Meaningful Discourse
Two weeks ago Pope Benedict XVI made remarks that many Muslims found offensive. Since then much of the world has been busily shouting him down. Last week two jackasses made speeches at the United Nations that I found offensive, then were widely entertained by enthusiastic American audiences of their fellow jackasses. Also last week the US State Department denied a visa, again, to another voice I think should be heard. Tariq Ramadan is a scholar, a philosopher, and a thoughtful observer of the most important issues facing modern Islam. Whether we agree or not, and we can find much to disagree about, anyone wishing to understand the Muslim view of the world should hear what he has to say.
Ramadan’s visa was revoked two years ago, forcing him to resign a teaching position at Notre Dame. A number of prominent American universities would like to invite him back. The State Department doesn’t really say why they won’t allow him to lecture here, only that they consider him a threat to homeland security. It’s easy to see why they might. His maternal grandfather founded the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, he is rumored to have contributed to anti-Israeli Palestinian charities, and he is certainly no fan of American foreign policy. But that is beside the point. Ramadan is an unapologetic Muslim who analyses critically why his co-religionists think the way they do and puts it all in the context of life in the twenty first century. There is precious little of that going around. If we can justify Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaking here on diplomatic grounds why on earth can’t we allow this man to speak on intellectual grounds? Do we just like being in the dark about what our fight with Muslims is all about?
Not that we are Ramadan’s intended audience, he refers to us as the Other. He speaks primarily to his fellow Muslims, especially those living in the West. His principle message is that they need to take a fresh look at themselves in light of the new millennium and of where they have chosen to live. He rejects the notion that a devout Muslim can reside in the West but remain apart from the West. He points out that a lot of Muslims are trying to just that and are being overwhelmed. They are attempting to maintain a culture from another place and frozen in time. It is not only an exercise in futility it leaves them with a stale sense of the religion they are trying so hard to protect. That’s why many of them are so angry, if it really is anger. Frustration may be a better word. They have the feeling the world around them is robbing them of their faith.
In Ramadan’s view these Muslims have confused faith with culture. In this age of globalization change is being forced on everybody’s culture. Western Muslims are doubly challenged, but it needn’t affect their faith. On the contrary, Ramadan argues that there is plenty of room to read authoritative Islamic texts in ways that are consistent with life and legal codes in modern America and Europe, and without compromising religion. By not doing so Muslims rob themselves and their children of the opportunity to participate fully in societies that have become their own. Worse, they deprive their neighbors of their own testimony as responsible citizens firmly in communion with God.
I don’t like everything Ramadan says or does. I certainly don’t like being called the Other, but I want to hear him out. I want American Muslims to hear him too.
Ramadan’s visa was revoked two years ago, forcing him to resign a teaching position at Notre Dame. A number of prominent American universities would like to invite him back. The State Department doesn’t really say why they won’t allow him to lecture here, only that they consider him a threat to homeland security. It’s easy to see why they might. His maternal grandfather founded the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, he is rumored to have contributed to anti-Israeli Palestinian charities, and he is certainly no fan of American foreign policy. But that is beside the point. Ramadan is an unapologetic Muslim who analyses critically why his co-religionists think the way they do and puts it all in the context of life in the twenty first century. There is precious little of that going around. If we can justify Hugo Chavez and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaking here on diplomatic grounds why on earth can’t we allow this man to speak on intellectual grounds? Do we just like being in the dark about what our fight with Muslims is all about?
Not that we are Ramadan’s intended audience, he refers to us as the Other. He speaks primarily to his fellow Muslims, especially those living in the West. His principle message is that they need to take a fresh look at themselves in light of the new millennium and of where they have chosen to live. He rejects the notion that a devout Muslim can reside in the West but remain apart from the West. He points out that a lot of Muslims are trying to just that and are being overwhelmed. They are attempting to maintain a culture from another place and frozen in time. It is not only an exercise in futility it leaves them with a stale sense of the religion they are trying so hard to protect. That’s why many of them are so angry, if it really is anger. Frustration may be a better word. They have the feeling the world around them is robbing them of their faith.
In Ramadan’s view these Muslims have confused faith with culture. In this age of globalization change is being forced on everybody’s culture. Western Muslims are doubly challenged, but it needn’t affect their faith. On the contrary, Ramadan argues that there is plenty of room to read authoritative Islamic texts in ways that are consistent with life and legal codes in modern America and Europe, and without compromising religion. By not doing so Muslims rob themselves and their children of the opportunity to participate fully in societies that have become their own. Worse, they deprive their neighbors of their own testimony as responsible citizens firmly in communion with God.
I don’t like everything Ramadan says or does. I certainly don’t like being called the Other, but I want to hear him out. I want American Muslims to hear him too.
posted by Onfoot at 2:43 PM
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