I noticed I had a lot of non-fiction books that I was wanting to read, but so often overlooked for something fictional. So, I decided my goal was to read one a month. This is my non-fiction choice for July. The following might be boring to anyone but me. (And after reading it, it reads more like an essay than a review).
Infidel is both a history lesson and a very personal story. I never know about the Clans and sub-Clans. I will admit, the first part of this book took longer to read than the second half. This was also eye-opening and also inspiring. I thought she was brave and courageous to speak up. Hirsi Ali brought up issues I had with Islam (and I will add other fundamentalist religious branches too). This review will feature numerous quotes that stayed with me. Her journey and questioning were similar to mine. By virtue of where I was born, I am lucky that I can question, debate, and outright disagree and not have to worry that someone will try to kill me. I am lucky that I can freely state my opinions. I dictate the direction of my life.
"How could a just God-a God so just that almost every page of the Quran praises His fairness-desire that women be treated so unfairly? If God was merciful, why did He demand that that His creatures be hanged in public? If He was compassionate, why did unbelievers have to go to Hell?" There are Bible passages too; that suggest slavery is okay, sex is only for procreation, women are less than men, Jesus is merciful (but non-Christians will burn is Hell) etc, etc. And while there are certain Christian denominations that are strictly conservative, believe, and preach that way, most aren't and view the Bible very differently. Both the Bible and the Quran were written a long time ago and by men. Both reflect the attitudes and social mores of that time. "It is a historical record, written by humans. It is one version of events, as perceived by the men who wrote it 150 years after the Prophet Muhammad died."
I think this next quote explains why women need autonomy and does a good job of pointing it out in such a way that I didn't think of. "I would not have put it this way in those days, but because I was born a woman, I could never become an adult. I would always be a minor, my decisions made for me. I would always be a unit in a vast beehive. I might have a decent life, but I would be dependent-always-on someone treating me well."
Once in Holland, she pursued education. I do think education is so important. This helps to explain why. Regarding her psychology class: "The idea of taking some distance from yourself, of thinking in a systematic way about who you are and how the mind is built up, gave me a whole new way of looking at life." "We were always asked what we thought."
She was right in pointing out the huge difficulties that refugees were having in assimilating. As a result, they formed their own communities (and distrust of outsiders), were more likely have low wages, and high rates of crime which more easily led to disillusionment. "It was depriving many women and children of their rights." Girls were still being genitally mutilated. Women were being abused by their husbands. Girls and women were still being denied educations.
"The concept of individual choice improved people's lives so visibly, as did equality between men and women. I was enamored of the idea that you should think precisely and question everything and build your own theories." Yes to the nth degree! "By declaring our Prophet infallible and not permitting ourselves to question him, we Muslims had set up a static tyranny. The Prophet Muhammad attempted to legislate every aspect of life. By adhering to his rules of what is permitted and what is forbidden, we Muslims suppressed the freedom to think for ourselves and to act as we chose. We froze the moral outlook of billions of people into the mind-set of the Arab desert in the seventh century. We were not just servants of Allah, we were slaves." "My message was that the Quran is an act of man, not of God. We should be free the interpret it; we should be permitted to apply it to a modern era in a different way, instead of performing painful contortions to try to recreate the circumstances of a horrible distant past. My intention was to liberate Muslim minds so that Muslim woman-and Muslim men, too-might be freer. Men, too, are forced to obey inhumane laws."
Amen and can I get a hallelujah?
At the end of the day, it should be noted, highlighted, and placed in bright, shiny letters that: "Even within Islam, not everyone thought the same way."
"The Prophet did teach us a lot of good things. My life was enriched by the Quranic injunctions to be compassionate and show charity to others."
WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.
And just because this is my space (and my review), Donald Trump can go to hell (if there is one).
My vote is with HRC.
Infidel is both a history lesson and a very personal story. I never know about the Clans and sub-Clans. I will admit, the first part of this book took longer to read than the second half. This was also eye-opening and also inspiring. I thought she was brave and courageous to speak up. Hirsi Ali brought up issues I had with Islam (and I will add other fundamentalist religious branches too). This review will feature numerous quotes that stayed with me. Her journey and questioning were similar to mine. By virtue of where I was born, I am lucky that I can question, debate, and outright disagree and not have to worry that someone will try to kill me. I am lucky that I can freely state my opinions. I dictate the direction of my life.
"How could a just God-a God so just that almost every page of the Quran praises His fairness-desire that women be treated so unfairly? If God was merciful, why did He demand that that His creatures be hanged in public? If He was compassionate, why did unbelievers have to go to Hell?" There are Bible passages too; that suggest slavery is okay, sex is only for procreation, women are less than men, Jesus is merciful (but non-Christians will burn is Hell) etc, etc. And while there are certain Christian denominations that are strictly conservative, believe, and preach that way, most aren't and view the Bible very differently. Both the Bible and the Quran were written a long time ago and by men. Both reflect the attitudes and social mores of that time. "It is a historical record, written by humans. It is one version of events, as perceived by the men who wrote it 150 years after the Prophet Muhammad died."
I think this next quote explains why women need autonomy and does a good job of pointing it out in such a way that I didn't think of. "I would not have put it this way in those days, but because I was born a woman, I could never become an adult. I would always be a minor, my decisions made for me. I would always be a unit in a vast beehive. I might have a decent life, but I would be dependent-always-on someone treating me well."
Once in Holland, she pursued education. I do think education is so important. This helps to explain why. Regarding her psychology class: "The idea of taking some distance from yourself, of thinking in a systematic way about who you are and how the mind is built up, gave me a whole new way of looking at life." "We were always asked what we thought."
She was right in pointing out the huge difficulties that refugees were having in assimilating. As a result, they formed their own communities (and distrust of outsiders), were more likely have low wages, and high rates of crime which more easily led to disillusionment. "It was depriving many women and children of their rights." Girls were still being genitally mutilated. Women were being abused by their husbands. Girls and women were still being denied educations.
"The concept of individual choice improved people's lives so visibly, as did equality between men and women. I was enamored of the idea that you should think precisely and question everything and build your own theories." Yes to the nth degree! "By declaring our Prophet infallible and not permitting ourselves to question him, we Muslims had set up a static tyranny. The Prophet Muhammad attempted to legislate every aspect of life. By adhering to his rules of what is permitted and what is forbidden, we Muslims suppressed the freedom to think for ourselves and to act as we chose. We froze the moral outlook of billions of people into the mind-set of the Arab desert in the seventh century. We were not just servants of Allah, we were slaves." "My message was that the Quran is an act of man, not of God. We should be free the interpret it; we should be permitted to apply it to a modern era in a different way, instead of performing painful contortions to try to recreate the circumstances of a horrible distant past. My intention was to liberate Muslim minds so that Muslim woman-and Muslim men, too-might be freer. Men, too, are forced to obey inhumane laws."
Amen and can I get a hallelujah?
At the end of the day, it should be noted, highlighted, and placed in bright, shiny letters that: "Even within Islam, not everyone thought the same way."
"The Prophet did teach us a lot of good things. My life was enriched by the Quranic injunctions to be compassionate and show charity to others."
WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.
And just because this is my space (and my review), Donald Trump can go to hell (if there is one).
My vote is with HRC.
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