Thu 9 Feb 2006
The Shi’a holiday, Ashura, has been partially appropriated for another cartoon protest here in Beirut. According to news reports, there are at least 250,000 gathered. Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, is giving a fiery speech supposedly focusing on the Mohammed cartoons (I am watching it on TV) and the crowd looks massive.
Ashura is the commemoration of the killing of Hussein ibn Ali at Kerbala in the 7th century, which led to the Sunni-Shi’a split. Self-flagellation and bloodletting are engaged in by some on this day. Usually, it is just symbolic chest beating in order to emulate the suffering of Hussein, but some actually cut their foreheads open. On a day like today, maybe standing out in the driving wind and rain is enough suffering for some.
And if I change the channel, I can see the Maronite Patriarch giving a religious performance of some kind. Today is the feast day of St. Maron, the founder of the Maronite church (also) in the 7th century.
February 9th, 2006 at 7:11 pm
It must be interesting to be living in the 7th century. I very seldom even think about the 7th century. I guess I thought nothing important happened.
February 9th, 2006 at 7:22 pm
But Dad, the stirrup was invented in the 7th century!
Here is some more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7th_century
February 9th, 2006 at 9:12 pm
Not to be nit picky, but the stirrup was merely introduced into Persia during the 7th century (according to Wiki).
More interesting is the article on Kerbala on Wiki and the POV disputes related to it. Religious dispites even invade the Internet and Wikipedia.
February 10th, 2006 at 7:57 am
Your link was intesting. The Roman Persian Wars lasted from 92 BC to the 7th century with neither side winning. Someone should tell Bush about it.