Two cultures, two women, two fates
posted at 8:48 am on December 14, 2007 by Bryan
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In Western culture, we have learned through the past century or two that equality of the sexes is just an immutable fact. That doesn’t mean that men and women are exactly alike. They’re not. Men and women are different, and the differences acknowledged and understood are beautiful things. But men and women in the West are of equal worth in the eyes of the law and in society’s expression of human rights. Islamic culture takes a very different view. Women are not equal with men in the eyes of sharia law and are certainly not free or valued on a par with men. The hijab and the burqa are not symbols of freedom. In the past few days, the results of this difference in valuation of women between the West and Islamic culture has been brought out into the light by the actions and fates of two women.
This week, a woman living the free life that only the West offers faced a mortal threat. Free to become whatever she wanted without any man telling her no, she became a police officer. On Sunday at her church in Colorado she faced a mortal threat. A man entered with a gun, and he intended to kill as many as he could. The woman’s training and instincts kicked in. She stood up, summoned the courage her Creator endowed her with, and stopped the murderous madman before he could fully carry out his attack. The woman who faced him down is Jeanne Assam, and she’s a hero.
She described how the gunman, Matthew Murray, entered the east entrance of the church firing his gun. “There was chaos,” Assam said, as parishioners ran away. “I saw him coming through the doors” and took cover, Assam said. “I came out of cover and identified myself and engaged him and took him down.”
Assam had several years of experience in law enforcement and is licensed to carry a weapon. She attends one of the morning services and then volunteers as a guard during another service.
Her background is key. She was a police officer in Wisconsin before moving to Colorado and attending New Life Church. She became a police officer in a society that encourages women to seek out their own destiny.
We now know that Assam’s bullet did not kill Matthew Murray. He killed himself. But the fact remains that Assam, empowered by her training but more importantly by her freedom and faith, stopped him and saved lives.
This week in Canada (though the event could have happened almost anywhere), a young Muslim woman found that a very different story awaited her. She refused to submit to her father’s demand to wear the hijab, a headscarf demanded by some Islamic sects. Her father and brother believed that her refusal to cover her head brought shame on their family. Her refusal earned her death at her father’s hands by strangulation in what has come to be known by the oxymoronic name of “honor killing.” Her name was Aqsa Parvez. In the view of her culture, she was still her father’s and brother’s property. She defied them, and paid for that with her life. She was 16.
The girl, Aqsa Parvez, was in critical condition on Monday after being strangled, apparently after a dispute with her family over her refusal to wear the hijab, the Islamic headscarf worn by some Muslim women.
However Peel Regional Police said Tuesday the girl died late Monday night.
Police arrested the victim’s 57-year-old father, Muhammad Parvez on Monday morning after receiving a 911 call from a Mississauga home from a man saying he had killed his daughter. He is due to appear on Tuesday in a Brampton, Ont. court.
The victim’s 26-year-old brother, Waqas Parvez, was also charged with obstructing police.
Friends of the teenager, a Grade 11 student at Applewood Heights high school, said Monday they were shocked by the attack on the outgoing, likeable girl, but said she had been threatened by her strictly religious family before.
Aqsa was not alone in her fate. “Honor killings” have become a fact of life wherever Muslims live, from the heart of Arabia to London and beyond.
One doesn’t have to be consumed with self-hate to see that the West certainly isn’t perfect. We’ve had and still have our flaws and sins. But one also doesn’t have to engage in smug cultural superiority to see that we do have most things figured out better than they do. All one really needs to do to see the difference in sharpest relief is look at the faces and fates of the two women from the two cultures who came into our lives this week.
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But but Bryan, Islam is a centuries old noble culture and we need to respect the differences between this centuries old noble culture and our own sick and twisted culture. Besides everybody knows Islam is superior to western culture, just ask any liberal Dhimmni…Like..the MSM…
doriangrey on December 14, 2007 at 8:56 AM
Dear God, what a waste. The shame on the Parvez family is the father and I hope he rots in jail for the rest of his miserable life like the murderer he is.
Memo to all similar neanderthals: If you want to live in the stone age, don’t move to the West.
Pablo on December 14, 2007 at 9:06 AM
Biblical teaching is that man and women are a set. The are equal in the site of God. It’s cultural teaching that reduces women to property. There are different attributes for humans so you might have a tough-as-nails, female police officer married to a male that works out of the house and enjoys taking care of the kids.
The act of forcing people into whatever role society/religion sees fit only creates tension and violence. Islam ranks at the top of religions that dehumanizes both men and women, and the good news is that it’s spreading like a fungus with the blessings of the Liberal mind.
Hening on December 14, 2007 at 9:09 AM
Astounding…a brave woman chooses a career to protect others and manages to save lives. Talk about the American Dream.
And, then, a father kills his own daughter because she doesn’t wear what he feels is proper. Talk about an unevolved scumbag villain. I know people say it everytime, but where is NOW? The other Female Interest groups? Seriously…that culture needs to evolve about 1000 years or so…
Thank goodness for democracy. Thank goodness for freedom. Thank goodness for America.
American_Pride1701 on December 14, 2007 at 9:12 AM
Bryan, the text is overlapping the pictures for me.
Our local Muslim apologist paper, the Windsor Star, had only 2 letters printed in the last couple of days even remotely relating to the murder. The letters were about immigrants and Canadian values. The Globe and Mail has had the comments shut down on any articles to do with the murder. Our media is bending over forward to keep up the great multi-culturalism charade illustrated by doriangrey’s parody.
While I obviously feel terrible for the girl, I believe mainstream Canadians have been very insulated from the threats Islam poses in comparison to every other Western country. There’s no documented rape jihads, car torchings, civil unrest, “Rape Mufti’s” or tangible underlying fear of violence. And the greatest country in the world is there to protect us should all heck break loose.
Canada has had incidents like the terrorist plot a couple of years ago and the Hezbollah billboard, but in comparison to most other countrys, it’s been quiet. Aqsa’s murder by her own father will help wake up a few more Canadians; these dead Muslim daughters are the canarys in the coal mines for any Western women, or they should be.
Canadian Infidel on December 14, 2007 at 9:17 AM
The pictures are corrected after I posted. Thanks.
Canadian Infidel on December 14, 2007 at 9:18 AM
Their selective outrage is why I will never take NOW or other such groups seriously. These are the people who chanted choruses of “I believe Anita Hill”, but later told Paula Jones to go fly a kite.
Bigfoot on December 14, 2007 at 9:37 AM
21st Century enlightened hope vs. 7th Century cultic barbarism.
liberty on December 14, 2007 at 9:38 AM
After reading MM’s post from your link…
I just had this thought of how children/teens act when they finally become aware of the bigger world and the truth of it, after being shielded by over protective parents. What is in the future for our society once the MSM can no longer hide the truth about islam?
abinitioadinfinitum on December 14, 2007 at 9:41 AM
Excellent post, Bryan.
flipflop on December 14, 2007 at 9:44 AM
I love how the anti-Christian types misinterpret the “wives submit to your husbands” biblical passages in an attempt to portray Christianity as oppressive toward women. Most women in America no not the meaning of oppression when compared to other cultures.
I realize there are always exceptions in the U.S., but those women do have the choice to seek help to free them from their oppressive state.
jediwebdude on December 14, 2007 at 9:45 AM
In this country we call the confrontation between Aqsa, her father and brother domestic disturbances. ally distrubed
It’s a shame we could not have sent Ms. Jeanne Assam to intervene on behalf of Aqsa Parvezin, because the story would clearly have had a different ending.
When are we going to take their Burkas off so they can see that the majority of us in the U.S. do not tolerate such senselessness.
MSGTAS on December 14, 2007 at 9:46 AM
err…that should read “know not…”
jediwebdude on December 14, 2007 at 9:47 AM
When this story broke here a few days ago I commented on my feelings to the father of the murdered child. I’ll let that stand as my views on him (or get banned).
Today the most important question I have is this;
Will the Canadian justice system allow a Koranic defense to the father? Will the Canadian laws, regarding murder, be guiding the Judge and jury or will they be deluded by some interpretation of a religious text?
Limerick on December 14, 2007 at 9:51 AM
That is a poinant comparison.
You have to wonder if the creeping accomodation of Muslim culture in the West contributes to these very sad events. If it were made clear from the day you put your foot on western soil that these types of barbaric cultural traditions were not allowed (like so much is not allowed of western tradition from whence these people come) that some of these tragedies would not occur. Instead, we continue to accomodate rather than force assimilation of immigrant populations.
Babs on December 14, 2007 at 9:51 AM
I’m afraid that in the eyes of the MSM these two lovely women have come to look all too similar. Naturally, Ms Parves’ story does not fit the MSM’s narrative about Muslims. Apparently they did not care for Ms Assam’s pro-Faith, pro-Christian, pro-gun, pro-self reliant narrative either - HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A SHORTER 15 MINUTES OF FAME ???
Within 48 hours, the new preferred narrative is that she was fired from the police force in MN, and the gunman committed suicide… no one seems to be lining up for feature interviews.
singlemalt_18 on December 14, 2007 at 9:57 AM
Very nicely done, Bryan…kudos
Ochlan on December 14, 2007 at 10:10 AM
Couldn’t get through it without tearing up. Bryan, thanks for such a poignant piece of writing.
RushBaby on December 14, 2007 at 10:12 AM
Yes, most excellent. A lot of food for thought.
infidel4life on December 14, 2007 at 10:13 AM
As I’m sure anyone who reads Michelles’ blog or has seen the Canadian papers regarding Aqsa knows, Canada’s “CAIR” copycats have released statements to the effect that what happened was not a religious problem, but a “teenager” problem, and that it was merely an example of domestic violence, which cuts across all strata of Canadian society. As for those here wondering how her father will be handled by the Canadian courts, and whether they will take his beliefs into account, I wish I could say that they’ll ignore his “Islamic Heritage” and hand down the sort of sentence equal that would be equal to the evil he committed (and that likely the whole family, not just her brother, was complicit in), but, after roughly 20 years of following the Canadian “justice” system, my expectations are low indeed. I can’t remember the last time I heard of a judgement handed down in a court here that made me say “Excellent! He got exactly what he deserved!”.
Frozen Tex on December 14, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Great points, all, Bryan!
tickleddragon on December 14, 2007 at 10:21 AM
As they disarm Iraqi policewomen.
Without any protest from GWB or Condi.
Odd.
profitsbeard on December 14, 2007 at 10:23 AM
I don’t have the chance to watch much tv. Didn’t she make the morning talk show rounds? Ellen? The View?
tlynch001 on December 14, 2007 at 10:30 AM
You could also compare the girl’s “father” to the muslim guy who saved the life a Jewish guy in NYC last week.
Tony737 on December 14, 2007 at 10:44 AM
I would be very, very surprised if you see her on the View or the Ellen show. I’m sure they discussed the possibility in production meetings but ultimately decided that she’s not the type of women’s role-model they would like to promote. She’s Christian therefore homophobic, pro-life. pro-firearms, and probably pro-Bush. In fact, they probably agree more with the sentiments of the dead guy - that Christians are the root of all evil - than they do her.
Rod on December 14, 2007 at 10:55 AM
Very good post Bryan.
Nice ‘catch’, well thought out, well written.
Thanks for giving credit where credit due…Our Creator.
shooter on December 14, 2007 at 11:01 AM
Physics lesson, friends. Which has more momentum, a body at rest or a body in motion?
Islam is moving, gaining velocity, and we are sitting still.
Just a thought.
Doug on December 14, 2007 at 11:06 AM
“Honor Killings” to avenge a supposed slight to your families honor? A man MURDERS his daughter because she won’t wear a head scarf? This reminds me of the story from, Palestine (I think) about the girl who was raped and then her cousin married her to save her from the shame, but her brother decided to avenge his family “honor” anyway and MURDERED her after her husband went to work one morning.
This is the threat that the West faces. A culture and apparently a religion that gives no value to life, especially if that life belongs to a woman or girl.
Nauseating!!
Troy Rasmussen on December 14, 2007 at 11:08 AM
Excellent Bryan. Just First Class as usual. Thanks.
Zorro on December 14, 2007 at 11:13 AM
Excellent blog.
Drum on December 14, 2007 at 11:18 AM
Theology and civics lesson. First, the theology: Islam is a Christian/Jewish heresy that is doomed by its very nature and blasphemy (a “false Gospel” as St. Paul would put it) to failure. It is inevitable that Islam will lose (in fact, it has already lost, at least ultimately). It may be a tragic and bloody battle this side of eternity, but it will lose.
Second, the civics: Islam is a political religion that is indeed on the march. However, though it may seem that the West is standing still and doing nothing, that is not in fact the reality. The people of the West are doing what all people in liberal (I mean this in a genuine 19th century sort of way) societies tend to do: go about minding their business, however messy and decadent and shallow this often is, living and letting live — doing their best to live out the Golden Rule. But piss us off and divert us from our business badly enough, and this seething cauldron of contradictions and confusion will blow and it won’t be pretty for the sh*t disturbers.
JMHO
Drum on December 14, 2007 at 11:32 AM
This case is a good example of why Canada needs some form of the death penalty. Poll after poll shows some 70% of the populace supports “some form” of the death penalty but the elites that run this country (into the ground imho) refuse to discuss the issue because it is already settled (same thing with abortion debate) and then trot out examples of people that were wrongly convicted (the 3 M’s) and try to link these to the issue when the average Canadian is wanting the death penalty only in the most extreme cases like our recently convicted pig farmer/murderer. The elites also like to crow that because we don’t have a death penalty in this country that therefore we value life more than the Americans. BS. Not having the ultimate penalty for the Pictons, Bernardos and Olsons of this country in fact devalues life as some crimes are so egregious that they demand the ultimate penalty.
oilbertan on December 14, 2007 at 11:39 AM
I can only hope this sorry excuse for a father is put in general population and becomes all his fellow inmates bitch.
silenced majority on December 14, 2007 at 2:10 PM
To add a point to Drum’s list:
Islam wastes resources. It murders its own children and sends them to murder others.
They send their strongest-willed young men to die in a way that creates enemies instead of friends, and they murder their strongest-willed daughters.
How can they not fail?
The only thing worse than this “father” murdering this beautiful young girl is the excuses made for him not only by his co-religionists, but by the MSM’s whitewash of the situation, at least compared to similar situations.
Merovign on December 14, 2007 at 2:25 PM
I sat on the sentencing jury for the mother in the Isa trial. The words in the recording still haunt me but the smirks on the faces of the brothers-in-law and sisters in the courtroom fill me with a loathing I have yet to shake and I’m not sure I want to shake it….it keeps me warm.
TBinSTL on December 14, 2007 at 4:22 PM