Teddy Muhammad
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mummymonkey
Did you spill my pint?
Well I worked in Saudi Arabia for four years and had a comprehensive induction which included "Cultural sensitivity training".
No booze - "Check, knew that."
No women - "The wife knew that one."
Stay indoors at prayer times - "Sure, nothing open anyway."
Dress modestly - "Yup - sunburn sucks."
Don't eat outdoors during Ramadan - "Fine"
No Christmas decorations visible to Saudi citizens - "I suppose."
Be careful what name you give your Teddy Bear - "Say what?"
I do recall somebody getting into trouble for juggling with oranges once though (They are gifts from Allah and so must not be respected). In four years I was arrested only once - birdwatching without due care and attention.
TragicMonkey
Poisoned Waffles
The real danger is that the teddy bear may develop a new religion, and sweep across the Middle East and Africa converting people to the New Plush Faith. "There is no god but Pooh Bear, and Muhammed Bear is his prophet!" I wonder if the Care Bears would become angels, saints, or demons of the new religion? Would they be cast down as a pantheon of devils, or would they syncretize into the new Fluffy Monotheism?
Azrael 5
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNeq2Utm0nU&feature=related
Maybe they should have her defence counsel show this.
Or maybe not.
Maybe they should have her defence counsel show this.
Or maybe not.
SteveGrenard
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Autolite
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Remember the ruckus nearly thirty years ago when they released "Life of Brian"? Imagine the uproar that movie would create if it was released today in our hypersensitive politically correct society ...
What would you call Jerry Springer the Musical then? OK, not a movie, but the same principle. I don't think society is hypersensitive and politically correct, I think politicians and bureaucrats are.
(Opera? Musical? Whatever it is)
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alfaniner
Penultimate Amazing
This just makes me want to make a YouTube video...
No, I'm really thinking about it. Certainly not to the extreme as mentioned above, but I have a few ideas. In fact, it would be rather tame unless misinterpreted.
Sure it could be considered freedom of speech, but what if it incites riots and retaliation in other parts of the world?
Corsair 115
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According to a CTV News report aired earlier tonight (online written version here; the link to the report aired is on the right side of that page), a letter was sent to the parents mentioning the name the class had selected for the bear, and for two months there were no problems.
If correct, it smacks to me of the Sudanese government getting involved behind the scenes to try and generate a controversy.
If correct, it smacks to me of the Sudanese government getting involved behind the scenes to try and generate a controversy.
Puppycow
Penultimate Amazing
Gee. That'll learn her I guess. 
Well it did result in the biggest ever single protest against a TV programme in the UK, at least one charity even refused a donation because of pressure from one of the Christian protest groups.
Obviously nothing compared to the teddy bear stupidity but clearly showing that parts of UK society are very hypersensitive.
richardm
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There was also a considerable amount of hoo-ha over a play set in a Sikh temple. Still not quite as brainless as the reaction we're seeing in the Sudan though. Well, not as state-sanctioned anyway.
I see the teacher is in court as I type, amid "chaotic scenes" and with riot police at the entrances to the building keeping everyone else out.
Initially she wasn't allowed access to her legal team, but they've sorted that out now. Hearing is due to start at 1100 GMT.
I see the teacher is in court as I type, amid "chaotic scenes" and with riot police at the entrances to the building keeping everyone else out.
Initially she wasn't allowed access to her legal team, but they've sorted that out now. Hearing is due to start at 1100 GMT.
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It is heartening to see that Sudan has changed so much since a week last Thursday. Glad to see that they got all those pesky human rights issues sorted out and no longer have to rely on external support to keep going and they can afford to spend the resources on dealing with this absolute terrible attempt to undermine this stable and peaceful country by inciting the worse kind of hatred - teddyhate. My hat goes off to them for at long last getting their priorities sorted out!
Tokenconservative
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It manifests itself in the West because of libs. You don't have many conservatives nodding sagely and agreeing (Canada, Holland, Denmark) that it would indeed be a good idea if Muslims in their countries were to face a religious law, not the constitutional laws of the democracies in which they live.
Tokie
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Curious: does the "dress modestly" thing apply to all, or just chattel...er, I mean women?
I visited Orlando pre-911, and had to laugh at all the Muslims there....the men were dressed like me: short pants, sport shirt or t, tennies...the women were in those enormous cocoons. In 220% humidity.
Seems a bit...contradictory.
Anyway, in Saud: I ride a bike and of course, I have to wear those tiny little tight shorts and tight shirts...no-no?
Tokie
JonWhite
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Several years ago I was told off for wearing shorts when playing football with kids in a small Palestinian villiage in the West Bank. It was apparently indiscreet as the villiage womenfolk might be watching. Kind'a flattering.
Darth Rotor
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Spot on, Darat, and consistent with Corsair115 pointing out that for two months, it was not an issue.
Politics, such a lovely calling. Maybe I'll sign on. It would allow me to become a right prick, professionally, and get paid for it. All I need is to find the right project, accept the right level of bribes (seven figures) and then retire to a small cottage in the country after the obligatory "I am retiring from public life to spend more time with my family" speech, given at a press conference just after the outrage hits over the pork barrel project I help get approved.
Don't see a downside.
DR
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It also attracted an enormous amount of praise and support. And I for one welcome that sort of protest, because it shows up for the rest of the country just how quick the religous are to place restrictions on everybody. I think the dialogue it creates is great.
For example, a Christian is now suing the musical for blasphemy. That's great, because most of the country probably didn't realise that blasphemy is against the law. And the guy is saying "you wouldn't be get away with blasphemy against Islam, why should you get away with it against Christianity? It's even against the law, let's have some justice". And people will think, 'uh, but he's right. If we're going to roundly mock one god, we should be able to roundly mock them all, or none at all. And I don't like the none at all option, because that means no Jerry Springer Musical. And why is Christian blasphemy against the law anyway? About time that was repealed', and so on.
The more stupid and narrow-minded and dictating the religious become, the more difficult it is to justify giving anyone special treatment on the basis of their belief, or more importantly, on the basis of their quickness to take offense. Do it for one and you have to do it for all, and that's an unworkable society right there.