Allahu's fighter and W.A.S.P.

Philosophy Forums Religion and Spirituality
1

a story about religious tolerance, believers and enlightenment in action:
how far society got since lessing, kant and the revolution.

as most you of you probably do, I also live in a sweet and liberal western democracy - in my case it is Germany. As culture and tradition commands one dresses up around Mardi Gras or Carnival or however you want to call it. I abstain from explaining that habit, unless requested.
Fortunately I have the chance to visit a good school with some educated people in it - so I dressed up as an Arabic sheikh, to provoke and to be laughed about.
I wore a kufia (the black and white cloth they wear in TV on their hat images.google.com/ ) and I put a white cape around myself. The night before I got some markers and painted a few symbols on it, in order to amuse and for the white cape not to be totally boring.
And upside-down Iraqi flag was on the back, a Peace symbol in the colors of star spangled banner on the side and, well one of Allah’s symbols on the front.
As far as I am informed it means “Allah is great.” ( premamusic.com/Allah.gif )
Some people were laughing, other asking me about what I wanted to express and so on…
A group of foreigners - dark hair, dense facial hair - even the girl among them - joined the party of our school and started starring at the stupid white man - me - in my cape and my symbol.
Before they ripped it off from me they asked me what it was about.
I learned that they felt insulted.
I told them that in this country one may do with religious symbols as he or she likes. I told them it was not my intention to affront them. I told them that in this country you have to tolerate others in their way of dealing with religion.
When they started to hit me I cried for help. I’m not very keen on defending myself with violence. Thanks to Allah there was someone next to me with enough courage to step it. Unfortunately for myself I had forgotten Socrates method of speaking.

Was it my right and was it smart to wear this symbol?
Was it right to defend the rule of law or should I have stepped down to prevent conflicts?
May and should I defend myself?

2

You have intentionally provoked them (i.e. the Arabs and muslims).

What did you expect?

3

It is merely another case proving that Muslims do not have the ability to tolerate other religions. Very simply, no one taught them how to keep their own emotions in check. A lack of restraint of one’s emotions signifies weakness and inferiority.

In a more Islamic sense, those people who felt provoked let Satan control their emotions. They failed to seek guidance from Allah to restrain their anger and give them peace from an obvious infidel.

I must ask this though, why did you dress up like this?
Was your intention strictly to test the religious tolerance of others?
Or was it your intent to piss off Muslims?

4

I was thinking about the same.

5

thanks a lot for your informative answer…

i think it will give discussions in the futre a lot more substance for i now have more arguemtents and a better understanding.

it had not been my intention to piss anybody off. i rather was intrested in reactions.
you can call it abjectly curiosity
you can call it sientific research
you can call it a search for more understanding