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Hawaiian women chart their own path to power

Native Feminisms Without Apology

Important stuff. Skip the dude in the beginning though.

Native Feminisms Without Apology Conference

US Muslim Film Contest: Glimpse

I AM A MUSLIM!

On being Muslim and talking too much

I am thinking that maybe Islam is a religion where one shouldn't talk so much. Perhaps it is better to manifest the faith through one's action's primarily. I know this may sound obvious, yet I am becoming increasingly aware that many Muslims put too much energy into talking about Islam and what Islam stands for, rather then putting energy into exemplifying Islam through their actions. This creates a kind of anxiety or hyper-defensiveness that just isn't helpful when giving dawah. Just look at many of the comments on you tube for example for some Islamic videos. Some folks engage in arguments trying to defend the religion using profane language! This is just embarrassing and really misses the point. What are we really trying to defend, and does it need defending? Islam is what it is, and you either believe in it or you don't.

Yesterday I was thinking about the Prophet's (saw) marriage to Aisha, particularly as it pertains to her age. I had never heard of an explanation that made me feel completely at ease. So I texted some of my trusted Muslim friends to see what they had to say about issue--that is how did they reconcile or explain the Prophet's marriage to Aisha without glossing over the facts or sounding too apologetic. Among one of the answer's that I appreciated the most, was a simple "I don't know, because I don't understand it." Furthermore, the sister implied that she would not try to explain something that she didn't understand, from a paradigm that was limited by time, location, and cultural prejudice. I realized that it never occurs to some Muslims just to say that. That it may seem for some to be a defeat.

I would like to know: "When we are "defending" Islam are we really defending our own egos and need to be right? Are we guising our own insecurities about the religion? Do Muslims benefit/suffer? from a double consciousness-- a "second-sight in this American world,--a world which yields him [or her] no true self-consciousness, but only lets him [or her] see himself [or herself] through the revelation of the other world[? . . .] It is a peculiar sensation . . . this sense of always looking at one's self through the eyes of others, of measuring one's soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity." (Excerpted from the chapter "Of Our Spiritual Strivings" in his book The Souls of Black Folk.) I think there is the feeling of needing to make things look pretty, not just for the supposedly monolithic (Western) world, but to those who doubt the religion or take issue with aspects of the faith or the character/practices of the Prophet (saw).

Post 9/11/ especially, there is this sense in the community that we must have a quick rebuttal for everything. Hence people may end up saying things that don't make complete sense, such as some explanations regarding the supposed benefits of hijab. I have actually heard some some people reference hijab as a means of protection against rape, implying that hijab does not entice a potential rapist in the same way that a "scantily clad" woman does. This is a really horrendous assertion, especially because many women (and one is too many) in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt etc. have been victims of sexual violence despite being completely covered. It is more helpful to be honest about this, then to perpetuate very problematic patterns of blaming the victim. Furthermore, it obscures the real reason for rape which is rooted in power. I explain my observance of hijab in terms of submission to Allah (swt), as well as it being a useful tool to purify by own intentions. For me it is less about "helping" men not see me as a "sex object" because this kind of thinking alludes to more profound gender issues then what a woman is wearing.

Coming back to the Prophet's marriage to Aisha, some other answers that I got included (abridged):

"Well I know for a fact that in that society at that time, age nine isn't what it is now. They lived relatively short lives, and nine was child bearing age. It wasn't unusual for that to happen in their society. Difference in culture. We may not understand why a foreigner does what they do; but it may make perfect sense in their society. Furthermore, the Prophet wouldn't have done it if it was incorrect. And if it is not a situation where someone is being oppressed, then who are we to judge? [References young people becoming pregnant in our society.] Society picks and chooses what is right and wrong according to what it feels like doing. If the enemy does it then its automatically the worst thing in the world though other's do it"

"As you know I do not take everything literally. The angels had wings of 2 & 3 & 4. Thus there is some symbolism to the number nine. Furthermore, she did not move with him until she was older. Trust me, there is so much more to the Qur'an and Sunnah then we will ever know. Islam is a perfect religion, but we have to study more."

"There is nothing to gloss over. Puberty was marrying age. Talmud preferred marriage by puberty. [She also references various ages of consent around the world in different times. Example: Today: Japan-13; Spain-12; 1900 USA-10 (Cali was 1st to up age to 14 circa 1889. . . Using culture over biology is illogical"

In conclusion I think that I am going to work on getting back to the basics or fundamentals of the religion if you will, and really seek to understand and implement this religion on a really organic level. I want to move from spaces of speculation and defensiveness to securing sound knowledge and the faith that come from knowing.

call to support the Native Hawaiian people!

Greetings Everyone,

So I will not front, my introduction to Hawaiian culture and the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, came as a result of my five year stay in Hawai'i, as a child of a soldier in the US military (industrial complex). I can not distinctly remember what my expectations were of Hawai'i prior to coming, however I very soon developed a great respect and reverence for the people and culture of Hawai'i. Furthermore, reading Haunani-Kay Trask's From a Native Daughter: Colonialism & Sovereignty in Hawai'i, changed how I thought about Hawai'i in relation to tourism and the military industrial complex, not to mention colonialism, imperialism, white supremacy, and genocide. Even before reading this book, I also had a sense very early on that something was not right. When we would go to different tourist attractions like Germaine's Lu'au and The Polynesian Cultural Center, I always wanted to separate myself from the obnoxious white tourist, because I knew deep down that tourism was indeed a very blatant form of "cultural prostitution," as Ms. Haunani-Kay Trask so eloquently puts it. I was also bothered by the fact that other people of African descent (although fewer in numbers) were in fact partaking in this cultural prostitution as well. I knew that what was being presented was either an exploitation of the sacred and/or a perversion of the authentic; and I felt in a very profound way that I was not supposed to be there.

At the age of 13 or 14 I began dancing hula. My deep and profound attraction to hula kahiko (ancient Hawaiian hula) in particular, was always difficult for me to reconcile with the fact that I was not Hawaiian. This was not due to any explicit opposition or resistance to my dancing hula, in fact there were many Hawaiians who recognized not only my talent but my perceived spiritual connection to hula. Furthermore, dancing hula with a hula halau (or hula school) gave me access to other spaces that I would otherwise not have had access too. I also perceived that there were some parallels between Hawaiians and people of African descent, although I will admit this is not a popular discussion (black folks just know). For an example, when performing hula kahiko (ancient hula) the girls with straight hair had to braid their hair in small braids and leave it in for a few days, after which they would unbraid their hair and brush it out presumably to get the kinky texture of their ancestors. When I saw pictures of King Kamehameha and Queen Lili'u'okalani I was really hungry for some discussion around the "African"-Hawaiian connection. However, I had only encountered one public television program that dedicated an episode to discussing the possible connection between Africa and Hawai'i. However, in the context of sovereignty, I don't' think that this is the most important discussion. I only mention it to talk about the connections I was making based on what I saw as some phenotypical and cultural similarities.

Despite my feeling "connected" to hula, as a more informed adult, I want to avoid any form of blatant cultural appropriation, even if it is not my intention to appropriate aspects of another person's culture or spiritual system. Hawaiians historically were and are a generous people, which has in turn made people think that their land and culture are for the taking. This is not the case. Hence, I will in addition to spreading the word about the struggle of the Native Hawaiian people or the kanaka ma'oli, return my hula implements to Hawai'i as well as a very special collection of Hawaiian songs that I have, including the very beautiful He Hawai'i Au. I feel that hula, along with the aforementioned items, are the cultural property of the Hawaiian people.

I am in essence writing this because I want to bring light to the injustices and crimes committed against the Hawaiian people. I ask that you read the following article (when time permits) by Hawaiian sovereignty acitivst Ms. Haunani Kay-Trask:

Tourists stay home, native Hawaiians want their land back

I also highly recommend Haunani K. Trask's book:

From a Native Daughter: Colonialism and Sovereignty in Hawai'i

Some other links of interest include:

Hawai'i Nation
Perspectives on Hawaiian Sovereignty
Na Maka O Ka 'Aina

I would like to leave you with a few excerpts from the book color of violence: the incite! anthology Edited by INCITE! WOMEN OF COLOR AGAINST VIOLENCE in which Haunani K. Trask contributes her essay The Color Violence where she describes the "peaceful or quiet violence" perpetrated against indigenous women:

"These settlers have no interest in, or concern about, our Native people. Settlers of all colors come to Hawai'i for refuge, for relaxation. They do not know, nor do they care, that our Native government was overthrown by white sugar planters in 1893 with the willing aid of the American troops; that our islands were [illegally] annexed in 1898 against the expressed wishes of our Native people; that our political status as Hawaiian citizens was made impossible by forced annexation to the United States. Many non-Natives have said that we should be grateful for the alleged opportunity of American citizenship even if this has meant termination as an independent country" (82).

"During the course of little more than a century, the haole [white foreigner] onslaught had taken from us 95% of our Hawaiian people, 99% of our lands and water, and the entirety of our political sovereignty. As the twentieth century dawned, we were but a remnant of the great and ancient people we had once been" (84).

It is my hope that you all will be moved to become allies in the struggle of the Kanaka Ma'oli (Native Hawaiian people) for justice and sovereignty. According to Haunani Kay-Trask, there are now 45 tourists to every Native Hawaiian. Perhaps we can as allies keep this in mind when we make plans to travel for a vacation or honeymoon.

Remember:
"If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together." --quote belonging to the Aboriginal movement

Looking Back

It’s interesting how throughout our lives we deal with the same issues manifested in different ways. I was going through some of my old journal entries and discovered similar themes: the ardent search for religious truth, the desire to strive towards a spiritual ideal, and dealing with my own feelings of guilt. I also discovered that I am a great fan of new beginnings (aka “starting over”). As I was reading the thoughts of a 9 year old; 16 year old; 22 year old; I began to have a deeper appreciation for my mother because I was such an “intense” child as she would say. Thanks mom.