I found this article through a radical islamic blogger on petalingstreet. A pharisaical dude who in all likelihood has been living under a coconut husk since he was born. Anyway, this was what Marina Mahathir penned through the STAR newspaper a couple of months ago:
A FRIEND was relating how after her daughter had read the Da Vinci Code, she had wanted to read the Bible. Which is not in itself a bad thing except that she was concerned that an impressionable young mind would not be able to differentiate fact from fiction. Also it seemed that perhaps what was needed is a Da Vinci Code-type book for Muslims to spark off the same level of interest in young people in their own religion.
Except that if anyone tried to write a similar thriller based around Islam, they’d be hounded and pilloried and threatened with death, thousands would riot in protest and people who would never have been able to read the book either because they are illiterate or can’t afford it would have died.
Such is the difference between our religions. While there are many Christians who are upset about the book and movie, they are countering it with seminars and other educational events to balance what is being said in the book, even if the book is only fiction. There have not been Da Vinci Code-related riots or deaths thus far. Which speaks volumes for the adherents of the faith.
It would be nice if everyone could brush off similar challenges and say “we are strong enough to withstand any attackâ€. I remember when there were riots over Salman Rushdie’s book The Satanic Verses, President Benazir Bhutto commented wryly that the people who were dying over the book were those who would never have read it, or possibly even heard of it if someone hadn’t whipped them into a frenzy. A similar situation arose with the cartoons. As insensitive as they were, they were still not worth dying over.
The point is that people’s impressions of a religion are often related to the behaviour of its adherents. Some religions are thought of as simply kooky because its followers behave strangely. Some are viewed as benign and peaceful because its followers resolutely will not harm a fly.
But when people, supposedly in the name of religion, riot, burn and kill, it can’t help but give the impression of a religion that advocates this, no matter how much we point out that nowhere in religious texts itself does it say you should do this. And unfortunately we get the whole spectrum, from men who publicly insult women on a daily basis without censure to the real crazies.
Recently in New York I had to suffer the embarrassment of having to listen to a Muslim man say to a non-Muslim woman at a forum, “Don’t mess with Muslims, we have nuclear weapons!†There I was trying to dispel stereotypes about violence-prone Muslims and in one fell swoop, this nutcase confirmed every stereotype there was.
Thus far there have been very few Muslim men in the international media who give a good impression.
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August 14th, 2006 at 4:46am
It was a good article, despite some witty sarcasm reminisce of her dad.
August 14th, 2006 at 8:15am
Yeah - I read that too & agree with mob1900. You said it yourself, therein lies the difference btw the religions, or should it be “the practitioners of the religions”.
Btw, I noticed that you use rather small fonts for your postings. Was that intentional?
August 14th, 2006 at 9:48am
mob1900 Yes, she hit the nail on the head.
anak merdeka Obscured men have tainted the sanctity of religion. Are you using firefox? That could be it. Let me know if that’s not the case. Thanks.
August 14th, 2006 at 10:40am
I never miss her column. Sometimes I read it online.
She’s a good writer & her articles are usually an eye-opener.
August 14th, 2006 at 11:20am
yeah, i actually heard about this article from minishorts’ comments box over this debate on apostasy.
very well written article, i must say…
August 14th, 2006 at 12:46pm
I have never read the Satanic Verses nor have i seen it selling in the major bookstores.
But one thing I know about Salman Rushdie (besides the fact he wrote Satanic Verses) is that he has a very hot… hawt.. wife. mamamia.
August 14th, 2006 at 12:57pm
jemima Yes, I try to read up on her articles whenever I can too, don’t know how this one passed me by….
laksa Yup, that was where I got the article. It hits the nail right on the head.
endroo g Hmmm…wonder if it can be purchased online…
August 14th, 2006 at 1:20pm
hmm, well written article. An eye opener to me.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:01pm
Yup, it’s Firefox.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:13pm
try looking at Amazon (USA). They even have Mein Kampf in stock. sieg heil.
August 14th, 2006 at 3:49pm
meekiee Indeed.
anak merdeka That explains it then. Will try to look into ways to rectify this.
endroo I think I better not, don’t wanna be stuck in ISA. LOL
August 14th, 2006 at 6:02pm
daniel: hahah. I was at first afraid that you’d become evil after reading the book.. if the book preaches satanism.
August 14th, 2006 at 6:18pm
endroo g Really? Well who knows, perhaps I could audition for a cameo role in Austin Powers 3 as Dr Evil’s Indian twin brother - as I already have the hairdo (rather the lack of it) to shine (excuse the pun!). Hahaha!
August 14th, 2006 at 7:40pm
It’s good to hear from someone like her, not afraid of condenming her own people. Sometimes we may not find out counterparts to be as perfect as we would like them to be.
We need voices like hers more.
August 14th, 2006 at 9:28pm
whoa whoa whoa, hold your guns daniel and endroo
a book talk without the book queen? u outta ur minds?
i’ve seen satanic verses in the shelves of malaysia. second hand bookstores. not sure whether it’s still there. but frankly rushdie’s work are overated, he’s a complete bore and way too self indulgent with his prose.
endroo - am sure i’ve seen mein kampf on shelves of major bookstores.
that book is not banned in malaysia.
and speaking of satanism, i have a copy of the satanic bible by anton lavey. if you read their nine satanic sins, the eleven satanic rules and the nine satanic statements you’d find that….it makes perfect sense! haha! wish i could say the same about religion (ok ok no flame balls come my way ok)
um. for the record. i’m not a satanist.
August 14th, 2006 at 9:32pm
haha nyx!!
I think in the end of the day, it comes down to us, whether we choose to believe or not. I love the fact she pointed something that has not really been said. In fact, if you are strong in your beliefs I guess, one should not be insecure bout it instead like in her article, strengthen your faith!
August 14th, 2006 at 11:17pm
mekushi Tamomoto Constructive criticism, regrettably there are still a large number of hoi polloi living under coconut husks, oblivious to growth and condemning the world for evolving. *SIGH*
nyx So Salman Rushdie’s such a bore that he incited Iran to declare a fatwa on him…how facile can people get? Btw, NYX, I always knew you were diabolical. LOL!
lex Well, this article is certainly an eye-opener, as meekiee puts it, unfortunately, the support is from the wrong crowd…
August 15th, 2006 at 2:26am
nyx: maybe i have not search thoroughly for Mein Kampf (My Struggle). You care to point out to me where you saw it? I really wish to own a copy (hardback/paperback or even leatherback whatever). I have the English version softcopy in HTML format. To print it, 550-600 sheets of A4 paper will be wasted. *I don’t preach Nazism*
Daniel: don’t shag… oops, i mean shave too much. Ha.
August 15th, 2006 at 7:36am
mph is selling it for rm45, try mid valley (i think i saw it at bangsar as well)
kinokuniya has two editions, one going for RM50 and another RM88.48
i’m quite sure i saw it at borders too.
aiyah book stuff you ask me! i got all their numbers! can just call.
August 15th, 2006 at 10:13am
nyx Wow - a book freak. I would like to read some political fictions (similar to Dan Brown’s Deception Point) - any books that you highly recommend?
August 15th, 2006 at 11:48am
political thrillers. first name that comes to mind is jeffrey archer.
daniel silva - though he leans more into CIA and government conspiracies.
if i’m not mistaken another big name for this genre is frederick forsythe (day of the jackal). he’s more into spying, also government conspiracies.
i can point out non-fiction government conspiracy reads if you’re interested. comes with a warning tho, it will change your mindset about everything.
August 15th, 2006 at 11:56am
the thing about dan brown is that he is an exceptionally good writer, engages his readers. if you enjoyed his style of writing you can try michael crichton. also very good reads. michael crichton is more scientific thrillers tho, with a lot of facts thrown in to convince readers.
michael crichton is dan brown’s equivalent in science. in law - john grisham. also very good reads.
then again - these were books i read in secondary school
am sure what i’ve said still stands today tho.
August 15th, 2006 at 12:14pm
Thanks for the information overload.
I love Dan Brown, but I also hate him - the dude has messed up my interest in fictions. I tried my hand at James Rollins’ Map of Bones - it was so-so - but nowhere near Dan Brown’s stuff….*SIGH*
I somehow hoodwinked myself 2 weeks ago into buying a Matrix parody fiction called “The McAtrix Derided” by the
Robertski Brothers….some good jokes…but mostly lame…curses!
BTW - have you read “A YEAR IN THE MERDE” by Stephen Clarke? I’m told that he’s witty…
August 16th, 2006 at 1:23pm
good post.