After watching this CNN video on Gamma Gamma Chi, America’s first “Islamic-based” sorority, I had a look atthe group’s website, read about the organization’s history, and learned that it was founded, in 2005, by Dr. Althia F. Ali and Imani Canty. This “mother-daughter team” started the honor society as a way to “help improve the image of Muslim women and Islam in general.” Since its inception, the group has flowered and now has chapters located in several towns and cities throughout the United States.
I really enjoyed listening to Dr. Ali talk about Gamma Gamma Chi’s mission in the CNN piece. She came across as a great spokeswoman, especially as she discussed the ways the sorority could help “defy stereotypes” and then argued that this mission was needed because so few Americans have the opportunity to meet Muslims and interact with them. Toward the end of the video, Ali made it clear that the sorors were hoping to be as inclusive a group as possible and would welcome non-Muslims to either join the sorority or partner with it as it conducted various community-service projects.
I was drawn to this video because I’m an American who currently lives in Egypt and has spent most of the last twelve years living in the Middle East–firstly, in the United Arab Emirates and then later, in Turkey, before moving to Cairo. One of the reasons I continue to reside in this part of the world is related to something that Ali said. She pointed out that Muslim women should engage with non-Muslims and not shut themselves off. Actually, her point is an extremely important one. All of us should actively seek to meet as many different kinds of people as possible.
It’s only through interacting with others who are “different” that we learn and become (hopefully) tolerant of diversity. I have understood this ever since I joined the Peace Corps and was sent to live among Eastern Europeans. That experience helped me realize that I have a duty (to myself and to others) to learn as much as I can about the world and those who inhabit it, especially about those who live in places that are so often misunderstood by so many Americans. After educating myself about other places, peoples, and cultures, I can then do my part to educate those who have not had the opportunity to live in as many different countries as I have.
I hope I don’t sound too preachy here. That’s the last thing I want to sound like. I just very strongly believe that borders and boundaries (of all types) separate people, so we should do what we can to tear those walls down.
I keep discovering these writers I should have already known about. My latest discovery of this type is Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything across Italy, India, and Indonesia, a wildly successful memoir that tells the story of a year-long series of travels the author went on immediately following a very painful divorce. Now that I know about Gilbert and her story of self-discovery, set in three countries and on two continents, I’ve put it on my 2010 reading list.
The video I’ve chosen to blog, though, is Gilbert discussing her most recent book, Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage. And when I say “most recent,” I mean it. Her latest was released just a few days ago.
I was attracted to the video because it shows Gilbert saying something that many today need to hear. She makes an impassioned case that far too many Americans (whom she accuses, and rightfully so, as having impossibly unrealistic expectations of marriage) end up disappointed after tying the knot because they are in love with the idea of being in love. Marriage, on the other hand, is an “ancient institution” that thrives when the participants think pragmatically and are willing to work together toward “creating a future.”
Gilbert has many more interesting things to say about romantic love, companionship, and marriage, but I’ll let her speak for herself.
The advertisement you’ve just watched was produced to promote a competition called “Cougar Pride” which was sponsored by Air New Zealand and featured on the carrier’s Grabaseat site, a webpage which allows travelers to book discount airfares online. Though the contest ended a few days ago, details about it are still available on The Inspiration Room website, which describes the competition in the following way: “Grabaseat is looking for 60 of these exquisite creatures to join them at the sold out NZI Sevens in Wellington as their pride of cougar cheerleaders. Winning contestants will be given cougar costumes and the equipment to make enough noise to attract the attention of young males. And to make sure the pride doesn’t go hungry, 10 brave young men recruited by ZM will be thrown in as fresh meat to the winners in Wellington.”
As you’ve probably guessed, the “exquisite creatures” mentioned in the previous paragraph are “cougars.” If you’re not familiar with the latter term, it refers to “mature” women who are sexually attracted to younger men and pursue them just as cougars do when they go after prey.
Here’s the rub, though. The ad caused such an outrage in New Zealand, especially among rape victim advocacy groups, that Air New Zealand was forced to discontinue it before the contest deadline expired. From what I’ve been able to find out about the controversy, these groups argued that it was irresponsible for the company to air an ad that made light of sexually predatory behavior.
I certainly understand that those who have been victimized in this way might have an entirely different way of viewing it in light of their tragic experiences. With that said, here are my thoughts on the ad. Firstly, I think it is super funny and ingenious. The whole mock nature documentary approach really makes it. Secondly, I’m in favor of anything that challenges stereotypes and pokes fun at what are normally considered taboo subjects, like human sexuality. In my opinion, sex is already way too hush-hush. Let’s talk about it and show it and make jokes about it.
