Permit me to whine

March 4, 2009 at 1:26 pm (Da Haters, Izzy Mo in Dubai, Stupid Juice)

Asalaamu alaikum,

I having been bloggin’ much because after the trip, I came down with the flu.  Silly me.  I was blaming the pollen of Atlanta when it was own body failing to adjust to the temperature.  That’s the first time I ever had the flu and that wasn’t fun.  I had to miss work a few times and I had to drag myself to the doctor to get the right diagnosis and prescription.  I still can’t believe that I only paid $13 for my bloodwork, saliva test and overall examination.  Even my dental exam was less expensive.  In the States, that visit would have cost me at least $500 without insurance. 

But alhamdulillah, I’m coming back to my normal self. 

But permit me to rant a little and I promise this won’t take long. 

Being in the role of a manager, I’m realizing the different ways in which people are motivated.  Some people are self-motivated.  It’s a part of their personality.  They’re always looking for work.  They’re always willing to help and they thrive in environments where they feel needed–like they have a special pupose.  I love these kind of employees.  Alhamdulillah, more than half of them are self-motivated.  There’s one guy in particular and I know that if he’s deployed on a special project, not only will he get it done…he’ll get it done in an efficient professional manner.  Too bad I can’t clone him so that I can replace the ones I have to dang near threaten with job loss in order to get them to act right!!!!!

I don’t like confrontation and from the looks on other peoples’ faces, they don’t like me when I’m like that, either.  I don’t like telling people that spending two hours on company time to plan your wedding reception ain’t exactly professional.  I don’t like telling people that 9 am means 9 am, not 9:30am or 10 am or 11 am or whenever you feel like coming on in (and then having the nerve to get upset when I call you out on it!).  I sure don’t like telling people that burping out loud is just wrong (a lady should know better), and picking your nose is sooo wrong (especially while you’re eating your lunch.  For the love of Purell, don’t try to shake my HAND!) 

Oouuf!  (Emirati version of stressed out sighing)

I know what the problem is and honestly, my bosses suffer from the same disease.  We are too nice.  Too friggin’ nice.  Cut-throat Wall Street types, they are not, despite our dry-cleaned suits, briefcases and tailored slacks.    They are professional, hardworking and self-motivated and they’re all-around good Muslims trying to fear God and handle their business at the same time.  And unfortunately, people take advantage of that.  I feel like its beneath me (and the employees) to start ragging on how they aren’t performing well–especially after they have been warned verbally and on paper.  There are some people–subhan’Allah, you increase their salary and their job performance soars.  Then there are others– they get an increase and slack off on their duties and complain about how they deserve more.@@

Enough already.  I’m sick of it. 

Okay, I have to be mean?  Fine!

Fine, since you think your skills are so hot that you can find a new job in this depressing job market. 

My rant’s over.  Hopefully I won’t knock out the finance manager and bury him alive in an unmarked grave in Umm al Quwain.  (Did I mention that despite all this stuff, I still love my job?)

:-)

8 Comments

“I support freedom of speech!

August 12, 2008 at 8:26 am (Da Haters)

…Unless that speech is derogatory towards me.” 

That should be Salman Rushdie’s new mantra. 

What a hypocrite.

Sir Salman Rushdie’s fatwa against freedom of expression

The man, in whose defence the world’s intelligentsia mounted an intellectual blitzkrieg against the alleged medievalism of the Muslim masses, has threatened to sue the publishers of a book about him by a former police officer, Ron Evans. In his forthcoming book, On Her Majesty’s Service: My Incredible Life in the World’s Most Dangerous Close Protection Squad, Evans dares to paint a rather unflattering portrait of the writer, whose unflattering ways stirred up controversies ever since he began to write. Rushdie alleges that the book “destroys his character” and “presents wholly made up incidents as facts.”

4 Comments

KABOBfest: Keffiyeh infiltrates our nation’s youth

June 1, 2008 at 3:06 am (American Society, Da Haters, Neurotica, Rant Box, Why They Hate Us-The Muslim Edition)

Please watch this!  :-)

Boycott Dunkin Donuts.  Spineless corporate punks!

Krispy Krewe RULES!!!!

Oh, there’s an International Wear Your Keffiyah Day on June 6th.  Shemaghs Unite!

3 Comments

Reason #159 why Muslims should support Muslim-owned publications

May 19, 2008 at 8:01 pm (American Society, Da Haters, Media, Muslim Media, Why They Hate Us-The Muslim Edition)

Excerpts from Mecca & Main Street:  Muslim Life in America After 9/11 by Geneive Abdo

She writes about her experience as a former journalist for the Chicago Tribune and their attempts to introduce their readers to Muslim Americans.  Emphasis and parenthesis, mine. 

The project had been underway for many months, yet the editors and reporters were still trying to figure out basic information, such as the difference between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims, or the bare-bones history of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, the single most important Islamic movement of the twentieth century. 

The stated purposes of this series (The Struggle for the Soul of Islam) was to educate readers about Islam around the world.  But, behind closed doors, it was clear there was another motivation:  to write primarily about extremists, the militants misrepresenting the tenets of the religion and giving Islam a bad name.  The Tribune editors were not interested in enlightening readers about how the majority of Muslim practiced their faith.  They wanted only to make sensational headlines by writing about the fringe.  One reporter on the team, in fact, was an ambitious Muslim who despised those she perceived to be too conservative.  The Muslims she interviewed later told me countless stories of how she deceived them to gain entrance to their homes and mosques.  Their first impulse was to trust her, she wears a headscarf and they thought a Muslim reporter would accurately represent their lives and views.  But, for this reporter, the series of articles on Islam allowed her two interests to converge, and, as part of her personal crusade, she could condemn Muslim traditionalists.  From the newspaper’s point of view, her presence on the team served an important purpose; she gave the newspaper cover.  Surely, a Muslim involved in the project would give the stories credibility, no matter what was written.  After September 11th, in fact, the Tribune displayed posters of her around Chicago, a marketing gimmick designed to convince readers of the paper’s authority on the subject.

********

There is a lesson, repeated over and over, that Muslims are learning from their interaction with mainstream America.  As long as others interpret their lives and their faith, Islam will be judged from a strictly Western perspective.  No matter how limited the audience and how meager the means, Muslims have come to know that their voices must be heard if there is any hope for them to be accepted in American society. 

*************************

Sisters and brothers, please support the editors, designers and writers in your community.  Muslims are almost non-existent in the fields of law and journalism.  Scroll down and read the numbers for underrepresented occupations for Muslims.  You may not agree with everything in Sisters, Emel, Azizah or Islamica, but they are representing our many distinct voices.  No one said that creating our own media would be easy, and yes, we do know that some of our publications have to step up and be more professional.  But if you’re a Muslim American, you either support Muslim media, create Muslim media or both.  If you are a writer, share your gift with the world.  Form those writers collectives.  Start those online publications.  It’s time for the Muslim Americans to become the voice for Islam in America. 

PS: That piece about the Muslima report was scuzzy, wasn’t it?  Eww.  Munafiqun. 

5 Comments

Shaik is back!

May 3, 2008 at 2:21 am (Blogging Bruthaz, Da Haters)

Brother Shaik Abdul Khafid is back!  You must remember this awesome graphic designer as he is the brainchild of our lovely blog buttons.  Yes, I finally broke down and added his latest buttons to my blog because they are so creative and chic.  He has now started creating these hilarious cartoons.  Check out his awesome blog and give him your duas and support. 

 

8 Comments

Sincerity

April 28, 2008 at 2:37 am (American Society, Bloggin', Da Haters, Deen On, The Umma, Why They Hate Us-The Muslim Edition)

Salaam alaikum

Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem

Lately, because of the recent talk within the local community about Muslims and activism, I’ve been thinking a lot about sincerity.  It’s the constant job of a believer to make sure that her intentions are correct.  What am I doing or saying this for, the people or Allah?  But recently, I had a run in with a commenter that revealed some new insights about sincerity.

A month ago, “Susan,” contacted me and asked me some questions about Islam, the oppression of Muslim women and terrorism.  You know, the two usual subjects–religious violence and the subjugation of women.  While the comment seemed angry and laced with some sarcasm, I decided to let it stay.  I also left a comment receommending Thomas Cleary’s translation of the Qur’an plus links to various websites and organizations that are addressing the problems she listed. 

She returned about month later, still not happy with her results.  She mentioned the same issues and felt that the oppression of women can not be helped because men have all the power.  She’s waiting for the Lord to fix it (her words, not mine).  So today, I emailed her.  A few weeks ago, I got the chance to meet an awesome Australian Muslim woman activist named Ayesha.  She’s the principal of a school for Muslim girls (who’s staff is 1/3 non-Muslim, by the way) and she pursuing a doctorate degree.  “Susan” also lives in Australia.  So if they are willing and if time and distance are in sync, I thought they could meet.   I emailed “Susan” and let her know that I would get Ayesha’s contact information and insha’Allah, she can work with Muslim women in resolving these issues. 

Yes, I admit, I gambled.  Part of me wanted to me if she would be excited to work with active, intelligent Muslim women or if this was just negative spam hanging in my comments box.  After coming home from my tajweed classes, there was another comment and no response to my email (and as of yet, I still haven’t received a response) about…again, Taliban.  What was sorta sad and humorous was that she said the same thing, “Muslims don’t condemn terrorism.”  But there I was, condemning it in my comments box plus sending her links to Islam for Today which has this huge webpage of, what else?  Condemnations!  And she must have missed those darling American Muslims Against Terrorism buttons that grace the blogs of people like JD, Yursil and Tariq Nelson. 

And there was the posting of hadith and the latest madness from some Taliban psycho, and we ALL know the dangers of people interpreting Islam through Digital Jurisprudence.  Subhan’Allah, I can read a book on nuclear physics but that doesn’t make me a physicist.  :-)   But this time, the comment was left by “Susan” and it ended with the name “Jenny.”  Big red flag.  What’s up with using two different names?  I have to admit, this makes me think that she’s less than sincere.  Only God knows.  While I don’t really have any concrete blog rules, I do feel like that you should at least use one name.  So in the rare times in my blogging history, I had to remove her comments.  I can’t take behavior like that seriously. 

:::By the by, do you see that no matter how much you condemn terrorism, it’s never enough?  If only Bin Laden had a blog so they could all talk to him instead of the rest of us:::

There are people who go on and on about the plight of Muslim women but when offered a chance to interact with us, suddenly it’s like hearing crickets.  That’s when you’ll see if feminist rhetoric becomes positive action or no action at all.  If you are passionate, I mean really passionate about something, whatever that something is, you work and you fight for it.  You have to put up or shut up.

But while I’m all in Susan or Jenny’s business trying to figure out if she’s sincere, I need to be more concerned about my sincerity.  What am I doing to make things better?  What can I do that goes beyond words on a blog?  How can I translate my ideas into positive change.  Well, I know my tajweed classes are taught at a small school for Muslim women called House of Muslimahs.  I think supporting Muslim women to become educated in Islam is the best way to gain taqwa and to decipher between what is Islam and what is Hislam.  My friend and cool Muslim visual artist Janet Aly used her artwork sales to raise money for the Mukhtar Mai Women Welfare Organization.  I know many of you sisters and brothers out there have given tons of money to charitable organizations and have hosted many interfaith events with people of other faiths.

So, I hope and pray that with the remaining time in my life, I can use my time for God’s good work–whatever form that may take. 

So Susan or Jenny, I’m still here.  I will get that information about the sister in Australia and if you want it, you can have it.  Let’s take our passions and direct them to something noble.  And please forgive any part of this entry that may have seem snarky.  After all, I’m American and we can be like that sometimes. 

******

Note:  11:27 pm. She cleared up the Susan-Jenny issue.  She uses both names together and seperately.  But I have yet to receive a response to my email.  If you’re still interested, Susan Jenny try the Muslim Women’s League and KARAMAH. 

5 Comments

Comments from “Condemn This”

January 16, 2008 at 2:09 am (American Society, Da Haters, Why They Hate Us-The Muslim Edition)

Salaam alaikum,

I sorta disappearred for a second there, didn’t I?  Because I got such great feedback from you guys, I’m making this seperate entry as a response to them.  I blew off some steam in the last entry and thought some things through so insha’Allah, we’ll all have a better understanding about how we can combat this nonsense. 

Aaminah:  Thanks for linking me, sis!

Tim:  I read your entry on dealing with discrimination from some of your friends.  Subhan’Allah, I don’t know why we do that to each other.  How could they think you have something to do with all this madness.  And yet, I wonder if some of my non-Muslim relatives think the same way.  They won’t say it because it’ll hurt my feelings.  And maybe I’m not providing good enough explanations but the reality is that I don’t understand it, either.  How I can understand the inner workings of mad people?  May Allah grant us sabr to deal with these “hot coal” days.

Darvish:  Interesting theory, brother.  I swear, Bush could stick his foot in his mouth (literally, I mean, since he’s done it figurately many times) and they will still love him.  Any critcism of the Borg Queen warrants reeducation at the Borg Center where they chain you to a chair and make you watch Fox News.  Submit!  Resistance is futile!!!!  While I believe we have to fight the borg mentality of Eurocentric supremacy, I hope we can do that without going into “Blame Whitey” mode.  :-)

Fikri:  Oh, if we lived in a world where collective punishment didn’t exist!  :-)   I wish bin Laden could bear his own burdens and I bear my own and you bear your own.  That’s how it will be on Judgement Day.  But until then, we’re all the same.

MMW:  Yeah, Aaminah and I discussed how this constant rush to condemn can sometimes backfire.  Sometimes it makes us look as if we have something to hide. 

UmmFarouq:  That’s what gets me through the day–knowing that Allah knows the Truth and He will not allow the good works of any of us to go unnoticed, male or female. 

Yusuf:  Thanks for the link.  It will a somewhat great day when honor crimes will be recognized for the universal scourge that they are.  It will be an awesome day when we can finally get rid of it.

Aiman:  You know, I heard a French publication stated that OBL was dead.  Back in 2006, former French president Jacques Chirac denied it but wondered how such information leaked out to the public.  But this is what really bugs me.  This administration acts like it’s so gung ho about getting him and yet, they barely talk about him.  Honestly, what do we know about him?  How we can decipher what’s true and what’s false from this vantage point here in America?  And why with all the technology that we have, we can’t find him?  It’s such a joke.  For all we know, OBL could be dead.  I feel like he’s going to be in the same league with Tupac and Elvis.  Is he really alive or dead?  @@

Sumaya:  I think British Muslims seem to be more successful at convincing the greater of our innocence than American Muslims.  I know one British Muslim artist who would not dare live in the States because he considers the UK much more friendly and accepting.  There’s probably a lot of reasons for why we are having a difficult time.  One reason is that Europeans, while being less religious than Americans, are more knowledgable of world religions.  Americans have more religious sentiment but not many are not well versed with the Bible, much less other religious texts.   So maybe  you guys are having an easier time.  Here, they tell us, “Hey, Muslims don’t condemn terrorism.”  And we respond with Islam awareness weeks, interfaith meetings, media campaigns, etc.  Then they watch Fox News (which is notoriously anti-Muslim and anti-anybody who doesn’t fall in line with their right-wing agenda) and wonder why they don’t see us condemning terror.  American Muslims tend not to have any problems with sincere people but those racist right-wingers are driving me bonkers.  But I understand your point.  We must press on despite these problems–after all, it’s not as bad as living in Baghdad or Kabul right about now.

Mona:  Salaamz, hon.

Ijtema:  Thank you for linking me!!!!!

Gess:  You raised some very good points, especially in your comparison to the Germans.  I guess after a 1,000 years have passed, they will finally live the Holocaust down and history will judge the actual perpetrators rather than the German people as a whole.  Yep, same old, same old.

Suhaa: Thanks for stopping by.  Hadn’t see you in a while.  I think the best we can do, as you stated, is to keep doing good–for the sake of Allah and to help those around us.  That will make more of an impact than anything else.

AJSuhail:  I haven’t heard from you in months!  Were have you been?

TariqH:  Now, extreme materialism..yes, that’s something we all can ask for–also, our abuse of the environment.  Good points, brother, good points.  And no problem about adding ya to the Blogroll.  :-)

Umm Yusuf:  Thanks for the good words and for stopping by. 

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Our Voices: Muslim Women Authors

December 27, 2007 at 6:10 am (American Society, Arts, Da Haters, Islam and Literature, Muslimaz, Oppress This!, Why They Hate Us-The Muslim Edition, Women)

Salaam alaikum,

I don’t know about you but lately, reading anynewspaper article or book about Muslims always leaves me feeling exhausted and frustrated.  What’s equally frustrating is when many of the writings are penned by Muslim women who are offering a more balanced, truthful look into our lives–only to have the commentators and critics say that we can’t fully articulate our experiences.  We are unable to discuss Islam, Muslim men and oppression without bias because we are so wrapped up in our collective oppressive experiences that our words can’t be trusted.  So if a Muslim woman writes a article about the liberating aspects of hijab or the need to end the practice of honor crimes through teaching Muslims that it’s actually against Islamic teachings, it’s because she’s deluded.  She doesn’t realize she’s living an oppressed life.  Her mind, body and spirit are enslaved.  Even as she musters up the intellect to write an article about the disasters of foreign policy in Iraq or the condemnation of sexism and violence in her community, because she has an attachment to Islam (either devoutly or through seasonal religious practice) her voice is rendered as suspect. It’s as if they believe we all suffer some collective Stockholm Syndrome!

Personally, I’m sick of playing whack-a-mole.  I think a lot of us are sick of whack-a-mole.  It seems that no matter how many cultural fires we put out, another one pops up.  I can’t even mourn the death of our dear sister Aqsa Parvez without worrying about how people will use her death as a way to attack us Muslim women–the very people they claim they are trying to save.  And for the life of me, I don’t know why a non-Muslim man can strangle, chop up and burn his ex-girlfriend’s body parts on a patio grill and nobody dares to link this to his religion (even though he was Black, so they may link it to his race).  But if a Muslim man does the same thing, it’s an indictment of Islam and all Muslims–even the Muslims who condemn and fight the injustices!  I guess I don’t understand the cognitive dissonance of a people who can hand slap Muslims for violence and depravity and fail to realize the same oppression and dysfunction in their own society.  (Because we all know slavery exists in the West and East but it manifests itself in different ways).

I don’t know if this is some pessimistic rant or if I’ve working through certain creative issues.  But lately, I’ve been trying to figure out what are my duties as a Muslim woman writer?  It’s only within recent years that I have attached the word “writer” to my identity.  It’s also within these years that I’ve published articles in print and online publications.  Through working with Azizah Magazine, I see how having access to the media can change people’s perceptions–that is if they are willing to accept that their perceptions are wrong or at best, unsophisticated.  We often get books from publishing companies who hope that we will write a glowing book review.  And some of the books that we get–subhan’Allah!  :-)   Orientalism is now prepackaged with new stories of women escaping Islamdom with a new boyfriend (or girlfriend), new job, new wardrobe and cleavage to boot!  You can’t conquer Islamofascism without the sexy hairdo and tetas, ya know? 

At the 2006 ISNA convention, Brother Dash and other Muslim writers were on a panel discussing the challenges of being a writer.  He stated that if God gives you the blessing of a platform to express your ideas, it’s your responsibility to give people something poignant and worthy.  Your time in the spotlight, whether in print or on the mic, is not solely an exercise of egoistic creative release but of revealing truth.   So the blessing of talent–the freedom that comes with the ability to express yourself creatively–also comes with the responsibility of producing something profound.  Writing should make people think!  Literature should open minds, not confirm their worse nightmares and stereotypes.  How can Muslim women fit into this equation without having the constant second-guessing of our intentions?

Is the world still not ready to hear what we have to say?  Are our words really that dangerous?  And when we do speak, must we only speak using the archetype of “victim”?  Must we all turn ourselves into Hirsi Alis and Manjis in order to get published or to have our words taken seriously?  Well, I could spin a intriguing tale of sexual repression, illicit affairs, draconian punishments and perversion.  After all, fiction is fiction.  I could weave a tale of a black-clad beauty, with her black long locks, struggling to key her pent-up sexual urges under her big black burqa. (Cuz don’t you know, the color is Islam is not green.  It’s BLACK!!!!)  I could make up something about myself–put some kohl on my eyes, try my best to do a fake Arab accent and change the entire content of this blog.  Izzy Mo, the creative plucky Black Muslim girl from the South would be no more!  Izdihar, the blogger from (insert scary Muslim land), who dares to write about her dreams as she lives out her daily druggery of cooking, cleaning, child-rearing, belly-dancing for her husband’s friends and surviving daily gang rapes and acid-burnings.  Please give me a book deal!

I could write about that stuff.  Of course, it would be a big fat lie and I do have some integrity.  And I would rather write about my truth:  my experiences, hopes and dreams as an American Muslim woman and not have it attacked because it doesn’t fit the current fantasy of Muslim babes on lock-down.  I want those great novels of strong, devout Muslimas.  Or how about struggling Muslimas who triumph over spousal abuse with their faith intact?  And yes, I want a Muslim man to be the noble protagonist.  We must recognize those brothers who are working for justice. 

I refuse to believe that in order to heard, I have to take on the opportunistic screeds of Ayan Hirsi Ali or applaud the Muslim minstrel shows of Danielle Crittenden.  (Sweetie, please keep your posturing, “travels-to-the-Oriental Other” to yo’self! Don’t have me get the niqaabi mafia on ya!)  I have no problems reading about domestic violence in Muslim lands or the wack-a-doo happenings in the KSA.  But please don’t act as if we haven’t been addressing these issues while also addressing the less sexy issues of health care, poverty, education and famine.  After all, most of us will not be lashed or gang-raped by order of some tribal nut.  But most of us will experience job loss, infertility, cancer, divorce, obesity, and depression–you know, those same issues that plague us here in the magical perfect world of the West?

Only time can tell if the wonderful day will come when bookshelves will be filled with novels, essays and anthologies on Muslim women, written by Muslim women!  One day, I would love to see our stories told with nuance, with a realization of life’s grays rather than the black and whites of propaganda and war.  But until then, I’ll punch these keys and hope that this blog will help me find my voice.  And once I find it–may I not be afraid to shout!

20 Comments

The Black Orientalist

December 14, 2007 at 8:54 pm (Da Haters, Why They Hate Us-The Muslim Edition)

Wow, I knew she wrote and said some bad things but subhan’Allah, I didn’t know she actually agreed with the idea of invading Iran. 

But obviously, more and more people are waking up to the truth.  Like a good friend of mine said, “Let people like that destroy themselves.”  She’s right.  You can only lie and create mischief for so long until it finally catches up with you.  Here’s an excellent article over at the Black Agenda Report.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali:  Neocon in Black Face

If Ali and others are outraged when rape victims are punished under Sharia law, they should also be concerned when Iraqi women are killed by American bullets. They should care that Muslim men are held without trial in Guantanamo and subjected to torture. Palestinian women have died in childbirth when Israeli soldiers at check points denied them access to medical care. Because these Muslims are not victimized by other Muslims, they do not merit a mention from Ali.

And here’s another good article on Muslim hysteria from The Guardian. 

Each one of the national realities Muslims inhabit is prodigiously complex and ceaselessly evolving, shaped as much by geopolitics – imperial conquest, the cold war, the war on terror – as by internal conflicts of class, religion and ethnicity. Closely examined, Muslim societies briskly dissolve our complacent, parochial notions about religion, democracy, secularism and capitalism. They expose, too, the notion of a monolithic Islam pressing down uniformly on all believers everywhere as a crude caricature.

2 Comments

Some Positive News

October 23, 2007 at 1:00 am (American Society, Anti-War, Da Haters, Why They Hate Us-The Muslim Edition)

I haven’t done this in a while. 

And yes, I’m trying to blog in green for anti-Islamo-Facso-Whateva week! 

Don’t hem and haw over green being the unofficial color of Islam. 

Green, no matter what shade, goes with everything!

But on to the positive news…don’t you love it when bigoted, racist, Fascists get exactly what they ask for?

Islamo-Fascist Moniker Meaningless

Yes, it is one of the dumbest political terms ever but look at the administration who created it.

Islamo Fascism Follies

Civil Rights Activist Walter Fountroy discredits Islamo–you know the rest. :-)

You gotta love the photo that goes along with this article.  Campus Progress takes a shot at the wrong-wing extremists. 

Calling Islamo-Fascism for what it is: a new invention from plain old fashioned racism.

Rabbi Arthur Waskow speaks out.

The Jewish Alliance rejects David Horowitz’s rhetoric.

4 Comments

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