Sip

Haha ... I wonder if you can drive in carpool lane like that since it's only on 2 wheels

Hezb Allah didn't win anything. They use civilians as their shields and hide among innocent people. Then when an army goes after them, they bitch and cry about how Israel is killing civilians. Actually it's great to see Israel use restraint here because they certainly can totally LEVEL lebanon, Iraq, and Syra, if they wanted.

I wouldn't have expected any less of a muslim An eye for an eye, eh?

Oh I see so Shiite Islam Good, Sunni Islam Bad. Well, that's good to know

I think the solution is that every jew, christian, and muslim in the area should just kill each other so we can finally have some peace in this world.

An absolute classic!

(1) Are we, as Armenians, less accepting of gay people among us (i.e., we accept odarner/otarner that are gay, but not "our own")? Considering what some of the neighboring countires do to gays (ahem Iran for e.g.), I'd say Armenia is not that bad. Of course you can't compare any country in the region to San Francisco or Hollywood. (2) Why do we care? Because sexuality is a big part of being human. The first thing I notice about a person is whether they are male or female... gays tend to screw around with this initial perception and categorization so it's definitely something I care about (of course it depeonds on whether it's a profesional context in which case I don't really care -- or a social context in which case I would care). (3) Do gay Armenians have the same pressure to partner with another Armenian (despite the whole kid thing being a sort non-issue)? Haha ... I have no clue. (4) How do you personally feel about gays/lesbians/etc.? See #2. I don't know if I have a "feeling" in that generic sense (i.e. if you are expecting me to say I love them, hate them, or don't care, you won't get an answer like that from me. However, I do refer to them as "them" obviously

You read the Qur'an and interpret it however you want. All I am saying is don't give the credit to the Qur'an ... give the credit to yourself. Some people read the Qur'an and go murder, kill, rape, and pillage. Others such as yourself read the Qur'an and find happiness, comfort, peace, etc. That tells me the Qur'an is neither the source nor the solution ... it is all in YOU. Use your god damn brain for Allah's sake and figure things out. He gave it to you As far as "it was God's will" .. that is no explanation for anything. That's merely a lazy man's way out of trying to explain things. And why does everything have to have an explanation? Why do you feel comfort in the generic "explanation" of "it was God's will" and somehow feel uneasy in acknowledging the fact that there are just going to be some things we are going to have to live with not knowing.

Arpa, in Sassun's defense, his name was mentioned in this thread and it was started long ago

Sassun, as has been going on over and over in this thread, there is often what you believe (let's call it your interpretation of Islam if you want), and there is "real life". I have no doubt that you are a great guy with a good heart. I just don't understand why you want to associate yourself with organized religion when you yourself have the ability to set much better standards for yourself.

What's up with these people who can't drive? I've been over that same spot several times and I have NEVER even come close to doing that. Edit: and this?

LMAO at the Moab one hheheehehe

He might have attended this.

Hey, I'd love to see Sassun take multiple Armenian wives. Let's not forget with multiple Armenian wives, he will have to deal with multiple Armenian Zokanches as well. That will teach him

I think you have misunderstood what they are doing. They are not simply translating God to Allah and Bible to Quran .. they are INSERTING Allah in places where neither God nor Allah were intended to be. It's like Buggs Bunny showing up and instead of saying "What's up Doc," saying "Allah O Ma Salle Alla Mohamad (pbuh) Va Alleh Mohamad (pbuh)".

I just watched it on youtube.

Me too. I think he speaks very well. I didn't know he had been on Bill Maher .. I have to track down that episode!

Long story short, it came from the discussion from whether or not Sassun would marry an Armenian woman. And if he did, whether he would treat her like a posession (i.e. how Islam treats women) or like a real person with feelings, desires, etc. That's where the sex talk came about as far as I remember. Also Arpa was suggesting sex as an alternative to this fixation on religion as a passtime.

Right now, if I had to pick one place to live anywhere on Earth, assuming finding work wasn't a problem, it would probably be somewhere close to the Utah/Nevada/Arizona border, preferably on the Nevada side. I am leaning towards Mesquite, NV but St. George, UT will also do. This way, I'd be within 80 miles of Vegas, about 40 miles from Lake Mead, less than 200 miles from Lake Powell, UT, and about a 5 hour drive from Moab, UT. My close second choice would be Lake Tahoe on the Nevada side. Edit: By the way, this isn't to say that I would want to live there forever. Actually I don't see myself living in the same place for more than maybe 4-5 years at a time. I'd get bored. But I am definitely never leaving the US. I hate the rest of the world (visiting is fine but not living). I wouldn't mind spending a couple of years in Hawaii (Maui) and maybe another couple of years in Alaska either (around Anchorage -- not anywhere too remote).

Sassun, I think the picture I posted is more than self explanatory in response to your "sexuality not so much taboo" claim. You are not going to make me explain trivial things ALL the time when they are this obvious. However, if other people see my post and are still confused about the point, I will be more than happy to explain it.

Sassun, if nothing else, you do crack me up with your choice of words. "not so much taboo?" http://www.californiaconservative.org/images/images2/_muslimvacation.jpg I really think with your talents, you could even find a way to portray even a "prostate exam" as a "positive experience"

http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/btb/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/GayHangingIran.jpg Well at least as far as the hetero thing is concerned, they do try hard to encourage it. Maybe a bit too hard.

Sassun, I don't know the answers to your jehova witness questions but I wanted to touch on something Arpa brought up earlier and to somewhat agree with you about Islam that is for a large part, a rather "rational" and practical religion. One of my fondest memories growing up in Iran was sitting in front of the TV for hours on end listening to the Mullahs' describe, in great detail, all the retaliation laws set forth in Islam. Like if someone cuts your hand, you are allowed to cut their hand. But if they don't have a hand, you can remove a leg. But if they don't have arms or legs, you can remove some teeth etc etc. I found it all fascinating (I still do).

I kid you not! One time they showed up to my door ... I had been in Wisconsin for about 3 or 4 months. As soon as they said hello I said "Alllllaho Akbar not you guys again." ... they apologized, and never came back!!!!

When you say "I do not want "Armenian to be me"" and then say "I want to be considered Armenian because I am one" ... that is where I see the circle. And it's a nice one No bother replying since we'll have another circle with you disagreeing. I am well aware that you disagree with me. But that doesn't make neither you or me "right". There is no ultimate truth here my friend. Just opinions.