In the Company of Women Welcome sisterscorpion, good to see you here. I too didn`t see either the apologism or the Islam-bashing in this anthology. It was interesting to be a part of this book. Do let me know (via email if you like at jsaidullah@hotmail.com) which piece was yours.

In the Company of Women Apart from the Shakespearean discussions and other stuff, it`s interesting that there are two reactions to this piece. There is the group that considers the writers (me included) Muslim apologists trying to shove Muslim womens` issues under the rug. Then, there are those who consider the book and its writers to be anti-Muslim, hell-bent on insulting Islam. I couldn`t help but notice that.

In the Company of Women #31: Ironmask, we are not living in the 1930`s any more, unfortunately. What might have been groundbreaking then is sadly regressive now.

In the Company of Women bjk #24: I have no idea who`s getting paid what and it really is not important. Plus, this book is not my novel which is coming out in a couple of months. This was an anthology published by an American publisher. Two different projects. Alas! No free copies but I am sure Amazon is offering discounts...at least free shipping.

About Identity: This is a thorny one. Like everyone else I have many disparate identities and I write at different levels and from different places. While this piece was about my own life and, was therefore, personal, I guess I did write it from the narrow Indian Muslim woman living in US persona because that is what the anthology demanded. My novel was written with no such conscious persona but I am sure it is no less informed by all my identities. As others have already said here, writing is infused with the identity (identities) of the writer. And when it is read, the reader`s identity and persona infuses his/her understanding of the content.

Dr. Sohail, as a not so religious person (ok, not at all religious) I would trade women leading prayers at Kaaba (and no I don`t see that happening any time soon) with them not being treated as chattel, getting equal rights in Muslim countries and not being killed because of misguided notions of honor. I don`t think that`s happening any time soon either.

Thanks for the good wishes everyone. I wish I had free copies to send around but I can`t :-(.

Will respond to more interacts later. Thanks for reading and thanks for (at least now) for not letting this devolve to a Pak/India bashing session.

In the Company of Women #1 Nasah: I think you are lumping all Muslim women into one monolithic whole. Like any other group there are many, many different types of women. I don`t think you will find apologists or women unaware of the realities of what it is to be Muslim...and a Muslim woman in particular, in this book. Yes, there are problems as you describe in your email. It does not mean we do not live other lives and have other realities than just being brutally oppressed. It`s like someone bringing up the salt pan workers of Gujarat every time we talk of India, Inc. Both are realities (and there are many in between), both exist.

Happy Days are Here Again Hey Shandana. We should exchange notes about the publisher. Let me know if you have any contract questions or anything. Would be glad to help. This is so cool. Drop me a line if you want at jsaidullah@hotmail.com.

Happy Days are Here Again Hey Shandana, congratulations! My book comes out around August. I wonder if we have the same publisher. This is so exciting. I can`t wait to read your book.

The Invisible Aliens Whoa...when did I say I supported illegal immigration? My only discomfort is with the reactionary, right-wing manner some people are reacting to this. This includes the nut-jobs building a fence/wall, the minutemen patrolling the border and people ready to shoot to kill illegal aliens.

Whatever else, we can agree that most (not all, of course, kaurasach) people coming over are poor, don`t think in terms of national boundaries when all they see is some rozi-roti across the border and their own government is failing them.

Illegal immigration as an issue and illegal immigrants as a people need to be dealt with humanely. Of course, some people would blame NAFTA and other trade agreements being in part, responsible for the problem.

I believe that this ongoing problem is being brought forward now to divert attention from all the other horrible, crappy things being done by the Bush White House both here and abroad. And this is an issue like gay marriage that can be used to whip people into a frenzy. People fall for it. To just look at illegal immigrants as the problem is to be blind to the US employers who lure them here, the others who turn a blind eye, those who employ them in sweatshops, etc.

Is illegal immigration a problem? Yes. But is the solution to further victimize a poor, voiceless minority? Or should there be more holistic and more humane solutions. Solutions that will keep them in their own country.

The Invisible Aliens #8 by kaurasach on May 31, 2006 8:58am PT

``Many illegal Mexicans live rather comfortable lives; driving Escalades; their kids and they milking public systems; living here as is they own the country; they are the worst racists who hate blacks, Asians, Indians, etc.``

kaurasach, I wonder how many of the estimated 11 million (how did they get the estimate, anyway?) drive Escalades, especially if they are milking the public system? I would venture to say that the vast majority of them are not. As for racism, Indians too are racist against blacks and Hispanics? To some degree we`re all racist and we can only do anything about it by acknowledging it first.

I do believe something should be done about illegal immigration but it does need to be done in a balanced, humane, non-racist, sensible way not in this knee-jerk, paranoid issue of the day kind of thing going on now.

First, Honor Thyself Saminasha, like I said, think and believe whatever you want. Have at it! Just remember not all of us can be utterly brilliant, attuned to nuances and totally committed to causes as you are.

First, Honor Thyself Saminasha, I`ve said what I wanted to say at this point in time about this issue in the article. You are free to read it however you want, come up with any conclusions, ascribe whatever motives you want. I am not getting into this game with you again.

Thanks for your thoughtful, open minded reading, Salim.

First, Honor Thyself Sorry for not interacting earlier, everyone. I`ve been dealing with a computer with a fried hard drive (extra crispy...mmm). Anyway, thanks for reading and commenting.

Delhiwala, I didn`t intend the article to attack men. What it does rail against is traditional, patriarchial systems, which, in some ways are also harmful for most men, at the cost of just a few powerful ones. And yes, some women are equally culpable in the victimization of women. This is not a men vs. women issue for me. It`s an issue for anyone with a conscience and for those who value individual freedom and don`t think a woman`s (or anyone`s for that matter) body is someone else`s property.

Saminasha #28, this discussion (ownership of women`s bodies, virginity, women as chattel, etc.) is nothing new. It`s nothing I`ve invented though I`ve written about it even when I was in grad school and in other smaller articles earlier, in different ways. There are reams of material on it. This article was just my perspective on it as I am sure your interact responses were yours.

Why Aren’t Muslim Women Converting to Christianity? Apart from the other reasons, perhaps they aren`t converting because they don`t want to trade one patriarchial religion for another. Jeeze! You`re asking this question around the time when someone was condemned to die for converting to Christianity. The price of apostasy is death. Which Muslim woman unless she lives in a vacuum (with no over-zealous parents and brothers and other community members) is going to convert?

I am no fan of Christianity or any religion for that matter but few other religions say someone should die (or if they convert they must be insane) for making this basic choice. Let`s get real.

A Thousand Cuts Now on to the Islam/hadith issue. Whether or not we agree that FGM is encouraged by Islam, the fact remains that the people doing it *do* equate it with Islam and they perpetuate it as a religious (and cultural) observance.

So, the only way to actually stop FGM is for religious figures to get involved. It doesn`t matter if ten of us sit here and frantically try to prove that it is or is not Islamic. Which is why I said ``hadith or no hadith,`` FGM has to stop. But since it is carried out by people who try to live by their religion and are religious, religious leaders are the only people they might consider credible. No western-style feminist or concerned organization can do anything. But religious leaders in these communities can and should make a difference. Obviously till now, religous leaders have either abetted or at least ignored FGM which is why it has survived through the centuries.

A Thousand Cuts Saminasha, I really shouldn`t have to give punctuation and bibliographic reference lessons to a grown person but here goes. *sighs* Quotation marks are *only* use when you are directly quoting someone. So, the inaccurate, out-of-context and over-simplified statement you put in double quotes was wrong. You paraphrased me...and that too badly. Ok, that`s over.

Since you did quote in correctly in your last posting...I do stand by those statements which are actually mine.

Yes, it`s very tempting and very satisfying to make men the enemy. God knows I did that in my 20`s and it felt great. But as a feminist and a humanist I know that systems (patriarchial ones, in particular) are the enemy and not men. That, to me, is too simplistic and too knee-jerk a reaction for complex issues. That would be like saying that FGM should be blamed on women because they are the ones who plan, abet and perpetrate this heinous act. Men have no place in it and are shut out of the process, in fact, in some instances, the father is told to butt out. What is the problem is a system, with the complicity of men and women who allow this to happen, who encourage it to happen. Another example of this are dowry deaths in India, where the most awful atrocities (including burning the bride alive) are most often perpetrated by the women of the house, mostly the mother-in-law.

Women are not always victims. We are multi-dimensional people like men, and like men we too are part of the systems of violence and evil. I, for one, don`t want to take the easy way out, place the blame somewhere and move on. Ultimately, this is not for playing the blame game but to actually do something.

For actual change to occur, men and women need to work together. Making men the enemy loses us valuable and powerful (yes, they do have more power in most cases) allies.

As always, this is my personal opinion, borne out of my own observations and experiences. Others may feel and act differently....and of course, disagree.

A Thousand Cuts Saminasha, if you`re going to quote me (with quotation marks and all), at least, follow the first rule of references, and make it an accurate quote. I have no problem standing behind what I say but not behind what others (inaccurately) say that I wrote. Please point me towards this supposed *claim* of mine: ``men arent responsible for fgm at all`` (Jawahara Saidullah)