An appropriate response ...
I was enraged on Thursday. I happened to check my yahoo account (read: for junk, newsletters, etc) and came across an email encouraging the MSA PSL and ASO (at UVA) to come together to craft a response to an opinion piece in the oft' controversial - Cavalier Daily(read full article here)
I checked. I read. I re-read just to make sure I wasn't imagining it.
"[Banning the veil] is not an attack on Islam; it is an attack on regressive social values."
"The veil is a sign of sexual inequality"
"Veils should be banned in [US] public schools and government buildings, where dress codes are well-established."
"Far from being analogous to yarmulkes or crosses, the veil is closer to the yellow stars that Nazis forced the Jews to wear."
WOW. What year is this? Where are we?
The Cavalier Daily is published at the University of Virginia, one of the premier academic institutions in the country. I was amazed at the ignorance that the article reflected. I was enraged, and also deeply saddened. Reading the paper and watching the news everyday reminds me of how much work there is to be done, but to some degree it was a slap in the face for my alma mater to reflect such ignorance. I know how hard we (and this goes for every MSA/Muslim) work to try to educate and clear up the mess that the media creates, and in one shot - one opinion, its like we have to start all over again.
As my heart fell, my mind raced - as did the brilliant minds of several other people. Today's Cavalier Daily has two stellar responses to the ignorant drivel - Umeyye Isra Yazicioglu, a Religious Studies student in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and Saman Hussain, a fourth year student in the Undergraduate School of Arts & Sciences. Several other alumni, including myself, responded to Mr. Parsley - and I sincerely hope he was innundated with emails from non-Muslims as well.
If you read his article, besides being in poor taste (read reference to yellow star) it was terribly written, and poorly researched. In comparison, the responses have been incredibly civil, well researched and well crafted - and it is indeed something to be proud of that we can follow in the steps of the Rasool, and portray our faith with dignity.
I checked. I read. I re-read just to make sure I wasn't imagining it.
"[Banning the veil] is not an attack on Islam; it is an attack on regressive social values."
"The veil is a sign of sexual inequality"
"Veils should be banned in [US] public schools and government buildings, where dress codes are well-established."
"Far from being analogous to yarmulkes or crosses, the veil is closer to the yellow stars that Nazis forced the Jews to wear."
WOW. What year is this? Where are we?
The Cavalier Daily is published at the University of Virginia, one of the premier academic institutions in the country. I was amazed at the ignorance that the article reflected. I was enraged, and also deeply saddened. Reading the paper and watching the news everyday reminds me of how much work there is to be done, but to some degree it was a slap in the face for my alma mater to reflect such ignorance. I know how hard we (and this goes for every MSA/Muslim) work to try to educate and clear up the mess that the media creates, and in one shot - one opinion, its like we have to start all over again.
As my heart fell, my mind raced - as did the brilliant minds of several other people. Today's Cavalier Daily has two stellar responses to the ignorant drivel - Umeyye Isra Yazicioglu, a Religious Studies student in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, and Saman Hussain, a fourth year student in the Undergraduate School of Arts & Sciences. Several other alumni, including myself, responded to Mr. Parsley - and I sincerely hope he was innundated with emails from non-Muslims as well.
If you read his article, besides being in poor taste (read reference to yellow star) it was terribly written, and poorly researched. In comparison, the responses have been incredibly civil, well researched and well crafted - and it is indeed something to be proud of that we can follow in the steps of the Rasool, and portray our faith with dignity.
posted by zai5h at Friday, December 01, 2006
1 Comments:
This guy was trying to formulate a good argument but the ignorance shines right thru. Read some of those responses (including yours of course)and y'inz are representin!!!
atm
btw, i'm baaaaaccckk :)Its fun responding to your posts.
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