Yesterday I was one of the guests interviewed on the BBC's World Have Your Say program. I went to the station's Cairo bureau. That was the first time I've been to a radio station.
The program was quite interesting. The topic was Islam and why it has been the center of topics most talked about in 2006. There were guests from London, Saudi Arabia, India, the US, and Benin.
I didn't talk much due to the number of guests on the show. However, I really enjoyed every bit of it. I managed to divert the discussion from America America America America America America America to the fact that Muslims should start looking in the mirror because looking in the mirror is what makes nations march forward. The guests then started discussing the crucial issue of reformation in Islam. You know the kind of stuff Martin Luther and the Jewish reformist rabbis discussed.
Good job bro.
Comment by Danial — December 29, 2006 @ 5:27 pm
Can we listen to it on the net?
Comment by Sean — December 29, 2006 @ 5:28 pm
Hey BP – That’s awesome man! Mabrouk on a really neat experience. And good on you for forcing people to look inward instead of outward for their own problems. The “America is the root of all our problems” line is getting tired, really really tired.
I also like the action shot of you but there’s a big circle on your face preventing me from seeing how you look like. I wasn’t sure if you were aware so please rectify the mistake…:)
Happy New Year and Salaam to all.
Comment by Egypeter — December 29, 2006 @ 5:30 pm
It’s funny you bring this up. Everytime I’m trying to talk about the possibility of reformation within the islam, muslims get angry with me and blame me for thinking i know best, while i’m just throwing up some questions there.
It’s tiring. I know there are muslims with whom I’d be able to discuss this interesting topic, but either they are extremely secular or they happen to be in Egypt or Sudan
Comment by Suzanne — December 29, 2006 @ 8:04 pm
Sean:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldhaveyoursay/2006/12/the_year_in_islam.html#
(click on thursday in the right menu)
Comment by Suzanne — December 29, 2006 @ 8:32 pm
Btw, once when I was in South Africa I had this neat world receiver with me. And I managed to listen to a German channel in which it was discussed if Martin Luther really wanted to establish a new branch of religion or just plain reformation. There were quite some professors who were convinced that he was appalled to the idea to start a new religion. Makes sense as he was an antisemite because he was not able to convert Jews to Christianity, so why would you want to start an own religion yourself (with the risk of not being christian anymore?)
Comment by Suzanne — December 29, 2006 @ 9:13 pm
That was interesting. Thanks, Suzanne!
Comment by shlemazl — December 30, 2006 @ 12:59 am
It’s time, 0600 Iraqi time.
Comment by Mike H. — December 30, 2006 @ 3:12 am
Gratz, BP
PS-Saddam seems to be dead.
Comment by Craig — December 30, 2006 @ 7:57 am
@schlemazl, My comment about Martin Luther or Big Pharaohs contribution?
@Craig, funny how CNN states that Saddam had a trial according to international standards. Yea, right.
Comment by Suzanne — December 30, 2006 @ 8:33 am
Suzanne, I agree. There are no “international standards” so how can there be a trial in compliance with them?
Comment by Craig — December 30, 2006 @ 9:01 am
I pressume they mean according to international tribunal standards. But even though that would be the meaning, this trial was not according to that
Comment by Suzanne — December 30, 2006 @ 9:09 am
I pressume they mean according to international tribunal standards. But even though that would be the meaning, this trial was not according to that
No, Suzanne, I mean there is no international standard of what the word “justice” means. Germany let a Hezbollah terrorist who hijacked a plane and murdered an American and threw his body out on the tarmac in Beirut, free. Last year. He served… what… less than 10 years in prison? For hijacking, murder, torture and terrorism?
And now he is an active member of Hezbollah, again. No doubt, committing crimes against the innocent. Again.
And Germany refused to extradite him to the US to face charges in American Court. Even after he served his sentence in Germany. He is still wanted for his crimes in America. Germany is supposed to be a modern democracy where justice means something.
Tell me – is THAT justice, Suzanne?
Maybe that’s what Germans call justice. It’s not what Americans call justice.
Comment by Craig — December 30, 2006 @ 9:22 am
The “America is the root of all our problems” line is getting tired, really really tired.
It’s a really popular idea, tho.
You see, if America is the root of all our problems, it’s not our fault, and we don’t have to change- the Americans do.
I can ignore that crap when it’s coming from the third world, but hearing people from european countries say it makes me want to pull out of NATO.
Comment by rosignol — December 30, 2006 @ 10:30 am
I commend you BP, but is reform in Islam possible with Wahabi fanatics in charge?
Comment by Paul — December 30, 2006 @ 2:29 pm
BP,
I support you.
Comment by G-Dub — December 30, 2006 @ 5:15 pm
You’re right of course. It must be pretty weird dealing with Europeans. They tend to be more pro-jihadi than actual Muslims in the Middle East. They see anything anti-American as inherently good and on their side. They’re in for a big surprise.
Comment by Chip — December 30, 2006 @ 6:44 pm
Hey BP – you have really nice hair!
Comment by To Egypt, With Love — December 30, 2006 @ 8:56 pm
I like it. “There is a crisis going on in the Islamic World and Islam itself…it’s going through a what the other major faiths went through.” Very well said.
Comment by Matt — December 30, 2006 @ 11:42 pm
To Egypt with Love #18
OMG! I WAS GONNA SAY THE EXACT SAME THING! Happy New Year!
BP,
Congratulations. They need to call you to be a guest more often. All the best in the New Year to you. Kul sana wa inta taib!
Comment by Methinks — January 3, 2007 @ 9:41 pm
Soon you’ll have them breaking down your door and sending you off to an all expense paid vacation to the “mo3taqal”
Comment by Sam — January 8, 2007 @ 4:09 am
Yo, I can’t find this site, someone please post the link I want to listen
Comment by JB — January 8, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
Lovely to see such a wonderful site. Thank you
Comment by Lansing — February 16, 2007 @ 4:40 pm