Izzy Mo’s Blog

Glass-o-rama

Originally uploaded by Izzy Mo

Salaam alaikum,

Here’s a piece of glass that I painted. May this be the start of a new friendship with a new art form. I’ll be back. Lotta artsy-fartsy stuff going on.

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Originally uploaded by Izzy Mo

is coming very soon. But I must run and do…nothing. It’s been a long time since I’ve done nothing and it feels very, very good. ::::Evil giggle::: Miz Lazy Bones is back!

Dear everyone,

This is to everyone.  This is to anybody and everybody with a blog.  This is for those who write about the plight of Muslim women worldwide. 

Here I am, as a Muslima addressing you. 

Stop pretending that your calls for gender justice are about me.  It’s not about me or my sisters in Islam.  Behind your sanctimonous, bleeding-heart ranting, you don’t give two cents about Muslim women. 

If you did care about us…

you would listen to us.  You would try to relate to us.  You would understand that every woman defines womanhood in different ways and we define ours in the context of Islam.  You would NOT choose just one of us to speak for us.  You would NOT choose the woman whose opinions and outlook are merely a reflection of your own. 

You would have the guts and courage to choose Muslim women who offer intelligent critiques of Western and Muslim societies.  You would bare it as she would dissect the sexual dynamics of your short skirt just as easily as you write essays on feminism and Islamic garb.  You would embrace the plurality of our opinions.  You would get beyond buzz words like female genital mutilation, hijab, burqa, four witnesses, and honor crimes. 

Most importantly, you would get from behind the computer and stop acting like your trolling on Muslim blogs, especially brothers’ blogs, is some of a kind victory for women’s rights.  Don’t treat my brothers like that.  Don’t assume that because he professes Islam that somehow he must be a some monster.  I do get tired of that. To this day, 99% of the brothers I have met have never made me feel inferior. It’s my Muslim father who’s pushing to continue school and my Muslim brothers who support my art.  Not a single brother has said, “You know, you oughta be painting my kitchen walls and while you’re at it, cook me something to eat, woman!”  I am prefectly capable of handling my brothers.  And my father, uncles and cousins (and their friends) have made it quite clear that if a man hits me, if I can’t take him, they will.  They would kick the sweet tar of him if necessary, thank you very much. 

“Oh, the way they treat their women is so awful,” says one woman–not realizing the abuse in her own backyard.  It’s time for us Americans to snap our of this self-delusional state. In light of crime statistics, we have no moral authority.  We have no right to tell any nation how to treat its women.  Let’s not forget that in the Iraqi and Afghan death count, more than half of those victims are women.  Most of them are Muslim women–women who you claim that the US is trying to liberate.  They had dreams and goals.  They had families, careers and aspirations.  Now, they are dead. 

Do us a favor.

Stop “helping” us.  Stop trying to save us while getting us killed in the process.

 Shut up and let us Muslimahs speak for ourselves. 

Blast!  Brother Tavis over at Lantern Touch got me! 

Eight Weird or Random Facts about Myself

1) I’m a very fast walker.

2) I think Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon, is one of the coolest movies ever.  Shiiiiiiiiiine on!  Shine on!  And it features Vanity in her pre-saved days.  “Am I the baddest?”  “Sho’nuff!”  Oh, how I love cheesy 80s movies.  It’s got martial arts and break dancing.  Who could hate that?

3) In high school, I was a member of Mu Alpha Theta even though, as we all know, math ain’t my thang. 

4) I love cinnamon. 

5) Despite all the trials we’re going through, I think the umma will be okay.  Yeah, in light of all this madness, I’m still positive.  After all, this is the deen of Allah.  Now if we could all start acting like this is the deen of Allah, I promise that at least 50% of our problems would disappear.

6) A long time ago, I used to write romantic short stories.  I don’t know if I would go back to it.  I would have to ask Sister Iman of Halal Love.org to give me some advice.  If romance novels are still what I remember them to be…goodness, you’ll get bored reeeeeaaaaaaal quick.  It’s a shame because we (the Mozzies) have a long tradition of love stories and love poetry and only a few of us are willing to bring that tradition back to life.  But that’s another entry.  I know folks need to stop believing that the two lovers have to fornicate in order for the story to have some merit.  Ooops.  I’ll stop.

7) I think I’m budding into an amateur photographer.  LOL!

8)  I love the scent of vanilla and gardenia.

Waxing Gibbous 77% - 7/24/07

Originally uploaded by kajo55

What is it about the night? For the artistic soul, the night brings calm, creativity and insight. The prayers are sweeter. The air is cooler and the darkness is so soothing. I’m up and as of this entry, it is 3:45 am. This habit of staying up late, which some would say is unhealthy and unnatural, feels just right. I couldn’t sleep anyway. Today was too stressful and all of the nonsense of it invaded my ability to sleep. Those inept people at Kinkos–the post office clerks and their attitudes—the guy who saw me holding a huge box of mail and refused to open the door for me–eating my next meal at a late hour which caused me to crash into bed after Maghrib prayer–all that just keep bugging me.

But here I am now, writing, and I’m calm. I know I will regret this–staying up this late. Fajr time will come in a little over an hour so I might as well stay up. I’m running on chai tea and won’t burn out for another two hours, insha’Allah.

But what are you doing, Izzy Mo, at this time of night?

Well, by the grace of Allah, I found out why I couldn’t sleep. I got an email from a potential business contact in Dubai. Yes, Dubai! And I don’t believe it’s by coincidence that I found my calling card–or that I got in touch with her–or that she and I talked about some great opportunities for artists in Dubai. So alhamdulillah, I didn’t waste my time watching TV. I’m calling people overseas who I normally couldn’t talk to right now. I’m cleaning up. I’m learning about all the different time zones.  Dubai–9 hrs. ahead, Paris–6 hrs. ahead–California–three hrs. before me.  I’m growling at the paintings still left uncompleted. They WILL be done today!

Anyhoo, this is just a random nattering of a girl who is trying to make the best of her time. Enjoy the moon pic by Kajo55.

Subhan’Allah, this project is taking longer than I thought!  But alhamdulillah, I’m getting through it and once I’m finished, I”ll start on some new stuff for ISNA.  But man, I didn’t think it would take this long. 

I had started working on this post about looking for love marriage in the American umma (everybody’s favorite topic).  Maybe I’ll get it posted by Wednesday.  I gotta lot to say but not enough time to say it. 

In the meantime,

I’ve noticed all these new Muslim publications that have come out.  A lot of them either have Muslima writers or they are publications decided to Muslim women.  My question is, where are the brothers?!?!?  Whassup, y’all!  There’s Azizah but where is Aziz? There’s Sisters but what about the Brothers?!  Is there a going to ever be a Muslim GQ? 

:-) 

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Originally uploaded by Izzy Mo

For those of you who went over to my Flickr file, just to let you know…this ain’t my apartment. I know it looks really cool and mod but it ain’t mine. It’s the loft that they (Studioplex) use to show potential clients. I was doing research for gallery space and someone told me to check this place out. I would love your feedback. Tell me what you think about the outside and the overall feel of the place. Is it too industrial-looking? Here’s the slide show of the property. http://www.flickr.com/photos/98756806@N00/sets/72157600901628071/  The plus side is that the Fulton County Arts Council and the National Black Arts Festival are both located in this complex.  Plus there’s a whole bunch of other artsy-fartsy folks. 

Also, can you find Izzy Mo in the picture? I unwittingly took a picture of myself while taking pictures of the property.

Also, I’m having some neurotic artist crisis. Is this painting bad or am I being really hard on myself? http://www.flickr.com/photos/98756806@N00/856595078/

It’s for Muslim Fest and I dunno. Maybe I’m turning into my harshest critic.

I have an entry posted at Nisaa entitled Talking ’bout the Birds and Bees.  Mosey on over when you can. 

Well, not unveiled, per se. 

For months, I’ve debated on and off this question.  Should I post a photo of myself on my blog?  After all a friend said, “Ya never know.  You may met your future husband online if you post your photo.”  I thought about it some more…and more. 

Okay, why not?  It can’t hurt.  I mean, the Blogosphere only has a few stalker types and my little corner of the web could never attract that kind of attention.

So, here I am! It’s me painting a Springtime landscape!  Enjoy!

As I was saying before, yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

I finished my masters examination.  Now all I need to do is check my paper for typos, print it at Kinkos and then, pooof!  I’m done.  I can’t almost believe that this program is over, especially after all the hoops I had to jump through with crazy professors. Plus all the long distance drama of going to school in another state and moving from here to there in the process.  But alhamdulillah, it’s done.  And if you love me for the sake of Allah, please don’t ask me if I’m getting my Ph.D. 

So, insha’Allah, some time in August, I may have a little shindig at my new place as there is much to celebrate.  But now that I’m working lesser hours and I won’t be in school anymore (which I will miss cuz I’m a nerd), I’ll have time to focus on other things.  Primarily, I want to back to reading more Qur’an and studying more about Islam.  Lately, some issues have come up and due to my ignorance, I don’t think I handled them in the right way.  Here’s an example:  someone starts talking about their husband/boyfriend and my ears go on alert because I’m afraid they’ll say something that they shouldn’t.  So my mind’s like, “Please don’t talk about sex.  Please don’t tell me about his personal stuff.”  Then when that thing that should not have been said comes out, I have to try to change the subject or do this neurotic thing where I scream, “Okay, waaaaaaay too much information!” 

Part of me wants to let her go on because she’s obviously frustrated and needs to vent.  Another part is scared because I could be the other partner in the backbiting–a sin that’s considered equal to or worse than fornication.  Or here’s another scenario:  Sometimes I find myself having to justify my choices in the way I practice Islam.  I’m not sure why to this day, I have to explain the halal meat thing to people.  Especially to other Muslims.  I’m not Uber-Zahiba girl going “Haram alaikum” to folks who don’t eat halal.  I’m not going to faint if you tell that you eat at McDonald’s.  And I swear, I hate hijab discussions because the focus of those discussions is either two things.  One:  Men still sexually harass women in hijab therefore it doesn’t work, therefore, why even bother wearing it.  Two:  Hijab is a male construct, like the miniskirt, and therefore, another way in which men control women’s dress and women’s bodies.  Subhan’Allah, I’ve been there and done that.    I’ve read so many books on this subject from authors like Fatima Mernissi to Katherine Bullock.  I used to the mistress of the Mernissi madhab, m’kay?  When I started wearing hijab, I came to point wear I had to shut out those voices and listen to what my heart said on the matter.  It has to be for Allah.  Everything I do has to be for Allah.  Now, if brothers get some benefit out of it or if it increase their taqwa, alhamdulillah.  But honestly, as far as I’m concerned, it’s not for the brothers.  Men are commanded to lower their gazes so if some of them are so beastly that they hit on women in burkas then they’ll get their just due on yaum al qiyama.  ( I will write more on this subject, later, insha’Allah.  I’ve got my theories about this sick phenomenon)

Where was I?  Yes, lack of knowledge.  :-) 

I can only blame this on my lack of knowledge.  I wish that when these complicated situations come up, I could handle them with finesse.  I wish I knew how to deal with belligerent people without getting upset or frustrated.  I guess this is all about trying to behave according to the Sunnah–even when my nafs is screaming for me to smack somebody.  :-)  Oh, the inner jihad ain’t no joke.  May God guide us all.

Other than that, I’m going to be in Muslim Fest again!  Whoo-hoo.  I would like to go and I’ll see Canada but I’m not making any promises.  Canada sounds quite lovely and it looks like the festival is gaining more popularity in Ontario.  Plus, I need to work on some paintings so I can take them to the 2007 ISNA convention.  Maybe next year I’ll get a booth but that wasn’t possible this year. So as soon as the paintings are done, I’ll post them. 

Laters.