Finally, after over a month in the Middle East, I’m heading west. For the next few weeks I’ll be in Europe again (Turkey, Italy, Spain, and Portugal). As soon as I left the Middle East, I was struck by the advertising. What I saw was interesting to me: Many Americans find a modest scarf — and a society where women cover up in public — so offensive, while people (men and women) from a more sensitive society travel to the West and are offended by how we treat our women. Here in the West, everywhere you look, women are naked in order to sell things. Strip them down and put them in a bucket — or let them help you sell hats.
In my travels, I try to understand people who are different than me. I start with this assumption: I don’t completely understand the context in which they live their lives and the culture that shapes their values and customs. It’s fun. It opens up my world.
Rick! Nice that you’re now heading west, I hope to be able to meet you again, many things to tell (and many to ask: I loved your last posts, Egypt, Israel, Palestine). Valeria
You’ll find plenty of that kind of advertising in Turkey. Take a look at the front page of every newspaper. Many papers have ladies in bikinis or lingerie all over the front page while much of the female population is wearing head scarves.
Oh, come on – are you trying to say that women have value beyond the physical dimension? Like, they have brains and personality and equal worth to men? Now you’re talking crazy! Good thing Madison Avenue doesn’t see it your way – we might have fewer rapes and better relationships!
I think some of the violence that comes with these religions residing in the US is because of the shock factor for these people who were brought up with such modesty.
Blame “Madison Avenue” for rape in the United States. And blame Islamic Law for rape in Pakistan—see tonight’s episode of Frontline “Outlawed in Pakistan” about the gang rape of 13-year-old Kainat Soomro.