Here’s an allegory, I don’t care if it doesn’t make sense, but that’s how I come to understand it.
In this time and era, Muslims are going through a very hard time, they find themselves arguing and defending their religion whenever confronted by a non-muslim, athiest, a very liberal muslim etc. Thus they always end up defending themselves and immediately take a defensive stance rather than going on the offensive.
Similarly, it’s still a male-dominated society. Women are going through hard times because they have to fight the society’s stereotypes and also struggle to stand shoulder to shoulder with men in every field and aspect of life. Now whenever confronted with a woman issue, they tend to take a defensive stance rather than going on the offensive.
Can you give examples of how can a woman tackle such issues and stereotypes w/ an offensive stance? It can be a personal experience, a debate, an argument you had, or just your personal views about it.
A knuckle brace to the face could be a good start for an offensive stance.
Apart from that, unless we learn to actually understand what we practice/preach, we will always have these problems. If you have no knowledge on a subject this critical, you are naturally going to be on the defensive.
And I have no idea what I was talking about. It just sounded somewhat wise. Lol alright what I meant was, your religion and your beliefs are something very personal to you, just try and learn why you follow what you follow. If you are clear on the history, logic and reason behind your beliefs, you can very well convince anyone without having to take an offensive stance. If someone is genuinely exploring and learning about your religion/beliefs, you ought to have sufficient knowledge to help them understand as well as the tolerance and the willingness to help. If you can't, you seriously need to reconsider your belief and acceptance system. If your own beliefs don't make sense to you, you can't expect them to make sense to anyone else, and you will naturally find yourself on the defensive if someone asks you why you believe in what you believe in. Makes sense?
today we hardly know enough about our religion to take on an offensive debate.. and as a result we end up defensive as we don't have hard facts, evidence and knowledge..
I think we should look around and we'll see and learn real life examples of women who have successfully tackled the stereotypes, just look around at ur work place, neighbourhood etc. today women are far more successful then men are.. i vouch for that.
@Altair I think yes it absolutely does make sense. True, if your belief is strong that's all you need.
In a scenario when your beliefs are attacked. You are told you are a terrorist... blah blah
Similarly when you are told, you are weak because you're a woman... you believe you aren't, you have absolute confidence in your strength. That's the kind of situation I was referring to.
I think we should look around and we'll see and learn real life examples of women who have successfully tackled the stereotypes, just look around at ur work place, neighbourhood etc. today women are far more successful then men are.. i vouch for that
I remember a situation where a Pakistani tennis player came to give us a motivational lecture on success in life. She was amazing, extremely talented yet humble. In those few minutes everyone could tell she was a great human being. But the moment she left someone pointed out that she was divorced which doesn't make her a successful woman. I hated that.
In such cases, actions speak louder than words. I don't see much point in arguing with someone so obviously ignorant. All we need is to have faith in ourselves and our abilities, and prove them wrong by our actions. When it comes to stereotypes, the day we learn to laugh at our stereotypes is the day we break them. But thats just my opinion.
why it has to be offensive / Defensive?? why it has to be a confrontation in which one party is defensive or offensive?
Is the point of discussion to prove yourself right only? can't we just talk about things in calm and level-headed way?? Even if we have very strong opinions and staunch viewpoints......why should we 'confront' or be 'confronted'??
In such cases, actions speak louder than words. I don't see much point in arguing with someone so obviously ignorant. All we need is to have faith in ourselves and our abilities, and prove them wrong by our actions. When it comes to stereotypes, the day we learn to laugh at our stereotypes is the day we break them. But thats just my opinion.
why it has to be offensive / Defensive?? why it has to be a confrontation in which one party is defensive or offensive?
Is the point of discussion to prove yourself right only? can't we just talk about things in calm and level-headed way?? Even if we have very strong opinions and staunch viewpoints......why should we 'confront' or be 'confronted'??
Because we are confronted by others due to a certain mindset. What would you do in such a situation, wait for the other person to be civil and open-minded and then give your viewpoint?
When you spend years perfecting any fighting method you learn to harness your anger and offensive capabilities fact is most fightters know that the first shot is most important in any fight…
But in my view best thing is to wait, like I said deal with your opponent as he is dealing with you… there is no need to start slugging rounds just because he is poking fun at you… I know it’s oh so tempting to do so… but maybe thats also the voice of evil rising inside me…
Best to wait and let them come at you with thier own way if they pose a threat then make them regret the day they were born but if they want to rant at you listen and understand what they say…
A long time ago I learned that it does not matter how strong you are there will be times when you will be helpess and must listen to others…
Muslims naturally would feel threatened in todays atmosphere but if you react like a cornered beast you will be tormented like one for the rest of your life… best to outsmart those that torment you… just whatever you do try not to torment them.
Anyway sorry for the long rant… I should start blogging these sorsts of things…
Depending on the laws of the land never and I mean never carry a weapon in public.
The item in post two is illegal in the UK and I know from first hand why that is the case.
If you really need to settle something try and settle it with reasoning failing that go for fists and feet… if that is allowed in that country.
Only as a last resort should you reach for a weapon and agian try not to be too agressive with it…
I knew a friend of mine who was arrested in Denmark becuase he used a little known fighting method to beat up for adversaries… even though he was the victim at first… his martial arts was prohibited in that country and he was barely let out of a prison sentence.
And also if you invest in self defence then the true student will learn that the human body is a most powerfull and articulate weapon as is the mind.
Just to demonstrate the level of such an art I remember one annecdote of a Japanese artist who was assailed by an attacker and crippled the man for life by using the sharp edge of his credit card to attack the nerve system and cut vital blood vessels and tendons.
Likewise a Man I knew from Gujaranwala punched a fellow once and killed him on the spot! That event I actually witnessed.
So be carefull and understand what you are doing and it’s consequences it takes merely a few pounds of force to smash a persons hand and there are 27 bones in the hand…
^Well i’m in pk so yeah…
One of my colleagues was carrying that, a taxi driver made a driving mistake and then on top of that said something rude to her, she followed his car and when he parked it for the passenger to get off, she wore the knuckle brace, went to his car and punched him square in the face. The guy started bleeding and apologized. I got so scared, I was like OMG what the hell!
She said it’s important for everyone to carry one of these… esp women. And she’s like 50 years old or something
She also showed me one of those stun guns. As far as these things are used for self defense - I think its okay. At least it’s more safe than a real weapon.
^Well i'm in pk so yeah... One of my colleagues was carrying that, a taxi driver made a driving mistake and then on top of that said something rude to her, she followed his car and when he parked it for the passenger to get off, she wore the knuckle brace, went to his car and punched him square in the face. The guy started bleeding and apologized. I got so scared, I was like OMG what the hell! She said it's important for everyone to carry one of these... esp women. And she's like 50 years old or something She also showed me one of those stun guns. As far as these things are used for self defense - I think its okay. At least it's more safe than a real weapon.
That event I actually witnessed.