CAMDEN -- For many religions, this season should be one of peace. Later this month Muslims will celebrate Muharram, when fighting is forbidden. A Rutgers University–Camden scholar is using YouTube to broadcast his poetry about an Islamic faith not shared by terrorists or showcased in the media.
M.A. Rafey Habib, professor of English at Rutgers–Camden, is the author of five acclaimed books, including A History of Literary Criticism: From Plato to the Present (Blackwell, 2005). An American Muslim, Habib says poetry is a most powerful medium in which to express issues in the world today, such as terrorist attacks perpetrated by suicide bombers. The most recent attacks in Mumbai impelled the Rutgers–Camden scholar to share his words with the world through YouTube.
“After the Mumbai attacks, like most Muslims I was yet again horrified that such people were tarnishing even more the image of Islam. The vast majority of Muslims have always condemned such behavior and their voices are not usually heard or portrayed in the media,” Habib says. “I wanted to send a clear message to the perpetrators of violence: you do not speak for me.”
In the YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxvWGROpjEs Habib calmly and passionately reads his poem “To a Suicide Bomber,” dressed in black, while looking into the camera as if speaking directly to those terrorizing others. Habib’s YouTube videos are produced by filmmaker Chris Barrett, the co-author of the book Direct Your Own Life and a partner in the film production company Powerhouse Pictures.
In addition to the YouTube videos of Habib reading his poetry, he has also posted a video that features English translations of passages from the Qur’an that he finds to be especially beautiful, as well as love poems.
Beginning a conversation toward peace on YouTube has so far been a rewarding experience for the Rutgers–Camden professor:
“The vast majority of responses have been extremely kind, humane and supportive,” he says. “One of the things I love about America is that most Americans are decent, tolerant people who are willing to learn and understand…It’s time for the moderate and humane people on all sides to speak out and take the world in the direction of peaceful co-operation.”
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Media Contact: Cathy K. Donovan
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E-mail: catkarm@camden.rutgers.edu