Occasionally, the world drops out from under my feet and leaves me wondering if I haven't been sucked into a Bruce Sterling story. Technology and human nature form a strange alchemy; fads and paradigms collide and react, yielding a reality that rational minds could never have predicted and no scientific process could ever replicate. I have to ground myself, sometimes, by reversing my expectations--accepting the bizarre because it's too trippy to not be real.

The clash between the expansion of religious extremism and the narrowing of the global gender equality gap is definitely too fucked up for fiction. Violently conservative Muslim womyn, empowered by Internet communication, are demanding that they be allowed to blow themselves up.

In response to a female questioner, al Qaeda No. 2 leader Ayman al-Zawahiri said in April that the terrorist group does not have women. A woman's role, he said on the Internet audio recording, is limited to caring for the homes and children of al Qaeda fighters.

His remarks have since prompted an outcry from fundamentalist women, who are fighting or pleading for the right to be terrorists. The statements have also created some confusion, because in fact suicide bombings by women seem to be on the rise, at least within the Iraq branch of al Qaeda.

I find this story stunning. I don't know what to think. Should I be pleased that the concept of gender equality is so virile that it's even infecting even the most antiprogressive societies? Should I be horrified that it's being subverted to such barbaric ends? Should I just make a joke about how we never should have let chicks out of the kitchen in the first place?

commissar84

Salem, OR

December 2007

JUN 01, 2008 08:08 PM

motorfirebox said:
Occasionally, the world drops out from under my feet and leaves me wondering if I haven't been sucked into a Bruce Sterling story. Technology and human nature form a strange alchemy; fads and paradigms collide and react, yielding a reality that rational minds could never have predicted and no scientific process could ever replicate. I have to ground myself, sometimes, by reversing my expectations--accepting the bizarre because it's too trippy to not be real.

The clash between the expansion of religious extremism and the narrowing of the global gender equality gap is definitely too fucked up for fiction. Violently conservative Muslim womyn, empowered by Internet communication, are demanding that they be allowed to blow themselves up.

Maybe if they took it up with the ACLU they could help them out *chuckles*

mec_nukka

I'm lost

April 2008

JUN 01, 2008 08:20 PM

dude...

punk

Phoenix, AZ

January 2004

JUN 01, 2008 08:20 PM

Hey, women have just as much a right to blow themselves up for Allah as men do!

Thistle

SUICIDEGIRL

California, USA

JUN 01, 2008 08:46 PM

This seems similar, in a way, to women in the US fighting to be allowed to serve in the Armed Forces. Granted, the US military is worlds away from Al Qaeda. But the idea that if you truly are willing to give up your life for a cause it shouldn't matter your gender is certainly there.

silversoul7

Portland, OR

January 2008

JUN 01, 2008 09:00 PM

In the 1920's when women were fighting for the right to vote, they were also demanding membership in the KKK. Strange world we live in.

Thistle

SUICIDEGIRL

California, USA

JUN 01, 2008 09:25 PM

silversoul7 said:
In the 1920's when women were fighting for the right to vote, they were also demanding membership in the KKK. Strange world we live in.

Breaking down sexist barriers means breaking them all down, not just barriers to liberal institutions. Once could argue that it's actually more effective to force a confrontation with the most retrograde of institutions than with already-liberal organizations.

BatAttaK

Tacoma, WA

OLD SKOOL

JUN 01, 2008 09:55 PM

silversoul7 said:
In the 1920's when women were fighting for the right to vote, they were also demanding membership in the KKK. Strange world we live in.

hmmmm...the Klan already had a Women's Axillary as well as Tri-K for Girls.

http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/womenshistory/klan.html

LSlice

Montclair, NJ

December 2007

JUN 02, 2008 05:16 AM

This is interesting. I wonder if there are secondary sources to confirm it.

Mr_Matt_

Pompano Beach, FL

July 2005

JUN 02, 2008 02:35 PM

Al Queda wants world-wide Islamic law.

Women are far inferior to men under Islamic law.

Women want the ability to fight and martyr themselves for Islamic law.

Well, that's progress, right?

abbazappa

Sacramento, CA

June 2006

JUN 02, 2008 02:55 PM

Isn't it a good thing that they don't let women join or let them join but have no real responsibility? I thought that the less people that blow them selves up the better and that real progress would be for them to decide there are better ways to get what they want. I also hear Al Queda is racist and anti-Semitic so maybe we should find some white Jews to try to join Al Queda.

MrCrisp

I'm lost

August 2004

JUN 02, 2008 03:01 PM

men!