Posted on 03/13/2008 6:16:11 PM PDT by dynachrome
NEW YORK -- When Beatriz Kehdy was growing up in Sao Paulo, Brazil, she felt uncomfortable with the standards of beauty that she says were a part of the culture in which she was raised. An emphasis on external beauty and the body, she says, became increasingly foreign to her own personal values. Kehdy moved to New York City almost 10 years ago and eventually discovered a sense of place in Islam and in the hijab, or headscarf worn by women in the faith. "When I wear the hijab, I feel more respected, people talk to me with respect," she said. The now 27-year-old architect converted from Catholicism to Islam four years ago, but didn't tell her family until a few years later, in a letter. "When I started wearing the hijab, there was a problem," she said. "My father didn't want me to wear it in public in Brazil." Kehdy is one of many Latin American women in the U.S. who have embraced the Islamic faith. The American Muslim Council, based in Chicago, estimates that there are more than 200,000 Latino Muslims in the United States. Women make up 60 percent of conversions to Islam, according to experts.
(Excerpt) Read more at religionblog.dallasnews.com ...
There are many similarities between Catholicism and Islam," said Ibrahim Hooper, Communications Director and spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, based in Washington, D.C. "Both have principles that need to be followed, regarding how you conduct yourself as person, how you operate in a community."
They ain't gona find any.
Islam in central & south America is this country’s worst nightmare.
Except for the parts where a woman is supposed to let her husband beat her.
They’ll find answers alright. They won’t like them, however.
Oh, the Latinas will FLOCK to Sharria over THAT one! ( /s)
A very, very sad story. She may have second thoughts about this after her first few beatings from whoever she marries.
Good grief.
Latino guys aren’t chauvanistic enough, for them??
Gotta go the whole “forced veil or head chopped off” route?
Unfortunately, many non-Muslim Latinas already experience that.
She was a fat girl and nobody liked her?
Kehdy moved to New York City almost 10 years ago and eventually discovered a sense of place in Islam and in the hijab
She became a horrible pig and likes to be covered up?
People look at her with respect?
No they don’t, they are AFRAID of you, lady. Who knows what you have under that bedsheet!
Too weak to take control of her own behavior, this woman turned to Islam. What, you can't set your own rules, you have to rely on a religion to make you behave? Pathetic.
She could wear the Christian head covering; if that’s her main excuse for being Muslim.
You've lost YOUR mind, you're hearing voices, it's all in the Quran.
FWIW, Spain was part of the Islamic territories for over 700 years.
>> An emphasis on external beauty and the body, she says, became increasingly foreign to her own personal values.
Alrighty, then. I’m beginning to see where she’s going with this. She’s an ugly chick.
I guess she’s right: some women ought to dress in burkhas and wear veils. Shallow dude that I am, how can I disagree?
[insert Helen Thomas photo here]
She could have the same sense of belonging by becoming s nun.
OK but if she’s got hangups about being expected to pretty herself up (for whatever reason), why not a Convent?
Unless she just really, actually wants to be hurt.
Some people do. Self-destructive...
And they want it back.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.