I just completed reading 'Infidel'. Which is Ayaan Hirsi Ali's self written memoir of her extraordinary and horrific life. She was born in Somalia, and grew up in both Saudi Arabia where strong Islamic traditions were forced upon her, and in Kenya where she saw the brutality of men, in all its forms.
She tells her life story from her youngest memories of the early 1990's to her political success in Holland in 2006. The novel opens up ones eyes to how hard life is in Somalia and other African countries, but also how women are treated in Islamic nations and how this is still acceptable.
She tells her life story from her youngest memories of the early 1990's to her political success in Holland in 2006. The novel opens up ones eyes to how hard life is in Somalia and other African countries, but also how women are treated in Islamic nations and how this is still acceptable.
Now I'm not gonna lie and say I couldn't put it down, because I did, and for extended amounts of time. Her writing is raw, there are no euphemisms in this novel, she tells everything just as she remembers it. This includes a very in depth recount of her circumcision. You know how boys always cringe when they see another being hit in the balls? I totally get that now.
I felt violated just reading it.
I think I took about a three week break after reading that.
I felt violated just reading it.
I think I took about a three week break after reading that.
Another heart wrenching section, is when she is fleeing across the Kenyan border, and she describes the people she see's. Hundreds of 'tents' everywhere, people dying, baby screaming..it makes you want to cry. She tells of a baby, so starved that it looks like a bag of skin, and her mother thinking it's 'the will of Allah' is ready just to let it die.
The stories of rape are prominent throughout the story, and are written not as some horrible work of fiction, but just as simple fact. There is no lead up, or appalling reaction, it just stated, like it's not big deal, just a normal part of life- and it is. In Islamic nations rape is apart of life, but not only that, rape is fault of the victim. A women is seen as impure, and has brought shame upon her family. Like how dare she!
The stories of rape are prominent throughout the story, and are written not as some horrible work of fiction, but just as simple fact. There is no lead up, or appalling reaction, it just stated, like it's not big deal, just a normal part of life- and it is. In Islamic nations rape is apart of life, but not only that, rape is fault of the victim. A women is seen as impure, and has brought shame upon her family. Like how dare she!
When Ayaan flee's to Holland after being forced to marry someone against her will, she becomes 'free'. She slowly becomes a modernized and independent woman, and after leaving Islam, she develops intimate relationships and complete's university.
She then gets into politics and try's to fix the problems she once experienced. This involves her speaking her mind, and shocking members of the parliament and the country. Her views on Islam, although experienced and valid, aren't politically correct. She receives death threats, and one of her close friends is assassinated, she is eventually more or less forced out of Holland, and moves to the USA where she now resides.
This is a novel, that rips you out of your western thinking, and makes you think that, no we're not the only human beings! when there's a west there's an east.
She then gets into politics and try's to fix the problems she once experienced. This involves her speaking her mind, and shocking members of the parliament and the country. Her views on Islam, although experienced and valid, aren't politically correct. She receives death threats, and one of her close friends is assassinated, she is eventually more or less forced out of Holland, and moves to the USA where she now resides.
This is a novel, that rips you out of your western thinking, and makes you think that, no we're not the only human beings! when there's a west there's an east.
One of my favorite things about this novel is her views on Islam, and how she expresses them. She sends a message of freedom of speech. It makes you realize, that although we are supposedly allowed to form our own opinions and express them, if we do this we are deemed racist, or insensitive.
Ayaan shows that you can't agree or let be just to keep the peace, or because you don't wanna be criticized for doing so.
Ayaan shows that you can't agree or let be just to keep the peace, or because you don't wanna be criticized for doing so.
There are issues in the world that need to be dealt with, and it seems as though they aren't purely because of political correctness. Not everyone can agree all of the time. And sometimes people, or opinions are wrong, and need to be stop or changed.
This is a book that touched me, and inspired me. It almost made me feel guilty, I feel as though i have it to easy, that I should be giving back.
I hope that one day there will be peace and equality, but ayaan made me realise that although its a beautiful thought, it's just a thought, a pipe dream.
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