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	<title>Mideast Youth &#187; Satire</title>
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	<link>http://www.mideastyouth.com</link>
	<description>Thinking Ahead</description>
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	<itunes:summary>Thinking Ahead</itunes:summary>
	<itunes:author>Mideast Youth</itunes:author>
	<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
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	<itunes:subtitle>Thinking Ahead</itunes:subtitle>
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		<title>Mideast Youth &#187; Satire</title>
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		<link>http://www.mideastyouth.com/category/fun-recreation/satire/</link>
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		<item>
		<title>Double standards on homophobia</title>
		<link>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2011/05/24/double-standards-on-homophobia/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2011/05/24/double-standards-on-homophobia/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 May 2011 20:14:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Esra'a (Bahrain)</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Assholes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Comics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homosexuality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Satire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Society]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taboos]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mideastyouth.com/?p=11512</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a comic that highlights the double standards of homophobia amongst religious scholars.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is a comic that highlights the double standards of homophobia amongst religious scholars. [Click the image for a larger version]<br />
<a href="http://www.mideastyouth.com/wp-content/uploads/final-mullahsmall.png"><img src="http://www.mideastyouth.com/wp-content/uploads/final-mullahsmall.png" alt="" /></a></p>
<p>Can someone please explain this logic?</p>
<p>Check out the <a href="http://en.ahwaa.org/tag/3">debates on homophobia</a> in the region at <a href="http://ahwaa.org">Ahwaa.org.</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2011/05/24/double-standards-on-homophobia/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Satires of Ubayd Zakani</title>
		<link>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2011/04/15/satires-of-ubyd-zakani/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2011/04/15/satires-of-ubyd-zakani/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 16 Apr 2011 06:44:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lord Kavi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Iran]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Satire]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mideastyouth.com/?p=11243</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Someone asked Ubayd Zakani, “What kind of religion, Islam is”? He answered, “it’s the religion of freedom, as you enter (turn into) it, they cut head of your genital, and as you exit it, they cut head of yourself”!!!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Someone asked <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubayd_Zakani" target="_blank">Ubayd Zakani</a>, “What kind of religion, Islam is”?</p>
<p>He answered, “it’s the religion of freedom, as you enter (turn into) it, they cut head of your genital, and as you exit it, they cut head of yourself”!!!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>تلنگری که به فکر تشکیل یه کمیته واسه رفع نجاست از همه چی افتاده بود</title>
		<link>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2011/02/25/%d8%aa%d9%84%d9%86%da%af%d8%b1%db%8c-%da%a9%d9%87-%d8%a8%d9%81%da%a9%d8%b1-%d8%b4%d8%a7%d9%be%d8%b1%da%a9%d9%90-%d8%ae%d8%a7%da%a9-%d8%b3%d8%b9%d8%af%db%8c-%d9%88-%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%81%d8%b8-%d9%88-2/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2011/02/25/%d8%aa%d9%84%d9%86%da%af%d8%b1%db%8c-%da%a9%d9%87-%d8%a8%d9%81%da%a9%d8%b1-%d8%b4%d8%a7%d9%be%d8%b1%da%a9%d9%90-%d8%ae%d8%a7%da%a9-%d8%b3%d8%b9%d8%af%db%8c-%d9%88-%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%81%d8%b8-%d9%88-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 Feb 2011 06:14:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kavous Keshavarz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civil Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Iran]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Satire]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mideastyouth.com/?p=10699</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[میدونی تلنگر دوست داشت که این دفعه که مدادش دستش افتاده بود اصلاً تماسش با اینترنت خطر ناک ولی با کلی خاصیت مبارزاتی ول شده بود و با همهً این سرو صدا ئی که توی دنیا واسه پایین کشیدن دیکتاتورا &#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>میدونی تلنگر دوست داشت که این دفعه که مدادش دستش افتاده بود اصلاً تماسش با اینترنت خطر ناک ولی با کلی خاصیت مبارزاتی ول شده بود و با همهً این سرو صدا ئی که توی دنیا واسه پایین کشیدن دیکتاتورا راه انداخته بود و این همه کشت و کشتاری که به راه افتاده بود , هیچ ارتباطی اصلاً به هیچ عنوان پیدا نکرده بود.</p>
<p>ولی راستش چند وقتی بود که واسه تلنگر با بچهً کوچهً مصر و کردستان و تونسی , توی سرای آزادی یه جائی همین نزدیکی یه رفاقتی آغاز شده بود , و توی راحتترین جنگ جدید بین الملی سرحق بچهً زابل و کابل و آجر پزی , یه گرد و خاک حسابی به راه افتاده بود . یا شاید درهمون حال این جریانات از اول سر ظلم به بچهً فلسطینی با رسم و راه جدیدش واسه داد و هوار رسیده بود . آخه کل قضیه پیش تلنگر گیر کرده بود به فکر ابزار جدید واسه لمس یه نوع دمکراسی توی همه اقشار رسیده بود . البته شاید اون موقعه کسی به کسی نبود و کسی هم اصلاً از بغلش دلش رد نشده بود, یا شاید از همون موقع یه رسم جدید دیگه به راه افتاده بود و کسی واسه دفع کسی هیچ جوری هیچ تلاشی نکرده بود و واسه همین کسی چیزی به کنج دلش نگرفته بود و بخاطر همه اینا هیچ چیزی هم به اسم اتفاق تاریخی الان معطل رخ دادنش نمونده بود . جالب اینکه تلنگر واسه ابراز رنگ دلش توی همین خلوتی وسط هر کوچه ائی با یکی از قدیمیا یه عکس یادگاری گرفته بود,</p>
<p>خلاصه که توی وضع که واسه تلنگر پیش امده بود از یه طرف همه چی با گلوله و دود و گاز اشک آور و خشم کثیف یا آژیر آمبلانس و شهید و پلیس خبیث با شدت با همه با هم در حال درگیری افتاده بود , ولی از طرفی هیچ کسی هولکی نبود و هر کسی هم در زدن در خونهً یار رو به درستی یاد گرفته بود . ولی نمیدونم چرا تلنگر یادش امده که توی این اتفاقی که هنوز رخ نداده بود , چرا جای چنتائی آدم معروف مثل گاندی و ماندلا یا حتی خود بودا هم خالی مونده بود؛ و با همین فکر واسه درست کردن یه فایل فیس بوک به نام ننش واسه رهبری راه سبزامیدش حسابی عزمشو جزم کرده بود.</p>
<p>آخه میدونی این روزا هر کسی توی صندوقی که چند وقت پیش توی ویکی لیکس واسه خودش باز کرده بود یه جائی خیلی بارزی ولی به شکلی خیلی قشنگی محفوظ باز گذاشته بود و بخاطر همین جای برملا کردن پخش اخبار دروغ و پرت و پلا از آدمای دغل باز و متقلب توی هر خطه ائی توی این جغرافیا باز مونده بود؛ حالا بگذریم که توی یه مملکتی یه آیت الهی عصبانی و خش خشی , هنور با حس شدید تنفور از همه چی , جای حرف زدن و ابراز عقیده وسه کسی باقی نگذاشته بود , ولی حرف دنیا واسه دلواپسی زیر گوش دیکتاتور افتادنی فقط یه لالائی تکراری بود که واسش از چند مدتی پیش آغاز شده بود, شاهد قضیه هم در رفتن کار از دست خدا و حضرت عباس و افتادنش به دست یارهوشیار و همکلاسیه پر آواز رسیده بود , چون این چند وقتی که نوبت دیدن یکی از هم شهریش با شعار درود و پرهیز از گفتن مرگ بیزاری توی هر کوی و بازار رسیده بود , بقول تئورسین سبز آلود خودش آدمی به سبکی پاکیزه ائی واسه از دست دادن حس فلاکت و رسیدن به درک حقیقت معیوب به افتخار رسیده بود.</p>
<p>ولی تلنگر فکر میکرد که کاشکی این همه حرف زدن یه چیزه عمیق الکی نبود چون بندهً خدا ایندفعه به چیزای دیگه هم به یادش افتاده بود ؛ مثلاً یکی از حرافش که راه افتادن حرکات عجق وجق آنارشیستی در رابطه با برخورد زمخت عوالم مقدسی که توی دنیای کوچلوی بچه مدرسه ائی انجام شده بود , یا تاًثیری که از قبل با قانون اعدام کسی توی مجلس سپردگی که باعث انرجار همه از مرگ و ضجه و کفن پوشی به دست یه دیکتاتور سی ساله انجام شده بود.</p>
<p>بگذریم که تلنگر آخر کار واسه دفاع از حق خودش به فکر تشکیل یه کمیتهً خودمونی واسه رفع نجاست از هر چیزی افتاده بود و هر چند که تشریحش واسه ارتباط سنگ و سگ توی فرهنگ اسلامی یه چیز غیر قابل مذاکره افتاده بود , ولی واسه گفتن این چیزا به باباش با یه تسبیح و جانماز پهن همیشگی هنوزهیچی چاره ائی بنظرش نرسیده بود و حالا که حرف دل تلنگرسرشکاف ونسل و طبقه و سنت وعقیده رسیده بود , واسه گفتن قبل ازهمه واسه پاک کردن یه نکبت همیشگی بنظرش نوبت چطور نگه دشتن بچهً شیخ علی چوپون و مالی آباد بالای سر شاپرکِ خاک سعدی و حافظ و شیراز رسیده بود.</p>
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			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2011/02/25/%d8%aa%d9%84%d9%86%da%af%d8%b1%db%8c-%da%a9%d9%87-%d8%a8%d9%81%da%a9%d8%b1-%d8%b4%d8%a7%d9%be%d8%b1%da%a9%d9%90-%d8%ae%d8%a7%da%a9-%d8%b3%d8%b9%d8%af%db%8c-%d9%88-%d8%ad%d8%a7%d9%81%d8%b8-%d9%88-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>If Yahweh knew!</title>
		<link>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/11/30/if-yahweh-knew/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/11/30/if-yahweh-knew/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:36:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lord Kavi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Israel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Palestine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Palestine/Israel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Satire]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mideastyouth.com/?p=9685</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If Yahweh knew his children gonna kill civilians, destroy people&#8217;s houses and do many crimes to achieve the promise land, he never would have say such a thing. Today another Gazan youth were shot in borderline and I know how &#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If Yahweh knew his children gonna kill civilians, destroy people&#8217;s houses and do many crimes to achieve the promise land, he never would have say such a thing. Today another Gazan youth <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iL7U-JggjNA8wkejLcdS0JrbHI-Q?docId=CNG.23afc412c6dd3afe7b5a46ff5c2bc83f.2b1" target="_blank">were shot in borderline</a> and I know how Yahweh is upset for this incident. How his children dare to face him? For what? What is their justification for their everyday crimes? Do they still believe they&#8217;re protecting their promise land in the name of Yahweh? What are these crimes for?</p>
<p>Yahweh is ashamed of occurrence of these crimes in his name everyday, my friends.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>My art blog &#8211; &#039;Blue, Badges, Burka&#039;</title>
		<link>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/08/20/my-art-blog-blue-badges-burka/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/08/20/my-art-blog-blue-badges-burka/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Aug 2010 22:29:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sarah Maple (UK/Iran)</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Awareness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Civil Rights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Creativity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gender]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Humor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Interfaith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Islam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Islamophobia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Photography]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Satire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sex]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Society]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taboos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Women]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Youth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mideastyouth.com/?p=8803</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here&#8217;s another piece for my art blog on Mideast Youth. It&#8217;s called &#8216;Blue, Badges, Burka&#8217;, oil and acrylic on board and 122 x 174 cm. See more here.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Here&#8217;s another piece for my art blog on Mideast Youth. It&#8217;s called &#8216;Blue, Badges, Burka&#8217;, oil and acrylic on board and 122 x 174 cm. See more <a href="http://www.sarahmaple.com">here.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://s48.photobucket.com/albums/f229/MissMaple123/?action=view&amp;current=BlueBadgesBurka.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f229/MissMaple123/BlueBadgesBurka.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ramadan, month of starvation!</title>
		<link>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/08/14/ramadan-month-of-starvation/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/08/14/ramadan-month-of-starvation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 14 Aug 2010 13:10:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lord Kavi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Assholes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Atheism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Awareness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Islam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Islamophobia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Satire]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/08/14/ramadan-month-of-starvation/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ramadan Mubarak! Ramadan comes every year and goes and its nothing more than a starvation month for Muslims. At nights, they jam food of any kind too much and at day they lie under air conditioners, cuz they cannot do &#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ramadan Mubarak!</p>
<p>Ramadan comes every year and goes and its nothing more than a starvation month for Muslims. At nights, they jam food of any kind too much and at day they lie under air conditioners, cuz they cannot do anything more and snore as a pig till the sunset. If they move they&#8217;d be hungry!!!</p>
<p>It’s nothing than a starvation to Muslims. They do their sins and all the wrong attitudes again. They’re really funny. They’ve forgotten the first cause of fasting; they ignore thousands of hungry human beings suffering in Africa and any other places but they know something well: how to pretend they’re good guys to their Muslim fellows by fasting!!!<br />
They rob, bribe, spoil others rights, tell lies, say insults, hit others, rape women, kill human and animals, lie to each others, while they’re at fasting! Allah enters them in heaven! Amen!</p>
<p>And then its Iftar time (the breaking fast time); they again start jamming too much and it circles a month. The efficiency of society sucks! And they think fasting is good for their health, but they don’t know how hard they’re wrecking their kidneys and stressing their body metabolism. Muslim physicians try to justify that fasting boost health, but it really sucks; it’s nothing than a stress to body!</p>
<p>Ramadan came; month of starvation; month of inefficiency; month of laziness!</p>
<p>Ramadan Mubarak to you all!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Marketing of Saints</title>
		<link>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/07/02/the-marketing-of-saints/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/07/02/the-marketing-of-saints/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:03:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Elie - FTLebanon</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Atheism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lebanon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Religion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Satire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Society]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mideastyouth.com/?p=8214</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Originally Posted on my blog Free Thinking Lebanon If you happen to have a Lebanese friend, you might have spotted the enthusiasm in his or her speech when they tell you about Lebanon and its wonderful culture. They must have &#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Originally Posted on my blog <a href="http://freethinkinglebanon.blogspot.com">Free Thinking Lebanon</a></p>
<p align="justify"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5i43QOxejCs/TC1UKXbIsrI/AAAAAAAAALM/W8-_pqXeJB8/s144/233083472v8_225x225_Front_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px;border-top-width: 0px;border-bottom-width: 0px;margin-left: 0px;border-left-width: 0px;margin-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Proud to be Lebanese" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5i43QOxejCs/TC1UKXbIsrI/AAAAAAAAALM/W8-_pqXeJB8/s144/233083472v8_225x225_Front_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg" width="225" height="225"></a>If you happen to have a Lebanese friend, you might have spotted the enthusiasm in his or her speech when they tell you about Lebanon and its <a href="http://freethinkinglebanon.blogspot.com/2010/06/beirut-best-place-to-visit.html">wonderful culture</a>. They must have told you—at least once—about how smart&nbsp; right and competent Lebanese people are, and about the fact that many of the successful people in the world—in different of disciplines—are of Lebanese origins. Of course, it is true that many important figures, both historical and actual, are either from Lebanon or have Lebanese roots ; to give a random example (<em>out of many</em>), the richest person alive today, according to <em><a href="http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_The-Worlds-Billionaires_Rank.html">Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List</a>,</em> as of March 10, 2010, is <em><a href="http://www.forbes.com/lists/2010/10/billionaires-2010_Carlos-Slim-Helu-family_WYDJ.html">Carlos Slim Helu</a></em><em>—</em>a Mexican Telecom giant of Lebanese origins. </p>
<p align="justify">The reason we (<em>Lebanese people</em>) regard those facts as important is because our country is a tiny one, with a population of about 4 Million people (<em>the same as the city of Los Angeles, California</em>). Even more, when you consider the fact that Lebanon has been going through war and political instability for the past <a href="http://freethinkinglebanon.blogspot.com/2010/06/documentary-its-about-time-lebanon.html">three decades</a>, the pride we feel when we learn about a new successful Lebanese individual becomes justified.</p>
<p align="justify">As much as I love to hear about people, from my country, receiving worldwide recognition, which usually portrays success, wit, courage and hard work, there is one special category “celebrities” which I regret hearing about: it is our beloved <strong>saints</strong>. It seems Lebanon is also a great “originator” of sainthood, with 4 out of 5 appearing in the last decade.</p>
<p align="justify">Since 2001, two Lebanese saints have been <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canonization">canonized</a> by the Vatican and two others <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatification">beatified</a>: </p>
<ul>
<li>
<div align="justify"><strong>Saint Rafqa </strong><em><a href="http://www.saintrafqaoflebanon.com/canonization.htm">canonized on June 10, 2001</a></em>; </div>
<li>
<div align="justify"><strong>Saint Nimatullah el Hardini</strong> <em><a href="http://www.holyfamilymaronitechurch.org/mn/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5&amp;Itemid=19">canonized on May 10, 2004</a></em>; </div>
<li>
<div align="justify"><strong>Father Yacoub Haddad El Kabouchi</strong> <em><a href="http://vosje.wordpress.com/2008/06/23/beatification-of-father-yacoub-haddad/">beatified on June 22, 2008</a></em>; </div>
<li>
<div align="justify">and the most recent one, <strong>monk Estephan Nehmeh</strong> <a href="http://www.iloubnan.info/Socials/actualite/id/47871/lebanon/Vatican-beatifies-Estephan-Nehme"><em>beatified on June 27, 2010</em></a><em>. </em></div>
</li>
</ul>
<p align="justify">One other saint is of Lebanese origins—St. Charbel; however, this one has been <a href="http://www.maronitehistory.org/Sharbel_Makhluf">recognized</a> by the Vatican as a saint a long time ago (<em>October 9, 1977</em>).</p>
<p align="justify"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5i43QOxejCs/TC1Srd47DmI/AAAAAAAAAK4/p-xNK7UjY88/s800/allsaints%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px;float: none;border-top-width: 0px;border-bottom-width: 0px;margin-left: auto;border-left-width: 0px;margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="Saints of Lebanon" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_5i43QOxejCs/TC1Srd47DmI/AAAAAAAAAK4/p-xNK7UjY88/s800/allsaints%5B6%5D.jpg" width="473" height="157"></a> </p>
<p align="justify">Last week, when I first saw the billboard sign with the picture of monk Estephan Nehmeh and a message announcing his beatification on June 27, 2010, I was stunned. <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5i43QOxejCs/TC1SvWsgonI/AAAAAAAAALE/otIfYiwVCQg/s144/b_E_Nehme_l_thumb%5B13%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px;border-top-width: 0px;border-bottom-width: 0px;margin-left: 0px;border-left-width: 0px;margin-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Brother Estephan Nehme" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_5i43QOxejCs/TC1SvWsgonI/AAAAAAAAALE/otIfYiwVCQg/s144/b_E_Nehme_l_thumb%5B13%5D.jpg" width="208" height="320"></a>First, because I had never heard about this man (<em>neither did my friend, a dedicated Catholic, who was riding in the car with me</em>). Second, because it’s hasn’t been long since the latest beatification of Father El Kabouchi, and honestly the Lebanese people—at least many of those whom I know—haven’t gotten used to idea yet, that we have a new saint from Lebanon, and some of them can’t even remember his name. And last but not least, it was very interesting to see this billboard sign next to another one, advertising a trance music concert (<em>and by interesting I mean ironic</em>). It’s funny how religion is resorting to the same marketing techniques used for commercial purposes. I wonder if one day they will even sell tickets to those who wish to attend the beatification of a new saint—which I’m certain will be in the near future?</p>
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		<title>My art blog &#8211; Sharia Law</title>
		<link>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/06/29/my-art-blog-sharia-law/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/06/29/my-art-blog-sharia-law/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:45:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sarah Maple (UK/Iran)</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Interested in my work? Visit www.sarahmaple.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Interested in my work? Visit <a href="http://www.sarahmaple.com">www.sarahmaple.com</a><span id="more-8199"></span></p>
<p><a href="http://s48.photobucket.com/albums/f229/MissMaple123/?action=view&amp;current=sharialawthesecond.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f229/MissMaple123/sharialawthesecond.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a></p>
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		<title>Fatwa of the Day</title>
		<link>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/06/24/fatwa-of-the-day/</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:18:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Elie - FTLebanon</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[[...] I started a new segment titled "Fatwa of the Day" [on my blog]. Every couple days I submit a post that discusses a certain Fatwa by a certain religious scholar [...]
[...]Here are the Fatwa's I've posted so far [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>On my blog, <a href="http://freethinkinglebanon.blogspot.com/">Free Thinking Lebanon</a>, I started a new segment titled &#8220;Fatwa of the Day&#8221;. Every couple days I submit a post that discusses a certain Fatwa by a certain religious scholar. All the Fatwa&#8217;s I&#8217;ve discussed so far have been rejected by the Islamic authorities (even though many of these scholars quote holy scriptures; however, it&#8217;s their twisted approach that makes the orthodox religious &#8220;committee&#8221; reject them) . I just want to make note of the fact that the reason I started this segment is to show how absurd and bizarre religious extremism can be. Even though I am not a believer myself, I do not assault the beliefs of others and I do respect their religious views; I really hope that everyone who&#8217;ll be reading these posts will understand my intentions and will not take offense by them. In case anyone feels any unease by these reads, please post a comment below and I&#8217;ll be more than happy to discuss it (any feedback is also warmly welcome)..</p>
<p><strong>Here are the Fatwa&#8217;s I&#8217;ve posted so far:</strong><br />
<a href="http://freethinkinglebanon.blogspot.com/2010/06/fatwa-of-day-6.html"><br />
Fatwa of the Day #6</a>: Wearing Nike Apparel is a sin<br />
<a href="http://freethinkinglebanon.blogspot.com/2010/06/fatwa-of-day-5.html"><br />
Fatwa of the Day #5</a>: Why is Masturbation Haram?</p>
<p><a href="http://freethinkinglebanon.blogspot.com/2010/06/fatwa-of-day-4.html">Fatwa of the Day #4</a>: Left-handedness<br />
<a href="http://freethinkinglebanon.blogspot.com/2010/06/fatwa-of-day-3.html"><br />
Fatwa of the Day #3</a>: Emoticons</p>
<p><a href="http://freethinkinglebanon.blogspot.com/2010/06/fatwa-of-day-2.html">Fatwa of the Day #2</a>: Breastfeeding Co-Workers</p>
<p><a href="http://freethinkinglebanon.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-daily-segment-fatwa-of-day.html">Fatwa of the Day #1</a>: That Devilish Little Rat!</p>
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		<title>My art blog&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.mideastyouth.com/2010/06/08/my-art-blog/</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:24:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sarah Maple (UK/Iran)</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Welcome to my art blog on Mideast Youth. As a muslim in the Uk and of dual heritage, some of my work challenges perceptions of &#8216;oppressed&#8217; Islamic women and misconceptions. I hope you enjoy. www.sarahmaple.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Welcome to my art blog on Mideast Youth. As a muslim in the Uk and of dual heritage, some of my work challenges perceptions of &#8216;oppressed&#8217; Islamic women and misconceptions. I hope you enjoy. <a href="http://www.sarahmaple.com">www.sarahmaple.com</a><br />
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