Fundamentalist Islamic society has a completely different operating definition of 'freedom' than Western society does, and I think it can be summed up as 'freedom from' as opposed to 'freedom to.' I came to this conclusion after hearing the umpteenth Muslim woman say that wearing the veil/hijab/burkha was liberating because it gave them the ability to go out in public without unwanted male attention. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that Islam frees its practitioners from having to make a lot of decisions in general, given the large number of specifically prescribed/forbidden actions in the Koran and ahadith.
In fact, their interpretation of 'freedom' is so different from mine that it bothers me they use the same word. I think I'll go riot and demand some beheadings.
Posted by Chris at June 30, 2006 11:16 AMI'll sharpen my saber.
Posted by: Jay at June 30, 2006 02:11 PMWouldn't their beards & mustaches, along with the unshaven armpits & legs prevent "unwanted male attention. Not to mention bathing once a year in a climate of 90 - 110 degrees. At least we now know where HELL is located
Posted by: Morgan at July 4, 2006 10:42 AM