It often seems like some countries like Saudi Arabia are the first to respond to any slight or barrier to Islam in other countries, but routinely deny such accommodations for other religions in their own country. The latest such hypocrisy was shown by the Sultan and Muslim clerics in Brunei after the country criminalized celebrating Christmas. Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah previously was denounced for introducing the medieval Sharia law system to his kingdom. He has now ordered that anyone found illegally celebrating Christmas could face a five year jail sentence. While Bolkiah cuts the same comical figure of Burgermeister Meisterburger, he is not a bit comical for those who reject Islamic extremism.
Even wearing a Santa hat can now put you into jail for five years on Borneo. Non-Muslims can celebrate the holiday but only in their own communities. However, Muslims will be jailed for participating in any way in such celebrations. The Ministry of Religious Affairs explained “These enforcement measures are … intended to control the act of celebrating Christmas excessively and openly, which could damage the aqidah (beliefs) of the Muslim community.” It is interesting that these religious fanatics would view Islam as so fragile that joining in a celebration of another faith would be viewed as such a threat.
The clerics warned that “During Christmas celebrations, Muslims following that religion’s acts – such as using their religious symbols like cross, lighting candles, making Christmas trees and singing religious songs, sending Christmas greetings, using signs praising the religion, putting up decorations or creating sounds and doing anything that amounts to respecting their religion – are against Islamic faith.” They added “Some may think that it is a frivolous matter and should not be brought up as an issue. But as Muslims and as a Zikir Nation, we must keep it (following other religions’ celebrations) away as it could affect our Islamic faith.” Well, most do not consider such acts to be frivolous but signs of tolerance and respect for other religions.
This year, a boycott was launched over the purchase of the famed Beverly Hills hotel by the Sultan who is widely viewed as anti-homosexual and a religious extremist.
Of course, he could always appeal to his citizens in the same way as his Burgermeister counterpart:
It’s a difficult responsibility
That you accept from the number-one lawmaker, me . . .All the tin soldiers — melt them down
Wash the face of every clown
Each bouncing ball — deflate it
No, I don’t want to debate it!
The ballerinas who pirouette
Arrest their musical toes
Outlaw the dolls and sink the boats!
They bring me only woes!
Source: Telegraph
Bam Bam brings up a very good point. It would be posts such as Ross Heckmann provided above that would seem to reflect an extreme view of Islam. If JT limited his postings to those ‘extremist’ views we may have very little to discuss.
Yell “Muslims!” in a crowded theatre in San Bernadino and see what happens.
“Since religious references of any kind tend to stir up anger, hostility, and vengeance”
False premise.
Since religious references of any kind tend to stir up anger, hostility, and vengeance, maybe religious references universally should be treated the same as yelling “fire’ in a crowded theater.
I do not think that it is the “liberals” in our society who wish to “appease” the Islamic extremists or normal Islamic nit wits. No, it is more like the Bushboy who was President at 9/11 and let the Saudis fly around the U.S. and pick up all the Bin Laden family. Anyone recall that one? He was a friggin retard. Or “con-tard”. No a liberal would not want to tolerate intolerance. That is more of a Koch Brother kind of thing because the astardBays happen to own all that oil and gas.
Different strokes for different folks but basically the Muslims of the world need to climb out of the sewer and become free thinkers or 8th Day Dog Adventists like that one dog on the blog. Christianity would not be a big step forward. That Sultan has a friggin turban on his head. Cut it off. No turkey necks at Christmas.
And, in American school after American school kids are not allowed to celebrate the Christmas holidays anymore. They are the holidays for fear of offending, guess who, Muslims and the rest of the religious late comers.
I thought this story was about the NY City Public Schools.
Good comment bam. Most people have come to realize Islam is incompatible w/ Western values. Liberals would be the first ones killed in a caliphate, but they are the ones who appease. If you want to understand people and history one must appreciate irony.
I think what the U.S. needs is a Trump itShay List. TSL.
We need to boycott Brunea or however ya spull it. I cannot place it on the map. One can boycott his hotel in CA but who the hell goes there anymore? But if that country is doing this as a matter of policy then our country should bar their muslim citizens the right to come into our country for any reason. Exception for their Ambassador to the UN. No more Brunettes.
Who got $$ from Brunei’s Islamic law government? The Clinton Foundation.
The Clinton foundation lists Brunei alongside Kuwait, Oman and Qatar as donors that gave between $1 million and $5 million.
The contribution could prove an uncomfortable detail in the foundation’s financial records, particularly as Hillary Clinton continues her presidential run.
The Sultan of Brunei shows the same tolerance as the students at many of our universities.
Meanwhile, in Bosnia, the Muslims, who view Jesus as a prophet, have added Jesus’ birthday to their religious calendar. “The Bosnian takvim [Muslim religious calendar] now includes the Orthodox Christmas, on January 7, designated as “Milad Isa, a.s.” or “Sacred Birthday of Jesus, Peace Be Upon Him.” . . . Throughout Islamic history, traditional Muslims have been encouraged to offer their non-Muslim neighbors greetings on their holy days. In the Balkans, Muslims and Christians alike mention often that they celebrate each other’s religious festivals, especially Christmas and Ramazan Bajram, the latter a three-day feast to conclude the fasting month of Ramazan (or Ramadan).
“By including both the birthday of Muhammad, which begins on the evening of January 2, and that of Jesus, on January 7, in their calendar, the Bosnian Muslims have demonstrated their appreciation for the common Abrahamic tradition. In addition, by adopting the Orthodox Christian holiday in remembrance of Jesus, they have demonstrated goodwill toward their Serbian neighbors. In this month, when the two birthdays nearly coincide, and when news about Islam often seems undiluted in its tragedy, the generous action of the Bosnian Muslims is worthy of praise.” http://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2015/01/bosnian-muslims-celebrate-an-islamic-christmas
Dear Mr. Evans: the Sultan is a billionaire who buys property and politicians all over the world. The impact of His views unfortunately are cabinet by the borders of “his” country.
Keep up the Islamopandering and the hypocritical and biased political correctness and this will soon be the standard in the USA.
To what Bam Bam said at 1:05 AM, a million dittoes.
It’s his country
Perhaps one day JT will grasp the notion that this is not extremism and will cease from declaring this behavior as such as it pertains to the treatment of those who are Christian, Jewish, Hindu, etc., and unlucky enough to find themselves stuck in an Islamic society. Perhaps, just perhaps. By definition, extremism would showcase events, occurrences, beliefs, behaviors, etc., which are uncommon, rare and unacceptable throughout Muslim communities and unsupported by Islamic texts. The reality is just the opposite, where barbaric behavior finds justification in religious texts and unequal and exceptionally harsh treatment of all infidels in Muslim societies is rampant. The term EXTREMISM may the PC term at the moment, but words have meaning, JT, and the regularity with which the barbarity occurs takes it out of the realm of being extreme. The word EXTREMISM should instead be replaced with the term COMMONPLACE OCCURRENCES. A quick study of what is transpiring with regard to Christians, for example, in places like Iraq and Iran, gives one a clue as to what a Christian faces within a Muslim society, where entire Christian communities, which have existed since the time of Christ, have been decimated. 20/20, in a program that aired on Friday night, devoted an entire hour to Iraqi Christian refugees fleeing persecution. They are targets because of a very simple fact: they are Christians and Muslims cannot live in peace with their neighbors.
We can joke all we want about these fanatics but they are neither funny nor harmless.
Chinggis think Trump will say make war on real war against Christmas. Trump send herd of yaks to sultan. Then drop missile tow so sultan can kiss his yaks goodbye.