Whether or not he apologized after Keith Ellison “ripped him” isn’t important. We can’t question his intentions. Moreover, the girls he “offended” accepted his apology, so it shouldn’t matter anymore.

And for the love of God, please stop posting that ridiculous picture of him with that turban on his head. It’s getting old.

go keith!! :)

http://briefingroom.thehill.com/2008/06/23/muslim-lawmaker-confronted-obama-behind-closed-doors-on-head-scarf-gaffe/

I intend to order “The Tao of Islam”. All of the reviewers were positive, and I am very intrigued by the author’s comparisons and what I might find from them. And though I was aware that some Muslim thinkers have defended the Taoist “separate but equal” concept, I was glad to hear from you that, perhaps, true Islamic thought was closer to this than ordinary human practice.

But what I see across all cultural mainstreams, Christian and Islamic alike, is patriarchy. Moreover, it seems to be defended as “natural.” Now, I was lucky. My father — a former Army officer, and the child of a previous generation — would be expected to have brought myself and my sisters and brothers up (there were 6 of us) more or less traditionally. That is, women’s place is in the home, etc. — but he didn’t. Even in the early 1960s, he told us girls repeatedly that he expected us to pursue whatever goals we wished in life. He told us not to marry someone who would not respect our right to make our own decisions. Indeed, he said, if you can’t find someone with whom to be a total partner, don’t marry at all. He explained to us that men and women ARE different, by God’s design. Each fulfills a crucial role, and without one, the other cannot function. Culturally, at that time, this meant since women had been raising children since time began, “obviously” that was their best role, while men’s was creating, innovating and “bringing home the bacon” to make a better life for their family and the wider community. But it was indeed possible for women to merge family and goals — with the willing help of an enlightened husband, who, after all, should know that not only men have an insatiable hunger for self-fulfillment.

My dad saw the writing on the wall, vis-a-vis the feminist revolution. Back then, he told us girls that if you want to be June Cleaver (the ultra-housewife-mother character on the then-popular “Leave It To Beaver” television series), I’ll back you up. But I’d rather see you become Madame Curie, or Louisa May Alcott, who have husbands that actually help parent the children so you can have a family and still pursue your dreams. How could such a man believe these things? It was forced upon him. He raised us by himself, and had to rethink his own patriarchal upbringing. He was (and still is) an intelligent man. He was faced with telling his daughters to sacrifice their identities in service to a patriarchal fraud — or go out and be human. I believe he was more feminist than the feminists. (Needless to say, he’s my hero.)

What he DIDN’T tell us was how hard it would be. He confidently assumed that we could overcome all barriers — i.e., the prevailing attitude, supposedly backed up by religion, that men rule and women submit. Well …. my 4 sisters and I found out fairly early on what was “expected” of us. All of us rebelled. All of us found life companions with whom we harmoniously co-exist, without any of this “oh, YOU have to do the laundry because you’re a woman” stuff. One of my brothers married a wonderful, self-confident woman with whom he is a total partner. When their children were small, my brother would change diapers, bathe, read and love their 2 daughters quite happily while my sister-in-law worked as a psychiatric nurse. (My other brother, sadly, has issues, but not with women. Despite his own problems, he also doesn’t believe in the patriarchal fraud.)

So — I can’t participate in any community pursuit that celebrates patriarchy, Christian, Islamic or whichever. I’m saddened by the slavish adherence so many attribute to “this is the way it should be.” I’ve seen, and lived, proof that the REAL natural way is total partnership.

But I’m very much encouraged to see Islamic thinkers exploring this concept. Very, very much. H. Ahmed, you have helped me step up to a higher plane on these things, and I can’t thank you enough. I look forward to much more exploration. As the Buddha said, “When the student is ready, a teacher will come.”

I wish you the best on your spiritual path, and quest towards The Truth.

However, i just wanted to suggest one thing – you may have heard otherwise – but i would argue that there isnt such a “chain of command” concept in Islam where its God –> husband –> wife. And the concept of yin/yang, or men and women being separate but equal is very much more along the lines of the Islamic tradition.

A book on this very issue that i HIGHLY recommend is from one of my greatest teachers during my Religious Studies days, Dr. Sachiko Murata – The Tao of Islam. Please read it!!! It is probably the best book (in english at least) on Gender in Islam.

So Mary, if I may ask, what is it that is holding you back from accepting Islam as your faith?

*********

Good question! And thank you for your kind offer to e-mail. I might just take you up on that — for now, however, I don’t mind discussing the issue in public, hoping that a diversity of viewpoints helps everyone in some way. (Apologies to all for going off-topic)

I was raised Christian, specifically Episcopalian (the American offshoot of the Church of England). It is a good religion, true to the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the churches I went to were filled with very good people (for the most part). However, as I grew into adulthood, and began exploring other faiths, I began to feel hemmed in by a “one size fits all” mentality. I no longer attend church, but instead am continually pursuing those elements in all faiths that have a common denominator — that, as I see it, lead to living as spiritual life as possible. I still have a personal relationship with Jesus, and His words are the main foundation for living well (and much of the Bible’s Old Testament, particularly the 10 Commandments). But I’ve found common ground in Buddhism (first, do no harm), the Tao (“the softest thing in the world overcomes the hardest”), Hindu (mind, body and spirit are one), aboriginal traditions of being deeply connected to nature, and, of course, Islam (the practice of alms-giving is one of my favorite aspects of it — not even Christians are as deeply committed to helping those less fortunate).

While I realize that sharing spirituality within a community satisfies most people’s spiritual hunger, for me, accepting a certain set of rules to the exclusion of others is discouraging. I like the freedom to know and love what I call the Universal Creator. I see Its loving hand in all of the enlightenment the best of the world’s religions has given us humans. It’s not lonely at all — I’ve met many, many other solitary seekers like myself and learned some amazing things. I pray throughout the day for various things, knowing that God, in the Christian tradition, “hears the smallest sparrow.” And each day I grow happier. (Finding this site was a HUGE boost) I made sure both my daughters were raised in church because every child needs a beginning, a foundation. I figured — and was proven right — that once they reached adulthood, they’d question things on their own and pursue the most spiritual path possible. They’ve decided to remain church-going Christians, and I deeply respect that. And they, me. As a result, I’m always getting compliments on what intelligent, caring young women they are, which makes me so proud and happy.

So — I admire Islam more and more, as I learn new things about it. I’m afraid, though, that I would do it a disservice by not being able to follow all the rules. As an example, I respectfully disagree with the Islamic (and Christian) tradition of the “chain of command” (God/Allah, then husband, then wife). Instead, I believe in the Taoist concept of men and women as yin and yang, separate but equal.

I realize I can be accused of “cherry-picking” all the bits of religion that suit my own selfish interest, and that’s true, in a sense. I AM looking for all the best bits so I can be as spiritual as possible and do my own small bit to make the world a more loving place. I’m NOT looking to justify unspiritual actions. Those I blame squarely on myself. My feeling — everything starts with the individual.

That’s it in as small a nutshell as I could fit it in — thanks for allowing me to get on the soapbox :) And once again, apologies to all for straying so far off-topic.

I just see it differently – Muslims are not a monolithic group – we are quite diverse in terms of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, even culture. Therefore your question – regarding issues affecting Muslims wasn’t clear to me at first, and still isnt completely clear cut, because for inner city minorty muslims – affirmative action is still an important issue. For immigrant muslims, especially those living here “illegally”, immigration is an important issue, etc. And there are probably hundreds of thousands of Muslims living in the US without health insurance coverage. Therefore I would argue that these issues are also important to Muslims; are we not a single ummah? Dont the issues that affect our brothers and sisters here in the US affect us as much as those overseas in Palestine and Iraq?

The fact of the matter is, most of us dont have it that bad in the US. You are right about that. Most of us have health insurance, have well-paying jobs, can educate/take care of our families, etc. – therefore the average muslim essentially doesnt have it any different at all compared to the average non-muslim (islamophobia aside)

However – the very fact mentioned earlier- about the average muslim not caring about uninsured americans for example is a huge travesty – because the fact of the matter is – we can have a much more great impact on that issue, than that of Israel for example. The “we care about the poor” mumbojumbo is a very serious matter for me – and it should be for all of us.

Anyways, ive spent much more time than ive wanted to on this thread. I hope my comments have been beneficial. ANd i apologize again for my “shouting” in my previous comment.

For eg. Affirmative action has been a hot button topic for african americans. Illegal immigration with hispanics.
If we were to go with the issues that affect the christian base in this country (gay marriage, abortion etc), muslims would side with republicans.
Muslims have Gitmo, someone pointed out the patriot act as an issue.

I was looking to get a real list of what people think the policy issues are in this election pertaining to muslims specifically, since someone brought up the ‘condition of muslims’. How is the condition of the average muslim in this country worse/different in comparison to that of the average non-muslim, is what I was getting at.

so no, I wasn’t kidding you. just trying to get a fact-based conversation going.

btw- in the interest of disclosure, abc, ie I, am a muslim, obama supporter-not someone trying to show muslims down, which is what your response seemed to indicate. No hard feelings though :)