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.
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!
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.
2 Months Earlier…
I have really had it with my boss, he keeps giving me more and more tasks, more and more responsibilities, more and more duties, as if I’m some kind of robot. I had to face him and have a very serious talk with him to explain that I can no longer go on this way, no matter how good I am, I’m still flesh and blood, I can’t continue this way, this is pure slavery. And I don’t want to keep whining and complaining about how much I hate my job, I had to do something. I did try before to draw some limits, but they never worked, maybe coz I never used a really serious way of discussion! So I decided to go right away and talk to him. And just when I pick up myself to go to his office, I find him at my office door…
Boss: Eman, I need you to leave everything and take a look at this, I want you to translate this, then go to our client in person, hand it out to him, get it signed by him, drop by our lawyer, get the contract approved , come back here before 3 and scan the contract as well as the first 70 pages of the proposal, and have them emailed to our headquarters by 5!
Eman: Well, I’m afraid it’s impossible, I can’t do all this alone, in that short time, look, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this whole thing, seriously…
Boss: Eman, let’s do the talking later, this is really urgent, everything emailed by 5, end of story. (he goes away)
Eman: WAIT! I cannot do all this.
Boss: Sorry? what’s up Eman? what’s this new tone!
Eman: Actually, we need to talk right now, I will not do anything else before we’re done with the conversation.
Boss:(looking really pissed off) Ok, make it quick, let’s talk in my office.
We go to his office. He picks up some kind of paper, adds it to a pile of files, and gives them all to me.
Boss: I need those double-checked and signed by you by tomorrow afternoon. So you were saying?
Eman: Listen, I believe you’ve got used to me doing everything here, I’m basically doing every single thing in the office. I’m no machine, I have capabilities, and when I say I can’t do this or that, you get offended and accuse me of not doing my job.
Boss: I see where this is going, look, if you mean you need me to hire a new employee, then better not have those dreams, I’m never EVER going to hire someone to help.
Eman: But I can’t go on like that. Look at our branches worldwide, my work is done by 5 employees, each is paid double my salary!
Boss: So it’s about money huh!
Eman: No, although I believe I’m really underpaid, but still I’m arguing about exhaustion here, I can’t do all this alone. I’m expected to give you professional quality work on all levels, on time, with no help whatsoever, and I get nothing in return, no appreciation, no money, no promotion, nothing but more work! it’s not fair, and I wont wait till I make mistakes and take responsibilities of unbelievable pressure ok!
Boss: Listen, there’s no raise, because our revenues weren’t that much. And I’d rather help you myself than hire a new employee and pay him/her a salary. Ok. I’ll help you out and will do my best not to overload you.
Eman: (not completely convinced, but at least I’ll give it a last chance) Fine, starting this minute, we’ll split work.
I end up doing the whole thing alone, coz it turns out he had an URGENT meeting and couldn’t make it to the lawyer.
For a whole month, I get no assistance whatsoever, just more and more work to do. Not only from my boss, but from our head management abroad. Tight deadlines, a lot of work, and I’m supposed to be on time and expected to make no mistakes whatsoever.
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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!
This is a quick one just to let you know I’m fine.
A lot has been going in my life lately that I really had no time to even come near the laptop! Till today, I had no idea whatsoever about the comments left on my blog, nor the emails sent to me. But I hope this is the last long period of no-contact with the online world. How does it feel? it sucks, and I can’t imagine I’ve managed to stay away from my blog that long! what really got on my nerves though is the amount of SPAM I got while away, more than 100 spam comments, God I hate spam and the ones who invented it, and the ones who enjoy using it!
Anyway, gotta go now, will be back soon, and MANY THANKS to every single one who left me a comment, or sent me an email, or contacted my husband to ask how I was doing, I really appreciate it so much and wish you’re all doing great.Â
I’m not shocked for the extremely offensive comments and emails I, along other Muslims, have been getting lately.
I have blogged earlier about my decision not to defend any longer, but this is a last try to let non-Muslims who have no idea about our religion, learn more, I believe it’s only fair to convey this message, if any of my angry readers, who have been attacking me as well as other readers commenting on my blog, still feel like attacking, well, I guess it’d be them wanting nothing but fight rather than building bridges and spreading awareness.
My brother, a non-blogger, but have been getting his share of horrible attacks on my blog and other blogs, has written the following in an attempt to explain what Islam means. I hope the open-minded readers will benefit from the information.
To ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD:
The word “Islam†is a VERB not a NOUN.
Let me repeat that one more time: The word “Islam†is a VERB not a NOUN.
Judaism is a NOUN after Judah. Christianity is a NOUN after Christ
Islam is an Arabic VERB.
The word MUSLIM is an Arabic word that means: The person who does the VERB ISLAM.
If you WALK then you become a WALKER
If you READ then you become a READER.
If you ISLAM then you become an ISLAMER = MUSLIM in Arabic.
Most statements that come from people who attack Islam would sound to us like:
How come you READERS are acting as WALKERS while you claim to only be READERS?
This is what we Muslims always mean when we ask people to know what Islam is? What does it mean? Where does it come from?
I hear people say Islam = PEACE, this is not correct the word PEACE in Arabic is SALAM not ISLAM.
Islam comes from the ROOT word in Arabic SA’LA’MA which contains the following 5 words:
Surrender, Submission, Obedience, Purity/Sincerity and Peace.
Open any Arabic dictionary if you can read Arabic and you will find what I’ve said above.
ISLAM is a VERB that means: SURRENDER your will to god “Allahâ€; OBEY his commandments; be in total SUBMISSION to what he wants you to do all the time; and do all the above PUERLY / SINCERILY for his sake alone; in order to achieve PEACE between your soul and him the one and only creator.
After 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 Terrorâ€, 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
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 oughtâ€.
The last few weeks have been literally a disaster!
I got horribly sick, couldn’t even make it to work for a while, I was all in pain, even my eyes hurt, so I didn’t check my emails in ages, and I apologize if I didn’t reply to emails sent to me, hopefully will look into them very soon.
Obviously I haven’t blogged for a while either, because I had no energy at all, and didn’t even come near the laptop, so today when I checked my blog I found many comments awaiting moderation and finally they’re all showing, sorry for the delay.
Aside from my annoying winter sickness, I had to make some serious decisions in my life, since I have made up my mind to make this year a year of positive change on all levels, and hopefully I’ll enjoy a more relaxed, creative and successful lifestyle.
It just struck me how difficult and harsh life actually is. I mean, knowing what you want is something, and having it is something totally different.
Thinking of a decision is something, and taking this decision is a whole different story…many things get in the way, many things are to be taken into consideration, many risks pop up out of nowhere, so that when you reach that point in your life where you actually take a step forward, the simple step you took feels like a huge leap into your better future; your future that results from the decisions you make; make none, and you’ll get nothing in your future but moments of regret for slipping opportunities you had to make important decisions that could change your whole life…It all begins with the first decision you make!
As Robyn Davidson said: “The two important things I did learn were that you are as powerful and strong as you allow yourself to be, and that the most difficult part of any endeavour is taking the first step, making the first decision.â€