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Muslims in the armed forces

Daisy Khan is head of the in New York

Nadeem, UK, I would join up but it depends on the circumstances whether I would kill.

Jason, Winsconsin, Muslims should be allowed to serve in the military if anything for the example they set for others. If we accept Muslims into our armed forces we take away the ability for Muslims to claim Dan Msowoya-Malawi, the parents (mother) has the ultimate say ox the child's health. discrimination and oppression by said armed forces.

Evan, Ontario, it's a freedom of conscience. If a muslim feels he or she should join, and meets all requirements, then they should be let in.

Lisa, I say, why not? During WWII, Japanese and Germans, and Italians served in the army of the USA, albeit, maybe not in their respective familia country.

Lubna, Iraq, hi guys,to me,im ready to fight for three things: islam,iraq,my beloved ones,but i will not start a fight because Allah ordered me not to be aggressive.

NS, in the 1950s we HAD to go in the army Why should nt they go now?

Steve, US, to the writer who stated that the US and Britain's militaries only fight against Muslims. Do you remember Kosovo? Also, as for American and British killings Muslims. Sorry, but muslims are killing FAR more muslims than American or British forces are.

S Saroj Kumar, India, the defence force of any nation is a sovereign one and is denigrating to conduct a debate on whether muslims join the forces to fight the muslims.

Paul, Oregon, this issue hits on a broader problem that religion inherently divides people. Do we mean to say that Muslims should not be killing Muslims, but that it may be defendable for Muslims to be killing people of other religions?

Mark, anyone signing up for military service must examine their conscience before they sign their name and swear their oath. Many resort to their religion to do that.

Joe Meras, the question should be does the individual believe he/she is betraying their own conscience/beliefs - regardless of faith - by serving in the Armed Forces.

Anonymous, exactly. You sign up you serve. If not why did you sign up? All these Muslim double standards are now just tedious.

John, North Carolina, I think Muslims who are comfortable with joining the military in campaigns in Islamic lands should be allowed to join without threat of religious execution. Muslims willing to kill Muslims for joining the British military are terrorists.

Jan, Belgium, international law has precedence over uk law. No matter what the national law says.

Max, Ukraine, Shiites and Sunnis in Irak or recenty Palestinian factions seem justified to kill each other. But if Moslems choose a career in the army, they not necessarily volunteer to kill or fight fellow Moslems.

Raquel, Chicago, when someone chooses to be in the military, they go in knowing the price they must pay for that responsiblity. They have a duty to their country and they must follow it regardless of their religion and personal beliefs.

Suman, Utah is very hard to live in Western countries, when your host country is at war against Westerners.

Muhammed-Lusaka, Im a british muslim and i believe that there is no need for muslims to go and fight muslims in illegal wars.

Kingsley, Nigeria, Muslims are not betraying their fait by serving in the us or uk,the do it becouse they want greenerpastures like other people.

Mark Lauren Harare, Y r u even having this debate,people who join up should b wiling 2 serve,y did they join? if Iraq was filled w xtians im sure they would b shooting without any 2nd thoughts.

Ali, Im a moslem convert but i'd have joined da war against Sadam coz he killed millions of moslms.Y didnt moslms join kuwait aginst Sadam?

Rodrigo, at these turbulent times, it is not smart to join whether your are muslim or not. But, muslims should join because they would be able to relate and break the language barrier in british/American military occupied muslim countries.

Michael, Berlin, this debate is ridiculous, foolish even. Of course Muslims living in the West can fight against other "Muslim" terrorists. Is this not like asking could German American protestants or Catholic Italian Americans fight during World War II in Europe against Germans or Italians etc.?

Aliyu, Nigeria, it is a duty of every Muslim to serve his country in every respect and that includes joining the army to correct bad acts.

Mabewa, Nigeria, Muslims kill each other in Iraq, Gaza, & Lebanon. Why won't muslims in the West fight those derailed muslims in the East?

Anonymous, if we can argue tht we r not ready to elect a woman, a black, a muslim thn d Brit Army is not ready accomodate muslims.

Sextuplets.

Dan Msowoya-Malawi, the parents (mother) has the ultimate say ox the child's health.

Stephan, Oregon, the state's role is to protect the inalienable rights of its citizens; doctors are professionals hired for a service; neither have the right or the authority to decide what happens to somebody else's child. As terrible as it can be, the final word can only come from the parents. Whether the parents' decision infringes on the inalienable rights of their child can only be decided in court.

Jude, Vancouver, it's been known all along that the parents were Jehovah's witnesses and would refuse blood transfusions. It's been known all along that there would likely be multiple premature births resulting from fertility treatment, and the infants would require blood transfusions. Why then did the government wait until 2 were dead before acting?

John, North Carolina, if someone is willing to let their child die because of some religious belief, they are murderers.

Jason, Winconsin, I think these parents are criminal. It doesn't matter what your Flying Spaghetti Monster tells you. Children should not be denied health care for any reason.

George, Uganda, my best friend is a Jehovah’s witness and three of my workmates are. I find it a bit unreasonable but since the children can not make the choice, and since we assume that the parents love their children, I would assume they have the last word on the health of their kids.

Paul, Oregon, I have a friend who is deaf because his parents refused to bring him to a doctor for a routine ear infection. The family was involved in a cult that did not believe in Western religion. My friend has since excaped the cult and no longer has communication with his parents.

Raquel, Chicago, in an ideal world a parent should have the final say, but when a parents actions, regardless of how well meaning it is, puts a child's life in danger, the state has the duty and right to disregard the parents wishes.

Dana, parents owe their children the best quality of life possible. Religion is part of that quality of life, for some or many. The right to die is included in quality of life. Therefore, JWs have the right to die and refuse transfusions for themselves and their minor children.

Philip, Maryland, it’s amazing that a Jehovah Witness will take fertility pills yet they will not allow their child quick treatment.

Terian, first of all, think carefully about your answer. Some doctors do not have your best interest in mind. Some doctors want to perform their science. Doctors are not God, they too are men with their own agenda.

Brett, one question not being asked, is "was the contrary medical evidence being provided by a doctor who follows the JW faith? and therefore would be against blood transfusions anways?"

Joe, Minneapolis, should parents have the right to beat their own children, even to death? No! There are laws against abuse, and abuse includes the denial of necessary medical treatment. Religion must take a back seat to medical reality.

Kerry, if the family in question feels so strongly that doctors should not intervene, why did they seek IVF treatment to conceive.

Kenward, lusaka, health of a child lies in the hands of both the parents &doctors.the parents should respect the views of doctors on their child.

Negar, I think in the case being discussed, the parents should have been given a chance to be heard and get a second opinion. The authorities made up their mind based on the parents' religion from the beginning and that is wrong.

Brett, Canada, I find it odd that they have problems with blood transfusions performed to keep their children alive, but have no problems undergoing fertility treatments to create these children

Julie, Oregon, I don't understand why the parents are using their religious faith to withhold medical care for their children when they were willing to have medical care for themselves when it came to their infertility treatment.

Jessica, regardless of the fact that the parents JW, they were entitled by established law to a hearing before action taken by the government. Just as there are inept practitioners in any profession, doctors also can make flawed decisions.

Daisy, Florida, how ironic that someone called in indignant that these parents did not want certain medical care for their children, WHILE ALSO advocating "eliminating" (KILLING) the babies she had in her uterus "in order to possibly" save the others. What absurdity. What makes one life more worthy than the others in her eyes?

Joe, the state has no right to get between me and my children. the canadian government owed those parents their fair hearing.

Lights off in Europe

Ishwardas, Pakistan, I think lights should be turned off atleast once a week for 24 hrs in all homes, all over the world.

Mark, Sounds pretty ingenious to me.. I would be fascinated to learn if the difference in power usage turned out to be measurable and noticable.

Mike, Kampala, switching off when NOT NEEDED is the best way 2 abate climate change.

Anonymous, it's telling that in certain parts of the world when lights go off people can only look at each other like idiots. In Africa, when there are no lights, we party round the bonefire.

Ken, Santa Cruz, California, it's a great gesture to turn out the lights! We should all do it, if for no other reason than to send a message of solidarity to our government that we are concerned about our planet.

Dave, Ohio, I’m planning on turning my lights off. I think it’s a great idea. I can’t decide though, if I should I also turn off my radio

Erik, although I think the gesture of shutting of the lights for five minutes is touching, I worry about the grid when all these well-meaning people suddenly turn their lights on at 7. We may all get an extended taste of darkness.If you are really concerned about climate change, don't fly.

LB, No one can be 'impartial' when it comes to the environment. It's not a political issue, it's a humankind issue. Can we say we're 'impartial' with respect to our children and their children?

Philip, Maryland, I hope when everyone turns on the power it doesn't kill the power system.

Steve, Utah, I just turned off the lights in my office.

Greg, do I have to turn off my lights here in Iraq? since the British and Americans have come to save us they are off most of the day.