Islam and the African People by Abubakr Ben Ishmael Salahuddin was technically written from an Ahmadiyya perspective, but that isn't really relevant in terms of the subject matter. Salahuddin briefly brings together and summarizes comments from Afrocentric scholars with positive things to say about Islam's role in African society (and counteract the effects of Black Orientalism), especially Cheikh Anta Diop and Wilmont Blyden.
9 comments:
DOWN WITH ISLAM
hmm, i guess it's your "freedom of speech" to say so. Except I've gotten spam which was more thought-provoking and intelligent than the above comment.
I guess if someone presents at least a rudimentary argument I would be inclined to let it stand even if I disagreed with it.
But if it doesn't even rise to the level of spam, then I would be less inclined to let it accumulate.
muslims, like most human beings on earth, are not pacifist and believe that in certain cases the use of force is necessary.
At this time in history Muslims are actually in a series of extreme situations all over the world, and at times respond violently but it would be intellectually lazy to just blame islam as a religion.
If you go to some other third world/developing world country which was formerly colonized by the west, and where the population struggles with economic and education issues, and you used racist stereotypes to insult the society's most revered values, I would be surprised if you DIDN'T get a violent response.
I think it is also rather ignorant to just few this as being about "a few cartoons". When Muhammad was shown on South Park, this didn't come up as an issue. There is a frieze of Muhammad in the US Supreme Court building, and at the time there was a peaceful letter-writing campaign about images, but the issue didn't lead to violence.
I think it is most useful to see that cartoons as the straw which broke the camel's back. It's not just about a "few cartoons". It's about the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. It's about Palestine and Kashmir. It's about the mistreatment and racism which Muslims/Africans face in France and other parts of Europe. And on, and on.
And I think that if any large group of people were treated in the same way, the would respond in the same way, even if their holy book was the Miami Yellow Pages.
intellectual laziness huh, what about religious bigotry? Isreal is the biggest terrorist supported by the US. Muslims who came up with the Hitler-Anne Frank cartoon should be ashamed. Kashmir? Another case of Muslim dictatorship supported by the US. You talk of invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, I agree, but the other two examples are simply bogus.
BTW there are ways of protesting that doesnot involve violence. Look at the stupidity of the protestors, your guys are killig your own 'people'. what fun to see a rabid dog bite itself! i'm having fun.
long live the palentine liberation movement.
Yeah, you are getting less coherent now.
I say, use your discretion and delete anonymous.
Why are Muslims so touchy about any criticism of their religion? How can there be a redressal of problems within Islam if you who cannt bear to hear the other viewpoints! Sondjata's comments on the previous posts just shows that typical Muslim closed mindedness, although I must admit that not all Muslims are that way. But usually thats how most come across as. Its so easy to censor and delete what you don't like. And ofcourse its a show of cowardice.
On the cartoon issue, this is what I have to add to the comments previous writers have made:
Its about Fearless expression
For the sake of safeguarding democratic principles, it is important to understand that media cannot be held hostage to a policy of appeasement.
It is all about taking an informed position on raging issues and giving it fearless expression.
There will always be someone or something that offends us but we have to deal with it. This is the point of living in a free society.
The lawless reaction by the so-called Muslim extremists is totally unacceptable.
The question that comes to mind is why don't we see the same commitment in demonstrating against those who spread terror with suicide bombs and beheadings.
It makes better sense for readers to express their resentment to something offensive by peaceful protests and letting the publication know about what caused the hurt in a dialogue of sorts.
Something controversial can often get a good discussion going. But sadly angry Muslims have expressed their views by being violent, and essentially saying that since they are offended, the rest of the world must also follow suit.
Open to criticism
In a democracy nothing, not even religion, is free from criticisms or mockery, provided it refrains from provocation. Thus it is mindless to kill people over a newspaper.
Newspapers have the right to publish; people have the right to disapprove but no one has the right to be violent.
The din over the issue has come as a wake up call, urging us to develop a genuinely multicultural society where a mere editorial cartoon does not spark mindless acts of violence.
Muslims are guilty of being violent, whereever is the moderate Islamic voice??
I'll start with the end where you repeat the often-asked question "Where is the moderate Islamic voice?"
And while I generally wouldn't use the term "moderate Islam" (Is that someone who is sorta-kinda Muslim?) And I would certainly like to see governments in the Muslim world which are transparent, accountable to their citizens, which respect minority rights, have a free press, etc.
And you'll find similar thoughts shared by many of the Muslim bloggers on my blogroll or the websites I've linked to.
In general, when someone says "Where are all the moderate Muslims?" it means they aren't really looking for them.
Secondly, I think it is absolutely hilarious that you called Sondjata's comments "typical Muslim closed-mindedness" because he actually isn't even Muslim. If you bothered to read his blog or look at his other comments here you would know this. In fact, I think it is great that we've been able to have what I would consider a civil and respctful exchange where we can air out some of our deep disagreements on religion.
I'm a very strong believer in free speech and I think that occasionally there are some vivid examples of that in my comments section.
Thirdly, I think it is misguided to view the situation in an isolated way as a free speech issue. When the cartoons appeared the first time, back in September, Danish Muslims actually did engage in peaceful protests assuming they reacted at all.
The current situation was clearly stirred up and instigated by other forces and wasn't just a natural Muslim reaction to the cartoons.
http://garveys-ghost.blogspot.com/2006/02/afrocentricity-and-islam.html
Linked article deconsructed.
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