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One of the rewards of blogging, if you are not making a hundred grand a year from ad revenues, is having your blog articles linked to and discussed by other bloggers. This week one of my articles was submitted to the Watcher’s Council by Debbie at Right Truth.

For those who are not familiar with the Watcher’s Council here’s the lowdown:

J O S H U A P U N D I T,
Watcher’s Council Nominations – Pre New Year’s Eve Edition

Welcome to the Watcher’s Council, a blogging group consisting of some of the most incisive blogs in the ‘sphere, and the longest running group of its kind in existence. Every week, the members nominate two posts each, one written by themselves and one written by someone from outside the group for consideration by the whole Council.Then we vote on the best two posts, with the results appearing on Friday.

And here are the nominees for this week:

Council Submissions

• Simply Jews – Rejected by Mossad
• Joshuapundit -Standing Upright
• GrEaT sAtAn”S gIrLfRiEnD – FM 3-24 – v2.0
• The Colossus of Rhodey – Latest “torture”: hard blankets
• Rhymes With Right – About Those Polar Bears
• Right Truth – When Illusion Meets Reality
• VA Right - Weighing Michael Steel’s Pros and Cons
• The Razor – Because 27 Year Old Aspiring Models Drop Dead All the Time
• The Glittering Eye -Domestic Sitrep
• Bookworm Room – A Christmas Appreciation – Updated
• Snapped Shot – A Family’s Grief, The Patriot Guard, And A “Thank You”

Honorable Mentions

• The Political Commentator – How Underfunded Are The Public Pension Plans In Your State?

Non-Council Submissions

• The Propagandist – On The Twelve Evils Of Christmas submitted by Simply Jews
• Doug Ross – So The Democrats Finally Want Fiscal Responsibility? Great.Let’s End Their Disastrous War On Poverty submitted by Joshuapundit
• al Hayat – President Obama’s First Two Years in the Middle East submitted by GrEaT sAtAn”S gIrLfRiEnD
• Discriminations – Journalistic History Lessons (Or Not) submitted by The Colossus of Rhodey
• Big Lizards – The Turn of a Fiendly Cardsubmitted by Rhymes with Right
• Planck’s Constant -Muslims Persecuting Christians As Usual submitted by Right Truth
• Israpundit – How Can a Liberal Defend Israel submitted by VA Right
• LatmaTV – Jihad Bells submitted by The Razor
• Glenn Greenwald – The worsening journalistic disgrace at Wired submitted by The Glittering Eye
• Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion – The Mandate Is Obamacare’s Achilles’ Heel submitted by The Watcher
• The Augean Stables – On Atheist Morality submitted by The Watcher

Planck’s Constant

Thomas Jefferson had a copy of the Quran in the White House because he wanted to understand the meaning of Islamic Jihad (struggle), that is, the motivation of America’s first enemy, the Muslim pirates of the Barbary Coast.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was fluent in German, read Mein Kampf (My Struggle) in the original German in order to understand the meaning of Hitler’s Jihad.

Similarly, I have read both books because I too want to understand the motivation behind America’s greatest enemies past and present.

But the Quran is only a small part of Islam’s control over its inmates – there are the deeds and words of God’s last messenger: the ahadith, a collection of narratives that are used in Islamic law for items not expressly addressed in the Quran. That is to say, things that are attributed to Muhammad, as opposed to the Qur’an.

Sometimes it’s not even actions or pronouncements of Mohamed but rather things said or done in the prophet’s presence and in which he did not disapprove. If there is no reference in the Quran or a Hadith to answer a specific question of law, then sometimes Islamic Jurists will use khabar, or reports about Mohammed from his companions, to settle legal questions. And if there are still no specific answers, then the Sunnah, or early customs and habits of Mohammed, will determine how to decide a case.

Together all of these sayings, deeds, laws, customs, silent approvals, rumors, narratives, stories, and myths control every aspect of a devout Muslim’s life.

Anyone who surfs among sites such as Ask Imam will notice that not a single minutia of a Muslim’s life is free from consideration under Islamic law. For example, an accounting major asks if it is permissible to do accounting work for a company that charges interest. The answer: it is best if you change your major. ¹

It only takes a few hours to read answers to questions that are asked by Muslims living in western countries to realize that devout Muslims cannot live in pluralistic, secular democracies.

Muslims even have to ask how to cut their hair in a manner that does not offend Islam.

Let’s say you are rubbing against your wife, but not having sex, and some fluid discharges from your penis. Does the man have to perform a ghusl (a full ritual washing) or can he get away with a wudu (simple washing) before prayers? Well, that depends on whether the fluid is thin or thick. ²

My readers have probably read a million times from comments left by Muslim women that wearing the hijab is not compulsory, that they do it as a matter of choice; however, Imams give fellow Muslims a different answer – it is mandatory upon women. ³

If a Muslim farts during prayer, does he have to wash up and start all over? Yes and no – I am saving this answer for another blog post.

The point is, devout Muslims cannot fart without asking for a fatwa on the matter, so completely does Islam control a person’s life. Only a clueless infidel who has no knowledge of the Quran, the ahadith, the Sunnah, and the thousands of other little, piddling legal requirements upon Muslims can believe that a Muslim can live as a Muslim in a civilized society.

Please note, while I do make fun of fatwas in my series of articles Ask the Vizier (℠), nothing in this article however is fake. These are all genuine questions with genuine answers from genuine Islamic authorities. But that’s how sick this is, I have to explain to infidels that the life of a devout Muslim is no joke.

Notes

(1):

Ask Imam, Is it permissible to work as an accountant and deal with interest?

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

As a chartered accountant if you will be recording, correcting or checking the books where the interest has already been charged, then that is permissible, yet best to avoid. This is assuming that the company you’re working for derives the major portion of its income from halal avenues.

If the majority of the company’s revenue is haram or you will be assisting in initiating, valuing, or proposing interest charges to be charged by the company then that is impermissible.[i]

The difference between the above two scenarios is that in the first case, you are merely recording an event that has already occurred and in the second you are actively assisting in the sin.

Since you have been blessed with the realization of the great severity of dealing with interest, it would be best for you to change your major to one where you won’t have to deal with interest.

And Allāh knows best.

(2):

Ask Imam, My semen came out, does ghusul become fardh on me?

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

There could be two possibilities in your situation:-

1. Mazi (pre-coital fluid) which is thin.

2. Mani (sperm) which is thick.

If semen is discharged out of passion while one is awake or asleep, unconscious or conscious, through sexual intercourse or without sexual intercourse, or by fondling ones private part then ghusl becomes wajib. At the time of excitement, a particular fluid comes out which is called mazi. When climax is reached and one is satiated, the liquid which comes out at that time is called mani. The distinguishing factor between the two is that when mani comes out, satisfaction is attained and his passion becomes cooled, while the coming out of mazi does not decrease the excitement but increases it.

It will be necessary for you to have ghusl if you are certain that the liquid which came out is indeed semen.

And Allah knows best

(3):

Ask Imam, i am 15 years old and i have been wearing the headscarf for just over a year and i hate it.

Mashallah, it is good that you have obeyed the injunction of Allah and have donned the Hijab. You are correct in your understanding that it is compulsory; however, the reality of its importance has probably not donned upon you yet. Allah Ta’ala has honored the Muslim woman by concealing her beauty and safeguarding her chastity. It is a natural instinct for people to guard, cherish and conceal items of value lest they be stolen, vandalized or corrupted. No one leaves precious gems, stones and jewelry lying about waiting for a thief or bandit to steal, similarly, Allah Ta’ala does not allow the beauty of his female bondswoman to be flaunted and displayed for the lowly and vile people to gawk at. The institution of Hijab has been practiced by all the pious and righteous bondswomen of Allah since the creation of mankind.

Planck’s Constant

Back in early September the blog Klein Verzet linked to my article Muslims Burn Bibles Routinely and Often.

Normally as soon as I discover someone linking to me, I leave a comment thanking them for mentioning me; however, in going over a list of blogs to thank (I left about a dozen thank yous today alone) I noticed that I forgot to note my appreciation to Klein Verzet.

So I did leave a thank you note. However I also came across this comment by Klein Verzet:

I firmly believe in judging individuals on their personal merits, not on the naked fact that they are of this or that group. Not every muslim is necessarily my enemy. Those muslims that think slaughtering infidels will get them into paradise, and any who aid and abet such muslims (and that includes most Ulema around the world), those are the enemy.

The Turkish guy living a couple of blocks away, who is delivering packages to our house, he’s not my enemy. His wife and daughters go about their business unencumbered and unveiled. He once told me they did wear a headscarf when visiting with family in Turkey. But also that he told his grand-mother, that in Holland people don’t wear them, and that is that. He has voted for Wilders, for crying out loud (he thinks immigration is too high!). He doesn’t deserve to be punched in the gut like this.

I have written previously [Were All Nazis Evil?] that not every Nazi murdered a Jew, that some were just ordinary Fritzes trying to make a living. However, during WWII would any decent American defend the average Nazi saying he is not our enemy, that we should judge him on his merits, not by the group he is a member of?

The average Muslim in America is not directly an enemy. However as a Muslim he does aid our enemies. I left the following comment:

As for that Muslim delivering packages, he is an enemy if he practices his religion. As long as he is seen as a Muslim, then his mere existence adds to the perception of Muslim strength in the community and makes those more belligerent than he is braver to commit violent acts. It is the mob that does the lynching, not individuals.

Just being able to say that there are X number of Muslims in a country will cow politicians to accommodate the most radical of the Muslim faithful. Sorry, but unless your delivery guy stops being a Muslim even in name only, he is aiding the active enemies of western civilization.

As a Jew, I find what I am saying as outrageously offensive; however, I lost more than 98% of my relatives because people were only willing to condemn the most radical of Nazis, when in fact the whole of the Nazi regime should have been excoriated. That there were nice-guy Nazis delivering packages who were not in their heart antisemitic did not keep my family from torture and death.

As proof that even one Muslim in this country can make American knees tremble I give you the South Park Affair. Would Comedy Central have bleeped Mohammed’s name if the threat had come from an email from some Muslim wacko from Pakistan? No. But the wacko’s website was based in New York and that was enough to cow the corporate suits at Viacom.

For 80 years Hollywood has been making films about Muslims and Arabs as terrorists and pirates without fear of retribution. But now, with so many Muslims (supposedly all moderate) in this country fear has entered the hearts of film producers and so if a book contains Muslim terrorists , then the film will be a story about Russians or drug gangs or some other ethnic group so as not to offend Muslims.

HubPages, HOLLYWOOD HYPOCRITES ARE AFRAID OF MUSLIMS

Ron Howard, who was once the all-American boy as Opie, recently produced a movie from Dan Brown’s book, Angels and Demons.

In the book, the villain is a Muslim man. Ron changed that in the movie and made the villain a Danish man.

Can’t have Muslim bad men anymore. They might come after you. It’s not worth losing your head over a movie character, right?

netanyahu.org, Muslim Villains Cut From Film

In real life, we have read numerous stories about Al Qaeda terrorists seeking possession of a so-called dirty nuclear bomb they can use to kill thousands of Americans. There have even been reports that such a bomb has been smuggled into the U.S. But a new Hollywood film, “The Sum of All Fears,” about the use of a nuclear weapon against the U.S., pretends that neo-Nazis are the real enemies.

Hollywood can do what it wants, but in this case the film is supposed to be based on a Tom Clancy book that depicted the villains as Arab terrorists. Clancy never portrayed the nuclear terrorists as neo-Nazis. The villains have been changed. In the film, neo-Nazi terrorists get their hands on a lost nuclear device, and plan to use it at the Super Bowl. The plan is to disguise the attack as being caused by Russia, in the hopes of rekindling the Cold War.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has claimed responsibility for the change, saying it had been in contact with Paramount Pictures and Mace Neufeld, the film’s original director, to discuss the portrayal of Muslim characters in the film. Phil Alden Robinson, the new director of the film, assured the Council that Muslims would not be depicted as terrorists, unlike the novel. Robinson said that he had “no intention of promoting negative images of Muslims or Arabs.”

As more Muslims come in, our entire culture will live in fear – not because most Muslims are terrorists – they are not – but because they let the tiny extremist fringe wag the dog. CAIR, a Muslim front for terrorism, would have no power to intimidate corporations, news media, or Hollywood if it had only 3 members. It can only become more powerful and more demanding of accommodations as the Muslim population increases.

Muslims who mind their own business and do nothing violent make CAIR more dangerous. American Muslims who love this country, in order not to be our enemies must renounce their religion. They must stop being counted as Muslims. Otherwise one day, Hollywood will make a film about 9/11 and it will be Colombian drug gangs who attacked us that day, in deference to Muslim sensibilities.

Planck’s Constant

Photo: BosNewsLife Christian News Agency

I just received this frightening email from a Christian reader from the Middle East:

Dear Bernie,

The state of Christians across the Middle East is deteriorating and for many Christians this Christmas is a time of fear and …”

And there it ends. Take a quick tour of the CIA’s The World Factbook to see that countries that were once predominantly Christian are now approaching 99 and 100 percent Muslim. How is that possible? How can anything involving free expression and choice of religion ever approach 100%? Muslims will say it is because everyone is finding out that Islam is the true religion. Yes, we all believe that.

There has been a Christian presence in the Middle East for 2,000 years. That presence is coming to an end as the Christians are being killed, subjugated and converted to Islam in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, the West Bank, and The Jordan.

As for Saudi Arabia, it has no Christians left to be killed, subjugated or converted. It’s the ultimate and logical conclusion of Islam.

Ironically, the only place in the Middle East where there is no Christian persecution and that has more Christians now than 50 years ago is the so-called ‘apartheid’ State of Israel. Who would have guessed?

Source: Christians of the Middle East: Country-By-Country Facts.

It should be mentioned that Christians are persecuted in every single Muslim-majority country, not just those in the Middle East. Read my article Who Should Fund the Ground Zero Mosque.

Planck’s Constant

Loyal reader Nick B. from Cleveland just sent me this information about the new TSA security scanners they are ready to deploy at all airports within the next few weeks.

Nick wrote:

Bernie, please check out how the new TSA Security Scanner works by moving the cursor over the person to check for plastic explosives or suspicious metal objects. In most cases, this is a relatively quick procedure, however, there are times when the scan can take several minutes.

The TSA is currently looking for additional employees to manage this necessary function for the preservation of freedom and our American way of life.

Let me know what you think.

I caution my readers who are not used to seeing revealing X-ray images not to venture any further, the cursor will show images that are NSFW.

Scroll down…

Scroll down…

Scroll down…

Scroll down…

Move Mouse over area to be scanned – But **** WARNING NSFW ****

If the image does not appear click here.

Planck’s Constant

In the earlier decades after independence it was often felt that the political party, which controls the heartland states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and even Madhya Pradesh, rules the country. Now just…

Indian Muslims

Those attacking him need to go into the depth of the remarks that young Gandhi has made. He and his family are themselves victims of religious and linguistic terror and hence who can understand the…

Indian Muslims

My Older Son’s Livingroom
Photo Credit: bernie

All the adult members of my family have jobs except for my youngest daughter-in-law, she’s taking care of my newest grandchild, Dean Henry, and so we have much to be thankful for this holiday when so many Americans are out of work.

To those of my readers who may not be in the best of circumstances at this particular time, I hope that things will be better for you soon. Let me mention to you what has gotten me through some tough times: “This too shall pass.”

Some readers have asked why there are no people in my personal photos. This is my blog and the rest of my family deserve their privacy.

As an Atheist Jew, let me say that I believe Jews as well as Atheists should celebrate Christmas as an American holiday. Especially Atheists. Without tradition, without occasion for family gatherings, and without song Winter can be a cold and lonely season.

I wish everyone a joyous and Merry Christmas.

Planck’s Constant

Despite prophecies that blogging is dying and indications that netizens are now preferring facebook and twitter rather than writing blog posts, as a blogger it was a satisfying year for me.

It was the sixth year of my blogging and though I wrote considerably less compared to past, I felt that I wrote some of my best posts this year. Apart from politics, social issues, communalism, religious harmony and off-beat pieces, I also wrote about Muslim issues.

I always feel that Muslims can [and should] be more introspective and attentive towards the community affairs as they can afford to be more critical than others. Not just critical posts but also positive stories. I also did nearly half-a-dozen movie reviews.

This blog will soon be in its seventh year. I’d begun blogging in 2003-2004 but quit shortly after. Then again I started afresh in 2005 with this blog and since then it has been a terrific experience. I have written almost 600 posts so far on this blog alone.

Of course, the blogging scene is not quite hot as it was back in 2006-2007. But I enjoy it as much. On an average I wrote barely a post or so every week in 2010. Earlier I have written up to 167 posts in a year that amounted to almost one post every two days but then I realised the importance of quality and thoughtful blogging.

And I was surprised to see that for most part of the year this blog was at the top position in the category of Indian blogs in at least two categories including the personal blogs category at Indiblogger’s ranking list with the highest rank of 87, ahead of those who were once considered celebrity bloggers. May be it appears kiddish excitement but I like it.

So I am not doing that badly even though I seemed to have lost steam a bit this year. There is a prophecy that blogging doesn’t have much future as netizens are tweeting more or speaking their mind in facebook status messages where friends comment immediately and you get satisfaction of getting likes rather than critical and negative comments on blogs.

However, I don’t buy much of it and intend to continue my blogging journey. I hope that in 2011 I will write more regularly and refine this blog further. Here is a list and links of the selected and best articles as per category which I wrote in the bygone year [2010]:

National Issues
Blame the bureaucrat for corruption and not just politician Read
Inefficient administration causing mishaps: Fix responsibility on guilty bureaucrats Read
Empowering Eves or Elites: On women’s reservation at needs at ground level Read
Welfare Vs Warfare: How to tackle Naxalism Read
Is Indian police a force to safeguard the rich? Read

Indian Muslim society: Critical articles and Positive news 

Culture Vs Constitution: Now the Muslim Khaps Read
Darul Uloom turning Fatwa Factory & Triple Talaq Read
Anisa Sayyed: Ticket checker to shooting champion Read
Educational revolution among Indian Muslims Read
Triumphant Shireen steps into University without veil Read
Born in 1890, going for Haj in 2010: Munni Begam Read
Denying admission to Muslim students and other discrimination Read

Movie reviews
I watched a lot of movies this year though I couldn’t review all as I saw some of them a few days after release. The movies about which I wrote included My Name Is Khan, Ishqia, Salman Khan’s flop film Veer, Ajay Devgn-starrer film on the life of Haji Mastan titled Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, Salman’s blockbuster Dabangg and Rajinikanth’s Robot.

MNIK was definitely a bold movie with an emotional message while Ishqia and Dabangg brought back heartland to Indian cinema. Robot was Southern superstar Rajinikanth’s film that grossed over Rs 25 crore in North India also.

Politics and political analysis
Decline in influence of Rajputs in Indian Politics Read
Nitish Kumar’s victory in Bihar: How and Why? Read
Cong responsible for Maharashtra mess, not Shiv Sena-BJP Read
Reaction of Urdu media on Babri Masjid verdict Read
Ayodhya verdict and my reflections Read

Communal Harmony
Hindu saints stand for man fasting for Batla House probe Read
Muslim youths’ rally for return of Kashmiri Pandits Read
Sai-Taj Darbar: Harmony among Hindus, Muslims Read
Hoardings in Harmony Read
The mosque that briefly turns temple every year Read

Urdu poetry, Literature
Urdu’s egoist poet gone: Khuda Hafiz Abdullah Kamaal Read
The Shaharyar of Urdu literature Read
The glorious tradition of Tarahi mushairas Read
Mushaira in Delhi: Famous poets regale audience Read
Urdu language in Roman script in South India Read
Mahlaqa Chanda, a pioneering and forgotten Urdu poetess Read

Communalism, Fundamentalism, Terrorism and Media criticism
21 killed but not termed Terrorist strike Read
Sangh Parivar: Cultural nationalism, hardline Hindutva or Terrorism Read
Investigation & Media’s role in Terror cases Read
‘Pro-Muslim’ RSS irked right-wing the fanatics Read
How RSS & other right-wing outfits escape terror tag Read
Fanatic Muslim killer Sudhakar Rao’s arrest ignored Read
Recruiting Hindu warriors: New radical outfit rears head in Central India Read

Caste Issues: Discrimination with Dalits
Parents protest lower caste women cooks Read
Children hit for sitting on mat reserved for Upper Caste kids Read
Man says dog untouchable after lower caste family fed it Read

Weird, off-beat and features
The Horse’s grave in India: Blend of local Hindu, Muslim cultures Read
Worshipping ‘Kansa’ in North India Read
Rise of Urdu media: Aalami Sahara, Zee Salaam channels launched Read
Celebrating Mughal Emperor Akbar’s birthday Read
‘My Papa is an ice-cream seller’ Read

So that was the roundup for Year 2010 on anindianmuslim.com. Hope you enjoyed it.

An Indian Muslim’s Blog: News, Views & Urdu Poetry Website

UPDATE: December 12, 2010: ADDED MORE PICTURES TO THE FLICKR SLIDE SHOW (please scroll down)

At 2 PM on Sunday, December 5, 2010, the congregation of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church gathered at Ground Zero.

This was a Vesper Service for the Feast of St. Nicholas and, nine years after the Twin Towers collapsed onto this tiny 80 years old church, it’s a mystery WHY it remains un-built.

They still have no church to worship in as they did for 80 years.

As we arrived and were being permitted to enter the Ground Zero construction area, the media was being told NO Cameras. No filming was going to be allowed for ‘security’ reasons!  Some of the press was packing up their tripods and cameras. Wonder if some of the left? I was very surprised (as was everyone) at these restrictions. About 15 minutes later, little by little, the word began to spread that only SOME people could film (the diocese) but that too was still ridiculous since this was an event to which the media was invited. Another 10 minutes or so  and  everyone started filming, so I figured that meant me, too. But, never was there a formal “Go” just a sort of whispered…I guess we can film now….

The children of St. Nicholas carried precious artifacts that were damaged yet miraculously survived on that horrific day:A splintered wooden icon, a tattered altar cloth, a crushed silver bowl, a twisted candelabra, a VERY bent brass bell, mangled candles and a liturgical book.

The vespers service last about 45 minutes. The video  is excerpts from the service with the complete homily from His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrious, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America.

There was a large turnout by the congregation and media. However, it wasn’t clear who the other reporters were other than  The Daily News who identified herself and you’ll see City Comptroller, John Liu in the crowd. Since he’s been  a very vocal supporter of The Ground Zero Mosque and supports the use of city loans and grants for said mosque, what about St. Nicholas? Will he go on record in giving the same support to the rebuilding of the church? Will he support it financially, too?

Regarding it location, I was told the church (whenever it is permitted to rebuild) will not be at its original location, but just east of that lot. Which can be see a few times in the back ground of the video.

I’m sorry there’s distracting motion during the Archbishop’s homily. Without the tripod I was getting tired and fighting the sun. It’s only a few times. His homily is worth listening to for what he said in front of City Comptroller, JohnLiu, describing the Church of St. Nicholas in “Ground Zero Mosque Community Center terms”. It’s  outrageous that we haven’t heard enough, barely anything really, from the Mayor and his minions regarding the Church of St. Nicholas. But, since The city is falling all over itself to build a mosque in a clothing store and stonewalls a church that was in that location for 80 years, it seems more than a bit sad that they feel they must also be a ‘community center’.

Support for St. Nicholas. Simon Deng was there (of course)

This  should be a huge a story but the media coverage was low-key to nothing. Its up to us to make St. Nicholas a priority.

Slideshow of a few pictures

And as I walked to the subway…a patriot…

No Mosques At Ground Zero