I also read an interesting (but long!) article here which highlights some of the key issues that I think are at play here, on a wider perspective. These mainly relate to the mutual incomprehension between the Muslim community and the wider non-Muslim community. This article highlights issues relating to the right to political/emotional expression, and how it relates to terrorism or potential terrorism. Also how the framed discourse can work on multiple levels depending on who is listening, and their background in the subject. It is worth a read.

I feel that this may be a real issue, and this inability to distinguish between the two is what often causes the Ulema who get media attention to be represented in a bad way (who are from specific political/social environments, so of course have their own issues and prejudices). Of course, part of the problem is how they present themselves, but there is more to it than simply this. I am not sure though, but I do know that I would like to see a study on this type of thing.

The other issue is simply this: why are we allowing the entertainment industry to frame the discourse about our religion in the first place? “The forum will address topics such as the Muslim attitude towards women, law and order, terrorism and religious tolerance.” Great… but I don’t think these issues even really need to be discussed at all – maybe apart from the women. We obey the laws here, and get punished for breaking them. Simple. Even the old ‘ammo’s and jiddo’s know and believe this. No problem. The terrorism issue is scary because it is also us who are threatened by this, and are in danger of lots of reprisals and bad things if anything does ever happen.

Yet we allow the media to frame the discourse instead of framing our own discourse, and approaching from our own points of reference. Instead we bicker about sects and pronounce takfir on each other, even though we all have a stake in this, regardless of background.

It makes me want to tear my hair out (if I had any)!

I find it interesting that the media seems to churn out these types of MP’s – after Cronulla it was Peter Debenham talking his xenophobic nonsense about “Middle Eastern” looking people (whoever they are – green eyed, blonde haired people as well?), and now it is her turn. I wonder why they even get air time when what they say seems to be so far off the scale that it does not do anything except further show how prejudiced they can be.

I missed this show on Sunday, so will have a look at the transcript i’A – maybe they have a video posted somewhere as well? I find it a shame that those who go to these things to speak for us all can’t literally laugh off the rantings of such crazy people, and instead have to argue back and resort to intra-community issues in order to prove who is the “best”.

Top points on the hijab issue Umm Yasmin and Amir!

Here is another classic Bronwyn moment.

She explained the reasons for her campaign against the hijab in this interview from last year.

BRONWYN BISHOP: It’s not about headscarves per se, it’s about a clash of cultures where there are extremist Muslim leaders who are calling for the overthrow of the laws that indeed give me my freedom and my equality as defined by the society in which I live.

I have no idea what the relationship is between schoolgirls in hijab and some undefined and never referenced plot to overthrow Australian law. And, I suspect, neither does Bronwyn.

Thus, she wants to punish the weakest members of the Muslim community (young girls) because of her xeno- and migrantophobia. I do not for a minute think she has these girls’ interests in her mind, wa Allahu-alim.