| | I went to the local Islamic Center of Orange County this past Sunday to hear their actual take on human rights, and because I've had virtually no real contact with Muslims and wanted a first-hand experience, and finally, because I hoped to get the local Muslim community involved in the "Teach-In On Torture" I've been working on together with a crew of local activists.
The program was entitled "Know Your Legal Rights" and the speakers were mostly left-wing, it became clear. However, the hosts did stress on the outset and again later in the program how much they appreciated the right to present this kind of program, which they could not have done in many of their countries of origin. They all made some kind of reference to their love of the U.S. and the freedoms they enjoyed here. When I later examined a glossy magazine put out by the local Mosques, I immediately found an article defending the Bill of Rights, including the right to say things insulting to their faith - because they had the right to answer... Not exactly how the media portrays Islam.
Here's my report back to the contact I had with a Muslim organizer from CAIR, as well as to our Committee:
Dear Mr. Mowjood,
I have taken the liberty to forward this email to the other members of our ad hoc committee to put on a "Teach-In on Torture," focussing on the various legal positions and actions largely initiated by the Bush Administration which appear to violate both the Constitution and international law, as well as basic human rights.
Thanks to Sharon Tipton for providing the info on the "Know Your Rights" presentation at the Islamic Center. Four of us from our group - the Teach-in on Torture Ad Hoc Committee - attended, including Roger and me. On entering building, I was almost immediately introduced to Sharaf Mowjood of CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), to whom I briefly outlined what we are doing. I also spoke with a reporter from the L.A. Times who wants to be kept up to date.
I think that we should consider the possibility of networking with CAIR or other Islamic organizations regarding the Teach-In. Not only can we quite possibly get a much larger participation, but we will be including the group that has been most often targetted by the Bush Administration measures that we are exposing. Always nice to be able to include the victims when you're protesting a crime.
I was pleasantly impressed with the entire atmosphere of the Islamic Center, BTW, and I encourage anyone who has an interest in getting to know this culture to consider attending other relevant events there. I noticed that everyone was extremely polite, even the small children, of whom there were several present. As a former Montessori director, I look to children and their behavior for clues to the parents and their culture.
I was amazed at how well behaved and contented these children seemed. They did not seem at all repressed, and were quite open about engaging adults. In the row of chairs in front of me there was a tiny - probably two-year-old - girl in her father's arms - who was singling out other people in the audience with her gaze and then audaciously flirting with them, just using her eyes and face. (She will be dangerous in a decade or two.) I think that the event yesterday got over 200 people, although I confess not attempting a count.
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Later, I thought about the fact that even though most of the women were wearing the long dresses and scarves, this did nothing to diminish their attractiveness. If anything, by forcing attention to the face and hands, it was more sexy than if they wore typical Western women's garb that focusses all the attention on the breasts and butt.
Lillian Reardon was supposed to be quite attractive, and one could imagine her with a great figure, which would completely bely her real (dis)value as a person - basically a sociopath. Focussing on the face means focussing on the individuality of the person. I'm sure that that little two-year-old had picked up her behavior from a mother who knew exactly how to use face, hands and eyes to defeat any man. Think Harlow or Garbo.
Of course, some women manage quite well regardless of clothing or not. Pure sensuality can be a delight in itself, as in the French Orangina commercial, which I think I've watched a dozen times now.
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