Posted on 09/23/2007 1:19:00 PM PDT by Baladas
The Muslim Student Association at CU finds itself in a progressive state with a woman as president.
Kelly Brewer, MSA's president, stands out not only in her leadership role, but also as a convert to Islam.
Raised in a Catholic-Christian household, Brewer began learning about Islam as a 9th grader. The Sept. 11 media coverage at the time portrayed Muslims in Islam's "malpracticed" state, and Brewer became interested in Islam's "true form." While delving into Islamic culture, Brewer was "impressed by the conduct of Muslims" in their kindness.
Brewer, who converted after Sept. 11, said that "now a lot of the political atmosphere has cleared away. A lot of people's response to Islam after Sept. 11 had nothing to do with Islam and everything to do with politics. So now that we're no longer in that political environment, people can say Islam is this, and Islam is not this."
Surprised at first by her choice to convert, Brewer's family is more accepting now that they see how she "can be a college student, a Muslim, wear a headscarf, have the same friends and be the same girl," Brewer said.
"I've always been interested in spirituality, and what is truth and what my purpose is as a person," Brewer said.
Now that she has converted, Brewer said that once you believe something, you want to put that belief into practice. A very important part of Islam is how you practice, such as fasting during Ramadan and praying five times per day.
Brewer follows the five daily prayer rituals. She said that praying five times per day is highly valuable to practicing Muslims in college, since students are constantly trying to balance their time.
"When you pray five times a day you're always aware of time … you try to be the best person you can be between prayers," Brewer said.
Contrary to widespread ideas, Brewer believes that women do hold leadership positions within the Muslim community. The President of the Islamic Society of North America is currently a woman.
"Islam gives different roles to men and women, but they are equal roles," Brewer said.
Many men and women in the United States see a headscarf, traditionally known as a Hijab, as a symbol of oppression. But Brewer chooses to wear it. Brewer believes that the Hijab demands respect for women because it ensures that the person who is talking to a woman in a Hijab is valuing her based on her intellectual qualities, rather than her body.
"If I am a beautiful girl in a mini skirt and have long blonde hair, maybe he's thinking about what I am saying but maybe he's thinking about how beautiful I am," Brewer said.
For Brewer, it's all about both men and women dressing modestly "so you can get to know someone based on their heart."
While some may pay her more intellectual respect for covering up, Brewer knows that the Hijab arouses intrigue for her reasons.
"They listen more carefully to what I say because here's this different girl, 'I can't see her hair!' So people will want to hear what I have to say."
Six years after Sept. 11, a time which brought heavy negative attention to the Muslim community, Brewer believes that Muslims on the CU campus are not only perceived in a good way but they are welcomed. Last year the Muslim Student Association was voted Student Group of the year by the UCSU Diversity Commission.
"...we (the MSA) have been welcoming to the campus … it is a reciprocal relationship," said Brewer
“..Brewer was “impressed by the conduct of Muslims” in their kindness.”
Kindness!! Brewer should visit the ME or other Muslim countries and see who runs the charities - NOT the Muslims.
Brewer should also contact charities here in the US and find out who are usually the contributors - either Christian or Jewish organizations, but NOT the Muslims.
“If I am a beautiful girl in a mini skirt and have long blonde hair, maybe he’s thinking about what I am saying but maybe he’s thinking about how beautiful I am,” Brewer said.
Sounds like something Paris Hilton would say.
“They listen more carefully to what I say because here’s this different girl, ‘I can’t see her hair!’ So people will want to hear what I have to say.”
I’ve only read her words and have no idea what she looks like so I feel that her desire to be ‘heard’ rather than only ‘seen’ has been met. Unfortunately for her, it no longer matters what she looks like...she is an IDIOT. There is no excuse for this. I would equate it with a decision to start smoking for the health benefit.
Wait till she wakes up and decides she doesn’t want to be a Muslim anymore. Walking away from Islam is not something people are just allowed to do there sweetheart.
I absolutely agree with what you’ve all written, but what I fail to see is why this absurdity was important enough to gain media attention. She’s clearly not the brightest card in the deck, and the fact that her parents are “accepting” of this nonsense is appalling. As she speaks about her reasons, she sounds ridiculous. But the bigger question, of course, is does she realize that wearing a head scarf is only secondary in importance to putting a bomb under her shirt and blowing up Americans?
I'd bet she's not.
So, she was impressed that the hijackers killed thousands of innocents????
yeah, right.
Silly, naive twunts like this will be the death of us.
I don’t know but check out the picture of her in the link @ Post #11.
Yes, I’ve always been singularly impressed with the “kind” way they lop off the heads of infidels to save them from future sinning.
If you belive that then you have the IQ of a door knob
“Has she had her clitorectomy yet?”
I just finished reading Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s book, “Infidel”. She describes in detail this barbaric operation that she was subjected to as a young child, without anesthesia, by her grandmother. The grandmother had this done to her and her younger sister while the more modern parents were away. The sister committed suicide in her early adulthood.
She now works at a conservative think tank in the US, because too many death threats were being made in the Netherlands where, as member of parliament, she promoted measures protecting muslim women from their men. She lived in Muslim communities of her native Somolia, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya before escaping her marriage by going to Europe. She also describes how she slowly but surely lost her faith, so as to become an Infidel.
Good grief. Strange World we live in.
My how times have changed. When I was in college, the ugly girls went to grad school. Now the convert to Islam.
Tara Delancey of the same group. Is she doing the Lynndie?
Who is she to tell women what they should and shouldn’t desire? Attraction is a natural part of life, and something that many women hold dear and sacred.
Those who “can’t” are so embittered and feel the need to ruin others personal joy.
That's true. We're probably piling on, but hey...
Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head disgraces his head, but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled disgraces her head—it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved. For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil. For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection of God; but woman is the reflection of man. (NRSV, 1 Corinthians 11:4-7)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.