Freedom, Ethics, and Stereotypes

In both eastern and western countries, we need to understand the concept of freedom. I would like to mention three important writers who help us to understand the concept of freedom. First of all, Liz Lochead wrote the best poem on women: The Complete Alternative History of the World. I would also like to mention my favourite writer in Bangladesh, Mr. Ahmed Ahsannuzzaman, No Noras in Bangla Literature (Khulna), and Md. Badrul Ahsan. Helen Reddy also wrote an important song, I am Woman. Prof. Aziza Hibri wrote about Islam and the rights of women. When I was attending Graduate School at the university, I had written many papers and I studied several courses on Critical Theory and Creative Writing. Some of the major papers that I wrote were "Marriage as a Playing Field to Discover the Dialectics of Self and Other." One of the interesting books was by Charles S. Woodruff: Marriage as it is, and Marriage as it Should Be"; Boston: Bula Marsh, (1862). I am writing this letter because I (FM Chaudhury) would like to explain the meaning of freedom and how we can overcome women's stereotypes. My friends and I, we would like to present some important resources and ideas to understand the meaning of freedom and humanism. Md. Badrul Ahsan has written many articles on women. We would also like to say that Mr. Sharifuzzaman Sohel's letter (October 20, 2004) is unclear about the concept of freedom. First of all, we would like to mention that there are many people and writers who are clear about the differences between cultural constructs (stereotypes) and freedom. Mr. Sohel is observing his one-sided views (a)Pornography and prostitution and (b) "This is women's freedom?". This is a very narrow-minded/myopic concept of freedom. Secondly, Mr. Sohel must ask, what does the word freedom mean? And thirdly, are people or Bangladeshi people free from stereotypical views? What is freedom? Md. Badrul Ahsan quotes Christopherson "Freedom is that which you've got, when you've got nothing more to lose." Md. Badrul Ahsan and Ahmed Ahsanuzzaman (Khulna) are our favourite writers in Bangladesh. Ahmed Ahsanuzzaman wrote the best paper on Observations of Cultural Constructs of Women in Bengali Literature (No Noras in Bangla Literature). We must read the best literature, and writers, and understand the meaning and truth about freedom. Md. Badrul Ahsan has written a variety of articles, including several articles on the harassment and suffering of a number of women. Henrik Ibsen creates the picture of Nora in A Doll's House. Ahmed Ahsanuzzaman makes the best observations about the images of oppressed women in Sharat Chandra, Nazrul, and Tagore. He even shows and explains how these writers presented women as submissive, oppressed and stereotypical, instead of presenting them in a positive way. A man should love a woman like the song, "I'm going to keep on loving you", (Reo-Speedwagon) instead of thinking "I'm going to keep on dominating you". Billy Joel also wrote a song about women "Always A Woman to Me". We really appreciate Md. Badrul Ahsan, Ahmed Ahsanuzza-man, and Liz Lochead.