First Drafts - The Prospect magazine blog

8 Responses

1. Noel Nesor says:

   November 29, 2008 at 9:15 am

   ‘Muslim tolerance’ is an oxymoron at best and non-existent in most instances. So stop being an apologist and start promoting mutual understanding, not multi-cuturalism, which has destroyed Europe.
   Fundamentalism, as in Islamic demands, Sharia or otherwise, is the enemy of freedom and democracy.
   Anyone who pleads otherwise is on a path of self-distruction.
2. Gabre says:

   November 30, 2008 at 2:42 am

   No connection between the Mumbai islamist atrocity and the smooch-on-the-beach case in Dubai. There is a general problem of international manners with certain British, mainly English, visitors to holiday resorts in foreign countries. They go on these package holidays to Costa Whatever looking for suntans and ‘a good frolic’, never thinking that they are visiting another country, another culture with its own customs and language and traditions of hospitality. Football hooliganism, drunken street brawling, public defecation and puking on footpaths constitute uncivilized behaviour that misrepresents the decent qualities of English culture highlighted by George Orwell in his wartime patriotic pamphlet The Lion and the Unicorn. English society needs to cop itself on and work towards the eradication of vulgar chauvinist tendencies.
3. Jacqueline says:

   December 1, 2008 at 5:56 pm

   These two people were there on business, and couldn’t even stay sober enough to make it to a hotel bedroom before doing whatever it is they deny doing but were too drunk to know for certain.

   This has little to with Islamic tolerance, whatever that is, more to do with people being too stupid, ill-mannered, unprofessional, to appreciate the vileness of their behaviour.
4. Leinad says:

   December 4, 2008 at 8:12 pm

   It is sad that such an admirable thought has been critisized here or anywhere. I, for one, vote “yea”, and I beg the respondents to reconsider their conclusions. For example…
   Noel Nesor - Rethink your comment from the last line backwards, and place it in the context of the original point. Would it be self destructive for England to look down on the behavior in question, or would this actually a means of reducing or avoiding destruction in general?
   Gabre - No connection between islamic atrocities and smooch-on-the-beach? Have you listened to what the radial muslims say? Have you read the quran? Do you know the history of Dubai? If you are sure islamic radicals are enemies, remember the saying: To defeat one’s
   enemy, one must know that enemy. I’d add that one can benefit from knowing one’s self. Have you read the Bible?
   Jacqueline - You did well to remain focused on the topic at hand, but perhaps you could reconsider whether or not this has anything to do with Islamic tolerance. This did occur in an Arab nation (Islam), and I dare say it would be difficult for a fair many types of witnesses -especially with kids or something- to bear (tolerate) such behavior (granted, I personally see this action as interesting / hilarious ;) but who can argue that tolerence has even further meaning when you are in another country? - by this I mean tolerance of their laws / customs / sensibilities).
5. Gabre says:

   December 5, 2008 at 12:47 am

   I read the OT many years ago and it told a cautionary tale about what happens to societies that wallow in sexual and other forms of immorality. Read whichever Book is about Sodom and Gomorrah. I’ll stick to my theme: the decay in English international manners.

   Read Theodore Dalrymple’s essay at this site http://www.aldaily.com/

   The title is arresting:- The Quivering Upper Lip
   The British character: from self-restraint to self-indulgence
6. NickaBick says:

   December 29, 2008 at 2:20 pm

   Hear hear, Jacqueline.

   It’s about good taste, good manners and good sense. The ‘Dubai Two’ had none of these. If people are too stupid to think out of the box (sic) and too blind to foresee the logical consequence of their actions, then they deserve all the c**p that heads their way.

   So there!
7. Dave Mandell says:

   January 6, 2009 at 6:35 pm

   I agree with Noel 100%! Now let’s lead by example and do something about all these Christian fundamentalists overtaking our communities.
8. Atif says:

   January 7, 2009 at 6:03 pm

   No doubt Dubai is city of glamour, full of joy and has beautiful nights. But only for those who have proper job, residency and money. I love Dubai.