I was well impressed by the author's fight for equality inside the mosque, so I mentioned her crusade to my wife, who remarked,' what's the use if her own community has ostracised her in the end?' I thought it was a valid point as I plunged into the book.
Unfortunately the book is nothing but a classical dichotomy between parental religion (in this case Islam) and her own version, through the eyes of an ABCD (American born Confused Desi). The main accusation against ABCD is that they think they are superior as compared to their parent's culture. They are trying to answer a very important much avoided question here: why did the parents chose to leave their own set environments and cultures and or a life in the West? It is a noble and valid quest to answer indeed, filling a gulf in their lives I am sure, but the way they go about trying to answer this question is where I disagree. They always seem to pick out religion as the only really reason for the demise of the parental cultures. I guess because religion is the most documented that's why. This is a classical contradiction as religion must be held liable for its demise an breakdown of parent's culture surely? How are the ABCD's trying to rekindle something which is proven to have failed, if it was the only reason that is.
The second point is religion is one of the reasons for the demise of the parental cultures, there were many other factors for the sorry state of original cultures like lack of resources, jobs, family issues, living conditions, security, services with the biggest reason being relative equality o opportunities which the ABCD's do not seem to expose too much. Maybe because they haven't really managed to compete with the Western counterparts that well? I am not really sure.
Nevertheless, the book was very interesting insight into a life of an ABCD still living with her very supportive parents well into her 40's, giving lectures on modernising Islam to a very eager Western audience. She has really embraced America hasn't she?
No comments:
Post a Comment