I don't know why it always happens at this time of year.
Either someone is saying some bloke somewhere is offended by Christmas or I can't send cards out because they have a cross on them.
This year, through no fault of her own, some poor teacher is sentenced to 15 days' jail after being charged with with having insulted a whole religion because she named a teddy bear Muhammed.
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I find the whole thing ridiculous, as do most other people. The Sudanese government should concentrate on more important things going on within their borders rather than the fact that a teacher decided to name a teddy bear Muhammed.
A nation where some 20 million people are living below the poverty line of less than 50 pence a day should have more pressing concerns.
Why this teacher - who after all is there helping to educate kids and is probably more qualified than the teachers already there - should be put through this ordeal is beyond me.
I can imagine how this might have happened. Teacher goes out of way to help kids and gets popular. Local teacher doesn't like her and decides to get her own back by saying foreigner is Satan in disguise. Authorities take action.
Oh...there are those who say it is wrong to be so patronising. But I'm certain there are people in the Sudanese government who can put a stop to this circus but simply choose not to and want to milk it for all it is worth.
Strangely, as soon as this story hit the headlines I scoured the internet to see how many Muslim spokespeople were up in arms about it. I found about three.
It was as if they had to go back and check for themselves whether it was wrong to name a teddy bear Muhammed.
"Hey, that teddy bear thing - are we allowed to name it Muhammed or not?'
Then having decided it was all okay the press releases landed on my desk. A full two days after the story broke.
Let's get some facts in order. The name of a teddy bear should not be the top news on any channel.
But I think the Sudanese government has outdone itself this time. Normally, somebody makes an odd comment about the issue and we all decide it was an issue blown out of proportion and we live happily ever after.
Yet, this time everyone already knows this is just the stupidest thing ever. You meet someone, and rather than bring up the subject they already know this is silly.
It's a teddy bear!
It is the only time I have honestly felt the need to join the SAS and try rescuing this woman.
Posted by: Nostradamous, Blackburn.. on 7:27pm Fri 30 Nov 07
Shuiab i think you are quite right in proclaiming your support for this poor teacher,i put my support alongside yours and hope that the ritual of saying, why do we not keep to our laws in this country and follow the bible to the letter, after all this country is a christian country ,but that is what christianity is all about,its ok people keep on telling us to learn about islam but i really think that muslims should get some learning done on christianity,all faiths are made welcome in this country and if the notion takes them they can stand up and denounce jesus if they so wish,you could not stand up and do the same about Muhammed,PBOH..Toler
ence is christianity i do not see that in islam and this teddy bear speaks volumes against that thought.
Shuiab i think you are quite right in proclaiming your support for this poor teacher,i put my support alongside yours and hope that the ritual of saying, why do we not keep to our laws in this country and follow the bible to the letter, after all this country is a christian country ,but that is what christianity is all about,its ok people keep on telling us to learn about islam but i really think that muslims should get some learning done on christianity,all faiths are made welcome in this country and if the notion takes them they can stand up and denounce jesus if they so wish,you could not stand up and do the same about Muhammed,PBOH..Toler
ence is christianity i do not see that in islam and this teddy bear speaks volumes against that thought.
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