Religulous

The title of this blog is not a refrence to the Bill Mahr movie with the same title, while I must admit he coined the phrase it actually comes in handy in refrence to a certain type of people.

For example I was having a conversation with a friend of mine Mrs.X the other day, when she made a comment about some European countries putting a ban on the Burqa/Niqab. Mrs. X was saying how unfair and a violation of her invidual freedom of expression to do so. I argued to her that Certain Eastern countries have similar rules that enforces women to Veil. Mrs. X went on to say that it is the customs and religion of those countries and they are not doing anything wrong to enforce the veiling. Yet she could'nt for the life of her see how it was just the different side of the same coin.

She kept arguing that as a women who wears Niqab it would be unfair to her if she had to travel to those countries. I remarked to her that foreigners who visit those eastern countries have to veil, Mrs. X said that they only wear one loosly and not the right way. The whole time we were having this conversation I kept thinking this chick is Religulous , people who make them self ridiculous in the name of organized religion.

Mrs.X started to doubt my sincerity as a muslim and said that I was arguing for the wrong side and started to go off an a tagent of how the believers would stray. A persons faith should not come into question if they question the ideaology of things, also just because someone is a person of faith does not mean that he cant have objective thoughts.

What is the argument here folks the bottom line is that this should have nothing to do with faith or personally beliefs, what we are questioning here is ideaology. No one country or person should make a decision about what everyone else should or should'nt be allowed to wear. I believe it is just as wrong for Saudi Arabia to enforce the Niqab just as much as it is wrong for France to ban it. A person who allowes their prejudices or biases to color their judgement are Religulous.

Breakeven

Like OMG dont you just love when a song touches you. I havent been moved by the music thats rotating in a while. With two kids a hubby, and my studies I dont have time for much T.V. or music lately, but the other day my son was playing with the remote and the channel fell on this song. It was LOVE at first hearing.

Some might say that music is Haram or whatever but I am not of that persuasion. My son recognized rhythem before he could recognize words put any beat on and he will start moving his little tushy all around, so I think its completely natural as well as part of our makeup as humans to be drawn to sounds and rhythems. Anyways getting off topic here, the song is called " Breakeven" by Irish band "The Scripts".

I'm not at this place in my life anymore but I can totally relate to the feelings of the artist as I have been there before and it brings back total feelings of nostalgia. Losing a love watching that person move on while your still grieving, he words and describes the feelings beautifully.

So for all those losing Love and for those who have lost it this one is for you and enjoy.

Peace, Love and Chicken grease

L.O.V.E

As winter is coming to an end and spring is in bloom love is in the air, literally as nature is doing her job. For real though love has been the topic around this parts lately as my Brother-in-law is finding the love of his life my brother is losing his.

It got me to thinking about my own experiences with love, this time I am witnessing the miracle more removed so I have a better view of this mysterious four letter word that has built nations and brought down empires.

My brother recently lost his GF of 3 years and is having an extremely difficult time getting over the lost, as his sister I try to be as supportive as possible and as a person who has been there and done that I know that the pain of your first love lost will subside. Yet how do you make him understand it as he is living it, extremely frustating to watch, I would imagine thats how it would feel if one of your loved one was shot and bleeding to death as you stood around helplessly trying to stem the bleeding. No matter what you say or what you do it isnt enough. He simply has to go through the motions and pain and hopefully come out better strong and smarter because of it.

On the other note my brother-in-law in Dubai has found his future other half, as there is no real premarital dating in his culture its so exciting to witness this new found courtship even more exciting to be a part of it . The initial period of doubt and shyness, the uncomfortable silences,the phone calls and emails back and forth between both parties as each is tryign to decipher the other ones feelings. His fiance has made it her business to be very close to me, smart move on her part as I am very close to my husbands brothers. I feel as if I am witnessing a miracle as I know the union of these two souls will contribute not only to our society but to our survival as a species ( weird huh).

Love lost and Love born I have been on both sides of the coin and I have to say that finding that person which calms your soul and brings out the best in you is a hard and complicated venture. Each culture thinks they have the upper hand in the best way to do it with the least amout of losses. Yet I think that losses are a necessary hardship. Those losses are what helps us appreciate much more our value as a human and their value as our spouses.

Peace, Love, and Chicken grease.

I'm back

As im writing this post I have a hip-hop beat in my head and I'm singing "I'm Back" I cant rem the artist though so if any of you know who leave a comment and hook a sista up (lol). Anyways Im back from my long departure from the blogasphere things got kind of hectic in my life, actually no exuses I am holding myself responsible I should make time for the things that I commit to and this blog is one of them.

So I appologize to any readers, moving along whats new in the land ummmm lemme see oh yeah Yasin my son had his 1st B-day party. When I stop procrastinating I will post some pic. what else, what else Oh yeah I made dean's list this semester at school WHOO HOO! for me ( pats self on the back ) you guys are actually the first to know I dont like talking about my accomplishments for fear I will give myself the bad eye but since I figured all of you are annonymous I could toast myself (lol).

Also this winter has been kicking our arses me and the kiddies have gotten sick about twice so any home remedies for how to beat this viral losers ass would be appreciated.

Peace, love and chicken grease

salamssssssss

Mind Shattering Earthquake

Anyone who reads or come across my blog I would please ask if you can keep Haiti in your prayers. I woke up to a phonecall from my dad this morning and I have been in shock ever since, there was a major 7.0 earthquake in Haiti last night inflicting a national disaster to what is an already 3rd world and poor Island Nation.

My uncles wife and children are vacationing there and he has not been able to reach his family to find out if they are safe as the phone lines are down and there is no electricity. Haiti is a very poor country with very poor infrastructure.Most of the homes were badly built to begin with Haiti is also very mountanious and most of the homes were built on them . There are no resources ( heavy machinery) needed to clean up the rubble and people are using bare hands to try and lift the heavy rubble off of people.

There are 40-45 thousand Americans who live in Haiti and there are fewer then 100 accounted for that says alot. I can only imagine that more then 100,000 Haitians lives will be lost if not more.

You dont have to be Haitian to help, anyone who wants to assist in the relief effort can text "YELE" to 501501 and 5$ will be donated from your cell phone as a donation on your behalf or you can text "HAITI" to 90999 to give a 10$ donation to the Red Cross for relief efforts in Haiti.

Allahu Allim why this happend there is wisdom in all that he does and I make dua and pray that the suffering of my people can be lessened.

Inna Lilahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajeoon

Tolerance

The other day while the hubby and I were out to dinner he was playing and browsing with my phone, when he suddenly burst out in laughter. I asked him what was so funny when he replied that my call list looks like the United Nations, I took the phone from him and started to laugh also. Basically any given day on my phone you can see the names Rachel, Taqwa, and Marie (lol).

Rachel is my jewish orthodox co-worker being that Islam and Judaism share many fundamental beliefs we naturally gravitated towards each other at work. We both observe the same dietary laws, we both fast, and both dress modestly. So needless to say we have become very close since we relate to each other the best in a very waspy work enviornment lol.

Taqwa is my BFF she was one of the first sisters I became friends with upon my conversion, we gravitated towards eachother because she is African/American and I am African/Caribean so we understood eachother only as sisters of color could. She also married an arab and we both have children the same age. She has taken a radical turn to the right and has become salafi since getting married ( I must add that she was born muslim her parents converted during the Malcolm X movement in America). Needless to say we are still close and talk everyday.

Marie is my cousin being that I am of French Canadian and Haitian desecent all of my family member are Roman Catholics and I am the only one in my family to apostate from the church. She is my closest cousin since childhood and my sons Godmother ( only in the word, not in the church I chose to give him a godmother for cultural purposed not religous).

So there you have it everyday I am in contact with a hasidic Jew, a salafi Muslim, and roman Catholic how funny is that. While I do not always believe or agree with the things that they believe, I ALWAYS RESPECT their right to their own belief. So many times across these blogs I have come across people with blind intolerence for anyone who dosnt share their way of life or thinking. We share this planet with over a billion others we are not all going to share the same beleif systems or way of thinking but we do have to learn how to share this planet respectfully.

If we put as much energy into critisizing ourselves instead of others we would be in a better place as a world wide community. Let the Almighty be the judge and juror (INCHALLAH AMIN).

The Robinson's VS The Moodi's

Every society and culture is plagued with pretenses, but I must say Middle Easterners top the cake. Here in America I grew up with the " Did you hear about the Robinsons" Basically every one is worried about keeping up appearances " OK I get it". I never lived my life before preoccupied with what people would think of me. I worried about what I thought of myself, and if I am happy with the choices I am making. Egyptians on the other hand seem as if they live their whole life and make all their decisions according to how it will be percieved by the society/class they live in its freaking annoying.

Today I made a comment to an old friend of mines from HS on facebook and my husband had a cow he was worried about how it would be precieved by his fam members on my friends list.

I told my husband the other day that I was struggeling with my decisions to wear hijab and he had another cow. Instead of giving me the religious value of wearing it he focused on the superficial.

people are so focused on the superficial that everyone is slowly rotting on the inside. They should focuse some of that negative energy on guarding their tongues and actions.

I did'nt give a damn about the Robinsons and I dont give a damn about the Mahmouds, Mahmoudies, or any other Moody.

No offense to any of the above mentioned surnames I just had to get this out (lol).

2010

I hav'nt blogged in a while, this time of the year is alsways so crazy for me. I work holidays and cover vacations at my job so this time of year I am in high demand at the hospital. Doubled with all of the holidays get togethers that my family has, my sons kindergarten parties and crafts and snacks that I make for them, our new little addition, house and hubby demands and I am a busy and cranky girl this time of year. Now that the year has come to and end I look back and reflect.

I am so Happy for our new addition that is Yasin mommy could not have asked for a happier and well adjusted baby, hopefully this year you will learn to sleep in your crib as mama and baba are tired of finding a foot or hand in thier mouth every morning.

I couldn'nt be prouder of my little man Oscar, you are my 1st born and I love watching how confident and sure you are or your place in this world. You are the most extroverted and well liked kid I have ever seen. I hope this year you can learn patience and the value of things as I am sick of replacing all the toys you carelessly break.

My proud Egyptian Eagle, you are the most responsible and family oriented man. Our family is seeing its fullest potential everyday because of you, without you my procrastination and misorganization would know no boundaries. I love you, I hope this year you can learn to relax and take time out for the little things. Also stop interrupting me when Trueblood and Big Love is on thank you.

I learned many things about myself this year. I learned how to finally share my life with the people I love and still have a little left over for me, which is something I struggled with in the past. I learned how to keep true to my Haitian Carribean origins yet embrace my newfound Oriental lifestyle. I also learn that fear is my biggest enemy and if I can overcome that I can do anything. I look foward to a New Year hopefully with less fears and I wish everyone the same inchallah.

Alhumdulilah for everything and Kulli sena wenta tayeb kulluhum.