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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 17:36:49
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Here is where we are at in this forum: First, let us thank the forum admins, contributors and readers. We truly form a community despite the differences in opinions. Contributions are at will. You rejoin to a topic of your choice at your convenience.
The anti-Islam agenda must be neutralized by all means possible. That part cannot be compromised. The least that anyone here can do is to stay focused on your own religion and stop insulting peoples’ prophets, messengers and the God they worship. In Islam, we are taught to love God and the noble prophet more than our own families. That is not pettiness. Whatever you are looking for in this forum, that’s what you expect to get in turn and that’s what you will get. Personally, I think that some people think that forums are only for the fun part. Yes, fun!! But more important is business when it is time. People should start learning before they can serialize or misjudge others on their beliefs. The fact that they can post in this forum is a testimony of no excuse for ignorance of others’ faith so when you criticize, stay within the limits of what is acceptable. It hurts really bad that in the current age, we commit wrongs which to our misguided ideals are right. But the truth remains if no one is turning your **** then you probably are better not turning theirs. That’s rule number one to fair existence. Those that show respect get it back in turn. It is give and take. Those that are with ulterior motives unfortunately (I say fortunately) get their shares. The truth remains habits are like hairs on your body. Whenever you cut them they will grow back again. Rule number two is to be fair to your true ideals. The growing notions and intentional aggression must be put to check. We neither smile for smiling sake nor utter for fun sake. There is no need for escalation on the matter even because if yours is so good, just stick to it then. That’s why we Muslims stick to ours. We are contented with it-the whole of it despite any aggression geared towards tainting the religion. That’s why I like Muhammad Ali when he said “I believe in God. “ Equally, Minister Farakhan when he said "Allah is sufficient for me."
*Having said the above, I enjoy everyone’s postings. I rejoin where I have time in an effort to interact, and at will. Knowingly, I interact with some contributors here outside the forum. I follow a lot of postings. I try to stay away from hypocritical postings and those that are intentionally meant to degrade others. My life is a happy one. I am a peoples’ person, surrounded by all colors. I won my love from my family, friends and admirers. I thank God Almighty for making me a Muslim. I enjoy Islam more than anything one can think of. It gave me a complete way of life. How unhappy life would have been for me without this great illuminator called Islam? God is sufficent for me. God is sufficient for us.
But thanks Toubab. Hopefully, a topic like this can help us all know each others' triggers, thus avoiding confrontational scenarious here.
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"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Edited by - Dalton1 on 10 Nov 2007 17:48:50 |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 17:51:55
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I would like to thank them as well cheers dalton1
Here is where we are at in this forum: First, let us thank the forum admins, contributors and readers. We truly form a community despite the differences in opinions. Contributions are at will. You rejoin to a topic of your choice at your convenience. |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 17:58:27
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quote:
Originally posted by jambo
I would like to thank them as well
yes Jamba, a big clap for them all. The forum survived time. That could only have been possible because of them all. What happened to your weekend column? It's one of my favorites.
have nice weekend. |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 21:55:27
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quote:
Originally posted by jambo
turk, as a christian i do not expect anyone to believe my religion, but I DO EXPECT THEM TO RESPECT IT.
why did you pick that example
Jambo, your post is just amazing! Nothing could be more truthful. However, you probably would like to add that 'you do not also expect critcism of your religion to be a lack of respect for it'. Gambiabev, Anna, MeMe,...also made very awesome posts.
When you compare Jambo's post to that of Turk and other zealots you cannot help seeing the venom of intolerance and hate in them.
Those who think that no body should criticise their religion and faith are nothing but religious fanatics, but there is a nice word for it dogmatism.They are no different from political and other tyrants who live every day with the fatally flawed assumption that their way is the only way and anyone who talk against it should be condemned to death. Europe is full of artists and other people who criticised christianity and insulted Jesus Christ, yet they were not 'stoned to death', instead their acts never made any big deal. Infact some of the early 'Christianity bashers' like Voltaire, David Hume, Nietzche, Marx etc emerged to be among the most respected thinkers of human histrory, and their ideas and philosophies helped create the very ideals of democracy and freedoms we all espouse today.
I believe it is for those ideals of freedom that this forum is created. I believe this championship of advancing freedom (of speech, dissent, association,...) which are glaringly absent in the Gambia will be the legacy of the creator(s) of this forum. It is a noble cause, therefore religious bigotry (certainly by those who obviously do not know much about anything) has no place here.There cyber-riots , insults and literally 'bomb throwing' has only made this noble forum toxic. I believe that is why many people of moderate persuation stepped back a little bit.
We are here to learn and exercise the art of respect for dissenting views and promote democracy, otherwise we have no moral standing to criticse Jammeh and others.
Thanks all , and thanks Toubab (my friend) for raising this matter.I think Toubab should be the Gambia's future Foreign Secretary  .
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Edited by - kayjatta on 10 Nov 2007 22:01:05 |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 22:46:52
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jambo
quote:
turk, as a christian i do not expect anyone to believe my religion, but I DO EXPECT THEM TO RESPECT IT. why did you pick that example?
Could not agree anymore..... But I am missing your point and your question. Can you clarify? |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 10 Nov 2007 : 23:27:57
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kayjatta
quote:
Infact some of the early 'Christianity bashers' like Voltaire, David Hume, Nietzche, Marx.....
Hey my boy. Be humble. Don't show off. You are not in the same category of personalities you mention of 'critics of religion'. Religious bigotry is not only based on organized religions. History is full of religios bigots like yourself who are based on facist ideologies. Your perspective on religion more like Stalin, Mao Zedong, Lenin and Adolph Hitler type of secularists.
You are blaming others to be radicals, but you are the one who insults muslims. Don't you have any shame, you are the one provoke people here, than you talk about tolarance? Shame on you. To be honest even some non-muslim people here, like anna, lurker, thobab, meme have more respect for those who believe in islam. Their critism on islam is not disrespectful. Don't even put yourself with the same category with them. You are insulting them. But as I mentioned many times, you are fitting Malcolm's house slave profiling perfectly. All these debate started with you charge muslims being terrorists. When we defend your discriminative comments, you are talking about tolarance. How come you don't tolarate us? Does tolarance mean you attack on islam and we shut up? That is so common. You are as hypocraite as you house masters. As they talk about democracy, they are behind of every totalitarian regime in the world.
First of all, I can't stand your moronic statements implying me as a religious which is baseless. I have no idea where it is coming from. I am not religious at all. My religious experience mostly individual, if with jamaat, I may involve with my gambian or turkish friends discussing about Quran and tafseer. Also I am regular of sufism/Rumi events. I don't pray 5 times a day. I do not follow friday prayers. I socialize with mostly non-muslims. My friends are agnostic, ateist, christians, budhist, sufis, anarshist, homosexual. I listen from pink-floyd, bob marley, nirvana to Bach, nusrat fateh ali-khan, youssou ndour. I go out at nights. My wife dressed up just like any western women. I encourage her to pursue her education and profession. I volunteer. When I don't work I travel. I have been to from Brazil rain forest, live with indegenous there to Jamaica, cross sahara with my french buddies, travel along Turkistan, mongolia on silk road. I do support liberal ideology politically and economically. Your claim of supporting democracy is hypocracy. You remind me, one of my friend from my graduate class, stuck on the thories, driven by theories but never understand how the world actually works.
Again, due to your ignorance, and limited intellectual capacity, you labelled me as a religious fanatic because my stand against your bigotry, prejudice and discrimination. My defend against your bigotry and profiling was in the name of religious freedom, human rights and science of politics. If you continue your stalinist view on any other religions like budhism, christianity I will stand against your fascist ideas. Your charge of muslims as terrorist is discrimination and violates human rights. (See the UN charter for human rights definition.) Also your association of terrorism and islam while ignoring imperialism, political, economic and social realities of terrorism is a murder of social science. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
Edited by - turk on 11 Nov 2007 08:45:28 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 08:42:40
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In the UK if you study social sciences at University you are taught the art of critical thinking and the debating of ideas.
It is NOT PERSONAL. It is not an attack, it is a debate.
To understand yourself and to understand what will give your life meaning you need to read a great deal, think a great deal and debate a great deal.
This is part of each persons personal journey.Reflection is very important. In Gambia I find alot of people FOLLOW the religion without much reflection, debate and thought.When people are more educated in general they are less religous. Karl Marx called it the opiate of the masses.....I tend to agree.
I am not a member of any formal religion, but I am very interested in religions and what people get from them on an individual basis.
We should be able to debate ANYTHING on bantaba without it ending up in personal insults. We are all here because we love Gambia and have its best interests at heart. We should remember that. |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 08:44:32
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Jambo, you are right. I need to visit Gambia and I need some sunshine. |
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lurker
509 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 10:28:26
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so here we go again, a simple question, a few different answers and a slanging match ensues revolving around religion.shame.it is not relevant in this thread to be hoiking insults about religion/politics and the rest . save it for the relevant forum. this is probably why it goes quiet.
who wants to get involved with the same old points endlessly cropping up?
it seems that these debates all turn the same way eventually - mention islam, get a retort, have a row, make up, start again elsewhere.
people might want to just retreat a bit when they see a red flag and remember that it is likely that the same red flag was waved a few days or weeks ago and a reaction will lead to a boring and identical argument.
COME ON GUYS AND GIRLS - CHANGE THE RECORD - AND THE ABSENTEES WILL COME BACK |
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anna
Netherlands
730 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 10:51:30
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| Thanks Lurker! |
When an old African dies, it is as if a whole library has burnt down.
Amadou Hampate Ba (Mali) |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 11:42:36
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lurker
quote:
When you compare Jambo's post to that of Turk and other zealots you cannot help seeing the venom of intolerance and hate in them.
excuse me to disturb your comfort, but you do have an option not to read the posts!!!!! However, not me, this house slave made a statement about myself, than i am going to respond.
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diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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lurker
509 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 11:59:11
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no probs,Turk,one has to defend one's view, but why not e-mail him privately instead of waging this battle in public.i think the point some people made is that the personal battles that are taking place make the majority of contributors feel uneasy and embarrassed and then less likely to participate when they see "the venom of intolerance and hate" - not my quote - that has so frequently erupted on this Bantaba. everyone loves a good discussion, even an argument, but they do evolve into mud-slinging quite often these days and it is a bit ugly, to be honest.
I did not even realise there was a private e-mail service here until recently, so maybe people should do their personals out of sight and stick with the topics in sight.
easier said than done, i guess. |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 12:12:19
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| any ideology, belief,lifestyle or notion that is above critism, is itself evil. Tolerance and discerning is the key to wisdom. |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 12:37:59
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lurker
Thanks for feedback.
'one love' is my favorite bob marley song. But never forget about 'get up stand.....don't give up the fight...never give up the fight.....' |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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lurker
509 Posts |
Posted - 11 Nov 2007 : 13:06:47
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no woman no cry(got married to this one in gambia!), waiting in vain, turn your lights down low, jamming, is this love.....my top 5 in order.
"emancipate yourself from mental slavery"-the man had some proper lyrics.
have a good sunday |
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