Provocative & Dangerous
I came across this video yesterday, and as I watched it I was completely blown away by the courage the woman being interviewed demonstrates. Saying what she did has probably put her in a lot of danger. I'm not totally sure what to make of everything she says (or that I entirely agree with her on all points), but the very fact that all the other guy could do was call her a heretic and therefore refused to engage her arguments on those grounds - suggests he had really nothing he could say in the face of this woman's (very articulate) attack on the violence inherent in Islamic fundamentalism.
See the video here.
If you want to comment please let me know whether you think her description of the 'West'. Do you think we are as innocent and democratic as she makes out?
See the video here.
If you want to comment please let me know whether you think her description of the 'West'. Do you think we are as innocent and democratic as she makes out?
posted by Timbo at 2:16 am
2 Comments:
"Brother, you can believe in stones as long as you don't throw them at me."
I think that statement sums up the main point she's making, that we should be allowed to have whatever beliefs we want, and respect the beliefs of others even when they do not match our own.
She also helps to demonstrate a major failing within Muslim sects, to speak in a unified voice which condemns acts of terrorism. Other faith groups around the world have done this. The more radical sects have done nothing of the sort, as they condone, even encourage continued and expanded action. There is a sense if an act, no matter how violent, is said to have been done in the name of Allah, it’s not only accepted, but the people involved are considered heroes. More liberal sects have condemned terrorism to a degree, but there’s a definite lack of solidarity in their message, and when pressed on issues such as “jihad” they give the impression some acts of terrorism are okay. While this woman is most likely from an area of the eastern world which is more open, due to her education and outspokenness, her stand is both bold, and challenging to the establishment. A blindness of faith exists which is fanatical, and nearly impossible to combat, even through well articulated, diplomatic means, as this woman demonstrates. While I can’t say whether or not the guy in the video had nothing to say about her arguments, his response demonstrates he either has nothing to say, or doesn’t deem her arguments worthy of a response. Unfortunately, thirty second sound bites on television don’t lend us enough time to properly explore ideas and opinions.
As for her descriptuon of the "West," I wouldn't neccessarily say she makes us out as being innocent and democratic, as that analogy is too black and white. To say we are more or less innocent or democratic than anyone else is a seperate debate entirely. What she does elude to however, is the West in principal is democratic, embraces notions such as seperation of church and state, as well as allowing people to persue their beliefs, within the law, freedom of religion, expression, and such. Western society in the 18th and 19th centuries is probably closer to that of the world she knows, where only the most progressive states have democracy, seperation of church and state, and freedom of religion. That ties into her notion of old world and new world mentalities, "civilization and backwardness" as she puts it. We may not be that innocent and democratic, but we have the frameworks in place to allow that to press forward and evolve for future generations.
"The Muslims must as themselves 'what can they do for humankind,' before they demand that humankind respect them."
This statement is along the same lines as that of John F. Kennedy
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
In that we must serve and respect the world, and other people, before they can, or will do the same of us.
your link didn't work for me, but i found the video here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ciOGS6r97oE&search=wafa%20sultan
pretty amazing words. the truth told plainly isn't often heard in public.
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