Islam Wasn't Always Backward

That's the strange and somewhat ironic theme of a new museum exhibit celebrating Islam's past. I dunno if it's all that inspiring to be reminded that your culture's glory days are centuries in the past and it's been all downhill since then.

The centerpiece of the show is a replica of an elaborate "elephant" clock that symbolized a multicultural spirit and pioneered modern automation and robotics. It used Greek water-powered technology, and the figures of an Indian elephant, an Egyptian phoenix, a Persian carpet, Chinese dragons and men in Arabian dress.

It was designed 800 years ago by Al-Jazari, a Muslim engineer in what is today southeast Turkey. Other giants of innovation during the 1,000-year period that began in the seventh century were physician Al-Zahrawi, whose innovations shaped European surgery, and Fatima Al-Fihri, whose multi-subject institute of learning, with no gender restrictions, laid foundations for the modern university.

"There is a perception that Islam was always backward and made no contribution to the world of science," said visitor Sule Seda Tezer, who was especially pleased to note the high profile of women in the displays. "The West has a phobia about Islam. I think there is an effort to break the phobia and build better ties between the East and West."