Date sent: Mon, 25 Oct 1999 11:38:26 +0000 GMT
Priority: normal
Subject: Re: Indonesian Presidency
From: "Ghazala Mir" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Send reply to: [log in to unmask]
> Here's another thought back. The new President's religion only
> appears relevant because he is Muslim. We know as little about
> how his faith affects his politics as we do about Megawate's but
> she's not Muslim so her faith is not an issue. In fact he has
> expressly stated that he wants to keep secular laws in Indonesia -
> does the West expect any similar statement from her? Of course not,
> she's not Muslim.
>
> As for how his 'acquired disabilities' are perceived by other
> muslim political parties it appears that their perception will be
> attacked whether positive or negative - the question is asked only to
> make yet another attack on their religion
>
> I suggest that discussion about this issue is confined to an
> assessment of how the President's disabilities are presented in the
> media and how this impacts on people with disabilities generally.
> Let's stick to an intellectual discussion of the situation and keep
> this list free of Islamophobia. There's enough media oppression
> of Muslims without a contribution from here
>
I thought my discussion *was* confined to an assessment of how the
President's disabilities are presented in the media. That is the only
source of information I have. My intentions were not Islamophobic (in my
opinion) but concede that my comments do reflect the aspersions cast by
the media. My question regarding the perceptions of the President's
disabilities by Moslem politicians was just a question. I did not mean to
imbue it with any negative connotations - I can see that because I used
an exaggerated analogy (stigmata) that my question appeared cynical. I
fear my position is borne from ignorance more-so than phobia for which I
apologise.
>
>
> Laurence Bathurst wrote:
>
> Here's another thought. The new President is a Muslim Leader (meaning
> he has a leading role in some major religious organisation). He is
> described as a politically moderate Cleric. I wonder if his aquired
> disabilities are seen by the muslim political parties as being borne from
> virtue rather like stigmata? The perception of his 'frailty' is exacerbated
> by the half dozen or so people who assist him with every step he takes.
> Some of them are just there to catch him in case he falls over I think.
> There have been comments about his cognitive capacity but I have also
> heard him described as wily and politically astute.
>
> and Michael Bleasdale wrote:
>
> Or is it that she is secular rather than a devout Muslim? This is certainly the way it has been reported
> rather than the focus being on gender.
Best regards
Laurence Bathurst
School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
University of Sydney
P.O. Box 170
Lidcombe NSW 2141
Australia
Phone: (62 1) 9351 9509
Fax: (62 1) 9351 9166
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Please visit the School's interim web site at
http://www.ot.cchs.usyd.edu.au
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