tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post4553707215095766321..comments2023-05-12T10:18:14.355+02:00Comments on Mariam Kobras: Growing UpMariam Kobrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03538911373668958558noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post-52860077587543720942010-06-16T10:34:50.000+02:002010-06-16T10:34:50.000+02:00Amazing post and as much about "all" fat...Amazing post and as much about "all" fathers and daughters as about yours in particular. I cannot imagine what it must have been like for you. I can share some father/daughter experiences even though there was not the vast cultural divide in my parents' families of origin. The father daughter tie is not an easy one. You seem to be dealing with the old "stuff" well at this time. Deep Peace, Ardee-annardeeeichelmannhttp://ardeeeichelmann.livejournal.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post-7980760532375858672010-04-04T20:29:34.000+02:002010-04-04T20:29:34.000+02:00I think you are so very brave to open you heart li...I think you are so very brave to open you heart like this bit is extraordinarily admiral. Things in *my* head will never ever come out, even anonymously due to fear. You are amazing for conquering that fear. Hugs from you know who. XxxAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post-32021159527579840082010-03-08T11:13:49.000+01:002010-03-08T11:13:49.000+01:00You know, you all really knock me over with your c...You know, you all really knock me over with your comments.<br>I had no idea this subject would touch so many on such a personal level, or that religious controversies were so universal.Mariam Kobrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03490156509781232762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post-32543073499857715062010-03-07T20:33:07.000+01:002010-03-07T20:33:07.000+01:00In Glasgow, religion has always played a large par...In Glasgow, religion has always played a large part in life, in a tribal sense, if not spiritual. If you went to a state school you were seen as being a proddie dog. A catholic school and you were a Tim cat, or pape. My dad's parents were of mixed faith with their sons going to catholic school and brought up in the catholic faith, the girls being brought up protestant.<br>My dad never embraced Catholicism and he eventually married a woman who could not have been a more blue proddie. Religion was also tied up with football. Catholics supported Celtic, Protestants were Rangers fans. The anger and violence between the two tribes would often spill over into running battles in the streets and domestic violence in the home. And it is still the same. I love Glasgow, but there are aspects that do make me ashamed to be a Weegie.Nettie Thomsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post-68800508551179137842010-03-07T20:28:51.000+01:002010-03-07T20:28:51.000+01:00You are inspiring me to listen to what my husband ...You are inspiring me to listen to what my husband has been telling me to do and try to make amends with my parents. We just recently got into a rather uncomfortable discussion about accepting them for what they are and letting go of the fact that I cannot change their perceptions of how to treat people/their children included. It terrifies me to even consider making a move toward this... You are so strong and a brilliant writer. A gift to us allackstayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12243617985610421928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post-14865259373771435632010-03-07T11:46:51.000+01:002010-03-07T11:46:51.000+01:00What a truly brilliant post, Mariam. I think the c...What a truly brilliant post, Mariam. I think the cultural and religous conflicts of wanting to maintain an identity but somehow integrating into a new world, a new country, are captured so vividly. I can so imagine the "Kleinbürger" attitudes you describe in the 1960s, the narrow-mindedness...hm. Again, great post.Margithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17830126186468062827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post-18366721220671503632010-03-06T13:32:57.000+01:002010-03-06T13:32:57.000+01:00Thank you, Sue. What a lovely thing to say! I'...Thank you, Sue. What a lovely thing to say! I'm so glad we met.Mariam Kobrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03490156509781232762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post-79089765448003272212010-03-06T09:17:33.000+01:002010-03-06T09:17:33.000+01:00That's was a beautiful post Mariam...very movi...That's was a beautiful post Mariam...very moving and touching. I am glad that you and your father have retained a relationship, albeit with reservations. Tolerance and acceptance is so important.<br>Did you happen to read the post by Mrs G on The Pioneer Woman recently about religious education? If we raied all children that way it would be so much more peaceful in this world I think.<br><br>You are an amzing writer my freind...I wish I could express myself as you do so beautifullySuehttp://stampingandscrappin.typepad.com/2010_virtual_photo_walk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post-27412953825446817852010-03-05T15:01:17.000+01:002010-03-05T15:01:17.000+01:00Frauke: This is exactly the point my father and I ...Frauke: This is exactly the point my father and I have had many heated debates over. I must correct myself: It is not Islam itself that I abhor, but what has been made of it through interpretation, and even more than that, the silent acceptance of its abuse by the masses. <br>The philosophical content is one thing, and for us Europeans easy to accept, but please think of the many women who are abused and mistreated all over the world in the name of Islam.<br>That is were I draw the line.<br>And you are right, of course! Women had their first taste of freedom under Islam, and think of what a glorious time Spain had under Muslim rule!<br>Gone, baby, gone.Mariam Kobrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03490156509781232762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post-18161342202648907832010-03-05T13:37:10.000+01:002010-03-05T13:37:10.000+01:00Hi Mariam, I cottoned on to this rather belatedly....Hi Mariam, I cottoned on to this rather belatedly... I am glad our conversation triggered this post! I am also glad to hear that you and your father share a more common ground now. I went through much the same (though not for religious reasons) with my dad - more some time later on MY blog when I get around to it. <br>I just wanted to reiterate that my impulse to learn about Islam came from exactly this stubborn and united front against it. I cannot stand such bovine behavior. AND I was always drawn to the Arab culture; as a child, I wanted to be an Arab princess rather than, for instance, the sleeping beauty.<br>My conclusions are that Arabic is a truly beautiful albeit difficult language (not that difficult to learn perhaps, but to retain). And that the Qur'an has as many if not more interesting points to its credit - AND as much gibberish as any holy book. <br>Still, were I the least bit religiously inclined (which I am not), and speaking strictly from the basic tenets, I would choose Islam over Christianity. It used to be a much more tolerant and open world view in its day. <br>I guess what people forget is that world views and religions must move on. Fourteen hundred years ago, this religion was an, ahem, godsend to women who had had virtually no rights to that point. Nowadays, it can be a prison. Do the maths.<br>Lots of love, FraukeFraukehttp://fraukewatson.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post-36752839580432030242010-03-05T11:14:18.000+01:002010-03-05T11:14:18.000+01:00Even if your childhood was difficult and there may...Even if your childhood was difficult and there may still be issues with your parents, I guess it gets easier if you at least understand them. (You don't even have to forgive them.)<br><br>Oh, by the way: Proper typing is overrated. And if you still want to learn it, try this: www.schreibtrainer.comDiandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14570498251611083259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post-25510726083614064422010-03-04T22:15:48.000+01:002010-03-04T22:15:48.000+01:00Thank you, my friends.Thank you, my friends.Mariam Kobrashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03490156509781232762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post-14846284502971669352010-03-04T20:34:42.000+01:002010-03-04T20:34:42.000+01:00A very powerful post, my friend, and I now suspect...A very powerful post, my friend, and I now suspect your father is still a very proud man. Wanting the best for his children, he had his own ways of showing his love.<br><br>CJ xxCrystal Jigsawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00031672605703705469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7056162936481787793.post-368487822856293742010-03-04T19:34:45.000+01:002010-03-04T19:34:45.000+01:00Mariam, I rejoice to read this, hard as it must ha...Mariam, I rejoice to read this, hard as it must have been to write. You help me to understand a little immediately, and to wish to understand all eventually. God bless you.npetrikovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16877599510653492623noreply@blogger.com