February 12th, 2008 by 5cents
Multiculturalism has brought about the need to consider other ethnic and religious groups’ sensitivities for many aspects of life, such as foreign policy, the educational system, the medical establishment and so on. It makes sense that we be open-minded when it comes to those who are different if we’re ever to hope of living in harmony. In the midst of all this hyper-culturalism and globalization, however, it struck us that today’s society is becoming inevitably entangled in a web of political-correctness and the overwhelming desire not to offend others, to the point where even general conversation is becoming a ridiculous affair fraught with pitfalls.
Consider the following story of a digital children’s book, the Three Little Cowboy Builders, released in the UK that was based on the age-old Three Little Pigs fable. Read On! »
Popularity: 25% [?]
Topics: Commentary, Religion, Society | 1 Comment »
December 19th, 2007 by 5cents
Long-time readers will know we hold the internet comic strip Jesus & Mo in high regard around these parts. It’s not all just simply poking fun at religion though. In fact, belying the crude nature of the cartoons, the author somehow manages to illuminate the subtle characteristics of religion and society; Things that we know deep down but have a hard time elaborating. It’s really quite intelligent.
Consider the interaction between religion, science and homosexuality. For most of its development, science has challenged the stranglehold of religion. Similarly, homosexuality seems to be at odds with the three Abrahamic religions even though science can prove it predates them all. Blast! What I’m struggling to articulate is best conveyed by the comic inside, hit the “Read On” link to see it. Read On! »
Popularity: 10% [?]
Topics: Jokes, Religion, Society | No Comments »
November 22nd, 2007 by BlazeDaily
Consider:
A simple morning wakens you this day, a morning like most others. You go about your usual routines and as you complete them you get ready to go into town to run a few errands. In high spirits, you select some of your favorite, colorfully-exciting garments and with joy you decorate yourself in preparation for an eventful day out. As you are ready to step outside the door, you throw on your Saudi-style triple layered burkha with traditional enthusiasm and ensure that no part of it interferes with your visual perceptions of the day. You enter the city and shortly after, the market. The colors and sounds are so familiar, yet still so exciting. Busy footsteps on dusty streets, thousands of them, muffled voices and a rare recognizable phrase you would normally hear in the market place “How much do you want, Read On! »
Popularity: 11% [?]
Topics: Commentary, Religion, Sexual Abuse, Society | 5 Comments »
October 23rd, 2007 by 5cents
In case you didn’t catch my drift (said drift being somewhat prominently displayed on the front page under LINKS & FRIENDS), I heartily recommend reading the internet cartoon strip Jesus & Mo. Not only are the jokes deliciously intellectual and generally bloody priceless but the strip’s author always finds a way to illustrate the various fallacies contained within the title characters’ respective religions (and occasionally a few others). One of the recent episodes was simply too good to pass up so I’ve posted it here (after the “Read On link)… possibly in violation of the published material’s share-license but what the hell, you gotta read it.
Muslims note: The Prophet Mohammed himself is not depicted in the cartoons, rather, someone named Mo … who happens to walk the same walk and supposedly Read On! »
Popularity: 10% [?]
Topics: Religion, The Sexes/Sexuality | 2 Comments »
May 27th, 2007 by 5cents
A short time ago I posted an article on the stoning of a young Yazidi girl for “consorting with the enemy” and posted a link to the gruesome video footage. The article didn’t really garner much attention, which was a bit surprising to me, but so it goes. Since then, the story has spread like wildfire through the blogosphere and many have come forward with their opinions. Repulsion at the act seems unanimous but there are quite a few bloggers who seem to think that watching the video, or indeed linking to it, is somehow a bad thing. One such blogger is a friend over at the Chapati Kid so I thought I’d take her to task on what I see as a completely skewed point of view (her short intro HERE). Let’s begin.
The Chapati Kid links to THIS article by Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel (which contrary to my beliefs are apparently well-liked shows). I should Read On! »
Popularity: 12% [?]
Topics: Commentary, Religion, The Sexes/Sexuality | 5 Comments »
May 10th, 2007 by 5cents
Before you even attempt to read this article, be aware, clicking the link at the end of this post will take to a website that has actual graphic footage of a young girl being stoned to death. DO NOT watch if you queasy in the slightest or if you are easily offended. It is very graphic, very disturbing footage.
My preliminary research into the video seems to indicate that the young girl (17 years old) is an Iraqi from the Yazidi sect, a pre-Islamic Middle Eastern religion. Apparently she fell in love with a Sunni Muslim boy and for that her community stoned her to death. You’ll notice people are throwing cinder blocks at her and filming the incident on their cell-phones. Truly abhorrent behavior. And then I wonder why there are those in the West that want to turn the whole place into a glass crater. In India, we had an individual stand up and fight injustice, xenophobia and intolerance. His name was Gandhi. The Middle East is in sore need of their own Gandhi but I fear he will Read On! »
Popularity: 14% [?]
Topics: Commentary, Fear, Public Awareness, Religion | 4 Comments »
March 18th, 2007 by 5cents
We live in troubled times when even the slightest utterance against the Prophet Mohammed could bring upon people wave after wave of sectarian strife, rioting and bloodshed courtesy an intifada, suicide bombers and such. Similarly blaspheming Jesus and the church (or even anything remotely anti-American for that matter) can and often will result an a general upswing in hate crimes and lynchings in the US.
Some say we are amidst a religious war akin to the Crusades. That may be the case and if so, we are all living through a Dark Ages of sorts. To me, one of the best ways to extricate ourselves from this bog of intolerance is to step back and laugh… let’s start with a cartoon strip involving Jesus & Mo as a sort of common low couple. Funny, relevant and profound, the link has been added to the “Editor’s Link” section on the front page but head THERE now. Click “Read On” to read one of my favorite episodes. Read On! »
Popularity: 6% [?]
Topics: Jokes, Public Awareness, Religion | No Comments »
