Another Day, Another Sex Scandal

Tuesday, 21 June 2011 00:42

Anyone following the news in the Western media has certainly noticed the unbelievable number of reports of sexual improprieties committed by politicians in the recent months. The high profile affair of Hollywood superstar and current California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was publicized shortly after the allegations of sexual assault upon a West African Muslim chambermaid in New York by International Monetary Fund director Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Shortly thereafter, US Congressman Anthony Weiner was caught sending inappropriate pictures to unidentified women over the internet, causing even more uproar. Not to mention the news coming out of former Democratic Presidential hopeful John Edwards, who admitted to an extra-marital affair with a supporter. These incidents are just recent examples of sexual improprieties that occur on a daily basis by politicians, who often get away with these crimes. In the UK recently, former Royal Marine, millionaire businessman, and conservative member of parliament Andrew Hudgen was accused of sexual assault. Even more nefarious is the hypocrisy and duplicity of parties who espouse "family values" while committing such ugly crimes. In the 1990's, Republican Newt Gingrich, then Speaker of the House of Representatives, was the flag bearer for the campaign to prosecute Bill Clinton for his inappropriate dealings with Monica Lewinsky. Not long after that, Gingrich admitted to having an affair with another woman! Lastly, in Europe, we see the ongoing sex crime trial of Italian Prime Minister and billionaire businessman Silvio Berlusconi.

While all of these incidents indicate the failure of liberal values and the social system of Capitalism; a system which doesn't recognize the problem of free mixing between the sexes, the case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn is most noteworthy. In France, Muslim women are banned from covering their faces in the form of a burqa or niqab. Women accused of doing so must pay nearly $300 and attend compulsory citizenship classes, at which they will be taught how to behave as upstanding citizens in a secular republic. The failure of their system is apparent because they don't understand the difference between decency and crime. On the one hand, wearing a face covering to preserve modesty, uphold the respect between the sexes, and honor the sanctity of the woman is considered a crime, and on the other hand womanizing, cheating, fornicating, and sodomy are perfectly normal. The contradiction is blaring and is easy for anyone with a discerning mind to see. They attack the Muslims for our social values, when Western society is crumbling in the form of illegitimate children, declining birth rates, sexually transmitted diseases, the objectification of women, and reversed social roles which ultimately destroy the family.

It would seem that the birthplace of Liberté, égalité, fraternité (liberty, equality, brotherhood) would not be caught in such a hypocritical dilemma. In addition to the fact that the Anthony Weiner, Dominique Strauss-Kahn etc affairs are embarrassments, it proves that when a society confuses crime with civility, it’s on its way out. It's important for Muslims to take note that while it seems like the West is struggling with Islam and Muslims, in reality, it is struggling with itself.