I think Kristin is probably reacting to practices such as those of the
Taliban in Afghanistan, described here:
http://mosaic.echonyc.com/~onissues/su98goodwin.html
It is certainly an unfair generalization to conclude from the Taliban
that all Muslims have no concept of human rights. Certainly there are
human rights abuses in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Jordan, etc.,
but to blame it all on the teachings of Islam is as unfair as the
treatment of women in Afghanistan. Here is an article that tries to
be very objective about the issue and how to go about improving human
rights under Muslim practice.
http://muse.jhu.edu/demo/human_rights_quarterly/17.4bielefeldt.html
As there is for many stereotypes, I think there is a grain of truth in
the one Kristin espouses. There seems to be a cultural and religous
tendency among some Arabs and Muslims to stubbornly follow what they
believe to be tradition and religious law rather than to rationally
analyze and question their beliefs. Of course, such a tendency is by no
means unique to Arabs and Muslims, but perhaps the Islamic teachings
have a stronger effect in the Arab world since they are not strongly
counter-balanced (as in the Western world) by a culture of questioning
authority. Here is an article that discusses some of this viewpoint:
http://www.secularislam.org/humanrights/compatible.htm
On Sat, Aug 04, 2001 at 06:28:49AM -0500, Adam C. Lipscomb wrote:
> Kristin wrote:
> > Mm, well Islam grows because it is macho based. Women are kept in the
> > house, made to wear fullbody cover ups if t hey go outside or get stoned
> > to death as a whore, so they stay home and have babies. Rape is *always*
> > the woman's fault and she can be killed for "family honor," yet men are
> > encouraged to act on their impulses. HOrribly dangerous to the
> > future....No wonder some ecofeministr writers like Sheri Tepper blame
> > macho for destroying the planet. THey breed and breed and use women as
> > broodmares.
>
> Absolutely charming.
>
> Please, stop throwing stones at religions based solely upon your offhand
> impressions of them. Read up on them. Please!
>
> I'm asking nicely, see?
>
--
"Erik Reuter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.erikreuter.com/
