It is indeed the case that Islam does not have a monopoly of modesty in dress. Judaism and Christianity had a dress code for women well before Islam did. Unlike Islam's holy book, the holy books of Judaism and Christianity speak about a dress code for women. Is that to say that the said dress codes are God's will or preference? A dress code for women is at the end of the day the preference of men.
Judaism and Christianity have and continue to come of age. Some evolution of ideas and beliefs has and continues to take place in the religions. Same should happen in Islam. One is reminded of the Turkish born Muslim Cleric in Australia who spoke for Muslim rapists in that country a few years ago. The Cleric foolishly declared that "immodestly" clothed women to men, were like red meat to lions. He was widely condemned in Australia for his claim. Many in Australia called for the Cleric's deportation to his native Turkey. He cowardly recanted and apologized. He would not risk deportation from Australia for his Islamic belief.
True religious believers know that a dress code counts for little or nothing in the personal struggle for spiritual upliftment and personal salvation. What is in one's heart does. What matters is a believer's love for their God manifested in the believer's love for their neighbor.
Why the fixation in Islam, on a dress code for women therefore? Why are women approbated and punished in some Islamic communities/societies for how they dress? Is it the arrogance, acquisitive desire, jealously, opportunism, and moral pretensions of men? It could not be men's ignorance could it? True believers know that self discipline is also a religious virtue and an enabling and necessary requirement for personal salvation. What about looking away when one does not approve of a woman's outfit?
It is doubtful I might add that Mother Teresa considered her Religious Order's Habit, a Hijab. She might have thought of it as a uniform rather than a moral or virtue statement. Uniforms after all, make identification with a group easier.
oa
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Abdul Karim Bangura [theai@earthlink.net]
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2012 11:06 AM
To: leonenet@lists.umbc.edu; Toegondoe Sagbah; leonenet@lists.umbc.edu; USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: [Leonenet] Racism Is Alive And Well In The World
The Bible says the same about dressing moderately in Thess 5:22; Judaism says the same in Micah 6:8 and Proverbs 11:2.
As I also teach non-Muslims, the Virgin Mother Mary/Mariam, the most revered woman in Islam, and Mother Teresa always wore their Hijabs. And then I will ask them the following question: Would you prefer your mothers and sisters to dress like this or in booty shorts? I then will conclude that Islam is for all people for all times.
-----Original Message-------
From: Toegondoe Sagbah
Sent: May 18, 2012 11:09 AM
To: "leonenet@lists.umbc.edu" , "USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com" , Abdul Karim Bangura
Subject: Re: [Leonenet] Racism Is Alive And Well In The World
Doc,Did you post this picture for the article or for the picture? Dont forget you are Muslim and you should actually be looking at a woman in a Barka and long dress covering the whole body...Yes/No? Did you swallow any saliva when you looked at this picture?...That's Haram since she is not your wife.Toegondoe Sagbah, FAT / IDOF
Fighting Against TribalismIn Defence Of FairnessPolitics = www.PalmTreeReports.comClick "Create A New Profile" on the top right of page andREGISTER
From: Abdul Karim Bangura <theai@earthlink.net>
To: "USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com" <USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>
Cc: leonenet <leonenet@lists.umbc.edu>
Sent: Friday, May 18, 2012 9:51 AM
Subject: [Leonenet] Racism Is Alive And Well In The World
Published: May 16, 2012World Race, age questions fuel Miss World Fiji fiasco
Torika Watters – Photo: APFirst came complaints that the winner of the Miss World Fiji pageant looked too Western to represent her country. Then her age came under scrutiny. And now, with the 16-year-old's crown lost, one of the judges says the contest was rigged from the start.
The pageant has turned into a fiasco in this South Pacific nation of about 900,000. The pageant's director is avoiding questions as fans of the fallen beauty queen, Torika Watters, flock online to support her.
Watters was crowned Miss World Fiji last month by an international panel of judges led by New Zealand supermodel Rachel Hunter, winning the opportunity to represent the country at the world competition in China in August.
Soon after, however, dozens of people posted messages on the Miss World Fiji Facebook page questioning whether Watters, who is of mixed racial heritage, represented Fijian beauty or was simply a mirror of Western ideals.
Two weeks after she won, Watters wrote on her Facebook page, pageant director Andhy Blake told her she couldn't compete for Miss World because she is too young. The international competition requires contestants be at least 17 years old, but Watters said Blake previously assured her "it was fine" because he had received a waiver for her entry from international organizers.
Organizers of the Fijian event over the weekend announced a new winner: Koini Vakaloloma, 24. A message on the Miss World Fiji Facebook page Tuesday said that Watters had voluntarily stepped down and that reports connecting the decision with racism or her age were "untrue."
"Despite all the negative hype surrounding our event, we continue to defend against all allegations and accusations," the message said. The Facebook page appeared to have been removed by Wednesday. Blake could not be reached Wednesday. A message on his phone said "Sorry, I've taken a short break after a very successful show."
Neither Hunter nor the Miss World organizers returned messages Wednesday. Another of the six judges, Fijian fashion designer Hupfeld Hoerder, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the judging was a sham.
He said there was no note-taking or judging criteria during the competition and that from early on, Blake had pressured the judges to name Watters the winner. Hoerder said that he tried to argue with Blake to no avail and, in protest, refused to attend the final night's crowning ceremony.
Hoerder said the contest has painted Fiji in a bad light and that the country shouldn't send any representative to China. "Everyone is playing the race card, saying it's racism," Hoerder said. "But this is about ethics, and an event that was unethical."
Watters, who couldn't be reached for an interview this week, said on her Facebook page that she left Fiji's capital to be with her mother in the town of Nadi and wants "to get on with my life." "I left Suva and the entire pageant fiasco ... because I was becoming very uncomfortable with the situation," she wrote. "I was worried about the lies, the deception, the lack of transparency and the lack of professionalism."
Follow Nick Perry on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nickgbperry
You received this message because you are subscribed to the "USA-Africa Dialogue Series" moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin.
For current archives, visit http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
For previous archives, visit http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue-
unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
No comments:
Post a Comment