"un-English"....!!!

[Iqbal Tamimi]

"un-English"....!!!
By Iqbal Tamimi
2/2/2008

The Daily Telegraph published today another title which incites animosities in my opinion. The title says ‘Religions collide under the dreaming spires’ ... the content has nothing to do with religion; it’s all about some people’s personal preferences upon their own understanding of religion. I can assure the Independent that religions are not colliding, its people’s views. I hope they can choose more sensitive words from their rich dictionary; we do not need any more divisions between people of one society.

One point in the argument attracted my attention, I quote the newspaper saying (Charlie Cleverly, the rector of St Aldates Church, said allowing the broadcast of a call to prayer is "un-English").... well, do you want us to understand that Mr Cheverly’s point of view is built on religious grounds?
Jesus Christ himself was not English, and all his actions and life style was un-English’.. Are you going to turn him away because of his ‘un-English’ life style? Does that mean you want to wipe from UK anything upon this argument should it be un- English? Including schools of Art, Literature.... Would English Tea time be considered English or not? After all this country can’t plant its own tea, it was imported with all its rituals from another civilization. Are you going to ban curries for it is un-English?
I think you know the answers, some people like to pick and chose what they like and what they don’t, and what a better way to squeeze religion into it to segregate the community further, and focus on minor things instead of fixing bigger issues like health and education. I fail to understand such argument, are you going to ban aeroplanes, music, people coughing, calling for trains...? Or you are only targeting certain communities to force them out of their life time achievements because according to you they behave in an un-English way!!! Don’t you think that such remark is RACIST. And it contradicts the political traditions of a democratic society built upon respect.
Can you please issue a list of what is English and what is not, do we have to take such criteria seriously in an era of globalization, and have you thought how such ideas might affect English people working in other countries should such countries want to adopt a similar attitude!

The link for the article http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=3CDSBIXG431JZ...

PS I have sent a copy to the daily Telegraph

[Gilad]

Iqbal my dear friend
you refer to the The Daily Telegraph... what you probably mean is The Daily Tel Aviv........):

by the way, i am not exactly a Palestinian mother but rather an Hebrew Speking Palestinian Father.
I hope this is ok... :)

Peace
G

[Iqbal Tamimi]

Dear Mike ... I am Palestinian, but like most Palestinians denied going back to their country we lived in neighbour country Jordan.
The Christians and Muslims in alestine and Jordan never ever had any problems at all, we lived next to each other, my first school was a Christian one, I moved when they did not have furher classes for my age group then. We enjoyed celebrating both ways, and we are very much used to the bells of Churches in Palestine and Jordan, our Christian friends were brough up to hear Adan our calls for prayer, even their young children would try to imitat the sound when they used to play with us. You are deprived of knowing a lot about other countries I guess, because you depend on your own sources of information only.

[Mark Griffin]

> You are deprived of knowing a lot about other countries I guess, because you depend on your own sources of information only.

That's true only to some extent because I have lived abroad for a lot of my life (mostly when I as younger). But now, yes, all of our information comes through the media and that is a concern. But, isn't that the case elsewhere? We need direct person-to-person contact.

[Iqbal Tamimi]

Mark my dear friend
We need direct person-to-person contact
Yes we do, and this is exactly what we are doing here me and you and te rest of our friends, redescover our fellow human. We should not worry about what the other side might think, because dialougue is the only practical solution to see things from the other person's point of view. Through you I have now a different vision of things, because you explain things in a very polite logical way. Other people do not want to go trough trying to understand others... that's why we lose so much.
Here in UK I learned from total strangers on the streets, on the bus, in the mrket better than what I am getting of information through newspapers.
The media is turning cold and inhumane, its just a trade.

[Iqbal Tamimi]

By the way everybody, the Telegraph as usual ignored my comment; it has published tens of comments backing up the article and nothing from the other side point of view. I used to think it was only a matter of co incidence, but after writing to them many times, and not even once they consider the other point of view. I would say they are crippled media wise, they are biased, and racist. If they have a valid point, they would feel strong to publish one comment against... this is a good example of bad journalism. And I guess dear Mark this is 'un-English'.
We used to look at English traditions of media with great respect, but after almost 13 months of trying to publish only one comment and failing... there is no doubt about it...they have to go back to school to study media and journalism all over again.
They think that not publishing the other side point of view, they can hide the sun with a strainer.
If any of you can go to my blog I used to write on the Independent, you will find out that they have granted themselves the right to delete one of my articles for no valid reason, and without explaining anything to me or sending a letter of apologies. It was the very successful post (How often you use the F word?). They left the title and the comments, and removed the article. Anyone who reads the title might think that I have mentioned something out of line, but it was about a racist attack I was subjected to, and the attitude of the police who forced me to give up on my right.
The funny thing that the Telegraph goes on and on about ethics, and they demand to reform the Middle East... go and get some reform yourselves first.

[Iqbal Tamimi]

Gilad... my brother... you know that we called the webste Palestinian Mothers not to stop fathers from patrticipating. Every man was brought to this life by a mother, and almost all wars were started by men... its about time mothers say something to stop their children beig killed. Our children's blood is much dear to than anything, for me my child is dearer than the land itself .Any land will be worth nothing without the people who are dwelling on it, and make it prosper. We humans are supposed to make of land a paradise on Earth... BUT some chose to create wars for others to sell his weapons, and experiment in our children's bodies.
I am extreeemely happy that you are now one of our big family. Regardless what is the language you prefer to use, as long as you want to protect your children as we all do.

[Gilad]

Iqbal. i am with you all the way through

Salam
G

[Iqbal Tamimi]

Dear Gilad many times I was asked how can I refer to you by my brother while I am a Muslim Palestinian, and you are a Jew , I guess now they can find out why and how two people do not have to come from the same woumb to be a brother and sister. Love is the greatest gift God offered us.