Despite an international outcry and effort to pay traditional “blood money” in the Saudi legal system, the Kingdom has cut the head off a Sri Lankan maid for allegedly smothering an infant child when the nanny was just 17. The maid was decapitated by a swordsman in Riyadh under the country’s Sharia based legal system.
Rizana Nafeek was sentenced to death in 2007 but Sri Lankan government appealed the death penalty and many international groups decried the ludicrous trial and draconian sentence. While under arrest, the maid signed a confession written in Arabic that she did not understand and later retracted. It did not matter.
Saudi Arabia beheaded as many as 76 people last year.
Source: National Post
Bron,
Might I add you are an honorable person for coming to the defense of Gene.
Bron,
I didn’t realize that was an insult. I think gene crosses the line when talking about a persons parent.
That’s just my opinion though.
Tsk, tsk a child in charge…. Or thinks it is….
ay:
for what it is worth, Frances did use the comment about wikipedia as an insult. I myself have used it against Gene as an insult in the past. So I dont really think she has a leg to stand on and neither do you in defending her.
In my opinion Gene has every right to defend himself from unsolicited slander.
I do agree with you that Gene has a very tough hide and can usually give better than he gets. But that is not a fault nor should he refrain from hurting others feelings if they draw first blood. As he says self-defense is a fundamental right.
Oh, and if you’re offended by any of this?
You don’t have a right not to be offended. In fact, the Right to Free Speech pretty much guarantees you’re going to be offended at some point. And you know the old aphorism about heat and kitchens.
Maybe you should realize you have no say over me or this blog, AY.
None. Nada. Zip.
Again, if you don’t like what I say? If you simply don’t like me? No one forces you to read my posts. Feel free to ignore my posts or leave any time you should like. Your participation here is strictly voluntary. But trying to tell me how to be is simply futile wasted effort. It’s not your call. Nor is it your call how this blog is run. That’s not my opinion either. Those are the facts.
Offensiveness is not an act of self defense. But in your mind I’m sure it is….
Ah… Such childish behavior… Tsk… Tsk…. Tsk….. May e you should really rethink your reaction to new guests… You’re offensive, really. You think that’s the role you should play… Sickness… I do hope you get it….
AY,
Tsk, tsk, tsk, so much rage when you don’t get your way. You’re no threat to me. I suggest you get over that right now.
JT and I have had a discussion about self-defense. It’s quite simply none of your business. However, that JT has neither asked me nor any GB to give up the right to self-defense should tell you something. Rule #1 is JT makes the rules. The GBs encourage civility each in our own ways, but we are not expected to suffer fools gladly. I would also note there is nothing in the rules about you having a say in how this blog is run whatsoever.
As to self-centered? I also still don’t give a fly’s fart what you think of me. Why? Because you are neither friend nor family. I care about what family and some friends think of me. They are important to me. Their opinions matter. Detractors, enemies and strangers? Not important a bit. If you choose to base your sense of self worth on the opinions of detractors, enemies and strangers, that is your choice. It is not, however, mine. He who seeks to please everyone pleases no one and is engaged in a futile fruitless effort, subordinating their lives to the opinions of people who don’t really matter. In the end, it is what your family and friends think about you and you think about yourself in relation to them that is important.
Despite what you may think, I’ve only suggested banning in the past as an option for your behavior to other posters. I’ve even argued against banning you on at least one occasion. However, I have not made a full blown case for banning you. If you should choose to keep up with what is now manifestly a personal vendetta, then I’m willing to reconsider though. It was a personal petty vendetta on your part that almost got you banned before. I suggest that you think about that before you write again.
Again, if you don’t like what I say? If you simply don’t like me? No one forces you to read my posts. Feel free to ignore my posts or leave any time you should like. Your participation here is strictly voluntary. But trying to tell me how to be is simply futile wasted effort. It’s not your call. Nor is it your call how this blog is run. That’s not my opinion either. Those are the facts.
I love it, each time you post offensive and meaningless comments don’t really have much impact gene. Your being offensive to new posters may not mean much to you as you have said. But I’m sure the blog owner has a different thought. That’s the issue with you that was eloquently pointed out by Frances. You are self centered. You really don’t care what anyone else has to say unless its glad handing. Your bad manners are a reflection on this blog as a guest writer. You don’t seem to understand the simple ultimate truth.
Gene, unless you figure out how to get me banned I will stay. You’ve tried and you’ve failed. Think about that before you write that again.
AY,
Apparently you have a problem understanding that I am simply not subject to your control or approval and your displeasure at what I do is meaningless. You think I’m obnoxious and rude? Ask me if I care. But “master”? It is my mastery of argumentation techniques both valid and invalid that allows me to illustrate both the futility and conversely the effectiveness of various techniques. What you sought as insult is actually a compliment, however, your compliments are as meaningless to me as any of your opinions of me. Some people like me. That’s nice and I appreciate it. It’s good to both have friends and fans. Conversely, some people don’t like me. I really truly don’t care what they think. It’s not going to stop me from being me. That’s just how things work. A lesson that should have been learned in kindergarten.
If you don’t like what I say? If you simply don’t like me? No one forces you to read my posts. Feel free to ignore my posts or leave any time you should like. Your participation here is strictly voluntary. But trying to tell me how to be is simply futile wasted effort. It’s not your call.
Yes Gene,
We can all be at times obnoxious and rude… YOU however are the master…… It gets boring don’t you think….
ay,
my mother’s name is Frances and the es ending is the feminine form.
AY,
And you don’t have it in you to realize that I am simply not subject to your control or approval and your displeasure at what I do is meaningless.
As to blog policy, that’s not your concern either. “Civil” in this context is an adjectival synonym for the words “courteous and polite”. The rule is civility is encouraged. It is not mandatory not could it be in a true free speech forum. Contention happens. It’s simply a cost of operation in the marketplace of ideas that a free speech forum creates. As a utilitarian practical matter, it is a soft rule. Were it a hard rule, there are several posters I can think of who would not have survived their first round of postings here, but we go to great lengths not to ban anyone. Even the obnoxious can have their substantive say. Only when it becomes apparent that a person is not going to learn the futility of ad hominem attacks in any other way that the subject of banning them comes up. There are examples of posters currently on the blog who skated right up to that edge before reforming their ways to become valuable contributors to the forum. There are examples past of a very few who simply could not stop and as a result were banned. Considering the volume of traffic, the number of people banned is shockingly low (less than ten out of hundreds of thousands of unique visitors) and yet – as Mike pointed out – we manage to maintain not only one of the least hostile uncensored environments on the Web, but one that presents a unique example of the power of the marketplace of ideas.
Gene,
You just don’t have it within you to take the higher road….. Yes, I do think you as a guest blogger are held to a higher standard…. If its not the blog owners policy it should be….. Just saying…..
Frances…..
You are female yes….. Frances is the feminine form of Francis…. I think I’m correct…. But then again, I don’t know nothin……
I think that was fairly straight forward and self-explanatory.
I resent being called a Brit! I didn’t say I was British!
Whaaaaat!
AY,
“I don’t know Frances but she/he can and should be able to post what ever they see fit without risk of reprisal.”
No one has ever asked the GB’s to give up the Right to Self-defense – which is a fundamental human right so basic it comes with the body – nor should they. No one said Frances couldn’t post anything he/she/it wanted. No one’s free speech was impaired, but actions have consequences. That’s a simple fact. It is my Right of Free Speech and my Right to Self-defense to deal with verbal attacks however I choose to verbally. You don’t get to define what I can and cannot say. If you don’t like that? Your objection is noted. I suggest you get over it.