August 30, 2007
· Filed under Islam, gender issues, social issues
Racism doesn’t just exist in Jena. It’s in NYC too!
Your two vocabulary words for the day are Islamophobia and Racism. I went to a blog called Rachel’s Tavern and saw this article on the smear campaign of a Yemeni sister who was suppose to be the principal of a school focused on Arab culture. The comments by many pundits were just so ignorant I don’t even know where to begin. There’s too many isms to explore. I have a very bad headache right now and the computer screen is not helping so read the article and comment if you want.
August 30, 2007
· Filed under social issues
Racism doesn’t just exist in Jena. It’s in NYC too!
Your two vocabulary words for the day are Islamophobia and Racism. I went to a blog called Rachel’s Tavern and saw this article on the smear campaign of a Yemeni sister who was suppose to be the principal of a school focused on Arab culture. The comments by many pundits were just so ignorant I don’t even know where to begin. There’s too many isms to explore. I have a very bad headache right now and the computer screen is not helping so read the article and comment if you want.
August 30, 2007
· Filed under Islam, gender issues, social issues
Racism doesn’t just exist in Jena. It’s in NYC too!
Your two vocabulary words for the day are Islamophobia and Racism. I went to a blog called Rachel’s Tavern and saw this article on the smear campaign of a Yemeni sister who was suppose to be the principal of a school focused on Arab culture. The comments by many pundits were just so ignorant I don’t even know where to begin. There’s too many isms to explore. I have a very bad headache right now and the computer screen is not helping so read the article and comment if you want.
August 29, 2007
· Filed under social issues
Jena 6: Racism Rares Its Ugly Head Again
Sorry I haven’t been posting for a while. I have started classes and I’ve been really busy. I’m taking six classes this semester so that Insha’Allah, I can graduate in the spring. However, that is not why I am writing this post.
I am writing this post to discuss an issue that has gotten very little attention in the mainstream media. The issue is a case involving six black young men (Jena 6) in the small town of Jena Louisiana. Thanks to Michael Baisden and a host of bloggers for bringing this case the attention it deserves.
The Jena 6 are being charged with attempted murder for assaulting a while student. It all started when a black student asked school officials if he could sit under a tree where only white students sat. The school officials said yes and the next day, there were nooses hanging on the tree. The students who committed the act were not expelled because the original expulsion was overturned by the school superintendent. Racial tensions got worse between the black and white students with white students assaulting a black student and black students assaulting a white student. The student went to the hospital, got checked out and went to a school dance the same evening. Well, one of the Jena 6 who has already been tried was convicted of second degree attempted murder and sentenced to 22 years! Also, all of the Jena 6 proclaim their innocence. The other five are set to start trial soon. Sign the petition, post this on your blog if you have one and pray that these young men get justice!
http://www.petitiononline.com/aZ51CqmR/petition.html
August 29, 2007
· Filed under social issues
Jena 6: Racism Rares Its Ugly Head Again
Sorry I haven’t been posting for a while. I have started classes and I’ve been really busy. I’m taking six classes this semester so that Insha’Allah, I can graduate in the spring. However, that is not why I am writing this post.
I am writing this post to discuss an issue that has gotten very little attention in the mainstream media. The issue is a case involving six black young men (Jena 6) in the small town of Jena Louisiana. Thanks to Michael Baisden and a host of bloggers for bringing this case the attention it deserves.
The Jena 6 are being charged with attempted murder for assaulting a while student. It all started when a black student asked school officials if he could sit under a tree where only white students sat. The school officials said yes and the next day, there were nooses hanging on the tree. The students who committed the act were not expelled because the original expulsion was overturned by the school superintendent. Racial tensions got worse between the black and white students with white students assaulting a black student and black students assaulting a white student. The student went to the hospital, got checked out and went to a school dance the same evening. Well, one of the Jena 6 who has already been tried was convicted of second degree attempted murder and sentenced to 22 years! Also, all of the Jena 6 proclaim their innocence. The other five are set to start trial soon. Sign the petition, post this on your blog if you have one and pray that these young men get justice!
http://www.petitiononline.com/aZ51CqmR/petition.html
August 29, 2007
· Filed under racism, social issues
Jena 6: Racism Rares Its Ugly Head Again
Sorry I haven’t been posting for a while. I have started classes and I’ve been really busy. I’m taking six classes this semester so that Insha’Allah, I can graduate in the spring. However, that is not why I am writing this post.
I am writing this post to discuss an issue that has gotten very little attention in the mainstream media. The issue is a case involving six black young men (Jena 6) in the small town of Jena Louisiana. Thanks to Michael Baisden and a host of bloggers for bringing this case the attention it deserves.
The Jena 6 are being charged with attempted murder for assaulting a while student. It all started when a black student asked school officials if he could sit under a tree where only white students sat. The school officials said yes and the next day, there were nooses hanging on the tree. The students who committed the act were not expelled because the original expulsion was overturned by the school superintendent. Racial tensions got worse between the black and white students with white students assaulting a black student and black students assaulting a white student. The student went to the hospital, got checked out and went to a school dance the same evening. Well, one of the Jena 6 who has already been tried was convicted of second degree attempted murder and sentenced to 22 years! Also, all of the Jena 6 proclaim their innocence. The other five are set to start trial soon. Sign the petition, post this on your blog if you have one and pray that these young men get justice!
http://www.petitiononline.com/aZ51CqmR/petition.html
August 23, 2007
· Filed under Uncategorized
Walimah, Philly and Bollywood
So I have a few days left until I start classes for the fall. This summer went by so fast. I loved you and you left me too fast. I want to hold onto as much of you as I can but I know that I cannot hold off Monday morning. So let me reflect on some of you before I must say goodbye.
This past Saturday, I went to a friend’s walimah. It was so nice and intimate. I had a lot of fun. I saw people who I haven’t seen in a long time and it was good to catch up. I actually arrived in Philly the Wednesday before so that I could spend time with my family. I hadn’t seen them since last Thanksgiving. Of course, that was a lot of fun. From the moment my mom and nieces picked me up I was busy. I had a cheesesteak for first time in I don’t know how long. It was soooo good. Philly is the only place where you can get an authentic Philly cheesesteak. Don’t be fooled by fakes in other cities. We also went shopping for quite a few things and hung out at the house. I caught up on a lot of reality shows (there are so many now) and other pop culture (like singer Amy Winehouse who I had never heard of until last week). I am sad that I could only stay a few days but grateful that I could see them. Philly changed so much since I had last been there. One of the tv channels (KYW 3) is in the same building that my sister works in. So now she gets to see the news anchors in the elevator. That’s kinda cool. There’s so much construction and new buildings seem to be popping up. The Comcast building is coming along. It’s looks so nice even in its incomplete stage. Then of course there are the negative changes like the soaring murder rate in the city. Philadelphia has been given the dubious title of “Killadelphia”. Insha’Allah, I’ll see them again in the fall. Going to Philly just made me realize how much more I missed it.
This summer (well, actually before the summer) I was addicted to Bollywood movies. Heck, I still am. I just love them! I borrow them from the library. I’m not quite sure why I love them so much. I can’t speak Hindi but watching the movies have helped me to pick up some Hindi phrases. Maybe I like the fact that there’s a lot of singing in most Bollywood films. Maybe I like the fact that so many of them are over the top. My husband thinks I watch them as an escape from American culture. I have to admit that I would love to see other parts of the world. I have never been out of the US because I can’t afford it. I do love seeing how the rest of the world is and I can’t say that I am a fan of everything American. So maybe watching the movies are a cheap and temporary escape from my everyday life.
Well, bas (enough)! Take care.
Ma’a salaama!
MM
August 23, 2007
· Filed under Uncategorized
Walimah, Philly and Bollywood
So I have a few days left until I start classes for the fall. This summer went by so fast. I loved you and you left me too fast. I want to hold onto as much of you as I can but I know that I cannot hold off Monday morning. So let me reflect on some of you before I must say goodbye.
This past Saturday, I went to a friend’s walimah. It was so nice and intimate. I had a lot of fun. I saw people who I haven’t seen in a long time and it was good to catch up. I actually arrived in Philly the Wednesday before so that I could spend time with my family. I hadn’t seen them since last Thanksgiving. Of course, that was a lot of fun. From the moment my mom and nieces picked me up I was busy. I had a cheesesteak for first time in I don’t know how long. It was soooo good. Philly is the only place where you can get an authentic Philly cheesesteak. Don’t be fooled by fakes in other cities. We also went shopping for quite a few things and hung out at the house. I caught up on a lot of reality shows (there are so many now) and other pop culture (like singer Amy Winehouse who I had never heard of until last week). I am sad that I could only stay a few days but grateful that I could see them. Philly changed so much since I had last been there. One of the tv channels (KYW 3) is in the same building that my sister works in. So now she gets to see the news anchors in the elevator. That’s kinda cool. There’s so much construction and new buildings seem to be popping up. The Comcast building is coming along. It’s looks so nice even in its incomplete stage. Then of course there are the negative changes like the soaring murder rate in the city. Philadelphia has been given the dubious title of “Killadelphia”. Insha’Allah, I’ll see them again in the fall. Going to Philly just made me realize how much more I missed it.
This summer (well, actually before the summer) I was addicted to Bollywood movies. Heck, I still am. I just love them! I borrow them from the library. I’m not quite sure why I love them so much. I can’t speak Hindi but watching the movies have helped me to pick up some Hindi phrases. Maybe I like the fact that there’s a lot of singing in most Bollywood films. Maybe I like the fact that so many of them are over the top. My husband thinks I watch them as an escape from American culture. I have to admit that I would love to see other parts of the world. I have never been out of the US because I can’t afford it. I do love seeing how the rest of the world is and I can’t say that I am a fan of everything American. So maybe watching the movies are a cheap and temporary escape from my everyday life.
Well, bas (enough)! Take care.
Ma’a salaama!
MM
August 23, 2007
· Filed under fun stuff
Walimah, Philly and Bollywood
So I have a few days left until I start classes for the fall. This summer went by so fast. I loved you and you left me too fast. I want to hold onto as much of you as I can but I know that I cannot hold off Monday morning. So let me reflect on some of you before I must say goodbye.
This past Saturday, I went to a friend’s walimah. It was so nice and intimate. I had a lot of fun. I saw people who I haven’t seen in a long time and it was good to catch up. I actually arrived in Philly the Wednesday before so that I could spend time with my family. I hadn’t seen them since last Thanksgiving. Of course, that was a lot of fun. From the moment my mom and nieces picked me up I was busy. I had a cheesesteak for first time in I don’t know how long. It was soooo good. Philly is the only place where you can get an authentic Philly cheesesteak. Don’t be fooled by fakes in other cities. We also went shopping for quite a few things and hung out at the house. I caught up on a lot of reality shows (there are so many now) and other pop culture (like singer Amy Winehouse who I had never heard of until last week). I am sad that I could only stay a few days but grateful that I could see them. Philly changed so much since I had last been there. One of the tv channels (KYW 3) is in the same building that my sister works in. So now she gets to see the news anchors in the elevator. That’s kinda cool. There’s so much construction and new buildings seem to be popping up. The Comcast building is coming along. It’s looks so nice even in its incomplete stage. Then of course there are the negative changes like the soaring murder rate in the city. Philadelphia has been given the dubious title of “Killadelphia”. Insha’Allah, I’ll see them again in the fall. Going to Philly just made me realize how much more I missed it.
This summer (well, actually before the summer) I was addicted to Bollywood movies. Heck, I still am. I just love them! I borrow them from the library. I’m not quite sure why I love them so much. I can’t speak Hindi but watching the movies have helped me to pick up some Hindi phrases. Maybe I like the fact that there’s a lot of singing in most Bollywood films. Maybe I like the fact that so many of them are over the top. My husband thinks I watch them as an escape from American culture. I have to admit that I would love to see other parts of the world. I have never been out of the US because I can’t afford it. I do love seeing how the rest of the world is and I can’t say that I am a fan of everything American. So maybe watching the movies are a cheap and temporary escape from my everyday life.
Well, bas (enough)! Take care.
Ma’a salaama!
MM
August 18, 2007
· Filed under Rants, social issues
Reflections on Jumaah
So I went to jumaah yesterday and it was honestly not that fulfilling. Perhaps I expect too much from khatibs but I don’t think I do. I just expect honest and deep reflection and honest admonition. However, khatibs are human and I guess we all fail in this department sometimes, right?
I won’t name the khatib because I don’t want to call him out. The khutbah yesterday was so shallow and not what my soul was looking for. He discussed thanks and how we should be thankful. Now, I can get down with that. That’s a cool theme. Then he discussed how being a kafir entails being ungrateful. Again, I understand that. Of course, the kafirun are ungrateful. Then he crossed the line. He said that instead of following the Sunnah we should follow the way of Allah in the Qur’an. I know there are some fake, crackhead ahadeeth floating out there but didn’t the Prophet follow the way of Allah? Isn’t following the Sunnah following the way of Allah? He tried to do a save but honestly the damage was done. Ugh. I get tired of some Muslims wanting to abandon the Sunnah or thinking there is no need for it just because some Muslims abuse it. Two wrongs don’t make a right or more importantly, you shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bath water. I know Muslims see problems in the ummah but is the solution abandoning or just ignoring what has been part of the deen since its inception? The sahabah (ra) always looked to the Prophet for guidance. Why should we be any different? Where is the happy medium people?!
I was kinda disgusted by that khutbah. Definitely not what I wanted to hear since we’re in the month of Sha’ban. I could write more but what more is there to say? The ummah needs to wake up and realize that extremism in either direction just isn’t going to get us very far.
