Governor of Bamiyan province in Afghanistan wants to put back together Buddha statues blown up by Taleban

[Veiled Princess 1]

and the same could be said if israel ran all the muslims out of israel.

The Palestinians were there before "Israel" existed so how is that the same? They are currently occupying them are they not?

[Ban Hammer 13,659]

you of all people should realize the value of the historical background of a country, given what happened to our tribe. shame on you

now where is the number for wilma mankiller? i need to get her on the warpath.

The native americans were still living here at the time... it wasn't like they just left remnants behind after moving on....

oh but they did move on, remember your statement about reservations? what's not on them is fair game, by your reasoning.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

you have shown your support of the Taliban

I have never shown support for the taliban! I have outright denied having any sympathy for them at all!

By not condemning thier acts, you are indirectly supporting them. Infact not only do you not condemn it, you agree with it! "Pack up all the pieces...."

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea that what the Taliban did in destroying the statues was 'wrong', but that if any other fundamentalist ruler were to do likewise, it would be ok.

Apparently its not the the act itself that is wrong, just whoever happens to be doing it

Kind of like saying murder is illegal, except when it is carried out by accountants and hairdressers

Who said it was ok?

It's not ok. That's the point.

[Veiled Princess 1]

Which is a point of national regret for most Americans, just as the Holocaust has become a sensitive subject for modern Germans.

Do they really regret it? Or are they happy to have this country today? Is anyone offering to give it back?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Which is a point of national regret for most Americans, just as the Holocaust has become a sensitive subject for modern Germans.

Do they really regret it? Or are they happy to have this country today? Is anyone offering to give it back?

Native American Religion classes are offered in most universities in the US. Would universities in a Sharia nation offer courses in Buddhism or Judaism or Hinduism?

[Ban Hammer 13,659]

and the same could be said if israel ran all the muslims out of israel.

The Palestinians were there before "Israel" existed so how is that the same? They are currently occupying them are they not?

but suppose the israelis ran out every muslim in israel. by your own logic, can the israelis then blow up every holy site of the muslims?

[Veiled Princess 1]

Assume they're not. Assume no more Christians in Jordan. If a Muslim ruler decides to blow up centuries old churches, is that ok?

We're not talking about Jordan... we're talking about Afghanistan.... we're also not talking about churches we're talking about idols.

I guess I don't see the big deal if those people aren't there anymore to miss it. No one makes such a big deal out of the loss of life, culture, religion, land, etc of my ancestors.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

and the same could be said if israel ran all the muslims out of israel.

The Palestinians were there before "Israel" existed so how is that the same? They are currently occupying them are they not?

but suppose the israelis ran out every muslim in israel. by your own logic, can the israelis then blow up every holy site of the muslims?

No, her logic doesn't allow for that. I am not being sarcastic here. Her logic allows for a Muslim ruler who is ruling by the laws of Sharia to do that to non-Muslim places/structures of worship. The same privileges do not apply to non-Muslims.

[jordanianprincess 0]

It is a part of that countries history. By saying that, you are also saying that if there were no more Christians in Jordan, that all the historical and biblical sites should be blown up?

The people who shared that history are no longer there.... correct?

That is not the point VP, it is HISTORY.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Assume they're not. Assume no more Christians in Jordan. If a Muslim ruler decides to blow up centuries old churches, is that ok?

We're not talking about Jordan... we're talking about Afghanistan.... we're also not talking about churches we're talking about idols.

I guess I don't see the big deal if those people aren't there anymore to miss it.

Ok, so if there were no Christians left in Jordan you would consider the wholesale destruction of all Christian monuments "no big deal". I'm guessing the burning of Christian documents and manuscripts would also be included.

[Bosco 1]

Not all Muslim countries impose sharia on its non-Muslim citizens, both historically and currently - especially true of civil law - unless there was some perceived harm to the Muslims.

Morocco's family law is based in Sharia; however, Jews and Christians have their own laws. The Ummayads did the same in Syria. For non-Muslims, civil law was the law of their religious community.

In fact, for more than 50 years, Christians and Muslims both worshipped at the same site in Damascus. There is a history of tolerance in Islam that sadly seems forgotten. Christians cannot even congregrate for prayer in Saudi Arabia nor can you bring in a Bible.

The tomb of John the Baptist is inside the great Ummayad Mosque, never having been destroyed by an overzealous government for fear that someone would engage in idol worship (which has been the justification for destroying Islamic historical sites in Saudi Arabia).

Excuse the quality of the pic - it was taken with a low-res digital camera.

[Veiled Princess 1]

oh but they did move on, remember your statement about reservations? what's not on them is fair game, by your reasoning.

They didn't move on... they were put there! There's a bit of a difference I'd say.

To the native americans, nature was a part of god... that has pretty much been eradicated in many parts of the country

[chri'stina 190]

Assume they're not. Assume no more Christians in Jordan. If a Muslim ruler decides to blow up centuries old churches, is that ok?

We're not talking about Jordan... we're talking about Afghanistan.... we're also not talking about churches we're talking about idols.

I guess I don't see the big deal if those people aren't there anymore to miss it. No one makes such a big deal out of the loss of life, culture, religion, land, etc of my ancestors.

Many people may not make such a big deal about it, but that doesn't mean it should be forgotten. I bet you yourself would want your kids to know who your ancestors were, no matter what they believed, for the sake of history. You can't(or shouldn't is the better word) erase history.

[Fandango 1,440]

So Sharia is intolerant?

Idols are not allowed. You are free to draw whatever conclusion you wish from that.

Idols are not allowed for Muslims. What's the Quran say about co-existing amongst followers of other faiths?

Should the fact that it's a Muslim country mean that all non-Muslims should either be deported or exterminated?

It has nothing to do with exterminating anyone... it's about idols. It's already been discussed that co-existing with people of other faiths does not mean going against other parts of the Quran making idols is forbidden.

I don't agree with a lot of things the US govt does... because of that I have been told (or invited) to leave it, here on this very thread... what's the difference there?

But people of other faiths will share different beliefs, one of which being the idol belief.

A non-Muslim living in a Muslim country displaying an idol in his yard is ok <---agree or disagree?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It is a part of that countries history. By saying that, you are also saying that if there were no more Christians in Jordan, that all the historical and biblical sites should be blown up?

The people who shared that history are no longer there.... correct?

Why does that matter?

As others have stated - there are no ancient egyptians anymore but you don't see them building a outlet center over The Valley of the Kings. Even the Greeks and Italians are not (genetically OR culturally) the same as the people who lived there thousands of years ago - but none of them are in a hurry to dismantle their country's past.

Very simply, do you believe that a country's historical past should be torn down simply because the rulers of the people who happen to live there decide to make it illegal?

Should something that predates the regime by thousands of years be protected from that sort of cultural vandalism?

Edited August 9, 2006 by erekose