I wonder what they’re looking at.

They’re wearing so much color!

They don’t look very happy.

hakim

This is a stunning photograph!!!! They don’t look happy but
they look like they have so much character!!! and depth—-
almost like interesting women with rich life experiences already
behind them. Some are stunningly beauitful but they look like such non-conformists- like each one is really her own person. Stunning photograph. Shit I hope it doesn’t all bocome lost potential

Maybe thiers was one of the hundreds of girls’ schools burned down lately… Anyway, the rate of blondism in Central Asia has always struck me.

- A Salafi in worship, a Sufi in society, a Secularist in government.

Women from this part of the world are spunky, I have only the women of my family to think of. Each female is quite a character in their own individual way.

The Taliban is not that active, almost non-existent in the northern portions of the country.

I think this picture captures the fear the Taliban has of women. Women are the key to the revitalization of the Ummah, keeping half the faithful under lock and key is destined for disaster.

They are beautiful. I have a daughter so I think I’m partial to girls, but I swear I see the face of God in them sometimes.

They look Caucasian ‘cause they’re Indo-European, right? We Euro-American Caucasians forget we have Caucasian cousins in many places. Celtic folklore has parallels in the Rig Veda. There were blue-eyed plaid-wearing folks in Western China long ago.

hakim

Hakim Baker,

I assumed you were Black.

Persians and Afghans are Caucasians, some are fair skinned and others can be quite dark. When Euro-Americans think of Persians and Afghans, they think we all are “swarthy” and “dark” but some are “white” and others look “Asian” as in Chinese in regards to the Hazara of Bamian province.

GustavoMustafa you have questioned/referenced/mentioned the race/ethnicity/identity of the bloggers here a number of times. Are you a this or a this? What ethnic background are you? etc…

Just curious what that’s about?

Really just curious, not a dig or anything. Is ethnicity and identity an interest of yours above and beyond curiosity? A study?

You never answered me Baraka, I would say yes statistics on posters on the basis of their race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, educational status, income, place of residence, geographical location are important issues for me. When dealing with Muslims, it gives me a sense if I can “trust” them or what buttons or sacred cows about Islam they may have.

Remember, I studied sociology.

Now, will you please answer the question Baraka, I’m assuming based on previous postings you’re a white male revert, heterosexual, correct?

You know my identity and some of the many labels I adhere to.

I guess I do study people.

But some people like being anonymous in the blogosphere. If you are one of those people, Barak, I will respect your decision.

But is Baraka your legal name? Just like I would ask Omar or Hakim? Something tells me these names are not birth names given by your non-Muslim parents.

I have issues with name changes when people revert to Islam.

I can appreciate the impulse in wanting to know who is trust worthy. Though, I would suggest that if youre basing that on what a person’s “identity” is (race, reversion status, name change, gender, sexual preference) that you might want to try a different strategy, as these are BS when it comes to knowing a person.

“But is Baraka your legal name? . . . I have issues with name changes when people revert to Islam.”

Not the first thing people want to hear when asked, who are you and where did you get your name, and etc etc etc… Those are your issues remember…

The blogger’s trustworthy-ness is, I find, rather obvious in their posts. 99.999% of the people here seem awesome and honest and trustfull.

Peaces.

Baraka,

I meant no offense, I’m curious and to me personal information about other posters is not BS in my opinion.

I have noticed that one’s identity can be indicators of personal disposition and attitudes/outlook on life. Islam differs from person to person, and this is often influenced by circumstances in their life.

To me Islam is personal and not something that can be compartmentalize from other identities.

In my “Photo of the Iranian Woman” you mentioned an attraction to these Teheran bomb-shells and based on comments to my posting that thread, I assumed what I stated in my previous posting about you.

To me posts that show pictures are as equally compelling as words.

Remember, I am not non-white in the Euro-American ethnic and racial sense, I have dealt with issues of assimilation, acculturation, and making it in the mainstream.

To me identity, like being Muslim cannot be separated from my other identities.

I do not go by my “Muslim” name due to the fact that I deem this move unnecessary. To me Islam is my ancestral faith, one that got lost in translation in America since my family are not religiously observant either in Islam or Christianity, I am the product and embodiment of an American melting pot, with various ingredients forming a new identity and seeking myself out.

But I feel Islam is a universal faith, and as such, I insist on ethnic chauvinism and resistance to Arabization.

I have mentioned the mosque I attend, I am sure that someone may eventually come across my postings and figure me out in the masjid.

Do I fear this though, no?

I just notice that some people seem more hesitant about volunteering information on this blog, I for the most part, tell you guys everything about me.

If you would like to dwell on sexual kinks and turn-ons, that’s the only thing I have not dealt with in my postings.

I hope you’re not offended BarakaB by my statements, I mean no offense and that goes for other people as well.

I’m curious . . . to me knowing something about a person and their autobiographical details allows me one way to establish trust with them . . .

I’ve been scarred to some extent in my interaction with Muslims in real life and virtually too . . . so sorry if I come across or rub you the wrong way.

I do agree with Ginan!

This photograph captures a moment in contemporary Afghan history, it seems some Muslims with their bans against human photography where the subject engages in human portraiture is threatening.

Direct eye contact with people, contrary to the lowering of the gaze, can be threatening since it forces to look at the person, engage with them as an individual, as someone who is autonomous, free-thinking, with a mind of their own, with desires, passions, and dreams.

I will admit that I am not without my issues as mentioned by Baraka.

I guess in my quest to be more comfortable in my Muslim skin, I am trying to find venues and spaces where I can be completely myself.

Oh, sorry Gustavo. I didn’t mean to show that I was offended. Blasted internet!!! (fist shaking in air). But I do think some of what you’re asking in an effort to trust people rubs me the wrong way. But that’s probably more to do with getting blips and blabs of comments posted here and there than anything else.

I think it’s a very tricky thing this cultural appropriation, culture, what color are you, game. We are in such such such a unique situation. Religious and cultural grab bag. Identity fetishization. Racism. Sexism. Eek…

I guess I play between overly up front hi nice to meet you lets grab tea to I am nobody and don’t ask me about me. So, pardon the mystery, I’m in clandestine mode. It usually doesn’t last.

Peace.

PS-I’m a contributor if you ever wanted to know. Look at the contributors.

yipee!!!!!! we agree!!!!!!!! finally. I downloaded the picture and will
put it in my office. what fiesty spunky girls. damn I wish I had a
daughter. yes those eyes are penetrating….

now for the may need bonkers moment:
Muslim ban on Photography! go to any Arab country and you’d wish they’d ban those gargantuan pictures of the Leader. If you studied sociology, then you should know that social reality can be quite different from doctrine.
Muslims have practiced pictorial art. Muslim countries have movie
industries that are growing. check out some of the Arabic video clips
( should I apologize for this ethnocentric slip) to see how in practice
such orientalist assumptions about the downward gaze are products
of fantasy rather than practice. Please! reality is so much more complicated than that.

I like the critique on representational imagery, especially coming from an anti-realism slant (language-writers a la “Natural. The very word should be erased from the dictionary.” —Charles Berstein etc etc), but making that or anything else like that some whack ass law, is so f-ing lame it kills me.

This whole fear of idol worship is archaic and completely non-subtle. It’s such a one to one criticism. Like don’t look at a tomb you might worship it. Puh-leeze… You gotta be like: don’t look at my face or you’re a gwana get socked. It’s embarassing to even have that argument. And insulting to our intellects!

But seriously. I’m down with the criticism, sans the fascism.

But I love photos and plan on taking ‘em and viewing ‘em for a long time.

Baraka:

I am really confused by what you are saying. what do you mean?

I was merely making the point that the so-called ban on
representation hardly gives us a sense of what is going on
with representation.

Whoops, did I pick up a thread out of sync?

I was referring to the assumed prohibition of representational art in Muslim society taken from your “Muslim ban on Photography!” statement.

I was saying, rather off the cuff, that I appreciate the critique of representational art as presented in Islam, since it in some ways relates to some anti-representation threads in post-modern literature. (My reference to Charles Berstein’s statement about the word “natural”. This was a reference to so-called Realism. It don’t exist.)

However I feel that any ideas of prohibition or banning are absurd and represent a misunderstanding of how idol worship (the supposed reason for banning representational art in the first place) actually occurs. (In my view that is.)

Ginan,

>>Arabic video clips ( should I apologize for this ethnocentric slip)

Don’t apologize! I may be a convert nationalist (WTF is that?), but I could sit all day watching LBC, MBC etc music videos. You think that’s rap blasting out of my car? Not a chance; I’ll take some Jil anyday for my anger music times…

- A Salafi in worship, a Sufi in society, a Secularist in government.