This letter is in response to a letter to the editor entitled, “Living in cultural crisis.” I agree that the editor of the Daily did not show good judgement to publish the religious views of a student who claims she is not even religious.

While her opinions are her own and she is fully entitled to them, the Muslim Student Association in turn is justified in questioning the use of this student’s opinion about reinterpreting the Quran to accommodate women.

As a result of this lack of good judgment on the part of the Daily, the MSA felt the need to clarify the position of the Quran on this issue. That position was well laid out by the President of the MSA. All well and good.

His letter also states that her opinion “has outraged many Muslims in the community and needs an explanation.”

My questions are these: Are Muslims outraged by her opinion, that it was published as representative of the Islamic religion or that the purpose of “Hijab” (the use of a veil by Islamic women) has been misinterpreted? Clearly, Muslim culture is misunderstood by many throughout the world, not just here at ISU. I have travelled widely in Islamic countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Morocco, Uzbekistan and others and have come to find many positive and beautiful aspects of these cultures.

A second point is that the use of the word “outrage” expresses an emotionally charged response. Could not the President of the MSA use less emotionally charged language? And direct his response to the appropriate source? Hearts and mind change, not through confrontation, as the world is seeing too much of, but through thoughtful persuasion. Emotionally charged reactions are often the initial human responses to “outrage.”

Are we willing to transform such emotion into thoughtful persuasion? The MSA letter is an effort to do just that. However, the interwoven tone of outrage detracts from the message. I personally see no point in feeling outraged when someone’s opinion offends me.

As for the Daily, better judgement is in order.

Rick Phipps

Graduate Student

Water Resources