A demonstration has been held in south- east Afghanistan accusing US troops of insulting Islam after they distributed footballs bearing the name of Allah.
The balls showed the Saudi Arabian flag which features the Koranic declaration of faith. The US military said the idea had been to give something for Afghan children to enjoy and they did not realise it would cause offence.
The footballs were dropped from a helicopter in Khost province.
Some displayed flags from countries all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, which features the shahada, one of the five pillars of Islam - the declaration of faith.
The words, which include the name of Allah, are revered, and Muslims are very sensitive about where and how they can be used.
Saudi Arabia has complained to the World Cup's ruling body in the past about the use of its flag on footballs.
Mullahs in Afghanistan criticised the US forces for their insensitivity, and around 100 people held a demonstration in Khost.
Afghan MP Mirwais Yasini said: "To have a verse of the Koran on something you kick with your foot would be an insult in any Muslim country around the world."
A spokeswoman for the US forces in Afghanistan said they made "significant efforts to work with local leaders, mullahs and elders to respect their culture" and distributing the footballs was an effort to give a gift the Afghan children would enjoy. "Unfortunately," she added, "there was something on those footballs we didn't immediately understand to be offensive and we regret that as we do not want to offend."
I don't mean to be flippant but Arabic script looks like random swirls and dots to me. I think it is possible that someone trying to make a cool design on the bottom of a shoe might accidentally design something that has meaning to an Arab speaker. BTW..to leave a legible image, a shoe would have to have the mirror image on the sole.
A similar thing happened to Nike, which marketed a shoe with some flourishes near the heel which were perceived to insult Islam. They had to trash the whole line
A chocolate candy plant in LA had to be shut down for a day because the chocolate squriting machine was comamnded by God to make an image of the Virgin Mary in semi-sweet confection. The Hispanic workers on the line refused to work until the Bishop came down and blessed the whole thing.
Jesus himself seems to enjoy popping up in window glass from time to time.
Also, I am unable to confirm the rumor that Salman Rushdie worked briefly at the Jelly plant
1-This is what Allah looks like in Arabic
I'd say a safe bet if that is the impression it made on the floor or a piece of blank paper, that it is in fact what it is meant to denote...
2- those Jellies were only targetting the Saudi market, and the company had exclusive deals. this in 1987 and the company admitted to foul play.. perhaps you should elect yourself their excusatory spokesperson?
3- If Arabic looks like random swirls then perhaps you shouldn't engage on what would be an isomer or a mirror image-- what to do you think?
4- No one actually knows what jesus looks like hence if he showed up as an apparition or in the back of a dog as we have seen in this
Leave it to your imagination.
could be a hippy James Morrison for all we know.. However, every one knows exactly how Allah looks and spelled in Arabic..
As for your last asinine comment.. well what can I say. whatever puts dinner on the table for the exiled then by all!
Last edited by جوري; 08-27-2007 at 09:14 PM.
Reason: removed picture
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
You do realize that I do not now, nor have I ever worked for Jelly shoes. I don't know who owns the company. I don't know where their plant is. It is possible it was the work of industrial sabotage by an insider, but that they would market a line of shoes exclusively for Saudis I find a bit hard to accept. It just seems an unnecessary expense for little gain.
I will accept it as an intentional insult if you provide evidence, otherwise I remain sceptical.
You will note I did not insult anyone. I merely offered the observation that people of faith find religious meaning in some of the oddest places.
The fact that you were able immediately to produce an doctored image insulting Christianity suggests to me this isn't the first time you have done this kind of thing. Happy state of intolerance to you, then.
For those who missed it, it was a view of the hindquarters of a dog, tail raised, straight abeam. An image of Jesus morphed slowly from the dogs hair sworls with hsi head you know where. Sorry y'all missed it.
Last edited by Cognescenti; 08-27-2007 at 09:20 PM.
You do realize that I do not now, nor have I ever worked for Jelly shoes. I don't know who owns the company. I don't know where their plant is. It is possible it was the work of industrial sabotage by an insider, but that they would market a line of shoes exclusively for Saudis I find a bit hard to accept. It just seems an unnecessary expense for little gain.
until you prove evidence of the contrary I'll remain skeptical!
I will accept it as an intentional insult if you provide evidence, otherwise I remain sceptical.
Your incredulity or approval on a matter that took place in the late 80's affects the outcome how?
You will note I did not insult anyone. I merely offered the observation that people of faith find religious meaning in some of the oddest places.
I am quite familiar with your vitriolic critique no need to water it down a bit on a subsequent post...
The fact that you were able immediately to produce an doctored image insulting Christianity suggests to me this isn't the first time you have done this kind of thing. Happy state of intolerance to you, then
ironically I learned of the 'doctored' up image here by a former member named 'philospher' around the same time many other christian members were producing evidence of 'Jesus sighting' every where from Gaza to fayoum Egypt.. what can I say I found it rather amusing people look for their God in the backside of an animal, in Islam we like to have some veneration, hence images depicting anything holy are forbidden! if you can't accept it, then don't participate with your chintzy ratiocinations. If others who market products can't respect that, then they shouldn't complain when their products are boycotted and they lose millions of dollars!
are we done here?
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
....
ironically I learned of the 'doctored' up image here by a former member named 'philospher' around the same time many other christian members were producing evidence of 'Jesus sighting' every where from Gaza to fayoum Egypt.. what can I say I found it rather amusing people look for their God in the backside of an animal, in Islam we like to have some veneration, hence images depicting anything holy are forbidden! if you can't accept it, then don't participate with your chintzy ratiocinations. If others who market products can't respect that, then they shouldn't complain when their products are boycotted and they lose millions of dollars!
are we done here?
There is no need to put quotes around "doctored". I will wager that was an animated .gif file, which, by definition is doctored.
As for this..."what can I say I found it rather amusing people look for their God in the backside of an animal.."
Let's not pretend that was your attempt at edification. That is undiluted hatred. Put it back up...see what everyone else thinks
In the meantime, we can all walk around in the sand and carefully examine any soccer balls falling out of helicopeters to make sure we are not the victim of some vast corporate or national consipracy to insult Islam.
There is no need to put quotes around "doctored". I will wager that was an animated .gif file, which, by definition is doctored.
Didn't want to insult the christians on board who perchance took the image for their God and didn't wish to perceive it as doctored!
As for this..."what can I say I found it rather amusing people look for their God in the backside of an animal.."
Let's not pretend that was your attempt at edification. That is undiluted hatred. Put it back up...see what everyone else thinks
It was removed by a mod, wasn't I who initially removed it, and I stated quite clearly the purpose of it being there.. anyone can render their meaning to such an image ( Jesus, or led zeppelin) however Allah in Arabic it quite axiomatic you can't miss nor misconstrue it!
In the meantime, we can all walk around in the sand and carefully examine any soccer balls falling out of helicopeters to make sure we are not the victim of some vast corporate or national consipracy to insult Islam.
You do that! You seem to have quite a bit of time on your hand!
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
Don't believe it was intentional, some Muslims seriously need to stop thinking everything is against them.
FA to investigate anti-Muslim abuse aimed at Mido
The Football Association is to investigate the Islamophobic abuse suffered by Mido, Middlesbrough's Egyptian striker, during Sunday's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at the Riverside Stadium.
Mido, who scored Boro's first goal on Sunday, was the subject of persistent anti-Arab chants from some of the visiting Newcastle supporters congregated at one end of the ground who seemed to have made the assumption that anyone born and brought up in Cairo must automatically be a terrorist. These tiresome, oft-repeated ditties, included "Mido, he's got a bomb you know; Mido's got a bomb."
After the game Boro's manager, Gareth Southgate, expressed disappointment "I find it strange that 3,000 people can abuse one person and nothing is done,"
The Saudi's protested at it being put on the ball in 2002, it's not allowed on T shirts etc.
Occupation: The term of control of a territory by foreign military forces: Iraq 2003-2005 Liberation:when something or someone is freed: Operation Telic 2003
The Football Association is to investigate the Islamophobic abuse suffered by Mido, Middlesbrough's Egyptian striker, during Sunday's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United at the Riverside Stadium.
Mido, who scored Boro's first goal on Sunday, was the subject of persistent anti-Arab chants from some of the visiting Newcastle supporters congregated at one end of the ground who seemed to have made the assumption that anyone born and brought up in Cairo must automatically be a terrorist. These tiresome, oft-repeated ditties, included "Mido, he's got a bomb you know; Mido's got a bomb."
After the game Boro's manager, Gareth Southgate, expressed disappointment "I find it strange that 3,000 people can abuse one person and nothing is done,"
Football fans. Thats the place you'll find tolerant, rational sensible people.
Occupation: The term of control of a territory by foreign military forces: Iraq 2003-2005 Liberation:when something or someone is freed: Operation Telic 2003
The Mido incident was simple racism by a bunch of idiots and, as has been said, can't be compared to the Afghan footballs incident in any meaningful way.
This an entirely different case, Plus you aint got no evidence to suggest it was done on purpose.
You say it, so I suggest to open a new thread about this matter. You hijacked this thread (and btw, it's not the first time I see you doing it) . It's an convenient way to avoid the approoving of new posts in World section
This topic has nothing to do with hatred chants or whatever.
Im Always Right,Its Like,When Im Right,Im Right,And When Im Wrong,I Could've Been Right,So Im Still Right,'Cause I Could've Been Wrong!
I'm pretty sure, afghan kids were happy to get a leather ball to play soccer instead of kicking cans. Did anybody just had a few thoughts about the concerned kids? I'm pretty sure not. And IMHO, if somebody doesn't like the print on the ball, scratch it away, my Goodness.
Im Always Right,Its Like,When Im Right,Im Right,And When Im Wrong,I Could've Been Right,So Im Still Right,'Cause I Could've Been Wrong!
I'm pretty sure, afghan kids were happy to get a leather ball to play soccer instead of kicking cans. Did anybody just had a few thoughts about the concerned kids? I'm pretty sure not. And IMHO, if somebody doesn't like the print on the ball, scratch it away, my Goodness.
So you don't mind having Jesus or God, or few verses from the bible written on a ball you kick around on the ground with utter disrespect?
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