does a singular Muslim community exist in Australia (other than inside your imagination)?

No Irfan I don't think Islam offers much in the way of choice. If it did we would be having spirited conversations with many Muslims with many differing positions debating Australian social direction. And sir, we do not have that as yet. Though I do await that day.

Unless your now saying your emotional and bigoted rants in the defense of Islam and the greater Muslim community was nothing more than hype to exploit and misrepresent. Is that the case Irfan? Just fanning the flames are we? Pushing buttons? You can't have it both ways old son. Either there is a Islamic/Muslim community or there isn't. If there isn't then what the hell are you going on about. How does a bigot defend a bigot that doesn't exist. What's this? Irfan's theory on the black hole of Islamic bigotry. It sucks in everything around it but, gives nothing back to the world, therefore it doesn't really exist since it isn't a actual participant in the society it takes from.

I must learn to be tolerant and understanding of a people and culture that doesn't exist. Strange how all your articles are in one shape or form about this non-entity of individual victims being attacked by a full formed malevolent other community.

"Liberty and xenophobia don't make comfortable bedfellows. In a community consumed by grossly irrational hatred - including racism and sectarianism - economic and political freedom will never flourish."

Which community are you speaking to here Irfan? HMMMMM? Surely not a community that isn't really a community because it's made up of individuals! And just who's definition of economic and political freedoms are you hoping will flourish?

Ug! Irfan speak with forked tongue.