Anonymous wrote:When my husband raided a home in Afghanistan one evening, during the course of the search for bad things that kill US Soldiers and Afghan civilians both, the found a lot of writings hidden away in a wall.

After their interpreter read all of the pages, he old them that the writings were nothing sinister.

They were poetry written by the 12 year old daughter of the home.

He also said that the girl was very upset because when her family saw that she had written such poetry, about her love for a boy on their village, she likely would be stoned to death. It was a very rural village in a very hardline province.

The interpreter kept all of the writings, and destroyed them back at base.

I wish that all those who defend Islam would have to live in such a place for 30 days.

I have lived and worked in those countries.

It is beyond the comprehension of civilized humans, what occurs there.

When you defend Islam, you don't even have a conception of the depravity and horror you defend.

This is the stupidest thing I have read in a long time...

Anonymous wrote:

Muslima wrote:What it is, is a reaction to a provocation...

This “reaction,” as you call it, was intended to kill people.
Speech that is provocative is the VERY speech that needs to be protected. Nice, uncontroversial speech does not need that protection.

Compare this “reaction” on the part of radical Muslims to the reaction by Christians, radical or other, when “Piss Christ” was on exhibit (and endorsed by NEA).
I don’t remember any Christians arming themselves with the intent to kill the artists or the owners of the museum.

I am not a huge fan of Geller and I don’t condone what she did, but I also do not condemn it.
I, myself, believe that hurtful actions should be avoided. As should hurtful words - regardless of the audience.
But, she has every right to sponsor such an event.
I just find it interesting that the outrage on the part of the liberal left has been limited to inflammatory speech against radical Muslims.
I don’t recall the left’s outrage at the inflammatory language and acts against Christians.

Whether it was to kill people or not, the point I was trying to make was that it was a reaction a provocation. I have already said that Muslims should ignore these provocations, and in fact the Majority of Muslims do, and in this particular case, the majority of Muslims in Texas where the event was being held completely ignored it. They had less than 100 people there and most of them were not from the area. Yes. people have the right to be racists & bigots and I have the right to call them racists & bigots. Geller is a hate monger by all standards and we shouldn't dignify her hate speech by responding to it. Both Geller and ISIS Hatred breeds more hatred and seem to subscribe to the same view, that you cannot be a practicing Muslim AND a patriotic law abiding American and we have seen the backlash that can come from those like Geller and her cronies. We have seen a rise in hate crimes against Muslims across the country. We know of terrorists, including Andre Breivik in Norway who cited Geller in his manifesto, then went on to kill 77 people, many of whom were children. Geller defended Breivik’s actions by saying "the youth camp Breivik targeted was an anti-Israel “indoctrination training center" and the victims would have grown up to become: future leaders of the party responsible for flooding Norway with Muslims who refuse to assimilate, who commit major violence against Norwegian natives including violent gang rapes, with impunity, and who live on the dole." So don't tell me about killing people, free speech or people's reaction. Again, Pamela Geller has EVERY RIGHT to be a bigot and a racist, and we have every right to call her a bigot and a racist.

Depends on who you are....

Anonymous wrote:

Muslima wrote:Then , you are part of the problem.

Not really. Radical Islam kills for their own twisted reasons. I am a Jew and they would kill me just for being so. Pis being a Jew part of the problem?

Maybe you need to read again the post you were quoting and responding to. I don't think you understood what the poster said. On another hand. radicalized people kill for their own twisted reason be they Jews, Muslims, Christians, Atheists or Zorastrians.

Then , you are part of the problem.

What it is, is a reaction to a provocation...

I ignore them and usually don't even know they exist, unless it is pointed out somewhere in the media. I would say most Muslims would be offended if he was drawn into pornographic poses or offensive imagery, but most will just go on with their day and ignore the cartoonists.

May God give your family and especially father the strength to go through this difficult period. May your brother be rightfully guided to make better choices and cured from any illnesses he suffers from and may He ease the pain you're going through

I have no sympathy for the Islamophobe Pam Geller, she is filled with hate and will not succeed in changing the discourse nor the sentiment of Muslims anywhere. You are fooling yourself if you think she's a defender of free speech. She has zero credibility in Muslim living rooms and the Muslims who showed up at the event to protest should have just stayed home and ignore her and the event like the Majority of other Muslims did. If we spent as much time trying to implement the character of the Prophet s.a.w as we do reacting to every Tom, Dick and Harry's nonsense diatribe against him, we move a lot further. People attacked him verbally and physically and he bore it with patience. The lion is not interested in , or affected by the opinion of sheep.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not condoning the gunmen showing up to shoot up the place, but this is the height of cultural and religous insenstivity.

Not only is there a "contest" to draw the prophet with everyone knowing full well the angst it causes among Muslims, but you have this "event" in a part of Texas that has substantial population of Somali Muslims. What did people expect to happen?

This is the most archaic blame the victim mentality. "She wore a short skirt, what did she expect?" People expect to go about their business without a nutcase wanting to shoot, rape, mug them. Seriously, you are an idiot. The only people to blame here are the shooters, no one else.

If you want to have a civil discussion I am all for it - but if you want to call me names because you don't agree with me - then eff you!

It is not a "blame" issue to me. If I had to "blame" someone, of course it would be the gunmen. But once again, that is NOT the point I was trying to make. This was an event that was designed to provoke a reaction. The organizer was within his/her right to hold such an event. The event DID provoke a reaction. My point is given what happened in France, Germany and other places in response to this type of satire, why is anyone shocked that a couple radical Muslims showed up ready to shoot the place up?

It was an insentive event to hold given current tensions - and you cannot argue that. But the organizers were within their rights to be insensitive.

NP here.

I am not shocked that there was a terrorist attack in the U.S.; the Twin Towers were attacked TWICE, remember; in addition to Boston and many other attacks.

What shocks me is that anyone would keep up these "blame the victim" attacks.

PP, you clearly do not get it. You are devout - fine; we understand that; the Pilgrims came here to escape religious persecution; so did the Amish- and they are also devout (to a different religion/culture).

Understand that we will tolerate you, but we DEMAND your tolerance in return - at least as far as obeying our laws and respecting the rights of others.

To help you understand that these are principles we will die to defend as Americans, read this old case:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialist_Party_of_America_v._Village_of_Skokie

-an American Jew fights to preserve the right of Nazis to hold a public march through a predominantly Jewish neighborhood.

Our rights as citizens are above all else - including your religious dogma.

Is the point I am trying to make really that difficult to grasp or am I just not articulate enough to make it?

I am not a Muslim - far from it. And I in fact said more than once that the gunmen were to blame and the event holder had the right to hold the event. Our rights give us the right to be insensitive - but it is naive to think that some radical nutcases won't react given that they reacted to this type of thing in other places. Is it right that they reacted that way? Hell No! Is it predictable that someone would have reacted that way? Hell yes! The event was designed to be provacative. It worked.

Sadly true. Completely agree and adding that events like these send a message that hatred of Islam has been normalized in the west, a sentiment that further fuels radicalization. On the other hand, Muslims need to stop reacting emotionally and use their brains and follow the tenets of the religion they are swearing by. #Dontfallforit

Anonymous wrote:I would never choose a city school over a county school. Baltimore City schools have a LOT of issues and no immersion program is worth those problems. There is a French immersion program in Balt. County schools.


http://wellwoodes.bcps.org/

Thank you. Will check it out!

Anonymous wrote:

Muslima wrote:Thank you PPs, that's very helpful. The child in question is currently in K at a great school in VA so this would be a big change and the family will need to move to Baltimore. Do you think that the French immersion program would be worth the move? For the one who sent her kid to BIA, would you send her somewhere else if you had the option?

I'm the first poster (the one whose kid did not go to BIA). Just curious: Is there something else in pulling the family to Baltimore besides BIA? I probably wouldn't move just for that school (or any school for that matter), but perhaps if the family really put a priority on learning the language, it might be worth it. Do the parents work in or around Baltimore, or would they be commuting back to DC/VA? That could get old fast.

The family has the option to move and work in the Baltimore area of need be and the immersion program is a big plus. Applied for the same program in VA but didn't get in and also looking for a different scenery. There isn't a lot of info available about this school online though, so might just sit tight in Vs For now. Thank you!

Thank you PPs, that's very helpful. The child in question is currently in K at a great school in VA so this would be a big change and the family will need to move to Baltimore. Do you think that the French immersion program would be worth the move? For the one who sent her kid to BIA, would you send her somewhere else if you had the option?

It means different things to different people...

Any parent has first hand experience with this school? Especially the French or arabic immersion programs? Would appreciate any feedback/reviews. Thanks