Ahmadinejad’s Christmas Speech Raises Ruckus

[antimatter98]

Source: Truth Dig

Britain’s Channel 4 has a tradition of featuring an alternative Christmas message as a kind of counterpoint to Queen Elizabeth’s customary speech, and this year’s speaker—Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad—is sparking outrage.

Read more: http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/20081225_ahmadinejads_christmas_speech_raises_ruckus/

[LeftishBrit]

1. Channel 4 (which are not a publicly funded channel like the BBC)...

do sometimes invite controversy in order to increase publicity and thus revenue.

As regards the Ahmadinejad speech: a lot of it was the same sort of vague waffle that you'd get in any Christmas speech, but where he had a message, it was supporting theocracy. This world is in the mess that it's in because its rulers 'aren't following the Prophets'. Actually, no, one reason why this world is in the mess it's in is because too many rulers support partial or complete theocracy, and/or wars based on the theme that My God Can Beat Up Your God.

[donco6]

2. Basically the same message as Fundie churches then.

Why the uproar?

Oh . . . it wasn't CHRISTIAN fundy. I get it.

[cali]

3. bwahahaha. You have it exactly fucking backward.

On DU criticizing Christians and anything re western culture is fine, but criticizing anything out of the Islamic culture immediately raises a furor. Twice the info in the OP has been posted here in a neutral or laudatory way.

[donco6]

4. I criticized fundie Christians. . . is that off-limits now? n/t

[cali]

5. jeezus h. christ. where did I say any such thing?

Oh, I didn't. Not even close. I criticize xtian fundies far more than I criticize fundies from any other religious tradition because xtian fundies are a problem in this country. And DU often goes into orgies of criticism over xtians. That's fine. Your origninal comment in this thread was some bullshit nonsense about how we can't criticize xtian fundies here. A more ridiculous and false claim would be hard to find.

[donco6]

7. Uh, no it wasn't.

Perhaps I didn't word it clearly.

I was simply pointing out that Ahmadinejad's comments sound similar to those made by US fundie Christians. But there's no uproar about THEM. Why not? Oh . . . because they're CHRISTIAN. That makes them OK. Even though in substance they are the same, i.e., "God condemns the country that doesn't follow him."

I am certainly no fundie Christian fan by any stretch of the imagination.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. It is fine to criticize Islamic culture

as long as you don't overgeneralize it, and think that all Muslims are the same. For example, the Supreme Council of Ayatollahs in Qom, Iran, made this ruling on an American who was building schools for girls and boys in remote sections of Pakistan:

"Dear Compassionate of the Poor...our Holy Koran tells us all children should receive education, including our daughters and sisters. Your noble work follows the highest principles of Islam, to tend to the poor an sick. In the Holy Koran there is no law to prohibit an infidel from providing assistance to our Muslim brothers and sisters. Therefore...we direct all clerics in Pakiston to not interfere with your noble intentions. You have our permission, blessings, and prayers." (From Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, p. 199)

[cali]

9. Of course.

I avoid generalizing- particularly when it comes to religious beliefs. I prefer to look at things on a case by case basis. (Love the Mortenson book, btw)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

10. That's the key--look at individuals

BTW, if you are so inclined, would you mind kicking this thread I started about Mortenson and his work? Thanks!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4719547&mesg_id=4719547

[LeftishBrit]

8. Actually Christian fundies often do attract outrage in the UK (where this took place)

Ian Paisley is most unpopular outside his 'base', and on a less prominent level, here's a description of a recent controversy about a very nasty London clergyman:

www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/06/religion

[donco6]

11. That's true.

Actually, I think it's great that they played Ahmadenijad's message. I wish we could see all the messages from Bin Laden, et al. I'm not sure what the government thinks they're protecting us from.