Posted on 01/14/2008 1:36:11 PM PST by Ooh-Ah
So there I am, with two of my little infidels in tow, dashing across town to hit Carnegie Hall. It seems Red has to have a classical concert in the bag for a report due tomorrow. I love these mandates, the kids as an impetus for some culchuh for a change. So imagine my surprise to stumble upon a sea of black down Park Avenue against a backdrop of loud Muslim prayers blaring over loudspeakers, no less. We were running late and I didn't have a picture card in my camera but Red said, "ma, there's a Staples down the block, you've got to get this". It was surreal.
The cop tells me, Moe's grandson along with 72 other Muslims beat back an army of 70,000. Yeah 72 guys beat an army of 70,000 and they are mourning the death of Husayn (the grandson). The mock coffins represent Husayn and his followers who "were denied proper burial." When I saw them beating themselves up, I asked the cop, "is this Ashura"? He said, yeah I think that's in the pamphlet. Indeed it was. He told me there was a large number from Pakistan (but no sign of mourning for Bhutto, or any sign of her for that matter), Iran Iraq, Lebanon.
ASHURA! Regular Atlas readers are familiar with this ritual as I have covered it here and here and here. Every year in fact. Remember Ashura?
Ashura in NY. Ironic how it plays out in front of the mixed LOVE artwork on Park and 57th. Mixed up indeed
What flag is that? Anybody know?
The women brought up the rear (but of course)
The flag of Husayn (Hussein) carried into battle. TMI? Too bad.
Crowds surround the men fiercely beating their chests
The most disturbing image was all those black clad women (from head to toe) en masse down Park Avenue. My 13 year old said, "ma that's scary". Indeed. Mind you, it was scary, as in an altered reality.
On every corner a young girl in full dress would stop you to explain the meaning and the beauty of this festival of mourning (did I just say that) and give you Islamic propaganda. The taqiya was in full blast mode. Check out my inter-faith dialogue with an attendee in my video.
Considering the number choice for President among Muslims, I may have hit upon something in that my video of events on Park Avenue, eh?
They’re allowed to have swords in NYC?
Reading this and seeing it in full color, leaves me screaming.
Wake up America!!!!!
Wow... I am utterly speechless...
As Swampsniper asked are they allowed to be carrying these weapons on the streets of New York?
Another question this brings to mind — were I to self-multilate as these folks are doing wouldn’t that be grounds for an automatic 72 hour hold in the local mental facility???
What a sickening ritual... I mean I’m all for freedom of religion — up until you harm others... I wonder if there were any children in this crowd as there are in the streets of the Middle East during Ashura... It makes me wonder how emotionally disturbed teens who already self-mutilate will see this, and how it will affect them... Yet, another way this ritual could harm others. Will this be seen as acceptable now that there will be groups “bloodletting” in the streets???
Screaming with you, Granny... This is just sickening.
Hi there... a ping for both of you to this blog piece on Ashura being practiced in the streets of NY this year...
There are some questions as to what the writing is on some of the banners/flags shown in these pictures... Would either of you be able to translate these for us, please?
(I hope you are both doing well — LR)
On every corner a young girl in full dress would stop you to explain the meaning and the beauty of this festival of mourning (did I just say that) and give you Islamic propaganda. <<<
Ms. Geller, who took the photos, had 2 of her kids with her.
And there were kids in the march.
From the calls I hear on the scanner, there are a lot of people into ‘cutting themselves’, the cops could fill every bed in the hospital with mental cases.
This must stop, or the whole world is going to tilt into insanity.
You hear about this?
Salaam (Peace),
I was at the Muharram Procession in NYC. The first image is a bit deceiving since nothing like that took place. No blood letting took place at the procession. Nor has it ever in the 22 years the Procession has been carried out in NYC.
The flag and various other flags bear the name of Husain (peace be upon him)’s half brother Abbas ibn Ali, who was the standard bearer of the Imam Husain (pbuh)’s army. He was killed on the banks of Euphrates when he was bringing water back to the children in Imam Husain (pbuh)’s camp.
Edward Gibbon
(1737-1794) Considered the greatest British historian of his time.
“In a distant age and climate the tragic scene of the death of Hosein will awaken the sympathy of the coldest reader.”
[The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, London, 1911, volume 5, pp. 391-2]
Thomas Carlyle has relayed this about the Tragedy of Karbala:
“The best lesson which we get from the tragedy of Karbala is that Husain and his companions were the rigid believers of God. They illustrated that numerical superiority does not count when it comes to truth and falsehood. The victory of Husain despite his minority marvels me!”
If you have any questions about the procession, I will be happy to answer them.
Thank you and with peace,
Dhulfiqar
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