news commentary: due before class
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Ken Sklar (Radnor High School)
Feb 22, 2012, 7:42:54 AM2/22/12
to 2011 Global Issues
Please post a commentary on any NTY article you read over the past
week: 2/12 - 2/20 (2/19 on the web) that interested you. Please
identify the article title and date.
week: 2/12 - 2/20 (2/19 on the web) that interested you. Please
identify the article title and date.
Steven Wood
Feb 22, 2012, 12:45:55 PM2/22/12
to 2011 Global Issues
Obama Offers Support for Peaceful Transfer of Power in Yemen
By LAURA KASINOF
Published: February 19, 2012
This article I found very intruiguing how the United Stataes
Government has responded to the step down of Saleh and the "election
of a new leader". This election, which took place on Sunday, had one
canidate on the ballot, Mr. Haidi has served as vice president since
1994 and is running for a two-year term as president on pledges of
improving security and creating more jobs. What is so interesting
about this is President Obama's response to this election. Obama's
reaction was surprisingly positive saying that this is a huge
progressive step for Yemen, but in reality this is a miniscule change
and will surely not result in any change in the government.
On Feb 22, 7:42 am, "Ken Sklar (Radnor High School)"
By LAURA KASINOF
Published: February 19, 2012
This article I found very intruiguing how the United Stataes
Government has responded to the step down of Saleh and the "election
of a new leader". This election, which took place on Sunday, had one
canidate on the ballot, Mr. Haidi has served as vice president since
1994 and is running for a two-year term as president on pledges of
improving security and creating more jobs. What is so interesting
about this is President Obama's response to this election. Obama's
reaction was surprisingly positive saying that this is a huge
progressive step for Yemen, but in reality this is a miniscule change
and will surely not result in any change in the government.
On Feb 22, 7:42 am, "Ken Sklar (Radnor High School)"
Alexa Lee
Feb 22, 2012, 5:04:03 PM2/22/12
to 2011 Global Issues
(Response to Islam Handouts)
Women
Reading the women focused handouts provoked me to think more deeply
about the issue and just more generally about Islam. I read that
according to Qasas "a woman's value is half that of a man" and "the
fine for murdering a woman [is] at half that for murdering a man".
Additionally the Quran states that "women have the same right as is
exercised over them, though the men have a rank above them". I was
wondering why a woman's value is half that of a man. Why were men
considered higher than women? Is there an ancient cultural rationale
as to why this is or is there a religious reason (information spoken
by God)? Also is the Koran the only 'directly spoken by God (from the
messenger Gabriel)' scripture of Islam, or is Qasas as well?
When I read about the martyrdom I was
Martyrdom
When I read the handouts with quotes from the Quran and pondered about
modern-day 'martyrs' (suicide bombers) I realized just how
contradictory the two are. The Quran states "No killing of women,
children, the elderly, priest, hermits, noncombatants generally. No
burning farms or trees. No kidnapping noncombatants". Today suicide
bombers do all of the above. They injure innocent civilians in
pursuit of martyrdom. It seems that the suicide bombers are not
"extremist" Muslims but "confused" Muslims. If they were such
extremist Muslims they would be extreme about this concept of "no
killing noncombatants generally". However, they ignore this detail
and go about bombing highly populated areas with tons of harmless
bystanders. I believe that real martyrs would only die when
persecuted for their beliefs, not go out and kill people for their
beliefs, whatever they may be - that is something else entirely. I
feel that extreme Muslims might try to 'purify' the world not with
violence (that would go against the Quran) but through example like
they have done in the past.
Other
I was surprised upon learning that the reason Osama bin Laden hated
the US and many Western nations was not because they were Christian,
but because they were secular. Apparently he refers to pagans in his
hate speeches. The 'infidels' were not the Christians or Jews because
they essentially believe in the same God as Muslims. These 'infidels'
were considered to be "bedouins of ancient Arabia" and the secular
people of the West. Ultimately the main issue was that "Islamic
radicals such as bin Laden make their case against America and the
West not on the grounds that these cultures are Christian, but on the
grounds that they have abandoned Christianity." In fact even
Ahmadinejad said that America was not "Christian enough"! Wow, I
always thought that the reason why bin Laden and Ahmadinejad hated the
West was for their Christian values, but turns out that it is the very
opposite.
Women
Reading the women focused handouts provoked me to think more deeply
about the issue and just more generally about Islam. I read that
according to Qasas "a woman's value is half that of a man" and "the
fine for murdering a woman [is] at half that for murdering a man".
Additionally the Quran states that "women have the same right as is
exercised over them, though the men have a rank above them". I was
wondering why a woman's value is half that of a man. Why were men
considered higher than women? Is there an ancient cultural rationale
as to why this is or is there a religious reason (information spoken
by God)? Also is the Koran the only 'directly spoken by God (from the
messenger Gabriel)' scripture of Islam, or is Qasas as well?
When I read about the martyrdom I was
Martyrdom
When I read the handouts with quotes from the Quran and pondered about
modern-day 'martyrs' (suicide bombers) I realized just how
contradictory the two are. The Quran states "No killing of women,
children, the elderly, priest, hermits, noncombatants generally. No
burning farms or trees. No kidnapping noncombatants". Today suicide
bombers do all of the above. They injure innocent civilians in
pursuit of martyrdom. It seems that the suicide bombers are not
"extremist" Muslims but "confused" Muslims. If they were such
extremist Muslims they would be extreme about this concept of "no
killing noncombatants generally". However, they ignore this detail
and go about bombing highly populated areas with tons of harmless
bystanders. I believe that real martyrs would only die when
persecuted for their beliefs, not go out and kill people for their
beliefs, whatever they may be - that is something else entirely. I
feel that extreme Muslims might try to 'purify' the world not with
violence (that would go against the Quran) but through example like
they have done in the past.
Other
I was surprised upon learning that the reason Osama bin Laden hated
the US and many Western nations was not because they were Christian,
but because they were secular. Apparently he refers to pagans in his
hate speeches. The 'infidels' were not the Christians or Jews because
they essentially believe in the same God as Muslims. These 'infidels'
were considered to be "bedouins of ancient Arabia" and the secular
people of the West. Ultimately the main issue was that "Islamic
radicals such as bin Laden make their case against America and the
West not on the grounds that these cultures are Christian, but on the
grounds that they have abandoned Christianity." In fact even
Ahmadinejad said that America was not "Christian enough"! Wow, I
always thought that the reason why bin Laden and Ahmadinejad hated the
West was for their Christian values, but turns out that it is the very
opposite.
Cat Mosier-Mills
Feb 22, 2012, 5:38:13 PM2/22/12
to 2011 Global Issues
(Response to Islam handouts)
Although the issue of Islam's treatment of women has been debated, I
was surprised to discover that it's more of a cultural/interpretive
phenomenon than a religious phenomenon. For example, in the article
"Islamic Fundamentalism vs. Moderate Islam", it says that although
Saudi Arabia and Indonesia/Turkey/Bangladesh are all predominatly
Muslim countries, Saudia Arabia doesn't allow its women to drive,
while the other countries have female elected leaders. It's all up to
interpretation, just as Christian fundamentalists in our country
interpret the Bible more literally than others. Some take the messages
in the Koran, which encourage modesty, very literally, and want
Islamic law to be the law of the land (such as in Iran and Sudan.)
Countries with Western ideals, such as Bosnia, don't enforce the dress
code, and, as mentioned in the poem by the Muslim girl, many girls
embrace the Hijab or Chador out of respect for their culture,
religion, and family.
Martyrdom has always been an interesting concept for analyists and
observers alike; and, like the treatment of women, it's left open to
interpretation. In the handout "What does Islam say about war?", we
see that war is a last resort, "subject to the rigorous conditions
laid down by the sacred law." Additionally, it mentions the constant
confusion with the word "jihad" ("struggle" instead of "holy war").
The sentence that stood out to me the most was from "Why some strap on
bombs", saying that: "Confronted by a seemingly endless combination of
death, destruction, restriction, harassment, and humiliation, they
conclude that ending life as a bomb -- rather than having it ended by
a bullet -- endows them, even if only in their final moments, with a
semblance of purpose and control previously considered out of reach."
It doesn't necessarily justify suicide bombings or martyrdom, but it
provides an interesting insight into the psyche of Palestinian suicide
bombers -- that sometimes they aren't "social misfits or clinical
psychopaths."
What I found most interesting overall was the article on Ayaan Hirsi
Ali. As a harsh critic of Islam and fearing for her life, she's been
named Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2005, and has
been given several other accolades for her work. As a Muslim who grew
up in Somalia, her book presents a personal look on Islam's treatment
of women -- especially men following in Muhammad's footsteps by doing
"borderline pedophile" things. (She remarks how Mohammad fell in love
with his wife when she was 6, and married her when she was 9!) I find
her to be an extremely influential and inspiring woman.
Although the issue of Islam's treatment of women has been debated, I
was surprised to discover that it's more of a cultural/interpretive
phenomenon than a religious phenomenon. For example, in the article
"Islamic Fundamentalism vs. Moderate Islam", it says that although
Saudi Arabia and Indonesia/Turkey/Bangladesh are all predominatly
Muslim countries, Saudia Arabia doesn't allow its women to drive,
while the other countries have female elected leaders. It's all up to
interpretation, just as Christian fundamentalists in our country
interpret the Bible more literally than others. Some take the messages
in the Koran, which encourage modesty, very literally, and want
Islamic law to be the law of the land (such as in Iran and Sudan.)
Countries with Western ideals, such as Bosnia, don't enforce the dress
code, and, as mentioned in the poem by the Muslim girl, many girls
embrace the Hijab or Chador out of respect for their culture,
religion, and family.
Martyrdom has always been an interesting concept for analyists and
observers alike; and, like the treatment of women, it's left open to
interpretation. In the handout "What does Islam say about war?", we
see that war is a last resort, "subject to the rigorous conditions
laid down by the sacred law." Additionally, it mentions the constant
confusion with the word "jihad" ("struggle" instead of "holy war").
The sentence that stood out to me the most was from "Why some strap on
bombs", saying that: "Confronted by a seemingly endless combination of
death, destruction, restriction, harassment, and humiliation, they
conclude that ending life as a bomb -- rather than having it ended by
a bullet -- endows them, even if only in their final moments, with a
semblance of purpose and control previously considered out of reach."
It doesn't necessarily justify suicide bombings or martyrdom, but it
provides an interesting insight into the psyche of Palestinian suicide
bombers -- that sometimes they aren't "social misfits or clinical
psychopaths."
What I found most interesting overall was the article on Ayaan Hirsi
Ali. As a harsh critic of Islam and fearing for her life, she's been
named Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2005, and has
been given several other accolades for her work. As a Muslim who grew
up in Somalia, her book presents a personal look on Islam's treatment
of women -- especially men following in Muhammad's footsteps by doing
"borderline pedophile" things. (She remarks how Mohammad fell in love
with his wife when she was 6, and married her when she was 9!) I find
her to be an extremely influential and inspiring woman.
Addy
Feb 22, 2012, 9:15:06 PM2/22/12
to 2011 Global Issues
(response to the Islam Handouts)
Women
The one thing that struck me while reading these handouts, is that
while women are mistreated and don't get the same rights, that's
considered their place in life. There rule in life is to stay "at home
and takes care of her children, reading them the Koran is doing as
important work as the Father," and I think that its important to
understand, from a religious stand point, that's what they are
supposed to be doing. That may seem a little extreme to Western
people, but to the strict followers of Islam, its what needs to be
done. I think when considering the treatment of women, we need to keep
that in mind. Now, that being said, I think that the other
mistreatment of women are atrocious. They are for the most part
cultural. The divorce procedure, and the torturing of women refusing
to be married are either cultural acts, or the people are acting with
some twisted sense and interpretation of the religion.
Martyrdom
I think that a lot of today's martyrs are working on the word of some
twisted, misconstrued version of the Islamic faith.The Koran Justifies
self defense, but it forbids one from killing innocent people even non-
Muslims, "anyone ho kills a non-Muslim who had become our ally will
not smell the fragrance of Paradise". I think that America's view of
these suicide bombers is twisting our view of Islam. I think that one
needs to make a distinction. These fanatical people are
misinterpreting the Koran, and Americans need to understand that.
I think that understanding and knowledge is imperative. The people of
the world don't have good knowledge of Islam, and our only opinion of
these people is the suicide bombers and the terrorists. Making the
distinction is very important to the world. We hear all these terrible
stories coming out of Afghanistan and Iraq about these girls
brutalized and these child soldiers, and we need to understand that
these people are essentially brainwashed into believing that they are
doing this in the name of God.
Women
The one thing that struck me while reading these handouts, is that
while women are mistreated and don't get the same rights, that's
considered their place in life. There rule in life is to stay "at home
and takes care of her children, reading them the Koran is doing as
important work as the Father," and I think that its important to
understand, from a religious stand point, that's what they are
supposed to be doing. That may seem a little extreme to Western
people, but to the strict followers of Islam, its what needs to be
done. I think when considering the treatment of women, we need to keep
that in mind. Now, that being said, I think that the other
mistreatment of women are atrocious. They are for the most part
cultural. The divorce procedure, and the torturing of women refusing
to be married are either cultural acts, or the people are acting with
some twisted sense and interpretation of the religion.
Martyrdom
I think that a lot of today's martyrs are working on the word of some
twisted, misconstrued version of the Islamic faith.The Koran Justifies
self defense, but it forbids one from killing innocent people even non-
Muslims, "anyone ho kills a non-Muslim who had become our ally will
not smell the fragrance of Paradise". I think that America's view of
these suicide bombers is twisting our view of Islam. I think that one
needs to make a distinction. These fanatical people are
misinterpreting the Koran, and Americans need to understand that.
I think that understanding and knowledge is imperative. The people of
the world don't have good knowledge of Islam, and our only opinion of
these people is the suicide bombers and the terrorists. Making the
distinction is very important to the world. We hear all these terrible
stories coming out of Afghanistan and Iraq about these girls
brutalized and these child soldiers, and we need to understand that
these people are essentially brainwashed into believing that they are
doing this in the name of God.
Rachel Hochberger
Feb 22, 2012, 9:53:02 PM2/22/12
to 2011 Global Issues
One thing that struck me about women in the Islam handouts was the way
some women’s court cases were handled. It was horrible to hear that
after a woman was abducted and raped, she was the one who got the
punishment, simply because at the time of her abduction she was in a
car with a man who wasn’t related to her by blood or marriage. For
this crime known as “mingling”, she was given a jail sentence as well
as a physical punishment that was apparently brutal enough to kill a
strong man. It makes you rethink the simpler rights you are afforded
in our society and how carefree we are in regards to them, whereas
people in many other cultures and countries have to consider even
simple actions that could lead to dangerous repercussions.
Martyrdom, like many religion-linked beliefs is subject to much
interpretation and speculation that I really didn’t know or understand
well before. The handout “Why Some Strap On Bombs gives a more
sympathetic perspective to this act- explaining that many who pursue
this are surrounded by violence, death, humiliation, and more, and
feel that this is a way for them to be in control, and gives them a
purpose. It was both interesting and quite surprising to see this
view, because it is not one we are often taught, and shows that while
this is a violent and dangerous act that harms many, it may not be as
cruel and heartless as often perceived.
One article that surprised me the most was one outlining the
specifications of legal codes regarding stoning and flogging and how
they are enforced, as well as specific cases involving these
punishments. It was shocking to hear about people who committed acts
that aren’t even illegal here, as minor as drinking alcohol, facing
cruel and violent punishments, and often death. Stories like these
make you consider how much freedom we are given and how we could just
as easily been born into a society where these cruel punishments are a
part of everyday life.
some women’s court cases were handled. It was horrible to hear that
after a woman was abducted and raped, she was the one who got the
punishment, simply because at the time of her abduction she was in a
car with a man who wasn’t related to her by blood or marriage. For
this crime known as “mingling”, she was given a jail sentence as well
as a physical punishment that was apparently brutal enough to kill a
strong man. It makes you rethink the simpler rights you are afforded
in our society and how carefree we are in regards to them, whereas
people in many other cultures and countries have to consider even
simple actions that could lead to dangerous repercussions.
Martyrdom, like many religion-linked beliefs is subject to much
interpretation and speculation that I really didn’t know or understand
well before. The handout “Why Some Strap On Bombs gives a more
sympathetic perspective to this act- explaining that many who pursue
this are surrounded by violence, death, humiliation, and more, and
feel that this is a way for them to be in control, and gives them a
purpose. It was both interesting and quite surprising to see this
view, because it is not one we are often taught, and shows that while
this is a violent and dangerous act that harms many, it may not be as
cruel and heartless as often perceived.
One article that surprised me the most was one outlining the
specifications of legal codes regarding stoning and flogging and how
they are enforced, as well as specific cases involving these
punishments. It was shocking to hear about people who committed acts
that aren’t even illegal here, as minor as drinking alcohol, facing
cruel and violent punishments, and often death. Stories like these
make you consider how much freedom we are given and how we could just
as easily been born into a society where these cruel punishments are a
part of everyday life.
Shefain Islam
Feb 22, 2012, 10:11:34 PM2/22/12
to 2011-glob...@googlegroups.com
Women:
Being a Muslim girl, I think about the idea of Islam and women a lot. Reading from the Quran and seeing translations of women being told to "draw their scarves around themselves" but then also being from a pretty liberal family and living in the Western world confuses me often. Is the veiling of women culture or religion? If it's religious, should I follow the custom? But the handout with "Purdah" at the top summed things up really well. The idea of purdah means different things to different people and there is no one answer for the reason behind purdah. While it is definitely not a religious practice since the idea of veiling predates Islam, Islam has been connected with veiling because the cultures that were Islamic (the Arabs) were cultures that veiled women. In the handout, different women were explaining their reason for wearing the hijab but what I found most interesting was the fact that women now wear the hijab as a form of rebellion against their parents who did not believe in veiling. I feel personally connected with this idea because my grandmother and my mother don't veil themselves but I'm seeing more and more people around me like my cousins get into veiling as a way to better themselves in a way that they believe their parents didn't do. Going back to the idea of veiling and culture, I strongly believe that while the idea of modesty goes throughout the Muslim world, how modesty along with other "Muslim" roles of women are expressed around the world vastly differ. While in Saudi Arabia women can't drive and have "religious police" enforcing a dress code, Bangladesh (with over 140 million Muslims) has had two women prime ministers and have very few veiled women. Instead, in Bangladesh you will see more South Asian traditions like saris and the traditional attire of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bengalis. The reason for these facts is again culture rather than religion. Women in Bangladesh are also allowed to drive, go out in public alone in whatever they choose to wear, and are allowed to divorce their husbands. Again, culture not religion. I think the West often looks at the Muslim world as just Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and therefore mistakes many cultural traditions as religious traditions which is a problem.
Jihad:
Jihad is probably one of the most controversial topics surrounding Islam. The way that jihad and Islam are represented to the Western world through atrocious inhumane acts like car bombs and 9/11 frankly embarrass me. It's sad for me to think that the first time some people heard of Islam was when two Muslims crashed airplanes into the World Trade Center, killing thousands. The truth is that Jihad is a personal struggle just as much as it is an outer struggle. The handouts with Quran passages said that Islam does not promote any kind of violence or aggression unless aggression is prompted by the other party first. Even then, Muslims should only retaliate with the same amount to aggression that the other party started with and should never increase aggression. The way radicals like Al-Qaeda is practicing "jihad" is completely the antithesis of what Islam is all about but many radicals are so obsessed with the personal struggles they felt, they find a religious passage, twist it, and use it as their mission statement in the killing of innocent civilians. When I see the word "jihad" being used on news, it makes me angry at the radicals who have tainted a beautiful concept and the news channels for carrying this tainted version of the word onto millions of viewers. Jihad is a struggle for one's inner peace with religion just as much as it an outer struggle to protect your religion from outside invaders. In the "Primer of Muslim Terms" handouts, it specifically mentions inner jihad is more important than outer jihad. For this word to be tarnished for most likely the rest of history disturbs me because that means many people will not know the true meaning of an crucial concept in Islam. In many minds, jihad will equate with terror and therefore Muslims will equate to terrorists.
Ramadan:
I wanted to write about Ramadan because it such an important part in many Muslims' lives, even those who are not very devote. In one of the handouts, the writer explains how she was perplexed after finding out that her meeting was not at 11 am, but rather 11 pm. During Ramadan, this is how the lives of many Muslims work. It seems odd to a Westerner to stop everything during the day for a month because there is fasting going on but in reality, after sunset Muslim homes and cities all over the world come alive with the scent of dates and limeade while at least 20 people gather in small areas to laugh, pray, and enjoy together. Ramadan and Eid are some of the most beautiful traditions in Islam. The handout also mentioned how the restaurants groan under the stress of so many people gathering together at the same time for the same meal. I thought this was very interesting because even in the U.S, this happens. Going to places like Jackson Heights in New York City or Edison, New Jersey during Ramadan is about as close to going to the other side of the world as you can get. Right before sunset, the streets are alive with neon lights inviting hungry people into their restaurants or clothing stores for Eid shopping and then as soon as the prayer call is heard, the rush to find seats at the nearest restaurant begins. If you're lucky to even find a place to sit on the floor of these restaurants, consider yourself lucky. Ramadan is a time to unite, laugh, pray, and remind ourselves of all the people who are not as fortunate as we are to be able to have 3 square meals a day. In one handout with Quran passages, it says that no one should go to be bed with their stomachs full while their neighbor starves. Like the handout on Ramadan mentioned, during this time Muslims give to the poor and fast to remind themselves of the pain that the poor endure. At the end of month, a huge 3 days of festivals being called Eid. During this time, we give the largest zakat that we can afford to give and meet in early morning at large mosques (or in the U.S, gyms and convention centers) to pray together. People are in their new clothes, smiles on their faces, hugs going around, prayers mats being shared. It's all a part of Islam, a side that many people rarely get to experience.
Being a Muslim girl, I think about the idea of Islam and women a lot. Reading from the Quran and seeing translations of women being told to "draw their scarves around themselves" but then also being from a pretty liberal family and living in the Western world confuses me often. Is the veiling of women culture or religion? If it's religious, should I follow the custom? But the handout with "Purdah" at the top summed things up really well. The idea of purdah means different things to different people and there is no one answer for the reason behind purdah. While it is definitely not a religious practice since the idea of veiling predates Islam, Islam has been connected with veiling because the cultures that were Islamic (the Arabs) were cultures that veiled women. In the handout, different women were explaining their reason for wearing the hijab but what I found most interesting was the fact that women now wear the hijab as a form of rebellion against their parents who did not believe in veiling. I feel personally connected with this idea because my grandmother and my mother don't veil themselves but I'm seeing more and more people around me like my cousins get into veiling as a way to better themselves in a way that they believe their parents didn't do. Going back to the idea of veiling and culture, I strongly believe that while the idea of modesty goes throughout the Muslim world, how modesty along with other "Muslim" roles of women are expressed around the world vastly differ. While in Saudi Arabia women can't drive and have "religious police" enforcing a dress code, Bangladesh (with over 140 million Muslims) has had two women prime ministers and have very few veiled women. Instead, in Bangladesh you will see more South Asian traditions like saris and the traditional attire of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bengalis. The reason for these facts is again culture rather than religion. Women in Bangladesh are also allowed to drive, go out in public alone in whatever they choose to wear, and are allowed to divorce their husbands. Again, culture not religion. I think the West often looks at the Muslim world as just Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and therefore mistakes many cultural traditions as religious traditions which is a problem.
Jihad:
Jihad is probably one of the most controversial topics surrounding Islam. The way that jihad and Islam are represented to the Western world through atrocious inhumane acts like car bombs and 9/11 frankly embarrass me. It's sad for me to think that the first time some people heard of Islam was when two Muslims crashed airplanes into the World Trade Center, killing thousands. The truth is that Jihad is a personal struggle just as much as it is an outer struggle. The handouts with Quran passages said that Islam does not promote any kind of violence or aggression unless aggression is prompted by the other party first. Even then, Muslims should only retaliate with the same amount to aggression that the other party started with and should never increase aggression. The way radicals like Al-Qaeda is practicing "jihad" is completely the antithesis of what Islam is all about but many radicals are so obsessed with the personal struggles they felt, they find a religious passage, twist it, and use it as their mission statement in the killing of innocent civilians. When I see the word "jihad" being used on news, it makes me angry at the radicals who have tainted a beautiful concept and the news channels for carrying this tainted version of the word onto millions of viewers. Jihad is a struggle for one's inner peace with religion just as much as it an outer struggle to protect your religion from outside invaders. In the "Primer of Muslim Terms" handouts, it specifically mentions inner jihad is more important than outer jihad. For this word to be tarnished for most likely the rest of history disturbs me because that means many people will not know the true meaning of an crucial concept in Islam. In many minds, jihad will equate with terror and therefore Muslims will equate to terrorists.
Ramadan:
I wanted to write about Ramadan because it such an important part in many Muslims' lives, even those who are not very devote. In one of the handouts, the writer explains how she was perplexed after finding out that her meeting was not at 11 am, but rather 11 pm. During Ramadan, this is how the lives of many Muslims work. It seems odd to a Westerner to stop everything during the day for a month because there is fasting going on but in reality, after sunset Muslim homes and cities all over the world come alive with the scent of dates and limeade while at least 20 people gather in small areas to laugh, pray, and enjoy together. Ramadan and Eid are some of the most beautiful traditions in Islam. The handout also mentioned how the restaurants groan under the stress of so many people gathering together at the same time for the same meal. I thought this was very interesting because even in the U.S, this happens. Going to places like Jackson Heights in New York City or Edison, New Jersey during Ramadan is about as close to going to the other side of the world as you can get. Right before sunset, the streets are alive with neon lights inviting hungry people into their restaurants or clothing stores for Eid shopping and then as soon as the prayer call is heard, the rush to find seats at the nearest restaurant begins. If you're lucky to even find a place to sit on the floor of these restaurants, consider yourself lucky. Ramadan is a time to unite, laugh, pray, and remind ourselves of all the people who are not as fortunate as we are to be able to have 3 square meals a day. In one handout with Quran passages, it says that no one should go to be bed with their stomachs full while their neighbor starves. Like the handout on Ramadan mentioned, during this time Muslims give to the poor and fast to remind themselves of the pain that the poor endure. At the end of month, a huge 3 days of festivals being called Eid. During this time, we give the largest zakat that we can afford to give and meet in early morning at large mosques (or in the U.S, gyms and convention centers) to pray together. People are in their new clothes, smiles on their faces, hugs going around, prayers mats being shared. It's all a part of Islam, a side that many people rarely get to experience.
Shefain Islam
Feb 22, 2012, 10:12:35 PM2/22/12
to 2011-glob...@googlegroups.com
Correction to my previous post: I meant two planes, not two Muslims.
Shefain Islam
Feb 22, 2012, 10:16:02 PM2/22/12
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Shefain Islam
Feb 22, 2012, 10:22:14 PM2/22/12
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I also realized I wrote on Jihad instead of Martyrdom. Sorry, this will be my last correction.
Jihad/Martyrdom:
Jihad and martyrdom is probably one of the most controversial topics surrounding Islam. The way that jihad and Islam are represented to the Western world through atrocious inhumane acts like car bombs and 9/11 frankly embarrass me. It's sad for me to think that the first time some people heard of Islam was when two Muslims crashed airplanes into the World Trade Center, killing thousands. The truth is that Jihad is a personal struggle just as much as it is an outer struggle. The handouts with Quran passages said that Islam does not promote any kind of violence or aggression unless aggression is prompted by the other party first. Even then, Muslims should only retaliate with the same amount to aggression that the other party started with and should never increase aggression. The way radicals like Al-Qaeda is practicing "jihad" is completely the antithesis of what Islam is all about but many radicals are so obsessed with the personal struggles they felt, they find a religious passage, twist it, and use it as their mission statement in the killing of innocent civilians. Not only do they use it as their mission statement, they believe that practicing "jihad" will give them a free ticket into Paradise. I think the way that terrorists view martyrdom is funny view because martyrdom is supposed to be a selfless act and therefore, people who were selfless in fighting for their religion deserved to be rewarded. However, if terrorists are trying to achieve the "spoils" of martyrdom for themselves, they are not being selfless. Instead, they are thinking of themselves and their afterlife, not the fate of the religion and its followers. To commit an act with the thought of martyrdom in the back of your mind is a completely hypocritical thing to do. Martyrs didn't want to become martyrs, they became martyrs because they were selfless. They did not want to be idolized or given a free key to Paradise but when terrorists commit acts with these ideas in mind, they are not martyrs. The terrorists are just the same as the "selfish Westerners and infidels," if not much much worse.
Jihad/Martyrdom:
Jihad and martyrdom is probably one of the most controversial topics surrounding Islam. The way that jihad and Islam are represented to the Western world through atrocious inhumane acts like car bombs and 9/11 frankly embarrass me. It's sad for me to think that the first time some people heard of Islam was when two Muslims crashed airplanes into the World Trade Center, killing thousands. The truth is that Jihad is a personal struggle just as much as it is an outer struggle. The handouts with Quran passages said that Islam does not promote any kind of violence or aggression unless aggression is prompted by the other party first. Even then, Muslims should only retaliate with the same amount to aggression that the other party started with and should never increase aggression. The way radicals like Al-Qaeda is practicing "jihad" is completely the antithesis of what Islam is all about but many radicals are so obsessed with the personal struggles they felt, they find a religious passage, twist it, and use it as their mission statement in the killing of innocent civilians. Not only do they use it as their mission statement, they believe that practicing "jihad" will give them a free ticket into Paradise. I think the way that terrorists view martyrdom is funny view because martyrdom is supposed to be a selfless act and therefore, people who were selfless in fighting for their religion deserved to be rewarded. However, if terrorists are trying to achieve the "spoils" of martyrdom for themselves, they are not being selfless. Instead, they are thinking of themselves and their afterlife, not the fate of the religion and its followers. To commit an act with the thought of martyrdom in the back of your mind is a completely hypocritical thing to do. Martyrs didn't want to become martyrs, they became martyrs because they were selfless. They did not want to be idolized or given a free key to Paradise but when terrorists commit acts with these ideas in mind, they are not martyrs. The terrorists are just the same as the "selfish Westerners and infidels," if not much much worse.
On Wed, Feb 22, 2012 at 10:12 PM, Shefain Islam <she...@gmail.com> wrote:
Correction to my previous post: I meant two planes, not two Muslims.On Wed, Feb 22, 2012 at 10:11 PM, Shefain Islam <she...@gmail.com> wrote:
Women:
Being a Muslim girl, I think about the idea of Islam and women a lot. Reading from the Quran and seeing translations of women being told to "draw their scarves around themselves" but then also being from a pretty liberal family and living in the Western world confuses me often. Is the veiling of women culture or religion? If it's religious, should I follow the custom? But the handout with "Purdah" at the top summed things up really well. The idea of purdah means different things to different people and there is no one answer for the reason behind purdah. While it is definitely not a religious practice since the idea of veiling predates Islam, Islam has been connected with veiling because the cultures that were Islamic (the Arabs) were cultures that veiled women. In the handout, different women were explaining their reason for wearing the hijab but what I found most interesting was the fact that women now wear the hijab as a form of rebellion against their parents who did not believe in veiling. I feel personally connected with this idea because my grandmother and my mother don't veil themselves but I'm seeing more and more people around me like my cousins get into veiling as a way to better themselves in a way that they believe their parents didn't do. Going back to the idea of veiling and culture, I strongly believe that while the idea of modesty goes throughout the Muslim world, how modesty along with other "Muslim" roles of women are expressed around the world vastly differ. While in Saudi Arabia women can't drive and have "religious police" enforcing a dress code, Bangladesh (with over 140 million Muslims) has had two women prime ministers and have very few veiled women. Instead, in Bangladesh you will see more South Asian traditions like saris and the traditional attire of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bengalis. The reason for these facts is again culture rather than religion. Women in Bangladesh are also allowed to drive, go out in public alone in whatever they choose to wear, and are allowed to divorce their husbands. Again, culture not religion. I think the West often looks at the Muslim world as just Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and therefore mistakes many cultural traditions as religious traditions which is a problem.
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