With the most recent episode of Palestinians1 being well, Palestinians2, we see the Usual Useful University Idiots playing their usual silly buggers.
One of the revolving kabuki performances they drag out of their (quite honestly rather ratty) playbook is earnest young coeds3 wearing that keffiyeh giving impassioned sound bites regarding the benefits of Islam for the distaff side of the species.
Huh.
I have to admit that they do have a point. If you are a woman in an excessively tribal part of the world4 — and assuming that Christianity isn’t on the table — Islam is probably going to be a better deal for your side of the species than the indigenous social frame-work.
That, however, is a pretty sodding low bar. Seriously.
The United States isn’t Africa. Neither is Europe5, nor Australia. If you’re honestly waving a Palestinian flag and articulating that your lot in life would be better under the Palestinian version of Islam …
… That’s pretty much probable cause to believe that you should have an actual adult to make important decisions for you.
Oh, was that misogynistic? Are your lavender-scented fee-fees all up in a lather over my patriarchal attitude? You cueing up a spittle-flecked rager regarding my sexist existence?
Cupcake, that is literally a core tenet of Islam. You know, the religion of the bugsnipes you’re trying to tell us are so much better for your side of the species than Western civilization? It is literally written into their holy book, and their laws.
Don’t get me wrong — if you want to be some dude’s property I’m not judging6, but do try to be at least a little bit honest about your motivations7.
What’s that you say? It’s only patriarchy when it’s highlighted by a White, Anglo-Saxon, Heathen male? It’s not patriarchy/ sexist/ misogynistic when enforced by a Palestinian male?
Oh, well then. Do carry on8.
Setting the sarcasm aside for a moment, I’m sure you’re very fervent about this, but listen to someone who has actually lived in those countries; someone who watched the Palestinians almost succeed in destroying Jordan, before successfully turning Beirut from a prosperous, peaceful, glamorous, vibrant jewel of a city into the war-torn cess-pit it is now:
You are also a vibrant jewel — choose wisely.
You really might want to sit this one out, college girls9.
Ian
The living embodiment of the Tao of Raylan.
Are there any other kind?
coughcough*Africa*coughcough.
Yet. Ask me again in ten years.
No, actually there will be judging, you kinky thing you.
Fly that kink flag proudly!
That’s a Latin phrase that means, “Work on your critical thinking skills.”
Don’t get me wrong — I spent a large part of my youth in the Middle East, and I have fond memories of what used to be. I also have memories of what is was like for my mother, my sister, and other European women under Islam — even in the slightly-more-enlightened 1960s and 1970s — to say nothing of the local women.
I'm of the opinion that they should be offered free one-way tickets to Palestine if they honestly believe that they would be better off under Palestinian rule and culture.
What's messed up is that women had a much better lot in those Middle Eastern countries run by iron-fisted secular dictatorships. You may have a massive secret police apparatus running things, but no one's going to stone you to death for wearing a business suit.