[D9 (RIP)]

I have read others, Jimbo, that just happens to be what I'm reading at the moment and the reference was fresh. I understand that he may have some ideas that aren't universally popular, but I don't think the importance of the Hijaz to Muslims is one of them.

My only experience with Southeast Asian Muslims is my aunt by marraige, who is Malay and Muslim. I'm very close to my uncle on that side, and lived with them for a summer while I was in college. She is a strict Muslim in some ways, and more typically Asian in others. She is very ritualistic in terms of prayer and other proprieties, but very modern in her fashion, etc. I understand that a population of one is not enough to justify generalizations, so I won't make any. But I do have at least that exposure to SE Asian Muslims.

Also read the text of a speech delivered in '03 (IIRC) by the "moderate" Islamic president of Idonesia, Mohathir Mohammad. At the time he was being heralded as the great hope for Islamic moderation, but I recall the text of his speech being more of a call more complete Islamism than anything resembling reform.

In class tonight we have cultural hour. I'm going to put this to our Egyptian instructor, and see what he says. Surely as a Muslim who spent 25 years growing up in Egypt, he will have some insight.