The Trouble with Islam Today
I highly recommend Irshad Manji’s book, The Trouble With Islam Today.She writes the book as an open letter to her fellow Muslims, challenging them to join her in Operation Ijtihad (read the book to find out what this is). She throws in a call to non-Muslims as well, urging us to be careful of the racism that comes from over-compensating. This book is an inspiration to reaffirm our commitment to freedom of expression, individuality, and human rights for all. I was inspired to share this after reading Ellen Sheeley's blog about her campaign to raise awareness about dishonor killings and her experiences in Jordan. I applaud her work - we can't be so afraid of appearing to be Islamophobic that we don't speak out about human rights abuses.
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Ellen R. Sheeley says:
Lisa, I have been away from
Lisa, I have been away from my computer for a week or so, so I am just now reading this. Thank you for the pleasantly unexpected plug!
I have not read Manji, but her writings tend to provoke uproars in the Muslim community, much as Ayaan Hirsi Ali's and other "infidels'."
There is certainly some sensationalism on both sides of this. However, I read both of Hirsi Ali's books while I was living in Jordan. A friend sent them to me. And they really helped me understand the culture and endure some of the aspects of Jordanian society that I found troubling, to say the least.
Most of the people who speak out about the disturbing aspects of Arab culture are slandered, pilloried, and worse. One has to wonder, if everything is so healthy and copacetic, why can't some of these issues be openly, calmly discussed without setting off such responses? There really isn't anything comparable in the West. We criticize our own cultures with abandon, in the hopes that it leads eventually to improvements.
Lisa Saffron says:
Healthy criticism
Hi Ellen,
I don't think it's just Arab culture where disagreements aren't openly and calmly discussed. My experience of talking about Israel and Palestine in the Jewish community here in Britain is that disagreements are either suppressed for the sake of communal harmony or are aired with unrestrained vitriol, slander and name-calling. For example, the following response was sent to me:
"And you others, Jews afraid of the world, who feel the intolerance and hatred around you, and thus try to prove yourself worthy by grovelling before those bigots. Yes! You will show them you can hate Israel (read "the Jews") as much as they do. I pity you, actually, who live in such a state of self-contempt. As carrion devoured by maggots, so your soul is devoured by cowardice."
I didn't think it contributed to an open, calm discussion. It seems to me that many people throughout the world could practise the art of respectful disagreement and compassionate listening.