In the article “From Bikinis to Burkas”, Al-Solaylee uses the idea that life in the Middle East was at one point, no different from the western world and was therefore better than what it is now, making this emotionally based article propagandistic in nature. This creates a sense of moral duty to some conservatives in regards to the current war in the Middle East. Al-Solaylee creates the impression that the American invasion is simply working towards restoring their previous way of life through his portrayal of Yemen in the 1940’s. Al-Solaylee’s story about his family is used to paint a picture about the struggles and changes in Yemen and implies it to the entire Middle East with no counter arguments. Al-Solaylee states that the
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Al-Solaylee introduces descriptive texts about his family in Yemen, painting the picture of art and literature-loving middle-class civilians, much like middle-class western culture. Once this connection is established, he follows by describing their “lost war to extremism” creating an emotional reaction from the reader. Al-Solaylee makes it appear as if people praying and wearing burkas is something that we should pity, since it implies that they’ve fallen victim to brainwash. The chronological composition creates a story like feel, giving the readers of the average reading level a stronger understanding. Al-Solaylee simply combines of the overtake of extremism, war and the Muslim religion which grabs the intended audience’s attention due to the current hype about extremist Muslims and the war on …show more content…
The final statement claims that millions of other Middle Eastern families, as well as his own family, have been losing the war against extremism. Contradictory to this, Al-Solaylee earlier stated that, they merely chose to conform to extremism, while he mentions himself left for England to study once he saw beheadings taking place under Sharia Law. Al-Solaylee blames the social changes and the acceptance of extremist Muslim practices through gradual change and brainwashing through the media. Unfortunately, the cause of social change is contradicted half way through the article when he mentions how people were beheaded in daylight under sharia law. This sounds like enforced change, rather than gradual acceptance. He even mentions having to play along with the new rules and nine pm curfew for about two years, until Al-Solaylee left to study in England in 1985. Using the same rationalization on the topic, I could use my personal experience with people living in Canada dressed in full burkas to debate the author’s claim. After all, if the people were really objectified to this change, they have no reason to even continue Muslim traditions in the privacy of their own home or here in Canada despite being free from sharia law. Based on the emotional and current relevance to the topic, this article
Al-Solaylee introduces descriptive texts about his family in Yemen, painting the picture of art and literature-loving middle-class civilians, much like middle-class western culture. Once this connection is established, he follows by describing their “lost war to extremism” creating an emotional reaction from the reader. Al-Solaylee makes it appear as if people praying and wearing burkas is something that we should pity, since it implies that they’ve fallen victim to brainwash. The chronological composition creates a story like feel, giving the readers of the average reading level a stronger understanding. Al-Solaylee simply combines of the overtake of extremism, war and the Muslim religion which grabs the intended audience’s attention due to the current hype about extremist Muslims and the war on …show more content…
The final statement claims that millions of other Middle Eastern families, as well as his own family, have been losing the war against extremism. Contradictory to this, Al-Solaylee earlier stated that, they merely chose to conform to extremism, while he mentions himself left for England to study once he saw beheadings taking place under Sharia Law. Al-Solaylee blames the social changes and the acceptance of extremist Muslim practices through gradual change and brainwashing through the media. Unfortunately, the cause of social change is contradicted half way through the article when he mentions how people were beheaded in daylight under sharia law. This sounds like enforced change, rather than gradual acceptance. He even mentions having to play along with the new rules and nine pm curfew for about two years, until Al-Solaylee left to study in England in 1985. Using the same rationalization on the topic, I could use my personal experience with people living in Canada dressed in full burkas to debate the author’s claim. After all, if the people were really objectified to this change, they have no reason to even continue Muslim traditions in the privacy of their own home or here in Canada despite being free from sharia law. Based on the emotional and current relevance to the topic, this article