MovieChat Forums > The Glee Project (2011) Discussion > I don't get Aylin!

I don't get Aylin!

posted 12 years ago by ayesha-a-alhosani
30 replies | jump to latest

I am a Muslim and I don't really get how Aylin keeps using her Muslim card all the time, yet, in reality she is not even a practicing Muslim (she does not fast, she does not pray, in Actibility she said she fought against the head scarf, etc.). Islam is not a cultural thing, it is a religion and hence to identify yourself as a Muslim you'll have to follow its practices and rules in addition to believing in it. It just does not make sense to me, and I hate how she regards things such as wearing a head scarf as a stereotype and something to fight against and yet she never forgets to mention that she is a Muslim.

I don't know if you'll get what I am saying, but I had to get it out of me.

[–] normabette 12 years ago

I get exactly what you're saying.

I suppose for her she sees being a Muslim as being as endemic as being a female, ie. she has no choice to not be one, it is a self that she was born into.

She has yet to realise that one's religion is not an affliction - in fact, if it is playing that part in your life, then the beauty of being an American is that she can choose to not practice the religion of her family. She might yet, however, learn the wonderful things that she has in her life because of her family's religion. It seems that she doesn't yet understand that Islam is a spiritual belief system, not a set of rules designed to oppress her (I know right! Who knew?).

I think once she leaves home and starts to carve her own path in life she will reconsider her beliefs and choose to either refer to her family as being Muslim, but not herself, or to begin studying, fasting, praying.

[–] ayesha-a-alhosani 12 years ago

^Exactly!

Thank You!

[–] kapper05 12 years ago

Yeah I get what you're saying and its really annoying she's throwing it out there constantly. What she SHOULD be saying is her parents are Muslim, because clearly she doesn't practice it.

[–] WonWaiWai 12 years ago

I kind of refer to this in my previous post too. If she was actually a practicing Muslim who wanted to show she have talents, then I have no objection with her drumming the fact that she is a Muslim. It will be annoying (hearing it again and again), but no objection whatsoever. As it is, she's not even a practicing one, so why keep harping on it? Just say you're Turkish (which she is) and be done with it. One more thing, she's clearly confused about what is culture and what is religion.

I hope she doesn't win, not because she's Muslim, but because I think she's phony. Or at least that's how the show portrays her to be.

[–] ayesha-a-alhosani 12 years ago

Exactly my point! Good to know others can see it as well!

[–] cheluzal 12 years ago

Agreed.
I know a lot of Catholics who wear the crucifix but don't practice any of the Biblical tenets; same with my Christian friends. I am a practicing Christian so I have my principles and beliefs and boundaries.

Aylin seems like she doesn't live it, but can yank it out when it's convenient, like it's a race not a religion....lame.

Real LOSERS spell 'loser' looser!

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] eternamicizia 12 years ago

I noticed that too!

I agree with what has been posted in this thread... she seems to be playing the "Muslim card" as a hook that RM has clearly liked, but all or most that she has shown us or the editing delivered makes most of us to only see a Turkish girl with a Muslim background but who definitely isn't a true Muslim and that's what I didn't like about her (and also her cockiness) and I wouldn't like her to win because of all that (her singing has been OK; however, her LCP this week wasn't good and her acting was poor), I don't think her portrayal as a Muslim on the show would be a good one and could be somewhat harmful...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way."
- JESSICA RABBIT

[–] PhoenixFireWalker 12 years ago

I agree.
I could sort of understnd a practicing but conflicted Muslim struggling with her faith but it comes across as being her PARENTS' faith NOT hers - Muslim BACKGROUND OK.
I've been wanting her to win partially BECAUSE of the Muslim thing plus her talent but I think actually she would NOT do Muslims a favour.
I DO know some Muslim girls, some wear the hijab too - who practice and also have a wicked sense of humour that would be a cool character but there's no indication even for e.g. "I hope I win, insha Allah." She'd probably be flirty but WITHOUT the making out.

[–] ayesha-a-alhosani 12 years ago

Yeah, agreed! and sure that sounds more like a character that can represent a Muslim girl.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] ayesha-a-alhosani 12 years ago

Well, she basically cried when she put on the head scarf in Actability, so I doubt she prays since when we pray we have to wear it regardless of whether or not we wear it in our daily life. As for fasting, she mentioned on her Twitter that she does not fast because of Asthma medicine (which can be understandable, I guess?! but again fasting is much more than just not eating or drinking...)

I cannot really talk much about hijab because it is debatable (especially for people who do not live in a Muslim country). But, for me at least, IMO I find that wearing a head scarf and covering up your body is dressing modestly and it is hijab (opposite to what the article might imply). However, even if she decides not to wear the head scarf she can't basically fight against it her entire life (like she mentioned in Actability).

My point is although she keeps mentioning her "faith", she doesn't seem to live by it (at least from what is shown on The Glee Project) and yet more it seems like she is actually "fighting" or letting go of her faith.

I hope that makes sense

[–] Lydia68410 12 years ago

Even Aylin herself has joked that they really played up her being from a Muslim background.

I could see how it would possibly rub a traditional Muslim the wrong way, but in reality I don't think you necessarily need to follow all of a religion's practices to call yourself one, or else like 99.9% of the people I know would be Atheists. Also, who is to say she doesn't fast or pray? Just because they don't show it doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

At this point, I just want her to win because Glee doesn't need another kid in a wheelchair or another pretty face, Finn-type character.

We will eat you, after we eat your children.

[–] PadfootIsSirius 12 years ago

*sigh*
It's like if I went on the show harping about how I'm a (insert race) Christian and how strict my upbringing is and mentioning my 'faith' every five seconds. But as soon as they had me wear a cross I would begin to sob uncontrollably. It makes no sense at all.
*Beans are evil. Bad Bad beans!*

[–] 12 years ago

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