Several Muslim women friends of mine have responded to the news today, appearing on TV, separating out the benefits for British Muslim women (& others) of speaking English from what is known about the causes of extremism.

I was given a wonderful book of poems by my daughter at Christmas.  She read to me In Praise of Walking by Thomas A Clark.

I also found Hijab Scene #7 by Mohja Kahf, a Damascus-born American woman.  Here it is.

No, I’m not bald under the scarf

No, I’m not from that country

where women can’t drive cars

No, I would not like to defect

I’m already American

But thank you for offering

What else do you need to know

relevant to my buying insurance,

opening a bank account,

reserving a seat on a flight?

Yes, I speak English

Yes, I carry explosives

They’re called words

And if you don’t get up

Off your assumptions,

They’re going to blow you away.