Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Wyz_sub10 · 02-11-2003, 09:00 AM

When you look at the history of the event, you wonder why better precautions haven't been taken:

Fourteen trampled in stoning ritual

Quote:

MINA, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Fourteen pilgrims were trampled to death Tuesday when some worshippers taking part in the annual hajj pilgrimage tripped during a ritual in which crowds of Muslim faithful throw stones at three pillars representing the devil's temptations.

there was also this interesting comment:

Quote:

The Iraq crisis has overshadowed this year's hajj and feast, with Muslim leaders in Lebanon cancelling traditional Eid al-Adha receptions where government and religious officials usually exchange holiday greetings. The move was a show of sympathy for Iraq.

Sarpedon · 02-11-2003, 09:26 AM

They go where they are herded...BAAAA!

I keep wondering how long it will be before an anti-muslim terrorist decides to detonate a bomb in one of those tunnels that leads to those sites during the hajj. People frequently stampede in them and crush people for no reason at all. If I were an angry israeli settler, or some southern baptist nut, I would seriously consider it.

HaysooChreesto! · 02-11-2003, 09:50 AM

On CNN they're calling it the "Hajj Tragedy". There's something about that headline that strikes me as seemy.

Oh well. Wouldn't they be better off holding that thing in Daytona Beach, Florida during the Spring Break weeks where all you crazy college kids go and create fodder for all the "Girls Gone Wild" videos. Maybe that'd loosen 'em up a bit.
Chicks running around pulling their burkas up to their knees, guys gettin' all liquored up and shaving their beards, riding around naked on pack animals.
Craziness I tell ya'.

Shake · 02-11-2003, 10:42 AM

Lamma, that's funny!

This however, is not:

Quote:

In 2001, 35 people died in a stampede during the devil-stoning ritual. In 1998, 180 died performing the same ritual. A year earlier, more than 340 people died in a fire that ripped through pilgrims' tents in Mina.

That's over 500 people during those 3 years alone! You'd think there was a soccer (football) game going on!

Quote:

I keep wondering how long it will be before an anti-muslim terrorist decides to detonate a bomb in one of those tunnels that leads to those sites during the hajj. People frequently stampede in them and crush people for no reason at all. If I were an angry israeli settler, or some southern baptist nut, I would seriously consider it.

Yeah, that's all we'd need! Some Baptist nut detonating a bomb! That'd really put the Muslim world against us.

ieyeasu · 02-11-2003, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wyz_sub10
When you look at the history of the event, you wonder why better precautions haven't been taken:

Fourteen trampled in stoning ritual

there was also this interesting comment:

Same stuff happens at perfectly secular events, namely concerts, as happened with Metallica, Pearl Jam, the Who, et al.

Just a thought.

HaysooChreesto! · 02-11-2003, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ieyeasu
Same stuff happens at perfectly secular events, namely concerts, as happened with Metallica, Pearl Jam, the Who, et al.

Just a thought.

You're absolutely right about that. But given the climate of the current world situation and the fact that this is an atheist website, it makes for interesting chatter.

Shake · 02-18-2003, 11:24 AM

How about the 21 killed in a stampede in a Chicago nightclub? I guess it can happen here, too.

Boro Nut · 02-19-2003, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shake
In 2001, 35 people died in a stampede during the devil-stoning ritual. In 1998, 180 died performing the same ritual.

I've seen that on telly and it really makes me laugh. They spend weeks queueing up but by the time they get to the front they find all the good clemmies went years ago, and they only have grit left. Also, the crush is so bad that you can't throw properly, if at all. The devil hardly feels a thing.

The clever ones lounge on the roofs of adjacent buildings sipping iced tea and firing the occasional egg-size stones or wheel nuts from a catapult. Those really knack the devil, and that's the whole point. Occasionally though one clouts one of the faithful on the back of the head causing the above crush problems when they fall over.

Quote:

Originally posted by Shake
A year earlier, more than 340 people died in a fire that ripped through pilgrims' tents in Mina.

A whole extended family of 47 Pakistanis was wiped out near us last year, it was tragic. They were all on their way to Mecca but never made it out of Yorkshire. I think their mini skidded on a patch of oil or something.

Boro Nut

Dargo · 02-19-2003, 05:53 AM

If Muslims die during a religious pilgrimage, do they get a free ride to heaven like jihadists do? Maybe that's why they don't worry about the deaths.

Shake · 02-19-2003, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dargo
If Muslims die during a religious pilgrimage, do they get a free ride to heaven like jihadists do? Maybe that's why they don't worry about the deaths.

Young pilgrim 1: I hope I get crushed during the stone throwing this year!
Young pilgrim 2: Why's that?
YP1: 'Cause hijacking a plane is too much hard work, but I still want all the virgins.
YP2: Oh yeah, good idea! Maybe if we're not crushed after about 1/2 an hour we should just start talking about converting to Xianity, then they'll stone us!

02-11-2003, 09:26 AM	#2
Sarpedon Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Minnesota, the least controversial state in the le Posts: 8,446	Because they are sheep They go where they are herded...BAAAA! I keep wondering how long it will be before an anti-muslim terrorist decides to detonate a bomb in one of those tunnels that leads to those sites during the hajj. People frequently stampede in them and crush people for no reason at all. If I were an angry israeli settler, or some southern baptist nut, I would seriously consider it.

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02-11-2003, 09:50 AM	#3
HaysooChreesto! Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: SoCal USA Posts: 7,737	On CNN they're calling it the "Hajj Tragedy". There's something about that headline that strikes me as seemy. Oh well. Wouldn't they be better off holding that thing in Daytona Beach, Florida during the Spring Break weeks where all you crazy college kids go and create fodder for all the "Girls Gone Wild" videos. Maybe that'd loosen 'em up a bit. Chicks running around pulling their burkas up to their knees, guys gettin' all liquored up and shaving their beards, riding around naked on pack animals. Craziness I tell ya'.

02-18-2003, 11:24 AM	#7
Shake Contributor Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Folding@Home in upstate NY Posts: 14,394	How about the 21 killed in a stampede in a Chicago nightclub? I guess it can happen here, too.

02-19-2003, 05:53 AM	#9
Dargo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texas Posts: 713	If Muslims die during a religious pilgrimage, do they get a free ride to heaven like jihadists do? Maybe that's why they don't worry about the deaths.

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