Infidels of Every Denomination

Just as I suspected...

So, now that the water has mostly receded and it turns out the Rita didn't deliver the "two" punch to Katrina's "one", some of the dust (well, maybe mud) is beginning to settle.  And guess what?  It's beginning to look like post-Katrina NOLA wasn't such an atrocity exhibition after all.   This counts as good news, I suppose...

I'm sure that some bad things happened, more of them than should have.  And a lot of horrible stuff probably didn't get reported officially- the locals don't trust the cops or the city government.  Still, it no longer looks like the behavioral sink that was originally reported.

Why the wild exaggeration? The phenomenon is in some part understandable, and even forgiveable.  After all, it was an extraordinarily messy situation by anyone's lights; everyone knows how easy it is to blow things out of proportion, to misinterpret what you see.  The same event gets reported multiple times, details get abraded and lost as rumors fly.  It's part of the human condition.

But parts of the article made me grit my teeth, nonetheless- not the writer's fault, but the content...

British Muslims Working to Counter Extremism

The Guardian reports that Muslim leaders in Britain have agreed to form a national council in order to address the special needs and challenges of British Muslims as well as to weed out all extremist elements.

Lord Ahmed, who unveiled the proposal as part of the government's programme of tackling extremism and engaging disaffected Muslim youth in Britain, said there were 2,000 imams, of whom only 300 were "homegrown". Too often sermons were delivered only in Arabic and women and young people were excluded from the mosque committees which employed imams. In some cases those running Britain's mosques were illiterate or even had criminal records, he said. The council would be independent of the government and led by the community to establish a common platform for every Islamic tradition in Britain.

"This is a historic move. As British Muslims we need to be prepared to modernise the way we operate, encouraging integration and helping our children to feel proud to be British," said Lord Ahmed.

"We are no longer Pakistani Muslims or north African Muslims but British Muslims. We need to attract young suitable candidates who will be homegrown imams rather than asking for imams from outside. The prayer is in Arabic but the translation must be done in English so that we can reach the 50% of under-24s who do not understand Arabic," he said.

I think it's an important move that the British Muslim community is taking the lead in making these changes and setting its own tone. I do have to wonder how much of this is in response to Tony Blair's recent threats to shut down mosques deemed "extremist" and to deport Islamic foreign nationals who preach fundamentalist views-- I couldn't blame them for wanting to take initiative on their own rather than be seen as an unruly force in need of strict discipline from non-Muslim government leaders. Still, I'd like to think that a plan like this would have come into being on its own simply out of rage and frustration at the extremist elements wresting control of the faith from the peaceful, honest Muslims just trying to go about their lives and practice their religion nonviolently.

At any rate, it's a bit of good news, and at a time when we can certainly use all we can get.

Good news, good stuff

Something to help with the midweek blahs:

Here's a site dedicated to spreading happy news. 

And a Live Journal community that all about the good stuff.   

Enjoy.

ESA- not so "failed" after all

Just finished reading a wonderful article in Smithsonian about the many successes of the Endangered Species Act.  Not only did it give the lie to many critics of the act (who claim it's done little or nothing to save endangered species), but it also showed the nuanced approach that enforcement often takes:  through the Safe Harbor provisions, property owners can negotiate easing of certain restrictions if they act in positive ways to preserve the species.

Many times, it's simple things- changing the mowing patterns along utility lines, delaying pesticide applications until winter- that produce the best results.  It shouldn't come as any surprise that protecting one endangered species often has a positive ripple effect on a large number of others.  But I also found it encouraging that species protection can lead to economic benefitsfor the surrounding communities.

Besides, the image conjured by a description of testing a "grizzly-proof" dumpster was priceless.  They're thinking of taking grizzlies off the list (in the lower 48, they've been doing fine in Alaska), by the way; bald eagles, too.  How cool is that?

Fumbling Towards Empowerment

This Outlook India interview with Kiran Bedi, India's first female IPS (Indian Police Service) officer talks about a piece of legislation expected to be signed into law any time now, that would set out a specific legal procedure for helping women who are victims of domestic abuse.

On the one hand, it's good news. India's track record on women's rights is pretty abysmal and the cultural view of women as lesser human beings is so ingrained that government programs aiming to improve the lot of women and girls have to work just to convince people that females are worth the effort and shouldn't just be drowned at birth. The problem of domestic violence against women, rooted in this attitude, is compounded by the value placed on a peaceful home free of negative influences from the outside-- and since women still frequently go to live in their husbands' family homes, a woman who complains about her treatment or goes to the authorities is accused of breaking that peace and bringing in those negative influences. Women's complaints of domestic abuse in India are often overlooked or dismissed, and the responsibility is placed on women to wait it out, or to try to "compromise" with husband and in-laws or brothers and fathers. So really, in some sense, any progress is good news.

The legislation, though, is not enough and might even further endanger abused women. Ms. Bedi goes to great lengths to assure the callers whose questions she is answering that police intervention is a "last resort, not a first"-- you get the impression that this legislation is crafted with a mind almost as much to sparing the man and his family any embarassment as to actually protecting the victim. The procedure requires the woman to file a complaint, at which point a *civil* case is heard between the woman and her attacker; if she wins, she can get "security" (which at least here is not clearly defined) so that she can *continue to live* with her attacker, who has been ordered to stop abusing her. It's only if he ignores that and abuses her again that the police can be called in and the abuser can receive a sentence of three to seven years (which seems light to me, but I'm not up on how long a man can go to jail in the US for similar offenses).

She also talks about how she thinks the law is really needed for the "helpless" women (because educated, reasonably independent women never get abused?) and says:

We also want to tell men that we do not want any confrontation, nor is the new law for breaking homes, it rather for strengthening them by way of ensuring equality for both. So please do not slap and abuse anymore.

That's all dandy and stuff, but anyone who knows anything about the abusive mentality knows that an abuser considers any form of resistance or complaint to be a confrontation, so trying to take a soft and appeasing "hey guys, can't we all just get along" attitude towards them is completely useless. Those women are not going to be helped until the taboo of "breaking homes" is lifted in favor of the reality that an abuse victim cannot be safe until she is able to leave the abusive environment. Domestic abuse laws can't be about "ensuring equality" as if there's a squabble about who owns the toaster. They must be about ensuring justice and the safety of those abused in the home.

I can't help thinking that India's domestic abuse problem is only going to get worse before it gets better, because any woman who becomes emboldened to take this legal action and is then returned to the abuser's side *after* fighting with him in court is only going to be in more danger. It does, however, at least sound like more women are willing to come forward and file complaints, and there seems to be a real effort to promote women's rights in general in India, so I suppose there's hope that when the new law makes first contact with reality, the legislators will soon see its failings and correct them.

Avalon Cares

I wanted to take a moment to highlight the efforts of an organization (mentioned here in one of Siren's recent posts) that is doing fundraising and relief work for Katrina victims: Avalon Cares

What's noteworthy about this group is that they are a Pagan charity (the charitable arm of Officers of Avalon, Inc., an organization of Pagan police officers and other emergency services professionals). Pagans on the whole tend to be exceptionally socially and politically active and generous with their time and resources to many causes, but we also tend to be involved with established secular organizations for those things. It's relatively rare to see a specifically Pagan charity like this, not because we don't do the work, but because we are mostly scattered through other non-religious organizations. However, it's a joy to see this group succeeding in part because groups like these make it easier to show how involved Pagans are in the world around us.

Avalon Cares has done some terrific work, raising $11,000 to date for Katrina relief and with a number of OoA members working directly in the affected areas. An important thing to note is that ALL money raised for this cause will go to the victims-- none of it will go to organizational costs.

It's a legitimate charity and a great place to donate if you are Pagan or Pagan-friendly.

Midweek Cat Blogging

I'm a big fan of Friday Cat (and sometimes Dog or Other Pet) Blogging on some of the blogs I read regularly, particularly being a kitty owner myself. So I couldn't resist indulging in a little topical Cat Blogging when I saw this:

from AFP via Yahoo News, the caption reads:

Small survivor : US Airforce Lt. Nathan Brosheal holds a kitten rescued and airlifted to New Orleans International Airport in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana. (AFP/James Nielsen)

*falls madly in kitten love*

Air Force Says No To Proselytizers

Big thumbs up to the Air Force, which has issued new guidelines instructing commanders to avoid promoting or appearing to promote one religion over another, or even religiousness over non-religiousness.

A few months back, the Air Force Academy was embroiled in a battle over religious issues as complaints poured forth that evangelical Christianity was being aggressively promoted to cadets by other cadets and personnel.

While the new guidelines may not solve the problem completely or defuse the source of the conflict entirely, it is very encouraging to see that the brass is taking this issue seriously and making an effort to ensure that the rights of non-evangelicals are being protected. It's at least a big step in the right direction.

Trash Talker Kicked To The Curb

Talk show host Michael Graham fired over anti-Islam remarks

Washington radio station WMAL-AM fired talk show host Michael Graham yesterday after he refused to soften his description of Islam as "a terrorist organization" on the air last month.

Graham had been suspended without pay from his daily three-hour show since making his comments July 25. The station had conditioned his return to the midmorning shift on reading a station-approved statement in which Graham would have said that his anti-Muslim statements were "too broad" and that he sometimes uses "hyperbole" in the course of his program. WMAL also asked Graham to speak to the station's advertisers and its employees about the controversy.

But Graham refused both conditions, prompting the station to drop him.

What does Graham have to say for himself? Let's go to the WingNutDaily:

Graham's suspension stems come from characterizing Islam a "terrorist organization." Graham explained that when a significant minority of a group conducts terrorism and the general population of that group does not denounce it, it is safe to conclude that the group promotes it.

Hmm...so should we assume that because the most extreme and vocal factions of Christianity in America promote bigotry, hatred, misogyny, and even murder, and the "general population" has not risen up with a mighty hand to bitch-slap them into silence, that all Christians "promote" those things?

Gee, maybe Graham doesn't know that Islam doesn't have one leader or council that can speak for the faith as a whole. So maybe when local leaders or groups speak out against terrorism, it just doesn't count as far as he's concerned.

Here's another of his gems, from his Wikipedia entry:

"moderate Muslims are those who only want to kill Jews".

Nice. This guy's a riot and a half.

Needless to say, he's all about the sanctity of free speech NOW, just like any other whiny wingnut who thinks s/he's entitled to a paid forum from which to spew hate. Now if he's got the huge and loyal fan base that he claims to have, surely some other station will feel it vital (and lucrative) to book such a controversial ratings-spiker like him. See, honey, *that's* free speech, that chance that you can be hired somewhere else, if in fact anyone really wants to hear what you have to say. The right to free speech just doesn't go hand in hand with a right to make people care about your opinions.

Of course, this channel still carries Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, sort of the Huginn and Muninn of the Bush administration and the neocons, so the station can't be given too much credit for decency.

Let's finish with another deep thought from Mr. Graham:

Graham said he couldn't accept the idea of apologizing "for the truth..."

Sometimes, you just need to let them speak for themselves.

The Thing About The Ring

Those darn activist...Health and Human Services staff?

Well, ok. HHS got a bit of prodding when the ACLU filed a lawsuit claiming that federal funding of the creepy teen abstinence program Silver Ring Thing promoted Christian evangelism. But they have suspended funding and put the organization on notice that they need to submit a "corrective action plan" before they can receive any more federal grant money.

From the WaPo article:

In documents filed in federal court in Boston, the ACLU alleged that the activities, brochures and Web site of Silver Ring Thing were "permeated with religion" and use "taxpayer dollars to promote religious content, instruction and indoctrination."

Teenage graduates of the program sign a covenant "before God Almighty" to remain virgins and earn a silver ring inscribed with a Bible passage reminding them to "keep clear of sexual sin." Many of its events are held at churches.

In filings with the Internal Revenue Service, the organization describes its mission as "evangelistic ministry" with an emphasis on "evangelistic crusade planning."

It's a small step, but I think it's noteworthy that in a relatively short period of time (since the ACLU brought suit) action is being taken. Bottom line, there's nothing wrong with "faith-based" charitable or educational efforts-- but funding them with tax dollars never was and never will be a worthwhile idea.