Words of "Wisdom"

Excerpts of a speech given by Australia's Grand Mufti Sheik Taj el-Din al-Hilali (the full transcript can be found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6089008.stm ):

"But when it comes to adultery, it's 90% the women's responsibility....

It is she who takes off her clothes, shortens them, flirts, puts on make-up and powder and takes to the streets, God protect us, dallying. It's she who shortens, raises and lowers.

Then it's a look, then a smile, then a conversation, a greeting, then a conversation, then a date, then a meeting, then a crime, then Long Bay jail. [laughs].

Then you get a judge, who has no mercy, and he gives you 65 years.

But when it comes to this disaster, who started it? In his literature, scholar al-Rafihi says: 'If I came across a rape crime - kidnap and violation of honour - I would discipline the man and order that the woman be arrested and jailed for life.'

Why would you do this, Rafihi? He says because if she had not left the meat uncovered, the cat wouldn't have snatched it.

If you take uncovered meat and put it on the street, on the pavement, in a garden, in a park or in the backyard, without a cover and the cats eat it, is it the fault of the cat or the uncovered meat? The uncovered meat is the problem.

If the meat was covered, the cats wouldn't roam around it. If the meat is inside the fridge, they won't get it.

If the meat was in the fridge and it [the cat] smelled it, it can bang its head as much as it wants, but it's no use.

If the woman is in her boudoir, in her house and if she's wearing the veil and if she shows modesty, disasters don't happen."

The Grand Mufti would be the Muslim equivalent of the Anglican Bishop in Barbados. The "Long Bay jail" comment refers to an incident in 2000 when an 18 year old white Australian girl was gang raped 25 times by up to 14 men (Islamic). The young lady was on her way to a job interview when the incident occured.

Would you look at that: a woman being 90% responsible for adultery; being responsible for her rape; and being likened to a piece of uncovered meat. All these comments made by a religious leader who should be spreading the message of peace, tolerance, love and self-control. I wasn't aware that because a woman showed some flesh the only possible option I had was to pounce and devour that "meat." I thought one of the things that separated us from the animal kingdom was the potential ability to control our cravings and our actions (granted, we as a species don't do it very well - especially us males).

Apparently, I'm not enlightened. Are you?