gv1.3
Admin
Hi all,
I was recently back in Ireland for a week and when walking through the city centre in Dublin I spotted a desk setup outside the GPO (general post office) on O' Connell Street. For those not from Ireland this place holds a great deal of historic significance as it was the starting point of the Easter Rising in 1916.
Anyway, the desk had a banner hanging in front of it promoting Islam and two lads standing behind it. I advised my better half to go in to one of the shops and I would follow her in. When she was gone I went over to chat to the two lads.
I began by politely introducing myself and they politely responded and within 2 or 3 minutes had referred to me as "brother" several times. The desk was full of leaflets with information about various aspects of the Muslim faith. A couple that stood out were "Shari-ah Law and you" and another which had pictures of very happy smiling women adorning its front which was entitled "Islam and Womens rights".
I asked the lads what they thought about my country being such a free society that we would allow them to openly promote their religion without fear of backlash. They agreed that it was great. I asked them how they felt that if I went to an Islamic republic and set up a table promoting my religion in front of one of their most historic buildings I would not be allowed to and would most probably be jailed. They nervously smiled, nodded and began trying to talk to other people who were walking by.
I continued....
I advised them that I thought Shari-ah law should be enforced for Muslims in my country, they beamed and informed me "that is what we want". I further informed them that then we could potentially round them up off the streets and brutally punish them for silly crimes, perhaps even for setting up the desk outside the GPO. They nervously laughed...
They began quoting references from their holy book at me. At this point a small crowd had gathered as the conversation had began to get a little bit loud. I informed the two lads that I had no interest in hearing them quote passages at me but would rather them answer a simple question.
I asked them "do you consider me to be your equal?". I received another round of passages which I stopped in their tracks again and asked again "do you consider me to be your equal?"
Having asked the question several times and not received a yes or no the crowd had grown bigger. The two lads informed me that their prophet had lived beside a Jew... "he had a Jew neighbour" they said. I asked "and do you consider that Jew to be your prophets equal?", they continued to dodge the question.
After about 5 minutes of me asking the same question I said "you refuse to answer yes or no in front of these people, say yes or say no". Having put them on the spot I asked the question again "as a non-Muslim do you consider me to be your equal?".
He answered - "No"
I said "and that is the problem with your religion, do not refer to me as brother again"
I walked off. This was a very interesting experience for me and I am glad I took the time to go and talk to them.
I was recently back in Ireland for a week and when walking through the city centre in Dublin I spotted a desk setup outside the GPO (general post office) on O' Connell Street. For those not from Ireland this place holds a great deal of historic significance as it was the starting point of the Easter Rising in 1916.
Anyway, the desk had a banner hanging in front of it promoting Islam and two lads standing behind it. I advised my better half to go in to one of the shops and I would follow her in. When she was gone I went over to chat to the two lads.
I began by politely introducing myself and they politely responded and within 2 or 3 minutes had referred to me as "brother" several times. The desk was full of leaflets with information about various aspects of the Muslim faith. A couple that stood out were "Shari-ah Law and you" and another which had pictures of very happy smiling women adorning its front which was entitled "Islam and Womens rights".
I asked the lads what they thought about my country being such a free society that we would allow them to openly promote their religion without fear of backlash. They agreed that it was great. I asked them how they felt that if I went to an Islamic republic and set up a table promoting my religion in front of one of their most historic buildings I would not be allowed to and would most probably be jailed. They nervously smiled, nodded and began trying to talk to other people who were walking by.
I continued....
I advised them that I thought Shari-ah law should be enforced for Muslims in my country, they beamed and informed me "that is what we want". I further informed them that then we could potentially round them up off the streets and brutally punish them for silly crimes, perhaps even for setting up the desk outside the GPO. They nervously laughed...
They began quoting references from their holy book at me. At this point a small crowd had gathered as the conversation had began to get a little bit loud. I informed the two lads that I had no interest in hearing them quote passages at me but would rather them answer a simple question.
I asked them "do you consider me to be your equal?". I received another round of passages which I stopped in their tracks again and asked again "do you consider me to be your equal?"
Having asked the question several times and not received a yes or no the crowd had grown bigger. The two lads informed me that their prophet had lived beside a Jew... "he had a Jew neighbour" they said. I asked "and do you consider that Jew to be your prophets equal?", they continued to dodge the question.
After about 5 minutes of me asking the same question I said "you refuse to answer yes or no in front of these people, say yes or say no". Having put them on the spot I asked the question again "as a non-Muslim do you consider me to be your equal?".
He answered - "No"
I said "and that is the problem with your religion, do not refer to me as brother again"
I walked off. This was a very interesting experience for me and I am glad I took the time to go and talk to them.
