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

[derekkj 0]

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?

Just in case VP does take a moment out from baking those cookies...

While the US government is not likely to hand back all the land that Native Americans once resided on, they are also not destroying what's left of Native American culture and heritage. In fact they are trying to preserve it for future generations of all races, religions, and cultures to learn from and enjoy. Years ago, I worked for the Forest Service looking for Native American archaelogical sites. Once we located them, we didn't blow them up; we mapped, documented and preserved them for future study. Just because the Indians are no longer there, doesn't mean we should forget about what they have contributed to history or destroy evidence of their culture because it might offend or somehow "tempt" someone else.

Also, there is a federal law called NAGPRA. In short, (from the NAGPRA website) "the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is a Federal law passed in 1990. NAGPRA provides a process for museums and Federal agencies to return certain Native American cultural items -- human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony - to lineal descendants, culturally affiliated Indian tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations." This is taken VERY seriously by the museum community.

Finally, there is a National Museum of the American Indian that just opened in Washington, DC. The building, exhibits, and text were all put together by Indians and the majority of the current staff are Native Americans. I highly recommend anyone who visits DC stop by and see it. You might learn something.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

How else can you have a sense of national identity?

erekose,

The version of Islam VP claims to follow doesn't allow for nation-states as we know them.

And yet it certainly allows for totalitarian dictatorship by the ruling elite.

If they think destroying a few thousand statues will solve any of their society's problems, they're living with their heads up their asses.

[incanada1234 0]

This isn't as much fun as the Texas thread.

Just because there havent been any photos of the Buddha in a speedo posted yet?

that can be arranged

Make it happen, bro, make it happen.

"bro"

[desert_fox 32]

I heard on NPR the other day that shepards in Iraq were being murdered by the religious crazies for not having their sheep in diapers as this may tend to arouse some males....

They said also that some grocery store owners were being murdered for not properly displaying their vegatables as some could possibly resemble fallic symbols.

Of course this comes straight from their holy book as interpreted some some local Iman crazy.

I would like to see this book

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

It's online.

[Nizzy 1]

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?

I proudly share that history and so do the other Afghans in Afghanistan and across the world. That is our past whether we like it or not and who are you to tell me that it shouldn't be a part of our country? Having the statues there does not automatically equal being Buddhist...I surely am not and I don't know one single Afghan BUddhist (not to say there aren't any in existence). I'm getting so heated up by your words...the same way I would get when hearing the Taliban speak.

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.

I cant believe you have the audacity to say that no one misses it because I do. I wanted to be able to go to Afghanistan and soak up my past and know where I have come from. That was always a missing link for me. Those statues are a part of me and will be a part of the generations of Afghans to come. We have to know where we have come from in order to know we are going. You can't just pretend we were never Buddhist and put the wool over people's eyes. If someone wants to convert to another form of religion other then Islam they won't need a statue to seal the deal. You seriously have some nerve

[Veiled Princess 1]

I cant believe you have the audacity to say that no one misses it because I do. I wanted to be able to go to Afghanistan and soak up my past and know where I have come from. That was always a missing link for me. Those statues are a part of me and will be a part of the generations of Afghans to come. We have to know where we have come from in order to know we are going. You can't just pretend we were never Buddhist and put the wool over people's eyes. If someone wants to convert to another form of religion other then Islam they won't need a statue to seal the deal. You seriously have some nerve

I have "some nerve" because I have an opinion? I am not free to have an opinion?

I would like to get your views on something VP. In Jordan, during Ramadam, it is forbidden for non-muslims to eat, drink, or smoke outside of their homes during daylight hours. All the restaurants are closed as well. Do you agree with this?

I guess I would say for you to take your own advice to me.... if you don't like it don't live there. I don't know what other answer you want from me. If it's the law there deal with it. As you have stated Jordan is not governed by the sharia and as far as I know forcing non-muslims to fast is not there.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I guess I would say for you to take your own advice to me.... if you don't like it don't live there. I don't know what other answer you want from me. If it's the law there deal with it. As you have stated Jordan is not governed by the sharia and as far as I know forcing non-muslims to fast is not there.

Would you want to live in a Sharia governed state - with all that comes with that?

[Ban Hammer 13,659]

I cant believe you have the audacity to say that no one misses it because I do. I wanted to be able to go to Afghanistan and soak up my past and know where I have come from. That was always a missing link for me. Those statues are a part of me and will be a part of the generations of Afghans to come. We have to know where we have come from in order to know we are going. You can't just pretend we were never Buddhist and put the wool over people's eyes. If someone wants to convert to another form of religion other then Islam they won't need a statue to seal the deal. You seriously have some nerve

I have "some nerve" because I have an opinion? I am not free to have an opinion?

I would like to get your views on something VP. In Jordan, during Ramadam, it is forbidden for non-muslims to eat, drink, or smoke outside of their homes during daylight hours. All the restaurants are closed as well. Do you agree with this?

I guess I would say for you to take your own advice to me.... if you don't like it don't live there. I don't know what other answer you want from me. If it's the law there deal with it. As you have stated Jordan is not governed by the sharia and as far as I know forcing non-muslims to fast is not there.

you done in the kitchen already?

[Veiled Princess 1]

VP you have helped many people with the misconceptions they have of Arabs and Muslims. In a mater of 3 days, you have shown your support of the Taliban, said its perfectly fine for a 12 year old to marry, and called a young girl a #######.

I'm not Arab... I'm American... since when did I become the voice for the Arab people?

I'll admit I am in rare form this week... I'm sick of being stressed out and I'm blowing off steam.

The people here need no help in forming misconceptions about Arabs or Islam because it's rather apparent that many here already have their own ideas and don't feel shy to voice them ever... they are also quick to be the ones who want to censor other people's opinions when they are not in line with them.

I also, again, never supported the taliban.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I also, again, never supported the taliban.

Indirectly... by proxy

[Veiled Princess 1]

Would you want to live in a Sharia governed state - with all that comes with that?

Yes

I also, again, never supported the taliban.

Indirectly... by proxy

How so? By not asking to borrow someone's magical time traveling unicorn so that I can go back in time and stop them from doing it?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Would you want to live in a Sharia governed state - with all that comes with that?

Yes

Including stoning, public flogging, and death for homsexuals?

How so? By not asking to borrow someone's magical time traveling unicorn so that I can go back in time and stop them from doing it?

You say that the Taliban were essentially wrong to destroy ancient statues in the name of Islamic law - but that the act itself was essentially right and justified.

You say that you want to live in a Sharia governed state, judging by the example of other Sharia governed countries - you therefore directly support (or have no problem with and would passively tolerate) corporal punishment, amputation for theft and execution for adulterers and homosexuals.

If you don't support the Taliban, you clearly support a lot of what they stand for. Nit-picking over various bits of scripture that they don't follow correctly isn't the point. What the overwhelming majority of people object to is the total disregard for human rights.

Edited August 9, 2006 by erekose

[iceyspots 0]

Would you want to live in a Sharia governed state - with all that comes with that?

Yes

Exactly - so move to Saudi, where women don't have the rights to marry foreign men... thus dropping your petition for your SO.

[jordanianprincess 0]

I would like to get your views on something VP. In Jordan, during Ramadam, it is forbidden for non-muslims to eat, drink, or smoke outside of their homes during daylight hours. All the restaurants are closed as well. Do you agree with this?

I guess I would say for you to take your own advice to me.... if you don't like it don't live there. I don't know what other answer you want from me. If it's the law there deal with it. As you have stated Jordan is not governed by the sharia and as far as I know forcing non-muslims to fast is not there.

All you are doing is avoiding the question at hand. People do deal with it there, I dealt with it when I was there last year during Ramadan, that is not the point. I am asking you, do you feel that taking away all tempation during Ramadan is the proper way to fast?

VP you have helped many people with the misconceptions they have of Arabs and Muslims. In a mater of 3 days, you have shown your support of the Taliban, said its perfectly fine for a 12 year old to marry, and called a young girl a #######.

I'm not Arab... I'm American... since when did I become the voice for the Arab people?

I'll admit I am in rare form this week... I'm sick of being stressed out and I'm blowing off steam.

The people here need no help in forming misconceptions about Arabs or Islam because it's rather apparent that many here already have their own ideas and don't feel shy to voice them ever... they are also quick to be the ones who want to censor other people's opinions when they are not in line with them.

I also, again, never supported the taliban.

That is preciscly why I said Arab and Muslim, as we are quie often grouped together. If you are stressed out maybe you should take a breather. I can understand being flamed on VJ is not fun but you are bringing it upon yourself. I had to talke a break for a month once.

You are right when you say that people don't need help forming thier misconceptions, but keep in mind that you are just feeding their misconceptions. You are as quick to judge as anyone else, calling a young girl a ####### for making out with a boy is a very quick and harsh judgment.

You don't have to come out and say "I support the Taliban" to give tht message clearly to people.