For me, one of the scariest things about the Muslim world and culture is its general lack of humor … at least any sort of humor that we westerners would recognize. That’s a major barrier, something that blocks the finding of common ground and cultural understanding. However, I just read about Shabana Rehman, the 26 year old Muslim “standupkomiker” from Norway (as she is described on her web site). She hails from Karachi, Pakistan, but migrated with family to northern Europe at a young age.

Ms. Rehman gives it to the fundamentalists right in the eye, coming on stage wrapped in a traditionalist burka and then throwing it off to do the rest of her routine in a cocktail dress. She also has choice comments about western-liberal political correctness (which still has some fans up in the Scandinavian countries). The Norwegian liberals aren’t exactly complaining, but the radical Muslims often harass her or cause a scene at her shows. (She probably works it into the act, and the liberals just figure it was all staged).

Ms. Rehman is showing the power of comedy to make people think. She’s taking some heavy risks to build bridges where the bullets and mortars are still flying. I definitely take my hat off to her. Some of her stuff is a bit over the top, e.g. the photo of her in the nude with the flag of Norway painted on her skin that appeared recently in some European political magazine. But hey, artists sometimes get brash to make a point. Ms. Rehman is making a lot of points, but the one I like the most is that we should all ultimately define ourselves according to our own internal standards; we should not have it dictated to us by our family, our home country, our adopted culture, our religious traditions, our fashion setters, our TV advertisements, etc.

I think that Ms. Rehman is saying that we need to lessen our desire to be just another sheep in the flock, another bee in the hive. We’re humans, not insects. We can create and recreate ourselves into something totally unique, just as each snowflake is like no other. We can pick and choose our own interests, our own fashions, our own traditions, and our own beliefs, regardless of how popular they are. If Indian head pennies or Amish quilts or Easter Island idols or 70’s pop music or school board politics (or even blogging) appeal to your soul – well, go for it. But just remember, other people’s souls are drawn to totally different things, and you’ve gotta respect and tolerate their preferences if you’re gonna expect any respect for your own.

If you check out Ms. Rehman’s web site, you won’t get too much from it unless you can read Norwegian. But there’s one picture there that sez it all, no translation needed. Ms. Rehman is dressed in traditional Middle Eastern female attire, with some kind of jewel over her forehead. And yet, she’s holding a pair of skis. Most excellent! That’s the ultimate weapon against the people who train suicide bombers and terrorists. And as Ms. Rehman points out, we westerners also need to break out of our molds, the ones that affluence and economic freedom paradoxically create. We need to do some independent thinking ourselves in the face of consumerism and crafty marketing strategies (I mean, if political operatives really think that the typical ads you see around election time can convince people to vote for their candidate, then Americans ain’t got their thinking caps on right).

P.S. one element of my own individuality is my taste for craft-brewed dark beers (OK, not exactly cutting edge anymore, but still pretty good for a guy who grew up drinking Coke and Pepsi all day – can’t even touch that stuff anymore, surprised that anyone over the age of 18 still drinks that glop). I haven’t offered too many reviews here, but I just tried a new one that raised my eyebrows. It’s called Old Heathen Imperial Stout by Weyerbacher, brewed near the Delaware River in Easton, PA. Weyerbacher is not as fashionable as the various craft brewers from Colorado, Oregon or Vermont, and it’s had its problems with light beers (some of which are downright skunky). But Weyerbacher seems to know dark beers rather well (they’ve had a nice raspberry stout for some time), and this one hits the nail right on the head. It’s full-bodied but not syrupy, smooth and maybe even silky, with plenty of dark chocolate and coffee tones. It has a nice lacy head to it, neither foamy nor flat.

This is alcohol as it was meant to be – expensive, well done, to be sipped and savored in moderation, and not gulped down in a drunken stupor. Moslem fundamentalists seem to fear alcohol (although the 9-11 terrorists had no problem belting it down), while typical Americans and western Europeans are too prone to get drunk. It’s up to the radical individualists like Shabana Rehman to find the middle ground. Perhaps Weyerbacher should send her a complementary six of Old Heathen. It’s probably a great beer for the long, cold winters up in Norway.