In her memoir internationally renowned author Ayaan Hirsi Ali tells her astonishing life story, from her traditional Muslim childhood in Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Kenya, to her intellectual awakening and activism in the Netherlands , and her current life under armed guard in the West.
Aayan Hirsi Ali's story tells how a bright little girl evolved out of dutiful obedience to become an outspoken, pioneering freedom fighter
.After reading this book do we feel that ultimately this is a story of celebration and triumph over adversity?
Hirsi Ali has made several bold statements challenging the Muslim world, were these declarations worth the risk?
Lastly, has this book changed the way we view Islam? According to Hirsi Ali, is Islam compatible with Western values and culture? Do we agree with her?
I feel I have chosen us an emotional and challenging story, sorry Ladies.
Hello ladies,
ReplyDeleteHow are you both doing? How are the hubbys? Sue, are the renovations finally over? Nancy, are the kids still home? Or have they returned to school? It is beginning to feel like fall over here. Benjamin is getting so big, so fast. Franklin and I are loving every minute of his growth and development.
I have to say, Nancy, I devoured this book. I finished it in only a few days. I was completely enthralled by Ayaan’s experiences and the different cultures included in her childhood. I think it is indeed a story of triumph over adversity. Ayaan succeeded in evolving as an individual in ways that women like her mother and grandmother never will. Her desire to help others in her same situation is admirable. Her willingness to speak against injustice is truly inspiring. Seeing through her eyes the horrors of governments being torn apart by civil unrest and violence was gripping. (I sound like a magazine review haha) Were either of you as caught up in this tale as I?
Ayaan’s statements against Islam were monumental in opening the eyes and minds of the Western world. Most people are ignorant to the horrors described by Ayaan; female circumcision chief among them. I think that any action or word spoken in the defense of children is worth any risk. Maybe with Ayaan’s help, the Dutch government can spare dozens of little girls from the barbaric practice of female circumcision still being performed on kitchen tables by refugees.
This book did not change my views of Islam. I have always been weary of Islam; although I confess to never previously trying to learn about it. I found it difficult to understand a religion that makes its women hide themselves. I will never tell anyone what religion they can or cannot follow, but I would never choose Islam for myself. I still believe it is a religion that hates women and is unable to evolve.
Ayaan believes Islam is not compatible with Western values and cultures. In this regard, I agree. From Ayaan’s descriptions, Islam is a stagnant religion. It is unable and unwilling to grow. The Western world is all about evolution and advancement. With these two cultures being on opposite sides of the spectrum, they certainly cannot be compatible. For Western society to be compatible with Islam, it would have to regress; which certainly would not happen.
Cannot wait to hear your opinions! Much love to you both.
-Katie
Hello Ladies
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear how well Benjamin is doing. This time must be wonderful for you and Franklin. Hope all is well with you and your family, Nancy. I am writing this in the new dining room. We are short of a few chairs and soft furnishings, which was unfortunate given we have just had Jay's aunt and cousin to stay. But the room is in use, which is terrific.
I begin with a confession - I haven't finished the book, but we leave tomorrow to visit a number of friends and I know I won't finish it on our travels. And I regret to say that I'm not sorry. I couldn't warm to the author. There was something about the tone of the book I found difficult to like. And the amount of detail was hard to deal with. A reference list of characters would have been helpful.
Here in the U.K. (and probably much of Europe) we've had lots on circumcision as the move to outlaw it in the U.K. was discussed. (I skipped the part where the sisters were circumcised.) And we are in the middle of yet another surge of anti-Islamic feeling here. A few months ago, an off-duty soldier was killed in broad daylight going about his civilian business for no other reason than that, as a soldier, he'd probably killed Muslims. I can see why so many Muslims living here hate us, but it's not a comfortable situation.
When Theo van Gogh was killed there was enormous coverage here. The tabloid press feeds on the implied threat to us all. Clearly, Ms Ali thinks our way of life is threatened, too. (I skipped to the end.) The recent events in Kenya, and, of course the World Trade Centre which she discusses, would seem to justify this view.
(Sorry, ladies, the system wouldn't let me send the whole text.)
ReplyDeleteBut I can't see how this book moves the discussion forward. It serves only to increase dislike of Islam. Surely, we need to move beyond that?
I've lived nine years of my life in Muslim countries, plus seventeen in Singapore where there is a large Muslim population and a very great awareness of being surrounded and threatened by Islamic countries. So, I've spent a long time being horrified at what has happened to ladies I am teaching, feeling my way carefully around prejudice and occasionally wearing the appropriate clothing. (Head scarf, not face covering.)
But, I've encountered such generosity, seen such help given to strangers . . . you couldn't have asked for a kinder, more thoughtful landlord than ours in Brunei.
It's not the religions which are incompatible - after all Islam, and Judaism, accept much of the old Testament. It's the economic and political situations, Islamic countries perceived lack of power, which seem to me to be the root of the problem. Most Islamic countries are horribly under-developed. It will take generations before their resentment against the West's perceived exploitation and prejudice is overcome. Western companies' treatment of garment workers in Bangladesh, for example, will never be forgiven. I know how I'd react if a family member had been killed because Primark couldn't be bothered to investigate the conditions in which its goods were being produced. (Primark is a big, cheap clothing company here.)
There is an international view that much of the West's advancement, certainly materially, is based on oppression of others. Nationally, we've just started investigations into modern slavery after immigrants and mentally disabled native Brits were found locked up and abused by their British employers. And in other respects, advancement is slow. The Church of England has recently refused to ordain women as bishops. We've only just allowed the first born instead of the first son to be first in line to the throne. Catholics are still barred from accession - though there has been lots of discussion that it's wrong - and there's the vexed question of contraception, to say nothing of child abuse.
It does seem to me that advancement is patchy. And the half of Ms Ali's book I read does not seem to contribute to that advancement.
You will probably tell me, ladies, that having read only half a book I have no right to get on my soap box, and you would be correct.
I look forward to reading your objections to my very ill-informed review.
And thank you, Nancy, for choosing this and making me think. It's a very relevant book at this time.
Love to you both
Sue
Hello Ladies,
ReplyDeleteSo good to hear all is well with you both. My little family is great and life is good.
It has taken me some time to finish this book as I found it extraordinary and was truly interested in Ayaan Hirsi Ali's viewpoint.
Both of your comments while different are so eloquent and informed I find myself a little out of my depth to respond.
I agree with you Sue, it is the economics and political climate in Islamic countries that appears to be the problem and not just Islamic countries either, as example the treatment of women in India which is a largely Hindu nation is abhorrent.
The second part of Ayaan's story {the bit you missed Sue !!! haha] focuses on her time as a refugee and the subsequent freedoms she discovered in the West. This did give me a renewed appreciation of all the little things I take for granted, in fact I felt like this throughout the entire story, so it was good for me to read it.
Katie, I also feel it was a story of triumph over adversity, she is an amazingly strong and admirable person. However, as to whether her declarations against Islam were worth the risk, I don't think so. For me, Theo's brutal murder and the subsequent violence that ensured, with the burning of the Mosques, the violent protests and the the lives of those protecting her put in danger makes me doubt the value and worth of such statements. Did the statements themselves help an already volatile situation? I don't think so, although her work to help other Muslim women escape oppression definitely needs applauding and is very brave and courageous.
I know it was me who asked the question of compatibility, although now I question whether it is compatibility we need. Yes, obviously we all need to co-exist but do we need to be the same?
On the issue of female genital mutilation this seems more a cultural practice and not necessarily a Muslim one. In part of her story, Ayaan remarks that this doesn't happen to Saudi women, who are in the birthplace of Islam.
The early life of Ayaan Hirsi Ali is certainly harrowing reading and it makes it easy to understand how her views have been shaped by this. I am glad I have read this account of this amazing woman's life.
love Nancy.