Monday, September 22, 2003
Tokyo is fucking ACE! The conference is totally enlightening.. Its really great to learn about other countries versions of 'development' : from food security to community development.
This morning we had a lecture by a guy from UNESCO about culture. Later we had discussions on our post program activities.. Making many friends and staying out 'till the Wee small hours!
Went to a mad 'trance' club in Roppongi and danced like a mad man. Been out every night since I got here and enjoy every moment.!!
This morning we had a lecture by a guy from UNESCO about culture. Later we had discussions on our post program activities.. Making many friends and staying out 'till the Wee small hours!
Went to a mad 'trance' club in Roppongi and danced like a mad man. Been out every night since I got here and enjoy every moment.!!
Friday, September 12, 2003
Even more damn frustrations:! I spent the whole day looking for books on Bangladesh- Historical / political, just anything to pad out my potted history for my dissertation.. SOAS bookshop had two books: One was a collection of poetry, the other was a 'travelogue' account of a 'journey through Bengal' -- Piss off.
What a waste of time. So I have to resort to this dodgy account by an American!
anyway, more to to... Better crack on- before I crack up.
What a waste of time. So I have to resort to this dodgy account by an American!
anyway, more to to... Better crack on- before I crack up.
Thursday, September 11, 2003
Ibn Warraq
Can a Muslim or ex-Muslim criticise Islam ?
It does appear to be the case that for both sides of the 'debate' being a Muslim who is critical of Islam is equally seized on by 'Western' (Northern/European/US) and championed, and yet reviled and exiled by Muslim communities. I wonder if the lack of reformation is due to the fact that Muslims are too scared to debate some things. However by the same token, the cynical attempt of an Ex-Muslim to imbue their name with an 'authenticity' (in that Ibn Warraq is an Arabic/Islamic sounding pseudonym) is also challenging trope to invoke. What I found interesting when looking up Ibn Warraq, was that he was quoted by organisations like this which do have a standpoint/religious bias - Needless to say after doing some more research I came to the conclusion that Ibn Warraq is not a 'Crack pot' as I first had him down, but a man on a mission (secular one at that).
Clearly he seeks to illuminate some of the darker sides of Islam and I am not particularly opposed to that. However, I suspect that claiming Islam is based on terrorism, that in fact the first polity established by Mohammad was based purely on violence and torture - may be just a 'tad' inflammatory. But moving beyond this, (as it would appear that the Hijra and subsequent battles were indeed violent), in the early years of Meccan society as indeed a snapshot of Europe of the same time, life was 'brutish and short' to quote a famous European philosopher.- The crux of Ibn Warraq's arguments appear (I have yet to read his texts in their entirety so forgive me for that) to be that, Islam needs to be 'humanised'. He seems to be calling for a critical engagement by Muslims with thier faith. Again from the sound of things this is not a major problem, as I agree that Islam needs to take into account the changes in consciousness that have taken place. This is no more evident then in the relationship between feminism and Islamic societies. However Ibn Warraq is concerned that the basis of the Manichean split between good - Western (presumably liberal Democratic Capitalism ) and bad - Islamic (Theoaucratic Dictatorships) finds its reflection in Islam as a core belief system. He then goes to describe passages from the Qur'an which purport to demonstrate it's inherent bloodthirsty, intolerant nature.
Ibn Warraq's mission also appears to simplify and conflate all diversity that exists across time and space in the Islamic World - which spans a few continents and a vast populations as I'm sure you know-. This would appear to be good technique for getting the reader on his side: He quotes Sayyid Qutb as if he was some kind Pope figure who's appeal was internationally renowned. Sayyid Qutb, is indeed a favourite of the Young impressionable Politically motivated Muslims I have met in Universities, and does indeed represent a 'fundamentalist' view. He was executed in 1966 during a clampdown on revivalist Islamic movements in Egypt- (Incidentally the Muslim Brotherhood were considered a fringe group in Egypt certainly not mainstream). Ibn Warraq's quotation of a fundamentalist to prove that Islam is fundamentalist to me appears a little tautological. So the case for reform is increasingly looking it is based on either a poorly researched background in Islam, or a deliberate attempt to represent Islam as a singularity. Interesting, because in this way Ibn Warraq is behaving in a fundamentalist way also. I do not believe that Ibn Warraq is at all poorly researched in his work. But then I do not buy the more simplistic position of a Western stooge either.
My conclusion to this totally excessive rant, is that Ibn Warraq whoever he is, presents an interesting case for thinking about Islam, but my question is which Islam does he want to reform? He argues that apologists point out that there are 'moderate' voices in Islam and that fundamentalists are in a minority, he retorts that the basis of Islam is fundamentalist, and then he quotes a fundamentalist to prove his point. The problem with this his statement on WTC is that his audience is none the wiser at the end. His diatribe confirms the fears of every American- That Muslims are fanatics and predisposed to terrorism. Their faith is historically and theologically bounded by hatred and violence. This is not the Islam that I recognise from my experience, nor from my studies. According to Ibn Warraq, this means I am suffering from a delusion,- that I ought to stop pandering to political correctness. What a pity, because I thought I was allowed the freedom of conscience and the right to excercise choice.
What is most telling, is that Ibn Warraq as a secularist, wishes to reform Islam. But I find that a slight paradoxiacal position. The Christian Reformation(s) took place because of deeply felt religious conviction. The nature of Christianity was trasformed from within. One may argue that at the time, Martin Luther was very close to being deemed heretical, but he trod very carefully (and enjoyed political/economic protection).- I'm not saying the Ibn Warraq is a heritic!- But he is a humanist,thus cannot really claim to 'reform', Islam all he can claim is to be a critic of Islam.
In the meantime can the real Martin Luther please stand up?!
Can a Muslim or ex-Muslim criticise Islam ?
It does appear to be the case that for both sides of the 'debate' being a Muslim who is critical of Islam is equally seized on by 'Western' (Northern/European/US) and championed, and yet reviled and exiled by Muslim communities. I wonder if the lack of reformation is due to the fact that Muslims are too scared to debate some things. However by the same token, the cynical attempt of an Ex-Muslim to imbue their name with an 'authenticity' (in that Ibn Warraq is an Arabic/Islamic sounding pseudonym) is also challenging trope to invoke. What I found interesting when looking up Ibn Warraq, was that he was quoted by organisations like this which do have a standpoint/religious bias - Needless to say after doing some more research I came to the conclusion that Ibn Warraq is not a 'Crack pot' as I first had him down, but a man on a mission (secular one at that).
Clearly he seeks to illuminate some of the darker sides of Islam and I am not particularly opposed to that. However, I suspect that claiming Islam is based on terrorism, that in fact the first polity established by Mohammad was based purely on violence and torture - may be just a 'tad' inflammatory. But moving beyond this, (as it would appear that the Hijra and subsequent battles were indeed violent), in the early years of Meccan society as indeed a snapshot of Europe of the same time, life was 'brutish and short' to quote a famous European philosopher.- The crux of Ibn Warraq's arguments appear (I have yet to read his texts in their entirety so forgive me for that) to be that, Islam needs to be 'humanised'. He seems to be calling for a critical engagement by Muslims with thier faith. Again from the sound of things this is not a major problem, as I agree that Islam needs to take into account the changes in consciousness that have taken place. This is no more evident then in the relationship between feminism and Islamic societies. However Ibn Warraq is concerned that the basis of the Manichean split between good - Western (presumably liberal Democratic Capitalism ) and bad - Islamic (Theoaucratic Dictatorships) finds its reflection in Islam as a core belief system. He then goes to describe passages from the Qur'an which purport to demonstrate it's inherent bloodthirsty, intolerant nature.
Ibn Warraq's mission also appears to simplify and conflate all diversity that exists across time and space in the Islamic World - which spans a few continents and a vast populations as I'm sure you know-. This would appear to be good technique for getting the reader on his side: He quotes Sayyid Qutb as if he was some kind Pope figure who's appeal was internationally renowned. Sayyid Qutb, is indeed a favourite of the Young impressionable Politically motivated Muslims I have met in Universities, and does indeed represent a 'fundamentalist' view. He was executed in 1966 during a clampdown on revivalist Islamic movements in Egypt- (Incidentally the Muslim Brotherhood were considered a fringe group in Egypt certainly not mainstream). Ibn Warraq's quotation of a fundamentalist to prove that Islam is fundamentalist to me appears a little tautological. So the case for reform is increasingly looking it is based on either a poorly researched background in Islam, or a deliberate attempt to represent Islam as a singularity. Interesting, because in this way Ibn Warraq is behaving in a fundamentalist way also. I do not believe that Ibn Warraq is at all poorly researched in his work. But then I do not buy the more simplistic position of a Western stooge either.
My conclusion to this totally excessive rant, is that Ibn Warraq whoever he is, presents an interesting case for thinking about Islam, but my question is which Islam does he want to reform? He argues that apologists point out that there are 'moderate' voices in Islam and that fundamentalists are in a minority, he retorts that the basis of Islam is fundamentalist, and then he quotes a fundamentalist to prove his point. The problem with this his statement on WTC is that his audience is none the wiser at the end. His diatribe confirms the fears of every American- That Muslims are fanatics and predisposed to terrorism. Their faith is historically and theologically bounded by hatred and violence. This is not the Islam that I recognise from my experience, nor from my studies. According to Ibn Warraq, this means I am suffering from a delusion,- that I ought to stop pandering to political correctness. What a pity, because I thought I was allowed the freedom of conscience and the right to excercise choice.
What is most telling, is that Ibn Warraq as a secularist, wishes to reform Islam. But I find that a slight paradoxiacal position. The Christian Reformation(s) took place because of deeply felt religious conviction. The nature of Christianity was trasformed from within. One may argue that at the time, Martin Luther was very close to being deemed heretical, but he trod very carefully (and enjoyed political/economic protection).- I'm not saying the Ibn Warraq is a heritic!- But he is a humanist,thus cannot really claim to 'reform', Islam all he can claim is to be a critic of Islam.
In the meantime can the real Martin Luther please stand up?!
Sunday, September 07, 2003
Dear Mark,
I know that you had no choice I understand that. I was hurt and angry when I found out. You are lucky to not have been around to experience such a thing.
But I want to thank you, for the times that you spent with me and the others. You cannot know how profoundly you influenced us.
You cannot know how much you meant to us. You gave us so much. Hope to meet you again not in a dream but in reality.
Love Mark
P.S. I forgive you for the caramel popcorn ok!?? ;)
In memory of Mark Monaghan (1973-1997)
I know that you had no choice I understand that. I was hurt and angry when I found out. You are lucky to not have been around to experience such a thing.
But I want to thank you, for the times that you spent with me and the others. You cannot know how profoundly you influenced us.
You cannot know how much you meant to us. You gave us so much. Hope to meet you again not in a dream but in reality.
Love Mark
P.S. I forgive you for the caramel popcorn ok!?? ;)
In memory of Mark Monaghan (1973-1997)
Saturday, September 06, 2003
I now have one week and a day to complete my dissertation. Its crisis point, as I have begun to feel the strain, and the circus act that is my mind is rolling out the 'I need and extension' clowns.. Man, why do I put myself through this!?
Well I try not to whinge, but this is the best place I suppose. I can silently nag the VDU, and you the unsuspecting (*might I add voyeuristic sadist*) blog-reader will sit until CNTRL-f4 is pressed out of desperation. Well it is feerozac after all, my dumb psychiatrist/notebook. I am metaphorically reclining.
Well I try not to whinge, but this is the best place I suppose. I can silently nag the VDU, and you the unsuspecting (*might I add voyeuristic sadist*) blog-reader will sit until CNTRL-f4 is pressed out of desperation. Well it is feerozac after all, my dumb psychiatrist/notebook. I am metaphorically reclining.
Monday, September 01, 2003
Things are changing slowly and yet the change approaches rapidly. The main reason for which I have been striving, has almost come to an end, and yet I have so much still to do.. The dissertation is not taking shape as I had imagined and yet I am still scheduled to go to Tokyo 3 days after I have to hand in the project. Man pressure is back on. I feel like I am in three different time zones already though.
The flat is taking shape, although I am not sure about if I should actually move in yet or rent it out for a bit.. I am looking forward to Tokyo, but not as much as I am looking forward to living a relatively normal life again, i.e. just working and chilling out/going out in the evenings.. I realised something also. It would appear that I am craving the winter.. Weird maybe I'm turning into a sun hater, but I'm really looking forward to wrapping up in a coat. I'm waiting for the autumn leaves and the change in climate. September and October are actually my favourite months in the year. I like the change. Somehow winter seems more dignified right now. Never thought that me, a banglophile would say such things.
Anyway I really have to crack on with this Dissertation.
The flat is taking shape, although I am not sure about if I should actually move in yet or rent it out for a bit.. I am looking forward to Tokyo, but not as much as I am looking forward to living a relatively normal life again, i.e. just working and chilling out/going out in the evenings.. I realised something also. It would appear that I am craving the winter.. Weird maybe I'm turning into a sun hater, but I'm really looking forward to wrapping up in a coat. I'm waiting for the autumn leaves and the change in climate. September and October are actually my favourite months in the year. I like the change. Somehow winter seems more dignified right now. Never thought that me, a banglophile would say such things.
Anyway I really have to crack on with this Dissertation.
