OH SHISH: AN INVITATION TO THE MIDDLE EAST

It took a Kentucky calligrapher who told our Detroit class that we need to go to Dearborn, MI, the home of a very large Arab population to visit various stores to purchase ancient Turkish music cds and learn about the Arabs in Michigan.  As very unusual music was playing in the background, he urged all of us to get out of our boxes and step into a different way of seeing.  I was thrilled to hear this because learning about cultures opens one up to different ways of thinking.

It is our not knowing about this culture that can cause so many problems.   Actually, I have been exploring Middle Eastern Culture since the late 1970s.  My mother, may she tenderly rest in peace, made me read the book: Shah Nama, The King's Letter. which tells the mainly mythological and somewhat historical past of the Persian Empire and what it brought to the world. How my mother even knew about this epic poem, I'll never know.

In my effort to introduce travelers to this wonderful culture, I developed "O Shish: An Invitation To The Middle East" scheduled for May 16. Once I start telling about it, I get a very positive response.

We are going to the Arab American Museum and other places, but lunch is the most important aspect of this particular tour because it is so very special as we are treated to an explanation of apparel for both men and women.

Can you imagine a fashion show of women showing their various headdresses and burkas, which are an outer covering that women in some of the Arab emirates wear when out and about in public.  Actually, the Qur'n stresses the importance of men and women dressing modestly in public. Much like the Amish where women are attired in their dress, apron and bonnet while men wear trousers without zippers but with buttons on the sides and their hat.  So many cultures have "dress" similarities.

In Israel, many women have taken to wearing of the veil? Why do people do this?  Well, it is believed that these rules of modesty should be followed to save men from themselves. After all, even the young Catholic Domnic Savio, according to his biographer Fr. John Bosco, wrote that Dominic said that when a man sees a woman's body parts, he is aroused and this might cause him to commit sin, even if he doesn't actually sin physically, his impure thoughts are sin in themselves.   So Dominic always averted his eyes to improperly dressed women.

Catholic Sisters used to wear a head to toe "habit", which is very similar to the burka however, it is donned with medals and a rosary . Cloistered nuns still wear their habits.  The respect that the ladies in their habits garner is so telling to me because when other see these women in their dress, they become a little more silent, they nod, they talk about how wonderful it is to see nuns dressed "Catholic." Same thing with the Amish.

Some Orthodox Jewish men wear the yarmulke, and so does the Pope.

These various outfits or uniforms that some wear, actually connect us more often than not. When one is reared in a certain lifestyle, it's different to remove the lifestyle from the person.

Last year while dining at a wonderful Arabic restaurant in Dearborn, a young lady served us.  I asked her about her headdress and she responded: Women are considered God's jewels. That's why I wear my head covering. I am special."

Here are some images of women wearing burkas.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=burka+clothing+women&qpvt=burka+clothing+women&FORM=IGRE