Clementine
Platinum Member
- Dec 18, 2011
- 12,919
- 4,825
A Muslim woman speaks out on some important issues. She wants us to know about the many good Muslims, but also wants us to be honest about those who are not. After all, no religion or group is free of radicals. By constantly accusing people of Islamophoia when they bring up terrorism or oppression of women, constructive discussion is ended and things remain the same for many who feel trapped in an archaic existence. This is something to think about. Read the letter she addressed to Ben Affleck. It's thought provoking and I am curious to see how others feel about it.
Dear Ben,
I am writing to you today as a woman who was born and raised in Islam. I saw your discussion with Bill Maher and Sam Harris, and I must say you did me a great disservice that day. Your heart was in the right place, of course, and it was lovely of you to step up and defend ‘my people’.
What you really did though, perhaps inadvertently, was silence a conversation that never gets started. Two people attempted to begin a dialogue and you wouldn’t even listen. Why should any set of ideas be above criticism, Ben?
Why are Muslims being ‘preserved’ in some time capsule of centuries gone by? Why is it okay that we continue to live in a world where our women are compared to candy waiting to be consumed? Why is it okay for women of the rest of the world to fight for freedom and equality while we are told to cover our shameful bodies? Can’t you see that we are being held back from joining this elite club known as the 21st century?
Noble liberals like yourself always stand up for the misrepresented Muslims and stand against the Islamophobes, which is great but who stands in my corner and for the others who feel oppressed by the religion? Every time we raise our voices, one of us is killed or threatened. I am a blogger and illustrator, no threat to anyone, Ben, except for those afraid of words and drawings. I want the freedom to express myself without the very real fear that I might be killed for it. Is that too much to ask? ........................