Time for an admission. I'm biased.
I'm not a Muslim. Given my beliefs, I can't become a Muslim. Although I've learned to enjoy breathing in my half-century-plus of life, If I were forced to choose between an outward acceptance of Islam and death, I would have to choose death. I'm not being brave, just consistent. I've been Christian all my life, and, God willing, that's not going to change.
I won't kill my children because they "bring shame" on my family. My understanding is that honor killing may not be an integral part of Islam. It seems to be part of the flavor of Islam that outfits like the Taliban and Al Qaeda want to impose on the rest of us.
Then there's my wife. I won't beat her, I even let her drive around town without a male relative. In fact, she and my daughter are out, driving, shopping, and visiting my father-in-law, without a male escort: except for my father-in-law, of course. In Riyadh, that would at best cause remark. Here in Minnesota, it's just the way we live.
"Let her drive around town?" Americans will understand how bizarre that statement is. Or, maybe not.
Given my stubborn refusal to embrace the beliefs of some crazed imam, my insistence on viewing rape victims as victims, and my libertine attitude toward letting my wife get the groceries on her own, my next expression of bias may be understandable.
I don't want Al Qaeda to win. I don't want the Taliban to take over management of Minnesota. I don't want any of these jihadist crazies to make America a caliphate.
I don't care how anti-multicultural or intolerant it sounds: I want America to win the war on terror. Losing this conflict would be a disaster: take a look at what the Taliban's Afghanistan was like, for a preview of a sufficiently Islamic America and Europe.
Related posts, on tolerance, bigotry, racism, and hatred
Brian, you are correct. "Honor" killings are not an intrinsic part of Islam. They are believed to have their origins in misinterpretations of pre-Islamic Arab tribal codes. They pre-date Islam by centuries and, in fact, are un-Islamic.
ReplyDeleteI recently conducted a nationwide survey of "honor" killings in Jordan. In my representative sample, over 20% of the respondents believe Islam tells them they must avenge affronts to family honor through murder. Islam says no such thing. But, unfortunately, a lot of people have a deadly misunderstanding. There is definitely opportunity in the mosques and in the schools to correct this.
Ellen R. Sheeley, Author
"Reclaiming Honor in Jordan"
Thank you for that insight.
ReplyDeleteI hope that more Muslims will become educated about what Islam is.
As you said, this is a time of great opportunity.