This forum is on the brink of death..

[Starchaser107]

np can handle his weight pretty well imho.
by the way , anything you want to concentrate on tommorrow so i can sort of prepare?

[norther practitioner]

Um, well I have not skin on my elbow now.. so maybe we'll work on some striking... I'll show you some more taiji too if you'd like.

Oh, and post up the bird photo for Chen...lol (I'm just joking).

:)

[Meat Shake]

For FC's sake - It wasnt tobacco, tobacco is horrible stuff. It was wacky tabacee. :D

wtf is everyone trying to get to 160 or 165 for?! I weigh 168, I want to hit at least 190. I am 6'.
Ill have a full pic of myself soon.
:)

[chen zhen]

HEY WHATCHA DOIN TO THAT BIRD????!!!!!


:p

[norther practitioner]

CZ.. flippin' it.


MS.. I'm only like 5'7", 5'8" on a good day, at my weight class I'd get schooled.

[Starchaser107]

Something for the emasculated...lol:p

[norther practitioner]

lol...

Can't wait to go back can you ;)

[CaptinPickAxe]

****it, Meat Shake!

Now my dog can't run for president!

[Starchaser107]

hey, that wasn't nice!!!...
(looking over shoulder)...
it's not that bad...
not bad at all...
pretty good actually...

help...somebody please save me ...

j/k:p

[Starchaser107]

just say he didn't inhale

[Meat Shake]

He ****es hashish.
:eek:


You a subscriber SC?
;)

[Starchaser107]

:p

g'weh !

[CaptinPickAxe]

owner of a dog with a serious drug habit

[norther practitioner]

SC she seems wicked nice...

:D


Christophe and I will have to come down to visit you guys.

[Starchaser107]

cap... u and ms are sum mysterious folks...i did the vibe.

np :p

[CaptinPickAxe]

I like living in mystery. I might see you...but you won't see me.... :D

[Starchaser107]

on another note ,I probably was a subscriber a few years ago, a had a fiancee from hell, but things didn't work out too well.

thankfully

[CaptinPickAxe]

notice my crooked nose?

[Starchaser107]

dont really consider it crooked..but u prolly know better than me where that's concerned..its not discernable in the pic.

[CaptinPickAxe]

My drivers license is worse. To make it worse I have a slight lazy eye.

[Starchaser107]

didn't stop biggie, wasn't even mentioned...

[Starchaser107]

bo·gart [ bṓ gaart ] (past bo·gart·ed, past participle bo·gart·ed, present participle bo·gart·ing, 3rd person present singular bo·garts)

verb

1. transitive verb hog something: to take more than your share of something ( slang dated )
Don’t bogart the joystick!


2. transitive and intransitive verb bully or get something by bullying: to behave in a hostile belligerent way, or to get something by intimidation ( slang )
He’s trying to bogart his way in.


[Mid-20th century. Probably for the actor, Humphrey Bogart .]

[Starchaser107]

Encyclopedia article

Bogart is a slang term used by persons who smoke marijuana in groups.

In group smoking settings, a smoker typically inhales once (takes a hit) from the cigarette (also called a joint) and passes it to his neighbor.
However, a smoker may take several hits but fail to pass the cigarette to the next person within a reasonable amount of time (usually ten to twenty seconds). Or, he may simply talk or carry on other business while holding the joint. Either way, the person has “bogarted” the joint, because he has failed to pass it within a reasonable amount of time.

The origin of this term has not been conclusively discovered, but some have suggested that it may be associated with the American actor Humphrey DeForest Bogart.

[Starchaser107]

Humphrey Bogart (http://en2.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humphrey_Bogart)

[norther practitioner]

4 posts in a row...

Hey SC.. don't bogart the thread bro...


Pixat... err pickaxe...
Is your dog a bogart?

[CaptinPickAxe]

not the biggie lazy eye. more of the perma-stoned look in one.

My dog has a real problem.

chen I'd be honored to have my dog as your avatar

[norther practitioner]

My dog has a real problem
lofl:D

[Starchaser107]

posting 4 times in a row is a time honoured ORA tradition.

[Meat Shake]

*spooky music*

[Meat Shake]

Check out this pic... Its cool. I took this picture with my phone camera, right up at my eye. I had the flash on, and this is what came out. Cool eh?
Ming, any way you can make it a tiny bit darker just to see it better?
:)

are you still down fo me.

Fool Jon B is a white boy with some soul, tell ya what.

[MC Taiji Hips]

That dog and meatshake both need rehab:D

[Meat Shake]

No, I need a fix!
*twitch*














































*twitchtwitch*

[shaolin kungfu]

your eye has a purple aura(sp). you need to smoke more to acheive balance.

[chen zhen]

*cough*

*ahem*

:D

[chen zhen]

to Kristoffer: a funny danish movie is on danish television tonight, around 21:30 o clock (danish time). on the channel Sverige 1.

be sure to check it:)

[Kristoffer]

Blinkende lygter.. coo I've been wanna c this en lång tid now.
u seen it?




nice pic of np n sc. international posse

[Kristoffer]

*twitch*

[chen zhen]

yes, twice. its very cool & funny for a danish movie.

be sure to check "I Kina spiser de hunde" too, thats even better. one of the funniest danish movies in years.

[Kristoffer]

blinkande lykter is an action movie right?
but 'Kina' is more of a comedy?


I alwayes love a good scandinavish movie

[Starchaser107]

yo!

[Kristoffer]

sho!

[Starchaser107]

at a loss for words~

[Kristoffer]

how do u say hello to people in J'ca? As in slang that is

[Starchaser107]

Yow Sah Wahgwaan? (http://www.whaddat.com/photo_archive/spiritzAUG03/068.jpg) (to a male)

Yow baby wagwaan (http://www.vibesonline.net/news/various/img/beres1.jpg) (to a female)


Bless (http://www.beenie-man.com/img/beenie5.jpg)

Greetings (http://www.vh1.com/shared/media/images/sn_legacy/addict/AMG_images/artists/P01223.JPG)

Hail / Hailment (http://idsnews.com/weekend/2002-02-20/capleton.jpg)

Yush (http://www.whaddat.com/pics/yush2/013.JPG)

[Starchaser107]

http://www.whaddat.com/events/yush2.html a session named yush.

spotted some friends and a classmate on this page :D

[Kristoffer]

yush sounds good. Like it.

yow sagh waqwaan, izzit a question?

[Starchaser107]

linguistically Yo, and Yow have similar origin, I suppose its all derivative of hello...(Aye Yo)? unsure..maybe fc knows.

anyhoo, the sentense translates to Yo/Hello Man/Sir what's going on/ happenning.

yo dude what's shaking
hey buddy what's going on
yow sah wha' ah g'waan -{wa'gwaan}
(sir...what is going on)

so yes it's a question.

[chen zhen]

K: no, Kina is the real action comedy movie, a straight classic!
blinkende is almost as good, but not quite. still dope as ****. remember it, its in less than 30 minutes!:D

[Meat Shake]

What is wrong with all of you!?
This is page 420!!!!!
:eek:
:eek:
:eek:

[Starchaser107]

page 420..therefore?

[Kristoffer]

linguistically Yo, and Yow have similar origin, I suppose its all derivative of hello...(Aye Yo)? unsure..maybe fc knows.

anyhoo, the sentense translates to Yo/Hello Man/Sir what's going on/ happenning.

yo dude what's shaking
hey buddy what's going on
yow sah wha' ah g'waan -{wa'gwaan}
(sir...what is going on)

so yes it's a question.

Aight. sounds good, sounds like a mix between something spanish and maybe afrikaan


K: no, Kina is the real action comedy movie, a straight classic!
blinkende is almost as good, but not quite. still dope as ****. remember it, its in less than 30 minutes!

only 30? Really, that's odd


What is wrong with all of you!?

Way to much to list bretheren

[Kristoffer]

The movie starts any min now.



































































I*LL B BAAAAKK

[Meat Shake]

Mmmm...
Im kinda hella tired. Gonna have to take a nap before I go out this evenin'.

[MC Taiji Hips]

Thats the best avatar ever chen.

[chen zhen]

:D thanx piccaxxe

[CaptinPickAxe]

yes.

I need footage of Homer when he goes into "bong mode".

[Meat Shake]

We need him smokin a blunt in his G ass sweater.

[CaptinPickAxe]

such a little pimp

[Starchaser107]

Jamaica was under Spanish Rule for a long time, then the British fought them and they lost and we belonged to England for a while until we had a few rebellions and revolts and got our independence...consequently our language has elements of spanish english and African

[Meat Shake]

My language has elements of whiskey and bongs, and broken promises to the red man.

[Meat Shake]

*twitch*

[CaptinPickAxe]

My language has influences of lies, corruption, and deceit. When I talk Iraqi oil spills out of my mouth, consuming the souls of a country living in fear. My mission isn't "enduring freedom" but "Forcing 'freedom'". So that one day Bahgdad can have a Times Square, McDonalds, and Starbucks. I'm the voice of a faceless corporation who squanders millions of dollars of costomers money for personal use. I AM AMERICA...


And I'm getting ready to rough up a junkie

[Volcano Admim]

Originally posted by blooming lotus



rflmao...

I've said befopre and I'm sayin it again...,you are a funny cat
:D how you doin"? oh and hey FC, wha's nu?

poorly
oh so poorly
they put bracers on me!! bracers!!
now when i talk it sounds like i got a potato on my mouth
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

[Starchaser107]

God Bless the Americans who say things that some of us want to say but can not.

[shaolin kungfu]

bud light salutes you, outspoken american activist.

[chen zhen]

u spelled terrorists wrong in your sig

[shaolin kungfu]

No, it's supposed to be like that. It's a nofx song called american errorist.:)

[Kristoffer]

chen-
blinkande lygder was ****ing hilarios. I LMFAO when he offed the cow! I liked the beginning too, the truck driver :D


much better than I thought. So u say 'Kina' is better?

[Meat Shake]

Blah.
That country ham Im gonna give to a homeless person smells like beef jerky and hot ass.

[CaptinPickAxe]

did you get any maranades for the turkey

[Kristoffer]

yeah, it's a good idea too put marinade on when it smells like ass and beef

[shaolin kungfu]

cause the only thing better than ass beef, is ass beef in a marinade.

[Starchaser107]

Give Tanx my yute give tanx...blessed.

[Starchaser107]

"cause the only thing better than ass beef, is ass beef in a marinade."


LOL

[Kristoffer]

:D

[Kristoffer]

redrum

[Starchaser107]

Kris call your gf pronto... come back here when you've got it all out of your system.

[Kristoffer]

Operation: Random Posting Shiza

annoy main board threads with weird replys that dun make sense. Fear me. Fear ma hose

[Kristoffer]

Kris call your gf pronto... come back here when you've got it all out of your system.

dear god no. I've been at it for longer than usuall today. Almost six hours. Plus training :eek:

I'm ****ing dead.
neeeeeed sleep but my operation RPS is just startin

[shaolin kungfu]

Operation: Random Posting Shiza

You can add me to the coalition of the mildly retarded. Let the attack begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Starchaser107]

"Almost six hours. Plus training " you poor poor man... I almost feel sorry and happy for you at the same time.:confused:

[Kristoffer]

quote:Operation: Random Posting Shiza



You can add me to the coalition of the mildly retarded. Let the attack begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*droools randomly*



you poor poor man... I almost feel sorry and happy for you at the same time.

uhm.. let's just say that mini me will have to rest for a few days.

Does anyone here do running training? I hate running but I've been pushing my limits now since I'm going to run every day in the army. It's good but boring

[shaolin kungfu]

try singing while running. something sticato(you know, like an army marching song). It really does help take the boredom away.

[Kristoffer]

I would but I'm scared of getting shot. Having music with me is good IMO

[Kristoffer]

Ok I can't take it no more. Gotta rest

bless

[shaolin kungfu]

see ya later dude.

P.S. the people on the main forum must be really confused.:D

[Starchaser107]

kris, sk, big up im out for now as well


to everyone fu(k safely.

[shaolin kungfu]

will do:D

good night and drive safe.

[norther practitioner]

MARINATE YOUR MEAT...
Serinate those you meet....:D

Oh and rap that puppy up.. no nead for the hep C

[shaolin kungfu]

:D

[Kristoffer]

P.S. the people on the main forum must be really confused

lol
mission complete

[chingei]

Originally posted by CaptinPickAxe
[B]My language has influences of lies, corruption, and deceit. When I talk Iraqi oil spills out of my mouth, consuming the souls of a country living in fear. My mission isn't "enduring freedom" but "Forcing 'freedom'". So that one day Bahgdad can have a Times Square, McDonalds, and Starbucks. B]

Wow, what a bold, innovative statement :rolleyes:

Now that we know what makes you feel good about yourself, what do you think the people who live there want?

[chen zhen]

^ as said by the humorless man. a new superhero. or i mean, supervillain of course:D

K: yeh, the movie was good, right? just wait till u see Kina, thats really dope.

[Kristoffer]

I'm sure it's every Iraqis dream to have their very own KFC

[Former castleva]

Hello.

I´m depressed.How about you?

[Starchaser107]

happy thanksgiving to whom it applies. not gonna be around much today , just stopping by to say hi, and have a good day all of you..esp. you fc.

[chen zhen]

what are you depressed for, FC?
:(

some chenfo: my travel to Rome is in precisely 2 weeks today. im excited, even though its not gonna be as good as istanbul..:mad:

and happy thanksgiving to whoever it may apply. i dont know what thaksgiving is, frankly, and i didnt know it was today, but i say it anyway.

[shaolin kungfu]

thanksgiving is the time when americans celebrate the destruction of the native american way of life.

ok, not really. It's got something to do with the pilgrims getting food from the american indians. Basically it's just an excuse to eat lots of turkey and potatos and ham and corn and marshmallow yam things.:D


some chenfo: my travel to Rome is in precisely 2 weeks today. im excited, even though its not gonna be as good as istanbul..

Hope its cool man. tell us how it was when you get back.:)

FC: whats wrong?:(

[chen zhen]

ok, not really. It's got something to do with the pilgrims getting food from the american indians. Basically it's just an excuse to eat lots of turkey and potatos and ham and corn and marshmallow yam things.

sounds very american:D
no wonder yall so fat, u eat like pigs just before december, and then through the whole of december up to and a little after christmas. thats a lot of food to handle at one time!

or wait a minute.. u also eat like pigs the rest of the year, so maybe im wrong wit that theory:p

-CZ

[shaolin kungfu]

no wonder yall so fat, u eat like pigs just before december, and then through the whole of december up to and a little after christmas. thats a lot of food to handle at one time!

yeah, I usually gain a pound or five.:D


or wait a minute.. u also eat like pigs the rest of the year, so maybe im wrong wit that theory

Not wrong. It's actually a combination of both. Eat alot all year long and then eat even more during the holidays.

[chen zhen]

its actually true what i said? im sorry for u man.

i bet chingy will be all over me now, for that:p

& you too!

[shaolin kungfu]

well, its partly true, america does have a rather large problem with fat. Not everyone is walkin around like a heard of elephants or anything, but its pretty bad.


i bet chingy will be all over me now, for that


& you too!


oh no, i think i just wet myself.:rolleyes: ;)

[chen zhen]

i didnt mean it like that, its just coz u know how he acts. he tries to find whatever he can use against you.

yannow..:o

[shaolin kungfu]

i gottcha.


check this out, it scared the shlt out of me. Turn the volume way up


scary (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/sayit.php)

[chen zhen]

weird

now then checc this:

its pure genious (http://www.funnyjunk.com/pages/arnie.htm)

:D

[shaolin kungfu]

LOL:D

"if you want somethin crazy like pineapple, i kill you."

classic:D

[shaolin kungfu]

well, im off to go get fatter.

happy thanksgiving to all that celebrate. :)

[CaptinPickAxe]

This is a sin....I'm hungry on Thanksgiving...

on lighter note, I saw Aesop Rock last sunday. And it was the most krunk show I've ever been to. If he's ever in your neck of the woods, I strongly suggest you go check him out...its well worth the $15.

[blooming lotus]

Originally posted by chen zhen
what are you depressed for, FC?
:(

some chenfo: my travel to Rome is in precisely 2 weeks today. im excited, even though its not gonna be as good as istanbul..:mad:

and happy thanksgiving to whoever it may apply. i dont know what thaksgiving is, frankly, and i didnt know it was today, but i say it anyway.

DITTO ON THE THANX GIVING GREETINGS :cool:

CHEN, WHAT ARE DOING IN ROME.....IS THERE A SCHOOL THERE i DONT KNOW ABOUT?

[Meat Shake]

Happy late turkey day.
:)

[Kristoffer]

FC, cheer up. "doooon't worry, beeeee happy"

miss lotus I think his trip is mostly vacation

[chen zhen]

lotus: im just there for a week, its an educational travel, have to look at aquaducts & old ruins n sh!t. its not a vacation at all.
& i gotta take care of the girls & women wit me, so they wont be raped or some sh!t, or robbed by vagrant gypsy gangs.
thats kinda my job to do that also.:rolleyes:

[quiet man]

Well, it's almost 16:00 here and I'm off from work. It's friday afternoon, the most wonderful time of the week, with just a faint suggestion of saturday. 's been an interesting week here (parliamentary elections and all)...

Good night to all you valiant ORA riders, drive safely and have a great weekend.

[Meat Shake]

HAHA~~!
No work for me today.,
Im gonna go help the pops put up chrimmus lights.
Peace!

[Starchaser107]

after thanksgiving sale thing brings out the most hectic vibes, but not as crazy as christmas shopping in kingston...at least there are no traffic jams here :p

[Former castleva]

Thanks all.

Sorry,had a short "drift" yesterday,been shifting my ways.

[Starchaser107]

Ghost town here today...brrr.

[Former castleva]

Spooky.

[Starchaser107]

any G.I. Joe fans? http://www.hasbro.com/gijoe/pl/page.viewproduct/product_id.13466/dn/joevscobra/default.cfm

cool s#1t if u grew up on this stuff like I did.

[CaptinPickAxe]

Whats the deal ORA!

[Starchaser107]

I'd like to know the answer to that very same question myself...
what everybody eat too much turkey...drink too much booze..what..
wake up u lazy bums...it's friday!

[Starchaser107]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/EG09Ad01.html

[CaptinPickAxe]

That Jack-Hammer is so real

Diamond cutter spine
Armidillo Armor
and Bends around the blades
Bazooka tooth, baby!

Chase, you like Aesop Rock?

[Starchaser107]

only been introduced recently to the name via you guys... I might add you're doing excellent promo Aesop should hire you both as part of the street team.
I'll definately check out Aesop Rock when I can though. Sounds interesting at the very least.

[CaptinPickAxe]

You know, your right about the promo thing. I'm goin' to call that guy and get my money for the hours I put in:D I only talk so much about Aesop because he's so good. He's not all I listen to though. I could open up a new world of music for everyone on the ORA, but thats okay.;)

[Starchaser107]

It's getting late here I'll lurk the forums for a little while perhaps post a few more times even, but the next time I appear here I'll be in Jamaica my home. It's been cool here (sometimes even cold) met some interesting folks, So to everyone drive safely , and I'll see y'all next week if I don't see y'all sooner..peace.

[shaolin kungfu]

Glad you had fun.:)

Hope your trip back is nice.

[Starchaser107]

tnx sk, maybe we'll meet next time around.

[Meat Shake]

Stay safe on the trip home.
Itll be nice to sleep in your own bed again. :)

[chen zhen]

i have engaged in a political battle with chingei on the main board. actually, i have never really discussed with him, it was just me making a standpoint, and then him making a hate campaign against me and all of us afterwards.

but he should never have started me up there..he doesnt know what he has gotten himself into. take a look up there.

[Kristoffer]

Hi gang
Lazy saturday ahoy
so chillin

hope your flight was good chase,
hey chen I'll check it out.

[Kristoffer]

oh n I have finally decided to download sume Aesop to see what your talkin about :)

gonna see those who have most users. any suggestions of tracks that u like cap?

[Kristoffer]

heeeeeeeeeeeeey I like this

[Kristoffer]

funky base style. :)


hey chen they locked the thread. I read it though, what an idiot chingy make himself out to be. It's scary if he's really serious about the **** he spews. I feel sorry for his narrow mindedness

[Kristoffer]

which Shenmue character are you?
http://66.221.10.227/yokosukacity/quiz/


I got:
http://66.221.10.227/yokosukacity/quiz/gui.htm

[Kristoffer]

I want this book. Looks good
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/094087136X/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-8245496-2359849#reader-link

[Former castleva]

I have Dr.Yang´s chin-na book.
Just not that one. :)

[Kristoffer]

Do u know how many he has written?

[chen zhen]

chingei:Your very well established patterns of behavior and bias are entirely relevant to the interpretation of your remarks, clown.

me: so my viewpoints is similar to the viewpoints of an african-american? well, whaddya know, how could i know what african-americans political viewpoints are? im not american.

i would say it is very racist way of thinking. that means chingei has a prejudist view of what african-americans political viewpoints are. dontchu think its as varied as every other ethnic group in america and alsewhere? hes generalising.

and on top of that, it had nothing to do with the original discussion. make a serious answer to what i said, ******!

[CaptinPickAxe]

Kris:

My personal favs are 'Daylight', 'Nightlight', and 'Battery'.

I got Ryo (http://66.221.10.227/yokosukacity/quiz/ryo.htm)

[Former castleva]

Hey Krist.,
I don´t know,it should be pretty easy to check out.

You could go googling around and look for his organization and such.YMMA,if I remember correctly.

[CaptinPickAxe]

comprehensive analysis of shaolin chin-na is a very good book. I have that, C.A.of Tajiquan, Analysis of White Crane, and Chin-na in ground fighting @ my home kwoon. All of which are great books.

[chingei]

Originally posted by chen zhen
chingei:Your very well established patterns of behavior and bias are entirely relevant to the interpretation of your remarks, clown.

me: so my viewpoints is similar to the viewpoints of an african-american? well, whaddya know, how could i know what african-americans political viewpoints are? im not american.

i would say it is very racist way of thinking. that means chingei has a prejudist view of what african-americans political viewpoints are. dontchu think its as varied as every other ethnic group in america and alsewhere? hes generalising.

and on top of that, it had nothing to do with the original discussion. make a serious answer to what i said, ******!

What's this response doing here?:confused:

[chingei]

Originally posted by chen zhen

me: so my viewpoints is similar to the viewpoints of an african-american? well, whaddya know, how could i know what african-americans political viewpoints are? im not american.

i would say it is very racist way of thinking. that means chingei has a prejudist view of what african-americans political viewpoints are. dontchu think its as varied as every other ethnic group in america and alsewhere? hes generalising.



No, your viewpoints are not those of an African American. Your attempts to 'play' at being African American are insulting.

[chingei]

Originally posted by chen zhen


did you remember to be thankful to the 10000 Iraqi civilians who sacrificed their lifes just so you could be 100% sure no-one would send you an anthrax letter, or drive in your car a little cheaper than you used to.



No Iraqi civilians have been "sacrificed" fool. There has been a tragic number of Iraqi deaths. There has been an unprecedented effort by the coalition throughout to limit the number of such tragedies. The same cannot be said of the regime that has been eliminated.

Being sure that there are no further terrorist attacks is a **** good reason to take appropriate action (I know this is a personal issue for you and your 'cell')

The price of gas has not been affected and will not be affected for quite some time, if ever, by these events. In the event that Iraqi oil exports do increase they will serve the Iraqi people most of all.

[chingei]

Originally posted by chen zhen
i have engaged in a political battle with chingei on the main board. actually, i have never really discussed with him, it was just me making a standpoint, and then him making a hate campaign against me and all of us afterwards.

but he should never have started me up there..he doesnt know what he has gotten himself into. take a look up there.

OH my, aren't you a terror (ist). "he doesnt know what he has gotten himself into". hahahahhahahahaaaa! "political battle" hahahhhaahahhahaahaaa! You have got to get over yourself.
Knee-jerk lefties like you are a dime a dozen pal (although not all of them suffer from as acute an identity crisis as you)


BTW, nice try with the "all of us" bit to garner support from your sycophants. Feeling especially insecure today, are we?

[chingei]

Originally posted by Kristoffer
I feel sorry for his narrow mindedness

Ah yes. Lightweight lefties love to claim 'open-mindedness' but are the last ones to consider views other than their own. In fact, there are few more violent, hysterical creatures than lefties presented with a different viewpoint.

[chingei]

"make a serious answer to what i said, ******!"

ok...


Myths & Facts Online
Human Rights in Arab Countries
By Mitchell G. Bard

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

¡°The governments of Arab states grant basic human rights to their citizens.¡±
¡°Women's rights are now protected in the Arab world.¡±
¡°Freedom for Palestinians in the Palestinian Authority includes the right to sell land to Jews.¡±




MYTH

"The governments of Arab states grant basic human rights to their citizens."

FACT

While much attention has been focused on alleged Israeli human rights violations in the volatile West Bank and Gaza, the popular press has chosen to virtually ignore violations of fundamental human rights that take place daily in almost every Arab country. According to annual reports compiled by the State Department, most of the Arab states are ruled by oppressive, dictatorial regimes, which deny their citizens basic freedoms of political expression, speech, press and due process. The Arab Human Development Report published by a group of Arab researchers from the UN Development Program concluded that out of the seven regions of the world, Arab countries had the lowest freedom score. They also had the lowest ranking for "voice and accountability," a measure of various aspects of the political process, civil liberties, political rights and independence of the media.1

MYTH

"Women's rights are now protected in the Arab world."

FACT

In most Arab countries, the Shari'a, or Islamic law, defines the rules of traditional social behavior. Under the law, women are accorded a role inferior to that of men, and are therefore discriminated against with regard to personal rights and freedoms.

As Middle East expert Daniel Pipes explains: "In the Islamic view...female sexuality is thought of as being so powerful that it constitutes a real danger to society." Therefore, unrestrained females constitute "the most dangerous challenge facing males trying to carry out God's commands." In combination, females' "desires and their irresistible attractiveness give women a power over men which rivals God's."2

"Left to themselves," Pipes continues, "men might well fall victim to women and abandon God," resulting in civil disorder among believers. In traditional thought, Pipes notes, women pose an internal threat to Islamic society similar to the external one represented by the infidel.

Traditionally, the Arab woman marries at a young age to a man of her father's choice. A husband is entitled to divorce any time, even against his wife's will, by merely declaring verbally that this is his intention.

Although the image of the egalitarian woman is slowly developing within some more secular Arab states, it remains largely confined to urban centers and upper-class circles. Ritual sexual mutilation of females is still common in rural areas of Egypt, Libya, Oman and Yemen.

Furthermore, laws that restrict women's rights remain in force in almost all Arab countries. In Syria, a husband can prevent his wife from leaving the country. In Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Jordan, Morocco, Oman and Yemen, married women must have their husbands' written permission to travel abroad, and they may be prevented from doing so for any reason. In Saudi Arabia, women must obtain written permission from their closest male relative to leave the country or travel on public transportation between different parts of the kingdom.

According to the UN, "utilization of Arab women's capabilities through political and economic participation remains the lowest in the world in quantitative terms¡¦.In some countries with elected national assemblies, women are still denied the right to vote or hold office. And one in ever two Arab women can neither read nor write."2a

In a Saudi Shari'a court, the testimony of one man equals that of two women. In Kuwait, the male population is allowed to vote, while women are still disenfranchised. Egypt, Morocco, Jordan and Saudi Arabia all have laws stating that a woman's inheritance must be less than that of her male siblings (usually about half the size). Moroccan law excuses the murder or injury of a wife who is caught in the act of committing adultery; yet women are punished for harming their husbands under the same circumstances.

Wife-beating is a relatively common practice in Arab countries, and abused women have little recourse. As the State Department has noted regarding Jordan (and most of the Arab world): "Wife beating is technically grounds for divorce, but the husband may seek to demonstrate that he has authority from the Koran to correct an irreligious or disobedient wife by striking her."3

In Saudi Arabia, restrictions against women are among the most extreme in the Arab world. Saudi women may not marry non-Saudis without government permission (which is rarely given); are forbidden to drive motor vehicles or bicycles; may not use public facilities when men are present; and are forced to sit in the backs of public buses, segregated from men. At Riyadh's King Saud University, professors lecture to rooms of men while women watch via closed-circuit television from distant all-female classrooms.3a "[Islamic] Advice columns" in the Saudi Arabian press recommend strict disciplining of women as part of a proper marriage. Women must cover their entire body and face in public, and those who do not are subject to physical harassment from the Saudi religious police, known as the Mutaaw'in. The Saudis even extend their discriminatory treatment to women abroad. During a visit to the United States by Crown Prince Abdullah, for example, the prince's aides requested that no female air traffic controllers be allowed to control his flight into Texas to meet President Bush. They also requested that no women be allowed on the airport tarmac with the jet.3b

The UN, international organizations and local human rights rights nongovernmental organizations constantly pressure the regimes in Arab states to improve the state of human rights in general and women's rights in particular. According to UN data, the proportion of women's representation in Arab parliaments is only 3.4% (as opposed to 11.4% in the rest of the world). In addition, 55% of Arab women are illiterate. The Assistant to UN Vice Secretary General, Angela King, publicly called on Arab states to grant women their rights.4

Arab regimes find different ways to deal with the international pressure to improve women's rights. They often prefer to introduce mild improvements in women's status rather than to enacting radical reforms that might contradict their ideology and antagonize conservative elements in the country.

MYTH

¡°Freedom for Palestinians in the Palestinian Authority includes the right to sell land to Jews.¡±

FACT

In 1996, the Palestinian Authority (PA) Mufti, Ikremah Sabri, issued a fatwa (religious decree), banning the sale of Arab and Muslim property to Jews. Anyone who violated the order was to be killed. At least seven land dealers were killed that year. Six years later, the head of the PA's General Intelligence Service in the West Bank, General Tawfik Tirawi, admitted his men were responsible for the murders.4a

On May 5, 1997, Palestinian Authority Justice Minister Freih Abu Middein announced that the death penalty would be imposed on anyone convicted of ceding "one inch" to Israel. Later that month, two Arab land dealers were killed. PA officials denied any involvement in the killings. A year later, another Palestinian suspected of selling land to Jews was murdered. The PA has also arrested suspected land dealers for violating the Jordanian law (in force in the West Bank), which prohibits the sale of land to foreigners.5

Notes
1Arab Human Development Report 2002, NY: UN, 2002.
2Daniel Pipes, In the Path of God: Islam and Political Power, (NY: Basic Books, 1983), p. 177.
2aArab Human Development Report 2002, NY: UN, 2002.
3U.S. State Department, Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1999.
3aMartin Peretz, "Remembering Saudi Arabia," The New Republic, (January 28, 2002).
3bUSA Today, (April 29, 2002).
4Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), (December 4, 1999).
4aJerusalem Post, ,(August 19, 2002).
5State Department. Human Rights Report for the Occupied Territories, 1997, 1998.
5aNewsweek, (March 10, 2003).
6Washington Post, (December 4, 2001).
6aJewish Telegraphic Agency, (August 9, 2002).
7Jerusalem Report, (March 25, 2002).
8CNN, (August 16, 2001).
9Jerusalem Post, (July 1, 2002); BBC News, (August 11, 2002).
10Isabel Kershner, "Below the Law," Jerusalem Report, (April 22, 2002), pp. 32-33.

[Vash]

Chingie's bounced with 6 posts. Anyone know how hard it is to look at the Brink and see a bunch of Ignore List warnings?

Anyway, I think it's time to go home. Gonna lay carefully down on my heat pad, watch some Comedy Central, then pass out.

Peace, all. And safe driving.

[chingei]

HUMAN RIGHTS BY COUNTRY
(Unless otherwise noted, all information is from U.S. State Department Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000-2001)
SAUDI ARABIA
Although the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom declared that, with the demise of the Taliban, Saudi Arabia is probably the worst oppressor of religious rights in the world, the Bush Administration decided on political grounds to leave the kingdom off its annual list of "countries of particular concern," an American blacklist of countries that engage in "systematic, ongoing, and egregious" violations of the rights of religious minorities.5a

Saudi Arabia is a dynastic monarchy, ruled by King Fahd Bin Abd Al-Aziz Al Saud. The country’s constitution is the Koran and the Sunna (tradition) of the prophet Muhammad, and the country is thus governed by a strict interpretation of Islamic law. Because there are no democratic institutions, citizens have no role in the government. Security in the country is enforced by both a secular security force, and the Mutawwa'in, the religious police, who comprise the Committee to Promote Virtue and Prevent Vice. Because the traditional Islamic view of human rights does not coincide with the modern view, the government has allowed both the secular and religious security forces to commit serious abuses.

Legal Rights

Torture, beatings, and other abuses of prisoners are committed regularly by both the Mutawwa'in and officials in the Ministry of Interior. Additionally, at least one person was killed recently by the Mutawwa'in for a very minor religious violation. Other executions during the year 2000 were for crimes ranging from “deviant sexual behavior�E to sorcery, and were carried out by stoning, beheading, or firing squad; additionally, some prisoners were punished by amputations or the loss of an eye. Prisoners are sometimes held for long periods of time without charge or trial.

Freedom of speech and of the press are severely limited in Saudi Arabia �Ecriticizing Islam or the Royal family is illegal, and can result in prolonged imprisonment without trial. Television, radio, internet and literature are all heavily censored. Freedom of assembly and association are also limited, subject to regulations such as the segregation of men and women at meetings.

Treatment of Women

Women are the victims of systematic discrimination in Saudi Arabia. Domestic violence and rape are widespread problems, and women have no redress for such crimes. Women cannot travel, be admitted to a hospital or drive in a car without their husbands�Epermission. Buses are segregated, and women must sit in the rear. Those women not wearing an abaya (a black garment covering the entire body) and covering their faces and hair are harassed by the Mutawwa'in.

Laws that discriminate against women include those governing property ownership, testimony in court inheritance, and child custody in cases of divorce. Comprising only five percent of the workplace, it is nearly impossible for women to be employed in any but the simplest of tasks. Also, Female Genital Mutilation is legal and is practiced in some parts of Saudi Arabia.

Women from foreign countries also must adhere to the strict laws in Saudi Arabia and the U.S. military has gone so faras to require its female soldiers to wear restrictive clothing, ride in the back seat of cars, and have a male escort when off base. In 2001, the U.S. Air Force's highest ranking female fighter pilot sued the U.S. government to overturn the policy on the grounds that it discriminates against women, violates their religious freedom, and forces them to follow customs required by a religion not their own. The Pentagon subsequently ended the requirement that women wear the black head-to-toe abayas worn by Saudi women, but the other restrictions still apply.6

Workers�ERights

There are no labor laws, unions or collective bargaining in Saudi Arabia. While forced labor is technically illegal, foreign workers and domestic servants are sometimes forced to work up to sixteen hours daily, seven days a week. Pay is often withheld for weeks or months at a time.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that women are sometimes smuggled into Saudi Arabia to work as prostitutes, and children are smuggled in to work in organized begging rings. Officially, trafficking in persons is illegal under Saudi law.

Treatment of Minorities

There is no freedom of religion in Saudi Arabia. All citizens must be Muslims, and only the Sunni branch of Islam can be practiced publicly. There is institutional discrimination against Shi’a Muslims. Religions other than Islam are tolerated if practiced discreetly; a number of Christians were deported in 2000 because they practiced “apostasy�Ein too public a manner.

Asian and African workers living in Saudi Arabia report widespread discrimination, and difficulty in the redress of grievances.

[chingei]

JORDAN
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a constitutional monarchy ruled by King Abdullah bin Hussein. While direct elections are used to appoint representatives to the uninfluential lower house of Parliament, the 104-seat Chamber of Deputies, the upper house, the 40-seat senate, is appointed by the king. Virtually all power is concentrated in the king, who can dismiss any representative or disband the parliament altogether, as he did in June 2001. Thus, citizens of Jordan cannot change their government. Many serious human rights violations occur in Jordan and are condoned by the government.

Legal Rights

Jordanian security forces use torture on a regular basis, which has recently resulted in several deaths. Prisoners are often held without charges, are not allowed to meet with lawyers, and are kept in unsanitary conditions; this applies also to journalists charged with “defamation,�Emeaning they criticized the government or the king. Forced expulsions are rare in Jordan, and are generally used only on suspected terrorists; terrorist groups are well represented in Jordan. For example, the Islamic Movement of Jordan ("The Group of Ahmed Al Daganesh") and the Nobles of Jordan claimed responsibility for the August 2001 murder of an Israeli businessman in Amman. The government denied that the killing was political and has made no arrests in the case.

Freedom of assembly, association, the press and speech are all restricted by the government; authors of articles critical or satirical of the government are often arrested and imprisoned. In August 2002, the Al-Jazeera television network's license was revoked for airing views critical of the government.6a

Women’s Rights

Jordanian women are at a distinct legal disadvantage. Marital rape is legal, wife-beating is rampant, and often allowed by law, and honor crimes crimes (domestic violence against women committed by men who feel the women have undermined their honor by their "immoral behavior") receive minimal sentences. Such honor crimes have become so common that they comprise 25% of the total murders committed in Jordan in 2000, according to one study.

Financially, women are at a legal disadvantage as well. Social security, inheritance, divorce and testimony laws all favor men. Women earn less than men for equal work, and are under-represented in the workplace.

Female Genital Mutilation, once practiced widely in Jordan, has largely been discontinued. Some tribes, however, maintain the practice. Much more common is the abuse of female children, especially sexual abuse. While the law calls for strict punishment in such cases, few are ever investigated.

Workers�ERights

Labor laws are generally good; however, there are exceptions. Although forced labor is illegal in Jordan, many foreign servants work under conditions that amount to forced labor. Additionally, child labor is common, although the government has taken steps to curb it.

Treatment of Minorities

Freedom of religion is for the most part respected in Jordan. While only the three “main monotheistic religions�E (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity) are officially recognized by the government, all other religions are permitted to practice freely, and are given equal rights. The one exception to this rule is the Baha’i faith, members of which face official, systematic discrimination. They are, however, allowed to practice openly.

Following the 1948 war, and again following the 1967 war, Jordan granted citizenship to Palestinian refugees fleeing from Israel. However, refugees who arrived since then have not been granted citizenship, and are widely discriminated against.

[chingei]

LEBANON
Since ending a 16-year civil war in 1991, Lebanon has been primarily controlled by Syria, which stations 25,000 soldiers in the country. Thus, although Lebanon is technically a parliamentary republic, neither citizens nor government officials have much of a role in changing their government, because Syria makes all policy decisions and heavily influence the elections. The Lebanese government and army do not respect human rights, and the several terrorist organizations that are headquartered in Lebanon commit abuses as well.

Legal Rights

While official governmental killings are unknown in Lebanon, there have been numerous disappearances and deaths of political prisoners in prison awaiting trial. Arbitrary arrests are common, and some prisoners are held for long periods of time without trials or charges. The use of torture is reportedly widespread. In the areas of the country controlled by the Syrian-backed militia Hizballah, only Islamic law is applied; in the independent Palestinian refugee camps in the south, no specific law system is endorsed. In both locations, human rights violations abound.

Freedom of speech and of the press are granted by law, and respected for the most part; however, cases of censorship are common. The right to assembly granted by law is restricted by the government. In August 2001, mostly Christian students staged a non-violent protest against Syria's role in Lebanon and were beat up by security forces. Days earlier, other anti-Syrian activists were arrested.7

In August 2001, Lebanese security forces arrested a Christian journalist in a crackdown on anti-Syrian Christian dissidents. The week before about 200 members of Christian-led opposition groups that oppose Syria's control over Lebanon were arrested.8

Inhabitants of Lebanon have suffered from the numerous competing terrorist groups that operate inside Lebanon. These groups either attack targets within the country, or attack Israel to the south; when they do the latter, Lebanon’s population is forced to bear the brunt of the reprisals. However, attacks on Israel by Syrian-backed Hizballah and other terrorist groups have significantly decreased since Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May of 2000.

Women’s Rights

Domestic violence and rape are significant social problems, and affect a large segment of the population. Honor Crimes are illegal, but reduced sentences are applied in such cases.

While technically women can enter any profession they wish, there is strong societal pressure that prevents most women from doing so. Many other laws in Lebanon are based on Islamic law, and are discriminatory against women and children.

Workers�ERights

Forced labor is not illegal, and many foreign servants, women, and children are compelled to work against their will. Child labor in general is rampant. Children suffer under Lebanese law in other ways as well: child abuse, kidnappings, and even the sale of children to adoption agencies are relatively common, and ignored by the government.

Treatment of Minorities

Freedom of religion is generally respected, although some discrimination is built into the legal system: for example, certain government positions can only be held by certain types of Muslims. Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon have no rights, and cannot become citizens of the state.

[chingei]

SYRIA
Technically, Syria is a parliamentary democracy in which officials are appointed through direct elections; in practice, President Bashar Assad wields virtually absolute power. When his father Hafez Assad died on June 10, 2000, after a 30-year reign, Bashar ran unopposed for the post, and consequently, the minimum age required by law for a president was lowered from 40 to 34, Bashar’s age. Because of an emergency martial law that has been in place since 1963, powerful security services and militias operate independent of each other, and unimpeded by the government. Human rights are significantly restricted by the government, and the security services commit serious abuses as well.

Legal Rights

Because of the power of the security services, the legal rights of citizens of Syria are not enforced. Arbitrary arrests, torture and disappearances of prisoners all occur regularly. Syrian, Lebanese and Jordanian political prisoners have been held incommunicado by the government for long periods of time, as have missing Israeli soldiers captured by Syria, and Hizballah, the terrorist organization it backs in Lebanon. Prisoners captured as many as twenty years ago remain unaccounted for.

Freedom of speech and of the press are granted by law, but severely restricted. Publication of any “false information�Epublished that opposes “the goals of the revolution�Eis punishable by lengthy jail sentences. All press industries are owned and operated by the government. In 2001, ten pro-democracy activists were arrested and convicted of inciting rebellion, disseminating lies and trying to change the constitution by force.9

Freedom of association is severely restricted by the government, and freedom of assembly does not exist at all.

Women’s Rights

Domestic violence occurs in Syria, though little is known about its extent. Spousal rape is not illegal, and honor crimes occur. Legally, many financial laws, such as inheritance and social security, discriminate against women, and the punishment for adultery for women is twice that of men. Women cannot travel outside the country without their husbands�Epermission. Women are employed in all areas, but are under-represented in most fields.

Workers�ERights

Child labor is common, despite laws to the contrary. Additionally, the rights to form unions and bargain collectively are restricted.

Treatment of Minorities

Freedom of religion is generally respected, with two exceptions: Jews are systematically excluded from government involvement, and lack many basic rights; and extreme Islamic groups are frequently targeted for attacks and discrimination, due to the numerous Islamic terrorist groups that oppose the government.

Kurds are systematically oppressed by Syria: they cannot become citizens, they have few rights and the teaching of their language and culture is outlawed by the government.

[chingei]

EGYPT
According to its constitution, Egypt is a social democracy in which Islam is the state religion. The President and his National Democratic Party, however, control the political scene to such an extent that citizens do not have a meaningful ability to change their government. There has been an Emergency Law in effect since 1981, allowing the government to arbitrarily detain persons without charge, and to regularly deny legal rights to Egyptian citizens.

Legal Rights

Freedom of speech and of the press are guaranteed by the Constitution, but are often withheld in practice. The government owns and controls the three largest newspapers and holds a monopoly on printing and distribution. Thus, newspapers rarely criticize the government, and the output of oppositions parties�Enewspapers is limited. Scholars and officials who criticize the government are often charged with the crimes of libel, slander, or “disseminating false information about Egypt,�Eand are imprisoned. Freedom of association and assembly are severely restricted.

Physical or psychological torture, while officially outlawed, are nonetheless common, and it is reported that at least eight prisoners were tortured to death in the year 2000. Prison conditions are squalid. The Egyptian police routinely arrest prisoners arbitrarily, often holding them for long periods of time without charge, trial or access to a lawyer.



�g[Egypt�fs] autocratic regime, established a half-century ago under the banner of Arab nationalism and socialism, is politically exhausted and morally bankrupt. Mr. Mubarak, who checked Islamic extremists in Egypt only by torture and massacre, has no modern political program or vision of progress to offer his people as an alternative to Osama bin Laden's Muslim victimology. Those Egyptians who have tried to promote such a program...are unjustly imprisoned. Instead, Mr. Mubarak props himself up with $2 billion a year in U.S. aid, while allowing and even encouraging state-controlled clerics and media to promote the anti-Western, anti-modern and anti-Jewish propaganda of the Islamic extremists. The policy serves his purpose by deflecting popular frustration with the lack of political freedom or economic development in Egypt. It also explains why so many of Osama bin Laden's recruits are Egyptian.�h

�EWashington Post editorial, October 11, 2001


Women’s Rights

Domestic violence is a serious social problem in Egypt; one report concluded that one in three married women has been beaten by her husband. Additionally, marital rape is legal. Female Genital Mutilation still occurs, and a majority of women undergo the procedure. In the business world, women are guaranteed pay equal to that of men, but there are strong societal pressures against women being employed. Legally, many laws, particularly inheritance laws, favor males, and men who kill women in honor killingsreceive significantly lighter sentences than women who kill men under similar circumstances.

Workers�ERights

Labor laws in Egypt do not provide adequately for union members; striking is illegal and punishable by prison terms. Many government mandated labor laws are not enforced, such as minimum wages and maximum hours. While child labor has been a problem in Egypt in the past, there has been marked improvement recently.

Treatment of Minorities

Egypt guarantees freedom of religion, and the Jewish and Christian communities are generally treated well. Nevertheless, the Christian minority has reported that it is sometimes discriminated against, and there have been reports of forced conversions to Islam. Members of the Baha’i faith are categorically banned from practicing or living in Egypt.

[chingei]

PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY
The Palestinian Authority's poor human rights record worsened after the onset of the "al-Aksa intifada." In September 2000 as members of the Palestinian security services and Fatah's Tanzim participated in violent attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers. Because armed Palestinians often launched their attacks near the homes of Palestinian civilians; residents of the homes sometimes found themselves in the line of fire when Israel retaliated. Palestinian security forces also failed to prevent armed Palestinians from opening fire on Israelis in places where bystanders were present.

Legal Rights

On December 2, 2001, Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat declared a state of emergency and granted himself broad legal powers.

PA security forces arbitrarily arrest and detain persons, and prolonged detention and lack of due process are prevalent. The courts do not ensure fair and expeditious trials. The PA executive and security services frequently ignore or fail to enforce court decisions.

The PA does not prohibit by law the use of torture or force against detainees, and PA security forces reportedly were responsible for torture and widespread abuse of Palestinian detainees. International human rights monitoring groups have documented widespread arbitrary and abusive conduct by the PA. These organizations state that use of torture is widespread and not restricted to those persons detained on security charges. At least five Palestinians died in PA custody during 2001.

PA security forces infringed on citizens' rights to privacy and restricted freedom of speech and of the press by closing down media outlets, banning publications or broadcasts, and periodically harassing or detaining members of the media. For example, after the brutal killing of two IDF reserve soldiers at a Ramallah police station on October 12, 2000, Palestinian police confiscated film from several journalists who were at the scene. On October 4, a foreign journalist filmed three members of the Palestinian security forces distributing Molotov ****tails to several children. The security forces detained the journalist and his crew for several hours and destroyed the roll of film. PA harassment contributed to the practice of self-censorship by many Palestinian commentators, reporters, and critics.

Violence Against Israelis

Palestinian violence during the "al-Aksa iintifada" included violent demonstrations, shootings and incidents in which Palestinians usually threw stones and Molotov ****tails at IDF checkpoints. Israeli civilians and Jews in the territories became frequent targets of drive-by shootings and ambushes, suicide and other bombings, mortar attacks, and armed attacks on settlements and military bases. Palestinians acting individually, or in unorganized or small groups, including some members of Palestinian security services, killed 87 Israelis in the territories in 2001. Off-duty members of PA security forces and members of Chairman Arafat's Fatah faction participated in some of these attacks.

Several Palestinian terrorist groups, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), and Fatah-affiliated groups such as the al-Aqsa Brigades, have also claimed responsibility for attacks specifically targeting civilians within Israel proper. The PA had made few arrests in these killings by year's end.

An estimated 340 suspected collaborators and 180 to 200 political prisoners were held in PA jails at the end of 2001. A number of Palestinians suspected of collaboration with the Israeli government were arrested, tried and executed. Dozens more were simply murdered.10

Women’s Rights

Spousal abuse, sexual abuse, and honor killings occur, but societal pressures prevent most incidents from being reported and most cases are handled within the families concerned, usually by male family members.

Palestinian women endure various forms of social prejudice and repression within their society. Because of early marriage, girls frequently do not finish the mandatory level of schooling. Cultural restrictions sometimes prevent women from attending colleges and universities. While there is an active women's movement in the West Bank, serious attention has shifted only recently from nationalist aspirations to issues that greatly affect women, such as domestic violence, equal access to education and employment, and laws concerning marriage and inheritance. Women who marry outside of their faith, particularly Christian women who marry Muslim men, often are disowned by their families and sometimes are harassed and threatened with death.

A growing number of Palestinian women work outside the home, where they tend to encounter discrimination. There are no special laws that provide for women's rights in the workplace. Women are underrepresented in most aspects of professional life.

Workers�ERights

There is no minimum wage in the West Bank or Gaza Strip and no laws that protect the rights of striking workers. In practice, such workers have little or no protection from an employer's retribution. In early 2000, West Bank teachers held a strike. On May 5, 2000, PA officials arrested one of the strike leaders for criticizing the PA during a radio interview. The radio station was also shut down. The teachers suspended their strike on May 17, despite the fact that none of their demands were met.

Child labor is a problem.

Treatment of Minorities

No PA law protects religious freedom; however, the PA generally respects freedom of religion. In past years, there were allegations that several converts from Islam to Christianity at times are subject to societal discrimination and harassment by PA officials. However, there was no pattern of PA discrimination and harassment against Christians.



�gIt is hard to know what is more alarming -- a toxic statement of hatred of Jews by the Malaysian prime minister at an Islamic summit meeting this week or the unanimous applause it engendered from the kings, presidents and emirs in the audience. The words uttered by the prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, in a speech to the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference on Thursday were sadly familiar: Jews, he asserted, may be few in number, but they seek to run the world....Sympathy for the Muslims' plight must not be confused with the acceptance of racism. Most Muslims have indeed be shoddily treated — by their own leaders who gather at feckless summit meetings instead of offering their people what they most need: human rights, education and democracy.�h

�ENew York Times editorial, October 18, 2003

[CaptinPickAxe]

ahhh...silence is golden....

[Kristoffer]

..............was gonna write something about chingy but I've decided to add him to my ignore list.



Cap n FC-
cool thx, I'll definatly try get one of them. FC did u buy your copy online?

[chen zhen]

Being sure that there are no further terrorist attacks is a **** good reason to take appropriate action (I know this is a personal issue for you and your 'cell')

what youre saying is that the reason to start the war was necessary because it would limit the amount of terrorist attacks?
then what about the attacks on western targets all over Iraq in the last 4 months? hundreds of people have been killed.
and the recent terrorist attacks in Istanbul can also be mentioned. the reason they exploded those bombs was as a direct response to the Iraq war. I bet they will go after all the countries who supported the war. possibly my country next. yes, there may not be any more terrorist attacks on US soil, but the rest of the world is not a safe place at all. thank you very much for that!
the mission was succesful if american interests were guaranteed, but non-american lifes doesnt count in that. now we all have to fear terror because of that war, terror that we would never had been exposed to if it had never happened.

and i think its cynical to say that "Iraqi casualties is a tragedy, but it was necessary". why was it necessary? you had to kill thousands of Iraqis just to save a few "possible" american lifes in the future? now that is what i call a sacrifice.
also the fact that Iraq has not been proven to have been an "imminent threat" in the time up to the war, not has been proven yet, makes it even more cold-hearted.

[CaptinPickAxe]

Its nice w/o all of chingei's posts. It really slowed down my old-ass computer.

[Kristoffer]

I don't think Brink Of is the place for this political crap. Chen don't reply to that ***** in this thread, it's giving me a headache. Make a political debate thread or whatever, let's just discuss por.. uh I mean thorn (http://www.angeredc.com/Shops/thorn.html)

[chingei]

Originally posted by chen zhen


what youre saying is that the reason to start the war was necessary because it would limit the amount of terrorist attacks?
then what about the attacks on western targets all over Iraq in the last 4 months? hundreds of people have been killed.


You have got to think this one over again :rolleyes:
I can't believe even you are this dense. Honestly, if you don't see the illogic in this then don't cry about being taken seriously ever again.

[chingei]

Originally posted by chen zhen



and the recent terrorist attacks in Istanbul can also be mentioned. the reason they exploded those bombs was as a direct response to the Iraq war. I bet they will go after all the countries who supported the war. possibly my country next. yes, there may not be any more terrorist attacks on US soil, but the rest of the world is not a safe place at all. thank you very much for that!
the mission was succesful if american interests were guaranteed, but non-american lifes doesnt count in that. now we all have to fear terror because of that war, terror that we would never had been exposed to if it had never happened.



Ah, yes. The traditional European strategy of weakness, appeasement, cowardice, and avoidance in the face of a threat. How'd that work out for Europe last time, adolf?

[chingei]

Originally posted by chen zhen



and i think its cynical to say that "Iraqi casualties is a tragedy, but it was necessary".


Then why did you say it? That is your quote, not mine. Nice try at misrepresentation with the quotation marks, though.

[chingei]

Originally posted by chen zhen

you had to kill thousands of Iraqis just to save a few "possible" american lifes in the future? now that is what i call a sacrifice.
also the fact that Iraq has not been proven to have been an "imminent threat" in the time up to the war, not has been proven yet, makes it even more cold-hearted.

Your theory of security through cowardice and looking the other way, notwithstanding, the greatest beneficiary of the overthrow of that regime is the Iraqi people themselves. The US didn't say the threat is imminent before launching the attack, but it sure as hell was imminent for the Iraqi people.

[Kristoffer]

Yo, wrong thread ching. There's a political thread made just for you. Post all your political posts there. The brink of thread isn't a political thread. Do u understand?

[Kristoffer]

http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=26903

[chingei]

Originally posted by Kristoffer
Yo, wrong thread ching. There's a political thread made just for you. Post all your political posts there. The brink of thread isn't a political thread. Do u understand?


"It's scary if he's really serious about the **** he spews. I feel sorry for his narrow mindedness"

Are these not your words? Was this change of heart so sudden?
You don't want politics here, then keep your trap shut about politics. I have not once instigated a political discussion, but rather have responded to the offensive statements of others--like yourself. Do u understand?

[Former castleva]

Krist.,
Yes,I did.I have various books.

[Kristoffer]

cool, exactly where did u get them from? I'm not really that fond of giving out my credit card number to order stuff..

[Kristoffer]

This is another book I wanna lay my hands on.. (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/4770011067/103-8245496-2359849?v=glance)

[chen zhen]

that one should be good, also pic up Musashis classic book of 5 rings & Yugenoris "book of family traditions and art of war"

get them for Xmas.

btw happy 1st september for the Xmas happy:D

im not a kinda guy who gets into a Xmas spirit (not since i was 10 at least), but i say it for those who are.



-N

[Kristoffer]

I'm kinda x-mas *****. Where ma toys at!?

[chen zhen]

i have a list of CD's id like to get. ill have to choose a few out of this list, its very hard. help me!

-Snoop Doggy Dogg: Doggystyle (i dont have all the tracks, so id like the full version)

-Makaveli: The 7 Day Theory

-Ice Cube: Amerikkka's Most Wanted

-Eazy-E: Eazy Duz It

-Kool G Rap & DJ Polo: Road To The Riches/ Wanted: Dead or Alive (Double CD)

-Eric B & Rakim: Paid In Full

-Westside Connection: Bow Down

-Kurupt: Kuruption!

-N.W.A.: Straight Outta Compton (original)

-N.W.A.: 100 Miles & Running

so u can see its hard to choose!!:eek:

[Kristoffer]

hmmm this is a hard one... how many can I pick?
Can list the ones I'd want most:


1. Makaveli: The 7 Day Theory

2. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo: Road To The Riches/ Wanted: Dead or Alive (Double CD)

3. N.W.A.: Straight Outta Compton (original)

4. Snoop Doggy Dogg: Doggystyle

[Former castleva]

Krist,
I think it was bol.com (URL sp?) It has been a while.

[Former castleva]

Hmmm.
I want books for christmas.It would be fine too,though,if it was not too miserable.

[Kristoffer]

how are u spending the holidays fc? with relatives?

[Former castleva]

Yeah.How about you?

[chen zhen]

good choices K. but i reeealllyy want the others too:(

i think ill buy my gifts in Italy, im sure to find some good stuff there.
mmm, a chick i really like is also going to Rome in the same timespan as me, with her class. i hope i meet her there.:)

btw K about music, u should download this track im listening to now,: Reality -Tha Dogg Pound. i really love that song.
just an impulse i got to write that:D

edit: i put this avatar & name on just to irritate Chingy. howdya like it?
:cool:

[Former castleva]

-Was just going to greet you for introducing a caucasian to your avatar...

[Kristoffer]

Yea I spend mine with the family. It's cool


hey chen if u have hearth or it then talk to her b4 goin so u make sure u hook up with her ya know. i'm dl the Reality -Tha Dogg Pound now, ie searchin.

[chen zhen]

the caucasian was a danish actor called Dejan Cukic (hes from Serbia). he stars in the movie "I Kina spiser de hunde".

actually i think ill bring him back, i can be Amerikkkas most wanted wit him too:cool:

[Kristoffer]

he looked badder

[chen zhen]

NO! i want this one!:D

this was the very first avatar i ever used. ill used that for a while, since I AM the MOD-ERATOR!

:p

[Kristoffer]

:D

[Kristoffer]

That's pretty funny that it was the first avatar u used :D

Arnold kicks ass

[Kristoffer]

sucky night

[chen zhen]

whys that?

also if ure in the mood for downloading, chec these tracks:

-21 Jump Street -Snoop Doggy Dogg feat. Tray Dee

-Who Got Some Gangsta Sh!t? - Snoop Doggy Dogg, Tha Dogg Pound, Lil' C Style, Young Swoop

^ol school!:)

drive safe

[Starchaser107]

back home.
airports sux flying is no fun , but ah well.. back at my yard.
peace.

[Starchaser107]

Im gonna see if i can catch a repeat of xma now , even though vash review says it suxors

[Starchaser107]

it's not that bad thus far...

oh , I saw "the missing " with tommy lee jones ...brilliant movie, and I got in a pre release of " the last samurai"

those were the best two movies i've seen all year...
simply.

[Meat Shake]

XMA- the weapons explanation segments with the xray views was cool, the rest suxored hardcore.

lofl...
Priceless ass ****. Just sicked my friends boxer on a paper mache deer down the street... Were cruisin smokin a doob... The dog got real mad when we drove by. So we said "get em louie" and let him out... ****in priceless... He let that thing have it... rofl....

[chen zhen]

yall should peeb the Texas Chainsaw massacre movie, thats the sh!t. gotta love dat leatherface guy:cool:

[bodhitree]

Chen

what up homie? I haven't been around in a couple days, been sick and buzy. Like the chingei quote I put in my thing? He did say it. hahahah;)

[bodhitree]

ahhhhhhhhhh

back home at ORA, it feels so good.

[chen zhen]

i have a new avatar for ya

[Starchaser107]

it was interesting , except that it got drawn out and suxored as u put it.
i would have to agree..the tstuff about the weapons was fine...but as soon asa it got to the fighting it fell off big time.
anyways hows it going y'all, happy real birthday this time ming yue.

[chen zhen]

i think from now on ill only use my 2nd identity when i post rhymes on the battle thread. cz is still what i am.

[Young Gotti]

I guess most of you already knew, chen zhen & Young Gotti is the same person: Nikolaj from Denmark.


sup yall!:D ill stop frontin. ppl started hating me as the cz character, so i made myself a new, more mature & serious character-identity. from now on ill use this more regularly, theres still lots who doesnt know.

and especially when im dropping rhymes, then youll hear the Rhyme Don, The Mighty Aghlab, not chen.

-YG/N/CZ

[chen zhen]

happy birthday Ming... :confused:

i thought she already had it.

& what about that guy who has his 2nd year birthday today?:D

-c

[norther practitioner]

Hey, SC.. sorry I missed your call Sat. night. I hope your trip back home was good, and I enjoyed training with you. Hope I can make it down there sometime to chill/train.:D

[Meat Shake]

Ohh... I feel like **** today. :(
My whole body hurts and Ive got a 102 fever... :( :(
Oh well..
Hows this monday treatin everybody?

[Young Gotti]

is starting to prepare for my journey to Rome. have to buy new clothes, bags, and have my money made into Euro's at the bank.

have a lot to do.

[CaptinPickAxe]

My Christmas wish list:
1. Splashing Hands 1-9
2. Camera/Cell phone
3. Super Silver
4. RJD2 "Deadringer"

I had to get that offa me chest. I think I may be relocating back to Colo. in Jan. If I do though, I'd like an apartment up in Boulder.

NP, Have you heard anything about these two schools:
1. Wu Tang Chuan (requires try-outs)
2. Temple Boxing- Westchester
I was hoping you could give me a quick evaluation of these schools.

[Young Gotti]

i think i want a new cell too, my old Nokia 3310 is startin to get really f*cked.

i want to be able to switch hidden numbers on & off!:mad:

[Kristoffer]

super silver?


I want some books/cd's as usuall.. A better mp3 player could come in handy those lonely nights in the army..


This monday's been good. Hanged at the gym and pushed houses. Chilled with the girl and watched some Karate competition on tv. Then did hand conditioning with my cemented brick.
now I'm just waiting for futurama to start.

[Kristoffer]

G, get one with camera. Those are pretty fun

[CaptinPickAxe]

super silver is some of the sweetest "mindless indulgence" I've ever indulged in;)

Isn't Sweden known for its huge harvests?

[Kristoffer]

Oh, that stuff :D
hehe, I've never tryed it but I hear it's pretty good. Dunno how much of it is grown here but yea, there's alotta harvesting goin on

[norther practitioner]

I just got a new phone... didn't get one with a camera though (they tend to get me into trouble)....

got the smallest one they had, a siemens sl 56


so far so good.:D

[Young Gotti]

a fancy camera would always be tyte, but i think ill keep it under a reasonable price limit. i go wit simplicity.

btw i shall be known as gotti now, i have grown away from chen zhen. the name fits me better the way my interests and life has formed itself since. yall may get p!ssed, coz u may have liked me as chen, cz, or whatever. but this is just the way it is.
ive put an OG avatar on my CZ posts to show that it is from the old times. gotti comes in wit the new era.

spread the word.

thc for listenin to my rambling, and drive safely.

[Kristoffer]

It's weird not to say chen...
yo btw, you'll have to REALLLLLY post alot to get more posts than your old self :D

[Kristoffer]

I like Sony Ericsson cells. They are soo freakkin cool

[Kristoffer]

..u know, speaking of phones that is

[CaptinPickAxe]

Kris, you mean to tell me your in such a beautiful situation and haven't capitalized? Kris, Kris, Kris...Am I gonna have to come over there and show you how its done?:D

NP:Check your PM's

[Kristoffer]

lol tell me what u know. I need location-information man. BTW It'd b fun to circle up with ya somethime

[Meat Shake]

Yes..
Silver is quite delicious. Northern Lights as well... Mmmm....
White Shark....
I could go on for a long time... ;)

[CaptinPickAxe]

Hey, Meatshake (a.k.a. resident po-thead) where are some canni-hot-spots in Sweden? Kris whats your MA background?

[chingei]

Originally posted by Young Gotti

btw i shall be known as gotti now, i have grown away from chen zhen. the name fits me better the way my interests and life has formed itself since.






Is there a shrink in the house?:eek:

[blooming lotus]

Am I reading that right????? Did Chen just change his name:confused:

[CaptinPickAxe]

chingow, pinche pendeho



We've all adopted aliases, BL.
Lets see if you can pick who's who?
Its like a twisted game of guess who.

[Meat Shake]

Me siento como caca...
:(

[Starchaser107]

I post as rubthebuddha on the main forum, and sometimes as philbert..I bet you'd have never guessed it.:D :eek: :confused: :p

[bodhitree]

Star
where you at, Jamaca or Colorado. Do you do winter in Jamaca?

[Kristoffer]

Kris whats your MA background?

about 4 years of 5 Animal style and Shuai Chiao. And u?


Do you do winter in Jamaca?

I do winter all the time, she's a total ****

[bodhitree]

What up Kris?

hey, that 5 animals, could you explain some more. There are a lot of different things people call the 5 animal styles. Is it a southern or northern thing?

[Kristoffer]

It's structured as a southern style with alot of sweeps. Our basics look like Muay Thai with elbows, knees and a high fighting stance. But we blend that with the traditional moves and forms + the whole sub system of sweeps (Ti Tan) and with sanda style catch-throw with Shuai Chiao.

[Young Gotti]

Originally posted by chingei


Is there a shrink in the house?:eek:

Do you need one so desperately you have to shout it out? ill go get my phone...

but anyway, i just wanna go wit this, starting up from scratch. its like a new birth.
in general: i need a fresh new start.

[bodhitree]

Kris
thanks for pmin me the link, it looks pretty cool!

[Young Gotti]

booty: didnt you see the new avatar i made for ya?

go back a few pages.

[chingei]

Originally posted by Young Gotti

but anyway, i just wanna go wit this, starting up from scratch. its like a new birth.
in general: i need a fresh new start.

OK

[Meat Shake]

My back hurts.

Pot hot spots...
Sweden isnt that crazy hot right now..
Switzerland is actually producing more outdoor crops than amsterdam tho.
:eek:

[Young Gotti]

mmm

on friday night im gonna hook up wit some pretty Thai chicks, and then were gonna cruise around.
and i tell ya, it aint the usual skinny lil ugly asian chicks u usually see, they have faces like natasha yi & bodies thereafter.

man i feel like a lucky man these days:D

[Meat Shake]

Asian chicks are real sexy.... Never been with one tho.
yet...
:eek:

[Young Gotti]

i have a pic of one of them, i may post it another day.

if u wanna be jealous..;)

[Meat Shake]

lol.
I got my own goods to work with, doubt Ill be jealous. Ill just be happy for you. :)

[Young Gotti]

i know, just kidding.

if it was just one asian, it would be great. but 2 at once is really more than i could have asked for.

:cool:

[CaptinPickAxe]

about 4 years of 5 Animal style and Shuai Chiao. And u?

I'm a fellow shuai chiao player and I'm starting splashing hands. I'm also considering some temple boxing. If you weren't over an ocean, I'd be more than happy to take a road trip so we can circle up. I'd love to circle up with another shuai chiao player besides meatshake.

I'm Combat Shuai Chaio are you the same?

[CaptinPickAxe]

MS, are you still hallucenating (sp?) from the fever?

[Meat Shake]

"I do winter all the time, she's a total ****"

Amen to that. *****.


Nah, not hallucinating anymore. Still a little sick tho. 1 more day of laziness and I should be back in business.

[Kristoffer]

thanks for pmin me the link, it looks pretty cool!

cool




Sweden isnt that crazy hot right now..
our crappy weather makes it hard to grow certain plants :)


on friday night im gonna hook up wit some pretty Thai chicks, and then were gonna cruise around.

fill them with booz. You KNOW why


I'm a fellow shuai chiao player and I'm starting splashing hands. I'm also considering some temple boxing. If you weren't over an ocean, I'd be more than happy to take a road trip so we can circle up. I'd love to circle up with another shuai chiao player besides meatshake.

I'm Combat Shuai Chaio are you the same?

An authentic american road trip would kick ass. Truly. Combat SC? Not sure but my Sifu trained under GM Chang in Taiwan.

[CaptinPickAxe]

My Sifu studies under Master Wong. I study under Sifu Kirk in San Antonio. He's an amazing Sifu. He busts my chops, but its fine tuning me quite well. I'm considering taking Temple Boxing right now.

[Kristoffer]

Throwing is great fun. What's this temple boxing? Some form of Shaolin?

[CaptinPickAxe]

I'm not quite sure. Becca said Chinese Boxing, so I gather that its Eastern Boxing as opposed to Western Boxing. It caught my interest because, If this is the case, then I'd join a Western Boxing circuit in the long run.

Throwing down is good fun:D

[Young Gotti]

fill them with booz. You KNOW why '

i dun have to, i know for a fact these chickas are h0rny.
:cool:

K, jump on msn if u have time. i gotta talk wit u.

[Kristoffer]

k.. yo I'll b on msn in about 30 min. Gonna eat some Libanese chicken.


brb

[chen zhen]

i dont think ill be there then. we can handle this tomorrow.

i changed into chen now coz i have some modding to do....
:mad:

[Young Gotti]

gotti's out.

drive safely.

[Kristoffer]

crap, I missed u. We'll chat tomorrow then.
Peas

[Former castleva]

Hello.