I think it’s really interesting that in Islamic culture, sex
between two people of the same gender is condemned but attraction for someone
of the same sex is not and that is probably the way it should be or else it
become conviction on thoughts rather than actions. It actually makes sense why
sodomy would be illegal but professing love to someone of the same sex was not.
Professing love has nothing to do with anything physical with another person.
I found it surprising that such literature targeting young men
was tolerated in the society despite the disallowance of homosexual activity.
Nevertheless, the poetry is beautiful and seems harmless in the context of the
year it was written but yet wouldn’t be tolerated today since it is almost an
admittance of a potential plan to become involved sexually with younger men.
It is surprising that there was a period of time when
sexuality was not discussed in literature at all and was avoid as a topic of
social communications. Ignoring sexuality is like ignoring a piece of humanity.
What are we if not sexual beings?
I do have to say (and I realize this is me having an opinion
in 2013 rather than someone having an opinion in the 1980’s in a Middle Eastern
country) that a woman would be prosecuted for writing slightly erotic material.
I think it is wrong to stifle creativity and target the author.
I think Arab culture is incredible interesting since it is
based in a different religion with different traditions and social standards
which made this presentation interesting and very relatable to the standards
for love and desire in the Middle East.
