Lascivious Vulgarians,

Among the pack of wheedling, braying jack-asses that are this sites regular contributors, there have always been those who seek to tell me how to run my business. Indeed, hardly a day goes by in which this strident horde of mewling, puking harpies offers their unwelcome opinions here on how to ‘right the ship’. Like many successful and wealthy plutocrats, I am sometimes asked by one or another of you god-damned sheep exactly what it is to which I credit my good fortune.

There is one quality I possess in spades which separates me from the misled cattle that is man-kind. But it is neither my low animal cunning, nor my ruth-less attitude. It is not even the fact that I was born into incredible wealth and privilege and raised in a stress-infused and Byzantine family before most of you were but a series of brutish animal impulses in your drunken grandfather’s pants-creases. What makes me a force to be reckoned with is my capacity to feel ever-present, mind-wracking, pants-shitting fear.

In the realm of business, it has been an unparalleled boon. Fear, after all, is at the root of hatred and anger, the two empire-building tools which have spurred me to fill my coffers to a state of absolute, unfettered corpulence. Like all good capitalists, I fear and despise competition and have therefore crushed whatever rivals poke their heads up.

I make a point of motivating every last one of my employees, from the scullery-maid to the previous President, with fear, as well as its constant companion, derision and threats. In fact, I believe that if you begin living your life in fear, you will be a better and more successful citizen. Is that enough of a cogent articulation so that the gaggle of you dullards are able to at least vaguely comprehend the primary point?

Uncle Sam esq. (Republican)

Re: Council of American- Islamic Relations
Why are strip clubs inherently immoral?
And, why does religion promote morality, ethics and righteous behaviour?
Didn't realise what an judgmental authoritarian you were Mehdi.

Ah that classic tactic of debate, ignore the points made to you and issue an insult. It is no wonder the debate is being won in this country by the right side.

I see what Cameron is saying about Christianity: e.g. The EDL burned a Quran last week, but when a crazy pastor speaking in the name of Christianity threatens to do it, suddenly the world pays attention. It seems to me that the main problem f the media and Islam is that they take the extremists and say 'this is Islam'. Same happened in this case with Christianity.

Anyway, the whole point of the Tabloid newspaers is to create fear as it sells.

I dunno. Even vulgar expression and pleasure is better than sanctimonous repression and fear. Surely?

But then I'm a humanist. Someone just above a crab, but lower than two donkeys.

Personally, if I had to choose between a mosque and a strip club, I'd be much embarassed ! Obviously, I'll none of those !
Mehdi Hasan should realize that not being a virgin doesn't make you a whore.
Indeed, he proves of religious radicalism, he even contends that the French ban of the face veil isn't in keeping with individual freedom. Has he ever heard of something called secularity ?

The brilliant move made by the backers of the mosque deserves serious discussion. The decision to build a mosque on a deeply sensitive location is only part of the game. It is part of a bigger plan to fracture the American society and to paraphrase a great leader of similar times create "a house divided against itself".

I don't think building the mosque is the purpose here, the end game is precisely the kind of reaction which we are seeing on both sides liberal and conservative i.e extreme polarization of views.

American society has generally found a balance between competing interests precisely because every side to every issue has found terms of compromise which do not threaten its own existence. Second Amendment, Pro-Choice/Life debates all are currently being argued in terms that do not present the possibility of total obliteration of the other side. This is the unique feature of American democracy which is incompatible with radical Islam's rigid philosophy.

How to ensure a situation which polarizes opinion to such an extent that rational discussion is no longer possible in the public arena? Announce the intention of building a mosque on a land tarnished by radical Islam's greatest horror in the country and watch the show.

I think the plan has been made with careful considerations of the the reactions it will produce.
1. Socially Liberal and Secular section will support it.
2. Socially Conservative and Nationalist element will oppose it.
3. But since some socially conservatives also happen to Constitutionalists there will be division on the property rights issue.
4. And since some Socially Liberal are also advocates of government intervention in social matters they may oppose it for broader public interest.
5. Christian religious Right will oppose it and in turn it will be ridiculed as is happening which will further marginalize it and further instigate it.

The list may go on for various interests in the society.

The genius lies in the fact that unless government actively intervenes, the building of the Mosque if commenced will be a protracted affair inviting much scrutiny and heated arguments by all sides for a long time to come and thus has the potential to be blown to a major issue by differing groups as and when it serves their purpose.

Such a strategy will also expose in the international arena the apparent, though not actual, fragility of American unity in matters of religious tolerance for lack of which radical Islam is much criticized.

On one hand if Government intervenes and stops the drama which will surely unfold it gives fodder to those who argue that American Government acts on behalf of special interests and is not neutral.

One the other hand if it does not and the drama goes on it will fracture American society on its core principles: religious freedom and to an extent property rights.

as the T-shirt says
"Science can fly men to the Moon
Religion flies men into buildings"
The last thing anyone needs is more religion, we need more secularism.

Secularism isn't the answer Peter DC, it's part of the problem.You need an hour and a half to view the video I referred to above. Don't give up if you value freedom of expression. More here:
http://www.ancientbritonpetros.blogspot.com/

nothing wrong with strip clubs, ask Frank Skinner, maybe...

Strippers didn't kill 3,000 Americans on 9/11.

Strip joints don't have lectures to conquer or kill non-strippers.

I just watched you in a program on bbc. The simple answer to the France and veil problem is if the Muslims are having so much problems then why the fuck they leave France and live in any Islamic country happily ever after. That is pretty simple. I am from Pakistan and i am brought up in a strict Islamic environment. every female in my family hates the veil and they dont want to wear it. Yes, we muslims hate the veil. You dont have any manners nor you and that woman sitting with you made any sense, all you both did is to irritate the viewers and display the wrong image of muslims. you my dear friend is one of the few who moved to these countries for a better future and now instead of being helpful to that system and country you are damaging it. shame on you. The thing that i am telling you is pretty logical, move to saudi arabia or some other islamic country there you all can live very happily with the shaikhs,lets see how much security and benefits muslims get there. You are all pretentious and hypocrites.

The Mosque (or Cultural Center or Diversity Mall)will pay much less in taxes than a strip joint, besides being much less popular and much more controversial.
"Bigotry, prejudice and fear-mongering"? No, I just don't like being influenced or colonised by poor, inefficient and corrupt cultures. It's bad enough we had millions of guineas, wops, greasers and pollacks, but at least they were non-ideological criminals and cretins.

Cameron - to bring the debate to paeples faces more? rather than stuff their heads in the sand as some do, maily litlle england south eastern oathetic torries. The rest rest of the country embrarassess them in tgheir world broadmindedness.

I am watching european rugby at the moment involving brit teams - have you ever thought in your imagination to do the sam thing?

Shane Williams has just scored a try, but I suspect it is lost on you, Cameron. Jeez!

@Cameron

What makes you think that Mehdi only writes about Islam? Take a look at his blog page here and you will find that he actually writes about a lot of other things as well: http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/mehdi-hasan/

C’mon Sam, lets be fair. Can’t we all get along please?!! How about a strip club that features Muslim chicks bare ass naked wearing veils.

That depends on your outlook Mam Tor. The point is that one should be free to choose. Compare the persecution of non-Muslims in Islamic countries with complaints of Islamophobia in other countries for just raising complaints about it. If you wish, take out religion and consider the issue on human rights.

Do you know how pathetic you all sound!
It is a place of worship!
Y are muslims around the world being blamed for the crimes of some Fanatics!!!
Do WE blame christians for the genesis caused in the name of there faith around the rest of the world!!
GROW UP we live in a "democratic" society!!, So the mosque will be built

It's remarkable how simple-minded all the islamophobes here are. You would think that in a day and age where information and knowledge is so readily available that people would be more informed. However, it seems the more technologically advanced we become the more ignorance is spread and, what's worse, is more readily accepted.

Do you all really think Islam is all about holy war and aggression?? You are all prepared to reduce a whole civilisation and intellectual as well as spiritual universe (which is still very much alive today but not under the watchful eyes of the media because such perspectives doesn't sell well enough) to such a level? I don't know how you can consider yourselves educated or even civilised if you're prepared to make such bigoted, ignorant and unfair statements.

If we value and respect ourselves, we would be careful not to be unjust to others, otherwise how can we call ourselves civilised if we don't care about justice, one of the major pillars in any civilised society?

Prince Alwaleed 'against' Ground Zero mosque
Saudi Arabia’s Prince Alwaleed has said he is against the construction of a mosque close to the site of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York. In an exclusive interview with Arabian Business to be published on Sunday, His Royal Highness also said he had no part in financing the controversial project.

In his first public comments on the issue, he said: “I heard and saw a lot of news about me being associated with it and this is all wrong. We did not finance this thing.

“I say that I am against putting the mosque in that particular place. And I’ll tell you why. For two reasons: first of all, those people behind the mosque have to respect, have to appreciate and have to defer to the people of New York, and not try to agitate the wound by saying 'we need to put the mosque next to the 9/11 site'.

"The wound is still there. Just because the wound is healing you can’t say 'let’s just go back to where we were pre-9/11'," he said. “I am against putting the mosque there out of respect for those people who have been wounded over there.”
Prince Alwaleed added: “More importantly, the mosque is not in the best location, the mosque has to be in a dignified location. It can’t be next to a bar or a strip club, or in a neighbourhood that is not really refined and good. The impression I have is that this mosque is just being inserted and squeezed over there. So I am personally against putting the mosque over there…"

"I believe that Christians have the right to build churches where they want and Jews have the right to put synagogues where they want and Muslims have the right to put a mosque where they want. But you have to take care and respect the dignity of those New Yorkers who have been hit badly. Ten years ago is nothing when you talk about history.”

Several US news organizations claimed earlier this month that the prince had been involved in funding the construction of the mosque.

In the interview, the prince argued that the wounds of the twin terror attacks could take up to 30 years to heal. He said: “For sure, the wounds are so deep. What I’m saying is, it’s been a decade right now, and I would evaluate things at being at a standstill. They did not improve dramatically but they didn’t worsen. You see pockets of deterioration from people who don’t want things to advance,” he said.

“I don’t want to exaggerate and say things are falling apart, they are not. Most governments are pragmatic, most people are logical. There are pockets of extremism in Israel, in the US and in the Muslim world. But we have to fight them with reason, with logic and with compassion. We can’t just say ‘go to hell,’ we cannot do that.”

*The full interview with HRH will be published at 8am UAE time on Sunday 31 October on www.arabianbusiness.com. The following day, 1 November, Arabian Business will also publish the first magazine interview with his wife, HH Princess Ameerah Al Taweel

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/world-exclusive-prince-alwaleed-against-g...

Strippers represent tolerance and openness. Strippers go too far in the direction of personal satisfaction. Muslims, when they go too far, mutilate and murder people en masse. Strippers can be reasoned with. Strippers tell you when they're going to screw you, Muslims don't.

I’m trying to get a continuous conversation going on Islamic and Muslim topics like the ones raised in this article. I envision that some conversations will help Muslims to reach a consensus on important issues that currently divide Muslims. Other discussions will be designed to provide a forum for people of all religions to discuss Islam in an open environment. The website is http://www.discussislam.org/

RE: Strip Clubs.
What sort of Strip clubs are we talking about here? Ones with half/semi naked women gyrating around a fixed pole or ones where suspicious looking Muslims are taken for a strip search? I am a bit confused.

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Er, isn't the proposed Cordoba Center a political issue, albeit one in USA?

....so what the fuck......