Well put, especially regarding the failures in the European debates.

FYI, the video isn’t showing up for me—I had to go into the code and then go watch it on YouTube.

As for Ms. Ali, she has an axe to grind due to her traumatic experiences, which is understandable, but it also undermines her. She’s correct in that the European debate focused on the wrong issues, but she’s also saying there’s a clash of values for which there is no compromise, which is total bullshit. I’m living proof of that, as are millions of others.

Sorry, but anyone who hates Islam to the degree she does isn’t the best person to spotlight if you want to have a reasoned discussion about Islam in the West, that is unless you want to leave actual practicing Muslims out of the equation altogether (which would be foolish, IMO).

re: #2 CuriousLurker

I’m finding myself more and more agreeing with you, especially given that significant research into what traumatized Ali will show that it was a result of tribal practices justified by faith rather than faith itself.

re: #3 OrionXP

I’m finding myself more and more agreeing with you, especially given that significant research into what traumatized Ali will show that it was a result of tribal practices justified by faith rather than faith itself.

BTW, I just want to clarify that when I said “you” in my previous comment I was referring to the collective you, not YOU personally.

It’s true that in some countries “the veil” is used to subjugate women, but it really doesn’t have anything to do with the practice of Islam in North America. I can’t speak for Europe or Australia as I’ve never been to either place and, aside from what I read & hear about on TV, I don’t know much about the situation of Muslim communities there. What I can say is that I’ve corresponded with European Muslim women who wear hijab voluntarily and don’t feel the slightest bit subjugated by it, nor do they feel in any way conflicted living in a non-Muslim society.

That being said, regardless of whether a woman is being forced to wear hijab or forced remove it, her freedom of choice is still being taken away by a third party who has decided that they know what’s best for her.

I think people are conflating numerous issues that are actually quite distinct.