In my village, people believed that women should stay in their homes. However, I followed my heart and showed them that I’ll not succumb to their regressive ideals.
My own ideals for the university are those of a genuine democracy and serious scholarship. These two, indeed, seem to go together.
I think a family is the best way to open up the appeal of a show because everyone has a mother. Everyone has a father. Everyone has cousins or siblings. Everyone’s trying to pursue their romantic ideals and their relationship ideals.
I write fiction that reflects Islamic logic: fictional worlds where cause and effect are governed by Muslim rationale. However, my characters do not necessarily behave as ‘good’ Muslims; they are not ideals or role models.
I think, in general, as a writer, you can’t really hide your values. They’re always going to fall out onto the page, and I tend to trust that I don’t have to force my ideals into the expression of what’s going to happen naturally.
I know ideals aren’t realities, but they do influence reality – social, legal, political, cultural.
