November 24, 2002

What's the deal with Nigeria?

LGF has more on the Miss World contest's move to London, Arab News' (predictable) response to the violence, and Nigeria's attempt to get the World Cup.

Is this just an isolated incident, or part of a disturbing trend?

Slate had an article that was much more upbeat, in its own way, about Nigerian scammers:

Someday [Nigerian scam letters] will abate, when young, educated Nigerians have better economic prospects... when that day comes, there will be a thriving Internet culture for Nigerians to use for more legitimate purposes.

So, is Nigeria the home of a modern, electronic society, or are they mired a couple millenia back?

LGF includes a link to this article:

Angry Christians attacked Muslims

It wasn't just Muslims attacking Christians, but that's how it started and I'd imagine that's where most of the deaths come from.

Pageant publicist Stella Din said organizers decided to move the beauty pageant because "we didn't want any more bloodshed."

Deaths resulting from a beauty contest: they don't teach you these things in Publicist School.

Miss Canada capitulated, but, surprisingly, Miss France is still soldiering away.

And, the Religion of Peace in England wants you to know:

"It is wrong that it should happen in Britain, in Nigeria or in any country," Sajjad Khan, of the Islamic Liberation Party in Britain, told British Broadcasting Corp. radio on Saturday.

(What's "wrong?" The rioting?)

"I think the whole idea of having a beauty contest anywhere would be against many forward-thinking people of whatever faith and whatever ideology."

(Oh, so it's the beauty contest that's wrong. Thanks for clarifying your position on this matter.)

UPDATE: This mostly balanced article has background info on the Nigerian situation.

Posted to Terrorism at November 24, 2002 12:11 PM

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