Thursday, November 03, 2005


Eid Mubarak to all of you, may we spend next Eid in a happier world free of wars and terrorism

41 comments:

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Happy Eid to you too, Haneen!

Don't let the "Nuts" bother you too much. There are some really unpleasant people out here in the world. I've run across some of the most obnoxious, vindictive and downright childish commentors it was my misfortune to meet. I think debate can be healthy and stimulating, but some just want to talk trash. I think one guys sole purpose, at times, is simply to post links to questionable information in peoples comments sections just to fuel suspicion of and hatred for the United States. How this can be constructive I don't know.

But the one person you had that was touting the joys of Canada I have my suspicions about. Everyone KNOWS that Canada has one month each of Spring, Summer and Fall and nine months of Winter! :) They can't get people to study there so they've started trolling Iraqi blogs looking to filch Scholarship awardees! lol!

Btw, how did you like "Gangs of New York"? I never did see that movie. I had heard it was long and violent and I was just never in the right mood.

Take care.

Anonymous said...

Hey Haneen. I probably shouldn't have called Rich a Republican, his hateful rhetoric just sounded like something the republicans spew here. I would take it as an insult if someone called me that. So Rich, I do apologize to you for addressing you as one. Don't know why he attacked me for no reason with all those crazy conspiracy theories, but we'll just let that go.

Hope the rest of you holiday went well, Haneen. As for those that are harassing you about coming here, just disregard them, they believe themselves "true patriots," but they are only pathetic racists who are unable to see the trees from the forest. They want to lump all Arab people together as one entity. Best thing to do is just ignore them and delete their replies.

Take care of yourself and shoot me an email when you get the time. bye

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

"his hateful rhetoric just sounded like something the republicans spew here"

Honestly, Jason, do you really want to get into politcal bashing on this blog? We have wingnuts on both sides of the aisle here. Give it a rest.

Anonymous said...

lynnette, sorry, I should be more precise. I meant neo-cons, not true Reagan-style republicans. No offense intended to old school republicans. My mom's one and I respect her beliefs as I do yours.

It's just hard to keep the vitrol down in this divided country. Being accused of being a traitor for disagreeing with our "leader," etc, etc, etc. So much anger right now. I need to step back at times. We're all americans, it's easy to forget sometimes. Thanks for the note.

PS. Gangs of New York was just ok. Not one of Scorcese's best. A lot of overacting and a bit of cheese thrown in. Daniel Day Lewis was fantastic, though, as Bill "The Butcher." Love that actor. You've seen Last of the Mohican's right?

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Jason,
No offense taken. You're right, our country is so divided right now that we need to step back and take a deep breath sometimes. Which is kind of why I find Haneens blog so refreshing. Personaly I tend to swing different ways depending on the circumstances and the candidates. Yes, the neo-cons are rather scary. I have always considered myself a moderate. It's sometimes rather hard to make a choice when there are things you agree with on both sides.

There was never a good choice about Iraq and I would never presume to think I have all the answers.

I like Daniel Day Lewis, too. I loved "Last of the Mohicans" and in fact had to go out and buy a copy. Which I don't normally do. Well, since you panned "Gangs of New York" maybe I'll have to rent "The Notebook" instead this weekend.

As Haneen would say......Cheers!

Anonymous said...

lynnette, see if your video store has a movie called "The Station Agent." Beautiful, funny, touching flic. Caught it by accident on Sundance and loved it. I know blockbuster has it. Check it out. Or as I told Haneen, check out "Garden State" w/ Natalie Portman and Zach Braff from Scrubs, if you haven't already seen it.
have a good night.

and cheers to you

pebblepie said...

*smile*

Morbid Smile said...

Hi to you too!

Well, I guess I have to get use to the strange comments from now on! Everyone has the right to speak his\her opinion, but some people are being aggressive you know!

Hello Kevin, I thought of changing the blog's settings and allow comments from the registered useres only. But I have some friends who don't have usernames and they won't be able to comment here if I change the settings! Jason is one of them as you see. And I am not planning to close the comments section cuz I think there will be no use of the blog if there are no commenters in it.

Gongs of New York was a good movie, although it was violent and bloody! I like "Last of The Mohikans" as well. I watched so many times before, and will see it again! The music of the movie is so great. I have it on CD, so as of "Brave Heart".

Anonymous said...

Haneen, how do I get a user name? I don't want you to have to go to all that trouble just for me. Let me know.

Yeah loved the music to Last of the Mohicans too. Have you seen The Piano? Beautiful soundtrack.

chow!

Morbid Smile said...

Hey jason, never mind! You can just sign up for a blog in the main page and get a username. And you can choose not to make a blog if you don't want to.


See ya!

Anonymous said...

Happy Eid, even though it is a silly religious practice.

Haneen, I am happy to read what you say, and I take back my accusations to you. Peace. I have been to other Sunni blogs like RiverBend and Citizen of Mosul and they all support the carbombers and marketplace bombers and those who plant IEDs to kill off police, Shiites and the Americans.

Of course I dont hate Arabs. I am a Muslim myself. I think the Iraqis should be very proud that they are the first Muslim country with a democratic constitution. Out of 47 Muslim countries, Iraq is the first. This is a big honor and it tells a lot about the Iraqi character that they achieved this (hehhehe despite all those oh so holy carbombs designed to kill democracy, by some other Iraqis).

In any case, let me say that Islam is what causes the backwardness in the Middle East. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) did not want people to progress and killed anybody who disagreed with him. And then he instituted slavery (4th class citizens). He also made sure women are 2nd class citizens and non-believers are 3rd class citizens. The Koran says "be nice to your slaves". It does not say "slavery is abolished". In any case nobody believes in the Koran anymore - which is a good thing.

Until Iraqis come to reckon with the Mohammedan ideology, you will not achieve true liberation.

We in America believe that religion is a personal thing. Islam for me is a personal thing between me and my Allah. That is why we will shoot an Islamist terrorist if we see one - because they want to impose opressive Talibanism and wife beating on us.

Bagher (the Muslim American)

Morbid Smile said...

Hey there again!
Happy Eid to you ( I don't know why you see it as a silly practice!).. anyway.

First, I am not Sunni, and this is the first time I say this cuz I really don't see any difference between the two sects. But I know very sure that not all of the Sunnis support carbomings for sure! To be clear, the people who support such crimes are not considered Muslims at all. They say that they are Muslims, but they are only useing it as a cover for their crimes! We all know this.

Second thing, I believe in Koran, and will never stop believing in it. I am very proud of this, and proud of being Iraqi, and proud of being a true Muslim. Sure, religion is something personal between a person and God.

Well, I see that you are so much affected by the bad acts that some people doing in the name of Islam, that you started to think in this way. I don't blame you, but believe me it's not true. Those who are killing and boming other people are not the symbols of our religion, they are not even considered Muslims ( Not even human beings ).

Excuse me, the woman is treated in the same way as the man! It's true that they are treated badly in most of the Arab countries, but this is not cuz of Islam at all. And women are fighting this finally. You will see this by yourself if you visit any Arab country. I might be an example for you, I am a young woman, I have the totall freedom to do anything in my life, I have the right and will to go on with my study and career life just like anyone in this world, and no one can say NO to me! Is this slavery??

Have you read Koran before? I bet not. Read it, you will change your mind. It has so many great values and lessons that if Muslims apply them in the right way we will live in a great world. It's the wars, occupations, wrath, greed and poverty that make us look like this ugly way! Not Islam.


I would have written more, but I'm in a hurry for lunch invitation!


Peace.

A. Damluji said...

Gangs of New York was a good movie??

Bleurgh!

What is it with Leo DiCaprio and older women?

first Ms. Stone in the quick and the dead, and now Ms. Diaz?

If u REALLY like leo, watch Catch Me if You Can!

ah.. too many movies, hope lunch was good!

please don't be steered into arguing politics and religion, please?

cheers sis, salam to everyone..

(lucky me, now I have FOUR days of Eid, got it? :D)

Morbid Smile said...

NO, I DONT LIKE LEO AT ALL!! But I do like Ms. Diaz!

Lunch was great, thank you. There was some chicken and I could hardly eat it!!......... The Bird Flu rumors!

Oh bro, I also have FOUR days of Eid!! I'm catching on both sides!!


;)

AND no more arguing politics and religion. I SWEAR ON THAT.


Salam.

A. Damluji said...

no need for swearing, its just that i'm worried u might get dragged into arguing, and that will not be a pretty sight! remember, if u get anymore offensive comments, take a deep breath, delete them, and whatever you do, dont reply!

Avian Flu.. if it came to iraq, u'll hear of cases alongside the border areas, like if it came from the north, u'd hear of cases in Mosul, Kirkuk and so on, it won't simply HIT baghdad out of the blue.. also, i dont think birds will think to migrate thru skies full of helicopters and billowing smoke clowds!

salam to all! cheers and happy 4-day eid!

Anonymous said...

Morbid Smile - I have read the Koran in my own language, and when I was a child, I was forced to memorize it in Arabic. But I failed in that and I was punished. The Koran is full of errors and nonsense that does not meet the test of reason. I will be happy to show you that if you care.

Again, I take back my accusations to you, and am very happy to hear that you support the democratic process in Iraq. Most Iraqis want to have it both ways. They support the insurgency because they think they may be able to rule over the Shiites and Kurds like in the past, and then when that is failing, they start supporting the democratic process, and then they complain why their democratic rights is not "perfect". I guess whatever suits them best, at the expense of others.

And dont listen to Anarki13 and others who want censorship. That is what Saddam did. When he could not anser his critics, he would pick them up and disappear them. Now this guy Anarki wants you to do the same thing to me. Dont become another Saddam here. I will go away if you tell me. But no censorship please.

Peace upon you.

Baqher Khalilpour

Anonymous said...

Anarki13: remember, if u get anymore offensive comments, take a deep breath, delete them, and whatever you do, dont reply!

And how do you define "offensive comments" may I ask from Anarki13? Like if you can't argue the point, or find that you disagree, then "delete" them? I guess you would feel more at home if you had joined the Baath party under Saddam, where they did exactly what you order, wouldnt you?

"Offensive Comment" - like when I say that there is error in the Koran such as when it says earth is flat. Then Anarki is going to pull out his knife (censor's knife of course), and slash.

What a great enlightened individual. I hope you dont live in the west, because it is people like you who are destroying western liberalism and the open soceity.

Get used to it Anarki. We have freedom of speech in the west and there is nothing you can do about it.

Bagher

CharlesWT said...

Bagher: "And dont listen to Anarki13 and others who want censorship. That is what Saddam did. When he could not anser his critics, he would pick them up and disappear them. Now this guy Anarki wants you to do the same thing to me. Dont become another Saddam here. I will go away if you tell me. But no censorship please."

"Get used to it Anarki. We have freedom of speech in the west and there is nothing you can do about it."

So, your are asserting that if you write graffiti on the side of my house and I paint over it, I am censoring you? Freedom of speech is the right to speak freely without government censure. There is no corresponding right to be heard. Get used to it.

Anonymous said...

charleswt: So, your are asserting that if you write graffiti on the side of my house and I paint over it, I am censoring you? Freedom of speech is the right to speak freely without government censure. There is no corresponding right to be heard. Get used to it.

Charles, this blog is not exactly the outside of your house, is it? What a silly comparison. This forum is an open invitation to the public to enter into a dialog. Once you have made the forum open and public to all, and not subject to invitation, you have renounced the privilege of censorship.

This is like a public restaurant, where patrons of all race, age, sex, and opinion are invited to come in and dine. You cannot discriminate against those that you do not like.

If you wish a private group, then set up your blog as a private group, and I would care less. There are other places where I can learn from and I dont need to be here.

Now you get used to free speech.

Bagher

CharlesWT said...

Bagher: "This is like a public restaurant, where patrons of all race, age, sex, and opinion are invited to come in and dine. You cannot discriminate against those that you do not like."

Sure you can discriminate against those that you do not like. People do it all the time.

This is Haneen's blog. She has the right to control its content. We all post here at her pleasure. She has no moral or ethical obligation to let everyone post here just because she allows some to post. Just because she leaves her door open to allow the neighbors to drop in visit with her doesn't mean she has to put up with everyone who shows up.

Besides, even owners of "public restaurants" have the right to ask patrons; regardless of their race, age, sex or opinion; to leave if they are causing problems for them and the other patrons.

Anonymous said...

charleswt: Sure you can discriminate against those that you do not like. People do it all the time.

There is something deeply immoral about this. If you wish to discriminate based on opinion, may I ask you to leave our open society and go elsewhere. By accepting the social contract, you give up the right to discriminate. I think Ramadi or Tehran may be a better place for you.

Again once you have a PUBLIC forum, which is open to all to post, it ceases to be private - then just because you happen to have the power to censor, you do not receive the moral authority to do so.

If you wish to censor, then close the forum, and issue passwords to your buddies.

No - in a public restaurant you cannot discriminate against people based on their race, sex, ethnic origins, religion, ethnicity or opinion. You will be afoul of the law.

Bagher

CharlesWT said...

Bagher: "There is something deeply immoral about this. If you wish to discriminate based on opinion, may I ask you to leave our open society and go elsewhere."

Moral or not, private individuals should be allowed to discriminate. And they should have to accept any criticism, condemnation or ridicule, but not coercion, that comes their way. It's governments that shouldn't be allowed to discriminate.

"By accepting the social contract, you give up the right to discriminate. I think Ramadi or Tehran may be a better place for you."

Hmmm... More recently, philosophers from different perspectives have criticized Social Contract Theory. In particular, feminists and race-conscious philosophers have argued that social contract theory is at least an incomplete picture of our moral and political lives, and may in fact camouflage some of the ways in which the contract is itself parasitical upon the subjugations of classes of persons.
Social Contract Theory

"No - in a public restaurant you cannot discriminate against people based on their race, sex, ethnic origins, religion, ethnicity or opinion. You will be afoul of the law."

If by "public restaurant" you mean an establishment owned by a private individual that is not a private club, then, in the context of the US constitution, some of us would argue that such laws are an abrogation of private property rights and rights of association supposedly guaranteed by the US constitution.

Night. I'm off to bed. :)

A. Damluji said...

:D

salam!

Offensive:: In language or morals, terms and concepts which are unacceptable to some people, such as swearing and profanity.

Anonymous said...

charleswt: Moral or not, private individuals should be allowed to discriminate.

I see - so an immoral racist position, whereby a private individual, agency or corporation can discriminate based on race, age, gender, religion, etc., when hiring or employing another person, is supported in your system of thought. Well, I suppose there goes that truism "equality for all" out that window, and unceremoniously to wit. Indeed immoral - at least you are honost about it.

If you had read the criticism on social contract theory, you would not have had to cut and paste the text. I dont think you even know how petty those "criticisms" in the link are. Please explain your objection to SCT, instead of parroting something you appear not to understand.

By public restaurant, I mean a private establishment open to the public, soliciting patronage - e.g. through advertisement.

For the establishment to be required not to discriminate against the patrons, you cite that to be an abrogation of private property rights. Fair enough - except that in your haste you have forgotten to notice that the precept of "man is born equal" takes precedence over private property rights. Your error, so typic of the LaRouchites, is to put property ahead of man, in the manner that the Islamists puts Mohammad ahead of man. I assure you that you cannot be any more mistaken. Private property rights happens to inhabit the lower rungs of the Rights of Man, and is secondary to the right to be equal.

Good night and dont lose any sleep from your "right to discriminate against others" :-(

Bagher

Anonymous said...

anarki13: salam

SalAm va kufto zahre mAr yA akhi ahmaq hemAr gandideh badbakht - bisho'ur boro dareto bezAr - hehehe

bichAreh -

where have I used swearing or profanity against Haneen? You would have a hard time showing that.

How does it feel like being compared to Uncle Saddam, who happily followed your recommendation ey bichAreh?

nafahm

Bagher

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Thanks for the movie tips. I always wondered if "Garden State" was any good. I'll have to look for them the next time I go. I rented "The Notebook" this weekend, which was good, but a tearjerker. I also liked "The Piano". Strange that '13 should mention "Catch Me if You Can". That was on Saturday and I ended up watching the end of that too.(I'd seen it before.) Good movie.

Jason, if you want to sign up in Blogger it's really easy. Even I managed it. Just click on Sign up here and follow the steps. You have to be prepared to give them your e-mail address though. So far that hasn't been a problem for me. That is, I haven't noticed any junk e-mail's as a result, in my e-mail at work. I've had problems with that in the past on my account at home. Consequently I end up having to do mass deletions there all the time. What a pain.

See ya.

Bill said...

My fav Leo movie is (What's Eating Gilbert Grape) (1993)
Johnny Depp as Gilbert Grape and Leo as Arnie Grape...a great performance by both.

A. Damluji said...

:)

just saw "What's eating Gilbert Grape" today, great performance indeed..

Morbid Smile said...

GUYS!! It's very obvious that you have forgotten the title of this post!! It's HAPPY EID, it's not about discriminating people from resturants, forums, public places.. not even about criticism or man.. etc!

I was absent from the blog for one day, and I got all of this! What will happen once I go to the U.S. and won't be online for a long time?! I bet you will bomb each other's usernames!!


Stop this fight, or semi-fight, please! Although I enjoyed reading.. :)


Bagher, you are already signing your post with your name, then why don't you write it instead of choosing anonimity?! At least I would know it's you from the beginning of the comment.

Second thing, Anarki is my friend, and I don't think that he meant any censorship here. He was just suggesting, that's all.

And you are welcome to stay here for sure.


But please guys, again, no more fights! no more politics, and no more arguing religion. Everyone has his\her own views about everything in life, and I see if any two people who don't agree on each other's view their argues would get bigger and end up with a fight! We are all here to make friends, not enemies. Let's put those topics aside, I know they are essential, but there are so many other wonderful topics we can talk about.




Oh Bill, "What's Eating Gillbert Grape" was on TV last night!! I'm in love with Jonny Depp :) I know, I know.. he looks like a freak in most of his movies, but he's one of my favourite actors.





Peace and love for all :)
Haneen

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Haneen, have you seen "Pirates of the Caribean"? I really liked Johnny Depp in that. I think there's a sequel coming out in 2006.

I'm glad you are keeping you comments section open, btw. A blog without a comments section is like a hamburger without ketchup.

Take care.

P.S. Sorry, it's lunchtime here and I'm hungry.

Bill said...

OMG i must be psychiatric or somthin..how could i no it would be on ur tv..wow..heh.

yeah..im not IN love with J Depp but i do luv pretty much all his work..seems to be one of the rare one's who care more about the work than how much money it will draw.

CharlesWT said...

Haneen, on your blog your word is law.

"What will happen once I go to the U.S. and won't be online for a long time?!"

Unless you think you will be too busy or have greater interests than entertaining us poor slobs without a life, you should be able to be online and continue blogging while in the U.S.

Morbid Smile said...

Dear Charleswt, sure I will keep blogging as long as I am alive. But I might stop blogging for a while - that is between the time I leave Iraq till the time I get to the U.S. and get settled and have an internet access- I don't know how long will it take, but I hope it won't take so long time!


No Lynnette, I haven't seen Pirates of The Caribean, unfortunately!! Once, my uncle brought the movie on CD and I was there to watch it.. but guess what?? I fell asleep!! :(

And I didn't get the chance to watch the movie ever again.

I've seen Chocolat a couple of times, and another movie in which he was selling druggs... don't remember exacly, but there were drugs in the movie.

The hamburger is no good without ketchap!... oh and Mayoneez!


Cheers to all.

Anonymous said...

i'm a guy, and even i like mr. depp, he's just....cool. the drug movie you were talking about is "Blow." My favs of his are "Sleepy Hollow" and "Edward Scissorhands," and of course, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." A warning though, "fear and loathing" is very weird, do a little research about the book it's based on, the late, great Hunter S. Thompson.

Just love when Depp and the director, Tim Burton team up. Did you guys and gals in Iraq see any advertisements for "Corpse Bride?" Depp voices the main character, same animation as Nightmare Before Christmas (claymation). Looks really good. Still at the movies here, should be on dvd by the time you get here, haneen.

Anonymous said...

i need to proof before i hit enter.

The book: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Author: Hunter S. Thompson

Morbid Smile said...

I love "Sleepy Hollow", and I cried for "Edward Scissorhands".. Yea that movie was "Blow".. thanks for reminding me, Jason :)

I saw trailors of "Corpse Bride", it sounds interesting... Wait a minute, there is a movie of Depp in which there are some crimes taken place in the city, I guess it's "From Hell". I love such movies! And also movies about devils, spirits and ghosts.. BOOOO!


But his movie "Charlie and The Choclate Factory" doesn't seem that good ! I'll check Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.



See ya

A. Damluji said...

The Chocolate factory was ok, if u like depp OR chocolate u'll like this one!

the Burton-Depp Duo is beyond description! I mean, Burton has this vision that's so amazing, so powerful! Anyone remember The Nightmare Before Christmas?

I loved it! and Corpse Bride is amazing too, i'm just waiting for a good copy to come along so i'll buy it!

heeho, if u like, and ur still gonna tour the colleges, i'll find u a copy DVD of "Pirates", its a beautiful movie and stars Depp and another actor u undoubtedaly love, Orlando Bloom (Legolas the forest elf from LordofTheRings, the guy with long white hair and bow and arrows? yeah that's him)
and so many more good actors! like i said, tell me, i'll find u a copy as a going-away present!

and i love helena bonham carter!

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Haneen,

If you like scary movies, did you ever see "The Relic"? It's an old movie (relatively speaking) based on the book "The Relic" by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Childs. It's a good old fashioned monster movie. Of course, the book was better, but the movie was really good.

Morbid Smile said...

No I haven't seen The Relic, but I've heard about the book.

Anarki, thank you for your offer, bro :) Actually I haven't set the time to start the college's tour, I will do it short time before my leave.. and I still don't know when I'm leaving. I have never been to al Nahrain University before, and went to Baghdad's Universty campus in Jadiria just a couple of times a month before the war to participate in Abu Dhabi TV show "The Viewpoint".

I don't want to miss seeing some places here!



Peace and love

Anonymous said...

Haneen, should get my internet hooked up at my new place this week sometime, so i'll have more time to write. It's killing me to be without cableTV and internet (i know, i know, spoiled american) but i still miss it. I'm a media junkie, need my CNN and Comedy Central (Daily Show w/ John Stewart) fixes.

As for good scary movies, my favorite is "The Shining." Book is fantastic too (Stephen King). Also, the movie "Saw" really scared the hell out of me (I don't get scared too easily). Not real gory bloody, more like the Brad Pitt movie "Seven" in scariness.

Morbid Smile said...

Nobody can live without TV, Jason!

I'm watching TV and writing a post at the same time now (TV and internet).... I like to tease people :)