Aussie humour & modern, relevant Islam

‘Great Australian Bikini March’ urged to pass by Lakeamba Mosque

This morning I read of a possible bikini march past the Sydney Mosque and how young Lebanese Muslim Association President Tom Zreika has been quoted as describing the plan ‘hilarious’. I couldn’t stop the smile as my mind conjured up all sorts of images….. (The Australian editorial 7/12/06).

By its very nature Australian Society rejects intolerance and revels in deflating ‘fundamentalism of all stripes’, writes The Australian’s editorial team.

They observe how young Australian Muslims – Waleed Ali and Tanveer Ahmed – saw an opportunity in the publicity surrounding Sheik Hilali comments about Australian women and ‘uncovered meat’ to put forward their own thoughtful message that Islam needs to modernise to remain relevant.

Likewise, the Muslim students reporting fellow students desecrating a bible in Victoria, presents another opportunity.

Covering up outrages will not make them go away, they just fester in the shadows before exploding, catching the community unawares, as has happened in some European cities. Humour is the ‘right attitude’ says the team, and the more light that is shone on extremists in the community, the better!