This was an introduction to a serious of stories & recollections, right? I keep looking for the story but it is forthcoming, did I understand correctly? The intro whetted my appetite; I need to know more!
Yes, this is just the introduction. There's too much to the story to put it in one essay. It is a series and I will try to publish one last each week so keep a look out. I wish I could figure out how to make a new section just for this story on my Substack! The minute I do, I will.out them all there and it will be easier for people to.follow the story.
Thank you for this essay; it is very courageous to write these things because my experience shows that so many people do not want to face the reality that women in these countries face.
Dear Karen - thank you for your bravery in writing about this. My own knee-jerk reaction is to always reject the idea that evil exists. I find it hard to accept the instances of racism and prejudice Brazilian (and/or black) friends of mine have experienced in Europe. I find it equally hard to accept the idea of Islam as evil.
However, this is my rosy-eyed desire - in reality, my own real-life (though brief!) experience of Egypt and Muslim men has been one of utter disrespect and contempt for me as a European woman.
I deeply value your experience and writing. Anyone who takes the time to delve into your writing will see you are not espousing hate or violence or intolerance. I look forward to reading the rest of this series, no matter how hard to swallow it might be.
Thank you. For a long time, I rejected the idea that there was actual evil. I was raised that there was evil in the world, and we had to fight against it, but for a long time, I just didn't want to think about that. Now, I see that this is true, although it's dicey because people so often use "evil" as an excuse to commit evil. So, it's a constant evaluation of oneself, that one doesn't descend into hatred and justify it for the sake of fighting on the "right" side. Certain terrible memories of evil stand out to me, once while living in London, I was about to walk up the stairs from the underground when I saw some Neo-Nazi teenage boys viciously kick an Indian teenager, a skinny defenseless guy. The Indian teenager just took it, he looked so bowed down and defeated, it tore at my heart. Thankfully the other boys just laughed (thinking they were quite the warriors when they were the cowards) and went away and that was the end of it. But I thought, how easily humans are influenced to do horrific things, and the bigger the group, the more emboldened they become. Each of those boys on his own would not have done what they did--although there is always a leader who might have. There was some force outside of those boys that had taken hold of them, some force that they were susceptible to and that they welcomed. These are the forces of evil we fight against. People can laugh at it, or try to ignore it, but it's there. I don't think people are evil, I think they give in to evil forces. I'm not saying people aren't responsible for their actions, they are. But also, from working with youth in juvenile hall who were facing life sentences for serious crimes and hearing their stories, it isn't so simple as that, either. There are reasons why people give in to certain forces. Nothing is ever simple.
I know an' it makes me doubly grateful for your fierce candor, truth, an' yet so much empathy.
Don't "they" see it? I cain't understand these "haters" unable ta at least "listen" 'fore they judge... I never believed it could git this bad... but these hard times never cease ta surprise me.
So "double thanks" yer way Karen cuz so many cain't or jus' won't speak up--they see it, know it, but are fraidy cats cuz (sadly) the haters do bite hard like dogs bred ta fight an' not let go even if it means harm, destruction. Folks are tryin' ta 'splain "mass delusions" but I'm more confounded by the haters--an' how they turned... ('nuther idear fer an essay mebbe...)
I have been absolutely blown away by the outpouring of hatred toward Jews since now, people who kept that hatred hidden in the dark now feel emboldened to express it openly. It's as if a damn of putrid garbage burst and it's all just pouring out. I have to gather my courage to go on X because it is such a cesspool of hatred now. But I do it because of my work and I need to see it. Ugh.
yup, my armor ain't teflon (which is toxic anyway) so some of the putrid garbage seeps in ta the skin (doesn't easily repel)--makes me feel like I need a good shower! (good analogy re the putrid garbage). More blessin's fer exposin' yerself ta the same "unfriendly fire" that's hittin' decent folks jus' doin' their best--both us "chews" here an' abroad (includin' in Israel) AND all the christian zionists (vili-fried fer simply bein' pro Israel) called fools & idiots... My jaw remains dropped-- if you have some insight on how humans so easily form sich "hatreds" I'd sure like ta hear it--I jus' don't understand it an' cain't believe my eyes & ears (an' bein' over the half cent'ury mark--ssssh--I've had time on this planet ta see a lot!)-- so "how come?" (an' many of these folks consider themselfs upright citizens...) Egads an' oy vey but more an' more thanks yer way...
Thanks for sharing your story. After listening to you, I remembered a book by Reza Aslan.
No God but God : The Origins and Evolution of Islam. Copyright 2005, Random House.
“In this invaluable introduction to a faith that for much of the West remains shrouded in ignorance and fear, Reza Aslan, an internationally acclaimed scholar of comparative religion, examines Islam: its rituals and traditions, the revelation of Muhammed as Prophet and the subsequent uprising against him, and the emergence of his successors. Aslan’s comprehensive text explores the complex history of the fastest growing religion in the world.
No God but God is an engaging, accessible, and thought-provoking book for young people that is sure to stimulate discussion and encourage understanding of the Islamic faith and the people who follow it.
I've not read any of Reza Aslan's books, but I should, so thanks for reminding me. I have listened to him talk and I have read articles. I really like him. I believe his perspective leans more toward Sufism, which I find to have quite a lot of merit. He believes religion is a set of symbols or ways to express the inexpressible. I would agree that there is no way for finite creatures such as we are to define the infinite and we do our best within the words that we use in religion--but that can get way too wordy and too many people, governments and institutions use religion to further their own agendas. This is why I do not espouse a religion. I have come these past few years to simply call myself a follower of Jesus. Everything else is added on, rituals, and all of that. Living the best that I can by Jesus's example is my goal, which often falls short but that's why there is forgiveness and redemption.
Yes, I don’t understand why so many people won’t understand that when The Muslims shout that they want the whole world to be Islam and under Sharia Law, that is Exactly what they mean. Perhaps the only truth they tell ‘the infidel.’
People are not taught history. Islam is a religion of conquest, by the sword. It was created to unite Arabs to fight against their enemies. There are many progressive Muslims who do
not follow this original plan, but countries that are ruled by Sharia Law are still living in the dark ages and they can't seem to get out of it. Christianity has been used in the same way in history, corrupt and powerful church institutions tried to take over by the sword, but that was never Jesus' teaching; it was never the foundation of who he was and is. Yes, he said to go into the world and preach the gospel, but through love and peace. He warned his followers that they would be despised, rejected and killed, as he was. Down through history, true followers of Jesus have been tortured and killed for their faith, they did not start "prosperity movements" where they amassed millions of dollars from naive old ladies, nor did they build massive religious institutions. Inevitably, the bigger an institution becomes, I don't care whether it's a bank or a church, the more corrupt it is likely to be.
Feb 27·edited Feb 27Liked by Karen Hunt aka KH Mezek
Please keep tellin' yer story Karen--some of this I know too an' understand oh too well! I grew up with Arab Christian friends--it's not the "people" I worry 'bout it's a specific non-judeo-christian belief system that, as the brilliant an' dear Gad Saad sez so eloquently--is NOT LIKE US. But goldurnit, nobuddy believes him / me / the lampost but meebbe they'll believe you?--I DO hope so!
I know it's a risk fer ya too speakin' out (risk fer verbal attack but I git 'em an they still sting). Back in my salad dayz (an' indeedy I did eat a lotta 'em) I used ta put on my Doc Martens an' leather jacket as armor--ta face the sometimes cat-callin' world that wouldn't let me be at some times when I wanted ta meet pals in the evenin's or be left alone in in some countries where certain "culcha's" felt women mindin' their own bizness unaccompanied wuz fair game. Thankfully my armor an' city gal stomp helped muchly. Today, I put on my non-sartorial armor to read my "stacks" an' the comments. But I must know an' HOPE the same folks that knew the jabs were a con will wake up an know that all that "l.o.v.e." fer all those who wanna erase all infidels ('specially us "chews") first from the Middle East an' next from America--oh yup, that part they'ze sayin' Out Loud!) is also a con... (An' it drops my jawr that folks say that muslim men would never rape so that's all "made up tales" from ill-legit "joos"--even if we set aside whaheppened in Israel--should we not "believe" the women in Sweden? UK? elsewhar? I'd think so but the nooz goin' round on them innertubes is QUITE the opposite--folks no longer know what's true...) Share more, I'll be listenin'!
Every time I write about this topic the haters come out. But I will keep doing it. Because I experienced it first hand, I come from a place of knowledge that most people don't have. I feel like I have to tell my story for that reason alone. Still it doesn't matter, if folks want to hate they will hate. If they want to deny the truth, they will deny the truth.
I was just thinking, if you try your hand in archery again, and your left eye dominate, you will need to learn to shoot a LH bow. With the discipline it takes to master martial arts, I don't think it would be a problem for you.
Feb 27·edited Feb 27Liked by Karen Hunt aka KH Mezek
I'm looking forward to hearing more of this saga and your experiences in Egypt! I've been told by an Egyptian gentleman friend that the men in Egypt treat women like queens. Interesting to hear the other side of that story.
I got told pretty much the same by a Brazilian gentleman about life in Southern Brazil. The reality (16 years later) is pretty much the opposite, unless my understanding of "being treated like a queen" is somehow off!!
I’m also looking forward to reading more of your experience in Egypt. I’m sure they differ in many ways from mine because I’m a man but overlap in many others. My life was easy in Egypt because I spoke some Arabic and learned quickly that the country ran on bakshish (bribes). I can only imagine how you were treated in backward Luxor. The running joke was the only time a woman walked in front of a man was through a minefield.
My experience exactly, in Egypt but especially in Libya. So perhaps the Egyptian gentleman mentioned by Gina in a previous comment was correct…Egyptian woman are treated like queens….compared to the rest of the Arab world!
You can judge for yourself as I write this how woman are treated in Egypt. I think you can get an idea already by the Egyptian women writers that I quoted. The men certainly are very good with the flattery, I'll give them that. And of course, not every man is like that. Of course there are women who are happily married to Egyptian men.
This was an introduction to a serious of stories & recollections, right? I keep looking for the story but it is forthcoming, did I understand correctly? The intro whetted my appetite; I need to know more!
Yes, this is just the introduction. There's too much to the story to put it in one essay. It is a series and I will try to publish one last each week so keep a look out. I wish I could figure out how to make a new section just for this story on my Substack! The minute I do, I will.out them all there and it will be easier for people to.follow the story.
I'm thankful for this......
🙏
Any man or woman who performs FMG should be sent to a dark area of the universe.
Karen, please stay safe. Remember Salman Rushdie"s experience. None of your readers
want to have to go underground.......
Thank you. I'm in New York. But quite safe 🙏
Thank you for this essay; it is very courageous to write these things because my experience shows that so many people do not want to face the reality that women in these countries face.
Dear Karen - thank you for your bravery in writing about this. My own knee-jerk reaction is to always reject the idea that evil exists. I find it hard to accept the instances of racism and prejudice Brazilian (and/or black) friends of mine have experienced in Europe. I find it equally hard to accept the idea of Islam as evil.
However, this is my rosy-eyed desire - in reality, my own real-life (though brief!) experience of Egypt and Muslim men has been one of utter disrespect and contempt for me as a European woman.
I deeply value your experience and writing. Anyone who takes the time to delve into your writing will see you are not espousing hate or violence or intolerance. I look forward to reading the rest of this series, no matter how hard to swallow it might be.
Thank you. For a long time, I rejected the idea that there was actual evil. I was raised that there was evil in the world, and we had to fight against it, but for a long time, I just didn't want to think about that. Now, I see that this is true, although it's dicey because people so often use "evil" as an excuse to commit evil. So, it's a constant evaluation of oneself, that one doesn't descend into hatred and justify it for the sake of fighting on the "right" side. Certain terrible memories of evil stand out to me, once while living in London, I was about to walk up the stairs from the underground when I saw some Neo-Nazi teenage boys viciously kick an Indian teenager, a skinny defenseless guy. The Indian teenager just took it, he looked so bowed down and defeated, it tore at my heart. Thankfully the other boys just laughed (thinking they were quite the warriors when they were the cowards) and went away and that was the end of it. But I thought, how easily humans are influenced to do horrific things, and the bigger the group, the more emboldened they become. Each of those boys on his own would not have done what they did--although there is always a leader who might have. There was some force outside of those boys that had taken hold of them, some force that they were susceptible to and that they welcomed. These are the forces of evil we fight against. People can laugh at it, or try to ignore it, but it's there. I don't think people are evil, I think they give in to evil forces. I'm not saying people aren't responsible for their actions, they are. But also, from working with youth in juvenile hall who were facing life sentences for serious crimes and hearing their stories, it isn't so simple as that, either. There are reasons why people give in to certain forces. Nothing is ever simple.
I know an' it makes me doubly grateful for your fierce candor, truth, an' yet so much empathy.
Don't "they" see it? I cain't understand these "haters" unable ta at least "listen" 'fore they judge... I never believed it could git this bad... but these hard times never cease ta surprise me.
So "double thanks" yer way Karen cuz so many cain't or jus' won't speak up--they see it, know it, but are fraidy cats cuz (sadly) the haters do bite hard like dogs bred ta fight an' not let go even if it means harm, destruction. Folks are tryin' ta 'splain "mass delusions" but I'm more confounded by the haters--an' how they turned... ('nuther idear fer an essay mebbe...)
I have been absolutely blown away by the outpouring of hatred toward Jews since now, people who kept that hatred hidden in the dark now feel emboldened to express it openly. It's as if a damn of putrid garbage burst and it's all just pouring out. I have to gather my courage to go on X because it is such a cesspool of hatred now. But I do it because of my work and I need to see it. Ugh.
yup, my armor ain't teflon (which is toxic anyway) so some of the putrid garbage seeps in ta the skin (doesn't easily repel)--makes me feel like I need a good shower! (good analogy re the putrid garbage). More blessin's fer exposin' yerself ta the same "unfriendly fire" that's hittin' decent folks jus' doin' their best--both us "chews" here an' abroad (includin' in Israel) AND all the christian zionists (vili-fried fer simply bein' pro Israel) called fools & idiots... My jaw remains dropped-- if you have some insight on how humans so easily form sich "hatreds" I'd sure like ta hear it--I jus' don't understand it an' cain't believe my eyes & ears (an' bein' over the half cent'ury mark--ssssh--I've had time on this planet ta see a lot!)-- so "how come?" (an' many of these folks consider themselfs upright citizens...) Egads an' oy vey but more an' more thanks yer way...
Thanks for sharing your story. After listening to you, I remembered a book by Reza Aslan.
No God but God : The Origins and Evolution of Islam. Copyright 2005, Random House.
“In this invaluable introduction to a faith that for much of the West remains shrouded in ignorance and fear, Reza Aslan, an internationally acclaimed scholar of comparative religion, examines Islam: its rituals and traditions, the revelation of Muhammed as Prophet and the subsequent uprising against him, and the emergence of his successors. Aslan’s comprehensive text explores the complex history of the fastest growing religion in the world.
No God but God is an engaging, accessible, and thought-provoking book for young people that is sure to stimulate discussion and encourage understanding of the Islamic faith and the people who follow it.
I've not read any of Reza Aslan's books, but I should, so thanks for reminding me. I have listened to him talk and I have read articles. I really like him. I believe his perspective leans more toward Sufism, which I find to have quite a lot of merit. He believes religion is a set of symbols or ways to express the inexpressible. I would agree that there is no way for finite creatures such as we are to define the infinite and we do our best within the words that we use in religion--but that can get way too wordy and too many people, governments and institutions use religion to further their own agendas. This is why I do not espouse a religion. I have come these past few years to simply call myself a follower of Jesus. Everything else is added on, rituals, and all of that. Living the best that I can by Jesus's example is my goal, which often falls short but that's why there is forgiveness and redemption.
Thank you for your wonderful comment and insight concerning organized religion.
I prefer traditional spirituality over organized religion. Your critique of organized religion resonates with me. Bless you.
Yes, I don’t understand why so many people won’t understand that when The Muslims shout that they want the whole world to be Islam and under Sharia Law, that is Exactly what they mean. Perhaps the only truth they tell ‘the infidel.’
People are not taught history. Islam is a religion of conquest, by the sword. It was created to unite Arabs to fight against their enemies. There are many progressive Muslims who do
not follow this original plan, but countries that are ruled by Sharia Law are still living in the dark ages and they can't seem to get out of it. Christianity has been used in the same way in history, corrupt and powerful church institutions tried to take over by the sword, but that was never Jesus' teaching; it was never the foundation of who he was and is. Yes, he said to go into the world and preach the gospel, but through love and peace. He warned his followers that they would be despised, rejected and killed, as he was. Down through history, true followers of Jesus have been tortured and killed for their faith, they did not start "prosperity movements" where they amassed millions of dollars from naive old ladies, nor did they build massive religious institutions. Inevitably, the bigger an institution becomes, I don't care whether it's a bank or a church, the more corrupt it is likely to be.
Totally agree! I am a Christian but gave up on churches per se. Thanks for your response..
Please keep tellin' yer story Karen--some of this I know too an' understand oh too well! I grew up with Arab Christian friends--it's not the "people" I worry 'bout it's a specific non-judeo-christian belief system that, as the brilliant an' dear Gad Saad sez so eloquently--is NOT LIKE US. But goldurnit, nobuddy believes him / me / the lampost but meebbe they'll believe you?--I DO hope so!
I know it's a risk fer ya too speakin' out (risk fer verbal attack but I git 'em an they still sting). Back in my salad dayz (an' indeedy I did eat a lotta 'em) I used ta put on my Doc Martens an' leather jacket as armor--ta face the sometimes cat-callin' world that wouldn't let me be at some times when I wanted ta meet pals in the evenin's or be left alone in in some countries where certain "culcha's" felt women mindin' their own bizness unaccompanied wuz fair game. Thankfully my armor an' city gal stomp helped muchly. Today, I put on my non-sartorial armor to read my "stacks" an' the comments. But I must know an' HOPE the same folks that knew the jabs were a con will wake up an know that all that "l.o.v.e." fer all those who wanna erase all infidels ('specially us "chews") first from the Middle East an' next from America--oh yup, that part they'ze sayin' Out Loud!) is also a con... (An' it drops my jawr that folks say that muslim men would never rape so that's all "made up tales" from ill-legit "joos"--even if we set aside whaheppened in Israel--should we not "believe" the women in Sweden? UK? elsewhar? I'd think so but the nooz goin' round on them innertubes is QUITE the opposite--folks no longer know what's true...) Share more, I'll be listenin'!
Every time I write about this topic the haters come out. But I will keep doing it. Because I experienced it first hand, I come from a place of knowledge that most people don't have. I feel like I have to tell my story for that reason alone. Still it doesn't matter, if folks want to hate they will hate. If they want to deny the truth, they will deny the truth.
I was just thinking, if you try your hand in archery again, and your left eye dominate, you will need to learn to shoot a LH bow. With the discipline it takes to master martial arts, I don't think it would be a problem for you.
Good to know. I think I tried that. I think I just had the wrong person teaching me because they weren't very encouraging.
Well if you need any tips let me know. One thing about a bow is you can feed yourself with it, big & small game, fish too and it’s quite.🥂🐸
can't wait for the next instalment. The 1st. one, like I said before really put the hook in me.
Now that I've made the promise I put the pressure on myself to write the rest lol.
dont get in a rush, would hate for you to forget any details.
😂
Me too! Can’t wait to here more! Those 11 minutes went way too fast!
Haha. Now that I made the promise I will have to keep writing to fulfill it!
I'm looking forward to hearing more of this saga and your experiences in Egypt! I've been told by an Egyptian gentleman friend that the men in Egypt treat women like queens. Interesting to hear the other side of that story.
I got told pretty much the same by a Brazilian gentleman about life in Southern Brazil. The reality (16 years later) is pretty much the opposite, unless my understanding of "being treated like a queen" is somehow off!!
I’m also looking forward to reading more of your experience in Egypt. I’m sure they differ in many ways from mine because I’m a man but overlap in many others. My life was easy in Egypt because I spoke some Arabic and learned quickly that the country ran on bakshish (bribes). I can only imagine how you were treated in backward Luxor. The running joke was the only time a woman walked in front of a man was through a minefield.
My experience exactly, in Egypt but especially in Libya. So perhaps the Egyptian gentleman mentioned by Gina in a previous comment was correct…Egyptian woman are treated like queens….compared to the rest of the Arab world!
You can judge for yourself as I write this how woman are treated in Egypt. I think you can get an idea already by the Egyptian women writers that I quoted. The men certainly are very good with the flattery, I'll give them that. And of course, not every man is like that. Of course there are women who are happily married to Egyptian men.
Very true.