Koran

[cema]

One of the two books I have honestly tried to read and could not. (The other one is Moby Dick.)

Some chapters start with alif-lam-mim. As they say, nobody but Allah knows their meaning.

I joked that perhaps they mean "take it with a grain of salt". A guy nearby, a devout Muslim, went furious. He said something along the lines of "if we had not been colleagues I would have to [destroy] you" (we were both grad students at the time). He did not say "destroy" but some other word to that effect, I am not sure which one, maybe "kill". He knew I was joking but he was deeply offended.

I think people have a right to be offended if they choose so. And they have a right to joke if they choose so.

They have a right to defend themselves when they are threatened. I told him I would defend myself.

Maybe he felt threatened by the joke? Could be. His problem.

(My opinion.)

Comments

[mme-n-b.livejournal.com]

Sometimes a joke sounds offensive when not intended to be, especially when made in a language not native for either speaker or listener. Given that - everyone has the right to joke and to be offended and to act on one's offense through non-violent means.

re: take it with a grain of salt!

[roman-kr.livejournal.com]

Замени на ету и получи удовольствие...
http://www.amazon.com/Satanic-Verses-Novel-Bestselling-Backlist/dp/0312270828

[cema.livejournal.com]

Yes, non-violent. That's why I was careful to emphasize I do not remember the action word he used. (And, of course, he did not try to do anything to me, as far as I know.)

[cema.livejournal.com]

I think in order to fully appreciate Rushdie's book I need to get a better background in Muslim culture in general. I do not expect that to happen in the near future; maybe later.

[kroha376.livejournal.com]

Для одних Коран - дорога к бесконечному блаженству, для других - камень преткновения :)

[cema.livejournal.com]

Дорога к бесконечному блаженству, вымощенная камнями преткновения!

[v888.livejournal.com]

actually, with that particular book you learn as you go

[luzhin.livejournal.com]

Aren't they all? Вымощены, я имею в виду.

[seminarist.livejournal.com]

They say it is exquisitely beautiful in the original Arabic. As any good poetry, it must be frustratingly untranslatable.

[cema.livejournal.com]

Alif-lam-mim!

[cema.livejournal.com]

That's what they say, yes.

I doubt it.

[chaource.livejournal.com]

Indeed, one often hears that it is very beautifil in Arabic. I have an explanation for that: people who hear it in Arabic tend to hear it thousands of times, and often they have to memorize large parts of it, too, while still young. If you are exposed to something in such huge quantities at a young age, you are bound to believe that it is supremely beautiful. This is a purely psychological effect. This happens to music, too (people like music they heard when they were young). For the same reason, most children perceive their parents' faces as beautiful (but not the faces of other adults). In my view, it would be useless to look for any "objective" beauty in there.

[cema.livejournal.com]

So it's a textbook!

[v888.livejournal.com]

it's just that you will get some basic understanding of the Muslim culture while you read
there is also a pdf file with detailed commentaries on the net (you can google it)

otherwice, it's one of the best books written in the recent time - "Midnight's Children" being another one

[chaource.livejournal.com]

I believe that there is no universal right of "not being offended" or of "having no hurt feelings". If your colleague is hurt by the fact that you are joing about the Holy Something, it's strictly his problem. He is free to stop talking to you, while you are free to make your jokes. Such are the customs of our land.

[burrru.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

[nbasya.livejournal.com]

Devout Muslims don't like this kind of jokes. They can't take them.

[uropb-cbl.livejournal.com]

Каламбурист ты наш...философский! :)

[uropb-cbl.livejournal.com]

Ой! Доведет тебя твой язык....

[ati.livejournal.com]

до этого видимо лежавших за пазухой у жителей стеклянного дома

[avzel.livejournal.com]

If you are exposed to something in such huge quantities at a young age, you are bound to believe that it is supremely beautiful.

You must be kidding. For many people I know (including myself) who were exposed to "huge quantities" of Soviet propaganda in their childhood, the effect couldn't be further away from what you describe.

[whocares1970.livejournal.com]

"Мoй сoсед - эсэсoвец. Я скaзaл. чтo фюреру нa пoртрете мoжнo бы пририсoвaть бoрoдку. A oн схвaтился зa кинжaл." Ну дa, примернo тaк.

A вoт нетерпимoсть пo oтнoшению к юмoру - этo их слaбoсть, дa. Пoэтoму oни тaк и нaкинулись нa кaрикaтуры.

[seminarist.livejournal.com]

+1

[seminarist.livejournal.com]

Any particular reason?

[seminarist.livejournal.com]

I mean, except for disliking its adherents?