About the Muhammad Teddy Bear Controversy...?

Question

I pity the lady her judgment, but I have to wonder why she did this. As a literate adult, she had to be aware that heads rolled over the Muhammad cartoon a few years ago, and that author Salman Rushdie had a huge price on his head for blaspheming. I don't think it's (entirely, at least) engaging in the game of blaming the victim to suggest that profaning the diety of a bloodthirsty group of people was foolhardy.

Can you disengage from your propaganda machines long enough to see the outrageously reckless judgment this teacher showed when she decided to name the Teddy bear?

Mind-stretching outside the box answers welcome. If you want to spout hate, I may not be able to stop you, but you'll get thumbs down, reported, AND no ten, guaranteed... because hate isn't the true answer to any question! :)

Then in allowing her students to blaspheme, wasn't she placing them in danger? That makes her doubly reckless, and with someone's life besides her own. Even worse.

Francesca and the rest: Doesn't anybody read any more? Where were you hiding yourselves when the Dutch cartoonist was the subject of intense violence and bloodshed in Muslim countires when he drew a Muhammad cartoon? How old were you when Salman Rushdie had a standing execution order put on him by Muslims and had to live in hiding for years?

I am talking reality of the place they live. America and Jesus have pitiful little to do with this situation. Likewise, democracy has nothing to do with it. What do you think this is, Sweet Valley High or Saved By The Bell? These people take things like this very very seriously. They don't negotiate. And they ARE bloodthirsty. Where was this teacher's common sense the day she said "Um, ok then, we'll, um, we'll just name him Muhammad, then." I'm all for being a rebel, but this was MADNESS to allow this to happen in this time and place.

Answer 1

She didn't name the teddy bear. She let her students name the teddy bear. One would think, they being raised muslim would know better, especially as touchy as their religion is over this subject. Perhaps she could have showed better judgement, but it seems to me, I can understand how if you're in a different culture, with radically different views, you kind of look to those around you for how to proceed. The kids thought it was alright, and they are muslim, she took a gamble that they were right and it was ok, and let them name the teddy bear. How was she supposed to know? She wasn't raised there, she isn't muslim.

It's incidents like this, that make it hard to respect them, as they get all hot and bothered over the littlest thing, it isn't like she drew a cartoon that showed him in a bad light, she simply let her class name a bear, it's totally not the same thing.

I could understand if she had named the bear herself, as an intention insult, but that isn't the case, and shouldn't be treated as such.

Answer 2

If a child in america named their teddy bear Jesus, would that child be in any trouble? Would the parents or teacher be in any trouble? Highly unlikely.

Accordingly, I am unable to see the "outrageously reckless judgment" this teacher showed when she decided to name the Teddy bear?

BTW she didnt name the teddy. The students did.

I think Muslims in Sudan are over reacting and going way overboard. And this is precisely why they have such a bad reputation of being anti-western. Because they are not tolerant of peole making innocent mistakes.

The kids made a mistake. It should be seen as an error, a learning curve, and a message to others to never name their teddy bears Mohammed.

Answer 3

Listen: unless you're implying that there is actually a specific law in Sudan prohibiting naming cuddly toys after the prophet, then that woman did not know she was breaking a law.

She was behaving like a rational adult. She was allowing her students to name the toy as they saw fit.

So let's not even try and imply that this poor woman is in any way to blame, because she wasn't. The only people at fault here are firstly the judiciary in Sudan for even bringing charges and secondly, the angry and insane mobs of Muslims that are now marching through the streets, bearing knives and clubs, and demanding the death penalty.

That woman went to Sudan to teach, to help educate children. She was not 'reckless' - at worst she was innocent, maybe a bit naive.

Since when is THAT a crime?

Answer 4

"In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Compassionate".

Non-Muslims want to provoke Muslims by making pictures of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H), Pope Benedict XVI of Vatican passed foolish & lieish remarks on ISLAM.

Berlin opera pulled over Muhammad scene http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060926/ap_on_en_mu/germany_opera_islam

Swedish Sketches Start Another Ridiculous Backlash
http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/matthew-sheffield/2007/08/31/swedish-mohammed-dog-cartoon-starts-another-ridiculous-backlash

The Blasphemous Teddy Bear
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1687755,00.html

******Did anyone hear anything like that from a Muslim? Do u find a Muslim who did make such a provoking statement about any religion or its prophets?****

Research & observations from Holy Quran & Sahee Hadith, Religious scholars like Sheikh Ahmed Deedat’s www.ahmed-deedat.co.za, Dr. Zakir Naik's www.irf.net , www.peacetv.in, Aalama Tahir-ul-Qadri, Israr Ahmed etc.

May Allah help & guide us all, Amen’.

Answer 5

Are you that stupid to not know why she commited such an honest mistake? Well here it is... she isnt muslim, she wasnt raised as a muslim, and naturally had no sentiments towards muhammad. Can you blame her for that?

You come to my country and I give you all the right to name anything you wish after the founder of my religion, dont i deserve the same when im in yours? (which i never hope to be in).

Answer 6

The teacher made an honest mistake. Those people are insane. And as I said on another thread, as a muslim, I'm ashamed to be even associated with them.

Answer 7

Actually, I believe her students named the teddy bear. Surely you aren't suggesting that the children (who probably did know better because it was their culture) be rounded up and jailed also?

Answer 8

She didn't do it. The kids decided to name their teddy bears Muhammed. If anyone should be punished it's the parents for not teaching their kids better.

Answer 9

I believe she did it out of ignorance. She did not know the rules and consequences.

Answer 10

so, because she allowed her students to democratically pick the most commen name in their culture(and i think in the world) she should be sentenced to death, as was protested by thousands of sudanese muslims today.