Muslim Refusenik: A etymological summary of the major monotheistic religions might go like this. Judaism - a religion of a people ("of Judah"); Christianity - a religion in honor of the "anointed one"; and Islam - a religion of believers who "submit" to Allah. There is a certain troubling passivity and closed mindness to that last one, but it all too often appears to be the case.

One such exception is Irshad [often a masculine name, it means"guidance, direction"] Manji, the author of The Trouble With Islam: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith. An emigrant to Canada from Uganda at age four (for the same reasons as those West African Asians in Mississippi Masala) , she had independent reasoning (known as itjihad, the right to question) at an early age as well. An activist, feminist, lesbian, and passionate speaker (caught her on C-SPAN ... the book is meant to be a sort of letter to Muslims, and you can hear her passion through the words of the book as well), she also is open minded -- she will give her faith a chance, if it reforms itself and accepts self-criticism.

A valuable perspective that in some ways is shared by an important core of believers. This is the sort of person Thomas Friedman dreams about. She shows the value of multimedia by using her website to supply source material, a chance for feedback, and further information. There are many reviews and links to on air interviews, and a positive one by National Review fits as good as any: "This will be tough medicine for many of the world's Muslims, but it's the only way they will be able to save their religion from its darker angels." In fact, I felt she was a bit too harsh against the "traditional Muslim line" at times, but such passionate dissenters within, those who don't want their faith seized from them, often are the best hope of troubled institutions all around.

[Her first book, Risking Utopia: On the Edge of a New Democracy "chronicles how young people are redefining democracy in an age of fluid media networks, social values and personal identities. Risking Utopia has inspired courses in Canadian schools as well as discussion clubs as far away as Johannesburg and Hong Kong." A taste of some of her critics, can be seen by another reviewof the book. Sounds like a good book, anyway!]