Comments on: Domestic violence crosses cultural barriers http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/22/domestic-violence-crosses-cultural-barriers/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:29:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Irfan http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/22/domestic-violence-crosses-cultural-barriers/#comment-1541 Irfan Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-1541 Geoff, if you can convince me that expelling Muslim blokes (or even just the "nuts") from Australia would remove or substantially reduce domestic violence from the nation, I for one would happily settle in Auckland. Can you give me that guarantee? Geoff, if you can convince me that expelling Muslim blokes (or even just the “nuts”) from Australia would remove or substantially reduce domestic violence from the nation, I for one would happily settle in Auckland. Can you give me that guarantee?

]]> By: Geoff http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/22/domestic-violence-crosses-cultural-barriers/#comment-1542 Geoff Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-1542 Irfan, of course I cannot; however, I would prefer to think that allowing these loonies to represent the muslim community in Australia (when they clearly do not) will certainly not do anything to reduce the amount of violence towards muslim women married to husbands who are easily led by those expounding, and even advocating, such extreme behaviours. For Islam to gain more respect from non-muslims in Australia I believe that the very public denouncement and removal of Abu Hamza and his ilk as spokesmen would do wonders - I know it would for me.<br /><br />Just to wrap this up Irfan, I am generally a long-time fan of your items; however, one thing continues to puzzle me is why you seem to avoid this basic (to me, anyway) issue: Is it too hard to get rid of these loudmouth loonies who are shown and reported to be speaking for muslims when in fact they are speaking only for the fundamentalists? They do the muslim movement no good - quite the opposite, as I'm sure you will agree. Why are they allowed so much freedom to damage Islam in Australia?<br /><br />I can only assume that it is a hard and complex question not easily solved, notwithstanding its importance, or it would not be the problem that it is, and remains. Irfan, of course I cannot; however, I would prefer to think that allowing these loonies to represent the muslim community in Australia (when they clearly do not) will certainly not do anything to reduce the amount of violence towards muslim women married to husbands who are easily led by those expounding, and even advocating, such extreme behaviours. For Islam to gain more respect from non-muslims in Australia I believe that the very public denouncement and removal of Abu Hamza and his ilk as spokesmen would do wonders - I know it would for me.

Just to wrap this up Irfan, I am generally a long-time fan of your items; however, one thing continues to puzzle me is why you seem to avoid this basic (to me, anyway) issue: Is it too hard to get rid of these loudmouth loonies who are shown and reported to be speaking for muslims when in fact they are speaking only for the fundamentalists? They do the muslim movement no good - quite the opposite, as I’m sure you will agree. Why are they allowed so much freedom to damage Islam in Australia?

I can only assume that it is a hard and complex question not easily solved, notwithstanding its importance, or it would not be the problem that it is, and remains.

]]> By: Geoff http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/22/domestic-violence-crosses-cultural-barriers/#comment-1543 Geoff Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-1543 Irfan conveniently misses the point...again. Abu Hamza's condoning a muslim man's right to force his wives to have sex if they show no signs of physical illness or injury is nothing less than disgusting and despicable. This maniacal mysogynist and his sickening view of women's place in the world should be loudly disowned by all thinking muslims - including, if not especially, Irfan. Irfan conveniently misses the point…again. Abu Hamza’s condoning a muslim man’s right to force his wives to have sex if they show no signs of physical illness or injury is nothing less than disgusting and despicable. This maniacal mysogynist and his sickening view of women’s place in the world should be loudly disowned by all thinking muslims - including, if not especially, Irfan.

]]> By: Irfan http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/22/domestic-violence-crosses-cultural-barriers/#comment-1544 Irfan Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-1544 Geoff, it goes without saying that these kinds of absurd attitudes toward women are nuts. The idea that a man can just demand intercourse from his wife is something out of another century. Or at least it should be. The problem is that it isn't out of another century. It's happening here and now and across cultural and religious divides. But when you turn domestic violence into the object of cultural warfare, it means you aren't serious about the issue. You're only serious about it when it allows you to point the finger at others, forgetting that three fingers point straight back at you.<br /><br />A positive aspect of the Herald-Sun article (which wasn't replicsated in the hard copy edition of the Daily Telegraph) was the response from Joumanah El-Matrah. I think her response is spot-on. Geoff, it goes without saying that these kinds of absurd attitudes toward women are nuts. The idea that a man can just demand intercourse from his wife is something out of another century. Or at least it should be. The problem is that it isn’t out of another century. It’s happening here and now and across cultural and religious divides. But when you turn domestic violence into the object of cultural warfare, it means you aren’t serious about the issue. You’re only serious about it when it allows you to point the finger at others, forgetting that three fingers point straight back at you.

A positive aspect of the Herald-Sun article (which wasn’t replicsated in the hard copy edition of the Daily Telegraph) was the response from Joumanah El-Matrah. I think her response is spot-on.

]]> By: Geoff http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/22/domestic-violence-crosses-cultural-barriers/#comment-1545 Geoff Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-1545 Irfan, I am disappointed you refuse to acknowledge that it seems it is only muslim clerics and other muslims in positions of influence who are "nuts" to quote you. Which other religion openly (and loudly) supports forced sex in marriage (not to mention many other barbaric treatments of women such as stoning, etc.)? If the few muslim nutters who are truly crazy are allowed to continue with their pontifications to no good end then why does not the good muslim community send them packing? Who needs them? Certainly not the muslim community and certainly not their adopted Australia. Irfan, I am disappointed you refuse to acknowledge that it seems it is only muslim clerics and other muslims in positions of influence who are “nuts” to quote you. Which other religion openly (and loudly) supports forced sex in marriage (not to mention many other barbaric treatments of women such as stoning, etc.)? If the few muslim nutters who are truly crazy are allowed to continue with their pontifications to no good end then why does not the good muslim community send them packing? Who needs them? Certainly not the muslim community and certainly not their adopted Australia.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/22/domestic-violence-crosses-cultural-barriers/#comment-1546 Stephen Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-1546 The answer is simple: they are the same morons who kept quiet when Israeli soldiers were committing the greatest of violence against women- wives, mothers, daughters- in Gaza. The answer is simple: they are the same morons who kept quiet when Israeli soldiers were committing the greatest of violence against women- wives, mothers, daughters- in Gaza.

]]> By: Irfan http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/01/22/domestic-violence-crosses-cultural-barriers/#comment-1547 Irfan Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-1547 This story isn't about me and what my attitudes are. But in case anyone is interested, here is some other stuff I've written on the broad issue of domestic violence in certain communities ...<br /><br />http://www.nzherald.co.nz/islam/news/article.cfm?c_id=500817&objectid=10531715&pnum=0<br /><br />http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=9596 This story isn’t about me and what my attitudes are. But in case anyone is interested, here is some other stuff I’ve written on the broad issue of domestic violence in certain communities …

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/islam/news/article.cfm?c_id=500817&objectid=10531715&pnum=0

http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=9596

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