The Sea of Intolerance

This is a guest post by reader Marc.




The Islamic Solidarity Games, scheduled for April in Iran, have been called off--over what to call the Persian Gulf:

The games federation in Saudi Arabia said the Iranian organisers had failed to address its concerns, particularly about the planned logo and medals.

These bear the words "Persian Gulf", but Arab countries, who call it the Arabian Gulf, reject the term.

The games had been postponed in October in the hope of striking a deal.

The Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF) in Riyadh said, after an emergency board meeting, Iran's local organising committee "unilaterally took some decisions without asking the federation by writing some slogans on the medals and pamphlets of the games".

Iran "did not abide by the rules of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation" and "did not follow the decisions taken by the general assembly of the federation at a previous meeting in Riyadh", it said in a statement.

But Iran's committee for the games disputed the decision.

"In spite of convincing arguments made to the ISSF executive committee, regrettably and without presenting any logical reasons, the ISSF committee decided not to hold the games with Iran as the host," it said.

The games -- which are meant to strengthen ties among Islamic countries -- were first held in the Saudi city of Jeddah in 2005.

Has the Muslim world -- which invented the bazaar -- lost its ability to negotiate and compromise? Surely an alternative name can be invented. How about: the Muslim Rift, The Sea of Intolerance, The Abyss of Stupidity, the Bay of no-Fundy.

Reader suggestions welcomed in the comments.