Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Tonight, Somali-born Muslim-turned atheist, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, is speaking at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. I have previously written about Ali and her book, "Infidel". In my view, she is a courageous woman.
Nevertheless, the appearance met with some opposition from certain groups including the campus Muslim Student Association. MSA president, Rashid Dar's comments were measured and moderate, but he expressed disappointment that campus funds were being spent to bring Ali to UW and concern that audience members would come away with negative impressions of Islam.
Another group that expressed disagreement with Ali's appearance is the Gender and Women’s Studies Department.
According to an (unverified) email, a spokesperson stated that Ali was not a positive voice for women:
“Her approach is so virulently hostile to Islam as a religion (she calls Islam “the new fascism”) that anything she says about women gets lost in this sweeping assault.”
As I have always said, these feminists in America don't care one whit about any hardships that Muslim women may be undergoing. The agenda is still general, far-left politics. In this case, the feminists (and gay activists) are in a difficult dilemma. They don't want to appear Islamo-phobic, so they sit silently by while Iran hangs homosexuals, a Vanderbilt Muslim adjunct professor confirms that under Islam, the penalty for homosexuality is death, Columbia Professor Joseph Massad bashes homosexuals at UCLA, and then they complain when Ayaan Hirsi Ali speaks out about honor killings, death for apostates, female genital mutilation and other issues that drove her away from Islam. (Female genital mutilation is not practiced in every Muslim society. It is mostly practiced in parts of Africa.)
So as I write this, the event in Madison is in progress, and I will be interested to follow up and see what happened. Ali's life is under constant threat everywhere she goes. Hopefully, the event went off smoothly and those that wanted to her message were alowed to do so without disruption.
And as for that Gender and Women's Studies Department at UW is concerned, shame on you. You are a bunch of hypocrites and cowards.
12 comments:
Well, crap on a stick, I couldn't agree more. Especially with this statement:
And as for that Gender and Women's Studies Department at UW is concerned, shame on you. You are a bunch of hypocrites and cowards.
Everything that she says about Islam is true. All she does is write about her experiences and what's right there in the Koran.
How a supposed Women's Group could do ANYTHING but support her is beyond me. If anybody is a positive, and powerful, voice for women's rights in this world, it is her.
Well thank you, Mr Johnson. What a breath of fresh air.
Anonymous,
I was unfamiliar with the three names you gave me, so I am armed with only a preliminary google check on them. I get the overall impression that they are women who are feminist to one degree or another, have caused some degree of controversy within the Muslim community, but are still Muslim. Beyond that, I am not prepared to critique them one way or another.
However, before you dismiss Ayaan Hirsi Ali, you might consider her life story. She may anger people because she is an apostate and critic of Islam, but I suggest you read her book, Infidel, which I have. Consider that she has experienced female genital circumcison, death threats, the murder of her colleague Theo Van Gogh, and has had to live under constant security. To say that she has no message worth listening to is frankly an arrogant statement on your part.
Ali is not the only one. There is also Wafa Sultan and Nonie Darwish, both of whom have similar stories to tell. I have heard both of them speak and read their works. Theirs is a message that should be heard.
I don't know if your objection to Ali is because she is an apostate or because she doesn't carry the "proper feminist message." You might at least show a modicum of respect for one who has put her very life on the line to speak out-whether you agree with it or not.
And the bottom line is this: even if she is saying things that are untrue, unhelpful, too harsh, etcetera regarding Islam, she shouldn't have to fear for her life.
I cannot believe the University would bring such an ignorant speaker. Hirsi's portrayal of Islam is incorrect and uncalled for. Simply because she was unfortunately subjected to the cultural practice of FGM in Africa and underwent a difficult life (for which she has my sympathies) does not mean she has any right to disgrace a religion followed by a large populace of the world.
Hirsi is only breeding hatred, not speaking the truth. If you want to read what the truth is simply pick up a copy of the Qur'an with an open heart and mind.
Anonymous,
Unfortunately, much of what Ali says is confirmed by what is in the Quran and the Hadiths.
How can you call someone ignorant when what she says is based on her life experiences?
Ask yourself why Theo van Gogh was murdered in The Netherlands and the killer told Ali she was next? Ask yourself why she is threatened with death because she left Islam. Ask yourself why Ali has to live under armed guard. Then tell me to read the Quran with an open mind. (I have read the Quran.)
Jesus said that we shall know them by their fruit. The fruit of Islam is rotten to the core, even if the tree does produce sometimes a good one.
Sure there are some good people belonging to that religion, but you don't hear much from them.
Looking at what is happening in Iran at the moment is just sickening.
Anonymous, just because something has a lot of followers doesn't make it good, look at history.
Gary, why do you read the Koran and not the Bible?
Anonymous:
...does not mean she has any right to disgrace a religion followed by a large populace of the world.
Everybody has a right to disgrace whatever they want. It's called freedom of expression - something which we value in this country, and that's where she is and that's where she's speaking. If Islam is such a good, true religion, then it should be able to stand up to anything this supposedly "ignorant" person has to say.
If the Christians have to deal with their religion being criticized (and believe me, I do a lot of that) then so do the Muslims. We have a lot of rights in this country; unfortunately for people like you, you don't have the right to never be offended.
Lance,
There is hope for you yet.
Ingrid,
Well said except for one thing. I do not read the Quran. I have read the Quran. There is a difference.
Well, this isn't any different from how I've always felt. The reason why I have some optimism about the Muslim world is not because I have some faith that Islam is a good religion; it's that I have faith that Muslims are basically good people who can look beyond some of the more messed-up things in their religion (just as most of the Christian world has done).
Well stated, Lance, but the only real hope is that those good people would stand up and remove the bad elements. Ayaan Hirsi Ali is an example though she has left Islam, but there are not too many like her.
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