Izzy Mo’s Blog

All righty.  I’ll be gone for a bit.  This weekend is the move to Georgia so it will be a day or so before I’m back online.  But if you need me, you know where to email me.

Oh, I won the photo challenge for the Beauty in Creation group on Flickr.  Whoo-hoo!!!!

And I just realized that I never posted that flickr show of Paris.  Well, here it is. 

Once again, I’ll be back. 

or does anyone else feel like there’s a lot of people making money off of Daniel Pearl’s tragic death? That may not be the actors and filmmakers’ intent but why do I feel kinda icky about all this?  But I feel like a lot of this is sorta exploitative of a brave journalist.  You know, like there’s a lot of people cashing in on this. 

Maybe I’ll go see it so I can confirm or deny the icky feelings for myself. 

Salaam alaikum,

Fairy tale is now over.  I must return to wrap up things in Mississippi and finally make the move to Georgia next Saturday.

I will return back to my entries on arts in the American umma and make some changes to this blog.  Basically, I have to remove those blogs that are no longer around and add some new ones.  Here’s a question for you folks in the meantime.

When are you literary Muslims gonna have some sorta festival?  You know, it can be a bunch of writers, poets, journalists and what not getting together to discuss important issues to Muslim writers and such?

Discuss.  Talk amongst yourselves. 

arcdetrimophe

Originally uploaded by Izzy Mo I think I’m finally over my jet lag. 

It never fails.  Paris is such a beautiful city.  If you’re a romantic, an artist or a poet, Paris is the perfect place for you.  Although it’s fast paced, it is still slower and calmer than any large American metropolis.

Where do I begin?

Well, the trip was business and pleasure.  It seems that I have been given the opporunity to expand my artistic and business horizons.  I met with some people (who happen to be fans of my work) and they will, insha’Allah, get me a show in Paris.  Can you believe it?  PARIS!

:::Fainting::: 

I really can’t believe that just a few days ago, I was drinking my coffee in a French cafe just a few miles away from the Arc de Trimophe.  I could see myself living there.  Maybe not permanently but for a very long time. 

My French came back with a vengence.  It was so cool when, during those brief moments, I blended in with the locals.  Since the trip was so brief, I was only able to do a few things.  I didn’t get to the Paris Mosque but I did get to the Arab World Institute.  The hotel was a stone’s throw away from the Champs Elysee and the Seine River so I was able to walk around and just soak in all the beauty.  I really wish I could import the French ethic of not working yourself to death.  In America, we do everything so quickly and yet our work is never done.   Why can’t we just chill out like they do, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and just relax?  I swear that Protestant work ethic is slowly working us to death. 

I can only hope that things will continue to pick up.  God Most High is certainly most wise.  I hope I make the best of the blessings He has given me, however big or small they may seem to me.  It would be great to be an international success so I could put on my business card Galleries in New Orleans, Atlanta, Paris, London and Dubai.   Maybe I was sent to Paris because I was dreaming too little or my aspirations were to puny.  Only God knows how far I will go but my horizons seem wider.

On a different note, here’s some observations.

*I know Paris is romantic but French kissing in public, whether it’s daytime or nighttime, is a little inappropiate.  I guess that’s just the Puritancal American inside of me.  Whenever I see it I want to shout, “Get a room!” 

*French men can dress.  I don’t mean this in a “sister, you need to lower your gaze” kind of way.  It’s a fact.  It doesn’t matter if they are Arab, African or European.  Men raised in France know how to wear a nice clean shirt, belts and nice slacks.  They don’t look like they just rolled out of bed.  I mean, come on, I’ve seen American guys go to class in their slippers.  What’s up with that?  My father told me years ago that if I wanted to marry a guy who dressed like a bum, he’d wondered if he raised me right.  Even the Black francophones guys who imitate the hip-hop urban look still look polished and sharp.  So American men, trim that beard, wash your face and take 20 minutes to look nice.  It’s SUNNAH.

*Some French folks are still rude.  Some dude knocked me with a suitcase and he looked at me like I did something wrong.  After that, I thought, yep, I’m back in France.

*The poop problem is almost under control.  The first time I visited in 2000, that stuff was everywhere.  I saw it all over the sidewalks of Paris and the South of France.  Now, alhamdulillah, it’s not nearly as bad.

*They are hijabi French sisters everywhere.  I don’t know how France is going to hold on to that hijab ban with covered sisters walking all up and down the Champs Elysee.  I was informed by one of my friends there that while Muslims are prevalent in France (10% of the population, 2nd largest religion) hijabi women face discrimination such as cafes refusing to service them and the like.  Of course, that doesn’t stop the Louvre from building a branch of its museum in Dubai or the Sorbonne for that matter.  I swear, one day the colonizer will have no choice but to look at the colonized and realize that in order to secure a less violent and tense-filled future, both sides must address each other as equals.

*I don’t care what anyone says.  The Eiffel Tower rocks!  It is the one of the most visually appealling pieces of modern architecture.  And anyone who knows anything about modern architecture will tell you that most of it ain’t appealling.  How can tons of steel look so graceful and airy.

*Did you know a lot of Maghribi restaurants sell halal food along with French wine?  What’s that all about?  Bismillah, now pass the Merlot? 

*French is the language of love with Arabic or Spanish as a close second.

*The starvin’ artist was fed some good grub plus desserts.  I had no choice than to eat vanilla macaroons and chocolate crossaints. 

*I met a descendent of the Prophet (alayhi salatu wa salaam) and a hijabi real estate agent. Cool!

*If I spend the rest of my life as a Muslima bohemian artist bouncing around the world then I think I could be happy with that. 

paris at night

Originally uploaded by Izzy Mo

Salaam alaikum,

I’m back, safe and sound in the United States. What a trip! What…a…trip! I will write more but right now my brain has all the mental capacity of mashed potatoes. But I must say that Paris in particular, and France in general, has become like a second home for me. It’s all beautiful and sophisticated, yet familiar.

I’ll be back once my brain solidifies. I’ve got some serious jet lag!

And yeah, I did eat more than my weight’s worth in Moroccan food and I’m still recovering.

Just when I thought I would have some time to get back to all of my blogging, the day for departure has arrived.  I have read your comments and I thank you for your well wishes and duas.  I would like to thank IJTEMA for posting my last entry on their blog.  I hope to pick up this subject later as I keep running into Muslims who want to talk more about the arts in our community and how we can use them as a tool for dawah and social justice. 

I would also like to send salaamz and duas to Brother Tariq and Brother Umar.  May Allah ta’ala reward you both for standing up to the lies and deception.  You are both the victims of a classic corporate media tactic.  If and when reporting on Muslims, you can’t find something controversial or illegal, simply make it up!  May God strengthen your communities and all the maligned members justice. 

I know I have been out of the loop but many duas for you all.  I may have access in Paris but if not, I’ll be back on Tuesday.  Insha’Allah, my blog won’t be filled with spam entries saying, “Cool, interesting, fantastic.”  Who are these people.  I wish I could meet some British Muslim bloggers out there in Europe but if I hop on the Chunnel, I’ll let someone know. 

Here’s to a safe trip and boat load of pictures, insha’Allah.  :-) 

Okay, I should let the cat out of the bag.  For those of you who don’t know, on Friday, I’m leaving for

PARIS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I can’t believe that I’m returning to the Artist Mecca for the third time.  In fact, it won’t hit me until I’m at the airport.  I’m going because, hey, I was invited and I didn’t have to pay!  Ha-ha! 

But seriously, that’s why I’ve been so busy.  I’m trying to get all this work done before I leave.  I had to run down to New Orleans to get my passport because it takes at least 12 weeks by snail mail!  That’s why I’ve been held hostage in I’m in my room, working on the report.  I’m making charts, again.  Now that I have Microsoft Office Suite 2007, I’m obsessed with making charts for my thesis report. It’s a feeble attempt to keep me from being bored with the whole thing and it ain’t helpin’. 

Insha’Allah, I will visit the Paris Mosque and unlike last time, I’ll be visiting as a Muslim.  :-)  I may run into some Maghribi French Muslims and some mifted folks who are bothered by that piece of fabric on my head.  Oh well, they can handle it.  They survived the Revolution and N@zi Occupation, after all. 

I should be there for three days but you know I want to stay for a month–a whole year, even!  LOL!  Of course, there will be pictures upon pictures posted on my blog.  I will also see if there are any Muslim owned galleries so I can get some inspiration for my own.  Insha’Allah, my own gallery will soon be a reality but I gotta do the necessary research. 

So in three days, I may investigate this whole Eurabia thing.  Or, maybe I can find out how intense the problems are among Arab and African Muslim youth in France.  Or…I probably won’t have time for all that and I will just wind up going from museum to museum and eating my weight’s worth in Moroccan food.  :-)  And chocolate croissants!  Yum. 

We’ll see.  I’ll try to get back to my art entries later on. 

Drat, I have to work on my French.  C’est tres terrible! 

For you history buffs out there who love to watch documentaries on famous people and events (such as myself), can any of you explain what’s going on with the History Channel International?  It seems to be obsessed with N@zi history.  They hardly show anything else.  Even if I’m just scrolling through the TV guide, the programming is geared towards that dark period of German history.  A few months back, there was a marathon on the Party, its secrets, its occult fantasies, the war crimes, the chambers and sick, sick experiments…it’s all very creepy and unsettling.  While it’s important to know about this sad part of human history, I wonder why the History Channel focuses so heavily on it. Right now, there’s a show on about the Gest@po and the SS. 

I would like to say that they are trying to show their viewers how heinous genocide is. If we hear a warmonger seeking to scapegoat a group of people, we will recognize the potential suffering and injustice before it happens. 

Yeah, right!  They do it for ratings.        :-) 

Okay, these two phrases have come up quite frequently on my dashboard.   

Pictures of sexy hijabis

Whaaaaa?  Whoever you are, stop it!  That’s sick, okay. Having a hijab fetish is not healthy.  Don’t say it’s because you think us Muslimas look so pretty and exotic.  Please seek professional help at once. 

Now if you happen to be a sister who’s looking to put some pizzaz in her hijab…uh, no.  That’s not it’s purpose.  You can look cute but alluring and sexy kinda kills the whole purpose of 24:31, m’okay? 

Would Wentworth Miller date a Black woman? 

First of all, if he would, he’s a celebrity who probably doesn’t live in your state so how would he find you…assuming that you are indeed the black girl who’s crushing on him.  Subhan’Allah, I had to look his name up to realize that he’s that dude from the Prison Break show.  I don’t know the guy and I’m not sure why my blog came up during your search but I’m sure he does Black women (and remember I’m basing this on absolutely nothing)–he just probably won’t date you because he doesn’t know who you are. 

Salaam alaikum,

In my short years of being Muslim, I’ve been blessed to get a chance to meet some very creative Muslims.  I’ve also met Muslims who are not artists but are interested in promoting the arts in the community.  What follows is a listing of reasons as to why Muslims, especially young Muslims, are discouraged from creative pursuits and how this is stunting our cultural and artistic growth here in America.

Just let me kick around the old gray matter and see what happens. 

1)  Art is not practical.  This statement is the main reason why many people don’t enter into the arts.  There is some truth to it.  It’s not as practical as say, plumbing, accounting or law.  With careers such as the three listed above, you can pretty much depend on a consistent paycheck.  And the world will always need plumbers, accountants and lawyers.  The arts are a subjective field with people changing their tastes at the blink of an eye.  Still, you can have a career in the arts but you must have the insanity… I mean, the drive to make it happen.  I have spoken to some South-Asian and Arab American Muslims on this issue.  The problems they faced were from families who pushed them to be doctors, engineers, and sometimes, lawyers or dentists.  There’s certainly nothing wrong with this but here’s my advice for Muslims in college pursuing the fields of their families’ dreams.  While you’re taking those classes in accounting or advanced biology, if you can, fit in a class on photography or creative writing.  If you see that your heart is in it, try to pursue it along with your major studies.  It may be your great passion or just a hobby but at least you will be satisfying that creative urge. 

If you can’t do that, you can always check out books from the library or do research online.  Go to local craft stores.  Go to museums and arts centers.  Many museums have free days so check it out when you can.  It may be tough trying to convince your folks that you’re not pursuing something profitless or weird.  But as one budding filmmaker told an audience at the ISNA 2006 conference, “How can we combat the negative stereotypes of Muslims in Hollywood if Muslims aren’t making films?”  It was this question that finally convinced his father to give him the emotional support he needed.  Now this brings us to another issue…

2) The arts are unnecessary.  Whenever a school board wants to make budget cuts, the arts go first.  Where and when did this idea develop that art is secondary to everything else?  It has been proven by studies time and time again that children who study art, music, writing, etc. are more motivated and make better grades.  Throughout Islamic history, Muslims learned from all fields of knowledge.  There was no seperation between religious and secular studies.  There wasn’t this idea that some areas of knowledge were better than others.  One of the flaws of modern education is the grading or ranking of disciplines.  Some subjects are fit to be tossed out because a certain institution sees no value in that subject–ie: the arts! 

How does this play in our community?  Because the American Muslim community is bogged down with so many political issues, there’s this idea that the arts are just not important right now.  We have to fix Chechnya, Sudan, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Iran, Mali, Niger first.  We must roll back the hijab bans in Europe first.  We must establish our political influence first.  Which means that if we stay on this path, we may get a flourishing home-grown American Muslim culture in about 150 years.  I’m not saying these issues are unimportant.  What I am saying is that while we are fighting the battles for justice over there, we need to establish ourselves over here. 

One thing I learned while working at the Muslim museum is that there are many non-Muslims who want to know more about us. They want to hear the truth from us and not Fox Noise or CNN.  And did you know that most of the biggest collectors of Islamic art are non-Muslim? In 20 years, when a Muslim is asked by a curious observer, “Hey, how are the arts in your community,” that Muslim should have a lot to say. 

Later on…Reason 3. Art is HARAM!!!