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| Buzz Aldrin's 1966 Space Selfie (PD) |
Making a pilgrimage to Mecca is supposed to be all about worshipping Allah. Nevertheless, some
all-too-human Hajj participants are taking the opportunity to include a few selfies while there.
Carol J. Williams of Los
Angeles Times reports that young Hajj
pilgrims have been snapping “photos
of themselves kissing the Grand
Mosque’s black stone or taking self portraits with other sacred venues in the background.”
Arab News goes so
far as to call this practice “selfie fever,” and states that this “touristy behavior” has been condemned by “scholars and other pilgrims.” These
opponents consider
selfies to have somewhat “ruined the spirit of modesty and devotion expected during the Hajj.”
A certain amount of technology has been welcomed by Hajj planners, who see it as “infusing new elements of protection and comfort into the annual event…” Hajj history has unfortunately included some “deadly stampedes, numerous cases of heat stroke and extremist violence.”
To offset potential dangers, this year’s Hajj has included an expanded and disability-friendly Grand Mosque circumambulation area, facial recognition software, closed-circuit cameras, airport medical screening, translation-equipped cellphones, and giant umbrellas.
Resources
http://wwrn.org/articles/43469/?&place=asia-pacific
Copyright October 6, 2014 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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