'Blasphemous' balls anger Afghans - BBC

[demoleft]

'A demonstration has been held in south- east Afghanistan accusing US troops of insulting Islam after they distributed footballs bearing the name of Allah.
...
The US military said the idea had been to give something for Afghan children to enjoy and they did not realise it would cause offence.'

The flags displayed on the ball involve the Saudi Arabian flag, with the name Allah in the words of the shahada, the declaration of Faith, featured in the National flag.

'Afghan MP Mirwais Yasini said: "To have a verse of the Koran on something you kick with your foot would be an insult in any Muslim country around the world."
A spokeswoman for the US forces in Afghanistan said they made "significant efforts to work with local leaders, mullahs and elders to respect their culture" and distributing the footballs was an effort to give a gift the Afghan children would enjoy.'

Some 100 people demonstrated against the initiative.

BBC, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6964564.stm

[Lindsay]

1. The lack of cultural knowledge

and sensitivity just never ends.

Sigh.

[hobbit709]

2. Could have been worse

But yes the cultural not so much insensitivity but total ignorance is amazing. And why the Saudi flag?

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Flags of many nations on it

"Saudi Arabia has complained to the World Cup's ruling body in the past about the use of its flag on footballs"

With them all on the ball, it's a bit more understandable - you just think "an international ball - great! The brotherhood of man, and all that!" The problem is whoever manufactured them in the first place, and why the word hasn't gone around generally that distribution should be stopped.

[saltpoint]

3. I guess this means the pork barbecue next weekend is off, too.

[Roland99]

4. he he

[MethuenProgressive]

5. Most Americans, not just our Military, are woefully ignorant of Islam.

At least we're consistantly ignorant...

[MannyGoldstein]

6. Next: Autographed Copies Of "The Satanic Verses"

Oy.

[LiberalFighter]

7. Let's send the missionaries over there to distribute the footballs

[saltpoint]

9. Yep. Sounds like an opportunity for Franklin Graham.

I'd say let's put him in charge of that right away. Just the man for the job.

[LiberalFighter]

14. Make sure he personally is part of the missionary mission

[saltpoint]

15. LOL!

[treestar]

8. They could have distributed plain, ordinary footballs

So why did they add all the "decoration?"

[TreasonousBastard]

10. Yeah, they coulda asked, and...

maybe they did, getting the wrong answer.

But, you gotta wonder about people who get so het up about things like this. If someone sent us something that offended a few wingnut Christians, would we be all fired up to slam said sender?

[saltpoint]

12. Just to show what a good sport he is, there's a report now that Toby Keith

will do a concert in Kabul for the locals.

Free Cokes & corn dogs for all.

[ldf]

13. what a misleading thread title!

i immediately thought "wrinkled", maybe, but blasphemous? what prudes... talk about a really unhealthy body image.

but then, all fundamentalists are prudes...

ooops, nevermind.

on the other hand, based on god obsessions everywhere, EVERYTHING offends SOMEONE.

too. fucking. bad.

our very existence is an affront to all fundamentalists. (note avatar.)

whatever.