June 8 2006

Al Zarqawi Killed!

It has just been announced that Abu Musaab Al Zarqawi has been killed. Reports say he has been killed in an air raid near Baghdad.

As I’m writing this, some news agencies just annouced that the raid was planned in cooperation between Jordanian and American forces.

The American Forces and Iraqi officials are happy and hope this will be a great step forward towards peace and less terrorism.

The question remains, will this really result in witnessing less terrorism? Or will it fuel more acts of terrorism in Iraq? Will there be a new “Zarqawi”?
One can’t but wait and pray this will mean less suffering for our dear innocent Iraqi brothers and sisters, because apparently, they’re the only ones paying the price for this whole war.

May 30 2006

Islamic Veil & Celebrities

The Arab world is witnessing a wave of attacks pointed specifically to famous women in the Arab world who wore the Islamic veil in the middle of their blooming careers as movie stars, media representatives or singers.
The wave got specifically stronger following the decision of 2 Egyptian movie stars to wear the Islamic veil: Hala Shiha and Hanan Turk.
Among the few supporting and congratulating voices, many called them different kinds of things for taking such a step.
They’re fame-seekers on one hand, and they’re being this dull example of oppressed women on the other.

Now I’m not here to convince those against the Islamic veil that it’s exactly the opposite of oppressing women, and that it has nothing to do with making women inferior to men in any way, because I’ve said that thousands of times and in the end of the day everyone is free to think what they like.
But what I’m into is asking one single question: does being a famous star in any field mean that we, the audience, suddenly own the lives of those celebrities and have the right to control their decisions?
Continue reading

May 22 2006

Mission Challenge

I believe many of you are already aware of the LBC’s reality show: Mission Fashion. A competition between young Arab designers as well as Arab models, all under the supervision of the extremely talented Lebanese Designer Elie Saab and a group of professionals.

Now I must admit I’m no big fan of reality TV. But sometimes I watch out of curiosity or when I have nothing to do. One day I tuned to LBC and got to watch an episode of Mission Fashion. Ever since then, I got really addicted and tried to watch it as often as I can.
The reason of my addiction was a contestant: Soulafa.
This Saudi lady designer. I really watch the whole thing just for her sake. Why? Because this woman is a physical display of the word challenge.
Coming out of the extremely conservative community of Saudi Arabia that gives women still few rights compared to other Muslim societies, makes it really hard to participate in such a show as simple as that.
For a woman from that society to take part in a reality TV, is something out of question to so many, now, not only is she taking part in any reality TV, but a fashion show. And it doesn’t stop here, she’s also a mother of a little baby who’s totally dependant on her and who accompanies her throughout the whole show. Continue reading

May 15 2006

58th Nakba Anniversary

Today marks the 58th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba (expulsion of Palestinians from their land).
Yes their land, Palestine, which to so many people is just an “imaginary” name for a place that does not exist, populated by unrecognizable people…
Let the world think whatever they like, let them claim there’s no such thing as a Palestine, let them deny the rights of Palestinians, let them enjoy wiping Palestine off the map, let them taste their triumph in making the world believe Palestinians are no victims, they’re nothing but terrorists and heartless beasts, let them insist on kicking anyone with Palestinian blood out of Palestine, let them manipulate and change facts…but they’ll never be able to delete generations of memories, present and future. They’ll never be able to brainwash us, they’ll never be able to take away the pictures we kept in our minds of our families and loved ones there; they can’t simply steal the smell of Palestinian olive trees and citrus farms we used to pass by every day; and they’ll never succeed in killing our longing to the fresh Palestinian breeze that tickles our noses every time the word Palestine is mentioned.

No matter how hard they’d try, Palestine is there, it has always been there, Palestinians are there, they’ll always be and nothing can change that.

  • Suggested Readings: In Search Of Fatima, you can read my review here
  • May 11 2006

    Iran’s President’s Letter To George Bush

    Although I don’t agree with the policies and political stands of Iran’s president, yet I believe some of the points mentioned in this letter he wrote to George Bush are really worth reading!

    Thanks to my friend Jimbo for bringing my attention to the letter.

    May 3 2006

    Nuclear Double Standards

    I hate nuclear weapons, they’re the most disgusting evil tools the human mind has ever created, and if it were up to me I would never allow anybody in the world to even mention them, because, although nuclear power could work miracles in rebuilding our falling apart world, but the sad fact is, we are human beings, and there are SO MANY among us who’d tend to use anything in the negative way to destroy, rather than to construct, and to humiliate, rather than to help. Not to mention the absence of tolerance, which provokes violence towards those we consider enemy.
    And since our kind, the so called human kind, is unbelievably good in manipulating facts; every race, every nation and every single individual is capable, or better say “really good”, in convincing himself – and others in many cases- that he’s the only victim, and he’d do anything to defend himself and survive.

    But the twisted logic of nowadays does not only make it possible for you to claim you’re victim and therefore give you the right to defend yourself, no, it’s far much “better” than that, you can call yourself occupier and victim at the same time! an evolution in the English vocabulary, something we learned by experience, something we’re forced to accept and even adapt to. If occupation sneaks into your country, you might as well be the one terrorising it and giving it a hard time, and so, if you get occupied, and decide to defend yourself, you’ll be denied this right and be pointed at as a violent heartless butcher, while your occupier will be happily taking over your home, kicking you out, killing your loved ones, and crying on TV screens calling for its right to defend itself from you, yes you, the occupied, because they can manage to twist things the way they like, and because they can manage to get a blind approval to their every action, with no one to blame them nor to stop them.
    How does that work? simple question, and the answer is even simpler: with power.
    If you have power, you can be the occupier and the victim, you’ll never be marked terrorist, you’ll never be looked at as a heartless racist extremist bastard, and you’ll always manage to win the whole world to your side, whatever you say or do.
    Yeah, power is the magic stick of our time, the time before, and for as long as the world existed.

    Given this important fact, I believe no one has the right to take away power from others, as long they themselves do possess it and use it. And if you convince others that your power is there not to destruct and invade, but to defend yourself, then why should others not have the power to defend themselves either?
    If you tour the world “liberating”, “fixing”, and “correcting” societies, calling for different kinds of expressions, then you must allow those societies to practise what you’ve been teaching, this is only normal, this is only fair, and this is what “freedom of expression” and “democracy” call for, isn’t it!
    Unless you’re just pretending, in this case, why don’t you cut the crap and stop interfering in people’s own business!

    I see no reason why Iran should give up its right in possessing its nuclear power, as long as other countries have it.
    Claiming that Iran is a threat to the existence of others is lame, because others are giving themselves the right to wage war on any country they like without even giving a damn about justifying it, and because others are also threatening to wipe off other countries off the map to “defend” themselves.
    If you support twisted logic somewhere in this universe, you have to approve it somewhere else; if you don’t, you’ll be forced to accept it because the world is not blind… if you don’t accept, you’ll be left no choice but wage war to “teach them a lesson”, which will be faced by a “defence war”… is that what we want? is there still room in our planet for more destruction? did the wounds of the past wars heal to be able to start new wars?
    I believe not, so why can’t we all confess and accept that we’re entitled to the same rights?
    If you don’t want others to have power, why don’t you accept others to deny you the same right?
    If there should be no nuclear weapons in Iran, there should be no nuclear weapons anywhere else in the world… FULL STOP!

    April 29 2006

    “The Signature”: Promoting Artistic Talents

    President of Dubai Ladies Club, Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, launched the Young Artist Award: “New Signature”, an art contest targetting new and young local artists in the UAE.

    The contest will be open for artists aged 18 years and older, who will submit some sample artworks, and a panel of local and international judges, consisting of art critics, recognized artists, and art educators, will be responsible for choosing the winners.
    The competition will be divided into 3 main categories: 2 Dimensional Artworks, 3 Dimensional Artworks, and Modern Media.

    The goal of this contest is to create greater awareness of the UAE’s artistic heritage and to specifically promote interest in local, contemporary art.
    It is also an initiative to encourage sponsorship of the arts by the business sector, and to promote sustainable business-arts partnerships that will, in the long term, benefit the community at large, which will therefore secure the future of art and its development in the country.

    Registration for the contest opens in May and final submission deadlines are in October, 2006. The selected works will be featured in an exclusive exhibition at the end of year. So if you’re a young artist who is looking for a chance to become a shooting star, this is it, don’t miss it. You can find more details about the contest and some contacts: here.
    I believe it’s such an impressive initiative.

    April 20 2006

    “Stupid Girls”

    I just LOVE this song, I really do. Other than the music I enjoy so much, and the funny video, I simply adore the message conveyed by this song and its courageous criticism.

    As ContactMusic explains:

    ‘Stupid Girls’ is a commentary on the new breed of celebrity currently dominating and obsessing the western world’s media. Spitting satirical jibes at the slew of heiresses, glamour models, pap pop artists and any other figure of fame who is famous for being famous, ‘Stupid Girls’ rejects the D list celebrity as a suitable role model for the youth of today.

    In a recent survey published by The Sunday Times, girls aged between 15 and 19 were asked which careers they wished to pursue. 63% said glamour modelling and 25% lap dancing in comparison to 4% saying lawyer and 3% doctor – a shocking upshot of the superficial cult status of today’s airhead celebrity. An opportune time then, for the message of ‘Stupid Girls’ to dominate our airwaves.

    Read the lyrics here!

    Now the question is: would any Arab artist be willing to do something like “Stupid Girls”? I mean God knows our media is FULL of them!

    February 17 2006

    Support “Paradise Now”

    nullAfter winning the AGICOA’s Blue Angel Award for the best European film at the Berlinaleand a Golden Globe for the Best Foreign Language Film movie in the 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards, Paradise Now has created such a controversy.
    As soon as the news of this movie being nominated for the Oscars, online petition signed by over 11000 Israelis was created to force the withdrawal of this movie from the Oscars all together, claiming it encourages mass murder!

    It’s really ironic that Israel keeps complaining about suicide bombings and asks the whole world to stop the “Palestinian Terror”, but when one brave man dares address the phenomena of suicide bombing, he gets all kinds of attacks, being accused of encouraging terrorist acts!
    It must be understood, that there’s a huge difference between urging people to commit terrorism, and explaining to the world some of the root problems that lead to it.
    Suicide bombers are human beings like you, me and everyone of us. They have their personalities, their life, their friends, their relationships, their possessions…
    And just like there are suicide bombers who kill just to destroy and spread violence & terror, there are ones on the other hand, who were leading normal lives but the situation they’re in, where they find themselves alone drowning in a deep sea of suffering while others are watching, creates horrible desperation that results in them being ready to do whatever it takes to get heard and to stop the suffering.
    So by representing some models of suicide bombers, the movie is simply reflecting a reality, an existing phenomena, it does not encourage it, it does not aim at sympathizing with suicide bombers rather than aiming at understanding some of the cases and some of the reasons that may lead to this phenomena one way or another.
    Therefore, I find it completely pointless and unfair to accuse this movie of encouraging mass murder.

    And just like we condemn and protest injustice, we have to point out courage and justice.
    Making this movie is brave, showing it is brave, nominating it for the Golden Globes is a huge step forward, letting it win and be tagged as a movie from Palestine is both brave and outstanding, having it nominated for the Oscars is exceptionally courageous and amazingly impressive, I hope no manipulative interferences will succeed in tagging it otherwise, or withdrawing it.

    If you believe in Freedom of Expression, if you believe in Human Rights, if you’re pro Peace and Justice, and if you believe we all deserve a chance to reach out for the world, help Paradise Now make it to the Oscars, Sign The Online Petition Now!

    Because “the Palestinian people deserve their liberty and equality unconditionally.” — Movie Director: Hani Abu-Assad

    February 16 2006

    Freedom Of Expression Alright!

    I’ve spent the last couple of weeks doing nothing but replying to comments on my blog, entering forums, leaving comments on people’s blogs, just to defend Arabs in general and Muslims in particular.
    I’ve reached a point where I’m truly and utterly FED UP! Some people just don’t want to listen, they keep blabbering and asking pointless questions for no reason but to say: hey, gotcha!
    Well I really don’t care anymore. Think whatever you wish, we’ve been living with wrong impressions and a stinky reputation for ages, we sort of got used to it, we’re trying to get the message across that we do have people who are worth respect, but no use, so here’s my decision: no more replying to offensive and rude comments left on my blog; no more entering pointless discussions; and no more defending, we’re a lot more better than wasting our whole time on defending our stands and explaining our culture as well as our religion to those who are not willing to listen with an open-mind in the first place.
    I’ve had enough of this whole cartoon issue, I’m not shocked for the reactions of non-Muslims, and I don’t blame them for hating us even more after the stupid violent reactions of some Muslims during protests burning embassies and threatening innocent civilians. And here I am again for the millionth time condemning those violent reactions, there is no justification whatsoever, they are of no use, they are disgusting and have caused us Muslims more damage than the cartoons themselves.
    BUT, not accepting violence and condemning it does not mean I deny Muslims the right to be offended and react any peaceful way they choose, no matter how silly and pointless their choices seemed to non-Muslims.

    What shocked me, or better say disgusted me, was the reaction of some Muslims to this issue. They are not condemning violence only, but the simple right of Muslims to be offended in the first place.
    In what twisted logic is it ok for ALL people to express how they feel towards others freely with no restrictions, but when it comes to Muslims it becomes really “not cool” and “not civilized” to do the very same?
    I mean when the hell are you going to finally stop kissing asses to win admiration and be called modern and open-minded!! Or is it that you got used to saying sorry no matter what!
    To all those who consider people like myself to be dumbasses, whether you’re Muslims or non-Muslims, believers or non-believers, I ask: Who is standing for the so-called freedom of expression when Muslim women are getting kicked out of schools and are getting fired for simply putting a harmless piece of cloth on their own heads?
    Who is apologizing for Muslims who are being expelled from countries they’ve been living in as constructive members of society for ages just because of their religion? Where does freedom of expression exactly fit when some countries are forming Arab-speaking police units to track the speeches of Imams in mosques? Who is defending Freedom of the damn expression when Israel lobbies against tagging Paradise Now as a film from Palestine, because to them there’s no such thing as Palestine! Where is Freedom of Expression when a petition is created and signed by over 11,000 Israelis to force the withdrawal of this Palestinian movie from the Academy Awards?!

    Why get out of the topic, let’s stick to cartoons. Being offended by a cartoon mocking our prophet is stupid, conservative, backward and intolerant? What should WE say about our Palestinian cartoonist NAJI AL ALI, who was assassinated because he dared express the suffering of Palestinians in his cartoons? Huh! Or are our cartoonists pieces of trash!

    If you want freedom of expression, you need to apply it equally regardless of religion or origin. Freedom of expression loses all its sense when you practice double standards.
    If you really believe in freedom of expression, you need to respect the differences and know the fine line between expressing yourself for a cause, and hurting someone in the name of expressing yourself.
    And most important of all, you need to know that freedom of expression was never disregarding the other part or freeing yourself from ethics and responsibility, because if you reached that point, what’s the use of calling you human!
    I guess there’s nothing better to end this post than the Charles Kingsley quote I’ve been typing all over the blogosphere lately: “There are two freedoms – the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought”.