Yalla!

Memories of a Libyan Revolution

I recently finished a project working in relief and development in Benghazi, Libya. It was an incredible experience both in the sense of career experience and life experience. Here are some pictures I took at the khateeba when NTC officials announced the success of the Revolution and the end of the war. 

On the Hijab

Over decades upon probably centuries one of the most controversial and most talked about aspects of Islam to Westerners has always been the hijab(the head scarf that a large majority of muslim women wear). It has been the popular perception of many in the western world that the hijab is a symbol of oppression, the lack of regard for woman’s rights, a male dominated religion/culture, or, to some even the sign of a terrorist. 

The reality is, such misconceptions are absurdly false, and truly show the lack of effort of individuals to find out for themselves the true reasons why cultures,societies, and individuals outside of their traditional paradigmes function in the way they do.

After holding jobs in education, human rights, and development within the Arab world as well as engaging in conversation with many American muslims over the past few years, I’ve found that the hijab is rarely a product of opression, lack of basic human rights, a male dominated culture, or even extremism. In reality, the hijab is usually worn for the following reasons:

1. An expression of submission to God

2. An expression of religious conviction to the Prophets(pbuh) call for modest dress

3. An act of identification or expression of one’s cultural/ethnic background

4. A fashion statement(I know this point will draw some criticism, but its true, and Arabs/Muslims throughout the Arab world I believe would back me on this…this actually came from numerous discussions with muslims in the arab world that cover.)

Doing something as an expression of submission to God is an honorable trait that I think most of the world and its many religions(and the more closely related to Islam; Judaism and Christianity) would have no problem with due to the fact that its something that most strive to live out in their practice. There’s nothing oppressive, violent, or injustice about such a pursuit.Modest dress, though debated for generations among religious leaders on what that really means, is again a virtue of value found in both Judisim, Christianity, Buddhism, and variations of Hinduism. Though modesty has become more of a choice rather then principle that is for the betterment of one’s life in alot of the western world, most westerners would agree that there’s nothing wrong with modesty.

Wearing the hijab as an act of identification or expression of ones cultural/ethnic background is something I believe most of us can identify with. Expression of oneself, and the freedom to do so has been one of the primary virtues and rights that us westerners have come come to value and pushed forward over the last century . For Arab women, the hijab, can express much about her cultural background. In most countries within the Arab world there are Muslims that are from various different countries due to tribal migration, war, or the opportunity for employment is simply better. There are different ways to wear your hijab based on what country you come from and, at times, even what city you come from. Palestinians, Jordanians, Syrians, Emiraties, Sudanese, Iraqies all have their own unique way to wrap the hijab. Its a rather beautiful arrangement of art really, cultures so similar, yet, with their own unique touch on a shared blueprint.

Finally, after many conversations with Muslim friends from various regions of the Middle East and North Africa, I found that one of the most interesting reasons for head scarf adornment is due to the want to either fit in, look beautiful, or be cool. Some of my hijab wearing friends have told me that some women literally choose to wear the scarf not for religious reasons but rather because they want to make a fashion statement OR because everyone else is doing it. Any westerner who attended high-school or was every young can relate to this.

The Right to Choose?

Westerners tend to have this perception also that the hijab is something that is forced on the women by the male-dominated culture they live in. In some extreme cases, like Saudi Arabia and other gulf countries, the hijab OR even more conservative abaya is required by law, but most middle eastern/north african countries dont require the headscarf by law. In a majority of these countries, these women/girls make the choice on their own to express the following points listed previously. In the rare occurrence of family required hijab wearing, its very common that its the mother of the family that requires her daughter to wear the head scarf and not the man, which is the common perception among foreigners. 

All this being said, this post is not denying that at times in Islamic cultures the man will require his daughters or his wife to cover OR that the headscarf has never been unjustly forced on certain women, its merely trying to express that such acts are infrequent. 

Response

The hijab must no longer be a symbol of fear or catalyst for those of us outside of hijab wearing cultures to justify discrimination towards arabs both within the arab world as well as those living within our respective borders internationally. I encourage all those internationally that tend to question and condemn the practices of other cultures and religions to step out of their personal world view and actively seek to learn about the things unknown and scary to you. You may find that at times though you think you are speaking on the side of justice you are actually speaking on the side of ignorance. 

Credibility of Claims

Some may question the credibility of this post and thats fair. I only speak of what I’ve experienced, interacted with, and researched upon my time working within the Arab world. Some may also question if the article is biased or written from a Muslim perspective. If this is the case, it may help the reader to know that this post has been written by an American who follows Jesus and has lived most his life on the West Coast(its the best coast!!) of the US of A.My culture of origin did not project this opinion upon me nor am I from a family that was influenced by a culture that valued the hijab. I simply came to this conclusion based on lots of personal research and interacting with those of a culture in which the hijab is present. It is my hope that this post will help break down the many negative and unjust perceptions many have of those who wear the hijab.

Benghazi & You

Benghazi, Libya

You may have heard about it for the first time within the last few months when a spirit of revolution ,that would eventually catch on like wild fire throughout almost all of Libya, erupted there.

Benghazi is alot like most the communities many of you grew up in. Its filled with many young and many old with dreams and aspirations to make something of their life. They love their families and love to catch up with old friends. Girls have crushes on boys, boys have crushes and girls…(though most of them probably have man-crushes on soccer superstars Renaldo, Kaka, and Messi). They probably could share alot of the same joys and frustrations about life’s daily struggles and victories that so many of us experience.

There is, a lot that is different about the people of Benghazi and you though. Benghazi, until two years ago, did not have Internet access within their homes. They lived in a land ruled by a man who absolutely despised its inhabitants( just because they disagreed with some of his perspectives). They paid a dear price. The ruler was insistent on keeping the city from modernizing.  A city beautifully placed on the coast,  its surrounded by sandy beaches literally unused by the inhabitants due to the ruler’s (Momar Gaddafi) intentional pollution of the water there. For years locals express that he intentionally “abused” Benghazi, trying to limit development and quality of life. A city located in a country which was suppose to be rich with oil and the money that comes along that, never seemed to share in the riches.

 Decade upon decade, roads were in terrible condition, hospitals lacking supplies and doctors and nurses with specialized training, the education systems were in literal shambles, and most residents unaware of what most of the world would call “health/hygiene 101’s”. Universities limited to the information they could convey to eager young minds.

This is a new Libya though. The revolution seems to be successful. One demanding true democracy and equal opportunity. Emphasis on the  quality of education and access to the information that most of the world has benefited from for decades of not centuries. 

Minds have been set free, hope seems to be abundant, and life seems to have truly begun for Libyans everywhere. Many of these things you probably enjoy and probably and maybe even take for granted. Though these past few months everyday Libyans have seen, experienced, and been apart of things you could probably never imagine or may never experience in your lifetime, its a new day in Libya. The future is full of hope, dreams, and aspirations. And its in the midst of this new found freedom in which these Libyans are beginning to feel a sense of brotherhood not just among Libyans but among people like you, who stand for freedom and justice as well as partake in the fruits of its accomplishment and establishment within society. 

Why “The Right to Think” is so important

Probably ever since my trip to Kigali, Rwanda in 2006, I knew that I wanted to devote the rest of my life to, in whatever way or form, to working within the field of human rights. 

I remember very early on becoming overwhelmed about which issues in the world I should devote my time and attention to. There were so many. The issue of genocide, going unnoticed by many was the first the grab my attention, then the horrific truths of human trafficking ripped my hear apart and all of a sudden that seemed like the area I should focus on. Then Darfur. Then Gaza, and the injustices many Palestinians have had to live through for so long. It became so overwhelming. There is so much hurt and injustice in the world,but so little time. 

I then began to ask myself, well, if I could find some of the foundational issues that create and multiply into the issues mentioned above,…maybe that might be the best approach. After spending many months now working for a local Jordanian human rights group I’ve begun to see bit by bit some of the main sources to so many injustices experienced within the arab world and beyond.

Recently, I’ve been focusing on the curent status of Academic Freedoms within the Arab world. I’ve been blown away by how essential these freedoms are to all other freedoms guaranteed to inhabitants around the world in the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. 

I’ve met with UNESCO officials and University professors. Heard from Ministers,activists,and students and its plain to see after awhile how so many of the revolutions featured in the “Arab Spring” have been started or strengthened by students and even at times, by professors. 

The Right to think naturally gives way to the “right to information” which makes a powerful combination which eventually leads to the “right to speak”. If you don’t have the right to think then you cannot speak. If you do not have the freedom to information then you do not of the right to fully think. Now, once the right to think and the right to information fall in line, then you finally have been empowered to accurately develop opinions and you can boldly speak.

When the right to think is non-existent, there is no way you will ever be able to truly know justice from injustice. You will not be exposed to information that allows you to develop opinions, to learn from scholars, and leaders, the bettermen of our past and present. Finally, you will certainly not be able to ask the hard questions that pushes and challenges societies to improve livelihood, enhance technology, to know truth.

It is in the places where these rights dont exist,where corruption and all forms of injustice dwell. Starting small at first and then slowly but surely choaking the life and hope of progress of their peoples for years, decades. It is where people are told they worthless, it’s where people are taught to hate. 

Knowing this, the “right to think” is an essential right that the international community must stand for not only within their own communities but also alongside the communities of others. When the right to think is present, it is the foundational step that will hopefully overtime liberate people from ethnocentric perspectives, poverty, and lack of social and economic development within their world. It will help bring justice to those who are without it. 

Bob Dylan and the Source to the World’s Problems

After over a year living in the Middle East I’ve heard it all.

Living across the river from the most controversial chunk of land on the planet paired with my love of transparency and hate of opaque relationships, I get the privilege of hearing opinions on why there is war, injustice, lack of peace and love across the river.

“Its the  Jews” says one

“The Muslims” says the other

“Bush” say many

“America”

“Christians”

“the oppression of the corporate West”

I’ve heard this and a whole lot more a zillion times over and at the end of the day I think they are all wrong, and to your eventual shock I believe I can disagree without taking a political side. 

The problems can be traced back to government, true. They can be traced at times back to religion, and even to America (…I know…shocker) but at the end of the day the main cause of the problems across the river is the an epidemic that has plagued the region here and abroad for millenium…

The problem is pride.

The belief that I am greater then my neighbor. That addiction to being important…demanding respect. The childish problem of hating to admitt being wrong. To get yours. The worship of humanity and all of our wisdom and potential…even though many of us claim to fear a god. 

I’ll even be the first one to point out that I’m guilty of all of the above at times…even though I claim to follow the teachings of Issa. At the end of the day, those of us within the worldwide community who take our religious teachings seriously, our faith seriously, see that we all fail. Pride, the existence of it within our lives is a sin in the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faiths…among other faiths. We all fail and in the haunting words of the Bob Dylan song “Masters of War” which describes the worth of the lives of corrupt, prideful,greedy politicians and all others who make war:

“You ain’t worth the blood that runs in your veins”

Though the words are directed towards specific individuals…though we all give it our best shot we end our days as disgusting individuals…putting ourselves before our neighbors, lacking sufficient love,we are liars, desiring all the world’s riches for ourselves. Those words speak a reality of the state of humanity, the source of our problems, the end of our story.

The only way many get by is some belief or hope that God will have mercy on us. Personally, this writer believes in a certainty of forgiveness of his shortcomings…but one must ask… how is this possible when all of our texts at least at times demand utter and untainted perfection from us?

Imperfect though we are, what if we all tried to be less prideful, less selfish, acting out and living a selfless life. Would the problems across the river change for the good?

For the past two years there has been another set of lyrics from an old Bob Dylan song “Tombstone Blues”that just about knocked the wind out me the moment the words sank in:

       “Stop all this weeping. Swallow your pride, you will not die… its not poison”

I love almost the dry, snappiness if you will, of the lyric. As if the writer gets it, and yells at the whole in disgust as some of the prophets of old “Don’t you get it! If we cared more about each other then ourselves…we wouldn’t be here!!”

Is it possible? Could the world commit to such a task? Could we love each other enough to learn about each others cultures before we make such piercing accusations? Could we even sacrifice our own riches, honor, entitlement for someone we disagreed with? Could we love an enemy? Could we put our own reputation on the line for the sake of true justice?

Hopefully the world prays that the answer to all these questions is yes, otherwise, we and our hope for peace is damned…on both sides of the river and beyond.