Da Vinci Code

[Superman]

Teib how can i get the book??

[FANTASY]

Spawn Of Cthullu:
Is there a site that shows these pictures which u described? I didn't know that Da vinci is the same great painter...i thought they used his name.

[confirm password]

To the people who believe the Da Vinci Code should be banned: what about free speech? Same goes for the banning of the Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. I find it hypocritical that you promote freedom from Syria when you won't allow people the right to read whatever they choose.

[Spawn Of Cthullu]

Uhmmmm, that was a very shallow comment, with all due respect. Your genralistation doesn't make sense, and when a community isn't mature enough to deal with certain books, then banning is preferable !

Ba3den those two books , as i previously mentionned , had their way into leb ... yet not being sold to the mainstream ... so people who are really seeking the books are getting them ! That, of course not to mention people who got them in the form of E-Books !

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Why was it shallow? Because I rubbed you the wrong way? :) The real shallowness is banning books because you can't handle criticism of your religion.

It doesn't matter if people were able to somehow get it to Leb or read it as an E-book. It's the principle of the thing. We're always so afraid of insulting religious people that we infringe on most people's rights for free thought, and free thought includes free access to any literature of choice. If you keep protecting people from offensive thoughts, how do you expect them to mature? Obviously those who control them do not want them to think controversial thoughts. If you support a FREE Lebanon, then you should support free speech and free expression of thought.

[Anti-Israel/Anti-Syria]

The real shallowness is banning books because you can't handle criticism of your religion.

I agree. If we're going to silence everything we don't like, then we might as well never talk, not even to one another............. Unless you (general 'you') really want to create a parrot orchestra, in which case, good luck...........................

I find it ironic that many here would support such a ban when the ban is a violation of our freedom to read, to be informed, to be critical of [whatever we want]... So why are you supporters of the FREE Patriotic Movement?

[Anti-Israel/Anti-Syria]

Originally Posted by Spawn Of Cthullu

Ba3den those two books , as i previously mentionned , had their way into leb ... yet not being sold to the mainstream ... so people who are really seeking the books are getting them ! That, of course not to mention people who got them in the form of E-Books !

Does it matter? It is still a law and it's a punishable offense. And that is a violation of freedom.

Look, if you or a group of people can't handle the truth, it doesn't mean others can't. Stop treating us like children and choosing what we should read and what we should not.

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Well said, Dan. Add to that the fact that the book's success is mostly due to all the controversy religious groups are making. They should have learned from Rushdie; I don't think his book would have been that successful had the Iranian clerics not declared a fatwa. So it's really ironic that the same people who do not want others to read this book are the ones who have contributed to its popularity.

I haven't read it yet, and I don't think I will, but if I were living in Lebanon I would have rebelled and got my hands on a copy.. just to see what the fuss is about.

So really, when you try to prohibit people from reading something it will only backfire on you.

[Spawn Of Cthullu]

Interesting how you just assumed that 1) i do follow a certain religion 2) this particular religion is Christianity ( "criticism of your religion" ).

Just because i supported the book's banning doesnt neccesarly mean i belong to a certain sect or anything... however, you assumed that i am a Christian, therefore, you do assume that everyone endorsing the banning of the book is a Christian. Without even being aware of it, you've evaluated my judgement only considering the religion factor. Now let's say if 90% of the Lebanese would think(?) of it that way, that might lead to a catastrophy.


On the other hand, i never said the contrary of the second part of your reply. Not being exposed to the "other side" is really outrageous, and i support the idea that religious people would access certain information, by music, litterature, and art in general which are contradictory to their religion. Then, and if a person is really religious, this will strenghten his/her faith, rather than disminishing it. Unfortunately, people who take the spiritual side of religion are rare nowadays ... thus, fanatism, though by different degrees, is a common case.

If you already read my previous reply well, you could have concluded that i am with the freedom of opinion basically, but in our specific case in Lebanon, the society is too fragile to handle books like The Satanic Verses or The Da Vinci Code. On the bright side, people are getting more exposed to ideas of secularism, and step by step, they're getting out of the sectarianism they're drowned into ! But, exposing them to books in the vein of DVC at the moment would do them more harm than good .

[Spawn Of Cthullu]

Originally Posted by Anti-Israel/Anti-Syria

Does it matter? It is still a law and it's a punishable offense. And that is a violation of freedom.

Look, if you or a group of people can't handle the truth, it doesn't mean others can't. Stop treating us like children and choosing what we should read and what we should not.

How so insighful :) . I guess this was a civilized discussion . However, your reply was Ad-Hominem at it's paroxism, and devoid of all forms of objectivity.

I never treated you like a child, but i'm afraid you're giving me reasons for doing so.

Have a nice day .