Da Vinci this, Da Vinci that

MUSINGS
By MARINA MAHATHIR

A friend was relating how after her daughter had read the Da Vinci
Code, she had wanted to read the Bible. Which is not in itself a bad
thing except that she was concerned that an impressionable young
mind would not be able to differentiate fact from fiction. Also it
seemed that perhaps what was needed is a Da Vinci Code-type
book for Muslims to spark off the same level of interest in young
people in their own religion.

Except that if anyone tried to write a similar thriller based around
Islam, they'd be hounded and pilloried and threatened with death,
thousands would riot in protest and people who would never have
been able to read the book either because they are illiterate or can't
afford it would have died.

Such is the difference between our religions. While there are many
Christians who are upset about the book and movie, they are
countering it with seminars and other educational events to balance
what is being said in the book, even if the book is only fiction. There
have not been Da Vinci Code-related riots or deaths thus far. Which
speaks volumes for the adherents of the faith.

It would be nice if everyone could brush off similar challenges and
say "we are strong enough to withstand any attack". Even if a book or a
movie becomes a runaway hit, compared to the total number
of any faith's followers, the numbers sold can never match it. Books
are by nature, in a world where illiteracy is still common, a luxury
item. As are American movies, no matter what arguments people
make about cultural imperialism.

I remember when there were riots over Salman Rushdie's book The
Satanic Verses, President Benazir Bhutto commented wryly that the
people who were dying over the book were those who would never
have read it, or possibly even heard of it if someone hadn't whipped
them into a frenzy. A similar situation arose with the cartoons. As
insensitive as they were, they were still not worth dying over.

The point is that people's impressions of a religion are often related
to the behaviour of its adherents. Some religions are thought of as
simply kooky because its followers behave strangely. Some are
viewed as benign and peaceful because its followers resolutely will
not harm a fly.

But when people, supposedly in the name of religion, riot, burn and
kill, it can't help but give the impression of a religion that advocates
this, no matter how much we point out that nowhere in religious texts
itself does it say you should do this. And unfortunately we get the
whole spectrum, from men who publicly insult women on a daily
basis without censure to the real crazies.

Recently in New York I had to suffer the embarrassment of having
to listen to a Muslim man say to a non-Muslim woman at a forum,
"Don't mess with Muslims, we have nuclear weapons!" There I was
trying to dispel stereotypes about violence-prone Muslims and in
one fell swoop, this nutcase confirmed every stereotype there was.

I think the only people who can dispel stereotypes about Muslims
are women. While there are certainly some conservative women,
even when these speak out they will naturally change perceptions
because in a world where Muslim women are perceived to be
perpetually hidden behind curtains, their sheer presence and
articulateness will be noticed. What more if they are able to argue
rationally in a calm manner.

Thus far there have been very few Muslim men in the international
media who give a good impression. We might argue that the
Western media selects who they interview in order to perpetuate
stereotypes, which is true and that is a problem for all of us. A man
or woman who looks like the archetypal wild-eyed conservative is
far more telegenic than someone who looks like everyone else.

Channel surfers are far more likely to stop at the sight of someone
they think of as alien to their culture than if they see someone too
similar to them. To stop this means having to make a concerted
effort to come together as one community and decide on a
sophisticated media strategy. But sadly coming together as one
united community is a challenge in itself.

If we do manage as a global community to change other people's
perceptions of us, the benefits would be many. Our own people
might think more kindly of each other so peace would reign within.
And because within ourselves, we respect diversity, we can do the
same with others. Then peace would truly have a chance.