Mona Eltahawy tells a great story about sitting next to a Muslim man sporting a beard, tunic, and baggy pants on a flight to Denmark. She herself is Muslim and on her way to a conference in Copenhagen for young Muslim leaders, but she suspects her Western clothes and uncovered head will earn scorn from the man who looks ultra-conservative and judgmental.
They are, in fact, heading to the same conference, and her account of that plane trip and events at the conference offers an entertaining look at variation in Muslim identity.
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i wonder how she feels about the Pope’s statements on Islam.
Thanks for the comment, Center. I’m not sure how she’d feel; on the one hand there’s the “violence and holy war is unreasonable” angle, on the other hand there’s the slight against Muhammad (even if he was “just quoting”).
By the way, do you have a link to a transcript of the Pope’s address? I’ve seen write-ups in the Washington Post and elsewhere, but no full transcript.
sorry, no links. just read some quotes in NYT.
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