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Dec 28, 2004, 10:58 am
| #1 (permalink) (top) | |
| Volcanic Erupter  Posts: 9,589 | Victoria's Secret and an Under-reported Election - the other face of Islam A recent bizarre post about the "white" folks being overrun by Moslems reminded me, as if I needed reminding, that so many people in America only see one face of Islam - the fundamentalist terrorist who hates the West. That image itself is a distortion, and completely misses the other, more representative, face of Islam. A personal and global observation: Yesterday I was in Victoria's Secret, a lingerie store, in my local mall picking up something for my wife. The women who work in the store are fairly typical of my neighborhood which is quite diverse, so I was not at all surprised to see white, black, Hispanic and Asian women working there. I was surprised to a woman wear a hijab, the Islamic head scarf, working there, helping men and women buying nightgowns, panties, bras and other lingerie. (When I saw her she was in a three way conversation, helping a Hispanic guy talking on his cell phone presumably to his wife or girl friend about selecting panties.) I suppose it isn't so different, the products nothwithstanding, from the woman working at the local Taco Bell who wears a hijab. It even matches the rest of her uniform. Western culture is powerful and alluring. There is a reason why fundamentalists of any ilk find it threatening. I worry about fundamentalism whether it is Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu or Buddhist. No doubt that Osama Bin Laden would be enraged by a Muslim woman working at Victoria's Secret or even a Taco Bell, but American Muslims by in large have as much in common with Bin Laden and his fundamentalism as I have with Pope Sixtus IV and the Inquisition. I don't worry about Islam. I have Islamic friends. My kids go to school with Islamic kids, (as well as Christian, Jewish and one or two Buddhists and Hindus.) A wife in one Islamic couple that we are good friends with has a PhD in Education, works in a variety of local schools and can explain in Koranic terms why wear a hajab is not appropriate or required for her. When my wife, who was on the concourse of One World Trade when the first plane hit on 9/11, finally got home, one the first friends to call to see that she was OK was a friend who was born in Lebanon and is a Muslim. My strictly personal observations. On a much larger global sense, there was a major story that the western media almost didn't cover this year. We are currently focussed on the upcoming election in Iraq but have completely ignored a larger and arguably at least as important election in the largest Islamic country in the world. Indonesia, with a Muslim population approaching 200 million has as many Muslims as Saudi Arabia. Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, Oman, the UAE, Afghanistan, and Yemen combined. The Indonesian election was the first in their history to directly elect a president and the first in over fifty years to elect a legislature. The incumbent president, Megawati Sukarnoputri, a woman, lost to an ex-general, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The election was peaceful and fair according to international observers. The two Islamic parties, both of which are secular by Middle Eastern standards, never made the presidential run-offs. Quote:
On purely religious terms I am not crazy about Islam. (I am not a great fan of any of the three Semetic religions, if push comes to shove, but tolerance is one of my family's "traditional" values".) That being said I don't worry about the West being overrun by Muslims hordes. I have confidence that Western culture, pluralism and freedom is a greater threat to the fundamentalists than they are to us, whichever religion they may espouse. Rick "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." Sinclair Lewis | |
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Dec 28, 2004, 12:48 pm
| #2 (permalink) (top) |
| Man of Tradition Location: near Philadelphia Posts: 97 | I disagree with your implications about the west; in the strictest, literal sense, it is indeed "powerful and alluring," but only in the sense that Satan's temptations of Christ were. The west doesnt even have a culture, only a totality of mainstream entertainment outlets. |
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Dec 28, 2004, 01:02 pm
| #3 (permalink) (top) | |
| year of the monkey Location: Milwaukee, Wi Posts: 663 | Quote:
Sanity is the playground of the unimaginative. anonomous Words we say, never seem to live up to the ones inside our heads. Chris Cornell | |
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Dec 28, 2004, 01:18 pm
| #5 (permalink) (top) |
| year of the monkey Location: Milwaukee, Wi Posts: 663 | You accused the west of not having any culture so I accused you of being an elitist. Is there some truth to your statement? Yes. We Americans, I'm guilty myself sometimes, of putting too much importance on sporting events or Hollywood programming. For you to say we have no culture is small minded though; apparently that's not just an American trait. Sanity is the playground of the unimaginative. anonomous Words we say, never seem to live up to the ones inside our heads. Chris Cornell |
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Dec 28, 2004, 01:28 pm
| #7 (permalink) (top) | |
| Volcanic Erupter Posts: 9,589 | Quote:
American started developing a distinct and unique culture well before it seperated from England. Class barriers and distinctions were lessened. Initiative was valued over rank or title which created opportunities unimagined in the "old world". A brash, brawling, irreverant, highly creative culture developed. Despite our repeated detours into bigotry, imperialism and nativism, that which is unique and wonderful about this nation is still vibrant and alive. All you appear to be able to see are the bright lights. But that is your problem, not mine. Rick "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross." Sinclair Lewis | |
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Dec 28, 2004, 01:29 pm
| #8 (permalink) (top) |
 9/11: Inside Job  Location: Hawai'i, Big Island Posts: 10,455 | What kind of culture would you like to see in America, Zara? I think it is a great nation filled with intelligent, loving people. Entertainment...well, some stuff is over the top, but would you rather we had none? "Arms in the hands of the citizens may be used at individual discretion for the defense of the country, the overthrow of tyranny or private self-defense." -- John Adams |
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Dec 28, 2004, 01:31 pm
| #9 (permalink) (top) |
| year of the monkey Location: Milwaukee, Wi Posts: 663 | My apologies, I had no idea I was talking to Tom Shayles. If you're bored by our mundane entertainment you can watch something brilliant from the "Continent", like Benny Hill, the Spice Girls or some kickass mime act. Sanity is the playground of the unimaginative. anonomous Words we say, never seem to live up to the ones inside our heads. Chris Cornell |
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Dec 28, 2004, 01:38 pm
| #11 (permalink) (top) |
| year of the monkey Location: Milwaukee, Wi Posts: 663 | I feel sorry for you, to be forced to live in a place you despise. I hope you're making a lot of money or married a really hot American woman to make up for all of your anguish. Sanity is the playground of the unimaginative. anonomous Words we say, never seem to live up to the ones inside our heads. Chris Cornell |
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