Job Discussion Forums

[ohman]

I give no credence to the posting whatsoever. If anything, I found it amusing.

[ohman]

Find an online Hadith concordance. Explain to me how the folllowing Hadith is taken out of context, please.

The Day of Judgment will not come about until the Muslims will fight the Jews (and kill them), until the Jews hide behind rocks and trees, which will cry: Oh Muslim! Oh Abdullah!, there is a Jew behind me, come on and kill him.

[Jim Bigelow]

Where in the world are you taking this thread now???

I think the title of this thread was 'Take great care' and I think that's my advice to you....take care because their coming to get us....the little green men told me so! Did you know that the Ayrabs want to kill all the little green men?? It's true you know...I went to google and did a search so it must be true

I mean come on....lets not get into random selection of quotes and verses and ask each other to justify it.....like I said you just can't let go of the old "Muslims want to kill all the Jews" chip on the shoulder can you...oh carefull now... it's been about 5 minutes ..think it's time to tell the world how the Muslims hate the Jews...

I mean were just not going to get far like this are we? I think I'm pleased to say that living in the Middle East has taught be to come down of my high British horse and not be so pre judgemental...not to just take a saying and run with it...but instead to ask and question with an open mind. What was meant by this statement, why do your people behave like this,what's the background to it? Slowly I found that I didn't know it all and then I began to learn. A good teacher never stops being a student!

New thread: Grammar challenges amongst Middle Eastern Students

OHMAN: The reasons for the problems is the fact that the arabs have an inbuilt hatred for the jews....did you know that...

I mean come on buddy...give peace a chance!


It's 1:37 and time to turn in for the night....hold on....did you hear that...it's dem pesky Ayrabs again..Damn Ayrabs... Did I ever tell you the story about how dem pesky Ayrabs wanted to killl the whole of mankind? It's the little small ones you have to watch out for..they may look harmless but let me tell you something.... :

[ohman]

Jim,

um, wow.

So when are you out again, Sidiki?

Let me buy you a cup of coffee. We'll chat. Keep it simple.

If there were an emoticon illustrating a tongue planted in cheek, I would insert it with 75% of what I post throughout this discussion forum. I'll try to invent one :!

[Jim Bigelow]

And with that; I believe another noble thread has breathed it's last...may it forever rest in peace, Amen.

[johnslat]

Ah, the reports of this thread's death have been somewhat exaggerated.
I strongly suspect, for one thing, that there may well be more occasions in the future when, out of concern, some will feel it necessary to advise / warn those still in the Kingdom to exercise an even higher amount of caution than usual.
Jim, I'm absolutely sure othman posted that riduculous excerpt BECAUSE it was ridiculous - and showed the convoluted and absurd lengths some "conspiracy theorists" can go to. I spent nineteen years in the Kingdom and spoke on many occasion with (trusted) Saudi colleagues about Jews. On almost every occasion, these very well-educated (usually in the "West") Saudis would protest that they did NOT hate all Jews, only the Zionists. And yet, it seemed to me - though I could be wrong here - that "Zionist" was, in fact, a "code-word" for anyone of the Jewish faith.
This would not be so surprising, if I'm right, since the schools, the mosques and the media have been very energetic in promoting a prejudice against, even a hatred of, Jews and Judaism. However, it has, I'd say, gotten less so over the years. These days you will even find articles by Israeli writers who are against Sharon's policies in the papers in Saudi Arabia. When I first got there in 1980, to even SAY the word "Israel" was forbidden and could land an unwary speaker in a heap of trouble. So, I'd say some progress IS being made.
Regards,
John

[ntropy]

There are incidences where people go to absurd lengths to combat "Zionism."

When I was in Yemen, the country received some desperately needed medical aid from an international body. The medicine was promptly destroyed as it was originally manufactured in Israel. Tough luck for those who died without it.

[guest of Japan]

I'm a bit late on this, but I just wanted to say thanks to johnslat for the links. I've been pretty busy, so I didn't have time for the courtesy.

In a related note, I did not mean to imply that I was ignorant of the "Rapture," but that I had no idea it became a mainstream concept. When I left America it was still pretty secular and it wasn't too difficult to tune out those folks talking all that crazyness. But now to realize that their ranks have grown to over 40,000,000 and that they are voters, I'm plum scared.

In another related note, I caught an interview on CNN with a Republican about the 30 hour talkathon going on in congress right now in which is being staged by frustrated Republicans to get some judicial nominations through. The interviewer was obviously in contempt of the idea and challenged the senator on some populist ideas, but there was never a rational counterpoint given. The Republican ranted on and on about how the US is a democracy and that the Democrats are abusing their powers to block every apointment made by Bush. He then said that every Clinton appointee had been given the opportunity for a floor vote without hesitation. The interviewer never challenged him on these facts and no point of view was given by a Democrat.

Now just a bit ago I read on BBC's website that in fact only 4 appointees had been fillibustered out of 168 appointments. And to make matters worse there were 66 Clinton appointees who never got a shot.

My point is: Why is CNN allowing political lies to go unchallenged? It's no bleepin' wonder that there are 40 million Rapturists when one considers that the information is so biased and controlled that the only knowledge left is what's presented at 2 A.M. on local broadcasts after a hard day at the factory. In their politics the hear about how the Democrats are defying the very principles the nation is founded on and in their religion they learning the the nation was founded on entirely different principle than what it was.

Where's my bleepin' country, Dude? Thanks for gettin' through that. I feel better now.

[Jim Bigelow]

Dear John,

I did reserve suspicion that Ohman may not have lost all of his marbles and so made sure I started "if"


[quote="Jim Bigelow"]Ohman,

If you are posting this theory to give any credibility to it then I'm afraid it shows some real ignorance!

At the same time I was bemused at his imediate posting of a reported saying of the prophet mohamed...

Pleasant prviate messages where exchanged between me and Ohman but I still think there are some mighty chips weighing down his shoulders...

[ohman]

Jim,
there is an alliterative subject heading in my Hadith quote which I'd hope would indicate some understanding of my awareness of varying points of view, unless you feel Hamas represents mainstream Arab opinion. That couldn't be, could it?

I can rant about the "Zionist controlled" US media also.

In 1979 Vanessa Redgrave bankrolled and narrated a documentary which was sympathetic to a cause of the Palestinians. I don't think she ever worked in Hollywood after that. In fact, I believe she was burned in effigy in that town shortly after the documentary was released.

In October 2000, the week 12 year-old Mohammed Durrah was killed, the photo of his father attempting to protect him rated only an inset on the cover. The following week, the beating deaths of two hapless Israeli soldiers who'd taken a fatal wrong turn into a Palestinian mob, rated a full cover of a Palestinian showing off his bloodied hands to a cheering crowd.

Hollywood turns out films about all the world's underdogs (The Killing Fields, Cry Freedom, Beyond Rangoon. . .), except for one. A screenplay depicting the massacres at Sabra and Shatila wouldn't have a chance of finding Hollywood backing.

My point is this: The royal family may very well and soon find itself on the ropes unless they do a little backpeddling regarding the terrorists and the state of Israel in the media they control.

I no more expect this to happen than I would a movie from Hollywood portraying the Palestinian point of view.

[scot47]

ohman

The danger of going down this path is that at the end of it you will find yourself with the crazies who really believe in these conspiracy theories.

I find it strange that seemingly rational people can believe that there is a conspiracy by Zionists, Freemasons and Communists to take over the world. But then people are strange. That is one thing we can learn from the history of the last hundred years.

[johnslat]

Dear scot47,
From reading ohman's postings, I'd say he's pretty safe from the danger you mentioned. Anyone who's read and appreciated "Catch-22" can't take ANYTHING (but especially him/herself) too seriously. I'd say people who subscribe to these "conspiracy theories" ( although it must be remembered that, very occasionally, there ARE conspiracies) are ones who are usually trying to make "black and white sense" out of a very complex, often greyish, world. Someone once wrote that there are two major theories of history:

1. the Conspiracy Theory
and
2. the Foul-up Theory

I tend to go with the second, mainly because of my jaundiced, rather skeptical, estimate of the mental ability of most human beings. I'd say the "best-laid plans" (or conspiracies) are much more likely to go awry than to succeed.
Regards,
John

[ohman]

Scot,

The sources of widespread public opinion are progressive, and I am fairly certain don't originate in some dimly lit backroom accessible only by knowing the secret knock, the brotherhood handshake and password.

Tacit consesus among blocks of like minded people has to have something at its source. These sources are certainly complex and involve an unfolding of trends, tendencies and evolving theories about causes and effects.

However, at this point in time, I'm sure you would agree that a reversal of universal presumptions about one another doesn't have the luxury of time and can only be expedited through some sort of direct intervention from leadership.

[MacMahon]

I always suspected Scott had something to hide. I say he's with them, and trying to throw us of the trail?

He knows were onto to something big here. Wait I heard a nosie....

[johnslat]

Dear "scot47",
Ohmygosh - you've been outed. Now remember - don't panic. Shred all hard copies of our communications, wipe your computer ( destroy the motherboard; trash the hard drive ), use one of your other passports and book a flight to the appointed meeting place. I and the others will join you there. All will be well - the end is near and our triumph is close at hand.
Regards,
"John"