July 28, 2011 – islamicate

Politics

‘Haboobs’ Cause a Storm of Complaints in Arizona – NYTimes.com

islamoyankeeJuly 28, 2011

This is what people are seriously concerned about? Fortunately, the article points out that if they don’t “Middle Eastern terms,” they should stop using “alcohol.” ‘Haboobs’ Cause a Storm of Complaints in Arizona – NYTimes.com. “I am insulted that local TV news crews are now calling this kind of storm a haboob,” Don Yonts, a resident of Gilbert, Ariz., wrote to The Arizona Republic after a particularly fierce, mile-high dust storm swept through the state on July 5. “How do they think our soldiers feel coming back to Arizona and hearing some Middle Eastern term?”

Art

A medieval monument to religious pluralism, hidden in the mountains of Afghanistan

islamoyankeeJuly 28, 2011

A medieval monument to religious pluralism, hidden in the mountains of Afghanistan. One of the great wonders of the medieval world is a very tall, heavily ornamented minaret nestled in a green valley at the edge of the Jam river in what is now Afghanistan. Often called the Minaret of Jam, the monument was almost a millenium ago illuminated by a torch at its top, and surrounded by a thriving town with small industries and outlying farms. What’s remarkable is that the writing on the minaret and archaeological remains nearby strongly suggest that the city harbored a population of Muslims,…

Politics

Anders Breivik’s Christian Terrorism in Norway: Are Pamela Geller and other anti-Islamist bloggers responsible?

islamoyankeeJuly 28, 2011

Anders Breivik’s Christian Terrorism in Norway: Are Pamela Geller and other anti-Islamist bloggers responsible? – By William Saletan – Slate Magazine. If Muslims are responsible for Islamic terrorism, are Muslim-bashers responsible for the massacre in Norway?