Video of Iraqi MP praising America and slamming Arab Culture (MEMRI)

www.memritv.org ^ | 9/10/2006 | MEMRI/LBC (Lebanon)

[SolidWood]

A must see. Iraqi MP Iyad Jamal Al-Din, who is a shiite cleric, is seen on Lebanese TV 9/10/2006 praising America and slamming the inferiority of Arab Muslim Culture and explains Iraqs problem with Democracy. There need to be more of this kind of Muslim clerics.

[SolidWood]

Copy and paste the link given on top or try this one:

http://switch5.castup.net/frames/20041020_MemriTV_Popup/video_480x360.asp?ai=214&ar=1285wmv&ak=null

[353FMG]

Poor guy will have to deal with the rats from now on.

[BubbaHeel]

Yes, because we do not know what freedom is or what to do with it. We are like a tiny bird born in a cage. Its father and mother were born in the same cage, and so were its ancestors - for the past 1,400 years. Along came America and broke the cage open, but the bird does not know how to fly, because it has never used its wings. We do not know what to do with the values of freedom, because we were born slaves, the sons of slaves, the sons of slaves - for the past 1,400 years, with this inferior culture. I am not talking about the beautiful, tolerant, Islamic religion, which respects humanity. But there is an Arab Islamic culture, which, in many of its aspects... I don't mean all its aspects, because there is the Sufi culture, which is wonderful. But the official culture teaches you to become a slave to the ruler and to obsolete values and traditions. This is why we do not know what to do with the modern values of democracy.

This poor sorry SOB will be beheaded in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 seconds...

[Jewels1091]

this would have been good to have on all the major media a few weeks ago!!!

[Condor 63]

We Are Like a Bird Born in a Cage - America Broke the Cage Open, but the Bird Does Not Know How to Fly

What a sad, beautiful turn of words that is. Let us hope the bird is just too scared to fly right now but so far it doesn't look good.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

Eggsactly! Only if the MSM would permit it. Grrrr......

[alice_in_bubbaland]

Yes, and it seems that this MP is a voice in the wilderness.

[Tarkus2040]

One out of a few Muslims in the middle east who "gets it," but speaking the truth in that part of the world will surely get you marked for death. I really liked his use of metaphor as well.

[Burr5]

Is this guy a Sunni or a Shiite? He appears to be a Shiite, but what do I know? God bless him, I hope his way of thinking spreads. I think it will, eventually.

[outdriving]

Certainly a wise and enlightened man.

How large is his militia?

Stalin, upon hearing of the Pope demanding a seat at the Yalta conference that divided up the post-WWII world said: "So how many divisions does the Pope have?".

[meandog]

Video of Iraqi MP praising America and slamming Arab Culture (MEMRI) :

[SolidWood]

He is a Shiite. You can recognize it on his black robe and turban.

(Do not confuse it with Taliban(Sunni)turbans, they are wrapped differently, have other patterns and are part of tribal folk dress.)

Sunni Clerics would have s strange hat wich looks more like a conic pot.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

Listening this afternoon to Bob Brinker, who btw I thought was a Conservative/Republican, quoted a CNN/USA Today poll that stated that 70% of Iraqi's want Americans out of their country. When a caller called him on that, he got angry stating the he hates the phrase "Drive by Media"....what a pompous jerk!

CNN isn't DBM???? The poll wasn't skewed????

[alice_in_bubbaland]

"conic pot" ??? Wa dat? :)

[SolidWood]

An example of Sunni "pot" hat (pot head...hehe):
http://www.ireland.com/focus/gageby/images/sunni_side.jpg

[DenairGuy]

This cleric has a lot of good insight but he still falls short of the issues that are causing the problems.

Islam itself is a major problem since it was around 600 years ago that the rulers of Islam decided that no more "interpretation" of the rules, customs, etc., of Islam could be done.

The tie between Islam and politics in muslim countries is also a major problem. Simply put, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. History has shown this to be soooooo true over and over again.

Another factor is the tribalism in muslim countries that prevents change and the introduction of the rule of law. Tribal leaders never like change since change is always a threat to their power and riches and more often than not tribal leaders are more about themselves than about the tribe.

They have to face the reality that if they truly believe that Islam is "beautiful, tolerant religion that respects humanity" that this MUST mean separation of church and state. No religious political parties. No preaching of politics in the mosque. No religious leader telling their followers how to vote. It must be the state that provides the social services, law enforcement, etc.

Finally, true religious freedom MUST be allowed and supported. As painful as it will be they MUST allow the missionaries from other religions, must allow the setting up of houses of worship of other religions and must enforce laws preventing discrimination in the workplace due to religious belief.

All that being said the comments by this cleric are a very good first step

Ron B

[OldFriend]

Pretty much the same story with Russia. Haven't had a true democracy in centuries. As we see, they, too, are a long long way from a truly prosperous and free society.

[OldFriend]

Brinker has become Dobbs lite. Long long time now he's been bashing the President on just about every issue.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

ROTFL! OK.......I didn't think the term was that obvious. :)