The Movie

I appreciate that they tried to put the book in movie form, but I was pretty disappointed in how many important details that they left out. The book was really long and detailed, but the movie was a near failure in my mind just because it left so much out. Is there anyone out there that read the book (or most of it) and thinks that the movie captured the essence of what Malcolm X was writing about in his book?

Hmmm

So I was just checking my yahoo email and I happened to read one of the new news flashes by the Associated Press. It looks like the trials are continuing for the people that were involved in the political system under Sadam Husein. They handed out a few more death sentences and a couple of 15 year prison terms. What does everyone think about Sadams people, and what should the world community do with these Muslims, or are they Muslims?

Nation of Islam < Islam

I found it very interesting in the book how Malcolm X and the movement he was a part of considered themselves Muslim. It seems like they happily took on the name, but never spent the time researching what it meant. It was almost frustrating at points to hear how they were abusing the title Muslim. I am not a Muslim, but I just can’t stand it when people take a label but don’t live up to what it means. Whenever you give yourself a label you have to recognize that you are representing that group, and if you don’t live up to the values that the group holds you might taint someone’s opinion about the group.

The Movie

Okay, so it looks like I might be late in adding my thoughts on the movie…But, I will anyways. I was challenged in how I pictured terrorists by the movie. I had always thought they were all super fanatics and crazy, but this film has allowed me to see that perhaps not all of the fit that description. The two guys seemed pretty desperate and hopeless, and it my opinion they were exploited because of their situation to act on behalf of those that were less inclined to act themselves. It is interesting to me that the friend who was really fired up the first time changed his mind after being confronted with a challenge and perhaps a better alternative. And, in the end it was the friend that was not quite sure that was the only one to carry through the operation. I don’t know a lot about this, but perhaps there should be a louder Muslim voice who is willing to share realistic alternatives in these very impoverished areas. Maybe then Islamic terrorism will finally meet its end.

Response to ‘Male Superiority’

I agree with some of what has been said. I am married and have been for over three years. I understand the need to have roles that differ on somethings, but my religion does not designate for me who is supposed to work and make money, and who is supposed to stay home with the kids. I am a Christian, and while the Christian faith does teach male headship, I think it is a fundamental error to westernize that teaching.

Devils Advocate

So I have read quite a bit about the new president and what people are hoping that he could do. I personally didn’t vote for him, but I will do my best to respect his office and I will pray that he will suceed in bettering America. But, to play the other side of the coin…I read that someone thought that perhaps the middle east was ready to start over with america, and perhaps because of president obama. Does anyone think that perhaps this might happen because of his ties to islam and persons of that faith? Yup, I know that this is stirring the pot, so enjoy…

Thoughts on Response to Barrier

An issue that I take with many American youths and adults alike, is how ethnocentric we are. For some reason we are under the immpression that America is the best, and everything else should conform to us. In the ‘Response to Barrier’ the writer mentioned that the purdah was in place to allow women the privacy to remove their facial coverings. Now to disclaimer I am  not 100% sure why they wear it, or how it is enforced. But if it is truly a matter of modesty and preserving the integrity of their bodies, then I think it is great. Just because it is not American doesnt mean that it is wrong. And to be honest I think there are many American women that could take a lesson on modesty…

Response to Question????

I am not sure about muslims, but i do know that Hindus believe that the cow is sacred. As far as 5 gallons of milk, i dont know.

Response to the responses to Growing Fast

I think that my point was not made clear, I agree that there are some that adopt a particular religion based on what it can do for them, or how they feel it might answer the fundamental questions of life. Also, while I have no data so support this I suppose I wouldn’t have an issue with someone saying that the Muslim population is procreating quicker than the Christian. On the contrary that point itself supports mine. You see I think that Islam has kept its numbers increasing because of the consequences for leaving. That is what I meant when I said that Islam is the fastest growing religion because of compulsion. How ‘free’ are people to have their own ideas about something when death, or abandonment are offered as consequences.

Growing Fast

So I am almost always hearing how the fastest growing religion in the world is Islam. I don’t have numbers, but for some reason I seem to hear it often. I have great difficulty in accepting that it is the fastest growing religion in the world, without the addition of compulsion. While anybody is free to enter Islam people who are in it are not free to leave. When the penalty of death is offered to those who wish to leave Islam it is no wonder that it is growing so quickly. I have to go to class now, so discuss…