Mosques and Toast
Welcome to Willow’s weekly coffee and tea garden. My name is Paul, I’ll be your barista today and I’m happy to be here once again. Please come in and make yourself comfortable. Willow has plumped the cushions and started a cozy fire so we can warm yourselves while we have a cuppa and chat. As usual, I’d be pleased to bring a pot of whatever beverage you prefer – we have a wide range of teas and coffees to satisfy our world-wide readership. Also available is a large selection of spirits for addition to your cuppa or in its place. We can relax while we discuss the affairs of the week both personal and/or worldwide. How has your week been?
Well, it has been cold and snowy here this week and is currently -24 Celsius (about -16 F) as I write this. I am looking forward to joining with you in Willow’s cozy living room by a warm and cheery fire.
As a short update on the Islamic extremist issue, some push back is being felt here in Canada. According to the Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper, a particularly violent imam in Montreal is planning to build an Islamic community center. But “The Islamic community centre that controversial imam Hamza Chaoui had hoped to open in east Montreal will not see the light of day, local officials said.” http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/montreal-wont-grant-imam-permit-to-open- islamic-community-centre/article22734064/ The city went on to elaborate: “Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre backed Menard’s decision, saying it was an issue of public order and safety, and not freedom of expression.” This statement has solidified the Canadian belief that Freedom of Expression is not inalienable – that in fact other concerns come first, like public order and safety. To me this is an inevitable result of extremism that is taught in some mosques by some imams. The issue here, of course, is that now we are legislating religions and what they can say and where they can say it – a form of censure. Religion and politics have always had an uneasy relationship as both seek to capture people’s hearts and be their source of power. And, as the Bible itself says: “No man can have two masters.” The extremists have crossed the line and forced politicians to takeaction to maintain order. This will have serious repercussions but I do not see any meansof avoiding the coming conflict.
So, how about a refill of your drink? And would you like a sweet too – we have cake, cupcakes, biscuits, brownies, and beaver tails (a recent Canadian addition of fried dough with a sugar coating and a fruit or chocolate filling – yum!).
Well now, time for a little levity. A small company in Vermont, US, called Vermont Novelty Toaster, has perfected the ‘Selfie toaster’. For the reasonable price of $64 USD you can send a picture of yourself and receive a toaster that imprints your picture on every slice of \bread you toast. Also available are Jesus, Virgin Mary, Buddha (thank God no Mohammed) and others. The pictures are generated by stainless inserts that slide into a specially designed toaster and which can be interchanged. So, you can have a selfie one day, Jesus another and then a peace sign the following day – it’s all up you. The company can be found at http://www.burntimpressions.com/ . Or if you have a teen who is into Buddhism, you can give her toast with Buddha smiling up at her and you can have your Jesus toast. Hopefully they will not make this available to Muslims.
The possibilities are limitless – if you can take a picture of it, they can put it on toast… That’s about all we have room for this week, so it’s time to settle in with another cuppa and watch the fire. Sweets anyone? Please join me in thanking Willow for her invitation to tea. We are all honored that you dropped by today to visit. I hope you’ve enjoyed yourself and the conversation and please look around at Willow’s other posts while you’re here. Willow is over there serving her guests and chatting it up. Let’s go see how she is today. Have a great week. We look forward to seeing you back here for tea again next week.
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