IT IS,MERRY CHRISTMAS, NOT HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

All of a sudden a very small but very loud minority in our country,wants to reverse our Christian tradition of celebrating the birth of the most important person of the last 2000 years,Yes, JESUS CHRIST,our Lord and Savior.
Well, we are a Christian nation, and have been celebrating Christmas for many years and should continue to do so,if you don't believe in our Christ and don't want to be associated or celebrate his birth with the majority of us that's fine,then you should show the rest of the world that you don't believe or celebrate his birth by doing the following:
1-On Dec 25 you go to work like any other day.
2-Don't give or RECEIVE gifts from anyone.(if you do then you are celebrating our tradition of giving gifts as way to celebrate the birth of Jesus).
3-Don't put up any Christmas decorations, including a tree,etc.

So, there you have it a great way for non believers to demonstrate that they are not like everyone else,but if you don't, then you are nothing but a HYPOCRITE.

Also, we don't go around telling other cultures which holidays they may or may not celebrate,or what traditions of theirs we don't like, and therefore they must change them in order to appease us.
l mean, personally think that going to Mecca two weeks every year,trampling on other people to trow rocks at a Stone,thinking that l am killing the devil is obsurd,but that its their tradition and l wouldn't dream of telling Muslims to change their beliefs,just cause l don't agree with them.
So stop trying to make us change, cause someone is gonna be offended.
If you are offended,well all l can say is TOO BAD...

To all my friends and enemies MERRY CHRITSMAS....

Labels and Contradictions

It never ceases to amazed me,how people get hung up on labels and beliefs that everyone must be identified according to their own narrow views of the world.
Descriptions such as Liberal or Conservative are obsolete as far as l am concerned.

For example, many of my friends cannot understand how can l find good and bad in different political issues that may seem totally opposite,lets see,if l write that Obama is making a mistake by attacking Fox news,my Right wing friends like it,my left wing friends think that l am some kind of dentally impaired fanatic, both are wrong, my point is that a free a press must be allowed to exists even when we don't agree with their editorial context,l am not taking sides.

When l write that l am all for the Health care reform that our president is trying to pass, then l am some kind of Socialist advocate ,again wrong, l am a thinking Capitalist who is not blinded by political dogma and can see that Health Reform is needed right now.
l don't see a conspiracy behind every rock,we need to open up our brains and learn to accept whats good about a political issue,and also see whats bad about it, and not to be afraid to say so regardless of what others may say or think,but always we must learn to have a different view, RESPECTING the other person beliefs.

It makes sad when people even families will not speak to each other,cause one is republican and the other is a democrat,or if you live here in Puerto Rico a Popular or a PNP,its crazy to go thru life hating and dissing people,because of a difference of opinions, when after all,NO ONE HAS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH,so lets be a bit more understanding and respectful of others beliefs.

And that's all l am gonna say about that.

La Tragedia que hoy vive Puerto Rico..

Es verdaderamente lamentable y patetico leer en Facebook y en otros sitios las expresiones de algunas personas sobre la crisis que hoy todo el pueblo Puertorriqueño esta viviendo.
Que facil y sabroso es estar sentado en algun lugar con todas las comodidades,su buen AC,y comiendo sushi o otra exotica comida,mientras escriben cuanto se alegran de lo que ha pasado aqui,y en sus palabras le han dado "un golpe al imperialismo" y un golpe al gobierno de Luis Fortuño.
Ustedes que piensan de esa manera no son mas que unos retrogadas,estupidos.
Se han puesto a pensar en las miles de personas en su gran mayoria gente pobre que han tenido que abandonar sus hogares en la comunidades de Cataño,Bayamon,Toa Alta,San Juan,y otras para buscar refugio en una cancha de Basketball,donde hay cientos de personas de todas las edades,emfermos,niños, etc, durmiendo en catres,sin tener la menor idea de cuando podran regresar a sus hogares(Recuerdan Katrina?)
Los sobre 2000 presos de la carcel regional de Bayamon que tuvieron que sacar y moverlos como ganado en 1/2 dia,para meterlos en la carcel de Ponce que ya de antemano estaba superpoblada.
Saben ustedes de los miles que han perdido su trabajo,ya que compañias como la Goya,Jose Santiago y otras tenian sus almacenes cerca del area del desastre y han tenido que cerrar.
En su mente pequeña les pasa la realizasion, el daño que va a sufrir nuestro medio ambiente a corto y largo plazo,el aire contaminado que tenemos que respirar todos sin ecepcion de partido politico,han pensado que cuando llueva y el agua se mescle con esa nube negra de petroleo quemado,que lo que va a caer es "Acid Rain" y eso no va escoger a quien le va hacer daño.
Piensen en la bahia de San Juan contaminada de petroleo,los barcos cruzeros que no podran entrar al Puerto de San Juan,afectando la industria del turismo de la cual viven miles de personas aqui.
El aumento que viene de seguro al costo de la gasolina,los alimentos, la transportacion,y mas.
Estoy seguro que muchos no han pensado en nada de esto y solo se dejar llevar por su odio en contra del gobierno de aqui,Que pena.
Les digo mas, si esto fue(y yo creo que si) un acto de sabotaje para desastibilisar al gobierno les tengo que decir "que el tiro les salio por la culata",el Gove Fortuño a quien muchos llamaban mongo y flojo,hoy los perpetreadores de esta calamidad,le estan dando la oportunidad de parecer como un verdadero lider,lo tenemos en la tv 24/7,o en los refugios repartiendo comida y abrazando a los infelices que esta alli,el gove luciendo preocupado,y dando palabras de esperanza.
Aqui ya nadie habla de los despidos del Gobierno,ni de las uniones,ni de brutalidad policiaca,ya todo eso paso a un cuarto o quinto plano,a la gente solo le importa que el gobierno resuelva este problema.
lo que da ganas de reir aun en este momento tragico son los "tontos utiles" escribiendo graffiti "muerte a la Gulf" y otras tonterias,pero la realidad es que la caribbean gulf no va a sufrir en lo mas minimo,las compañias de seguro les pagaran millones de dolares por los daños sufridos y a "otra cosa mariposa",es mas probablemente ni reconstruyan esa facilidades en Puerto Rico,y se vayan para la Republica,dejando sin trabajo a miles que directamente o indirectamente vivian de la Gulf.
So, mi gente piensen un poquito antes de escribir tanta mierda, y si de verdad estan preocupados por su isla,pues hagan una donacion a la Cruz Roja,Salvation Army o cualquier otra organizacion bonafide que este ayudando aqui.
Hoy, todo Puerto Rico sufre pero principalmente la gente pobre y la clase media,los llamados riquitos de Guaynabo City, Los Fortuños,Richard Carrion,Santini,Sila, Anibal,y demas, esta noche estan comiendo bien y duermen con su buen aire acondicionado,y si ven que la nube negra se vira por el viento y les viene pa encima se montan en un avion y se van para sus casas de veraneo en la repu.
El resto, nos tenemos que joder,y sufrir las consecuencias de este "acto revolucionario" perpetrado estoy seguro por extranjeros,aunque algun grupo local se eche el credito.(pero eso sera otro tema para otro dia)
Solo me queda añadir "Que dios nos coja confesaos".

Calle 13 - Renesito el bello....

Tengo que ser honesto,todavia la emocion me envarga,y tengo lumps en la garganta, despues de escuchar a ese insigne y gran luchador,patriota,de las causas justas y nobles en este mundo en que vivimos,el gran Rene Perez-Calle 13,pero mejor conocido por sus amistades en la lucha antimperialista bajo el Non de Guerre de "Renesito el Bello",llamar al Gobernador de Puerto Rico "Hijo De Puta" que valor tan grande el de este joven patriota al pronunciar estas palabras, de seguro las dijo hablandole a los obreros despedidos en la marcha del dia 15, No chico ,fue desde Los Angeles,California en los premios de MTV,con una audiencia de guerilleros wanna be.
Este Renesito el bello, proviniente de cuna de luchadores proletarios, alguien tan aguerrido tendra que ser de Nemesio,quizas Llorens? LaPerla? Comunidades Especiales?. NO chico, aun mas Hardcore de Guaynabo City,donde dia tras dia las mujeres de esas comunidades up and coming, tienen que tomar la dificil decision si se ponen un traje de Nono M o de Ruben D, y sus esposos tienen que sufrir la humillacion de ver que el vecino tiene un nuevo S.U.B mas grande que el de ellos.

Cuando vi a Renesito cambiarse su camiseta de diseñador en mas de 6 ocasiones para enseñarnos sus Slogans Antimperialistas ,me dieron deseos de yo salir a la calle a tirarle piedras al primer policia que me encontrara,gritando ,"Revolucion".
Pero como siempre hay algun mal pensado, como mi vecino Raymundo que me dijo,ven aca chico,pero este no es el mismo tipo que cuando Anibal era el Gove,se la pasaba metido en Fortaleza llevando sus ultimas canciones para el ipod del gove?. Enfadado le conteste IMPOSIBLE, Renesito el bello es un revolucionario de barricada ,el no iria a besarle el culo a un governante de la colonia, que nos subio los impuestos y puso al pais en quiebra ,Renesito es un hombre de principios grandes ,yo se lo que paso le dije,La fiscal federal Rosa Emilia,junto con el F.B.I,hicieron un clon de Renesito y lo enviaban a la fortaleza a jenguear con Anibal para confundirnos.
Es mas le dije a mi otro vecino Don Siriaco , te aseguro que ya Renesito dono el cheque que le pago mtv,al "comite de obreros despedidos por Fortuño" esa es la clase de hombre que Renesito es,el es de los que guarda el"miedo en la gaveta", es mas, despues de un merecido descanso,en Los Angeles,pues no olvidemos que los "after award parties"el Cristal y el yello,nos pueden cansar mucho.

Cuando Renesito regrese a Puerto Rico estoy seguro que como fiel admirador de Filiberto,Chavez,y Fidel ,el llamara a sus guerilleros de la Upi y se alzaran en armas en la Sierra de Guaynabo City y San Patricio, para iniciar la lucha armada que tanto todos anhelamos aqui,con Renesito el Bello como el maximo lider de la Revolucion.
Yo, mientras ese momento llega, salgo corriendo para Waltmart para comprar a $ 16.95 cada uno, todos los cds de Calle 13,y por supuesto estare en primera fila($175.00 por persona) en el Choliseo para su proximo concierto,donde de seguro que va a insultar a alguien.
"Que Viva Renesito El Bello"

Mi opinion sobre el Mal Llamado Paro Nacional en Puerto Rico..

Entiendo y respeto que muchos de mis amigos en Facebook tienen una opinion diferente a la mia sobre el mal llamado Paro Nacional.
Porque digo Mal llamado paro nacional??? por una simple razon lo que hubo aqui en Puerto Rico el 15 de octubre fue una marcha de diferentes grupos que se oponen a la manera que nuestro gobernador esta tratando de arreglar la economia de Puerto Rico,algo similar a lo que el presidente Obama esta enfrentando en los Estados Unidos con su reforma de salud.
Un gran numero de personas marcharon,gritaron,y dejaron saber su oposicion a lo que el Gov esta haciendo,la cantidad de personas en mi estimado eran aprox 50,000.00 de una poblacion de 4.2. millones de habitantes,pero los negocios no cerraron,los hoteles,el areopuerto,los casinos ,los restaurantes,etc se mantubieron abiertos,en Hato Rey los bancos cerraron,y Plaza las Americas tambien cerro,pero en el resto de Puerto Rico"Business as usual" incluso la Autoridad de Energia Electrica,Autoridad de agua ,etc siguieron dando servicios al cliente,so, la idea de que todo Puerto Rico se cerro en apoyo a esta marcha es una falacia.
Le damos credito a los organizadores de la marcha que en su gran mayoria reino la paz y el sentido comun,de que sus derechos terminan donde empiezan los de los otros ciudadanos.
Quienes eran los participantes de este evento,las uniones,los religiosos,los estudiantes de la upi,etc
Vamos a ver, las uniones estas personas en su gran mayoria solo estan protestando los recortes del gobierno porque ven en estos una reduccion significante en las cuotas que todos los meses les cobran a sus miembros,cuando la industria privada bota a sus miembros del trabajo estos descarados de las uniones no dicen ni esta boca es mia,aunque estoy seguro que algunos seran honestos, en su mayoria son tan corruptos como los politicos que ellos tanto critican,no olvidamos a presidente de la union de alcantarillados hoy cumpliendo muchos años de carcel por pillo,con varias residencias de lujo,un jaguar, y mucho mas, y si la memoria no me falla estos son los mismos que en el cuatrenio pasado marcharon para que el gobernador nos metiera el 7% del IVU.
Los" revolucionarios" de la Universidad de Puerto Rico,honestamente dan pena un grupo reducido de "Pichones de la Burguesia" o como dirian en Cuba "niños bitongos"que se ponen una camiseta con la foto del Che y se creen que estan haciendo una "Revolucion" pero son los mismos que veras este weekend en Plaza Las Americas o en San Patricio mall comprando en las tiendas americanas como el gap,y otras,con sus ipods,y bebiendo en Shannan's pub,y al fin de mes haciendo fila bien tranquilitos para recoger su chequesito de las becas pell,y las otras ayudas que les envian los "Imperialistas" .Hipocritas,si de verdad son tan bravos porque no cogen los cheques que reciben de los americanos y los queman enfrente de las oficinas de ayuda financiera de la universidad,si esto hicieran entonces se merecerian respeto,pero mientras tanto,solo estan jugando a ser revolucionarios de pacotilla,aunque difiero mucho del Che, por lo menos hay que darle credito que tubo los pantalones de dejar la buena vida que tenia en Cuba para luchar por sus ideales,en los campos de Bolivia.
Los religiosos? por favor despues de oir a estos estupidos decir que esta marcha era de dios,soy un mayor creyente en que la religion y la politica don't mix.
En fin, las personas hicieron uso de sus derechos democraticos de protestar lo que no les gusta de este gobierno,y eso es bueno,en otros paises como Cuba,Iran,y hasta en Venezuela,les hubieran entrado a palos y mas,
Gracias a Dios que vivimos bajo una democracia donde todos podemos exponer nuestras ideas sin tener miedo que la policia secreta nos venga a arrestar.
Y antes que se me olvide hablando de revolucionarios "light" no podemos pasar por alto ha ese gran "luchador" de las causas nobles,Rene Calle 13,arrebatao en mtv hablando estupideces para promocionarse ,pero ese sera otro tema para otro dia.
Good Night.

Part 2 of women and the Koran..

5. Slave-girls are sexual property for their male owners.

The Quran in Sura 4:24 says:

And forbidden to you are wedded wives of other people except those who have fallen in your hands (as prisoners of war) . . . (Maududi, vol. 1, p. 319).

Sayyid Maududi (d. 1979), a highly respected traditional commentator and scholar, says in his comment on the verse that is it lawful for Muslim holy warriors to marry women prisoners of war even when their husbands are still alive. But what happens if the husbands are captured with their wives? Maududi cites a school of law that says Muslims may not marry them, but two other schools say that the marriage between the captive husbands and wives is broken (note 44). But why would a debate over this cruelty emerge in the first place? No sex or marriage should take place between married female prisoners of war and their captors. In fact, no sex should take place between women captives and their Muslim overlords. But Islam traffics in injustice too often.

Islam allows deep immorality with women who are in their most helpless condition. This crime is reprehensible, but Allah wills it nonetheless—the Quran says so.

For more information on this Quran-inspired immorality, see this short article.

See also Suras 4:3; 23:5-6; 33:50; 70:22-30, all of which permit male slave-owners to have sex with their slave-girls. Suras 23:5-6 and 70:22-230 allow men to have sex with them in the Meccan period, during times of peace before Muhammad initiated his skirmishes and wars while being based in Medina.

The hadith demonstrate that Muslim jihadists actually have sex with the captured women, whether or not they are married. In the following hadith passage, Khumus is one-fifth of the spoils of war.

Ali, Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law, just finished a relaxing bath. Why?

The Prophet sent Ali to Khalid to bring the Khumus (of the booty) and . . . Ali had taken a bath (after a sexual act with a slave-girl from the Khumus).

What was Muhammad’s response to the person who hated Ali for this sexual act?

Do you hate Ali for this? . . . Don’t hate him, for he deserves more than that from [the] Khumus. (Bukhari)

This hadith shows that Muhammad was intimate with his slave-girls.

Moreover, jihadists may not practice coitus interruptus with the women they capture, but not for the reason that the reader may expect. While on a military campaign and away from their wives, Muslim jihadists "received captives from among the Arab captives and we desired women and celibacy became hard on us and we loved to do coitus interruptus." They asked the prophet about this, and it is important to note what he did not say. He did not scold them or prohibit any kind of sex whatsoever. Rather, he invokes the murky, quirky doctrine of fate:

It is better for you not to do so [practice coitus interruptus]. There is no person that is destined to exist, but will come to existence, till the Day of Resurrection. (Bukhari; also go here and here)

That is, these enquiring Muslims should stop doing coitus interruptus, but instead go all the way with the enslaved sex objects. Fate controls who should be born.

It is one thing for some soldiers in any army to strike out on their own and rape women. All armies have criminal soldiers who commit this wrong act. But it is quite another to codify rape in a sacred text.

This article quotes the Quran and many hadith passages on sex with prisoners of war. It also analyzes modern Islamic scholars on the topic. They support this practice. In Appendix One, the author answers a Muslim charge that the Old Testament allows this practice. Besides, Jesus fulfills the Old Testament in the areas of human, economic relations (and more areas; see the link).

This article provides further details on Muhammad’s encouragement to his soldiers to "do it."

Besides the two previous links, here is the back-up article.

4. A man may be polygamous with up to four wives.

The Quran in Sura 4:3 says:

And if you be apprehensive that you will not be able to do justice to the orphans, you may marry two or three or four women whom you choose. But if you apprehend that you might not be able to do justice to them, then marry only one wife, or marry those who have fallen in your possession. (Maududi, vol. 1, p. 305)

The clause "marry those who have fallen in your possession" means slave-girls who were captured after a war. Men may "marry" them because slaves do not incur very much expense, not as much as free women do. This means that the limit on four wives is artificial. Men could have sex with as many slave-girls as they wanted.

Maududi paraphrases the verse: "If you need more than one [wife] but are afraid that you might not be able to do justice to your wives from among the free people, you may turn to slave girls because in that case you will be burdened with less responsibilities" (note 6) (See Sura 4:24).

However, Muhammad would not allow polygamy for his son-in-law Ali, because an extra wife would hurt Muhammad’s first daughter Fatima, by his first wife Khadija. Fatima was married to Ali.

I heard Allah’s Apostle who was on the pulpit, saying, "Banu Hisham bin Al-Mughira have requested me to allow them to marry their daughter to Ali bin Abu Talib, but I don’t give permission, and will not give permission unless ‘Ali bin Abi Talib divorces my daughter in order to marry their daughter, because Fatima is a part of my body, and I hate what she hates to see, and what hurts her, hurts me." (Bukhari)

Despite the fact that Muhammad is very much aware that polygamy is hurtful and insulting to women, he still practices it himself and allows it for his followers in general.

Muhammad’s "special" marriage privileges

Moreover, it seems that Allah gave Muhammad special permission to marry as many women as he desired or take them as slaves or concubines, just as in the pre-Islamic days of "ignorance."

The Quran in Sura 33:50, a lengthy verse, grants Muhammad wide latitude in his marriages:

O Prophet, We have made lawful to you those of your wives, whose dowers you have paid, and those women who come into your possession out of the slave-girls granted by Allah, and the daughters of your paternal uncles and aunts, and of your maternal uncles and aunts, who have migrated with you, and the believing woman who gives herself to the Prophet, if the Prophet may desire her. This privilege is for you only, not for the other believers . . . . (Maududi vol. 4, p. 111, emphasis added).

This verse says that besides those women whose dower Muhammad paid, he may marry slave-girls—that is, he may have sex with them (see this article for this Quran-inspired immorality). Maududi references three slave-girls taken during raids, and Mary the Copt, a gift from an Egyptian ruler. Muhammad had sex with her, and there does not seem to be a political need for this. Second, Muhammad may marry his first cousins, and Maududi cites a case in which this happened. Third, if a believing woman offers herself to Muhammad, and he desires her, then he may marry her (Maududi vol. 4, note 88).

This hadith shows that Muhammad was intimate with his slave-girls.

But the capstone of these "special" marriages occurs when Muhammad also marries the ex-wife (Zainab) of his adopted son (Zaid). His son-in-law divorced her with the prophet standing in the background. In fact, early Islamic sources say that Muhammad catches a glimpse of his daughter-in-law in a state of undress, so he desired her. Once the divorce is final, Allah reveals to him that this marriage between father-in-law and daughter-in-law is legal and moral in Sura 33:36-44.

This hadith says that Muhammad used to visit nine (or eleven) wives in one night. See the parallel hadith here, here, and here.

This article explains why Christians do not accept polygamy.

This page in an online index explains polygamy.

For a more thorough analysis of polygamy in the Quran, go to this online booklet and click on Chapter 12.

See this article on the number of wives and human sexual property Muhammad allowed himself.

Besides the previous four links, here is the back-up article. At the end, it links to more articles on the dubious marriage and divorce of Zaid, Zainab, and Muhammad.

3. A Muslim polygamist may simply get rid of one of his undesirable wives.

The Quran in Sura 4:129 says:

It is not within your power to be perfectly equitable in your treatment with all your wives, even if you wish to be so; therefore, (in order to satisfy the dictates of Divine Law) do not lean towards one wife so as to leave the other in a state of suspense. (Maududi, vol. 1, p. 381)

Maududi provides an interpretation of the verse (vol. 1, pp. 383-84, note 161). He writes:

Allah made it clear that the husband cannot literally keep equality between two or more wives because they themselves cannot be equal in all respects. It is too much to demand from a husband that he should mete out equal treatment to a beautiful wife and to an ugly wife, to a young wife and to an old wife, to a healthy wife and to an invalid wife, and to a good natured wife and to an ill-natured wife. These and like things naturally make a husband more inclined towards one wife than towards the other.

This means that wives are the source of a man’s inability to treat all of them equally. One is beautiful, while another is ugly. How can Allah demand from a husband super-human strength under changing circumstances in his wives?

Maududi continues:

In such cases, the Islamic law does not demand equal treatment between them in affection and love. What it does demand is that a wife should not be neglected as to be practically reduced to the position of the woman who has no husband at all. If the husband does not divorce her for any reason or at her own request, she should at least be treated as a wife. It is true that under such circumstances the husband is naturally inclined towards a favorite wife, but he should not, so to say, keep the other in such a state of suspense as if she were not his wife.

Maududi says here that the wife should not be suspended between marriage and divorce. If the husband stays with the no-longer desirable wife, then he should treat her fairly and provide for her.

Where may Maududi get his idea about keeping or divorcing an unattractive wife?

This article (see "the unpleasant truth behind divorce in Sura 4:130") demonstrates that Muhammad wanted to divorce one of his wives because she was overweight and old. Instead of a divorce, she gave up her "turn" in the "rotation" with the prophet, who gladly agreed with her proposal. See these three hadith here, here and here.

In addition to the link to the previous article, here is the back-up article.

2. Husbands may hit their wives even if the husbands merely fear highhandedness in their wives (quite apart from whether they actually are highhanded—as if domestic violence in any form is acceptable).

The Quran in Sura 4:34 says:

4:34 . . . If you fear highhandedness from your wives, remind them [of the teaching of God], then ignore them when you go to bed, then hit them. If they obey you, you have no right to act against them. God is most high and great. (Haleem, emphasis added)

The hadith says that Muslim women in the time of Muhammad were suffering from domestic violence in the context of confusing marriage laws:

Rifa’a divorced his wife whereupon ‘AbdurRahman bin Az-Zubair Al-Qurazi married her. ‘Aisha said that the lady (came), wearing a green veil (and complained to her (Aisha) of her husband and showed her a green spot on her skin caused by beating). It was the habit of ladies to support each other, so when Allah's Apostle came, ‘Aisha said, "I have not seen any woman suffering as much as the believing women. Look! Her skin is greener than her clothes!" (Bukhari, emphasis added)

This hadith shows Muhammad hitting his girl-bride, Aisha, daughter of Abu Bakr, his right-hand Companion:

"He [Muhammad] struck me [Aisha] on the chest which caused me pain." (Muslim no. 2127)

See this article for fuller details on wife-beating. It clarifies many translations of the verse. At the end, it has many links to modern interpretations of Sura 4:34 and to arguments for wife-beating today.

This article, though long, offers a clear analysis of wife-beating, examining the hadith and other early source documents, as well as refuting modern Muslim polemics.

This mid-length article answers a Muslim defense.

This article is a superb analysis of the subject, giving various translations of Sura 4:34. It cites the hadith and classical commentaries and refutes modern defenses.

Finally, this article is thorough in examining the Quran and hadith and Muslim polemics.

1. Mature men are allowed to marry prepubescent girls.

The Quran in Sura 65:1, 4 says:

65:1 O Prophet, when you (and the believers) divorce women, divorce them for their prescribed waiting-period and count the waiting-period accurately . . . 4 And if you are in doubt about those of your women who have despaired of menstruation, (you should know that) their waiting period is three months, and the same applies to those who have not menstruated as yet. As for pregnant women, their period ends when they have delivered their burden. (Maududi, vol. 5, pp. 599 and 617, emphasis added)

Maududi correctly interprets the plain meaning of verse 4, which appears in the context of divorce:

Therefore, making mention of the waiting-period for girls who have not yet menstruated, clearly proves that it is not only permissible to give away the girl at this age but it is permissible for the husband to consummate marriage with her. Now, obviously no Muslim has the right to forbid a thing which the Qur’an has held as permissible. (Maududi, vol. 5, p. 620, note 13, emphasis added)

Divorcing prepubescent girls implies marriage to them. So the fathers of prepubescent girls may give them away, and their new husbands may consummate their marriage with them. If Islam ever spread around the world, no one should be surprised if Quran-believing Muslims lowered the marriage age of girls to nine years old.

This is precisely what happened in Iran after the religious revolution of Ayatollah Khomeini. A girl’s marriage age was lowered to nine years.

Why should this surprise us? After all, Muhammad was betrothed to Aisha when she was six, and he consummated their union when she was only nine.

The hadith says:

. . . [T]hen he [Muhammad] wrote the marriage (wedding) contract with Aishah when she was a girl of six years of age, and he consumed [sic, consummated] that marriage when she was nine years old. (Bukhari; since this is a serious issue, see the parallel hadith here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here)

This hadith demonstrates that Muhammad pursued Aisha when she was a little girl.

The Prophet asked Abu Bakr for ‘Aisha’s hand in marriage. Abu Bakr said "But I am your brother." The Prophet said, "You are my brother in Allah's religion and His Book, but she (Aisha) is lawful for me to marry." (Bukhari; see this hadith that shows Muhammad’s dream life in regards to his pursuit of little Aisha, and this one and this one. These last three links contrast with Muhammad’s pursuit of Aisha through her father Abu Bakr. Apparently Muhammad did not wait for Allah to fulfill his desire for a six year old, but took matters in his own hands.

This hadith recounts the fifty-plus-year-old Muhammad’s and the nine-year-old Aisha’s first sexual encounter. She was playing on her swing set with her girlfriends when she got the call.

. . . [M]y mother, Um Ruman, came to me while I was playing in a swing with some of my girl friends. She called me, and I went to her, not knowing what she wanted to do to me. She caught me by the hand and made me stand at the door of the house. I was breathless then, and when my breathing became all right, she took some water and rubbed my face and head with it. Then she took me into the house. There in the house I saw some Ansari women who said, "Best wishes and Allah's Blessing and a good luck." Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me (for the marriage). Unexpectedly Allah's Apostle came to me in the forenoon and my mother handed me over to him, and at that time I was a girl of nine years of age. (Bukhari; see a parallel hadith here)

This hadith describes Muhammad counseling a Muslim man to marry a young virgin for the extra thrill it gives him to fondle her, and she him.

When I got married, Allah’s Apostle said to me, "What type of lady have you married?" I replied, "I have married a matron." He said, "Why, don’t you have a liking for the virgins and for fondling them?" Jabir also said: Allah’s Apostle said, "Why didn’t you marry a young girl so that you might play with her and she with you?" (Bukhari) See parallel hadith here and here.

This hadith describes Muhammad’s and Aisha’s ill-timed sexual encounters:

Narrated ‘Aisha:

The Prophet and I used to take a bath from a single pot while we were Junub. During the menses, he used to order me to put on an Izar (dress worn below the waist) and used to fondle me. While in Itikaf, he used to bring his head near me and I would wash it while I used to be in my periods (menses). (Bukhari)

For more evidence on this most outlandish of Muhammad’s domestic acts even for seventh-century Arabia, readers should refer to this article.

This article responds to Muslim defenses of this indefensible Quranic permission.

This summary of a news reports reveals Pakistan lowering the marriage age to twelve for a girl.

According to this report an ethnic minority in China allows marriages for girls at nine years old. The report says that Islam has influenced this minority and practice.

This is a great article analyzing the marriage age of women in the Bible.

Conclusion

The nightmare must end for women in Islamic countries.

But the political and legal hierarchies in the Islamic world do not seem ready to reform on women’s rights. Here is a 1998 interview with Shirin Ebadi, one of the first female judges in Iran. She correctly sees abuses in Iranian law, which favors men. However, what has been done about these abuses?

Zohreh Arshadi "was a practising lawyer in Iran prior to her forced exile to Europe. She is currently an advocate in France and is active in human rights and especially of the rights of women. She has been especially active in defence of the rights of women in Iran." She reports on the inequities in Iranian law as it pertains to women:

The Islamic punishments have encouraged a culture of violence against women, especially within the family and has spilled into violence against children. This has been commented upon by many within the country . . . The fact that men receive a lighter punishment if they commit a violence against women undoubtedly encourages such violence. We saw how women could be killed with impunity during alleged adultery. Stoning to death for adultery, although technically admissible for both sexes, has also been carried out mainly against women.

Top ten rules in the Quran that oppress and insult women

For those that continually find excuses for the extremism of of Islam

l am sure you would want your sister,mother or any female, to live under this wonderfull religion...
Part 1-

Top ten rules in the Quran that oppress and insult women

James M. Arlandson

Islam in its purest form honors and elevates women, so we are told. But does it?

Truthfully, too often textual reality (the Quran) matches up with seventh-century Arabia. Gender inequality and oppression in the Quran reflect this excessively patriarchal culture. If Allah and Muhammad improved on this patriarchy, then they did not go far enough for a worldwide religion that claims universality.

Therefore, the following rules and attitudes should in no way be transferred to today’s world.

But before reading the list, we should prevent a strategy of Muslim polemicists and missionaries who believe that Islam is the best religion in the world and who want it to spread around the globe. Sometimes they attempt to refute my top ten lists. But attempting to refute such a list is like reviewing a long book only from the last chapter. The reviewer has skipped over the hard work of reading all the preceding chapters. Likewise, Muslim polemicists must not skip over all of the links under each point or all of the commentary from a respected and traditional Muslim scholar, Sayyid Abul A’la Maududi (d. 1979) (The Meaning of the Qur’an). They must not take a shortcut, but must instead do the hard work of refuting all of the supporting articles and Maududi himself. This present "top ten" article is merely a summary of all of the data found in these back-up articles and Maududi’s ideas, all of which are quickly referenced under each point.

Here are the top ten rules in the Quran that oppress and insult women.

10. A husband has sex with his wife, as a plow goes into a dirt field.

The Quran in Sura (Chapter) 2:223 says:

Your women are your fields, so go into your fields whichever way you like . . . . (MAS Abdel Haleem, The Qur’an, Oxford UP, 2004)

We should make no mistake about this verse. It includes sexual positions. In a footnote to this verse, Haleem says that Muslims in Medina heard from the Jews that "a child born from a woman approached from behind would have a squint."

The hadith are the reports of Muhammad’s words and actions outside of the Quran. Two reliable hadith collectors and editors are Bukhari (d. 870), Muslim (d. 875). After the Quran, the hadith come second in importance and sacredness among the vast majority of Muslims around the world.

Since the hadith is explicit, the readers are invited to click here and read for themselves, at their own discretion: Muslim nos. 3363-3365.

See these parallel hadith here and here.

We should have no doubt that the husband controlled their sex life. If a woman does not want to have sex, then angels curse her.

. . . "If a man invites his wife to sleep with him and she refuses to come to him, then the angels send their curses on her till morning." (Bukhari)

Here is the back-up article. This one also provides back up material. See the section at the beginning "Women Are Men’s Property."

9. Husbands are a degree above their wives.

The Quran in Sura 2:228 says:

. . . Wives have the same rights as the husbands have on them in accordance with the generally known principles. Of course, men are a degree above them in status . . . (Sayyid Abul A’La Maududi, The Meaning of the Qur’an, vol. 1, p. 165)

Gender inequality shows up in a theological context. This hadith shows that the majority of the inhabitants of hell are women.

The Prophet said, "I looked at Paradise and found poor people forming the majority of its inhabitants; and I looked at Hell and saw that the majority of its inhabitants were women." (Bukhari, emphasis added; see also these parallel traditions here and here.)

This parallel hadith explains that the majority of the inhabitants of hell are women because they are ungrateful and harsh towards their husbands. There is no word about the husbands’ ingratitude and harshness. It should be noted that some Muslim missionaries and polemicists assert that since women make up the majority of the world, it only stands to reason that they would be the majority in hell. In reply, however, this misses the point—and may miss the possibility that women may be more spiritual than men. Regardless, the reason that women make up the majority in hell is their harshness and ingratitude. So it has nothing to do with a mathematical majority. Islam clearly does not honor women.

See this article for details on women in Islamic hell.

Muhammad was also superstitious (see here for the evidence). This next hadith says that women are part of an evil omen.

I heard the Prophet saying. "Evil omen is in three things: The horse, the woman and the house." (Bukhari)

Here is the back-up article. This one is too (scroll down to the Endnotes and see the brief discussion about Muslim women in hell).

8. A male gets a double share of the inheritance over that of a female.

The Quran in Sura 4:11 says:

The share of the male shall be twice that of a female . . . . (Maududi, vol. 1, p. 311)

For how this religious law works out in early Islam, see these hadith here and here and here.

Malik (d. 795) is a founder of a major school of law. He composed a law book that is also considered a collection of reliable hadith: Al-Muwatta of Imam Malik ibn Anas: The First Formation of Islamic Law (rev. trans. Aisha Bewley, Inverness, Scotland: Madina Press, 1989, 2001). Malik writes:

The generally agreed upon way of doing things among us . . . about fixed shares of inheritance (fara’id) of children from the mother or father when one or the other dies is that if they leave male and female children, the male takes the portion of two females.

This Islamic law is regressive. But in the US, for example, the inheritance is divided equally among all siblings, regardless of the gender. No religious law prohibits this from happening in advance. So American secular law fits into a modern context better, where women have more economic opportunities and freedom.

This online booklet has a short explanation on women’s inheritance "rights." Click on Chapter 15.

Along with the previous link, here is the back-up article.

7. A woman’s testimony counts half of a man’s testimony.

The Quran in Sura 2:282 says:

And let two men from among you bear witness to all such documents [contracts of loans without interest]. But if two men be not available, there should be one man and two women to bear witness so that if one of the women forgets (anything), the other may remind her. (Maududi, vol. 1, p. 205).

It seems that the foundational reason for having two women witnesses is that one of the women may "forget" something. This goes to the nature of womankind. Philosophers teach us that one of the main differences between animals and humans lies in humankind’s rationality. But this verse implies that a woman’s mind is weak.

This hadith removes any ambiguity about women’s abilities in Sura 2:282:

The Prophet said, "Isn’t the witness of a woman equal to half of that of a man?" The women said, "Yes." He said, "This is because of the deficiency of a woman’s mind." (Bukhari, emphasis added)

Here is the back-up article, and so is this one. This article too explains Islam’s view on women’s mental inabilities (scroll down to "Women Are Inferior to Men"), citing many hadith and Muslim commentators.

6. A wife may remarry her ex-husband if and only if she marries another man, they have sex, and then this second man divorces her.

The Quran in Sura 2:230 says:

And if the husband divorces his wife (for the third time), she shall not remain his lawful wife after this (absolute) divorce, unless she marries another husband and the second husband divorces her. (In that case) there is no harm if they [the first couple] remarry . . . . (Maududi, vol. 1, p. 165)

The finally and absolutely divorced couple is not permitted to remarry each other unless she marries another man, they have sex, and he divorces her. Sura 2:230 engenders a divorce on the road to a possible reconciliation. Why should it be necessary to have the intervening steps of a second marriage and divorce before the first couple can work out their differences and get back together?

To see this tragedy in real life, go to this question and answer at a traditional Muslim fatwa website. Apparently, a Muslim husband pronounced divorce three times, the divorce is final, and now he regrets his decision made in haste and anger. The cleric or scholar says that they are allowed to reconcile only if she follows the Quranic steps of her marrying someone else, consummating that marriage, and then his divorcing her. However, Islam should allow this original divorced couple to reunite without the intervening steps or without an analysis of different levels of anger (click on the link). Let them reconcile—period.

Don't say anything negative about Islam or you will be killed...

I am sick and tired of the double standard that prevails when discussing Islam and their religion.
People can disrespect the bible
Call those of us that believe in God a bunch of "Morons,babbling idiots with no intelligence".
State as a fact the "Theory" of evolution over Creationism.
Call Jesus all kinds of names.
Discriminate against you if you wear a cross.
Make you a laughing stock if you pray
But don't you dare try to rationally point out the faults of Islam,such as being a very violent and intolerant religion with no sense of understanding of other peoples views or beliefs.
A religion that has the most fanatics followers(in this century),whom will burn alive a family including children in a village in Pakistan cause someone started a rumor that this family who were Christian had somehow defiled their bible(The Koran).
A religion that would try to kill a person that made a film about them.
A religion that would try to kill an author Salman Rushdie,cause he mentioned their prophet on it.
A religion in which women are less than second class citizens.
A religion were "Honor Killings" are accepted and encourage by family members.
A religion that would sentence a young man to 5 years in jail plus 1000.00(one thousand lashes)just because he discussed his sex life on tv,plus the station was shut down.
and so much more .
But somehow we most give these Zealots and their religion a free pass, and don't you dare write,film,or say anything about them cause you will be label as not being Politically Correct", Well to me that's bullshit ,l don't go into a killing spree cause people,don't believe in the bible,that's their right and if anyone wants to have a reasonable discussion where all can talk and "listen" then l am all for it,but don't tell me l am some kind of aberration cause l point out the faults and craziness that Islam imho is.
Anyone that that disagrees with this, is welcome to say so, and if you want we can have a discussion about it.

Health Care - Part 2

A few of my friends,people whose opinions l respect a great deal, and others keep insisting that in order for them to support President's Obama's Health Care Reform, first, all members of congress as well as the President and his staff must give up their private Health insurance, and only then they would look at the President's proposals on a more favorable light.

IMO this health care reform should be gear only to the middle and lower class, those earnings less than lets say $120,000 a year,those are the people that need the help and whom at this time are being raped and abused by the insurance companies and their cohorts in the pharmaceutical industry.

Frankly, l couldn't care less and l don't want my taxes to pay for insurance for Nancy Pelosi, Hillary, and the rest of rich congressmen and women. They can pay and keep their own private insurance, also if we limit who will get the government insurance based on yearly earnings then the burden to the taxpayers would be much less.

Sadly, l have to admit that the president's reform probably will not pass,the opposition to it even from the democrats is not based on what is better for the American people but rather in the fact that the insurance and pharmaceutical industries are among the biggest donors and contributors to those senators campaigns and of course they can't go against those that give them the money to get elected.

I hope that common sense will prevail and some kind of middle ground solution to this dilemma can be found ,if not ,l am afraid that the banking debacle of the last year will be kid's play to what we will be facing when we can't afford to go to a hospital,see a doctor ,or purchase medicine.

Health Care--My take Part 1

Let me begin by categorically stating that l am a Capitalist and that l believe in the system, simple put IMHO is the only system that truly allows regular folks that work hard to succeed .


Communism and Socialism have been proven to be obsolete and plainly not good for the people that they claim to help, case in point Cuba and Venezuela,both of whose economies are in the worst shape ever and the people are suffering, hell, even that paradise of communism and socialism China has decided that it doesn't work and are working under something l would call Capitalism "Light",and they have one of the strongest economies around,same thing can be said about India,etc.


Having said that l also believe that the problems that our country is facing at this time are a direct result of Capitalism running wild and unchecked by anyone.


The banking industry had a free ride during the Bush administration,with no checks and balance, so what did we get?


The value of all our assets going down to a level never seen before,since the great depression,hard working people losing their homes,and jobs,while the Bank's CEO's were getting huge bonuses and Golden Parachutes as rewards for their incompetence,and for screwing over the country, now we are facing the same problems with the health care industry.


Insurance companies are the new banks of this year,they charge outrageous premiums while reducing coverage,now days the average working person in our country can't afford Health Insurance,and the same politicians that turned a blind eye while the banks and Maddof were raping the country, now are trying to tell us that any regulation of the Health Care industry is bad and that it smacks of Socialism.


l am a business owner ,my wife and me are in our 50's,excellent health,no preconditions,etc,yet our monthly insurance premium is approx $600.00,who the hell can afford that?,l believe we have had enough, someone needs to step up and put a stop to these abuses,l believe president Obama's plan for health care reform,is the right way to go,yes, is not perfect but even the president has said that he is willing to listen and adapt new suggestions that will improve his plan,what we cannot do is sit on our collective rears and do nothing or keep arguing about the small stuff for the next four years.


President Obama is a great communicator on the par of Ronald Reagan, he needs to explain his plan in plain language directly to the American people,the insurance industry are spending millions every day and are succeeding in confusing the people with their adds.


So in this, Mr Obama has my full support, "and that's all l am gonna say about that"..

Facebook | Rolando Feria: A Visit to a Hospital

Facebook Rolando Feria: A Visit to a Hospital In Puerto Rico. (Posted in Facebook a While back)
Last night l had what can only be described as a surreal evening,had to go to the emergency room of a local hospital,(kidney Stones) arrived at about 8 in the evening to the emergency room, now, here in Puerto Rico "emergencies" are anything from a cough to someone having being shot, anyway had to wait about one hour to have someone take my blood pressure and ask me if l was in pain (no dear, l just love hanging out at emergency rooms), l got sent back out to sit and wait for another hour, finally my name is called out "the doctor will see you now".
Go to this dingy office and the doctor barely raises her head and ask "Que le pasa Don?' Doctor, my guts are being tore out by this litle rock inside my kidneys l explain to her,"relax give me all your imformation" this goes on for about 30 minutes, finally she says we gonna run some tests and l will give you demerol for your pain "Thank You Lord". I get send back out once again to wait for the nurse to take my blood and give me the Demerol. Now comes more weirdness the nurse this 300lbs Samoan wrestler look alike says to me "Come esta Don Rolando" l look up and totally freaked out ,here she is ready to take my blood and shoot me full of pain killers,when l relized that she had being a former employee of mine and whom l had fired a while back, also her husband used to work for me and had also being fired, oh oh, now l am in trouble l think,she is ready to pay me back, l try to smile and ask her about her family,but realizing that my life is now in her hands, by now my pain is so bad that l think what the hell just give me those pain killers. Well she takes my blood and tells me "pull down your pants" and gives me a shot to kill my pain, in about ten minutes no more pain and l am flying.
l get sent to this litle room where there are about 15 other patients just standing around waiting for who knows what, but l am feeling great the Demerol has by now really kicked in,the room is packed ,on the tv they are playing in spanish the movie "Meet the Spartans" now, this is straight out of Hunter Thompson,all l can l hear are a bunch of gay Spartans going to war singing "l will Survive" and then Paris Hilton,and so on on so forth,after a couple of hours the Doctor calls me back.'Don ya se puede ir".Its 3:30 am.
Finally l get to go home.