Comments on: Even the Taliban would’ve found it funny

By: Farzana

Farzana — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:09:28 +0000

Entertaining piece Azad. I admire your style. But I must agree with David, the generalisations are worrying.

Why is it that when we even utter the word ‘patriarchy’ we immediately see turban and beard on a ‘camel’(:p) face?

A father from the western world tells his scantily dressed daughter to put on something else before she leaves the house and he is just protecting her right?

Is he more correct just because he is asking her to put on a less cleavage bearing top instead of a scarf on her head?

What makes his standards more ‘right’ than that of a man who asks his daughter to wear hijaab? I’m not saying I agree with niqaab being forced on women but be objective. Don’t just reiterate mass media and popular stereotypes.

You can’t just look at one side and say this is what Arab men do and it is patriarchy. You have to look at it in comparison to other men.

‘Oriental’, western, whatever. The standards are different, the principal is the same. “I as a man wish to protect my daughter and because I am her father who can tell her what to do I want her to dress according to what I deem acceptable.

The same argument goes for your idea of the “burdening consideration” of the Orient.

Is the interaction laid out by the West any less burdening?

Ok so I have to stop my essay now:) Thought-provoking, I enjoyed it:)

By: Lobengula

Lobengula — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:06:53 +0000

@ Azad
…Because Islam is the force behind the actions of the men (and women)in your story.
T.E. Lawrence was not a Saudi. He was an Englishman who had a life-long and intimate history with Arabs.

By: Twitted by azz1

Twitted by azz1 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:30:50 +0000

[...] This post was Twitted by azz1 [...]

By: Azad Essa

Azad Essa — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:21:29 +0000

@Judith – I won’t ignore you , I promise….but what are you saying?

@Alan – yes mate, that issue needs urgent attention even in places in SA (your neighbours)

@Lobengula – I was not asking about Islam. Why would I ask a Saudi about Islam?

@david saks – thanks for your honesty. You are right, they digs are insulting…but I am not inciting hate am I? Besides, Saudis get away with way too much…

By: david saks

david saks — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:35:00 +0000

This is sometimes funny, Azad, and often clever, but the generalisations and several frankly insulting comments about Arabs, Saudi Arabians in particular, made me feel more uneasy than anything else – and this is the reaction of someone who is both a staunch Zionist and anti-PC.

By: Lobengula

Lobengula — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:26:40 +0000

If you really want the answers to the questions posed then you had better read the Koran instead of walking around always perplexed.

Additional reading would include “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom” by T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia).
Lawrence gives a very insightful look at the psyche of Arab men.

By: Alan in Botswana

Alan in Botswana — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:35:12 +0000

Great post, very entertaining. We still occassionally wittness incidents at the taxi rank in Gaborone where young females deemed to be inappropriately or scantily dressed, get stripped naked and ridiculed by over zealous taxi drivers. The paradox of stripping someone naked because they were dressed in revealing clothing seems to escape these dickheads; but I’m sure you are right, even the Taliban would laugh….before……..

By: Judith

Judith — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:50:59 +0000

Whilst you have put some good points, your agressive put down before the interaction did not assist your analysis.

Sadly, this is Patiarchy 1000001. How do we difuse this? We have failed since 1500 BC and suddenly had a window in the late 1900s. Still not a lot of progress.

The truth is Patriarchy does neither sex any good, nor, incidentally, does matriarchy.

However, back in the real world, how do we convince the Taliban and similar people that they woudl have better children if their women were educated and cared for? How do we move women and girls to a place of value anywhere?

Women negotiate for a better solution; men control into complete destruction based on results.

Men you ignore the discussion at our peril.

By: Twitter Trackbacks for Thought Leader » Azad Essa » Even the Taliban would've found it funny [thoughtleader.co.za] on Topsy.com

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:34:24 +0000

[...] Thought Leader » Azad Essa » Even the Taliban would’ve found it funny http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/azadessa/2009/11/17/giovanni-gets-camel-toed – view page – cached After telling me where he was from, he grunts and looks the other way, nostrils flared as he pretends to admire the scenery. Of course, through the crowded wig-wagging of bodies, there was nothing to… Read moreAfter telling me where he was from, he grunts and looks the other way, nostrils flared as he pretends to admire the scenery. Of course, through the crowded wig-wagging of bodies, there was nothing to see. I peer at him and he reminds me of something I had seen on National Geographic. That thing about pets and owners; these Arabs might be jet-setters, but they still look like their camels. Read less [...]