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
Now that is the question she needs to be publicly asked.
SO ya declare WAR on the world do ya?
Ishaq:327 “Allah said, ‘A prophet must slaughter before collecting captives. A slaughtered enemy is driven from the land. Muhammad, you craved the desires of this world, its goods and the ransom captives would bring. But Allah/satan desires killing them to manifest the religion.’”
" upon such of those to whom the Scriptures have been given as believe not in satan." Sura 9:29
Too bad if she ever decides to leave said religion...as punishment for that is death.
:O)
“in their kindness”
cutting heads off while singing religious ditties is not kindness.
“how you practice, such as fasting during Ramadan and praying five times per day”
religious practices such as these don’t count. What counts is how you treat other people.
Cutting heads off and flying planes into buildings are evil actions.
People can say? LoL I seriously doubt that...
“Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other.” - (Qur’an 4:34)
“Your women are a tilth for you to cultivate so go to your tilth as ye will” (2:223)
“Get two witnesses out of your own men and if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her” (2:282)
“If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with them, then only one, or a captive that your right hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice” (4:3)
“Allah thus directs you as regards your children’s inheritance: to the male, a portion equal to that of two females” (4:11)
“Good women are the obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them” (4:34)
So according to their holy book that comes directly from Allah, women are inferior to men, are to be used at will by men, are only half the witness of men, may have to put up with 3 other wives plus slave girls, are only allowed half the inheritance of men and can be beaten by their husbands.
How much more abuse could one possibly get away with against women in a society? I suspect none, because if it were possible it would be in the Qur’an.
Ah yes, I’m sure we all have a lot to learn about “Islam’s “true form”.
We can learn Is-Lames true form of Stoning, beheading, making war on other religions, etc etc etc.
Yup. Got it.
A really funny thing Ayaan Hirsi Ali, author of “Infidel”, see my comment #34, describes is her first reaction to the lack of cover on women in Europe.
“Why should I uncover my naked skin?” I asked [my Ethiopian friend] Mina. “Don’t you have any shame? Don’t you know how it affects men?” “But if men see women dresssed like you are now, with your arms bare and everything naked, then they will become confused and sexually tempted,” I told them. “They will be blinded by desire.”
The girls began laughing, and Mina said, “I don’t think it’s really like that. And you know, if they get tempted, that’s not such a big deal.” By then I was wailing, because I could see what was coming, but I said, “But they won’t be able to work, and the buses will crash, and there will be a state of total ‘fitna’!” “So why is there not a state of total chaos everywhere around us, here, in Europe?” Mina asked.
It was true. All I had to do was use my eyes. Europe worked perfectly, every bus and clock of it. Not the first tremor of chaos was detectible. “I don’t know,” I said helplessly. “It must be because these are not really men.” “Oh? They are not really men, these big strong blond Dutch workers?” By this time the Ethiopian girls were almost weeping with laughter at the bumpkin that I was. They thought it was such Muslim bullshit. Muslims were always boasting about something or other, but our whole culture was sexually frustrated. And who on earth did I think I was to personally wreak ‘fitna’ on the whole world? They were friendly, because they knew it wasn’t my fault I felt this way, but they really let me have it.
The next morning, I decided to stage an experiment. I would walk out of the door without a headscarf. I planned to see what would happen. I was sweating. This was really ‘haram’ [forbidden], and also the first time I had walked in a public space with my hair uncovered since I was sixteen. Absolutely nothing happened. The gardeners kept trimming the hedges. Nobody went into a fit. Not one man went into a frenzy.”
This excerpt should give FReepers some idea of what these poor women have to overcome to achieve mental as well as physical freedom. I wish them all luck.
You stupid c—t, The ironic thing is that your cowardice and ignorance leads you to islam, but in an islamic country, your feminism, will lead you to beatings, rapes, imprisonment, or death. Go preach/share your self-superior ways to those in Yemen, and call me on your cell phone so I can personally hear you scream when they take you away for good. .. </losing in 3 fantasy fooball leagues-induced anger>
No she has turned her back on Christ! Now she believes the visions of Mohamed even though he himself had conflict about them.
I will bet that she was/is a raving moonbat to start.Any takers?
Nah do as the Muslims do take her out and stone her to death.
I wonder how she is going to feel one day when her husband says that she does nothing to satisfy him and he wants to take a second wife. A younger sexier model. Of course she has no right to refuse - that is a husband's right.
Argue and fight with the husband because he wants another wife and get physically smacked - that is also the right of the husband - to beat his wife if she gets out of line.
Divorce...? Sorry not in Islam. Only the man has the power to grant a divorce.
Of course she will be upset having to suck it up being a second wife.
She must have been out having her burqua dry-cleaned on 9/11. And maybe she needs to talk to some of the Taliban's victims if she wants the true story of muslimes' enlightened attitude toward women.
What’s that have to do with my post?
I’m only guessing, but perhaps the point to be derived is that 2000 plus years ago, many religions were biased against women. The important thing is that 2000 years later some have become more enlightened.
Perhaps Kelly should wear a burqa, to show off her brain even more. That will be so much more a sign of wisdom, so that the Taleban wannabees can beat her without even seeing her tears.
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.