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Letters to the Editor: Ramadan speaker and students respond to accusations of insensitivity
Issue date: 9/26/08 Section: Commentary
I am a post-graduate student of Islamic Studies and I do not speak in lectures from my own opinion. Rather this is my specialty and I draw my words from the sources of Islam which are the Quran and the Sunnah; the teachings of the final Prophet of God Muhammad.
May the peace and blessings of God be upon him and upon all of the Prophets sent.
- Ahmad Eldridge Cleaver
Cayla Smith was right in describing Ahmad Cleaver's statement on rape and provocative dressing as dishonest and offensive. (Women in Egypt dress conservatively, yet still report harassment--the point being that rape is not directly related to how women dress). Yet we can not deny that provocative dressing does yield a culture ridden with objectification and material sexualization of women. Nonetheless, I have a few questions for Cayla Smith and women in general: Given that more than 100,000 women get raped every year in the U.S, how are we in any better position to dictate how other countries should treat their women (even if they are misogynistic)?
Shouldn't we first improve what is wrong with our own culture and the way we have shamefully failed to respect the fair sex? Don't some other countries (including the Islamic ones) do a better job at preventing women from being portrayed as pieces of meat? And if rape, in the U.S, at this level isn't oppression of women, then what is?
- Waqas Shaikh, an 8th-semester accounting major
In her letter about the Ramadan Fast-a-thon, published on 9/22, Cayla Smith has unjustly judged the intentions of Ahmad Cleaver, the keynote speaker.
From the onset of his speech, Cleaver made sure the audience is involved. He posed questions and asked the audience to guess the answers and say them out loud. The speaker kept a warm atmosphere, encouraged interaction and welcomed questions at the end of the speech. Cayla Smith could have easily voiced her concerns during the lecture, instead of walking out to protest something that the speaker never said or implied.
May the peace and blessings of God be upon him and upon all of the Prophets sent.
- Ahmad Eldridge Cleaver
Cayla Smith was right in describing Ahmad Cleaver's statement on rape and provocative dressing as dishonest and offensive. (Women in Egypt dress conservatively, yet still report harassment--the point being that rape is not directly related to how women dress). Yet we can not deny that provocative dressing does yield a culture ridden with objectification and material sexualization of women. Nonetheless, I have a few questions for Cayla Smith and women in general: Given that more than 100,000 women get raped every year in the U.S, how are we in any better position to dictate how other countries should treat their women (even if they are misogynistic)?
Shouldn't we first improve what is wrong with our own culture and the way we have shamefully failed to respect the fair sex? Don't some other countries (including the Islamic ones) do a better job at preventing women from being portrayed as pieces of meat? And if rape, in the U.S, at this level isn't oppression of women, then what is?
- Waqas Shaikh, an 8th-semester accounting major
In her letter about the Ramadan Fast-a-thon, published on 9/22, Cayla Smith has unjustly judged the intentions of Ahmad Cleaver, the keynote speaker.
From the onset of his speech, Cleaver made sure the audience is involved. He posed questions and asked the audience to guess the answers and say them out loud. The speaker kept a warm atmosphere, encouraged interaction and welcomed questions at the end of the speech. Cayla Smith could have easily voiced her concerns during the lecture, instead of walking out to protest something that the speaker never said or implied.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 6
Jane Doeski
posted 9/26/08 @ 9:07 AM EST
If Islamic law is so sympathetic to rape victims, why do I recall reading that a rape victim in Saudi Arabia was sentenced to receive 200 lashes and 6 months in jail for being alone with a male who was not her relative when she was raped? I believe that happened in 2007, just last year. (Continued…)
Saleh
posted 9/26/08 @ 12:46 PM EST
Jane, you lack serious insight in this specific case.
From dozens of rape crimes in Muslim countries, this specific case was heavily covered in the US media. (Continued…)
Maria Greco
posted 9/26/08 @ 2:43 PM EST
I think you should read about the real cause of rapes in this country and others. It is not sexually as you make believe, it is a violent crime that has more to do with domination and control. (Continued…)
Jesus son of Mary (Peace be upon him)
posted 9/27/08 @ 5:37 AM EST
Worship God, the Creator, alone and worship none but him. Ask Him forgiveness, for He is Forgiving. Repent to Him with sincerely for He accepts sincere repentance. (Continued…)
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