Sir Salman Rushdie
Jun 22nd, 2007, in News, by PatungSalman Rushdie’s knighthood has some people bothered.
Ahmed Salman Rushdie, who spent almost ten years in hiding following a death fatwa by Iran’s spiritual leader after publication of his controversial book, The Satanic Verses, and widely thought of as a barely readable author, was awarded a knighthood in Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday honours list on June 17th for services to literature, giving him the right to be called “Sir Salman Rushdie”.
Many protests have been heard around the world although in far-away Indonesia the news of Rushdie’s knighthood seems to have taken a little longer to filter through to Antara, and get them on the phone to various Muslim leaders seeking reactions.
Sir Salman Rushdie.
First, on 21st June, Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) chairman for Central Java, Ibnu Djarir, asked the government to seek an explanation from the British ambassador in Jakarta.
Britain has to understand the feelings of Muslims about “The Satanic Verses”.
People who insulted holy books did not deserve to be called “Sir”, he said. republika
Djarir’s senior in Jakarta, Amidhan, complained:
For a long time Muslims have been downtrodden, attacked, played off against each other, and now provoked. I don’t know what’s going on with this world.
Rushdie might be a fine writer, he said, but he used his gifts to insult prophet Muhammad. He set a bad precedent:
He gave courage to people in Switzerland, Holland, and Denmark to insult Islam, it’s really a shame that someone like him would get an award.
Amidhan hoped the British government would revoke the knighthood. antara
Tarmizi Taher of the Dewan Masjid Indonesia (DMI), Mosques’ Council, a former minister of religion, said the award was proof countries like Britain didn’t want to live on friendly terms with others and didn’t care about others’ feelings. He said however it wasn’t necessary to call the British ambassador for an explanation. antara
Hasyim Muzadi of the Nahdlatul Ulama, in perhaps one of his more paranoiac moments, said the knighthood was a planned insult to Islam, done “by design”, part of a wider plot against the Muslim world.
I can’t show you who is behind it, but it appears there is a deliberate conspiracy to make Islam look bad.
Islam had been insulted in many ways recently, whether the Quran, Muhammad, mosques, or other targets, and the Rushdie affair was just another example.
Hasyim Muzadi.
However he advised Muslims not to react in an emotional way.
We have to oppose the attack on Islam in the field of opinion, not with violence.
Muslims should strive to show the true, friendly and peaceful face of Islam, he said. antara
67 Comments on “Sir Salman Rushdie”
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Colson says:
@Cukurungan: Your reply to my question is remarkable. Still you refuse or forgot to
reveal “the most sensitive issue”. Instead you let us know you are “free to kill anyone crossing (your) red line”.Well, to say it politely: if you are still a teenager you probably will grow over it. If you are an adult I’m afraid you desparately need help.
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Julita says:
Arema: I’m shocked to see such a harsh response from you, but anyway, this discussion is far and away from the actual topic so I’ll try to cut it short.
Jlta: Yes, it could be shocking to post things which can offend (slapping) others especially when it is a fabrication, inaccuracy without reference. We just don’t do this; to me this should be an intelligent discussion.Arema: Okay, maybe not the mistakes as large scale as last time by the church, but still big mistakes by Christians, I hope you catch the difference. Karena nila setitik rusak susu sebelanga, so we bear the consequences too. Bush is a Christian, and his motives behind his decision to attack Iraq is still debated until now.
Jlta: I know that you will be coming with this. We have discussed this before in this blog.
Before attacking Iraq Bush went to consult with the Holy Father Pope John Paul II, and the Pope suggested not to.
Please, don’t mix up ‘politic’ and ‘religion.’ Don’t mix up ‘a Christian’ and ‘Christians’.Arema: A lot of Christians spread the good news about Jesus in a very wrong way, which in the end turning people from Him. Some church leaders gave bad example which makes people think that being a Christian is useless. Those are the examples.
Jlta: That is it, too many false teachers and thanks to Luther, he makes it worse.
Again have trust, peace and a humble heart, He is the Lord. I don’t say the church is perfect; nothing in this world is perfect. Remember Judas was there even 2000 years ago. He was one of the twelve apostles. Though you know what, instead of going away, quitting, dividing the church again and again, they should become stronger and stay, correct it if they know better and are more holy than the Holy Father, perhaps regard mistake done by some as a big test for their Faith in Jesus, instead of breaking the church which Jesus Himself built.Arema: Why and what are you trying to defend? We do make mistakes in the past, admit it!
Jlta: The above explains I was defending the truth. Yes, everybody make mistakes in this world but truth is important.
Arema: The crusade was done with reasons, true. But such reasons does not justify a war, imho, especially for those who has been taught by Jesus to love your enemies.Jlta: You and I are not living in that century; we should not put our feet in their shoes.
I know that Jesus teach His followers to love their enemies but never, never did He say that they should be martyrs.Arema: About Galileo, he was not executed, I know, that’s why I put the ” ” there. But it was as good as being executed. Big big mistake. For something not written in the Bible, church has “taken” the life of a great man. Shows how arrogant church leaders were.
Jlta: Sorry, Arema your are carelessly mixing up words, in now way we can put ‘executed’ to replace ‘natural death’. This is a big consequence.
Arema: No harm with surat pengampunan dosa? Ho ho ho! Please wake up ma’am! Jesus has sacrificed His body and His blood for our salvation, so those who believed in Him can have eternal life, for FREE! Why the hell we have to pay to the church for a useless letter? It’s an ultimate insult to His sacrifice on the cross!
Jlta: No harm done to non-Catholics, they did not pay a cent. Mistake, yes, that was why they stopped it, if they really believe what they did was right even with Luther’s protest it would go on.
Jlta: “believed in Him can have eternal life, for FREE” lucky you. Just to remind you that not all who says Lord, Lord, Lord will go to heaven. He gave the Ten Commandments for His people to follow, so it means Christians have to watch what they do in daily life.
Arema: Had it not been Luther, it maybe someone else, yes, but how many years later, I don’t know. Our generation may still be fooled without him, maybe”¦. Luther is far from perfect, part of his interpretation of the Bible is still corrected here and there, but at least he’s the one dare to stand up against the seemingly untouchable Catholic church and point their mistake. He did that solely with the intention to bring back the derailed Christians back to the Bible, and only Bible. And I’m just appreciating the hard work he has done, that’s all.
Jlta: Sorry, I don’t accept assumptions in discussion, there are too many intelligent people in the church and if one believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit, than they should trust in Him and be at peace. He will take care of it till the end of time. It entirely depends on Him, He is the almighty, not Luther, not you and not me.
Arema: Hmm wait”¦ Did I say Luther knew better than Jesus? Not at all.
Jlta: If not, than you will be attending the church which He built instead that of Luther. Do you believe in His words, in the Holy Spiritt, I wonder.
Arema: I was just saying that we Christians should put only Bible, the word of God, as our foundation, and adding nothing else. Luther tried to remind the Catholic church of that, because they added too much things already (which has the same importance as the Bible itself!) with their Kanon. You are aware that John in the book of Revelation wrote that the Bible should not be added with anything, and yet they still add something (although not in the Bible itself but have the same position as the Bible is the same).
Jlta: The following is about the Canon, so tell me what is wrong about it? Perhaps you are more an expert than the Vatican.
In its fullest comprehension it signifies the authoritative list or closed number of the writings composed under Divine inspiration, and destined for the well-being of the Church, using the latter word in the wide sense of the theocratic society which began with God’s revelation of Himself to the people of Israel, and which finds its ripe development and completion in the Catholic organism. The whole Biblical Canon therefore consists of the canons of the Old and New Testaments..
I got it from the web, just by typing Canon.Arema: I’m almost sure you’re a Catholic, I’m deeply sorry if I had offended you. With this message I’m trying to gently “slap” you with genuine love to wake you from your sleep. (Duh why I sound like Cuku).
If you still have questions, you can find a very complete answer here:
http://www.carm.org/Catholic.htmJlta: Very funny, I have heard the teaching of Jesus ‘love your enemies’ ‘give the other cheek’ but never heard of ‘Sla the church’ ‘slap the person you genuinely love. It sounds almost like those at the corner of the streets, who wants people to turn to God, pointing them saying: “You are doomed, you are doomed return to God. Ridiculous!
My dear, how could you know, just could it be, could it be, that the person you are slapping is in a more favor position in the Lord’s eye???????Pride is a sin, remember the angel who had to leave paradise?
As a believer, they don’t judge and slap people but humbly, quietly pray to the Lord for them, believing in God’s supremacy, power and capability of doing everything, doing the impossible in the human eyes. Yes, if it is according to His will and at His own time. Have trust.
So keep your ‘genuine love and slapping’ to yourself, I am very, very sure nobody needs them. Take care.
_________________Jamma: julita, I was talking more about Christians who abducted aboriginal children in the name of Christianity, they killed and poisoned many adult aboriginals in the name of this excercise.
Christians have destroyed many other native societies in the same way. that’s all, they did it. I won’t go into a point by point breakdown here, but it’s all through history so check it out. they burned thousands of women at the stake for god’s sake.
Sorry, Jamma, if you want a proper discussion then you should come up with them, otherwise to me it could be fabrication or misunderstanding. In the past as it is now, situation like Mr. Bush attacking Iraq is translated into the Christians doing it.Jamma: I personally like salman rushdies
Jlta: Good for you. I myself, I have nothing to say.
Take care.So Arema and Jamma, for further discussion perhaps Patung will make a new heading, otherwise this is it.
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Andrew says:
Julita said:
So Arema and Jamma, for further discussion perhaps Patung will make a new heading, otherwise this is it.
Jeez, that’s an easy way to end a discussion. You can’t afford to take anymore opposition and decide to quit eh?
You are self-righteous, your responses reflect that. You failed to admit that the Protestants exist nowadays because of funny and outrageous rules imposed by the Catholics. You refused to admit that the (Catholic) church made BIG mistakes in the past.
I’ve personally sit in a Sunday mass where a Catholic priest insulted the Protestants. I have myself met another priest who insulted non-Catholic church as being a “poor religion” for a reason I can’t even fathom.
Not all Catholics behave the same way, but it looks like you’re one of them.
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Welcome to this fabricated without base discussion Andrew:
Andrew: Jeez, that’s an easy way to end a discussion. You can’t afford to take anymore opposition and decide to quit eh?
Andrew: You are self-righteous, your responses reflect that. You failed to admit that the Protestants exist nowadays because of funny and outrageous rules imposed by the Catholics. You refused to admit that the (Catholic) church made BIG mistakes in the past.
Jlta: If you read carefully you will find that I say Judas is living not 2000 years ago but even at this moment I am writing this posting. Everywhere, yes, including the Catholic church if you wnat it spelled out.
Andrew: I’ve personally sit in a Sunday mass where a Catholic priest insulted the Protestants. I have myself met another priest who insulted non-Catholic church as being a “poor religion” for a reason I can’t even fathom.
Jlta: So why were you stranded, it definitely goes both ways. I have been also to the Lutheran church. I let them say what they want because nobody twisted my fingers. My family are mostly Lutheran and we celebrate Christmas peacefully together. We do not do bad mouthing anybody, making up things, to no other Christians, Buddhist or Moslem, because I will be there if it is wrong. We are all God’s children mind this for you Andrew as well Arema.
Andrew: Not all Catholics behave the same way, but it looks like you’re one of them.
Nobody behave the same way, anywhere. What does the word ‘them’ implicate?
I only protect and clarify the Catholic church which you abuse, the church your God, you Jesus built. Oh, my.Jlta: It sounds almost like those at the corner of the streets, who wants people to turn to God, pointing them saying: “You are doomed, you are doomed return to God. Ridiculous!
If I am wrong, I do apologize. Yes, for the above words. The way of calling people to convert in the above, is not my way or the way I was taught, but I should not critize. Perhaps they get their own credit from the Lord.
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Cukurungan says:
Folks,
Wow.. if it is not forbidden for me to make a new religion …I will glad to make one of them…I would call my new religion is a bigotry religion with prophet “cukurungan bin cukurmiring”, it seemed I won’t get any difficulty to recruit the followers even among so called the well educate society.
Colson,
Sorry I thought my previous post was clear enough to answer your question. According our beliefs God and His messanger are our most sensitive issue. It is forbidden for us to draw His image and to make them as a jokes or become part of your story beyond what has been written in Quran and Hadist.
Of course, all of those matters beyond the common sense of the western values but if you want to make us your friend you have to respect those values otherwise let us alone and we will let you on your own.
However, if you want to comments about myself you can say anything about me. You might say Cuku idiot, cuku bigot, cuku mad, cuku poor ect no problems but don’t even try to say a bad things about our God and prophet in front of me.
I am an adult man and fully confidence that I am not in position need any help. You will be socked that the most ladies who working with me said “cuku is a mad man but he is very interesting partner for discussion”. I already passed the most stringent the people and personality competency audit conducted by world’s class HRD consultants such as Franklin Covey and Hay System ect.
Hi hi hi Do you think those world’s class companies so stupid hired the trouble man for nothing.
Janma,
Why you said I was in propaganda? Is it because I said the brittish/ western killed and slaughtered million people for the amusement. You might check by yourself what is the reason the brittish/western conquered other countries across the globe. What I read in the history books at that times the western country mostly were in the growing age and they need market to dump their product and cheap resources to sustain their growing economic. So at that time, the western/brittish weren’t in emergency situation for survival or under threat by other countries however those so called the civilization champions didn’t hesitate spoiled blood of the million innocent people for nothing. I said for nothing because Brittish/Western weren’t in emergency condition, They were killing, bullying and slaughtering the innocent people just to robbed their gold and land in the past and in now days for shake of consumption of 4 wheeler Car.
Our moslem ancestors were also doing the same as the civilized western but our ancestors weren’t killing innocent people without giving them option (embrace Islam, pay tax or be conquered). Compared it with the western Christians let say in south africa,
the indigenous africa were still be treated like slave or second class citizens in their own land even most of them already embraced Christianiaty.Regard,
Amungme Son -
Tomaculum says:
Our moslem ancestors were also doing the same as the civilized western but our ancestors weren’t killing innocent people without giving them option (embrace Islam, pay tax or be conquered). Compared it with the western Christians let say in south africa,
the indigenous africa were still be treated like slave or second class citizens in their own land even most of them already embraced Christianiaty.Weren’t it the so noble Muslim nord african which catched the “black african subhuman being” to deliver to the white as slaves? Wasn’t it so that many of the blacks were killed as example if they wanted to escape and did they (the black) have got any chance to say, that they want to be a Muslim? Were they treated as first class citizen? Are they treated nowadays as first class citizen even by the moslems?
Very, very noble! -
@Cukurungan: Well, it was already clear to me that you don’t allow anyone to make fun of your religion. The point is: where did you read in “The Satanic Verses” mr Rushdie making jokes about these sensitive issues?
Even more important. You may well be the charming man in daily life you claim to be. But if someone theatens to kill someone else, just because he feels that person insulted what he regards as being “holy”, that someone has lost his composure, is a mental case ot is even criminal.
Make your pick.
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Denny Crane says:
Lock and Load for Sir Salman Rushdie
There’s nothing new about knighthood of Salman Rushdie, it’s just another controversy in his always controversial life. It would be controversial if an un-controversy happen to him.
Cheers
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Colson,
Ok I would pick “pisang goreng” and a cup of coffee, eunak tenaan.
You can say anything and in meantime, Mr Salman is still ok but you know better than me how many people killed already because of this books and how many more will be killed only God know. We never expect much that the western /British would change their attitude to respect our value as recently occurred in the Danish Cartoons Case, but they should not pretend to surprise when see our response and we know exactly every move by the western is the well calculated.
Tomaculum,
I always happy if you made comments on my post.
But your post wasn’t in lines with the history because Arab moslem took over and conquered the north africa from the Roman Byzantine and not from the black african people. In Islam we known some the best human from the black people like Lukman Hakim and Bilal while I never know any Pope’s or Highest Cardinal from the black africa.
Regard,
Amungme Son -
Mr Cukurungan,
You did not read “The Satanic verses”. You don’t know which words, which lines, which paragraphs or which chapters of the book did offend your religion. You don’t even know for sure is there’s any insulting word in the book at all.
Nevertheless you join the ignorant masses of Islamabad that were shouting the author of the book did commit something abyssmal for which he deserves to be killed.
Don’t you think that loosing your temper without knowing the facts is bad manners and primitive? At least for a man of education?
Don’t you think that killing someone regardless of the facts and regardless of the law of the country he lives in, is a barbaric criminal act? Especially for believers of the religion that advertises itself as friendly and peaceful?
May Indonesia prosper,
Colson
PS: I think I should warn you Pisang Goreng is originally a typical un-Indonesian, dutch, colonial course ( Onghokham: The thugs, the curtainthief, and the sugar lord”, note 1 on page 313).
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Lock and Load for Salman Rushdie
You did not read “The Satanic verses”. You don’t know which words, which lines, which paragraphs or which chapters of the book did offend your religion. You don’t even know for sure is there’s any insulting word in the book at all.
The method in which Salman Rushdie applied in desacralized Islam is by having fictional discourse to point out the prevailing stereotypes thereof. For example, the character of Mahound having wife with names similar to that of the Prophet. It’s 560 pages long and quite funny actually if you look at it from the westerner’s point of view. However, I believe the reason is crystal clear when Imam Khomeini issued a dead fatwa. Salman Rushdie is I believe in Rush [to] die.
Cheers
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Colson,
It is forbidden for us to do anything if we are in the losing our tempers and we won’t kill anyone without giving chances those person to clarify, apologize or withdraw his statement.
We always strive with our best effort to act fairly and proportionally and our religion is not only about caring, kissing and tolerance but also killing and striking.
In now days, the civilized western have no credibility to talk about morality and humanity towards us because we are a clean as a baby’s when compared with the civilized western track record.
Come on sir, pisang goreng is a simple food for the poor Indonesia like me but some dutch love it.
Regard,
Amungme Son -
Cuk: In Islam we known some the best human from the black people like Lukman Hakim and Bilal while I never know any Pope’s or Highest Cardinal from the black africa.
Jlta: The following are three Cardinal Bishop(the term you used Highest Cardinal) the of the nine and where they are from:
H.E. Francis Card. ARINZE from Nigeria
H.E. Bernardin Card. GANTIN from Benin
H.E. Alexandre Card. DO NASCIMENTO from Angola
Carndinal Priest in total 184 as of June 27, 2007 from all over the world.The Holy Father is not elected by race, he is the ‘vicar of Christ’, he is representing Christ, thus many qualifications are required of the Holy Father, his people, mainly the Roman Catholics, are spread all over, Imay say in every country of the world.
Lukman Hakim and Bilal can they be compared to the Holy Father or Cardinal Bishop?I read ‘The role of Islam in African Slavery’ from the web. it is not as flowery as Cuk said. I also read the intention of the European to go to South Africa, not to evangelize but for trade. So Christianity is another issue, it is neither connected to trade nor to slavery(God forbid), in fact go even against racial seperation:
Some of the Protestant church and the Catholic church have spoken out against aspects of the government’s policy of racial seperation. (Merit Students Encyclopedia) -
Ihaknt says:
Julita, why waste your time trying to reason with a bigot who refuses to learn or know anything from others and even uses confusing English? He doesn’t want to see things from different perspective no matter how much we try to reason. Don’t worry lah.
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Dimp says:
Hi Julita,
I think you are just wasting your time explaining the truth to someone who is simply rotten to the core.
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Julita,
Sorry I haven’t intention to insult you but if we play our logic, there will be very Big Question why from so many Christ representatives (Popes), all of them, their races is always Caucusians I mean “bule”. Does God promote racism that only pick “bule man” becomes His representatives.
If you consider my question insulting your belief please say so and I will ask moderator to delete it.
thanks,
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Arema says:
Sorry I haven’t intention to insult you but if we play our logic, there will be very Big Question why from so many Christ representatives (Popes), all of them, their races is always Caucusians I mean “bule”. Does God promote racism that only pick “bule man” becomes His representatives.
Hi Cuku,
I believe every Catholic would love to see a Jawanese or Arabic to become Pope one day, I do think so, I sincerely do. There’s nothing racist about this. It’s just that no one yet from Arab or Indonesia qualified to hold that post. I pray someday it will happen. -
Arema, it won’t happen because that person would be killed first by the self-righteous mob.
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@Ihaknt: LOL, I was just about to type that actually, but cancelled it, because I want to control the message tone. But I’m expecting the next comment will have this mentioned. 😛
Sad but true. Those who betray Islam, their blood is halal. An Arab become pope = Rush[ing to]die. I’m still “staying on the main topic” right? 😛 [Denny Crane: thanks for the joke]
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Aluang Anak Bayang says:
Hi guys and gals,
Indonesia’s favorite son is back! Anyone missing me?
WHAT!!! Sir Salman Rushdie! Dear brother Cuk, this calls for some drastic repercussion. Let’s us waste no time. Let’s stone the American Embassy, and burn American flags.
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Glad to see the leader of Anti-Cukurungan Rangers is back =)
Welcome back bro, where have you been? M. Kahfi is missing too…
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Julita Says:
June 28th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Cuk: Sorry I haven’t intention to insult you but if we play our logic, there will be very Big Question why from so many Christ representatives (Popes), all of them, their races is always Caucusians I mean “bule”. Does God promote racism that only pick “bule man” becomes His representatives.Jlta: Cuk the first Pope, Peter is Jewish, Jesus is Jewish . Like Arema said in time, just don’t worry, look after your own matters which needs so much attention.
First of all, my thanks to you to all who have good logic, especially to you Arema. I extend my hands of friendship.
No playing with logic Cuk. No, my friend, I am not at all offended, in fact grateful, you gave me the chance to come up with good answers for all who visit this blog to read. If I have the time, I am glad to do it, I am wasting my time? Not at all. Perhaps I should take it , this way, putting my little dimes in my heavenly piggy bank. Yes, my friends it is not only Cuk there are many, many more who needs our help even Christians and Catholics.
Cuk: If you consider my question insulting your belief please say so and I will ask moderator to delete it.
No, let people read your question and my answers.Take care and God bless you all.
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Dear Arema re ‘leader of Anti-Cukurungan Rangers’. I am sorry to say that you are mistaken. I am pro-Cuk if you have followed our exchanges. He is suffering from ‘inferior complexity’ and ‘identity crisis’, however, I believed this lost lamb can be saved if shown the right path. He is intelligent despite his foolhardy comments, as long as you can point out to him that he is wrong.
I am not aware Mas Khafi is missing as I have been overseas. I pray that he is not made a lamb chop by Islamists opposed to his Quran-only view.
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I believed this lost lamb can be saved
Some lost lambs are not worth saving, some lambs are better left alone, some lambs are better on the skewers.
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Oh, I do have an opinion about this. Sudahlah, jangan selalu turut campur, urusan orang! Don’t put our finger in every pie. Let the Queen do what she thinks is right, and that he deserved it for many other reasons, it is her country.
O.K. let me check, how about if she knighted Mr. Brown, I have not read the book but I kind know the content. I think, I would wonder why, and would shrug my shoulder, not important. (sorry, this is considered impolite). -
Janma says:
Julita,
I don’t have an internet connection right now, so for the last two weeks have been doing the internet cafe thing with the slow connection so am a bit malas to look up all the instances of Christians destroying people and culture the world over in the past.
If you can explain to me where the Christian love is in the two instances I mentioned in my post, namely the aboriginals and the inquisition, then I will look up further instances to amuse us…. they are many.
Cukurungan,
islam pure as a baby!!!!!??????…. you do make me laugh! -
Janma, I was going to post my answers but on second thought, re-reading your posting make me wonder why should I.
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Mas Aluang,
Agreed we are in the same side to lead “Great Javanese” conquered the universe.
Julita/Arema,
I am not wondering if there has not been qualified yet for either the javanese or the Arabic become Jesus Liason Officers (Popes) however I amazed why with so many proven the wise man born from Indian and China, since 2000 years ago, Jesus could not pick out one of billions indian and china to become His Rep.
Janma,
Many thank mom at least today I did good think and made you smile.
regards,
Amungme Son -
Cuk.
so many proven the wise man born from Indian and China, since 2000 years ago, Jesus could not pick out one.
Jlta. Wise (in what way?) is not enough. The Lord knows, the Lord choose as He wishes, not us. Look at Peter, he was not the wisest of the twelve, yet Jesus appointed him.
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Teta said:
Second rate author. Ehem, he is widely considered to be one of the most important writers of the 20th century. Here a list of awards he won:
* Booker Prize for Fiction
* James Tait Black Memorial Prize (Fiction)
* Arts Council Writers’ Award
* English-Speaking Union Award
* Booker of Bookers or the best novel among the Booker Prize winners for Fiction
* Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger
* Whitbread Novel Award (twice)
* Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Award for Children’s Fiction
* Kurt Tucholsky Prize (Sweden)
* Prix Colette (Switzerland)
* State Prize for Literature (Austria)
* Author of the Year (British Book Awards)
* Author of the Year (Germany)
* Mantua Prize (Italy)
* Premio Grinzane Cavour (Italy)
* Hutch Crossword Fiction Prize (India)
* India Abroad Lifetime Achievement Award (USA)
* Outstanding Lifetime Achievement in Cultural Humanism (Harvard University)
* Aristeion Prize (European Union)
You cannot deny his greatness as an author. I recommend Midnight Children. A fantastic book!!!
Oh yes, and it is important to add that he was successful and popular before the whole fatwa BS. He wrote Midnight’s Children in 1981 and received loads of prizes for it.