My flat and classes are alternate worlds – a glimpse at the possibility of what peaceful coexistence could look like. My flat is made up of: an Egyptian Coptic Muslim, an Iranian Muslim, a Russian Jew, a non-religious Brit, an agnostic German and me, an American Christian.
My classes are even more diverse, my Political Economy of Development in the Middle East course could be a model UN. Out of 19 people the following countries are represented: Cyprus, Syria, England, France, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Palestine, China, Italy, Pakistan, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Singapore and the United States. Every major religion is represented – the guy from Pakistan is even an Imam, and the Syrian is a foreign diplomat for his country.
There are two of us representing the US and the other one is a guy from the East Coast. I think he thought he was going to impress everyone because he introduced himself as “a graduate of GW – that’s George Washington University in D.C., and yes, that’s Washington D.C.” (italics denote his emphases) *giggles*
The Syrian guy in my class asked an interesting question in our Human Rights course. “Why is it that the U.S. is able to criticize Syria when it condemns people to death if the U.S. also practices capital punishment?” Any answers? My guess was perhaps it is a question of due process.
Speaking of – I watched a documentary about a 16 year old girl Atefah who was publicly hanged in Iran for “crimes against chastity”. She was the victim of rape and abuse yet she was the one executed. The man (who was older than her father) only received 95 lashes. Rape is almost impossible to prove since the age of sexual consent is only 9 years old in Iran.
NINE YEARS OLD
The injustice makes me want to scream.
9 Responses to “Tuesday October 17, 2006”
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Twitter: EstherCrawford
- @jeffreine that bridge gives me chills
- @jeffreine yep! and watched tv ... I'm pretty sure every night should end like that
- @soccerhaus it was pretty hilarious... then another couple came in and started making out too.. it never ended
October 18th, 2006 at 5:32 pm
ryc: Noooo… I’ve had that song for ages. That’s why I was interested in the Ministry of Sound until I figured that it probably would be a much lower quality experience in person than through speakers. Who knows, maybe it would’ve been a cool light show.
October 18th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
One thing I have found out is there is NO justice! Evil prevails in this world! The good guy does finish last, the honest are punished, and the corrupt are rich! We are living in Hell.
October 18th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
Does it not show the inequity of the Muslim mind? How can a girl of that age make a commitment for life? 9 years old, and she is ready? NO WAY! Then, execute a woman who was unable to keep her legs together when a man wanted “some action”. That is too much. (forgive me, if that sounded too graphic. I did not mean to embarrass)
On the other question: due process before the death penalty is carried out. I would rather trust the American process of justice, even as flawed as it proves to be at times.
October 18th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
That makes me sick, too. THanks for posting this.
October 17th, 2006 at 11:04 pm
GW could also stand for George Dubbaya.
We judge Iran for its despicable human rights violations and its capital punishment laws, and yet the state of Texas executes people with IQs in the MRDD range. I wonder what we can do besides scream. ESTHER, are you going to vote via absentee ballot? Today was the last day to register in Oregon.
October 17th, 2006 at 4:27 pm
what an awesome experience.
October 17th, 2006 at 9:47 am
^talking about a blogring perhaps? English, please…
I still laugh about the GW/DC comment, but I feel compelled to let the fellow laypeople know that “imam” means leader in Arabic. I was explaining this to my friend Chris’s fiance, Kaitlin, this past weekend. My luck, she knew exactly what it meant.
October 17th, 2006 at 9:35 am
What is written in that blog, Christianity is not intellectual suicide is all wrong. Leave it please. How can a person say Christianity is not having child like faith? And yes it is not suicide it is believing in our great Lord and Savior but we know persecutions, pain, and even death will come to us for our faith in Jesus. Suicide would be taking our lives.
“And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:3-4
October 17th, 2006 at 8:59 am
Your Syrian classmate has a very compelling point. It stuns me that America has not abolished the practice of capital punishment.