Saudi Arabia to Lead U.N. Faith Forum

From Thinking Zygote:


You have got to be kidding me. An absolute monarchy with the national motto of "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah" and whose national anthem contains the lines "Allah is the greatest,/O my country!/My country, Live as the glory of Muslims!" a country which has actually outlawed any religion but Sunni Islam that is patrolled by religious police is going to be leading a conference on religious tolerance?

What part of this makes sense?


Ok, let's keep reading this article here, maybe there's some explanation.

The Saudi leader agreed for the first time to dine in the same room with the Israeli president at a private, pre-conference banquet Tuesday hosted by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. But Ban hinted that the two leaders -- whose governments do not have diplomatic relations -- were not seated at the same table.


NOOOOO, Really?

General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto, a Roman Catholic priest from Nicaragua who is co-chairman of the conference, sought to play down the event's religious significance. "We're not here to talk about religion. . . . We're here to talk about tapping our innermost values and putting them at the service" of the world's neediest people.

Wait... what? Where is he again? Oh right, a U.N. conference on religious tolerance.

Now look, religious people, I have nothing against any of your religions in particular, I think you all have your problems (massive horrible-consequence-causing ones) but even this is a little too illogical. First of all there's the problem with the mere fact you're holding a conference on religious tolerance and yet invoking the presence of the "world's neediest people" to invoke some kind of sympathy. Having a big meeting that everyone and their brother knows won't actually result in anything but and agreement to disagree isn't going to help anyone.

Every single person there is still going to walk away thinking all the others are deluded, and possibly doomed to eternal suffering of some sort.

But still... Saudi Arabia?

That thumping sound you hear is my head, on this desk here. Hmm... Mahogany.