"When"

A special report posted today on the website of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) features a satirical poem by reformist Saudi Arabian author and journalist Waheja al-Huwaider titled "When," which she describes in the introduction as "an ode to the troubles of the Arab citizen." The MEMRI post, which contains excerpts from the poem, can be viewed at http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD147907, and is worth your time in reading. Considering the wonderful world of bliss that Islamic militants want to impose on the world, this satirical commentary from inside the Arab-Islamic world is a telling reminder of the differences between the 21st century in which we live, and the 7th century to which they would return us. Here are a few excerpts from the poem:

"When covering the woman's head is more important than financial and administrative corruption, embezzlement, and betrayal of the homeland - do not be astonished, you are in an Arab country…

"When you see that the authorities chop off a man's hand for stealing a loaf of bread or a penny, but praise and glorify those who steal billions - do not be too surprised, you are in an Arab country…

"When you are forced to worship the Creator in school and your teachers grade you for it - you can be sure that you are in an Arab country…

"When land is more important than human beings - you are in an Arab country…

"When young women students are publicly flogged merely for exposing their eyes - you are in an Arab country…

"When you cannot find a single garden in your city, but there is a mosque on every corner - you know that you are in an Arab country…

"When you see people living in the past with all the trappings of modernity - do not be surprised, you are in an Arab country.

"When you discover that a woman is worth half of what a man is worth, or less - do not be surprised, you are in an Arab country…

"When religion has control over science - you can be sure that you are in an Arab country.

"When clerics are referred to as 'scholars' - don't be astonished, you are in an Arab country."

This is a reflection of the joyous future the Islamists would force upon the rest of the world. Aren't you excited?

An interesting comment was made yesterday in an interview aired on National Public Radio. A representative of the UK Foreign Office (if I remember correctly) was being interviewed on the subject of the deportation of radical Islamists back to their countries of origin, and the interviewer asked whether this was not illegal or immoral, as these persons could face torture or execution in many cases if returned to their home countries. The response was interesting and elegant: the interviewee noted that the countries to which these deportees are most likely to be returned - Saudi Arabia and Pakistan - are ruled by Islamic Sharia law, the very law the Islamic radicals want to impose across the entire world. This being the case, why should they object to being returned to places where they will enjoy the divinely-inspired justice they want to bring to the rest of us?

Why indeed?

Have a good day. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo