Unclean! Unclean!
Dhimmitude-for-Dunces
Unclean a voice shouted as the group of mourners began the short walk to the deceased Afghan Dr. X's burial site in this typical American city. Unclean, unclean! other voices, both male and female shouted at the Christian widow as she attempted to walk behind the cardboard coffin of her husband. Unclean infidel, unclean! the women shouted as they encircled Mrs. X to stop her from saying goodbye to her husband.
They had been married for 30 years, had two handsome sons, but she was now persona non grata as unclean infidel widow of the Muslim community leader now being taken to his final resting place at the edge of the Christian cemetery.
The circle of screaming and finger shaking women closed in on the widow as she sobbed in her grief for her dead husband and with the fear of being ostracized from the community she had been part of for many years.
I later learned that not only the widow was prevented from going to the burial site, but also all women, both Muslims and non Muslims as well. Why? because all women are unclean in the minds of those 7th century barbarians parading themselves as 21st century men of learning or moderation. The corpse somehow would have been defiled by a woman's presence at the gravesite.
Where were her two sons? Did they not care for their mother's grief or safety as the screaming women, some dressed in western clothing, some in black burka's, menaced and threatened her? Apparently not and why should they care? They were part of the community of superior beings, not only as Muslims, but as men, even though, one son was not yet a teenager.
I wondered at what point did the two sons consider their own mother unclean?
Unclean a voice shouted as the group of mourners began the short walk to the deceased Afghan Dr. X's burial site in this typical American city. Unclean, unclean! other voices, both male and female shouted at the Christian widow as she attempted to walk behind the cardboard coffin of her husband. Unclean infidel, unclean! the women shouted as they encircled Mrs. X to stop her from saying goodbye to her husband.
They had been married for 30 years, had two handsome sons, but she was now persona non grata as unclean infidel widow of the Muslim community leader now being taken to his final resting place at the edge of the Christian cemetery.
The circle of screaming and finger shaking women closed in on the widow as she sobbed in her grief for her dead husband and with the fear of being ostracized from the community she had been part of for many years.
I later learned that not only the widow was prevented from going to the burial site, but also all women, both Muslims and non Muslims as well. Why? because all women are unclean in the minds of those 7th century barbarians parading themselves as 21st century men of learning or moderation. The corpse somehow would have been defiled by a woman's presence at the gravesite.
Where were her two sons? Did they not care for their mother's grief or safety as the screaming women, some dressed in western clothing, some in black burka's, menaced and threatened her? Apparently not and why should they care? They were part of the community of superior beings, not only as Muslims, but as men, even though, one son was not yet a teenager.
I wondered at what point did the two sons consider their own mother unclean?
posted by Ms. Mary at 9:05 AM
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