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It was pleasant to read a small news piece in al-Watan newspaper this morning, which states some figures about increasing numbers of visitors through King Fahd Causeway to the Kingdom of Bahrain during last June compared to the same period last month.
The newspaper report that 316,757 car carrying 625,552 passengers passed the bridge between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain during June 2006, which is an increase by 34.75 percent compared to June 2005.
The nice thing is not the numbers (only), but what's behind the numbers. The newspaper put it very simple. It is 'The Da Vinci Code' and Shisha (Water Pipe).
It makes one feel proud that Bahrain was one of the very few countries in the Arab world in general and Islamic world in particular that does not put to many boundaries in front of cultural, art and music events. In spite that there are many voices that asked to stop displaying 'The Da Vinci Code', yet the government did not listen to them and like many other civilized countries, allowed the movie to be displayed.
Back to Shisha; well, it was related to World Cup 2006 and the café shops that aired the Mondial and the customers who are looking for both at one place; Bahrain is always the closest location to find everything. The reason is that Shisha bars are not allowed anywhere in Saudi because … don’t ask me why.
So, there you go… it is simple equation, civilized open country, get wealth that it deserves.
{ 10 } Comments
nice post, god is finally helping saudis
The only thing more tedious than sitting through "The DaVinci Code" film was trudging through the awful (and reportedly plagerised) novel.
Watching that tripe ought to be administered as punishment, not provided as a privledge.
Truly horrible drek.
I am a liberal American Catholic who is not threatened by this film. It is a FICTIONAL MOVIE. While I am the first to admit that the Catholic Church has had some very "interesting" historical missteps and some "different" practices (not-mainstream Caholocism) I am concerned just a tad as to why so many Saudis (where I formerly lived) would want to go to Bahrain to see this movie. With religious strife spreading at horrific speed across the world I would like to say this on the part of my church: Pope John Paul during his term made a historical outreach to Muslims http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1216852.stm (2002). Pope Benedict, our current pope, has continued in his footsteps
http://www.masnet.org/news.asp?id=2369 (Surprising how his tone has changed towards just about everything since his election to the papacy) Although I am not threatened whatsoever by this movie, I am concerned that it could be used as a propaganda tool against my church. This not to say whatsoever that I would have been one of the ones not wanting this film to air in Bahrain. But please understand me, just as Muslims do not want to see themselves portrayed falsely or negatively, I hope all who do view this movie realize that it IS a piece of fiction. Hope I don't come off as being overly sensitive, but I am well aware that things such as this can be taken out of context and further fuel the strife which those of PEACE of all the three great religions, Islam, Christianity and Judaism are working so very hard to limit.
On another note, the pope made an official statement July 7,2006 concerning the current escalation in Gaza http://www.masnet.org/news.asp?id=2369
Again, I am only wishing that one day, the God of our three great religions, will unite us all in the peace he so longs for us as his children.
PS, I read the book, saw the film. The film starts off on a semi-plausible note and then digresses into pure nonsense. It is BLOODY in parts. I even had to get a wet towel for my daughter who almost fainted sitting down from the gorey scenes! So in other words, go see it if you like, but it's really rather stupid and was not nearly as good as the FICTIONAL book.
I hate to post again, but just to make myself clear, I am also VERY amicably divorced from a Moslem. I happen to know from first hand experience that Moslems and Christians can get along just fine (moderates)
Several Muslim clerics also attended the Pope's funeral:
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2005/4/8/00611.shtml
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/Pope/2005/04/07/986827.html
Also: Catholic bishops issue statement condemning Israel and those Palestinians escalating the violence, BUT states firmly:
"JERUSALEM (Catholic Online) ? Israeli violence and aggression in Gaza against Palestinians is without proportion or justification, requiring the international community to demand a diplomatic solution to the conflict, religious leaders representing Christian faith communities here said"
http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=20489
Back to the book and the movie, neither of which is profound material! Masalama.
Good for Bahrain! Wish they showed the movie in Jordan! :(
I hope all who do view this movie realize that it IS a piece of fiction.
Hi! Was reading through your blog and find it interesting,Thanks for sharing.Wish you well
zt
http://zingtrial.blogsome.com/
Hi! was reading your blog and find it interesting.Wish you well
zt
http://zingtrial.blogsome.com/
I was wondering if maybe you could help me. I am trying to help my mother locate her cousin, who lives in Saudi Arabia. We wanted to tell him that my mother´s mother passed away. She was his aunt and we thought he would appreciate beeing told. The problem is that he has converted and taken a new name and all we´ve got is an old telephone number that we don´t even know is correct anymore. The number is 3 346 0823 and I cannot find any white pages for Saudi Arabia on the net. Do you know of any way for me to confirm if this phone number is still valid? if I don´t hear anything from you, I will of course just try and call this number and see what happens!
Thank you so much,
from Norway
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What can you do to help her with the list?25 Great Calvin & Hobbes StripsMy dog has a problem with YOUR face.Guess the man made mountainA Dissection of Bomb BlastsGo on.. touch herTERRORISM, definition of‘The Da Vinci Code’ and Bahrain TrafficKramer vs. Kramer
What can you do to help her with the list?25 Great Calvin & Hobbes StripsMy dog has a problem with YOUR face.Guess the man made mountainA Dissection of Bomb BlastsGo on.. touch herTERRORISM, definition of‘The Da Vinci Code’ and Bahrain TrafficKramer vs. Kramer
?The Da Vinci Code? and Bahrain Traffic From Sabbah's Blog. Posted in Politics July 12th, 2006 |
through King Fahd Causeway to the Kingdom of Bahrain during last June compared to the same period last month. The newspaper report that 316,757 car carrying 625,552 passengers passed the bridge between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain during June 200Read the rest
?The Da Vinci Code? and Bahrain Traffic On July 12th, 2006, from Sabbah's Blog
[...] logs.org/?feed=rss2&p=1459 ?The Da Vinci Code? and Bahrain Traffic http://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2006/07/12/the-da-vinci-code-and-bahrain-traffic/ http://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2006/07/12/the-da-vinci-code-and-bahra [...]