Comments on: The Middle Ages – They’re Bad and They’re Back! http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/ The blog of the mystery writer, screenwriter and CEO of Pajamas Media Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:55:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: waterdragon52 http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81570 waterdragon52 Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:35:36 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81570 Charlie: Yes, Mohammed famously cut away a portion of the hem of his robe so it wouldn't chafe the back of a pet feline. However, in the convoluted minds of the Saudis, to emulate the Prophet too closely may be akin to preserving his reputed home in Medina, thereby creating a shrine, which could lead, by inference, to worshipping the hallowed spot as one would worship an idol, and, therefore, it was OK to raze the place to make way for some modern real estate development. And never mind mentioning the Kaba. Too bad that Alhamedi isn't still blogging as The Religious Policeman at muttawa/blogspot any more or he'd be fisking this item in his inimitable style. Charlie:

Yes, Mohammed famously cut away a portion of the hem of his robe so it wouldn’t chafe the back of a pet feline. However, in the convoluted minds of the Saudis, to emulate the Prophet too closely may be akin to preserving his reputed home in Medina, thereby creating a shrine, which could lead, by inference, to worshipping the hallowed spot as one would worship an idol, and, therefore, it was OK to raze the place to make way for some modern real estate development. And never mind mentioning the Kaba.

Too bad that Alhamedi isn’t still blogging as The Religious Policeman at muttawa/blogspot any more or he’d be fisking this item in his inimitable style.

]]> By: Charlie (Colorado) http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81569 Charlie (Colorado) Mon, 11 Sep 2006 14:54:57 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81569 Wasn't Mohammed a fairly famous cat person? Wasn’t Mohammed a fairly famous cat person?

]]> By: Sandy P http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81568 Sandy P Mon, 11 Sep 2006 04:00:24 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81568 air conditioning, sewers, clean running water, electricity, etc., are all western inventions and I don't see them giving those up. air conditioning, sewers, clean running water, electricity, etc., are all western inventions and I don’t see them giving those up.

]]> By: ElMondo http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81567 ElMondo Sun, 10 Sep 2006 18:34:57 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81567 Proof that this isn't a dispute with rational opponents, but a struggle against dictatorial megalomaniacs. To ban an act because it's a sign of "Western influence" is to not consider the intrinsic values behind the comission of the act separate from whatever biases and boogeyman fears those banning have. I mean, dog and cat ownership... Come <i>on</i>! And the Taliban banned kite flying by children on the notion that time was better spent studying the Koran. Neither was an act that achieved its desired affect; on the contrary, both were clearly counterproductive by reducing an entirely profound existential subject - religion - into superficial acts of obedience and contrition. Religion is too important to trivialize it by making children choose between kite flying and Koran studying. And social interactions, as well as personal choices of ownership and acceptance of responsibility (both virtues associated with pet ownership) are too important to subject them to the fashion of worrying whether something is "western influenced" or not. These are just points along the continuum that demonstrate the complete moral bankrupcy among too many Arab religious leaders. You <i>expect</i> religious leaders to deal with topics of importance, like sin, morality, responsibility, etc. But to delve into such trivial (for religion) subjects... clear sign that those folks have petty minds, not developed enough to properly deal with subjects properly the province of religion. Proof that this isn’t a dispute with rational opponents, but a struggle against dictatorial megalomaniacs. To ban an act because it’s a sign of “Western influence” is to not consider the intrinsic values behind the comission of the act separate from whatever biases and boogeyman fears those banning have.

I mean, dog and cat ownership… Come on! And the Taliban banned kite flying by children on the notion that time was better spent studying the Koran. Neither was an act that achieved its desired affect; on the contrary, both were clearly counterproductive by reducing an entirely profound existential subject – religion – into superficial acts of obedience and contrition. Religion is too important to trivialize it by making children choose between kite flying and Koran studying. And social interactions, as well as personal choices of ownership and acceptance of responsibility (both virtues associated with pet ownership) are too important to subject them to the fashion of worrying whether something is “western influenced” or not.

These are just points along the continuum that demonstrate the complete moral bankrupcy among too many Arab religious leaders. You expect religious leaders to deal with topics of importance, like sin, morality, responsibility, etc. But to delve into such trivial (for religion) subjects… clear sign that those folks have petty minds, not developed enough to properly deal with subjects properly the province of religion.

]]> By: Elliot Essman http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81566 Elliot Essman Sun, 10 Sep 2006 13:58:23 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81566 These people like to have -- no NEED -- enemies. They have a particular penchant for isolating those who may not be able to protest or fight back. These people like to have — no NEED — enemies. They have a particular penchant for isolating those who may not be able to protest or fight back.

]]> By: MarkD http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81565 MarkD Sun, 10 Sep 2006 00:36:36 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81565 Great idea. This should do wonders for the rat population. Maybe we'll see a return of the plague. Great idea. This should do wonders for the rat population. Maybe we’ll see a return of the plague.

]]> By: PeterUK http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81564 PeterUK Sat, 09 Sep 2006 17:19:51 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81564 One should never underestimate pussy power. One should never underestimate pussy power.

]]> By: Skookumchuk http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81563 Skookumchuk Sat, 09 Sep 2006 17:00:56 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81563 Our cat, Cat of Many Names (Skookumchuk among them), the Snakecatcher, Destroyer of Backyard Birdhouses, Ripper of Furniture, Terrorizer of Moles and Voles, could I'm thinking perform quite the commando operation if clandestinely inserted into that benighted land. I can tell just by her reaction as she reads this over my shoulder that the scheming has begun. Our cat, Cat of Many Names (Skookumchuk among them), the Snakecatcher, Destroyer of Backyard Birdhouses, Ripper of Furniture, Terrorizer of Moles and Voles, could I’m thinking perform quite the commando operation if clandestinely inserted into that benighted land. I can tell just by her reaction as she reads this over my shoulder that the scheming has begun.

]]> By: pacwaters http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81562 pacwaters Sat, 09 Sep 2006 15:59:41 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81562 Saudi Arabia is the center of all that is wrong with Islam. It continues to provide the support necessary for the indoctrination of millions around the world. It's time the west, and, the Bush administration in particular, called it like it is. The Saudi's are part and parcel of the problems of Islam, hence ours. Saudi Arabia is the center of all that is wrong with Islam. It continues to provide the support necessary for the indoctrination of millions around the world. It’s time the west, and, the Bush administration in particular, called it like it is. The Saudi’s are part and parcel of the problems of Islam, hence ours.

]]> By: Connecticut Yankee http://pjmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81561 Connecticut Yankee Sat, 09 Sep 2006 15:24:42 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2006/09/08/the-middle-ages-theyre-bad-and-theyre-back/#comment-81561 Peter UK-- I'm not looking for the Left to defend the right to keep pets (particularly pussycats), when they know that Darth Rove has a cat, the Infidel Pope is also a cat guy, and the Evil Zionist Crusader and Laura have a dog and a cat in the White House. Peter UK–

I’m not looking for the Left to defend the right to keep pets (particularly pussycats), when they know that Darth Rove has a cat, the Infidel Pope is also a cat guy, and the Evil Zionist Crusader and Laura have a dog and a cat in the White House.

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