LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Young Muslims Build a Subculture on an Underground Book

Young, American, Muslim, rebellious against nation and religion, what do you do?

One young American Muslim rebel against both his nation and his religion, Michael Muhammad Knight, wrote a novel, The Taqwacores. The novel contained a cast of characters who lived a punk life in Buffalo, playing in Muslim punk bands.

An underground publication, it circulated that way. One young girl's sister read it to her over hours on the phone. Young Muslims wrote to the author asking when one of the bands would play next. He replied that there were no Muslim punk bands. Now there are.

The Taqwacores, about young punks in Buffalo, is called the Muslim Catcher in the Rye.* You can read the full story here.

* Don't you think it was possible for the writers of this piece to have come up with a more current and appropriate title than this thing by Salinger, written in and about a milieu so long ago and far away as to be quaint?

2 comments:

K. said...

This is such a cool story. And talk about a great way of spreading the word.

Foxessa said...

But sheesh! Catcher in the Rye was publishing in farkin' 1951!

Have you heard about the all woman Saudi rock band that performs at parties of all women?

It turns out that a young Bangadeshi woman friend in Vancouver is friends of some of these Muslim punkers. She's also a singer and performer. And Muslim, but a very feminist Muslim.

Love, C.