Re: prying open the "Rogue Males" article

From: CurtAdams@aol.com
Date: Thu Nov 08 2001 - 11:43:29 MST


In a message dated 11/8/01 1:30:28 AM, amara@amara.com writes:

>>One of the most difficult tasks for any social system is
>>figuring out what to do with its young males. These are
>>invariably the most impressionable, energetic, socially
>>exigent, and politically inept members of any group. They
>>cause trouble for their elders and ruthlessly hassle each
>>other. They pose chronic danger to public order when they
>>drive, drink and take drugs.
>
>The author makes a HUGE assumption that Muslim teenagers are
>different from teenagers all over the world, and the author
>continues to place links before the reader that
>Muslims == terrorists.

Read the text. The author is pointing out the teenagers are
the *same* everywhere, viz, problematic.

>Almost all of the Muslims strongly dislike the activities of the

>terrorists, including bin Laden.

That's a claim, and needs to be backed up. Certainly enough
approve to make "Osama/Usama" become a far more common
name than it used to be. Enough to mangage substantial
demonstrations in favor of the event. And enough that the
one Muslim guy at the Halloween party I went to thought it
was required and justified. (!)

If a lot of Muslim support such activities we have a big problem
even if the majority don't

>"high sex segregation" ? "tightly restricted" ?

In Saudi Arabia, if a woman goes to a supermarket all men must
leave it first. They can't drive, either. I'll go for "high sex
segregation."

>Wrong. In Egypt young people, men and women, are mixed in their

>interactions with each other. The only segration occurs inside of a

>mosque.

Correct; most Muslims don't live under sharia; but bin Laden and
company want them to. Egypt is near the top of their hit list,
precisely so they *can* segregate women there. Ditto for the
fact the most Egyptian women avoid oppressive veiling; that will
be changed if Al-Qaida gets its way.

>Polygamy is not common there. Not in Egypt. It's slighly more common

>in the Gulf states than in Egypt, but it's still very unusual. Of

>men, you find mostly the richest (in Saudi Arabia, for example) or

>the most powerful politicians living a polygamous lifestyle (even

>though their religion permits it).

As Robert pointed out, just a few % polygamous creates millions
of unmated males. 1 million men is a huge army.

>On 5 August 1996, Egyptian academic and writer Dr Nasr Hamed

>Abu-Zeid was ordered to divorce from his wife after being branded an

>apostate by the Court of Cassation.

Note: even in a *moderate* Muslim society people are exiled,
forced to divorce, and imprisoned for religious beliefs. I don't remember
exactly what this guy said, but I remember the controversy and that
he was proposing a Muslim version of current mainstream Christian
theology. People die in Pakistan for less, and I am *not* exaggerating.



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