Comments on: Reinforcing Presumed Religious Identities: Where are Women and Secularists of Muslim Countries in Obama’s Speech in Cairo? http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/06/reinforcing-presumed-religious-identities-where-are-women-and-secularists-of-muslim-countries-in-obamas-speech-in-cairo/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:07:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bluelyon http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/06/reinforcing-presumed-religious-identities-where-are-women-and-secularists-of-muslim-countries-in-obamas-speech-in-cairo/#comment-47761 bluelyon Thu, 11 Jun 2009 16:07:09 +0000 http://dissidentvoice.org/?p=8613#comment-47761 <i>While the practice of genital infibulation in some African countries, and the devaluing of females in Afghanistan and Pakistan to the point of lowered life-expectancy, and the imposition of burkhas on females, and the physical punishment or murder of daughters and sisters who date or marry the wrong male - are all abhorrent practices, and rightfully condemned by many...</i> Except that Obama didn't mention any of these issues in his speech at all. His focus on the "choice" of a Muslim woman to wear or not wear the hijab had to do with chiding western countries, as well as his insistence that Muslim women should be allowed the right to 'choose' a 'traditional' role as well. In discussing the right of Muslim girls to an education, he made no mention of the horrors that have befallen some of these girls who actually have the 'audacity' to go to school. It would have been nice if he'd mentioned the barbaric practice of honor killings. Or child brides. Or spousal rape. His silence on all of these matters was stunning. The speech was a farce. While the practice of genital infibulation in some African countries, and the devaluing of females in Afghanistan and Pakistan to the point of lowered life-expectancy, and the imposition of burkhas on females, and the physical punishment or murder of daughters and sisters who date or marry the wrong male – are all abhorrent practices, and rightfully condemned by many…

Except that Obama didn’t mention any of these issues in his speech at all. His focus on the “choice” of a Muslim woman to wear or not wear the hijab had to do with chiding western countries, as well as his insistence that Muslim women should be allowed the right to ‘choose’ a ‘traditional’ role as well. In discussing the right of Muslim girls to an education, he made no mention of the horrors that have befallen some of these girls who actually have the ‘audacity’ to go to school. It would have been nice if he’d mentioned the barbaric practice of honor killings. Or child brides. Or spousal rape. His silence on all of these matters was stunning.

The speech was a farce.

]]> By: Barry99 http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/06/reinforcing-presumed-religious-identities-where-are-women-and-secularists-of-muslim-countries-in-obamas-speech-in-cairo/#comment-47757 Barry99 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:55:22 +0000 http://dissidentvoice.org/?p=8613#comment-47757 Some gender-related practices that go on in Islamic countries are difficult to criticize. While the practice of genital infibulation in some African countries, and the devaluing of females in Afghanistan and Pakistan to the point of lowered life-expectancy, and the imposition of burkhas on females, and the physical punishment or murder of daughters and sisters who date or marry the wrong male - are all abhorrent practices, and rightfully condemned by many, the wearing of a head covering - what passes for a scarf in the West - is difficult to criticize in as much as many women (Turkey comes to mind) subscribe to the practice. The optimum that can be expected out of Westerners is that they support the free choice of women (and girls) in every aspect that Middle Eastern women choose to pursue. Some gender-related practices that go on in Islamic countries are difficult to criticize. While the practice of genital infibulation in some African countries, and the devaluing of females in Afghanistan and Pakistan to the point of lowered life-expectancy, and the imposition of burkhas on females, and the physical punishment or murder of daughters and sisters who date or marry the wrong male – are all abhorrent practices, and rightfully condemned by many, the wearing of a head covering – what passes for a scarf in the West – is difficult to criticize in as much as many women (Turkey comes to mind) subscribe to the practice. The optimum that can be expected out of Westerners is that they support the free choice of women (and girls) in every aspect that Middle Eastern women choose to pursue.

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