Feminism is against the hijab

I'm not muslim, but I used to believe what they said about women wearing the hijab.
*Its their choice!* Their expression of themselves, and their devotion to their religion, etc.
But to understand the argument better, I started listening to mullahs talk about why its
important for muslim women to wear a hijab. In a word, its modesty.

Listening to Shaykh-ul-Islam Al-Hidayah answer a girls question about why women should cover up, the Shaykh said that its for their own benefit. A muslim women should cover up so she is not hassled by men; its about protecting the women from unwanted attention. He goes on to say that women get *in touble* (ie raped) when they are not modest enough.

Putting the whole *blaming the victim* aside for another rant....

But lets look at this argument more closely. "A women should cover up so she is not hassled."
One basic principle of humans, is that we ostracize that which is different. Being social creatures, we're designed to look for the black sheep.

So let say a good god-fearing head-covering muslim woman, living in a country where the majority of the women do not cover their heads, goes out for some shopping. In this society, her headscarf makes her stand out and hence noticed as different. She is actually being the opposite of modest, she is attracting attention BECAUSE she is wearing something very differnt.

Having attracted all that attention from everyone (she notices people looking at her, and maybe even staring), she more likely to attract the attention of a person with bad intentions, making her the prime target for a person looking for trouble.

How is that protecting the women?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7IrvkhUb3Y

Not Monsters

Not Monsters: Analyzing the Stories of Child Molesters by Pamela D. Schultz

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars


Sex offenders are notorious for re offending. Reading their stories, every one of them thinks that rehabilitation is possible, given enough time, understanding, and counseling. Some are able to lead productive lives, and have years in between offenses, however, in the long run, they end up back to reoffending.

Sex offereders (I think are closer to violent criminals) because they have developed sexual interests, and coping mechinanisms, that incorperate offending.

Secondly, I propose that these people are not in control of their actions. They are in control of their immate actions, 'chose not to' etc, however, after time (much like an anger management graduate) the tension builds, the thoughts intensify, and eventually, people give in to urges.

I think child molesters are not in control of their selves. Their emotional development seems to be childlike in many ways.

Therefore, I think rehabiliation to the point that they can intergrate into general society, is impossible. (ie akin to a recovering alcoholic *living* in a bar). The best solution, I think, would be to create a separate society for child molesters. Much like a productive jail, where inmates can start business, compete with products (not services), maybe in an e-commerce environment. A place where they can live without contact with children, and without seeing another child.

The Religious and Psychology

I've done some research various people's views on psychology and psychologists, and ironically, the people that I agree with are deeply religious. This is very bizarre because I am deeply atheist!

Nonetheless, it seems the deeply religious and I have taken a very different path to the same conclusion. Religious Folk believe that (and I'll quote someone here)

I suppose I'm talking about those who choose to be religious, not those that are raised within a sect, and remain within the same religious philosophy they were raised with, simply because they were raised in it. No, I'm not talking about those folk. I'm talking about the folk that can think; not accept any old smuck that wears a robe, a funny looking hat, and has a bible in hand, to be an authority figure. I'm talking about those that believe that god is the only and ultimate authority figure, and that they need to have a 'personal relationship with god'. Or to translate that to atheist language: *Know Thy Self*.

(when the conversation is between you and the imaginary friend that's always *got your back*, well that's just you assessing your own situation with feelings of security and self assurance. Yes, those secure feelings come form your imaginary friend, if those feelings are there, doesn't really matter where its coming from)

*Quoting some religious guy here*
no matter how good and advance methodology and human knowledge, when it has something to do with a person mental and inner self mechanisms, others are always outsiders who may or may not able to understand it. Only God can understand a person completely, therefore the solution must first of all comes from Him.

Maybe I'll take a turn and say that any intelligent/thinking person will ultimately come to the same conclusion about psychology. It is the art of applying human principles to your own life, as a means of evaluation. Not a means of measuring normality, but simply having the knowledge of the theories that are out there, some of which may apply to you. Psychology is not a science! Its not an "behavior x is caused be deisres y'. Its much more abstract than that, more like 'behaviours are caused by desires'. Which behaviours? Which desires? For each person the answer is different.

Video Games and TV

There's a strong correlation between hours spent watching tv, and being influenced by advertising. I wonder if there is a correlation between how much time a person spends on video games, and how much susceptible they are to media conditioning

The virus of Ego (Federal bank)

Ego acts as a virus, in that it destroys its host.

Criminals commit a crime. Smart criminals get away with their crime, become overwhelmed with pride for escaping, start thinking they're *way too smart to get caught*, which causes them to make a mistake, and get caught.

The Federal Bank is the only entity that can print money.

The US spent too much money due to war.(committed a crime) To rectify the issue, they removed the gold standard from the monetary system. (get away with crime). Create a system where money is printed on need basis. Start two wars (way too smart to get caught).

I feel like the monetary system has crumbled upon its own genius, much like it is the criminal's own ego that will eventually expose him.

Dr.Quantum

If the internet is a representation of human mind, in that it is where minds converge. Then would the internet be considered a consciousness being by itself? The multiple facets of the internet representing all thoughts produced by mankind? (minus the countries that dont have access to the communication superhighway).

If a cooperation is a legal entity, then the internet can also become a conscious being. It can develop and grow; Internet started as information/communication highway and now is dominated by ecommerce. It can think (youtube/bloggers).

Four Basic Principles

Learn from Everyone
Follow noone
Watch for patterns
work like hell