Last summer I re-read Catcher in the Rye, J. D. Salinger's coming of age novel, after reading that it is the favorite novel of Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong. In fact their huge selling album American Idiot is in some ways based on the novel and its profane main character--Holden Caulfield. It was influential on many young disaffected punks like Green Day, and now it seems that young Muslims have their own version. Titled The Taqwacores, written by Michael Muhammad Knight, the book chronicles the life of a group of young Muslim-Americans living in a house in Buffalo NY who form a punk band. The novel’s title combines “taqwa,” the Arabic word for “piety,” with
“hardcore,” used to describe second-generation punk that emerged out of Washington DC (think Minor Threat) and California (think Operation Ivy). According to a great article in the NYT, the novel was passed around in photocopy format, growing in renown, influencing a generation of young Muslims. Now it has a publisher, is coming out in paperback and a film is in production based on the novel. According to Rolling Stone, bands--like Vote Hezbollah--have been formed in response to the book's influence, as well.
On their MySpace page, Vote Hezbollah writes that they "were formed in 2004 shortly after reading Taqwacores by Michael Muhammad Knight. The band name comes from the book and in no way represents terrorism. Vote Hezbollah does not promote violence or support any violent organizations. Peace, unity, and truth are our only strengths."
I believe God might be working to bring peace on earth through The Taqwacores and the subculture it has created. I'm getting it and reading it in 2009. And I'm praying for peace, unity, and truth along with Vote Hezbollah.
Peace,
Chris
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