Reading this article ( http://web.realcities.com/content/rc/news/attack/miami/1956671205.htm ), I came across this sentence: Among the more bizarre prohibitions were bans on flying pigeons, selling or flying kites and training dogs, partridges or quail to fight.
OK, training dogs to fight would be cruelty to animals, but kites? Can one of you people in the know explain where that came from?
Thanks,
RR
I am positive that I read somewhere that Taleban had banned the use of brown paper bags.
This step was taken because it was thought people might use copies of the Koran to make said bags. Perhaps Taleban were concerned that kites could be made from the same materials.
I dunno either. I saw a version of that in the Chicago Tribune, and all I could think was, “Man, them Taliban fellas are just Blue Meanies, born ‘n’ raised, ya know?” They’re just down on everything fun.
Actually, I do think it’s more of a “down on everything American” thing. Kites are sort of a perfect example of the gadget-oriented American propensity to waste time, along with VCRs, computers, nail polish, etc. And yes, I DO know that “the Chinese invented them”, yadda yadda yadda, but the Chinese weren’t the ones responsible for bringing the world the Pikachu kite. Oooooog, that geeky little critter is bad enough on the ground, but 100 feet overhead, fluttering? Please. :rolleyes:
I’ll tell you what baffled me: chess games. I mean, chess?
I think the whole thing is just a Puritan/Fundie “don’t want anybody to do anything besides read the Bible and pray” kind of thing.
P.S. http://www.frontpagemag.com/realitybites/1999/rb03-05-99.htm
The Sharia (Islamic law) expressly forbids gambling and gambling paraphernila. Strict Islamic lawyers lump chess in with other board games and instruments of gambling (cards, dice, etc.). Why? For one thing, people used to bet on chess games, so Islamic lawyers made the brilliant non-sequitur that chess causes (or at least encourages) gambling. Second, the little chess pieces are just too darned similar to dice and whatnot, so it’s best not to allow any toys that even remind people of gambling.
Am I the only person who’s wondering what kind of asshole news reporter thinks that banning staged animal fights would be a bizarre law?
When the people doing the banning have no problem with chopping off hands, feet, and heads, whipping people on the street, and brutalizing millions of their own people, then, no, such a law would indeed be bizarre.
I guarantee you that the Taliban ban on fighting animals was done because it was frivolous entertainment for the humans, not because it’s cruel to the animals.