As an Egyptian I studied history in school. A brief history even if it covered some 7000 years. A very shallow take on history. I remember them mentioning that one invention the french invaders brought to Egypt was a printing press. No where were we told that the Sultan in Istanbul had banned if decades ago. And obviously we never discussed the implications. We learned Nasser was the first president of the republic only to find out years later that it was Muhammad Naguib. We learned to memorize and regurgitate. Never to truly analyze.
As a muslim I realize that my knowledge is lacking there too. I never truly studied the history of my religion. I feel I need to fix this quite urgently. I need to make up for lost time. I feel can't always passively be a Muslim.
And now as an American I realize how little I know about my country. obviously I missed the school part but I don't know where to really start. I've started reading Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an and hope to read Malcolm X's biography next. I need to start near the beginning and near the end. I want to be able to talk to people and actually have the common background to share.
As a lazy person I have to just do it. Help is welcome.
As a muslim I realize that my knowledge is lacking there too. I never truly studied the history of my religion. I feel I need to fix this quite urgently. I need to make up for lost time. I feel can't always passively be a Muslim.
And now as an American I realize how little I know about my country. obviously I missed the school part but I don't know where to really start. I've started reading Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an and hope to read Malcolm X's biography next. I need to start near the beginning and near the end. I want to be able to talk to people and actually have the common background to share.
As a lazy person I have to just do it. Help is welcome.
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