Word for the Day

I was reading Salam Pax this weekend and when he was recounting a story about getting a ride from a cabbie with a hand grenade, he said: "it is Halal to kill those who are agents of the infidel occupier."

I remembered a piece on NPR ages ago that discussed issues with labeling and certification of halal meats (the comparison was to kosher food labels). It was a long time ago and I couldn't remember what "halal" literally meant, especially in Salam's context. According to The American Heritage Dictionary, my understanding of the word is listed as the first meaning: Of or being meat slaughtered in the prescribed way. I didn't think that's really what Salam meant in this case. However, the second definition is more generic, as I found both in the AHD and here: (that which is) allowed, permitted or permissible.

Poor Salam. Read his post--it is truly scary. It's disturbing that the situation is so bad that a) it's permissible to kill people who co-operate with the US and b) many people do in fact view us as infidel occupiers.

ntodd

PS--Last post for a while. Gotta do some real work.  ¶ 6:35 AM