On Monday, October 11, in Florence, a young Muslim decided that he needed to express himself and that the only proper way to do so would be to dance on the altar of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, the cathedral church of the Diocese of Florence Italy (link to video in the linked article).
It is impossible not to note a double standard here. Some nut “pastor” of a tiny (<50 member) "Baptist church" in Florida threatens to burn a few Korans and just about everyone anywhere near the left side of the political spectrum here and in the West in general has the vapors because we mustn’t harm the delicate sensitivities of the Muslim world. Well, that and they’re afraid the Muslims will start seething and rioting. Meanwhile we have Mr. Happy Feet profaning an altar in a cathedral and nobody notices. Even if someone did, there has certainly been no seething in the Catholic world over it.
In Jerusalem, the Muslims start seething and fuming whenever an infidel even thinks about stepping foot on the Temple Mount, yet they had little respect in 2002 at the Church of the Nativity, where several holed up for a month and a half, vandalizing the place, using the Bible for toilet paper, eating on the altar and leaving it soiled, urinating inside the sanctuary, and drinking all the sacramental wine (I thought alcohol was taboo?).
What do you think would happen if a Christian decided to do a jig on an altar, or whatever the equivalent item in a mosque might be? What about holing up in the al-Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount?
[…] The Downside of Turning Ones Cheek This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. ← Who is the Intolerant […]
Late to the party, Tea Party meeting tonight. Hmm, the turn the other cheek admonition clearly involves only two cheeks: the first one that gets the insult and the second one that remains to be turned. After that no cheeks are left, duty fulfilled, so all bets are off. Then it’s Katy bar the door time. 🙂
#15. hamster
I’ve been thinking about doing some seething. Care to join in?
Hmmmmmmm…..
I hate to interrupt tonight’s meeting of the Mutual Admiration Society, but … In an effort not to avoid reality or ignore facts, let’s take a look at the state of Christians and Jews (and their churches and temples) in the cradle of both religions (the Middle East) vis-a-vis Muslims, who share that same cradle. That would be a good… Read more »
bob,
I mostly have an ugly head on my shoulders
Simple
12 Bob, There is a considerable body of folk who would take issue with that viewpoint and I don’t think I could completely refute the charges. I am as bull-headed, stubborn, narrow-minded as the bulk of humanity, but I try to fight it on a daily basis. Some days I win and some days…… I believe it is a good… Read more »
#6 Simple, you have a good head on those shoulders.
In case you are wondering, an update to the planned mooslm mossk in Katy was posted recently in (here is cryptic references so no one gets into trouble): Newspapers which are of the Houston community online; and Persons who examine the River Oaks area; and Citizens of Pasadena. The dead-tree issue had a pic of the architectural drawing. Haven’t found… Read more »
Oh, geez, I’m sorry Wagon! /transferring credits from Hammy to Wagonburner
Progress, not perfection!
#8 crazy aunt
You’re welcome. 😉
ps – I ran across it through The Anchoress or Deacon’s Bench via New Advent.
Hamous, thanks for the link to Madrid’s website. I use some of his materials in class, and highly recommend Envoy magazine to my students and colleagues.
Whether you want to hear it or not, Muslims have a history of desecrating and/or destroying the artifacts of other faiths. I cited two examples above that go far beyond drawing a cartoon of a child molester or burning/threatening to burn a Koran. Another example is the Buddhist statues blown up by the ever so tolerant Taliban. The so-called “moderate… Read more »
Ted, Italy and France have both begun to make gypsies feel unwelcome. The door interference came in two forms: First, young “mothers” holding linen wrapped babies and begging for money. Second, hordes of little children who would mob around you and beg for money while at the same time picking your pocket or snatching loose purses and cameras. I cannot… Read more »
Simple –
There are idiots in all religions. There are idiots in all professions. There are even idiot bloggers.
It doesn’t excuse their behavior. Especially when it’s aimed at denigrating another’s faith. What this guy did was inexcusable.
That’s about as simple as it gets.
Simple, I also was amazed at the graffiti, but the only historic site I remember seeing it was at the Colosseum, and that was carved into the rock. Most graffiti was on retaining walls within the city areas. I expected to see (and defend myself from) gypsies, but I can’t remember seeing any. However, I did not see anyone dancing… Read more »
Ted,
I have Arab-Sunni relatives and they are all decent people. They just might be your neighbors since they live on the side in the Cypress area.
I have never seen or heard them denigrate other religions. I can’t say the same for some of my Baptist relatives.
Simple
Ted, I lived in Florence for over a year in the early eighties and some of the locals were pretty adept at painting graffitti on the walls of every historic site in the city. Gypsies were the biggest obstacle in getting in and out of the various cathedrals. The Florentines would spit on them in passing. Nothing much changes…only the… Read more »
When Lovely Daughter and I visited Italy in 2007, one of the places we visited was Florence. Of course we had to see the beautiful Duomo, that gorgeous green and white marble architectural marvel. The baptistery was nearby, larger than most of the churches I see in the states, and also gorgeous in green and white. The mall area between… Read more »
[…] The Downside of Turning Ones Cheek This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. ← Who is the Intolerant […]
Late to the party, Tea Party meeting tonight. Hmm, the turn the other cheek admonition clearly involves only two cheeks: the first one that gets the insult and the second one that remains to be turned. After that no cheeks are left, duty fulfilled, so all bets are off. Then it’s Katy bar the door time. 🙂
#15. hamster
I’ve been thinking about doing some seething. Care to join in?
Hmmmmmmm…..
I hate to interrupt tonight’s meeting of the Mutual Admiration Society, but … In an effort not to avoid reality or ignore facts, let’s take a look at the state of Christians and Jews (and their churches and temples) in the cradle of both religions (the Middle East) vis-a-vis Muslims, who share that same cradle. That would be a good… Read more »
bob,
I mostly have an ugly head on my shoulders
Simple
12 Bob, There is a considerable body of folk who would take issue with that viewpoint and I don’t think I could completely refute the charges. I am as bull-headed, stubborn, narrow-minded as the bulk of humanity, but I try to fight it on a daily basis. Some days I win and some days…… I believe it is a good… Read more »
#6 Simple, you have a good head on those shoulders.
In case you are wondering, an update to the planned mooslm mossk in Katy was posted recently in (here is cryptic references so no one gets into trouble): Newspapers which are of the Houston community online; and Persons who examine the River Oaks area; and Citizens of Pasadena. The dead-tree issue had a pic of the architectural drawing. Haven’t found… Read more »
Oh, geez, I’m sorry Wagon! /transferring credits from Hammy to Wagonburner
Progress, not perfection!
#8 crazy aunt
You’re welcome. 😉
ps – I ran across it through The Anchoress or Deacon’s Bench via New Advent.
Hamous, thanks for the link to Madrid’s website. I use some of his materials in class, and highly recommend Envoy magazine to my students and colleagues.
Whether you want to hear it or not, Muslims have a history of desecrating and/or destroying the artifacts of other faiths. I cited two examples above that go far beyond drawing a cartoon of a child molester or burning/threatening to burn a Koran. Another example is the Buddhist statues blown up by the ever so tolerant Taliban. The so-called “moderate… Read more »
Ted, Italy and France have both begun to make gypsies feel unwelcome. The door interference came in two forms: First, young “mothers” holding linen wrapped babies and begging for money. Second, hordes of little children who would mob around you and beg for money while at the same time picking your pocket or snatching loose purses and cameras. I cannot… Read more »
Simple –
There are idiots in all religions. There are idiots in all professions. There are even idiot bloggers.
It doesn’t excuse their behavior. Especially when it’s aimed at denigrating another’s faith. What this guy did was inexcusable.
That’s about as simple as it gets.
Simple, I also was amazed at the graffiti, but the only historic site I remember seeing it was at the Colosseum, and that was carved into the rock. Most graffiti was on retaining walls within the city areas. I expected to see (and defend myself from) gypsies, but I can’t remember seeing any. However, I did not see anyone dancing… Read more »
Ted,
I have Arab-Sunni relatives and they are all decent people. They just might be your neighbors since they live on the side in the Cypress area.
I have never seen or heard them denigrate other religions. I can’t say the same for some of my Baptist relatives.
Simple
Ted, I lived in Florence for over a year in the early eighties and some of the locals were pretty adept at painting graffitti on the walls of every historic site in the city. Gypsies were the biggest obstacle in getting in and out of the various cathedrals. The Florentines would spit on them in passing. Nothing much changes…only the… Read more »
When Lovely Daughter and I visited Italy in 2007, one of the places we visited was Florence. Of course we had to see the beautiful Duomo, that gorgeous green and white marble architectural marvel. The baptistery was nearby, larger than most of the churches I see in the states, and also gorgeous in green and white. The mall area between… Read more »