irshaddering thoughts

A cuppa moral courage in the morning

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts on Oct 02, 2009

This week, I appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to discuss moral courage, Iran, and leadership in our increasingly divided political culture. Among the highlights? My handshake with Pat Buchanan.

(I’ll never wash my right paw again. Ever. Unless the swine flu cops are around, in which case I’m all about sanitizing. But not sanitizing the truth. Gotta draw my boundaries.)

And the truth is, I don’t think I’ve had a better interview about the Moral Courage Project. That this could happen on morning TV — in the land of cable — testifies to why we can still hope for meaning in our media. Here’s some of the feedback you sent after watching:

“I probably would not agree with you on many issues, but you are one of the few people with whom I think I could disagree without being disagreeable. Please take Keith Olbermann’s time slot. He’s most disagreeable.” - David

Irshad replies: To mimic His Holiness, The Very Reverend Keith Olbermann, “How dare you, sir. How. Daaaare. Yoooooo.”

“I was so pleased to hear your message. I was taught all this ethics stuff when I was in army officer basic. That was the last time any ethics were demonstrated in my workplace, much less my actual life. I’m 50 now.

To answer a question you ask on moralcourage.com: If I say what I think, the best that can happen is… mental health. Freedom from the bad self-esteem that cowardice brings. Confidence. Self-respect. The release of constant stress and dissatisfaction. Occasionally, one also wins a battle. That’s a bonus. I hope your project takes over the world!” - Robin

“This Moral Courage concept can make democracies better — especially the so-called young and sometimes laughable democracies in my own part of the world, Africa. I’m from Cameroon and have been living in China. Through your site, therefore, I will be learning more about moral and immoral courage, if there is a distinction.” - Henry (fellow professor)

Irshad replies: Oh, there’s a distinction alright. Read this.

“I am glad to have met you and your contribution to society through MSNBC and now on your moral courage site. I disagree with my own community about viewing life as a simple linear explanation, LEFT/RIGHT, LIBERAL/CONSERVATIVE, SELF/MASSES. The world is much more complex; it is spherical and infinite.

I also disagree with the assumption that society as a whole should solve all problems with MASS support. The great teachers — Christ, Buddha, Krishna, Muhammad, Moses, Gandhi — taught that each person must find his truth. They only guided his first steps…

But I think it was also Siddhartha who, after years of searching for righteousness, discovered there was nowhere to go but to accept what he already was: himself. Right action was giving JOY to those one met along the way.” - Bill

To experience some of that joy, come to moralcourage.com and interact with a growing community of individuals who speak truth to power, who fight intellectual conformity, who challenge the herd in order to BE HEARD.

Get involved in the discussions, debates and ideas for action. You have nothing to lose but fear. Give ‘em a reason to declare, “How daaaare yoooo…”

An underground railroad out of Iran

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts, Announcements on Sep 27, 2009

 Arsham Parsi, champion of moral courage

With Iran back in the news, this is the perfect time to tell you about a compelling post that’s featured on the Moral Courage Project’s website — a post bound to inspire hope, thanks to an unlikely hero.

Entitled “Moral courage champion fights for gay Iranians,” this blog entry profiles a young Iranian-Canadian named Arsham Parsi.  He’s risking his neck to run an underground railroad of sorts, helping other gay and lesbian Iranians flee their country’s oppressive regime. Consider it a 21st-century version of the underground railroad set up for American slaves so they could escape to freedom.

By the way, the blog is one of many features on the newly designed site of the Moral Courage Project. You’ll discover oodles of video — including moments from my own class, with one student complaining that he develops a headache after each moral dilemma posed.  (”No Tylenol allowed!” I warn him. Yep, you don’t want me as your prof.)

You’ll also find the curriculum of my course, Public Leadership and Moral Courage, so you can read the assigned texts on your own.

Above all, you’ll have opportunities to engage in meaningful conversation with me and many other advocates of moral courage.

Here’s just a sample of the discussion already generated:

“I was quite moved when reading about Mr. Parsi’s plight… Gay or not, I think every person can learn not only from his courage, but also from his perseverance… What I’m curious about is whether Mr. Parsi has expanded his underground railroad for aiding non-gays as well. I mention this because Iran is in dire condition. It’s difficult, especially for men, to seek refuge. As a first generation Iranian-American, I know this from the men in my family who still live in Iran.” — Shahrin

“Hi Shahrin – Irshad Manji here. In suggesting that Arsham Parsi could be helping heterosexual Iranians too, you raise a question for me: What do you say to those who argue that ‘Western’ Iranians like Arsham and you have no business aiding ‘authentic’ Iranians?”

“When a regime threatens basic human rights, it is a threat to the entire global community, regardless of nationality, religion, etc. Therefore, it is not my business to ally with indifference, ignorance, or denial. As Elie Wiesel once stated, ‘Indifference, to me, is the epitome of evil.’” – Shahrin

“There is a temptation to ask why strong people like Arsham don’t do more. However, the point of these posts is to demonstrate the power that we each have to make a difference. My hope is that this blog will encourage readers to see how they, themselves, can do the things we look to others for; how we can live moral courage.” — Janice (campaign manager for the Moral Courage Project)

“Re: being ‘authentic’ versus ‘Western.’  It doesn’t matter what kind of person you identify as. We are all interlinked.  When a gay man suffers, the ability to love freely suffers. When an Iranian is told he is not authentic, the freedom to determine one’s sense of self suffers. Women’s rights affect men’s rights affect disabled rights affect LGBT rights affect immigrant rights…

I was shocked to hear someone connect disability with environmental affairs, but 50% of children suffering malnutrition go blind! The more we learn how interlinked everything is, how we are not just labels given to us, but individuals with desires and needs, then may we find an end to prejudice.” – Tom

“I want to comment on Shahrin’s point about the need for humanitarian intervention overseas. This afternoon, as part of researching my next book, I’ve been reading Defying Hitler: A Memoir, written by Sebastian Haffner and published in 1933. Let me share a relevant excerpt from the introduction:

This is the story of a duel. It is a duel between two very unequal adversaries: an exceedingly powerful, formidable, and ruthless state and an insignificant, unknown private individual…

Throughout, the individual finds himself very much on the defensive.  He only wishes to preserve what he consider his integrity, his private life, and his personal honor. These are under constant attack by the government of the country he lives in, and by the most brutal, but also often clumsy, means…

The state is the German Reich and I am the individual…

One might well consider my case as typical. From  it, you can easily judge the chances for mankind in Germany today. You will see that they are pretty slim. They need not have been quite so hopeless if the outside world had intervened.

It is still in the world’s interest, I believe, for these chances to be improved. It is too late to avoid a war, but it might shorten the war by a year or two. Those Germans of goodwill who are fighting to defend their private peace and their private liberty are fighting, without knowing it, for the peace and liberty of the whole world.

Haffner’s words give me goosebumps, frankly. And they heartily attest to Shahrin’s point. Problem is, these days humanitarian intervention immediately invites accusations like, “you’re a neo-con.”

I couldn’t care less about the smears thrown at me — being used it by now — but I know that the fear of being tarred this way prevents plenty of good-hearted, open-minded people from expressing themselves. Anybody have ideas for how to combat that fear? This is the essence of moral courage…” – Irshad

“I think the fear can be combated by understanding the purpose of that type of rhetoric.  It is not innocent language but actually part of a discourse intended to keep people from engaging. It loses some of its power when recognized as such. At core, find what is worth the risk to you and make your acts of moral courage to be conscious choices that you willingly accept the fallout from — with ‘informed consent.’ I don’t think the fear ever fully goes away, but you can find causes that are more compelling than fear, and that is empowering.” – Amanda

“Fearing backlash or consequences from offending people does indeed appear ‘innocent,’ when really, it is a comfortable and convenient state for people to be in. Fear separates us from humanity…” – Karys

“Amanda, your answer to my question almost perfectly echoes the statement that graces the top of my personal website: ‘Courage is not the absence of fear; courage is the recognition that some things are more important than fear.’” – Irshad

Get the picture, folks?

But it’s not all warm and fuzzy. In fact, right now, a vocal debate is percolating about the hijab: Can wearing it really be an act of free will?  Boy, oh, boy. Oy, oh, oy.

I invite you to join our conversations on moralcourage.com. And if you’re motivated to become a regular blogger for the new site, let me know.  It’s a great way to develop your own platform without having to maintain a full blog. You also get to be part of a focused and passionate community.

Eager to see your comments posted on the new site. Meanwhile, follow us on Twitter.

“The paramount moral challenge”

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts on Sep 20, 2009

Greetings all! The summer’s over and I’m back — sort of. My head continues to be buried in book-writing deadlines, and will be for a while yet. But I’ve surfaced just long enough to review a new and important book for The New York Times.

Written by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn — who happen to be married — it’s called Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. Here’s a sneak peak at my take:

“In the opening pages of this gripping call to conscience, the husband-and-wife team come out swinging: ‘Gendercide,’ the daily slaughter of girls in the developing world, steals more lives in any given decade ‘than all the genocides of the 20th century.’ No wonder Kristof and WuDunn… declare the global struggle for women’s equality ‘the paramount moral challenge’ of our era.”

In my review, I also issue a challenge to the authors. I hope they receive it with an open heart.

Read the full review here.

Where you can find me this summer

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts, Announcements on Jul 13, 2009

Ah, the joys of writing! (Photos: Terkel Borg)

Dear all: This summer I’m taking a break from my blog to begin writing my next book. You can still engage with me on my Facebook fan page and Twitter feed, where I’ll be discussing my ideas for the book even as I write it.

Engaging students at New York University

I’ll also be responding to posts on moralcourage.com, where my New York University students and I are conducting a summer-long human rights campaign revolving around a brilliant film.  It’s called The Stoning of Soraya M.  The movie is now playing at these US theaters.

In Canada, the film opens on July 17 at these theaters.

If you’re overseas, or you can’t get to a theater to watch The Stoning of Soraya M., then here’s the official trailer as well as extra clips that you can view for free.

Please join our discussion on moralcourage.com. Guest bloggers are updating content all the time. Your replies to the posts will help me clarify ideas that I’ll be writing about in my next book.

So, you have three ways to stay in touch: Facebook, Twitter, and moralcourage.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Happy summer and wish me luck in meeting my deadlines for the first few chapters!

Yours,

See the movie, spread the movement

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts, Announcements on Jul 08, 2009

(Courtesy: Mpower Pictures)

My latest newsletter focuses on a compelling new film called “The Stoning of Soraya M.” It recently opened in select theaters throughout the United States and will come to Canada on July 17. Distribution to the Middle East is also planned.

You can read more details about the movie — and the movement — in my newsletter.

Please spread the word about Soraya. Simply email your friends this link: http://www.irshadmanji.com/newsletter

Thanks for your support. It means the world. Because at the end of the day, it’s about the world.

Freedom for Abe is freedom for Ali

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts, Q & A on Jul 03, 2009

Every Fourth of July, I receive a greeting card from friends who keep alive the memory of the anti-slavery movement in America. This year, Abraham Lincoln graced the front of their card. Inside, the Lincoln quote reads:

I have often inquired of myself, what great principle or idea it was that kept this confederacy so long together. It was not the mere matter of the separation of the colonies from the motherland, but that sentiment in the Declaration of Independence which gave liberty, not alone to the people of this country, but, I hope, to the world, for all future time. It was that which gave promise that in due time the weight would be lifted from the shoulders of all men.

In due time… Not alone to the people of this country, but, I hope, to the world… With those stirring words, Abe has something profound in common with Ali.

My most dedicated Tehran informant, Ali, recently inspired a message that I sent to my Facebook page:

“More injured are coming to hospital. After seeing so much fresh blood, those who’ve been bed-ridden and out of action for a few days need their morale boosted. So Ali is asking all of us: What do you love about your freedom? I’ll convey your replies to his sis; he’ll share with other patients via code of communication developing among the wounded.”

Facebookers replied with a cascade of reflections. Some highlights:

* “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give to our children. One is roots; the other, wings. I awake each day knowing this is possible, with sunlight, peace, and dreams of tomorrow. I do not fear my neighbors, my homeland, or my community, but cry for those who do. For one is never truly free if the only certainty is fear. And the fact that I can write this makes me the freest of all. For what is life if it can’t be expressed and felt? May all your voices be heard.”

* “When you are free, you can tell the bastards to get lost. You can walk away and they can’t stop you. You can ignore the MFers.”

* “A freedom without limits is no freedom at all.”

* “I love walking down the street and knowing that even if someone I encounter has different beliefs than me, or even if they dislike me after having learned my beliefs, I still have the right to believe, and my country will protect that right.”

* “Freedom means defending the rights of those who hate me without feeling ridiculous.”

* “I love my freedom because I treasure the uniqueness of each individual. Oppression squashes that uniqueness; freedom allows it to (although doesn’t guarantee it to) flower.”

* “Freedom is to be fully human with the absolute worth of the human person. This is lacking both in secular materialistic cultures and in totalitarian ideologies that blot out humans as individuals.”

Spurred on by the wisdom of Facebookers, my Twitter followers weighed in with their own answers for Ali. A sample:

* “why do I love my freedom? kinda nice to get up in the morning and not have to worry about being shot for my tweets.”

* “I’ve just spent the day with my 7 week old son. Freedom means I know his future will be HIS choices and desires.”

* “I luv freedom because having breakfast at 3 am while discussing politics should be the right of every human being.”

* “Freedom is crucial to happiness. It’s as simple as that.”

I can report that these responses made Ali happy. Which, in turn, would have made Abe happy. To abolitionists everywhere, thank you for your struggle on behalf of human dignity.

And to Americans: This Independence Day weekend, if you watch one film worthy of Abe’s message, make it “The Stoning of Soraya M.” Details of the movie — and where it’s playing — are here.

Why Iran’s protests are dying (for now)

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts on Jun 28, 2009

Courtesy: WikiMedia Commons 

The other day, I wrote about Ali, one of my informants in Tehran. Years ago, this young Iranian introduced me to Martin Luther King Jr’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”

Ali has spent the past two weeks in hospital, after taking blows to the head from Basij paramilitaries. If there’s a consolation in any of this, it may be that a hospital bed sucks less than a prison cell.

Still, Ali is becoming despondent. Iran’s demonstrations are dying. And so, it seems, is his soul. Here’s what I just reported to my Facebook constituency: “He’s out of hospital now but quite demoralized over 1) gov’t crackdown; 2) lack of opposition leader (where’s Mousavi gone to??); 3) no new strategies (see “lack of leader”); 4) deep division among Iranians about whether protests are valuable. (Some Tehran bizpeople are angry that sales are down bigtime due to public’s fear of being in streets.)”

But there’s something more about why the protests are abating: Young Iranians have taken inspiration from the central narrative of Shia Islam. That narrative challenges dictatorship. So far, so good. Problem is, the same narrative celebrates martyrdom as the means to achieve only a moral victory, not a political one.

In effect, Shia tradition romanticizes suffering. And anything that turns oppression into a fetish won’t end oppression. The question thus becomes: Can young Iranians use Shia tradition to replace, once and for all, martyrdom with freedom?

Read my full analysis in the Toronto Globe and Mail.

Free Faris!

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts, Q & A on Jun 20, 2009

Even before the Iranian uprisings, I’ve noticed more emails from young Muslims who are leaping out of the closet as free-thinkers.

But some are still limping out, and they need our best efforts to hold them up. Consider the case Faris, a teenage boy from Libya.

As if to surround him with guardian angels, I’m peppering this post with photos of my recent visit to the Young Women’s Leadership Academy in East Harlem. The strength of these girls could serve as a life-line for this boy.

Introducing Faris:

“I’m 14 years old. I’m half Irish and half Arab. I live in Libya, and I’m currently having serious issues with my faith. The amount of hate this country inflicts against Jews and Europeans is unbelievable. In our history books, it never refers to Jews without the word ‘racist’ beforehand, never refers to Europeans without the word ‘terrorist’ beforehand. They teach us at one point that this is the religion of peace, and then flip to bashing various groups, including gays (which I recently discovered I am).

I thank God for giving me a mother who helps me understand that love is better than religion, but my dad is blaming my access to the outside world and is trying to take away my laptop, my Internet connection, my mobile phone.

Shutting myself up, like I tended to do before, just won’t work anymore. I know you’re very busy, but I would appreciate it so much if you could give me a little support.” - Faris

Irshad replies to Faris: A little support? Hell, no, bro! I’m giving you actual allies. Listen to another young Muslim whose email I received immediately after yours:

“I live and work in Abu Dhabi. I belong to my thoughts and conscience more than my citizenship, which is Emirati. I am writing to you because I speak the same language as yours, defending our faith with the same enthusiasm and surrounded by those who would call us koffar…

I appreciate that you give it up to GOD, that He is the only one who knows the Truth and that we are only seekers. I always try to put this into words! As a matter of fact, I always say that I might be wrong in what I am doing or convinced with, but with the brain, knowledge, experience, etc., I have come up with conclusions that I cannot lie about.

I will live my life with honesty and integrity no matter what. GOD knows me better than anyone, knows how I struggle to minimize the gap between what I think, say and do! That is what makes me ready for the day of judgment!

Congratulations for what you have achieved so far in your honest way toward TRUTH. :)” - Fatema

Irshad returns to Faris: So, Faris, what have we learned from Fatema? We’ve learned that her identity as an Arab or Muslim takes a backseat to her integrity as an individual - a complex, sinuous creature that no majestic Deity could possibly reject, since any God worthy of worship is more than a manufacturer of widgets and automatons.

We’ve also learned that by putting the transcendent God at the center of her faith, she tunes out the negative noise that human beings hurl in the name of a petty god.

In short, Faris, if your faith is hostage to the approval of others, lose it. Because it’s not faith at all. It’s cultural commotion and religious rust. Take strength from Fatema, who’s found her conscience and her Creator under the hardened slag of theology.

Another young Muslim has dug past the thick coating of oxidized, organized Islam — and arrived at her integrity:

“I’m so happy that someone finally has the guts to stand up to the so-called scholars and imams of today. I was at a point when I was really feeling lost, but after reading your book, I’ve gained love and faith for Islam again.

I’ve never been able to understand organized religion. It’s been hammered into my head since childhood that being a good person isn’t enough. You will still go to hell if you don’t do all the other cultural stuff.

What also disturbed me about the religion are some of the so-called hadiths [reported sayings of the Prophet Muhammad]. For example, that hell has women than men in it. As if we don’t suffer enough on earth — let a man give birth just once! Or that you will go to hell if you disobey your husband. Puh-leeze!! 

Being an independent Muslim woman of the 21st century, I always felt suffocated by the rules and regulations of institutional Islam. I’m now in the process of weeding out the culture. I no longer feel suffocated. If anything, I feel free, and this is the Islam that I will pass on to my children. I’m also having a huge effect on the way my husband sees Islam.” - ReyanaIrshad turns to Faris: See? It’s not only possible to ditch other people’s dogma, but you can liberate the mind of your own husband — something you’ll have a better chance of achieving than I ever will.

And, Faris, in case you’re still worried that your father will pull the plug on your tech toys, let me end this way: A functioning mind is far more valuable than an Internet connection. This guy, emailing from the University of Peshawer, proves that you can be “connected” yet completely cut off from the gift that is God:

“well, Miss Irshad Manji, don’t have time to read ur book but the statement (trouble with Islam) is enough 2 say that ur place is nothing but HELL in the here-after. Every living creature has 2 taste death. This world is going 2 end very soon, 95 percent of the sign of doomsday have appeared. After 2013, there will be big change through out the universe. 3rd world war may break out and it will be beginning of end. Repent for wut u did before the doors are closed, by God.” - Ahmad Usman

Irshad winks at Faris and whispers: Not your type, is he? Nor mine. God truly is merciful.

May the God of mercy watch over the gutsy demonstrators of Iran.  May they know that they’re not alone in fighting for freedom of thought, conscience and expression.  May they draw solidarity from the individual acts of courage exhibited by Fatema, Reyana and Faris above. And may many more be propelled to join them.

Lessons from a young Iranian

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts on Jun 16, 2009

They have a dream (courtesy: Wikipedia)

The massive riots against election fraud in Iran reflects something I learned a few years ago, thanks to a young man from Tehran. I wrote about it in The Trouble with Islam Today:

“An astonishing proportion of Iranian youth are intellectual renegades. Far from being a sea of ‘Down with America’ messages, their banners often declare, ‘Down with Monopoly’ (by which they mean the clerical monopoly on morality.)

Young Iranians often listen to Israeli radio for balance and a high rate of Internet access makes them more wired to the outside world than other Muslims.

Also, being Shias, they don’t feel the need to legitimize the Sunni overlords of Saudi Arabia. That’s not to say Iran’s ayatollahs don’t traffic in Saudi-style terror. Many do, and Hezbollah thanks them, I’m sure. Yet they’re the ayatollahs against whom Iran’s students are mounting a mighty, and largely non-violent, rebellion.

In fact, it was a twenty-nine-year-old friend in Iran who emailed me Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail. I’d never read it before. My friend prefaced it with this sentiment:

When your broad-minded buddies in North America hesitate to expose Saudi Arabia for fear of offending Muslims, remind them of the Birmingham liberals who want King to stop fomenting ‘needless tension’ in their town.

King told them, ‘I must confess that I am not afraid of the word ‘tension.’ I have earnestly opposed violent tension but there is a type of constructive, non-violent tension which is necessary for growth. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, we must see the need for non-violent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood.’”

The young Iranian who brought me MLK’s letter might be realizing his dream at this very moment. Here’s what I tweeted yesterday: Heard from connected friend in #Tehran that many say this is beginning of end for clerics - new generation now awake. Tipping point to come.

I’ve tried to reach him again, so far without success. The regime is cracking down on social networking tactics. Will report more via Twitter. Follow me @IrshadManji.

You can also download the Persian translation of my book, free of charge.

Pssst… Please eavesdrop

Posted in Irshaddering Thoughts, Q & A on Jun 11, 2009

“As an American woman with a Jewish cultural background married to a Catholic raised man, I am most grateful for your informed views, thoughts, and ideas. It gives me hope for a world of more freedom for all. However, I am disheartened by the dearth of thoughts coming from the Western Muslim community regarding Islamic introspection. If you hear anything, please make it available to us non-Islamic folk. Is there an interfaith forum for self-reflection that we can all be privy to?” - Lorri Paulucci

In a word, “yes.” In two words, “please eavesdrop.”

Reform-minded Muslims invite you to read our message to fellow Muslims through a brand new book that challenges the complacency, passivity and denial of the so-called moderates in our faith.

Hot off the presses is Critical Thinkers for Islamic Reform, a collection of essays to which I’ve contributed and which you can buy on amazon.com. It’s the product of a recent conference naughtily named, “A Celebration of Heresy.” I blogged about it here.

Now, the conference organizers are giving you access to what was thought, expressed and debated at the heresy hoe-down. “The 30 scholars and activists who contributed to this book do not necessarily agree on every issue,” confess the editors. “However, we all agree on the imperative of a radical reformation in the Muslim world — a reform under the guidance of the Quran and with the light of reason, our Creator’s greatest gift to us…”

But wait! There’s more. We also hope you’ll tune into a TV documentary that captures the revolt of a reform-minded Muslim at a mainstream American mosque. That reformer is Asra Nomani, single mom, defiant journalist and ardent foe of segregation — a widespread practice in the Muslim sanctuaries of the United States.

Asra takes on the tribalists in her forthcoming PBS film, “The Mosque in Morgantown.” Watch the trailer, then catch the entire program on June 15 at 10 pm Eastern.

With Asra Nomani at a shared book-signing, New York 2005. (Courtesy: Aachara Kinan)

And for God’s sake, fear not the political incorrectness of peering into Muslim conversations. As Martin Luther King Jr. pleaded, “Never again can we afford to live with narrow, provincial, outside agitator idea.” In an interdependent world, there is no outsider. Like it or not, we’re in this mess together.

I, for one, am grateful that Lorri Paulucci wants more information. May she embolden other nosey non-Muslims.

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