Short Open Letter to Anwar al-Awlaki

In response to his blog posting “Nidal Hassan Did the Right Thing.”  I would post this letter as a “comment” on that blog entry, but I do not trust that that blog is legitimately his.  Some of the blog postings are so shortsighted and simplistic that I do not expect that they are from Anwar al-Awlaki or any scholar in his/her right mind.  Compare the loose accusations in the Nidal Hassan entry with the careful comments in this National Geographic interview.

Fatalism is Cocaine

Governments often seek to control land, wealth, and resources.  Religionists often seek to control hearts.  Governments often seek to control religionists.

Fatalism is Opium

It is easier to subdue an oppressed population with malicious theology than with the proliferation of vices.  Of course, we often find both together.  The liquor store on one block, and the temple on the next.

In the great discussions of theology we often find people locking horns over the simple question of Free Will vs. Pre-Destination.  I discuss the importance of moving the theoretical discussion into a practical result here.  Part of my concern regarding fatalism is that fatalism is often “fatal.”  Meaning, those who take a fatalist outlook on life often disempower themselves.  That is a serious problem. 

Charity, Truth, and the Inverse Capitalist Impulse

Of the many words in the Islamic tradition for “truth,” one is synonymous with charity, and another is synonymous with “rights.”  When you consider the giving of charity and when you consider the fulfillment of someone’s rights, consider it to be an act of “truth.”

Lowest Levels of Islamic Honesty

When speaking of Islamic faith and practice, we speak of an ontology focused on seeking increasing nearness to the Divine.  Often, however, the “islamic” ontology is one focused on exercising lifeless, empty legal dogmatics.

Levels of Emancipation

Another common approach to the topic of justice and social transformation is the notion that people are in some form of bondage and slavery.  We find enlightenment thinkers claiming to be free from the alleged shackles of the church.  We even find in the early rhetoric of the Muslim Brotherhood the notion that Islam is itself liberation from the shackles of Western thought. And, of course, in the pitiful drumbeat for war, we as a nation so often (wrongly) claimed that “they hate us because of our freedoms.”

Now, practically speaking, what are the levels of emancipation?  A point that should be somewhat consistent in my posts is that for nearly everything in life we have levels and veils.  Levels of Depth.  Veils revealing the hidden jewel.

So, what are the levels of emancipation?

How do we transform a nation?

In this earlier posting, I suggested that the future is in the hands of the parents.  How any parents invest themselves in their children will dictate the future, individually.  But, an entire population of parents cannot be expected to suddenly changed all their practices.  They are just as influenced by the pressures and ideals of society as are all others.

So, how do we transform a nation? 

Slumdog and the Prostitutes

I loved Slumdog Millionaire.  I really like most of Danny Boyle’s films and especially enjoyed this one. I thoroughly enjoyed at least the first two acts of both 28 Days Later and Sunshine.

But, last night on my way home I listened to a hopeful, though disturbing report on NPR (or perhaps BBC) about a woman who is trying to give care to the children of prostitutes in India. 

God or Allah: Response to RS

Often, the closing line of my posts is “And Allah knows best.”  The point here is that at the end of the day, even my most scholarly work is (at best) considered opinion.  The acknowledgment is that God knows best.  Implicit is the point that the best of my work can still find improvement.

A reader, RS, comments:

I noticed you’ve switched from “And Allah knows best” to “And God Knows best”.

Any particular reason?

Answer:

Obama Peace Prize – In All Seriousness

A number of people have asked me for my thoughts on President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize, especially in light of the fact that it seems that he has not done anything except give speeches.  On the day it was announced, I was one among many who told many, many jokes about it.