So there I am, with two of my little infidels in tow, dashing across town to hit Carnegie Hall. It seems Red has to have a classical concert in the bag for a report due tomorrow. I love these mandates, the kids as an impetus for some culchuh for a change. So imagine my surprise to stumble upon a sea of black down Park Avenue, against a backdrop of loud Muslim prayers blaring over loudspeakers, no less. We were running late and I didn't have a picture card in my camera, but Red said, "Ma, there's a Staples down the block, you've got to get this." It was surreal.
The cop tells me, Moe's grandson along with 72 other Muslims beat back an army of 70,000. Yeah, 72 guys beat an army of 70,000 and they are mourning the death of Husayn (the grandson). The mock coffins represent Husayn and his followers who "were denied proper burial." When I saw them beating themselves up, I asked the cop, "Is this Ashura"? He said, "Yeah, I think that's in the pamphlet." Indeed it was. He told me there was a large number from Pakistan (but no sign of mourning for Bhutto, or any sign of her, for that matter), Iran Iraq, Lebanon.
ASHURA! Regular Atlas readers are familiar with this ritual, as I have covered it here and here and here. Every year, in fact. Remember Ashura?
Ashura in NY. Ironic how it plays out in front of the mixed LOVE artwork on Park and 57th. Mixed up indeed
What flag is that? Anybody know?
The women brought up the rear (but of course)
The flag of Husayn (Hussein) carried into battle. TMI? Too bad.
Crowds surround the men fiercely beating their chests
The most disturbing image was all those black-clad women (from head to toe) en masse down Park Avenue. My 13 year old said, "Ma, that's scary". Indeed. Mind you, it was scary, as in an altered reality.
On every corner, a young girl in full dress would stop you to explain the meaning and the beauty of this festival of mourning (did I just say that?) and give you Islamic propaganda. The taqiyya was in full-blast mode. Check out my inter-faith dialogue with an attendee in my video.
Considering the choice for President among Muslims, I may have hit upon something in my video of events on Park Avenue, eh?
