The Teddy Bear Was the One Offended

Over the last decade it seems the world has made every effort to accept the Islamic faith as a religious system to be admired, embraced and endorsed by all. Millions of people have converted to the teachings and ways of Muhammad.

Yet in the last two weeks alone, two outrageous stories emerged that take the mind to a place beyond shock, bewilderment and understanding. Last week it was confirmed that a Saudi woman was going to be given 200 lashes and sent to prison after being gang raped by Saudi men! Why? Because the Muslim faith prohibits a woman from being alone with a man that is not her husband. She was sentenced to more punishment for taking her story to the media.

This week, a British woman teaching in Sudan was charged with insulting a teddy bear for allowing a child to name him Muhammad. She could be punished with 40 lashes and up to six months in jail for this horrendous act.

Can you imagine if either of these stories took place under the veil of the Christian faith? Can you imagine the outcry that would occur if a teacher in Mansfield, Texas, was given 20 lashes for allowing a child to name their Build-a-Bear Jesus? What if she was sent to prison for 2 years and given 200 lashes for having lunch alone with her male co-worker?
What is we started arresting and punishing people for using God’s name in vain or saying Jesus H Christ? What if we hunted down those that opposed all things that had to do with Christianity and “let them have it” like the Muslims seem to be able to do?
Can you imagine how quick the world would react to such acts by Christians?

Sounds unreal, but Christians have been murdered over centuries for even smaller things.

Yet, the outcry with both of these stories is under the radar and the noise level is barely above a sympathetic moan. Some care, but most brush it off as just being strange ways of the Islamic faith.

Is part of being tolerant and accepting this religion allowing such stupidity to continue? I mean, what moron would embrace a faith that teaches and promotes such idiotic rules?

And, who would give a teddy bear a false prophet name anyway? That would be like naming your cat Edward. Just doesn’t work.

Our world is a crazy one indeed. After all, the big news in this latest story shouldn’t be how offended Muhammad was.

The teddy bear was the one that was offended.

“A fool's work wearies him; he does not know the way to town.” Ecclesiastes 10;15

© 2007, J. Brady

"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."

If Only Last Year Would Have Lasted....

(adapted from Doubled-Over blog)

Last year our girls had their first conscious meeting of Santa.

It all happened one cool, December evening at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine. It was time to get into the "spirit of the season" so we we figured it would be a great time for us to meet my sister and her family along with my parents there and introduce the girls to Santa for the 1st time that they would be aware of anyway. (You know, year one doesn't really count.)

If you have not visited the Gaylord during the holidays, it is a wonder world of Christmas lights and fun. Trains, decorations, people, music and of course a huge Santa's workshop to boot. Figured it would be a great place to get some memorable family photos and fill the brain full of laughs and gaffs.

Such are the naive thoughts of people who have been parents for all of 15 months.

Things were progressing nicely until the girls caught wind and got in eye-shot of the big old man in the all red suit. I am sure their little brains were confused....

"Take a look at this dude Chloe," I can imagine Sidney saying in her developing twin babble.

"Yea, what is UP with that?" Chloe agrees.

"Is he for real? What is he anyway, a fireman that can't find it in his heart to retire? I mean how old can this man be?" Sidney chides in.

"I don't know Sid," Chloe says, "but I do NOT like the way he is looking at us and I think mom and dad are giving us away to this bearded man. Why is he smiling?....."

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" they screamed in perfect Christmas harmony while kicking Julie and I in every place imaginable.

Needless to say, the picture we got of them with Santa in 2006 WAS memorable for sure. Their scream wrenched faces tell it all.

It wasn't until a few weeks ago, when I noticed this sudden affinity for Santa which seemed to come out of nowhere, that I realized how great I could have had it. But now their frightened hearts a year ago suddenly beat with excitement at the sight of the "weird man in red". Call it Christmas magic.

That's when it hit me that them liking this guy was not a good thing for the checking account of a dad of multiples.

Twice the fun, twice the price. 'Tis the season.

If only....

"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. " Luke 2:10-11

(c) 2007, J. Brady

"I say it how I see it and make no bones about it!"