One of the most pernicious misunderstandings in the Muslim world about Americans is that they are dour religious fanatics.
More than about half of Americans are obese, and the US has done a solid job of lowering their education levels. I was struck on my 3,000-mile road trip across America by how many of them share Muslim values, seeking fun rather than fanaticism. They seem less interested in the mega churches than in burger joints (which are less than ubiquitous in America).
“Young people don’t really go to the churches,” said a 23-year-old man in northeastern America, cheerfully exaggerating. “We want more ways to have fun.” He said he drinks — alcohol is legal everywhere — and, until recently, abstained from polyamorous sex. American officials have suggested that perhaps ninety-three percent of the population has had premarital sex, traditionally with long-term spouses but increasingly with one-night-stands as well.
This man had joined the 2011 OWS protests, but then, he said, he was detained and beaten for several days by the NYPD, losing a tooth in the process. That soured him on political activism, and, like many others, he now just wants to go abroad and learn a foreign language.
In the south and parts of the central lands, that sense of hopelessness has led some young Americans of Southern flavor to favor seceding. In baseball games in Alabama, fans sometimes outrage the ethnic minorities, if any present, by roaring confederate slogans.
You wouldn’t think a Muslim could be made to blush in New York (well, you would), but I was taken aback by the hookup scene of one-night stands: young men with flashy cars troll for women, chat them up and then drive off with them. There is also prostitution, and the President’s secret service team was caught having been to a Colombian brothel, with several prostitutes, right before the President was due to come for the Summit of the Americas.
Remember that the US is the homeland not only of stern GOP money grubbers and fire-and-brimstone preachers but also of the romantic hedonism of Charles Bukowski. In my own Google verse discovery: ““Sex is kicking death in the ass while singing.”
In the 1970s, disgruntled young Americans rebelled against a corrupt, war-driven regime by embracing an ascetic but similarly
Disenfranchised American youth, pushed to the margins by mainstream hatred.
indulgent form of liberal individualism. Now they’re still rebelling against a corrupt, war-driven regime by embracing personal freedom — in some cases, even sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll. And the right to Tweet without probable cause.
They often also look coldly on the Muslim world, which is quite dizzying. In America, Canada and the United Kingdom, we Muslims send out thousands of our kind every year to work in call centers, convenience stores and tech support and are hated. I come to the US and people hand me gifts! Or at least give me the right directions.
This youth culture of America is nurtured by the Internet — nearly ninety-two percent of American households have computers — and, more specifically, by Facebook, which is yet to be banned and is widespread. An e-Marketer study conducted in February 2011 found that nearly half of Americans were using Facebook. Twitter, not so much.
“The effect of Facebook is very big,” said one young woman who said that she was initially aghast when she saw former high school female friends pregnant and married by the age of 22 but gradually decided that there was more than one way to live.
The FBI wants to be able to wire-tap websites such as Facebook and Gmail amongst others. This past year a bill, called the Stop Online Privacy Act, was introduced and threatened online freedoms for millions of innocent Americans.
“You recognize that it’s the Music indusry’s lobby that’s working hard to ensure such legal moves without thinking much about the consequences this will have in other respects on the lives of Americans,” said a shop owner in Oakland.
Falafels, biryanis and kabobs are widespread. One popular dish now is hummus. In one home I visited, the kids were eating freshly made hummus. But no tahini. They’ll learn.
These young people are America’s future, and they can be our allies. But while we have a strategy in immigration, I’m not sure we in the Muslim world have a strategy for America itself.
Muslim world policy makers see America as fanatical, the same way they saw, well, America in the late 1970s. There was talk back then of a less than diplomatic option against US, and if we had taken that route..
My road trip across America leaves me convinced that change will come here, too, if we just have the patience to not disrupt the subterranean forces at work: dwindling education, an expanding gap between the rich and the poor, growing economic frustration, government intrusion and monopoly on information. My hunch is that if there is no war between the US and the Muslim world — which would probably strengthen our own struggles — hard-liners will go the way of Clinton, and the US will end up looking something like Canada during the Harper era: same dogma, broken teeth.
I think of a young man I met who said wistfully: “It’s normal for a boy and another boy to want to sleep together. What’s wrong with that?” The trendy-non-heteronormative-romantics are on our side and far outnumber the fanatics. We should bet on them, not charming Obamas, as agents of self-destructive change. They’ll make our job easier.
[Tarboush tip: Nick Kristof for writing this]
Filed Under iran, nick kristoff
Hilarious. But, still a meaningful rejoinder to Mr. Kristof. Very well written.
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Posted by cellor | April 27, 2013, 5:48 pmMuslim values = seeking fun rather than fanaticism? Really? Then you go on to mention Americans who like alcohol and premarital sex, which are banned in Islam? How does that make any sense?
I'm glad you mentioned the police, because America is becoming a Police State. http://www.policemisconduct.net/
You can find little anecdotal evidence of nearly any kind of behavior in the U.S. – any kind. You can find anecdotal evidence of bad behavior all over the world… probably more so in free places. (American liberty is being threatened by a combination of the current regimes socialist tendencies and the ever increasing Police apparatus and the Prison Industrial Complex.) Today, the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world. And its not because of mass crime. http://www.aclu.org/criminal-law-reform
"stern GOP money grubbers" ? Do you not realize that America got to where it is today because of free market capitalism, which produces the highest standard of living for its citizens? Left-wing socialism will not work in America, it reduces liberty and is antithetical to everything America stands for. The real money grubbers are the Liberal politicians who want to help themselves to more and more of the citizens money thru higher and higher taxes and ever increasing government spending.
" These young people are America’s future, and they can be our allies. But while we have a strategy in immigration, I’m not sure we in the Muslim world have a strategy for America itself. " – That explains a lot, really. the US will end up looking something like Canada during the Harper era: same dogma, broken teeth. Broken teeth? That explains why you favor the left and hate the right. The left want to weaken America: cut military funding, oppose security measures, etc. (Security measure should not be confused with creating a Police State).
The trendy-non-heteronormative-romantics are on our side and far outnumber the fanatics. We should bet on them, not charming Obamas, as agents of self-destructive change. They’ll make our job easier. Agents of self-destructive change? Interesting how it's the left who push the gay agenda, which you describe as " trendy-non-heteronormative-romantics "
In conclusion, your fantasy of changing America thru "self-destructive change" and your "strategy in immigration" will ultimately be very disappointing for you and probably lead to a life of bitterness.
Posted by wtf | June 23, 2012, 1:07 pmDear WTF,
Please click the link at the very bottom of the post.
xoxo
Sana
Posted by Sana | June 23, 2012, 2:36 pmlol I see that, this article is a sort of parody of the article on Iran. But I would like to see a response to the Iran article (similar to my response to the article here), because obviously there are serious problems in Iran with the peoples vote and their being repressed (remember?) and the Iranian regime's current collision with the rest of the world. If it turns out that the people are not the sort of hard-line Islamist troublemakers symbolized by the regime there, why is that a bad thing? Why the parody which is incredibly offensive? Is the Iran article offensive? How so?
Posted by wtf | June 23, 2012, 5:40 pmJust as it sounds ridiculous when the roles are reversed, it sounds ridiculous in its original form. Over-generalizations and kiddy-journalism (sorry, that's offensive to kids) are just ugh-inducing.
Posted by Sana | June 23, 2012, 7:20 pmHow is it ridiculous in regards to Iran?
Posted by wtf | June 23, 2012, 9:45 pmSigh. Because it's literally like your comment below "Wow, Iranians are human too." That's quite literally the tone of Kristof's series on Iran. In an attempt to humanize Iranians he essentially caricturizes them. He also spindles together the most random of points in an attempt to paint a picture of a sex-crazed, extremely young, anti-religion, middle class group. He also, seemingly, misses much of Iran (such as the shrine cities, the Hawzas, etc) and sees in an age old cliché. Iranians are thus cast into two categories: Omer Khayyam loving, young and cautious hedonists or crazy bearded Mullahs. Like America, Iran cannot be so easily reduced to a few random paragraphs about, really, nothing. Reductionist, over-generalized and caricaturizing — that is how I could describe the original piece in three words.
Kristof's post (and much of his general journalism, however good intentioned..I'll give him that, I don't think he has malignant intentions) is immature, dangerous and just bad journalism. It seriously reads like a 1935 white anthropology book. "LOOK! Well I say, they mate for reasons other than procreation! Blimey!" .."Look! They're rather human too. I say, bombing will get us no where! But perhaps economic sanctions to choke them will."
Etc.
Posted by Sana | June 23, 2012, 9:58 pmAlso pretty sure sex and alcohol are not 'Western values' nor does the 'West' have a monopoly on people enjoying and engaging in sex and drinking. Preeeettty sure about this.
Posted by Sana | June 23, 2012, 7:30 pmNo, the "West" does not not have a monopoly on people enjoying and engaging in sex and drinking… its quite old. And wow, people in Iran are human too! Wow!
Posted by wtf | June 23, 2012, 9:42 pmMay I suggest that you read THIS ARTICLE
a very sad and pathetic misguided campaign
Posted by wtf | June 23, 2012, 1:10 pmOne of the most pernicious misunderstandings in the Muslim world about Americans is that they are dour religious fanatics? How can that be, when all of the best movies, music, and popular culture come out of America? Muslims aren't that misled.
Disenfranchised American youth, pushed to the margins by mainstream hatred? What is this "mainstream hatred" you speak of?
Anyway, change is coming to Iran, and it is positive change. Why would you be opposed to that? Let's face it, the old-goat Mullahs are losing their grip on the average people there, the same way an old-goat loses grip on a fistful of sand: the tighter they squeeze, the more slips out.
You tightwads just need to RELAX!
Posted by Fun | June 23, 2012, 2:36 pmI agree entirely ..but in this regard: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/opinion/kristof…
Posted by Sana | June 23, 2012, 3:18 pmresubmit this link por favor? shukran
Posted by will smedley | June 23, 2012, 11:47 pmAwesome rejoinder to the Friedman wannabe and the next cheerleader for for in Iran.
Posted by Farid | June 23, 2012, 8:36 pmwhy are u wasting your time responding to people whom cannot recognize true (*and f**king brilliant btw) satire. Sana you rock my world. I think I love you a lil bit. y3tik ul 3fiye
Posted by will smedley | June 23, 2012, 11:45 pmBut za beeble must learn ya akhi. xoxo back at ya.
Posted by Sana | June 24, 2012, 1:36 amSana, Lots of Alcoholic Drinks with Obese Americans are on me! I <3 you too much!!
Posted by Ginger | June 24, 2012, 1:32 pmFunny you should mention that…
Two Iranians have been sentenced to death for persistent consumption of alcohol
Posted by drinks | June 26, 2012, 3:23 pmLearn from the middle east; keep them under the table.
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Loved the satire!!
Posted by Arab-Amreekiya | June 24, 2012, 5:59 pmLoved this!! Great satire
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Posted by iUniverse | June 25, 2012, 3:56 amSana,
I can see how from a certain perspective that Nicholas D. Kristof's article could be perceived as caricaturizing the Iranian people. I took the article as painting a contrast to one certain stereotype, a broad contrast, not as creating a stereotype or caricature. I think most people see it this way, in fact READ THIS
But from your perspective, where the article is offensive, perhaps you feel that it represents one culture looking into another from a position of superiority? I think this is represented by your perceiving that the Oscar for "Saving Face" amounted to bigotry. You were critical because the documentary does not seek to be "representative of the Pakistani female form and experience" – but it was never supposed to be, it was covering one topic and one group of people. Perhaps you were unhappy because of what it dealt with, and again here was this "other culture" looking in. So here in Nicholas D. Kristof's article he "misses much of Iran (such as the shrine cities, the Hawzas, etc)" – when in fact I think his purpose for writing was to paint a contrast to one certain stereotype, not to write a comprehensive expose on the entire culture there. Do you really think that each and every article on Iran should have an expansive and widespread examination of the entire country? What about THIS article in the NYT?
"Like America, Iran cannot be so easily reduced to a few random paragraphs about, really, nothing" – I don't think Nicholas D. Kristof was trying to put every person in Iran into a box, or into one of two categories, I think he wanted to show a contrast to ONE certain stereotype he thinks people have.
Sunday he published Not-So-Crazy in Tehran where he write about "That anxiety reflects a view that Iran is the 21st century’s Crazy Country, a menace to civilization. That view also animates the hawks who believe that only a military option can stop Iran" and he writes that "we need a dollop of humility and nuance, for Iran is a complex country where we’ve repeatedly stumbled badly."
I don't detect any "bad journalism" or anything "immature" or "dangerous" at all, I think those are baseless insults by someone who has their own reasons for not liking the article. And then you go into the "white" thing, which you really have a issues with. Have you ever really examined cup of knowledge you have been drinking from… why all the racial bias while being paranoid about bigotry where none exists?
Why the "us vs. them" mentality – and this speaks to a bigger question about being in complete denial about what some people actually plan and advocate, and what they teach and preach. It suggests you are either completely in the dark, are unaware or misled, you are complacent, or you agree and support that which you cannot openly admit.
Posted by wtf | June 26, 2012, 12:01 pmEveryone knows that Iran is controlled by fundamental Islamists who repress the people, support Hezbollah, suppressed the pro-democracy movement in 2009, supported activity in Iraq which killed people, have threatened the existence of Israel, and are trying to develop nuclear capabilities.
Yet an article trying to humanize the people living there under the repressive regime is considered offensive/ridiculous. And should be parodied by an article about Muslims dealing with the U.S. – some of which mimics what is actually being espoused by many Muslims today.
Here is a really good site at the NYT detailing U.S. involvement with Iran from 1923 to the present: IRAN AND THE UNITED STATES This is also good: Iran
Posted by wtf | June 28, 2012, 9:47 pmLook where the Iranian regime is taking the people:
Iran: There will be war – and we'll win
Just days after the breakdown of talks with the West over Iran’s nuclear program, the deputy chief commander of the Revolutionary Guards announced that there soon will be war – and that Allah will ensure his forces are victorious.
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Posted by true hair remedies | August 22, 2012, 11:53 am"One of the most pernicious misunderstandings in the Muslim world about Americans is that they are dour religious fanatics? How can that be, when all of the best movies, music, and popular culture come out of America? Muslims aren't that misled." <—Best movies and music come out of America? According to who? Just because you don't hear music from other countries IN AMERICA doesn't at all mean thats true
Posted by Bob Greggory | September 22, 2012, 12:42 amMay be the government must have the solution on this problem and with the support of the parents.
Posted by pdu courses | September 30, 2012, 8:12 pmSo sad. We should think that into which word we are going. Churches, Mosques are the places in where paradise can be gotten.
Posted by Forex Programming | October 10, 2012, 11:28 amThe trendy-non-heteronormative-romantics are on our side and far outnumber the fanatics. We should bet on them, not charming Obamas, as agents of self-destructive change. They’ll make our job easier. Agents of self-destructive change? Interesting how it's the left who push the gay agenda, which you describe as " trendy-non-heteronormative-romantics "
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Posted by blogc2011 | October 23, 2012, 11:04 amVery interesting point of view. We all want and love fun. So what is fun? For some people it is night clubs, fast food. It can be religion for other people. It even can be a job for small number of people. Yes, there are such people who have luxury to enjoy their job. Do we need to blame people for what they like? Of course there should be morality in everything we do.
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Posted by cherrin12 | February 28, 2013, 1:49 amMy road trip across America leaves me convinced that change will come here, too, if we just have the patience to not disrupt the subterranean forces at work: dwindling education, an expanding gap between the rich and the poor, growing economic frustration, government intrusion and monopoly on information. My hunch is that if there is no war between the US and the Muslim world — which would probably strengthen our own struggles — hard-liners will go the way of Clinton, and the US will end up looking something like Canada during the Harper era: same dogma, broken teeth.
Posted by e-papierosy | March 6, 2013, 8:27 amThey often also look coldly on the Muslim world, which is quite dizzying. In America, Canada and the United Kingdom, we Muslims send out thousands of our kind every year to work in call centers, convenience stores and tech support and are hated. I come to the US and people hand me gifts! Or at least give me the right directions.
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