u/AlluvialGold

I am a queer Arab-American that is still learning to navigate familial relationships, love, and homophobia. I do not plan on telling my family that I'm gay, however, I want to enter a long-term relationship with another man. I want to know how others have navigated similar situations. Thank you!

أنا عربي أمريكي "كوير" وما زلت أتعلم كيف أتعامل مع رهاب المثلية، الحب، والعلاقات العائلية. لا أنوي أن أخبر عائلتي أني مثلي ولكنني أريد الدخول في علاقة مع رجل. أريد أن أعلم كيف يتعامل الآخرون مع ظروف مشابهة. أنا آسف على العربية الضعيفة! شكرا!

Currently, I am reading through Will Kymlicka's Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Introduction. His book touches on major schools of political thought in Anglo-American political philosophy, such as utilitarianism, liberal-equality, libertarianism, and Marxism. In it, he cites Dworkin's suggestion that "every plausible political theory has the same ultimate value, which is equality" (p. 4).

While I am secular and partial to liberal-equality, I grew up in a Shīʿī Muslim household whose ultimate value was not equality. I am not very familiar with contemporary Islamic political philosophies, however, I do know that some thinkers (e.g., Qutb and his Hakimiyyah) do not take equality as an ultimate value.

I am curious about works in contemporary non-Western political theories that propose other ultimate values, critique the values of Anglo-American political philosophy, or try to synchronize aspects of native and Anglo-American political philosophy. I am not looking for anything specific, i.e., whether Islamic, Chinese, or other political philosophy.

Submission Statement: Yesterday, during commencement, Faculty Senate Chair Derek R. Peterson gave a speech on UofM and its history of social justice. After speaking about Moritz Levi and the Black Action Movement, Peterson stated, "sing for the pro-Palestinian student activists, who have, over these past two years, opened our hearts to the injustice and inhumanity of Israel's war in Gaza."

Soon after, President Grasso made a statement stating, "[Peterson] made remarks regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict that were hurtful and insensitive to many members of our community. We regret the pain this has caused on a day devoted to celebration and accomplishment. For this, the university apologizes."

Now for some editorializing: as an Arab-American alumnus, the president's statement is disappointing. Israeli forces have committed acts of injustice and inhumanity in Gaza (and in the West Bank alongside settlers, etc). It is a fact and, in my opinion, a pretty milquetoast statement. Peterson did not even condone any particular actions or forms of protest.

The presidential statement writes that commencement was, "not a platform for personal or political expression," yet it does not condemn Peterson's political statements on Moritz Levi or the Black Action Movement. Nor did it condemn other addresses that touched on politics at UofM, like the Black Action Movement, failure to follow through on the Treaty of Fort Meigs, or misogyny in UofM admissions. There is still a Palestine exception when it comes to social justice and Palestinian/Arab activism on campus.