Anyway, I ended up getting the novel ‘Does my head look big in this?’ by Randa Abdel-Fattah which I had been wanting to read for awhile. I also thought I’d try a more seemingly incidental approach with the kids (how subtle!!) as opposed to the maniacally, hysterical one I adopted last time. *rolls eyes*

My conniving plan seemed to work as the kids were curious about my reading (hopefully not cause they saw the picture of the hijab adorned girl on the cover and thought, Oh no!! why is Mum reading about terrorists?!?!) *sigh*

I had to suppress the urge to start my whole ‘Muslim’s are not terrorists’ lecture again when my youngest son gave me his exasperated, tortured ‘ok Mum we get it now’ look!

Anyway after my eldest son showed interest, I gently suggested that he might like to read it “cause it’s really hilarious”, (all the while thinking apart from that the protagonist is totally kick ass, heroic, intelligent, wise, self aware and makes being a nerd look extremely cool!)

After smugly thinking how genius my strategy was I then wanted to slap myself after remembering an earlier incident in the week when we were looking for books together and after reading the back cover of one, I
idiotically remarked, “I don’t think this is a good book for you,love”. Naturally, his curiosity instaneously quadrupled, snatching the book out of my hands he say’s, “ahhh it’s probably really good then”. So much for my cunning plan!

Anyway, Muhammad, apart from everything else you do I really appreciate the library section on your blog and I was wondering if you might consider starting an additional section for regular blog contributors to post their specific or current reading recommendations as I suspect that many of us have common interests. Just a thought. All the best.

Also check out Salughterhouse-Five

If , as many People do , you struggle with the earlier part of the book , which to be honest contains the constant variation of the same joke revolving around itself ( which at the time was a major breakthrough of challenging patriotism/loyalty to the flag etc , but now would be regarded as old hat ) is suggest you skip to Chapter 24 (Colonel Miko) about 2/3 thirds into the book and read on from there.

Thats when the narritive of the Book kicks off and a freshness kicks in.

Once you have enjoyed that you can start from the beginning if you see fit.

All in all a very rewarding read , and whats more , probably more relevant today than when written in that it was the first negative look at corporate entities at a time when only good was thought about them and where they would lead the world.

Good luck with it!

err.. Irshad Manji might.

“Incidently Catch-22 is a top book”

Good to hear cause I had this book on my 2007 must read list but I didn’t get around to it. The recommendations here have renewed my interest.

if you are genuinely interested in the abolution of this practise then go no further than waris dirie , if you are interested in using this very serious issue to about justifying unspeakable colonial acts on the Islamic world under the guise of liberation or civilising the natives then stick to quoting intellectual Chalabites in you must.

Incidently Catch-22 is a top book , great ending of Human spirit triumphing over corporate/military ( and now , rather sadly , uber-euro-feminist-cluster-bomb-veiled) fiddlesticks.

Ayaan Hirsi ‘Ali’ (Her correct name is: Ayaan Hirsi Magan { http://fanonite.org/2008/01/03/ayaan-hirsi-ali-the-true-story/ } ), uses the common mis-attributes of Islam to further her career and oppurtunities.

The backward and women suppressing nature of the western perspective of “Islam” does not find support in the actual philosophy of Islam. In a sense, Islam was calling for justice for the people while the other religions were against them.

Later, arab traditions infiltrated the religion through certain texts which the Wahabis brand as authentic. Examples of such texts: Bukhari and Muslim. They were written after 200-300 years since the death of Prophet Muhammad. These texts enshrines the Arab traditions into Islam in the name of Prophets traditions and thus make an illusion that Islam is not compatible to all sections of the societies all over the globe.

Quran is not in this tone. It is very attractive to all, I hope.

But, even these texts do not contain anything about ‘genital mutilation’ which Hirsi ali and her AEI intelligence aides attribute to Islam.

Hirsi ali has found a good fortune thus succeeded in her attempt.

To me it matters whether she is telling the truth or not. Her book is called ‘Infidel’; she has marketed herself as a commentator on Islam. She used her position in Netherlands to deny the right to those she purportedly champions, from which she herself had benefited. In US she is employed by a neoconservative think tank which has its anti-Islam political axe to grind. The veracity of her statements bear on attitude towards 1.2 billion people. She appears on TV as a commentator on Islam (and if there is any mention of genital mutilation, it is only as a subset of all the other ‘evils’ of Islam). As you just acknowledged, genital mutilation has nothing to do with Islam. It is reprehensible. But it has nothing to do with me. So I am not sure what the implications of my taking a position against it would be?

and irrespective of the fact that it has nothing to do with Islam, at no time on your blog have you agreed that it is a brutal, cruel and inhumane act.

I have also not taken a position against Penis-worship, practiced among some aboriginal tribes. Doesn’t mean I consider it a fab idea.

…i defy anyone who has read her book to accuse her of lying about this.

She has lied about pretty much everything of relevance, so it is fair to assume she is lying about her clitoris, which it is likely that no one would ever want to verify. But the question is not whether she has a mutilated clitoris or not. Maybe she does. But what’s its relevance to Islam?

The writing rings unbearably, chillingly true.

Is that not what a good fiction writer does? I just finished Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, and he describes the death of a soldier whose bowels fall on the floor. The writing rings unbearably, chillingly true. Shall I assume Heller had his bowels shot out in order to write the passage?

If you are truly concerned about the practice, which is clearly reprehensible, why are you choosing a deeply flawed advocate who is using the issue in the service of her personal agenda? I am sure you will find people working on the issue who aren’t similary tainted. The only people who turn to Hirsi Ali are those who seek to mask their racism in a humanitarian garb.

You reinforce your prejudices by swiftly and ridiculously presuming that Muhammad is either ignorant of genital mutilation or in some way supports it. That is a very Orientalist type projection and since you deem it acceptable, it really only demonstrates your own inherently bigoted and xenophobic mindset.