Notes from a Muslim Refusenik

Some recent comments from the homepage of Irshad Manji:

Reader comments and Irshad's replies
Posted July 15

"My name is Hamza and I am currently in high school. I was born to Pakistani parents. I want to congratulate you and encourage you on your initiative to help reform Islamic practices. We really need that. I also want to say that I hope you don't leave Islam, like you said you might. We really need people like you in Islam. I have some personal issues that I've been trying to sort out, and issues with my family, and you've kinda been a role model for me. But sometimes you criticize Islam too much. Perhaps you should endorse the true, open-minded, peaceful, forward-thinking Islam more than bashing the ill-practiced Islam in the world today. I wish you the best of luck." - Hamza


Irshad replies: Like you, I think it's vital to promote a positive vision rather than merely complain about what's wrong. Which is why, in The Trouble with Islam, I outline a global campaign to promote innovative approaches to Islam. It all begins with recognizing that Muslims are capable of being more thoughtful and humane than our clerics give us credit for. Your email is proof positive. So are the next two...


"As a young, open-minded Muslim, you can count on my unstinted and unreserved support. The work you have done and are doing is crucial. I am glad there is someone out there, like you, who has the guts to say it all. We Muslims no doubt have to reform ourselves. God bless you, Irshad."- Sheeraz


"I didn't read your book because I live in Jordon. They wouldn't allow it. Thinking is forbidden. But I read an article criticizing you in the local newspaper and I did my search on the web. I never thought someone else could see in a similar way as I do. Islam needs a reform movement. It's about time to re-think the whole thing.


I believe in mind, not myth. One of the greatest errors in the 'divine religions' is that the god who created them didn't install a protection mechanism for the future generations. The point is: working hard and learning to offer a better life for the next generation so they can live successful, healthy and happy is the best way to worship god... Social success requires a lot of work and knowledge. Many religious Muslims escape to religion to cover their failure.


I don't mind being part of a group, but the group that Islam represents is the furthest one from me. I prefer 'faith' much more than 'religion.'" - Tareq

Morning Report: July 20, 2004

Former Clinton aide probed for classified mishandling. The national security advisor for the Clinton administration, Samuel "Sandy" Berger, is under federal criminal investigation for allegedly removing classified documents from a secure area. During his preparation for the 9/11 commission hearings, Berger is said to have taken documents and notes from the National Security Archives without proper authorization. Berger states that he took the documents "inadvertently". (CNN)

Taheri: Iran to be 2004 election issue. In a recent article, Amir Taheri notes the importance of Iran in the upcoming US presidential campaign. Taheri notes that the IRI's nuclar ambitions are causing growing concern "even in European circles" and that a UN resolution on Iran could be on the table as early as this fall. He faults the Bush administration for its lack of a clear Iran policy - partly due to internal divisions in Washington. (See my May 6 post "State vs. Defense".) Kerry, on the other hand, unequivocally espouses an appeasement policy. Tahei concludes that he hopes the upcoming election will force Bush to clarify his policy on Iran (perhaps taking a harder line to distinguish himself from Kerry) while persuading Kerry to take a more "realistic" approach. (Benador)

Farewell, cruel blogosphere ... oh, never mind.

Rachel Lucas has withdrawn her blogicide note and returned to blogging. It's great to have her back.

Rachel ... you go, girl!

Morning Report: July 14, 2004

Constitutional gay marriage ban likely to die. "The constitutional amendment we're debating today strikes me as antithetical in every way to the core philosophy of Republicans ... It usurps from the states a fundamental authority they have always possessed and imposes a federal remedy for a problem that most states do not believe confronts them." So said Senator John McCain (R - Arizona) of the proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. McCain's words illustrate why many Republicans oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment. Further complicating matters is the wording of the proposed amendment's second clause, which states: "Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman." Some critics, including Andrew Sullivan and Oregon's Republican Senator Gordon Smith, charge that this could be interpreted to deny existing domestic-partner benefits to gay couples. In fact, the FMA seems unlikely to achieve even a simple majority in the Senate, much less the two-thirds vote it would need to clear this first hurdle (followed by a 2/3 majority in the House and ratification by 3/4 of state legislatures). All things considered, it seems unlikely that the FMA will pass. (CNN)

Bulgaria stands firm. According to latest reports, Bulgaria will stay on in Iraq despite the reported killing of one Bulgarian hostage and the threatened killing of another. (Channel News Asia)

Morning Report: July 13, 2004

RP surrenders to terrorists. The government of the
Phillipines announced it would pull out peacekeepers following the kidnapping of a Filipino in Iraq. In a refreshingly candid statement, RP foreign minister Rafael Segulis delcared on al-Jazeera that "following the demands of the hostage-takers, the Philippines will withdraw its humanitarian force from Iraq as soon as possible." (CNN)

OBL aide surrenders to Saudi authorities. A top aide to Osama bin Laden surrendered in Iran to Saudi Arabia under an offer of amnesty from the kingdom, according to recent reports. Abu Suleiman al-Makki (Khaled al-Harby) is reported to have given himself up at the Saudi embassy in Iran. (VOA)

A Few Thoughts About Blogging

They say blogging is the wave of the future, and I suppose it's true. It certainly can be addictive: after only about ten weeks, I find I'm compelled to blog. When I'm away from the keyboard, I can only think about what I want to write on my next post. And when I'm writing, I feel fulfilled and empowered - as if I'm finally able to communicate my ideas to the outside world, which had hitherto proved to be an indifferent and unsympathetic listener. And I know this is a good way for me to spend my time. But the question I have to ask myself is: how much of a good thing is too much?

So thank you all, for your support. I have really enjoyed writing Dreams Into Lightning. I feel I've made an important and meaningful contribution to political discourse. I've learned a lot, and met lots of wonderful people online. But now the time has come to take stock of my priorities and to make some hard choices about how I expend my precious personal energy. And so I am going to make this post on Dreams Into Lightning my











... had you going there, didn't I?

DiL resumes normal operations tomorrow morning. Morning Report to report for duty. Wonder what's going to come out about Cpl. Hassoun? Oh, and I can't wait to tell you about my new place.

See you soon.

Rachel Lucas calls it quits

Rachel, I'll miss your piquance, impudence, and especially ordnance. But you know what's best for you. Do what you gotta do.

Rebecca Walker Website Making Debut

Rebecca Walker, the daughter of writer Alice Walker and the author of "Black, White, and Jewish", has posted her photo on her website (ulp! I think I'm in love) and seems to be about ready to start putting up content.

I first discovered Alice Walker when I was a young adult (about 20 or 21) in the Air Force. I still remember picking up a copy of "You Can't Keep A Good Woman Down" in the base library at the Presidio of Monterey. I was totally blown away by her writing. I promptly bought that book and her earlier collection of short stories, "In Love and Trouble". I still think those two books hold some of the finest short fiction I've ever read.

Later on, Walker would become famous for her novels, including "The Third Life of Grange Copeland" and of course "The Color Purple". (Confession: I wasn't craze about TCP.) She's also got a new book out which is classed as a novel but appears to be in the form of a series of vignettes. Since I'm partial to her work in the short-story mode, I will probably succumb to temptation and buy it soon.

But like so many people, Alice Walker strode merrily off the deep end with the Iraq crisis. I remember reading in a magazine article published shortly before the war that she had gone to Iraq as part of some "human shield" program. All I could do was shake my head and say, "Alice, what were you thinking?" I don't know whether she ever bothered to talk with Iraqis who were actually free to speak their minds - either here in the US, or in Iraq after the liberation. I don't know what, if anything, she has to say about the torture chambers and mass graves.

I do know that Rebecca Walker embraces both her mother's African-American heritage and her father's Jewish identity. I've read in a couple of places that the mother and daughter are rather far apart politically; when asked about her daughter's politics in a recent interview (I think in Ms.), Alice replied tersely, "I don't talk about my daughter's politics."

Haven't got a copy of BW&J or the new Alice Walker yet, but I'll probably stop by Powell's tonight (writing this post has kind of committed me to do that, I guess), and I'll undoubtedly have more to say about the Walkers soon.

The Home Front: Goli Ameri Campaign

Spent some time last Friday volunteering for the Goli Ameri campaign. I got to meet Ms. Ameri, she's really fabulous in person. I was with about half a dozen other volunteers; we put together signs for the Independence Day parade.

More News from the Home Front

It's confirmed: I pick up the keys to my new place tomorrow morning!

FM and TNG are still away traveling - they get back to San Francisco on July 20. She's a major travel addict - used to wear me to a frazzle, but it'll be great for the kid.

I've started "Absolution Gap", the third volume of Alastair Reynolds' terrific trilogy. Reynolds is a Welsh-born astrophysicist who works for the European Space Agency. He is also one heck of a writer. He's not only helped to revive space-based science fiction as a genre - he is turning it into an art form. The character of Scorpio is one I won't soon forget. For those of you who will never read Reynolds because "I don't read sci-fi", all I can say is, you don't know what you're missing. Really and truly.

Also working my way through the complete DVD series of Babylon 5 (all five seasons). Just about to finish Season 1. It's such a pleasure to watch really great actors like Andreas Katsulas and Peter Jurasik (as the mortal enemies G'kar and Londo), especially in a well-written show like this one. The creator, J. Michael Straczynski, writes most of the scripts himself; a few episodes are written by guest writers. (A couple of the guest-written episodes are a bit weak, I think; and there's one in particular I have some problems with. But I'll post on that later.)

I'm starting to take lessons in chanting the Torah from a friend at the synagogue. Her son Ari just joined the Army reserves. He's about to graduate boot camp - and he turns 18 today! Let's wish him all the best.

Our Enemies Are Scared.

The degenerate cowards that captured Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun are now realizing they made the mistake of their lives. Now they are frantically trying to deny their earlier boast that they killed him. "No, no, he's OK, we didn't mean that."

"On Sunday, another group, Ansar al-Sunna, denied reports that Hassoun had been beheaded.

"This statement quoting us is baseless, and it's not true at all," the militant group Ansar al-Sunna said in a statement posted on its Web site." - CNN report

So now they think capturing a fellow Arab, a fellow Muslim, and a US Marine wasn't the brightest thing in the world to do? Well, who would have thought that. Guess it kinda makes it a little harder for them to claim this is a "war on Islam", right? Guess it kinda makes them look bad to advertise to the world that there are brave and honorable Muslims in the world after all - and it sure ain't them.

Well, guys, you're a little late with those insights. 'Cuz you just dug your own graves.

So where is he?

The terrorist scum who kidnapped Cpl. Hassoun now claim he's alive and well.

I'd love to believe that. All right, assholes, where is my fellow Marine? You got some live pictures you'd like to show us? When do you plan to turn him over?

Our enemies are stupid. And now they're scared. They kidnapped a US Marine and bragged that they were going to kill him on television. Then, at some point, it began to dawn on them how badly they had f*cked up. So now they're frantically trying to claim it was all a big mistake.

Yeah, punks. Big mistake all right. Be ready to die like the diseased dogs you are.