A little bit of history......

Roscoe · #1 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 07:46 AM

In these days, with the torrents of fatwa's and hailstorms of death threats, not to mention general grievance and self-pity from Muslims as reaction to various "insults" from Western infidels it's interesting to look back in history.
How did our forefathers react to the threat of Islam?

Well, Danish blogger Snaphanen brought my attention to one way of answering Muslim demands of submission.

Back in 1667, the Zaporozhian Cossacks defeated a Turkish army that had been sent in to the south of Russia. In spite of his defeat, the Turkish Sultan, Mehmed IV, sent a letter to the Cossacks, demanding their surrender.

Read the demand and the Cossacks vivid answer here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reply_o...zhian_Cossacks

Art Burtt · #2 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 08:02 AM

Er, They should have told him how they really feel. LOL

Roscoe · #3 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 08:03 AM

Reminds me of Monty Pythons 'The Holy Grail'

Roscoe

rdorman · #4 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 09:46 AM

Holy Grail was what I was thinking as well... those Cossasks sure had a way with words

imagine2frolic · #5 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 10:05 AM

No use in making nice with the enemy! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA

Wes Tausend · #6 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 10:38 AM

...

One might assume that the Sultan did not, or could not, personally read the reply because of slight language differences. If so, it would be interesting to have been present when the reply was read to the Sultan. This would be a very awkward moment in the career of the translator.

Or maybe not. If the original "Çàïîð³çüê³ êîçàêè òóðåöüêîìó ñóëòàíó..." is, or was, clear to the Sultans personal eye at the time then it would be interesting to be able to pick a few choice phrases for graffiti purposes. For instance, which word is goatf'er?

With the radical Islamics it seems they're more easily insulted by negative reference to their religious ideals. With us, it's more likely to be insulting if our political patriotism is brought into question. But that is the crafted difference in how we are culturally united to apparently quarrel amongst ourselves as inhabinents of the same planet. For them it is a religious war; for us a political war. Almost the same but not quite.

...

Ron61 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 10:42 AM

I received an e-mail from a person that I know a few days ago. Seems they have discovered a big hole in deep space and don't know what it is or what may have caused it. His suggestion was that after God saw what a mess his creation of mankind had turned into, he had packed his bags and left the Universe.

Ron