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Hardly. We don't believe in Allah any more than we believe in Jehovah... or Zeus, for that matter. And certainly there's plenty to criticize the adherents of Islam about; particularly their often violent reaction to criticism. If we criticize Christianity more frequently, it has more to do with our greater familiarity with the subject than our fear of being victims of Islamic-inspired terrorism. We are, as someone points out in the video below, equal opportunity blasphemers... And here's the proof of it.This video is entitled "Back in Their Burkhas Again" and it was taken at the 2010 American Atheist Convention in Newark, NJ last weekend (April 2-4). The title song was written by Helen and Edwin Kagin and is sung by three lovely young (Well, at least I think they are lovely and young. It's hard to tell while they're wearing those burkhas!) atheist ladies.
The lyrics:
They’re back in their burkas again
Women obeying their men
No other man should ever see
Her eyebrow or her knee
They’re back in their burkas again
Women obeying their men
No other man should ever see
Her eyebrow or her knee
They’re back in their burkas again
Women are wrapped up by men
Protecting their bodies from sin
Women must comply
And not tempt some lustful eye
So they’re back in their burkas again
Protecting their bodies from sin
Women must comply
And not tempt some lustful eye
So they’re back in their burkas again
The wrap must be shared with a friend
With sister and cousin and kin
It costs far too much
With accessories and such
But they’re back in their burkas again
With sister and cousin and kin
It costs far too much
With accessories and such
But they’re back in their burkas again
A woman can’t leave her pen
While the burka is still out on lend
So in her house she’s trapped
‘Till in that horror she is wrapped
‘Till she’s back in her burka again
While the burka is still out on lend
So in her house she’s trapped
‘Till in that horror she is wrapped
‘Till she’s back in her burka again
The burka’s a smothering affair
No garment can even compare
It gets so hot in there
She can barely breathe the air
They’re back in their burkas again
No garment can even compare
It gets so hot in there
She can barely breathe the air
They’re back in their burkas again
Covered head and eyes and nose
Down their thighs right to their toes
They’re back in their burkas again
Down their thighs right to their toes
They’re back in their burkas again
But sometimes under there
They wear sexy underwear
They’re back in their burkas again
They wear sexy underwear
They’re back in their burkas again
Everybody will finally win
When women aren’t wrapped end to end
Law is a disgrace
When it hides a pretty face
And puts women in burkas again
When women aren’t wrapped end to end
Law is a disgrace
When it hides a pretty face
And puts women in burkas again
Freedom can only begin
When women can show off some skin
That law will have to go
When all women just say “No”
“We’ll not wear those burkas again”
When women can show off some skin
That law will have to go
When all women just say “No”
“We’ll not wear those burkas again”
And on some happy day
They will put those laws away
And never wear burkas again
And on that glorious day
They will throw those rags away
And never wear burkas again.
They will put those laws away
And never wear burkas again
And on that glorious day
They will throw those rags away
And never wear burkas again.
(Thanks are owed to Hemant Mehta's Friendly Atheist blog for the link and PandyFackleresque for the video)
Photo Credit:
1) Three Burkha Barbies
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Comments
As you know I write a Libertarian Political Column as well, and as with that column I do not hesitate to put out everyone's dirty laundry...Islam, Christian, Judaism, Shintoism, you name it- however, as we well know and understand in the United States the Christians have a monopoly on how, when, and where- shoot they even got an Islamic Man to claim Christianity just to be able to run-
LOVE THE SONG!
@Jesse -- and this is the first time in this comment space that I've seen Barack H. Obama described as a Muslim!
That said: I will personally vouch, from my study of the Koran and my own consultation of authoritative sources, that the Koran has a lot of "fighting words" in it. Worse yet, those "fighting words" take precedence.
I know this is supposed to be funny... but honestly... I can't imagine the bondage of those poor women who have to wear those terrible burkhas. I feel so sorry for the women who are stuck in that life.
We should all be concerned about any situation that gives one group unlimited power over another, especially when you consider the past leadership of men has not left a very good track record.
@Jesse - I've seen nothing tangible that shows Obama is Muslim (which is whom you are referring to, I presume). If you've got something, I'd like to see it.
It is a clash of cultures, some women will fight for their right to wear the niqab or the burka, such as is happening in Montreal right now.
To be fair Charlene, there are Muslim women who are happy to wear robes to hide their faces as their religion espouses. A couple of years back there was a primary school teacher who went to court to fight for her right to wear one while teaching. It's often stereotyped in the West as being repressive to women's rights, and perhaps in most fundamentalist circles it is. But when there are adherents of Islam who are more than happy to wear traditional garb such as this, who are we to argue?
Clever lyrics, but Nick has a point. We should respect people's individual choices, but that does not mean we should self-censor or refrain from expressing criticism of the fear of female sexuality that underlies religious modesty codes.
Yes, just as there are many "battered women" who actually "WANT" to stay in the relationship with their abuser, similarly there are muslim women who are brainwashed to think that there is a god that wants them to lives their lives in a big black bag.
Should we "support" the idea of letting these abused, brainwashed women "choose" to keep themselves oppressed? Or should we try to support teaching society (including these women) that women deserve equality, respect, freedom, opportunities, and full self-expression (living outside of the bag)?
I don't doubt that there are Muslim women who are abused, Pete, but that's argument via blanket stereotype. Different countries have different cultures. You don't have to understand it or like it. Deal.
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