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Sara Al Iraqiya is a USA-based 2nd generation Iraqi-American social scientist, writer, and activist. Raised under Sunni Islam and a survivor of attempted radicalization in American mosques and centers — she has both lived experience as well as academic experience with Islam. By age 20, after gaining the freedom to live autonomously and exercising her right to protect herself, she left Islam altogether.
Sara aims to educate her fellow Americans and lovers of Western civilization on the horrors, inequalities, and injustices that occur in Western-based mosques and Islamic centers. Sara has been published in two languages (and counting). A world traveller, she briefly lived in France, Jordan, and even Cuba in order to complete her Masters of Arts in Global Affairs specializing in Global Culture and Society. Sara Al Iraqiya has been published in Conatus News and Spain’s ALDE Group.
Some time ago, Al Iraqiya and I talked about the general topic important to the two of us. That is, the subject matter of the written word. In particular, her early life becoming interested in writing and developing as a writer.
Al Iraqiya said, “As soon as I could take a pen to paper. I recall a project in elementary school where we learned about the concept of the biography versus the autobiography. We were asked to write a ‘tentative autobiography’ up to retirement age. I left the graded assignment which was bound like a small booklet in my family home. My dad read it.”
Since that time, she was encouraged to write and share the productions with others. Her father’s sister, her aunt, is a writer who Al Iraqiya shares a bond with. It becomes a bond between the two of them with both human rights and the writing. She notes the shared quirks of the writer, which is, as she states, a cliché.
When I asked about the demarcation between a good and a bad writer, and even a greater writer, Al Iraqiya shifted the formulation of the response into the idea of no true good or bad writer in existence.
“Perhaps a bad writer is one who commits plagiarism — I really have zero tolerance for that. Also, I understand that many folks use ghostwriters, but that concept has just gone over my head. A great writer takes his or her time. They feel emotionally and perhaps in a sense spiritually moved by words,” Al Iraqiya stated, “A great writer is either extremely afraid or extremely unafraid of his or her feelings. The point is to not be afraid to record those sentiments and share them with the world. These are simply my own personal observations.”
There were some new events, at the time, in the life of Al Iraqiya. Now, she works in television, even while not owning a television. She tries to remain connected to the global liberty movements. Those peoples proposing means by which to increase general freedom for the intellectual benefit of all.
Al Iraqiya exclaimed, “I moved to New York City — the Big Apple! I absolutely love it because I can be fucking weird and it’s normal here, you know? The city is full of candour. Washington, D.C. was a bit uppity but again I will be corny and say going back to D.C. is very sentimental for me and I enjoy my frequent visits back to my nation’s capital. It is a place I called home for 20+ years.”
Also, she loved Mount Vernon in D.C. while also enjoying getting away from the pervasive noise of NYC. I asked about the article most prominent in her memory, in terms of having pride in writing. Without skipping a beat, she said “Muslim-American Femicide and the Intersectional Feminist Enablers” for Conatus News.
“Because it pissed people off. But many of those same people actually took a step back, questioned their own beliefs, and thought critically about why their visceral reaction was adverse. Thought provoking — I think every writer wants to be thought-provoking. Also, it lit a fire under the asses of feminists who did not realize their own bigotry, hypocrisy, and yes — misogyny. I wrote that article for my missing friend.”
This “missing friend” extended into writing the article for young women who died for “authenticity” and who “suffer in silence.” She did receive some feedback for the article, and enjoys the civil discourse, critique, or compliment of her writing.
I noted a ubiquitous fact of history. Men being the “source of a lot of inspiring work and a lot of horrifying catastrophes.” I asked about the encouragement of a healthier sense of masculinity in men.
Al Iraqiya reflected and said, “It was the men in my life who inspired me to be the woman I am today. Male family members, male friends, and male mentors. What they all had in common, when I was sort of an isolated walking stereotype of a writer, was ‘Sara you need to get out there!’ They really pumped me up! I cannot thank the wonderful men in my life enough.”
The one common trait for the good men in life, to her, is having a solid work ethic. For the boys transforming, hopefully, into mature men, she stated the importance of recognizing the healthy sense of masculinity that makes the most sense to you (the man).
“Some men embrace what many call a ‘feminine’ side. Why are we calling it that? Some examples of men who have been described as ‘feminine’ would be artists who incorporate striking and flamboyant physical appearances such as David Bowie, Prince, and Freddie Mercury but I say this is still masculinity. Because it is a male doing it. Merely existing is masculinity,”
She sees the David, Prince, and Freddie as “go-getters and trailblazers” for their time in the history of the culture. They are remembered for it. Thus, masculinity, Al Iraqiya argues, is not simply about being the tough and gruff, rough and tumble dude. A real man, in this sense, permits flexibility in presentation but always shows “vision, determination, and innovation.”
“Too often I’ve seen men from certain cultural or religious enclaves where there is a pressure to — and I’ll be frank — there is a pressure in those communities to treat women like garbage in order to be considered a so-called ‘real man.’ This is detrimental to something very important for a man’s growth — his relationships with women,” Al Iraqiya concluded, “You have to take a step back from any toxic communities and practice intellectual autonomy. It is the most precious thing we as free human beings have. I think the healthiest thing a man can do is think for himself. Stay away from counterproductive modes of thought. Just act natural.”
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