Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 09:37:07 -0400 (EDT)
From: Feiziya Patel <patelf-AT-bgnet.bgsu.edu>
Subject: Re: To Enrica...Re: Taslima Nasreen and her head



Arising from my observations of the discourse so far, there are three
points I would like to add :

1. PEERING THROUGH WESTERN BLINKERS

It is interesting to note how many of us who come from east or west end up
seeing through western blinkers only. We do not reflect for a moment on how
well some of us have institutionalised western perspectives and have become
conditioned by them. Instead we defend these like the eternal truths and
use them to inflict further abuse and  deep hostilities on our "sisters".

2. WOMEN OPPRESSING WOMEN

How easily we take on the  dialogue style which we so fervently reject such
as  the abuse and hostility of men towards women . Yet in any one moment
women do the same to women and  worst of all  is that women do a better job
at it than men do.

3. SHIFTING THE GOAL POSTS

We start by  trashing religions, then we trash women, then we defend
western perspectives, then we go back to Nasreen , back to religion, back
to women......  We enjoy shifting the goal posts. Another strong
characteristic of how men conduct themeselves.

What are we really on about? Who are we really in the midst of all ?