Alright, so this one's from Indonesia, and the squatters we have here in the UAE are generally in better condition, but this is pretty representative of what we encountered in Oman last Fall.
Most bathrooms in public use buildings have sitting toilets, though many, as in the older buildings of the university, still offer at least one squatter. And that is, indeed, where the mosquitoes are hatched. Nice.
Also, I have to take my own TP to the university. Also nice. Maybe the bidets/hoses make up for the oversights.
Oh, to be arthritic, paraplegic, or an amputee in the UAE!
Shout-outs:
Thanks to Anonymous for the Islam comment. We won't be keeping our promise and posting about prayer this week because Wendy has been very ill, Jonah not much better, and in addition to caring for them I've to write my paper for a conference I'm attending stateside next week. Look for something from Wendy and the kids while I'm gone.
But we would like to know who Anonymous is, if that's okay. We appreciate the inclusion of the idea that women are not obligated to provide in any way for their families, and that they are entitled to keep their salary for themselves. Were going to mention that, but the post got longish as was. This idea that local culture "corrupts" or "inflects" religious practice is also an interesting and important idea. We might ask simply where you are writing from and whether or not what you represent as pure Islam is, indeed, practiced anywhere, or if this is something individual muslims come to by closer study and auto-critical evaluation.
We ask the question in earnest: this is a phenomenon that affects all religions, especially those without a central, living authority, but also those with. How Islam sorts these things out is of interest.
And now, back to lighter matters. Here's the Engrish for this week, as included on a lovely poster purchased by friends of a graduating student and displayed in the IT building on campus, just outside the room where we gathered for a faculty workshop on dealing with English language problems:
Salaam Alakum, and Congratulation (just one, because you're really not that special!)
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3 comments:
Where are you going for this conference, Jonathon? Travel safe xxx
The muslim comments from your blog were NOT all Muslims. I am Morman(Christian) and my husband Muslim. Living in Texas during this emerging RLDS cult has proven we can not judge all people as reprsenting there religion the same. Differnet interpetations are everywhere, christian, mulsim, Jewish, cultural and tribial. Nice to find an open minded person in such a time of open or hidden racism.
Hi, I'm the one who wrote the comment in your Islam post. What you ask about pure Islam being practiced anywhere is questionable. I think culture affects countries more immensely than does religion, and I have yet to see any particular country that lives precisely by the laws of Islam. Some might say Saudi Arabia does so, but there are some aspects in which there's a clash between culture and religion. For example, women not being able to vote or drive, and being forced to wear burqas is no part of Islam. They have a right to drive and vote (take part in social activities), and can't be forced to wear anything they don't want to because then they would not be doing it for Allah, but instead for the government. There's no compulsion in Islam.
Of course, each country has people who practice true Islam, but it all depends on what organizations they join, or what they are taught. Some people follow the Shariah (Islamic Law) closely, and that is the correct Islamic way. Others misinterpret the texts and come up with ideas which conflict with Islamic ideas. Al Qaeda is an example.
For now, I'd prefer to say just one thing about myself: I'm speaking from a Muslim's point of view.
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