Respect or dhimmitude? August 12, 2009
Posted by Beth in Politics.Tags: Politics
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I struggled over which blog to post this and decided here would be best. AisA Academy started off about homeschooling but has evolved into a blog about about the school-of-life. Also, I’d like to reserve Wealth is Not the Problem for more formal posts on politics and economics. However, since my life includes much political discourse , there is a lot of overlap and every now and then this is the best place to share my thoughts.
What I want to share today is a set of photos from a pair of articles by Daniel Pipes, “Hijabs on Western Political Women,” and “Glamorous Muslim Political Women.”
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Queen Rania of Jordon
US House of Representatives
Laura Bush Khadiga el-Gamal -d-in-law of Husni
Former First Lady USA Mubarak– Prob. future 1st Lady Egypt
Chelsea and Hillary Clinton, daughter and wife of Pres. Clinton
Sheikha Mawza, wife of Hamd bin Khalifa, ruler of Qatar
Camilla Parker Bowles Asma Al Assad, wife of Bashar
Prince Charles’ wife Al-Assad, ruler of Syria
So the question I ask is—Is donning a hijab, burka or chador a gesture of respect or dhimmitude?
I do think it is important to be civil and respectful of harmless cultural differences, but to dress oneself in the garb of submission goes beyond civility. The hijab, and the religion it symbolizes, is an anathema to individual rights and reason. To wear another’s religious dress implies a degree of acceptance and agreement which I do not think is required, or even appropriate for leaders of free people.
When I attend an event with religious friends or family and a prayer is said, I can show respect by remaining quiet, but I feel no need to bow my head. Respect requires I not interrupt their prayer, but it does not require that I participate. Bowing my head would signify an agreement with the practice of prayer which I do not have. In addition, no Christian ever asks or expects me to wear a cross.
I think it is an essential matter of pride in our own beliefs not to give more respect than civility demands to symbols of our different beliefs. Our leaders should resolutely represent equality before the law, individual rights, freedom of choice—and the hijab stands for the just opposite.
And as these pictures demonstrate, such gestures are not even necessary.
And just because they are so stunningly beautiful, here are some more pictures of these prominent Muslim women:
Princess Amira Al-Taweel, wife of Saudi prince Waleed bin Talal and
Princess Consort Lalla Salma, wife of Muhammad VI, king of Morocco
Declaration for Life July 4, 2009
Posted by Beth in Personal, Politics.Tags: Personal, Politics
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Today is not the 4th of July I had envisioned.
I love the 4th of July—its celebration of all the things I love about this country, in particular, its recognition of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The past several years I have invested much time and energy studying these core individual rights and attempting to defend them from the increasing onslaught of attacks. Instead of protecting these rights, our government’s actions are primarily intent on eroding the distinctions between private individual rights and public claims to the life, labor and property of its citizens. Government is usurping more and more of our private lives through regulation, taxes, welfare and entitlement programs, and “public options.” Having taken over banks and auto companies, it is now poised to control the health and energy industries. What will be next?
The past few weeks, I have been focused more on the pursuit of my own personal happiness: listening to my son’s tales of his recent trip to Italy, accompanying my husband to 2 concerts (first Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood, and just last night, Yes.) The bulk of my time however has been helping my in-laws deal with the diagnosis and treatment of a recently discovered cancer. There is nothing like a life-threatening illness to force the clarification of one’s priorities.
So the past few weeks my time has been much more focused on my less abstract and more immediate values. This has heightened for me the toll the state of our government takes on the quality of my life. Instead of being free to live my life according to my own personal values, a substantial part of my life must be spent fending off those who would deprive me of my liberty and property. In a freer world, with a greater understanding and recognition of the right of each individual to his own life and only his own life, much less time would be spent on self-defense, and more more time would be available to the pursuit of positive values.
This is not to belittle how much better off I am than many who live in more oppressive countries, or who lived in more oppressive times. Also, I recognize that one can never completely rest in defending one’s rights. It is simply that these past few weeks I have been made so much more concretely aware that time spent defending my rights is time I don’t spend with my family, and vice versa.
The more the ideals of the Declaration of Independence are implemented in our daily lives, the more we can truly live. It is not just a declaration of independence and of individual rights. It is a Declaration for Life.
Cross posted at Wealth is Not the Problem.
An ode for Chrysler, GM and many Banks May 1, 2009
Posted by Beth in Music, Politics, Uncategorized.Tags: Music, Politics
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A discussion about favorite musical on Rational Jenn reminded me of how much I love this song!!
T.E.A. Party April 16, 2009
Posted by Beth in Personal.Tags: Politics
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Taxed Enough Already
The crowd in Atlanta was close to 16,000.–much better organized than the small, relatively spontaneous but enthusiastic crowd which I joined outside of the San Jose IRS building (see photos below.) In Atlanta, live speakers were accompanied by a huge screen displaying one minute clips of citizens speaking their minds: sharing both what they believe IN as well as offering criticism. It’s only because of all the things which are right about this country that we are able to speak so bluntly about what is wrong. How wonderful to have the freedom to speak–as well as the wealth necessary to provide individual citizens the opportunity and the means to express such great ideas! The clip below includes a friend’s portion (Go Jenn!) Check it out at minutes 1:12-2:30.
Below are photos from the San Jose Tea Party. It was cold and windy even though it looks so sunny. The mood was up beat and positive–not angry or violent. There were moms with young children, well-dressed white-haired women who looked as though they could have been on their way to church, a middle-aged man in a wheel chair, another man in full Harley-Davidson leathers, businessmen and business women, old and young. Many racial backgrounds. Typical Americans.
Spontaneous conversations struck up everywhere. People driving by would honk and signal “thumbs up” –triggering cheers and more energetic waving of signs. It really did have the atmosphere of a party. People were obviously proud of coming out to declare what they are FOR as much as what they are against. I was impressed by the creativity of the signs, and the fact that so many of them indicated an understanding of how our government is moving toward socialism and how destructive socialism is to our liberty and prosperity. I am really glad I was part of it.
More Great Tea Party Speeches April 15, 2009
Posted by Beth in Politics.Tags: Politics
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Taped by Harry Binswanger in NYC:
(HT Gus Van Horn)
John Lewis in Charlotte NC:
(HT Haight Speech)
AisA Academy 