Nice to see you back too 

Dear Lemon,

I think what he means is Turkish, as in the country, also called at times Anatolia. Actually it does get confusing what with changing names of places. One place I find particularly that was is in the Horn of Africa. Some times it´s Abyssinia, then it´s Ethiopia, now one part is Eritria.....Then there was Thrace....now in Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey. 

Lydia, Lycia, Caria,Mysia, Bithynia, Phrygia, Galatia, Lycaonia, Pisidia, Paphlagonia, Cilicia, and Cappadocia.................all now Turkey.

St George the Turkish Arab

+++++++

.................yes, so sad. There are many different ethnicities in Turkey, but they are all citizens of Turkey. 

I did read your post, Abla, very carefully. Did you check the link? It doesn´t seem you did. If you had you would have realized that consultating with everyone is mandated in the Quran. 

There is also the concept of Ijma, consensus. I would say, actually, Islamic societies have been incorporating democratic principals for much longer that Western ones, who have only recently left absolute monarchies. 

If you are really interested in this matter, how about a little serious research. Perhaps the work of John Esposito would be easier for you to start with. 

Islam and Democracy

Ah yes, then we get into "what is democracy?"........... Actually there is no definition of democracy. IOW....what it is, is very subjective. Literaly it means people power. 

I don´t know where you got your translation, but it is incorrect. Nothing is so simple...as you state. Consultation is very important in Islam....read...

It certainly is..... That young man looked like a really nice guy. I hope there is no permanant damage. Gee two tours in Iraq, come home and get this????

Free speech in Oakland CA

Iraq war vet in critical condition after Oakland police launch tear gas cannister at his head

It is not only Arabs that do this. It seems to be part of the human psyche. The lowest part. We hope to work on our highest level, but unfortunatly, some, too many operate on the lizard brain. 

Compassion, humility, respect, shame are not existant in all, so it seems. Evidance the events in the US where blacks were hung from trees by lynch mobs. The hangings were attended by whole famlies shamelessly taking glee in the events.  

This website has photos and forum on the subject of lynching in the US. 

The following is a link to a song sung by Billie Holiday. 

"Southern trees bear a strange fruit,

Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,

Black body swinging in the Southern breeze,

Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant South,

The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,

Scent of magnolia sweet and fresh,

And the sudden smell of burning flesh!

Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck,

For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,

For the sun to rot, for a tree to drop,

Here is a strange and bitter crop."

My point is, it can, and has happened everyplace. We need to stay morally strong and resist these base and ugly instincts. We can be the highest of the high or the lowest of the low.