MY COMMENTS TO OTHERS!

I

wow, that was smart to research! I think it does make people feel closer if you call them brother and sister...maybe it's because in America, no one does that, but I think it is a great thing that Muslims do, habit or not. 
Also, it's important to retain tradition, as long as it retains it's meaning...like in the Jewish religion, males (and some females) cover their head in respect for G-d--I assume you know this. Even though the covering is small, it is symbolic and Jews must remember what the purpose of the covering is...

just thought I'd make the connection :D

March 10, 2009 5:47 AM

II

That's quite interesting...the part about the modern Christian monk...

The most interesting part is that, even though you said he's an extremist, he doesn't try to push his views on others--you said he doesn't expect people to live the way he does. Most extremists try to influence others. What Mr. Claiborne does is quite different; it's respectable.

March 10, 2009 5:43 AM

 

III

WoAh. Horseback riding. GREAT story! That sure is a different take on "life-changing" experiences. Although Malcolm's life-changing experience was a religious one, you related it to a fear that was created when you were little. That's obscure, fascinating, and downright clever! Man, Malcolm traveling thousands of miles to Mecca seems like nothing now...umm, maybe not. But great post! Interesting article too! :D

March 10, 2009 7:47 PM

IV

Cool. Mosques seem like very peaceful places but from what you described, the rules were very strict. You explained very well how a lot of new experiences that many people do not have can affect you personally. That is a pretty neat thing to do, especially because you had images in your head already of Muslims who were praying. It turned out that everything was different... I guess exploring things for yourself is the best (or only) way to learn things!
Great post!

March 10, 2009 7:52 PM

**hypocrisy is a band**

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypocrisy_(band)

JUST FOR FUNSIES!

Does the belief that knocking on wood will prevent bad luck come from Christian practices? If not, what's up with the whole superstition!?

MALCOLM V: Taking a Different Approach

As I make my way through the final chapters of Malcolm X, I realize something very peculiar. Malcolm X, although relieved to be out of America, notices that even people in Mecca tend to associate themselves with people of the same color. Although the race and color doesn't matter so much to people in Mecca, he notices that on the trip to Mecca (the Hajj), people were subconsciously grouping together because they have the same color. However, Malcolm seems to look the other way when this happens. Some would call this hypocrisy. 

But: 

http://www.charisfoundation.com/hypocris.html

Read this article^. Mr. Barber seems to take a very different approach on hypocrisy. He basically says (and still read the article because I am merely paraphrasing) that hypocrisy is when someone acts out something they should believe in instead of completely devoting their whole heart and soul to it. I believe, from personal experiences, that hypocrisy is just that. However, Malcolm's heart and soul are into his black race so much that, when he finds justice for his race, he looks the other way and acts like Mecca is a release. What do you think the definition of hypocrisy is--the "new" definition the article and Luke 12:1-5 states? Or do you think it is the standard definition mentioned right below those quotes from Luke 12:1-5?  I'm sorry if this article makes things confusing but it puts out a different viewpoint.

Please respond back! Let me know what you think...

MALCOLM IV: A New Light!

FINALLY. Malcolm X has opened up his eyes to the world! 

The fact of the matter is that the way one perceives others and what type of thoughts are cultivated in one's mind relies greatly on what types of experiences you live through. Throughout his life, Malcolm X hated the white race and thought they were devils. BUT this was only because he grew up surrounded by racist whites who told him he couldn't achieve his goals in life. Naturally, if one is brought up around people who hate him, he will learn to hate them back. 

For example, in the American society, we take for granted how much we are sheltered from the outside world. There is free speech and restrictions on how many "bad things", per say, one can say about a community or race or religion. Especially in the town we all live in, there is very little discrimination. Therefore, even though I was raised by Jews and surrounded by a very Jewish environment, I know that Christians or Indians or Muslims are not mean and do not have anything against me personally or, most of the time, my religion. Whenever I walk into a church, I am faced with a good first impression: there are food drives, there are social events welcoming all races and creeds, there are other community events. Obviously churches must be a place of selflessness and goodness! Take the church right by the middle school in our town for example; I went there for girl scouts and for parties. I was always welcome!

The bottom line is that the experiences I had (especially the ones I had in churches) made me realize that Christians are a friendly people and that I should not fear them or be angered by them. 

Malcolm X finally realizes this. Even though he was brought up to think that the white people were a horrible people [because they mistreated him], he realizes later that not all whites are racist and that some are indeed very friendly. 

He says when he was being led by a white man in Mecca and around Mecca **AND I QUOTE**: "That morning was the start of a radical alteration in my whole outlook about "white" men."

A new Malcolm X has awoken!

MALCOLM III: Betrayal, False Justification, and Hypocrisy

Um, I'm confused.

I'm in the middle of chapter 16 and something very shocking has happened. Elijah Muhammad committed adultery not once, but twice. Mr. Muhammad, the epitome of morality and justification, has betrayed everyone who has ever followed him. Especially Malcolm. Okay, I get that Elijah Muhammad is "silencing" Malcolm for disobeying him and telling the newspapers something that backfired on him: "Black Muslims' Malcolm X: 'Chickens Come Home to Roost'". What I don't get is how Elijah Muhammad justified his immorality...

When Mr. Muhammad meets with Malcolm he says: "I'm David. When you read about how David took another man's wife, I'm that David. You read about Noah, who got drunk--that's me. You read about Log, who went and laid up with his own daughters. I have to fulfill all of those things."

LKAJDLFASDJSLF?!?!

WHAT?! 

Are you trying to tell Mr. X that you must mock anything that our biblical ancestors have done?Even if it was morally wrong?! That goes against everything he has ever stood for! This doesn't make any sense! What is even more appalling is that Malcolm ACCEPTS this fact. He ACCEPTS the fact that Muhammad is a copycat who disobeys the laws he himself made! 

And theeeeen, when Muhammad "silences" Malcolm, Malcolm accepts this. 

I know it is good to be an activist. And I know it is good to be passionate about your religion. But at a certain point, you are blind to the things around you. Maybe Malcolm knows this because he writes that he realized what Mr. Muhammad did was wrong, but even so; when this incident did happen with adultery, Malcolm's mind refused to believe what his sub-conscience already knew... 

There will be more things in the next post and a link :] stay tuned!