From our Mailbag 04/16/04 - 05/08/04




by YOU

THE WORLD - [EDITOR'S NOTE: The following e-mail appeared on our previous "LETTERS" page but the author's response did not arrive by deadline. In order to provide context, we are reprinting the full text of the e-mail again, this time with the appropriate response. Thank you for your indulgence. --RA]

From Mustaali S, (No City Provided,) PAKISTAN:

SUBJECT: The Marriage Market

Dear Aamera Jiwaji,

Your article on the above subject was a shock wave to me. It seems that you have misinterpreted the importance of Nikah. I recommend that you should see your Aamil Saheb and get your self rid of all the misunderstandings/misconceptions you have in your mind by asking. Infact you ought to do it before writing this artcle which will definitely have a bad impact about us on non-bohra readers.

We are a small community and strongly bound to one another.?I pray that you will inshaallah find a very suitable match very soon. May long live our beloved Mushfiq Bawa Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Saheb (TUS) ta roze qayamat. Amin.

A well wisher


AAMERA RESPONDS:

Dear Well-wisher,

Thankyou for your comment on my article. I am glad people out there are reading my work and find it provoking enough to respond.

That said, I would like to adress the issues you spoke about in your response - both those that you overtly stated and those that you communicated covertly through innuendo.

As far as your accusations concerning my having not researched the article correctly and having misrepresented the union of Nikah, I would like to tell you that before writing the article I had discussed the issue with a number of people within the Bohra community including but not limited to the Amil Saheb of Nairobi.

Furthermore, the attitudes and beliefs that I was representing in the article were those that I had personally encountered having returned to the Bohra community after many years outside of it, years that gave me a much needed perspective on our community and its practices; and secondly, those of the Amil Saheb (the Amil Saheb of Dar es Salaam, I think) at the gathering.

I was not criticizing the stance of Islam on the issue of nikaah or for that matter the role of Muslim women in the union of nikaah, but rather the attitude and recommendations of the Amil Saheb. If you re-read my article with a fresh mind, void of prejudice, you will notice that I intimated a lot of suspicion on the perspective that the Amil Saheb was presenting as that of Islam, perspectives and attitudes which are very dangerous when talking to a naíve youth that is embarking on the first step of a very important journey.

He was talking to the youth of a community, a youth that will make decisions based on the advice of its elders, elders such as himself, and a youth that will grow up to be the next generation of elders.

His advice was very dangerous.

It may have resulted in a dramatic effect on the people gathered there - men judging women and their future wives on particular characteristics which are mainly physical; and feelings of inadequacy from the women if they fail to meet these standards.

Secondly, as to your suggestion that I should have cleared my article with the Bohra community leaders before publishing it, I am surprised.

Am I not allowed to have an opinion and present it in a forum that will allow me to air my views and get responses from my audience without permission? And further that the permission I need is not that of my editor, but a leader of a group that I am writing about.

Freedom of speech loses all meaning in such a scenario.

I think your fear is not that my article has misrepresented us to the world, but rather that the antics of a select few within the community, antics that are permeating the entire community gradually, may be taken to represent that of the entire community. The solution for this is not for me to stop writing about it, but rather to get to the source of the embarrassment, and address the issue there. Individuals should not be allowed to publicly broadcast their opinions as those of Islam, Rasulallah or that of the Bohra community - which is exactly what was being done. The Amil Sabeb was abusing his position.

And it is the responsibility of others in the community, the so-called elders, to note that public actions and things are being done and said which are creating a bad impression of the Bohra community. The solution is not keeping quiet about it and putting a lid on criticism.

And my article was not a sign of being a traitor to the Bohra community, although you intimated that, and I am sorry that you feel that way.

You suggest that I have acted in a non-Bohra manner by criticizing an individual in the community. I hope you realize how paranoid that sounds. But I cannot hold it against you because I have never met you and in future I would ask you to accord me the same respect.

I thank you for your good wishes, and pray that, inshallah, Allah will fulfill my prayers.

Amara Mola une qayamat na deen tuk daraaz une daraaz kure. Ameen.

Aamera

	"The writer thanked the producers for the lovely paycheck. Then he shot them." writelikegod.com
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From Madina M., Mombasa, KENYA:

SUBJECT: Swahili Cuisine< /A>:

Att: Binyawanga Wainaina,

I read your Swahili cuisine letter,?I was so disappointed by all your comments on Swahili People and behavior?I understood each and every point of view. Wainaina I think all what you said is very wrong and false act against Swahili group. Sir,?maybe all what you accused on the well behaved and a complete culture of Swahili shows how jealous and hatred toward Swahili people as if someone from that culture neglected you or you were a house boy on their house, so what you are doing is triying to take a revenge on their culture.

Your comment on the people of the coast that they can't dig and harvest because they have Henna on their hands that's really wrong. Yes we do apply henna, that's` the beauty of Swahili and Islamic culture and we are proud of that but sir let me tell you Henna is only for woman not men's beautification.

Coast is a very peaceful place and the people of Coast are the most generous compared to the people of the western (Majamaa wa bara).?Haven't you heard sad, shameful stories about the western people killing their wives, sexually?abuse their own daughters and even sons? Haven't you listened to news each and everyday people are killed in Nairobi. Last but not least will you answer my question,?why are these western people have immigrated their own home area to come and stay in Mombassa? This really shows how bad the western areas have become unbearable for the bad act of the own people.

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From Tom M., Glasgow, SCOTLAND:

SUBJECT: Robert Hamill

this is the first i've heard of this attrocity ( citizen of Glasgow )

i am very shocked and moved by this sad story, and hope and pray that the Hamill family and indeed the nationalist community gain justice.


ROD RESPONDS:

Tom, I'm responding in Dan VanDeMortel (the article's author's) stead as he informs me he is going on sabbatical from his law firm for a few months. Also, he cannot make any direct comment at this time because the Hamill case is still wending its way through the courts at this writing.

Needless to say, much of what we've offered in our IRISH EYES column has been about the injustices perpetrated in Northern Ireland. We see that as a duty to our readership around the world and shall continue to do so, while still offering you the lighter side of Irish life as well. Thanks for visiting us, please come back and feel free to write us again. Cheers!

From Cheryl H-N, (No City Provided, VT, USA:

SUBJECT: G21 #382: Substantial Investment

Hi Rod the arisen! Rod I am very happy you are around for me to be angry with. I have been worried about you for some time now.

Please, please try to get some work so you can get the necessities of life.

I think if you can fill your physical needs (air, food, water, medical help, shelter, comfort) you will be able to see that you have real flesh and blood friends that care as opposed to leeches that drain your vigor and leave you empty. You are brilliant, warm, loving, aware and way to bright a light to leave us any time soon. Be well!!! Love yourself first!

:-) cheryl


ROD RESPONDS:

As in: because no one else will? Again, forgive my ascerbic. That's how I am. Always the Jokester, even if it's a twisted kind of humor.

I do appreciate your concern.

Thanks for that. But you have read that I am the man who believes most in betrayal and abandonment. I respond to what I know best.

As to the Light, the only light I have is knowing a good writer when I read one. That should be obvious. It's the only real reason for the G21 or me. Well, maybe there's that promised (and unrealized) book. But I always leave too soon, don't I?

Love,
Rodja

From Kim K., Douglasdale, SOUTH AFRICA:

SUBJECT: G21 #382: Substantial Investment

luverly stuff, thanks for the grins

:) Kim


From Pieter T, Amsterdam, THE NETHERLAND:

SUBJECT: G21 is back!

Dear Rod

I am so happy to see that you have decided to get up from your bloody fall and get back on your charger! A great and big new issue of your 'Zine is a joy to behold!

I haven't read it all yet but I promise I will. Thank the Goddess, you are still with us. Keep on doing your good works.

A Fan Across the Seas,
Pieter.

ROD RESPONDS:

Hmmn. Those first few e-mails were starting to make me think we were doing something wrong here. Thanks for settin' me straight, Pieter. Hope you enjoy this edition of YOUR World's Magazine, too. Cheers!

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