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."
disasters occur when any program is cross culture or cross languages. It is very difficult to verify that what is done or said will not have the wrong impact.
A few years ago Chevrolet introduced the Nova into Mexico. It did not sell at all. Finaly somebody realized that No va is Spanish for Doesn't go. So the Cheverolet Nova ads were read by the Mexicans as Chevrolet, does not go.
The moral of the story is, when you attempt to do something for people of another culture or language, get advice from people that live the culture and/or language.
If this is true, it wouldn't be the first time.. when I lived in Saudi Arabia-- in the market places [(Jellies) plastic see through shoes] were very popular-- it was discovered shortly after that when you walk it leaves Allah in Arabic on the ground.. thus people boyoctted them.. my sister had one she added some ink and made an impression on a white paper and it was true.. we had to incenerate those shoes, but it wasn't the first time.. they are always discovered.. the Jellies were made in China though, so we are not quite sure who was behind it..
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
If this is true, it wouldn't be the first time.. when I lived in Saudi Arabia-- in the market places [(Jellies) plastic see through shoes] were very popular-- it was discovered shortly after that when you walk it leaves Allah in Arabic on the ground.. thus people boyoctted them.. my sister had one she added some ink and made an impression on a white paper and it was true.. we had to incenerate those shoes, but it wasn't the first time.. they are always discovered.. the Jellies were made in China though, so we are not quite sure who was behind it..
My personal feeling is the footballs were to0 obvious. That most likely was an error in understanding and poor judgment.
the Jellies on the other hand seem to be too subtle and seem to be a sneaky way to get an insult spread before anybody noticed it.
If at all they planned to distribute footballs, what was the need to show the flag? Its simply out of question that they didn't have any idea about it. A deliberate attempt to mock Islam perhaps, the least I can say.
The US did it with intent to deride Islam and the Quran and Prophet.
Can anyone seriously tell me that putting Quranic verses onto a ball is RIGHT?
Dont they read the news of how the world reacted when pictures of the Prophet was printed?
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"
Did nobody read this part? There was no bad intention, honestly
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!
The US did it with intent to deride Islam and the Quran and Prophet.
Of course they didn't. Nobody put 'Quran'ic verses' on anything, at least intentionally. The photo shows that the balls were covered in flags-of-the-world, the Saudi flag was just one of them. Whoever made the footballs had no idea what the words were or that they might cause 'offence' appearing in this context - and whoever that was was far more likely to be from China or Taiwan than the US. The Americans just bought the footballs to give the kids.
As to PA's Jellies, I'd bet my mortgage that there was no intent to insult there, either. Why are you guys so paranoid? If the word concerned had rather more letters, or just different ones, it wouldn't have 'appeared' on the shoes, just as it wouldn't appear in trees, clouds, and cut melon slices (photos of all of which I've seen on these boards).
Of course they didn't. Nobody put 'Quran'ic verses' on anything, at least intentionally. The photo shows that the balls were covered in flags-of-the-world, the Saudi flag was just one of them. Whoever made the footballs had no idea what the words were or that they might cause 'offence' appearing in this context - and whoever that was was far more likely to be from China or Taiwan than the US. The Americans just bought the footballs to give the kids.
As to PA's Jellies, I'd bet my mortgage that there was no intent to insult there, either. Why are you guys so paranoid? If the word concerned had rather more letters, or just different ones, it wouldn't have 'appeared' on the shoes, just as it wouldn't appear in trees, clouds, and cut melon slices (photos of all of which I've seen on these boards).
It's already a huge paranoia. When you can see on a cow the sign of Allah (which I saw in another thread) then everybody is cheering and is amazed about the creatures of Allah. Nobody would insult this cow for 'blasphemie' because she abused the name of Allah by tatooing it on her body
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, they had no bad intentions about Allah, when they drop those balls for Afghan Kids. Really silly
The only thing silly would be, to put holy words on a football - what is the thinking behind this? Exactly, no thought was made, thus being silly. It is not clever to put Allah or Quranic sentences on somthing you kick about, its not hard to understand is it? This is not targetting intention, rather action - which they duly have the right to.
It's already a huge paranoia. When you can see on a cow the sign of Allah (which I saw in another thread) then everybody is cheering and is amazed about the creatures of Allah. Nobody would insult this cow for 'blasphemie' because she abused the name of Allah by tatooing it on her body
There is a huge difference here - you have gone into a tangent of misunderstanding. The engraving of Quranic ayats and Allahs name on a football - is not only a manmade action, but its also on a manmade item. No one really tatooed a cow - and if anyone branded a cow with Allahs name - I am pretty sure no one would be cheering or encouraging it - while Im not here to discuss whether it really has a meaning or if its just coincidence Allah is written on a cow (if you believe it or not) - the reasoning behind this is that its seen as a sign of how Allah is the owner and creator of all things. Clearly this is very different from having it on a football so...
I hope that clears things up.
Fight in the way of God, against those who fight against you, drive them out of the places they have drove you out, for persecution is worse than slaughter. Fight them, until persecution is no more, and Religion is for God. But if they stop, let there be no war.
The only thing silly would be, to put holy words on a football - what is the thinking behind this? Exactly, no thought was made, thus being silly. It is not clever to put Allah or Quranic sentences on somthing you kick about, its not hard to understand is it? This is not targetting intention, rather action - which they duly have the right to.
The designer of the football put flags on the ball, including the Saudi flag. Putting national flags on footballs is quite common, since it is often played internationally.
Do you honestly think non-Muslims have any idea what is written on the Saudi flag? Like Trumble noted, the Americans probably didn't even design these balls, they just buy on the market. They are indeed most likely made in China or some other non-Muslim industrial country.
Well I really don't think the intention to insult us was there at all, I really don't - but if it was then "the joke's on them", cos they've made themselves look incredibly stupid!
Well I really don't think the intention to insult us was there at all, I really don't - but if it was then "the joke's on them", cos they've made themselves look incredibly stupid!
I agree with you. As an American I see one of our biggest faults is our arrogance and belief that everybody sees things like we do. We fail to comprehend that because something looks good to us it may be seen as bad by somebody else.
'Maybe our methods are crude , but at least our intentions are wrong ."
As to PA's Jellies, I'd bet my mortgage that there was no intent to insult there, either. Why are you guys so paranoid? If the word concerned had rather more letters, or just different ones, it wouldn't have 'appeared' on the shoes, just as it wouldn't appear in trees, clouds, and cut melon slices (photos of all of which I've seen on these boards).
You must really want to get rid of that house? try an insurance scam.... or is it easy to wager when you have nothing to lose, except yourself respect?
I am sure China's problems with lead in consumer products and tainted meds are all just paranoia as well..
P.S I am not so weak in my faith as to look for an Allah miracle in a cloud --however when you import millions of shoes with Allah in Arabic on the bottom so as to be stepping on his name.. and the company spokes person admits that there was foul play by someone inside and they'll do all their efforts to find out who.. I think I'd take that as a point of deliberation...
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
disasters occur when any program is cross culture or cross languages. It is very difficult to verify that what is done or said will not have the wrong impact.
A few years ago Chevrolet introduced the Nova into Mexico. It did not sell at all. Finaly somebody realized that No va is Spanish for Doesn't go. So the Cheverolet Nova ads were read by the Mexicans as Chevrolet, does not go.
The moral of the story is, when you attempt to do something for people of another culture or language, get advice from people that live the culture and/or language.
The designer of the football put flags on the ball, including the Saudi flag. Putting national flags on footballs is quite common, since it is often played internationally.
Do you honestly think non-Muslims have any idea what is written on the Saudi flag? Like Trumble noted, the Americans probably didn't even design these balls, they just buy on the market. They are indeed most likely made in China or some other non-Muslim industrial country.
The irony is, I be if they'd left that flag off and still had all the other flags somebody would be complaining that that country was left out unfairly.
it is ok to kick the German flag with your feet, not Ok to do it with a flag that bears God's name-- it is simple common sense ( put Jesus's name on there see how well that takes)... you want your cheap crap to sell do some marketing research!...
Text without context is pretext If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him
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
I dont get why these moronic so called Muslim countries have Kalimah on their National flags in the first place
I'm right with you on this. I also question Israel for their flag having the star of David on it (an obvious religious symbol). Its as if they are linking the religion and the state so it is against the religion to oppose or question the state. That is dangerous in my view.
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