With the anniversary of 9/11 fast approaching and the awareness that terrorism is still a real threat for the United States, we should consider what we might do differently to make our country a safer place.
Looking back on the last 10 years, one thing is clear: the violence of terrorism cannot be defeated with more violence. Afghanistan and Iraq are convincing proof of that; both countries remain ravaged by terrorism and al Qaeda forces seem much more resilient than the architect of the war on terror, George W. Bush, ever imagined.
We also know that counter-terrorism measures at home have produced mixed results. On one hand, the government has prevented several domestic attacks through various intelligence operations. On the other hand, the government has also failed to stop would-be terrorists including the Christmas bomber and the Times Square bomber. In both cases, it was the terrorists who failed, not the government that succeeded.
Faced with such realities, what other ways can we think of to address the problem of extremism, if not in the world, then at least at home?
Given the limitations of conventional approaches, I think we might do well to think unconventionally and take a radical untaken step: recruit Muslim women.
As Americans, we're used to thinking about Muslim women in various unflattering ways. The most common idea of a Muslim woman, for example, is that of the oppressed victim of Islam. In this manifestation, we usually find a veiled, silent woman imprisoned by her religion and policed by Muslim men. Passively waiting for her rescue, this tradition-bound woman draws significant American attention, if only to remind us how lucky we are to be Americans.
But if Americans could see beyond the media, or at least see a media willing to highlight the truth about the Muslim world, then we would find that women of the Islamic hue are far from passive or silent. In fact, just a glimpse beyond the surface of American media stereotypes reveals that there are some pretty heroic Muslim women in the world doing some pretty amazing things, especially in the cause for peace.
Take, for example, one of Yemen's most visible and active women today: Tawakul Karman. A 32-year-old mother of three, Karman is both a journalist and human rights activist active in the push for the right to free expression. A devout Muslim, Karman was inspired by the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt and is now at the forefront of the effort to challenge Yemen's authoritarian leader, Ali Abdullah Saleh. Beyond her work as a human rights activist, Karman supports alienated Yemeni youth, is a member of Yemen's leading Islamic political party and hosts weekly sit-ins in support of political prisoners.
Another example is Manal Omar. Currently the director of Iraq, Iran and North Africa programs from the United States Institute of Peace, Omar has a long record of promoting the rights of Muslim women and working to address humanitarian crises for organizations including Oxfam Great Britain and Women for Women International. In addition to her tenure with UNESCO, Omar worked for three years with the World Bank's development group conducting training groups in Yemen, Bahrain, Afghanistan and several Muslim-majority countries. More recently, Omar's CV boasts a book, "Barefoot in Baghdad," reflecting her time in Iraq working with Muslim women and witnessing their brave stance against the injustices of life under siege.
Karman and Omar are not alone. Throughout the Muslim world (including America), Muslim women are playing a major role in the promotion of justice, freedom and equality for their communities and countries. Indeed, efforts like the Arab Spring suggest that women are not passively waiting to be rescued. On the contrary, they seem to be quite busy planning their own salvation.
What Karman and Omar show is that, far from the clichés of American media, Muslim women matter. And they matter precisely because they've refused to be irrelevant. But Karman and Omar offer much more than a counter to the stereotypes of American media. They provide compelling evidence of a vibrant segment of the Muslim population that is unwilling to surrender in the face of violence and terror.
So what can America learn from these women and others like them? One basic lesson is that Muslim women are important players in their communities. Women like Karman and Omar didn't just happen. Rather, they reflect a tradition -- one often ignored -- of women's participation in their communities. If we look beyond the western idea of masculine leadership, we can begin to see that women are active leaders: as mothers, teachers, scholars, counselors and, as Ingrid Matson has shown, presidents of national organizations. With such dynamic points of access to Muslim communities, it seems that ignoring women in the grassroots fight against extremism in the U.S. would be a grave mistake.
Another point we can take from Karman and Omar is that women often choose the path of peace. Leaders like Karman and Omar know first-hand the impact of violence on society and see the need to struggle for peace in definitively nonviolent terms. They understand that peace is not the end point of violent conflict; rather, they see that peace is the consequence of a just social order. And thus they promote empowering forms of nonviolent resistance like sit-ins and human rights campaigns and, more importantly, institutional development. What Karman and Omar are doing is not just fighting; they are building. And what better way to reduce extremism in America than to establish new institutions that give voice to communities that want to be heard and are willing to work for positive forms of change.
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"What about Hassidic and/or other Orthodox Jewish people? The Amish? Hindu women who wear saris?"
- I think I am more with the French position.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-vicente-perez/muslim-women-in-the-push-_b_934469.html
"Many people find crosses and yarmulkes acceptable, but not headscarves, for a variety of reasons. Some feminists do not consider them as religious symbols, but as symbols of female alienation, or dangerous signs of mounting communautarisme (ethnicisation of social relationships, which the French do not view favorably"
- I think saris show women hair and arms and back and belly. Sometimes too much even.
And one final point, given the pro-woman-power of the article: If only this article had been written by a Muslim woman.
Just a thought...
"In Love"....It is interesting that through-out its pages, the Qur'an testifies to the authenticity of the Bible. The Torah (Old Testament), Zabur (Psalms) and the Injeel (New Testament). These Holy Scriptures have the status of the authentic Word of God. No single verse in the Qur'an attests that the Bible has been invalidated by the arrival of the Qur'an. Furthermore, the Qur'an itself commands Muslims to profess belief in the Bible. Surah 2:136....
Would not the divinity of Jesus and His teachings apply in all circumstances?
http://najd2.wordpress.com/
The Muslim women I knew were far from passive and slavish. They were literate by the standards of their day; were in full charge of the affairs of the home, and constantly mindful of the activities of their husbands and children. Nothing happened around them without their consent and knowledge, and the men were actually quite afraid of annoying them.
Muslim girls of my generation did not cover themselves, and attended the same schools and colleges others did. But, it's true that their marriages were arranged for them by their parents. We, in the west, have come to believe that promiscuity among women is necessary for their emancipation. It's a battle of the Burqa and the thong.
I have decided that it is the fault of the Muslim men, and especially the Middle Eastern ones, that women are suffering. These women need access to comprehensive education, and should be free to adhere to or leave their religion as they see fit, just like anyone else.
Intellectual emancipation of Muslims (men and women) is impossible unless it is understood, by a majority of them, that there is no such thing as unchallengeable truths.
Whenever I find some apologists defending Islamic dogmas, I go after them until they are pulp. For this reason, I have been called an Islamophobe. Am I?
And what is it with Muslims women should be free to leave their religion. Perhaps you are not aware that though Islam is the fastest growing religion, its mostly woman who converted.
This is mainly due to the fact that in Islam they are dignified and respect of who they are and not as in the West just a piece of meat.
Myrian Cerrah, a British actress reasons for converted to Islam explains why so many women in the West are attracted to Islam.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J7LvaL85eU&feature=related
But, can't help thinking if the reason why these women deserve our support and admiration is because they are doing something extraordinary for women in the Muslim world.
What makes these women extraordinary is that the stereotype about women in Islam is actually true.
Hopefully, other women (and men) will follow in their footsteps.
I see a lot of non-truth to the stereotype (presumably, of Muslim women being silent, submissive, etc. etc.) The only Muslims groups who seem to want or expect that sort of behavior from women are minority, ultra-conservative Muslim groups (i.e. Saudi Salafists, the Taliban, etc.).
Even in cultures that are known for being repressive in ways (i.e. the current government of Iran), women run businesses, hold advanced degrees, hold high-level government positions (Iran's health minister is a woman, for instance).
Basically, the more I learn of Muslim women, the more they seem to be like women everywhere:
Some women are outspoken, articulate leaders ... and the fact that they are Muslim doesn't change this dynamic one bit.
Most Muslim women will be outspoken with reference to personal/community issues, just as non-Muslim women will.
Some Muslim women in ultra-conservative groups may seem more submissive, and/or their behavior may be, but whether their attitude is, is anyone's guess. It seems that some such women feel that "obedience" to their husbands in God's will, and others are likely keeping quiet to avoid reprisal -- exactly as in other religions' ultra-conservative groups.
And so, I disagree that the stereotype about women in Islam is actually true. Like all stereotypes, I'd say the stereotype is based in simple misunderstanding.
But are you going to tell us that American Christian men don't abuse their women?
Checkout Channel ID (271 with Comcast) all it does shows are programs on husbands killing their wives.
Men have always abused women and children since beginning of time and will keep doing it till the last day. That doesn't mean any religion tells them to do it.
For this handful and they are in every country, you and I are collateral -- porns and mules to move their agendas forward. Whether it’s wars for oil in the Middle East creating unknown havoc, or drug cartels smuggling their products into the US market creating same – greed suffocates and trumps our humanity!
Satan is the ruler of this system of things and is a master at deceiving man; and greed and power are undeniably his carrots of choice! Satan’s time is limited on this earth; and he wants to devour – and take with him as many “you and I’s” as possible.
God’s time to end this system of things is hopefully in the vicinity. Our original parents gave up everything divine to achieve the false hope of being “equal to God.” I’m sure it sounded like a grand scheme at the time – coached and encouraged every step along the way by Satan… God’s admonition to Adam, “you will surely die” I’m certain was only a snippet of the full text.
Sisters and brothers of the human family -- the gift of eternal life is in the shed blood of our Christ! Please do not let Satan cheat the human family of our birthright again – One and all, let’s take this gift of mercy from our Creator – and finally gain the humanity and peace under God’s eternal reign!!
When the honour killings, genital mutilation, legal discrimination, and the forced mobile prisons end, then perhaps I will take him seriously.
We're talking about a global population here. There are going to be good things and bad things. Waiting for all the bad things to end isn't going to work. Building on the good things just might.
Female genital mutilation is forbidden in Islam.
Not sure what you mean by "legal discrimination", but my understanding is that women have equal rights in most Muslim-majority countries, and most groups within Islam view women and men as equal.
"Forced mobile prisons" -- your term, one that many women who wear a burqa or niqab say they disagree with.
And so, not sure what your point was in listing those things?
1) It might be particularly hard for women to mobilize and motivate, giving their treatment in parts of the Muslim world. Places where property rights, education and sexual freedom are not standard for women. A lot of the power still resides with the imams.
2) Women might be a great catalyst.. Perhaps having peace-seeking women like Omar and Karma in the spotlight will inspire other women to speak out and join together.