Gardens of Sand

Gaza Losses = Inciting Hateful Speech

2009-02-01T20:44:00.004-05:00

Is the ugly and horrific truth about the War on Gaza too much for some? I believe so.. Some folks just want the truth buried.

I posted a comment on Mona Eltahawy's blog to an article she wrote entitled On Self-Hate and Fence Sitting.

My comment upset and incensed a person who accused me of inciting hateful speech. Mentioning the death toll and destruction in Gaza is hateful speech!!!

Here is the comment and person's responses (followed by mine):

GardensofSand said:
It’s hard to sit on the fence when all the dead bodies and destruction pile up to tower over the fence.

Over 1200 murdered in a little over 2 weeks. Out of those killed, 33% are children, over 20 % are women.

Before the War on Gaza, 75 % of Gazans needed someone to bring food to their table (because of the blockade, movement restructions, etc). The number is up to 100%. 70 % have no access to clean water. With 1.5 million people living in an area only slightly larger than Washington DC, 22000 buildings are destroyed. 56% have no access to medicine. 95 % of children tramautized.
Infrastructure destroyed, sewage systems destroyed so raw sewage is flowing among what remains of people’s homes. Hospitals and schools destroyed. White phosphorus used on civillians. UN buildings where civillians were sheltered bombed using imprecise weapons.
Everything shipping in Gaza must be granted permission by Israel. Banking system shut down for several and only resumed with Israel’s permission. No NGO access into Gaza. No foreign journalists allowed.

International humanitarian laws were violated. The war violated both the distinction principle and proportionalityprinciple.

Noting all the above, all the destruction and loss, the catastrophe of Gaza and suffering of Gazans, is sitting on the fence the conscientious, just stance? Have we reached such a low as self-proclaimed, self-hating Arabs that we cannot even condemn the merciless killing of civillians, the systematic destruction of a people?
January 25th, 2009, 2:02 am

Craig said:
Some pretty high-handed rhetoric there, GardensOfSand. Who do you think you are helping, with all that?
January 31st, 2009, 12:27 pm

GardensofSand said:
Words don’t help Craig. Without actions backing them up, words are empty and meaningless. As for who I thought I was helping with my comment, the answer is no one in particular, I was merely pointing out some facts, the outcome of the attack so to speak. I guess the truth is sometimes ugly and uncomfortable to read.
February 1st, 2009, 2:20 am

Craig said:
Over 1200 murdered in a little over 2 weeks. Out of those killed, 33% are children, over 20 % are women.
Is that truth? Is that fact?
February 1st, 2009, 8:42 am

Craig said:
And also…
Words don’t help Craig.
Words have power. Words sometimes do help. Words also sometimes do a great deal of harm. Which kind were yours?
Without actions backing them up, words are empty and meaningless.
And how would a logical person, reading your words, decide to back them up? Your words incited hate… what is the likely outcome, when people let themselves be incited by hateful speech? So, I ask again… who were you trying to help?
February 1st, 2009, 8:45 am

GardensofSand said:
Craig, I got the stats above from Bill Corcoran,President of ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid), and Mitchell PlitnickDirector of US Office of B’Tselem (Israeli Human Rights Organization). Google the organizations or even war on Gaza to get verification of the facts.
Facts incite hate? I think it is your words that incite hate and negativity. Whether your are for or against the war on Gaza is one issue, but to not even acknowledge the outcome is what I find hateful.

If you with notice in my comments and your answers to them, you are the one who is negative and you are the one attacking. Frankly, I am somewhat surprised and a little bemused. Would you have prefered that the casualties and destruction remain unnoticed and unacknowledged? The facts are there, make of them what you will. As I said, the truth is ugly. It seems some would like it to remain buried.

Attacking someone’s speech and labeling it as hateful, and accusing the person of inciting hateful speech are ways of marginalizing the individual and discrediting what they say. It will not work on me. Why do you want to discredit what I have to say Craig? What in it makes you uncomfortable? Are the numbers too horrific? They can easily be verified.

As to backing the words with actions, there are many ways, the hardest of which is to reexamine your stance in light of the outcome. You can donate your time and effort for the relief efforts, or you can devote it to spread awareness about whatever position you hold. Or you can decide that it is not something that concerns you and move on. Whatever floats your boat.

As to to who I wanted to help, I repeat no one in particular. Maybe at best, posting the facts and outcomes of the war on Gaza would give someone food for thought and cause them to reexamine their own positions whatever they may be.

Peace to you, Craig.
February 1st, 2009, 2:10 pm

Craig said:
GoS,
Craig, I got the stats above from Bill Corcoran,President of ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid), and Mitchell PlitnickDirector of US Office of B’Tselem (Israeli Human Rights Organization). Google the organizations or even war on Gaza to get verification of the facts.
Well, for one thing, you assume stats from those organizations are valid. I do not. For another thing, you clearly said “MURDERED” - not killed. Big difference. And lastly, you gave stats for “children” without noting that many Hamas fighters are technically Children… the average age range for Hamas fighters is 15 to 23, from what I’ve read.

You aren’t arguing facts, when you take stats and and make claims such as that, even if your stats are initially valid.

Facts incite hate? I think it is your words that incite hate and negativity.
Really? And if I were Jewish, and you told me that my country had deliberately murdered 1300 Palestinians, would that make me feel all loving and peaceful? :O

And how would it make Arabs feel, if they believed you that Israel deliberately MURDERED so many Palestinians? They wouldn’t want revenge, right? They’d immediately want to live in peace and harmony, correct?

Whether your are for or against the war on Gaza is one issue, but to not even acknowledge the outcome is what I find hateful.

I’m neither for nor against the war in Gaza. If I had my way there would be peace, and there would have been peace a long time ago. However, I am very much opposed to terrorism, and Hamas is a terrorist group with a long history of MURDERING innocent Israelis. Why do you not use the word “Murder” when it can be used correctly, in reference to hamas suicide bombing against Israeli women, children, elderly, etc who were doing nothing except going about their lives?

If you with notice in my comments and your answers to them, you are the one who is negative and you are the one attacking.
lol. A liar, complaining that somebody is being aggressive when they have the temerity to challenge their lies? How novel.

I won’t reply any further to you on this. And please don’t wish me “peace”. You are a peace advocate in the same way that I’m the Prime Minister of India.
February 1st, 2009, 5:53 pm

GardensofSand said:
Craig, whether you choose to reply or not is your own perogative just as it is my own in wishing you peace, you cleary need it.The Director of B’tselem is Jewish and has Israeli relatives. I have no reason to doubt his statistics. Many Jews do not support the war on Gaza. If you google the war on Gaza you will see similar statistics reported by other agencies, such as UN, Amnesty International,BBC and other news portals.

Just because the facts aren’t to one’s liking doesn’t mean they’re invalid. It seems you would prefer the reality of the death toll and destruction buried.

Here is another fact for you, the death toll reported concerns civillians, the children murdered were not part of Hamas, they were innocent bystanders, children trying to survive this war and live as normal a life as they can.

Murder is the unlawful killing of another human being with intent. When civillians are killed as a result of use of imprecise weapons, or raids, or airstrikes, or indirectly because of an intentional blockade, I view it as murder. You may disagree.

When the civillian death toll is as high as it is, when many organizations state that Israel failed to distinguish between civillians and noncivillians, I would hope that any Israeli would feel indignant and would question his or her government. I would hope that he or she would stress among his Israeli and Palestinian counterparts respect for each other, liberty, and economic viability as the only course for a lasting peace and a decent life in the region.

Seriously Craig, name calling is so immature and only makes you look bad. It really doesn’t phase me, but here’s a piece of advice, it makes you look bad, like someone who lost the argument and can’t keep his cool, a sore loser.

Peace to you Craig and to the Prime Minister of India.
February 1st, 2009, 8:20 pm

Mark Steel: Now we've all seen through the Israeli government's excuses

2009-01-23T11:30:00.001-05:00

If the Hamas rockets are so lethal, why doesn't Israel swap an F-16 for some?

The worrying part about whether the ceasefire in Gaza can hold together will be whether the international community can stop the flow of arms to the terrorists. Because Israel's getting their planes and tanks and missiles from somewhere and until this supply is cut off there's every chance it could start up again.

The disregard for life from these terrorists and their supporters is shocking. For example Thomas Friedman, the New York Times columnist, wrote that the purpose of the Israeli attack must be to "inflict a heavy death toll and heavy pain on the Gaza population".

Replace "Gaza" with "western", and that could have been written by al-Qa'ida. Maybe this is the problem: the Israelis are writing their policies by downloading statements from an Islamic Jihad website and just changing the place names. Also, if the Israelis think the Hamas rockets are as lethal as they say, why don't they swap their F-16 fighters and Apachehelicopters for a few of them?

These things are capable of terrorising a whole nation for years apparently, yet the Israelis have neglected to buy any, wasting their money on gunboats and stuff. Given that their annual arms budget is $7.2bn plus $2.2 bn in "aid", they'd save enough to buy a selection of banks in every country in the world.

The military advantages would be enormous because the Israelis' complaint about Hamas is the use of tunnels to smuggle arms. But if Israel gave Hamas a few planes and tanks and helicopters, they could probably be persuaded to shut down those tunnels that seem to be the cause of such bad feeling.

Whatever you say about Israel, at least it moves its weapons about legally – except for when it secretly built a nuclear arsenal against an array of international agreements. But they did it above ground and not in a tunnel and that's the main thing.

Watching the reports from Gaza, another reason why the ceasefire may break down becomes apparent. The Israelis might claim that their satellite pictures now show Palestinians in possession of huge mounds of rubble – lethal if thrown over the border. Luckily these weapons are easy to spot. Most of them are next to women howling, "Look what they've done to my house," but perhaps the airforce should bomb them again – just in case. The Israelis say they fear Hamas will once again break the ceasefire by sending over those rockets. But the whole point of the operation was to make that impossible. Because they must have asked themselves the question, "If we slaughter 1,300 people, including 300 children, is that likely to make people: A. less cross or B. more cross?" And presumably they concluded it will make them much less likely to grow up full of hatred and determination to retaliate. Perhaps they saw medical research that shows when someone is suffering from anxiety and bouts of irascible ill-tempered behaviour, the best treatment is to pen them in with no food or medicine and then kill some of them, and that calms them down a treat.

Another way to allay their worries about Hamas breaking the ceasefire is to read the report from their government's own Intelligence and Terrorism Information Centre. This states that during the ceasefire "Hamas did not take part in any rocket fire and sometimes prevented other organisations from attacking." Still, with all that's been going on I suppose they haven't had time for reading.

Despite all this there might be one cheery sign, which is that never before have so many people seen through the Israeli government's excuses for handing out mass destruction. The demonstrations in support of Palestinians have been bigger than ever before, and even the United Nations and the Wall Street Journal have suggestedIsrael has committed war crimes. One poll in America suggested that 60 per cent of people opposed the bombardment, and the change of opinion reached the point that an Israeli diplomat has admitted that "The harm to civilians in Gaza is causing us huge damage."

Maybe, best of all, was genetics expert Steven Rose who appeared on Radio 4's Today programme to talk about a new study that's located "morality spots", the part of the brain that deals with our morality. Asked how we could know whether this was true, he said in a marvellously posh academic Radio 4 voice "Well we could test the brains of the Israeli cabinet and see if they've got no morality spots whatsoever."

And the most immoral part of all is the perfectly cynical timing, as if three weeks ago Bush shouted: "Last orders please. Any last bombing, before time's up? Come along now, haven't you got homes to demolish?"

Copyright 2008 Independent News and Media Limited

1033

2009-01-14T20:34:00.003-05:00

Since Israel started its heinous attack on Ghaza, 1033 Palestinians are killed, 322 children & 100 women, and 4850 injured.

The world lives on while the lives of 1033 came to an abrupt end, cut short by rockets, chemical weapons and Israel's rage.

People plan their weddings, children's birthdays, shkeer camping trips while 1033 Palestinians lay dead.

Girls and boys party, dance, celebrate while families mourn the loss of 1033 Palestinians.

People hope, dream, and strive to make those dreams come true while 1033 Palestinians will never see their dream of a peaceful life materialize.

1033 sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers, and sisters, gone, stolen from the warmth of their families while the world goes on living.

While the world watches, horrors are perpetuated, reasoned, and endorsed. The reactions or lack there of amaze and anger me. The justifications unnerve and sadden me.

Is Israel Using Chemical Weapens?

2009-01-14T20:30:00.001-05:00

Israel denies banned weapons use

Medics in Gaza say latest casualties include at least 60 people affected by suspected phosphorus shells fired illegally near civilian areas.

An Israeli army spokeswoman strongly denied the report, saying all its munitions complied with the law.

An Israeli spokesman also denied Human Rights Watch allegations of multiple use of white phosphorus in the bombing.

Phosphorus shells are allowed to make smoke in battlefields. Their use where civilians may be harmed is prohibited.

Palestinian medics in Khan Younis said the Israelis fired phosphorus shells at Khouza, east of the southern city, killing a woman and causing at least 60 people to suffer gas inhalation and burns.

"These people were burned over their bodies in a way that can only be caused by white phosphorus," said Dr Yousef Abu Rish.

Human Rights Watch said its researches observed multiple shell-bursts of white phosphorus on 9 and 10 January near Gaza City and Jabaliya refugee camp.

There is no way independently to explain the contradiction between the Israeli military's denial and claims by Dr Abu Rish as well as other Palestinian doctors and HRW.

Israel has prevented international journalists from entering the Gaza Strip during its bombardment.

HRW cited numerous photos and video of the Israeli bombardment appearing to show the characteristic outline of white phosphorus shells.

It acknowledged the weapons appeared to have been used legally to make smoke screens to hide troop movements, but warned of the risk to Palestinian civilians.

"White phosphorus can burn down houses and cause horrific burns when it touches the skin," said Human Rights Watch analyst Marc Garlasco.

The Israeli army said operational secrecy prevented disclosure of its weaponry, but emphasised it "only employs weapons permitted by international law".

White phosphorus sticks to human skin and will burn right through to the bone, causing death or leaving survivors with painful wounds which are slow to heal.

The international convention on the use of incendiary weapons says it should not be used where civilians are concentrated.

Controversial use
The US military in Iraq admitted using white phosphorus as a weapon in the assault on Falluja in 2004 - after initial denials, although it insisted the use was legal.

Afterwards, officials for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons stressed white phosphorus use was permissible only if it was to produce smoke.

However, if its "toxic or caustic properties" are specifically intended to be used as a weapon, it would be considered a chemical rather than incendiary weapon and therefore would be banned.

The Israeli military has used phosphorus shells in the past, during its bombardment of Lebanon in 2006.

Minister Jacob Edery told the Israeli parliament after the 2006 war: "The [Israeli Defence Forces] holds phosphorus munitions in different forms... [and] made use of phosphorus shells during the war against Hezbollah in attacks against military targets in open ground."

The Israeli military was strongly criticised for some of its tactics in 2006, including the widespread use of cluster munitions in the final hours before a ceasefire came into effect.

Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/7823078.stm

Bushisms

2009-01-14T20:01:00.005-05:00

The 'misunderestimated' president?

All politicians are prone to make slips of the tongue in the heat of the moment - and President George W Bush has made more than most. The word "Bushism" has been coined to label his occasional verbal lapses during eight years in office, which come to an end on 20 January.

Here are some of his most memorable pronouncements.

ON HIMSELF

"They misunderestimated me." Bentonville, Arkansas, 6 November, 2000

"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on... shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again." Nashville, Tennessee, 17 September, 2002

"There's no question that the minute I got elected, the storm clouds on the horizon were getting nearly directly overhead." Washington DC, 11 May, 2001

"I want to thank my friend, Senator Bill Frist, for joining us today. He married a Texas girl, I want you to know. Karyn is with us. A West Texas girl, just like me." Nashville, Tennessee, 27 May, 2004

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

"For a century and a half now, America and Japan have formed one of the great and enduring alliances of modern times." Tokyo, 18 February, 2002

"The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein, and his willingness to terrorise himself." Grand Rapids, Michigan, 29 January, 2003

"I think war is a dangerous place." Washington DC, 7 May, 2003

"The ambassador and the general were briefing me on the - the vast majority of Iraqis want to live in a peaceful, free world. And we will find these people and we will bring them to justice." Washington DC, 27 October, 2003

"Free societies are hopeful societies. And free societies will be allies against these hateful few who have no conscience, who kill at the whim of a hat." Washington DC, 17 September, 2004

"You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror." CBS News, Washington DC, 6 September, 2006

EDUCATION

"Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?" Florence, South Carolina, 11 January, 2000

"Reading is the basics for all learning." Reston, Virginia, 28 March, 2000

"As governor of Texas, I have set high standards for our public schools, and I have met those standards." CNN, 30 August, 2000

"You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.'' Townsend, Tennessee, 21 February, 2001

ECONOMICS

"I understand small business growth. I was one." New York Daily News, 19 February, 2000

"It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it." Reuters, 5 May, 2000

"I do remain confident in Linda. She'll make a fine Labour Secretary. From what I've read in the press accounts, she's perfectly qualified." Austin, Texas, 8 January, 2001

"First, let me make it very clear, poor people aren't necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill." Washington DC, 19 May, 2003

HEALTHCARE

"I don't think we need to be subliminable about the differences between our views on prescription drugs." Orlando, Florida, 12 September, 2000

"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYN's aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country." Poplar Bluff, Missouri, 6 September, 2004

TECHNOLOGY

"Will the highways on the internet become more few?" Concord, New Hampshire, 29 January, 2000

"It would be a mistake for the United States Senate to allow any kind of human cloning to come out of that chamber." Washington DC, 10 April, 2002

"Information is moving. You know, nightly news is one way, of course, but it's also moving through the blogosphere and through the Internets." Washington DC, 2 May, 2007

OUT OF LEFT FIELD

"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." Saginaw, Michigan, 29 September, 2000

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream." LaCrosse, Wisconsin, 18 October, 2000

"Those who enter the country illegally violate the law." Tucson, Arizona, 28 November, 2005

"That's George Washington, the first president, of course. The interesting thing about him is that I read three - three or four books about him last year. Isn't that interesting?" Speaking to reporter Kai Diekmann, Washington DC, 5 May, 2006

ON GOVERNING

"I have a different vision of leadership. A leadership is someone who brings people together." Bartlett, Tennessee, 18 August, 2000

"I'm the decider, and I decide what is best." Washington DC, 18 April, 2006

"And truth of the matter is, a lot of reports in Washington are never read by anybody. To show you how important this one is, I read it, and [Tony Blair] read it." On the publication of the Baker-Hamilton Report, Washington DC, 7 December, 2006

"All I can tell you is when the governor calls, I answer his phone." San Diego, California, 25 October, 2007

"I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office." Washington DC, 12 May, 2008

Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/7809160.stm

Desperate Housewives of Disney

2008-11-20T14:27:00.002-05:00

As someone who looks forward to the Desperate Housewives shinanegans every Sunday, this forward gave me a good laugh:

Democracy and Liberty

2008-11-05T11:23:00.005-05:00

I heard something yesterday that I couldn't stop thinking about, a statement I found so profound: if you have a democracy without [the presumption of] liberty, then you are screwed; you end up in a place controlled by thugs.

Democracy without liberty leads to tyranny. The worst kind of tyranny, where people are oppressed and subjucated under the guise of freedom.

I believe it is why all the democracies out side of the West (by West I mean Western Europe and North America) are failing or have already failed. The presumption of liberty is missing.

It is this presumption of liberty that is lacking in Bahrain. With the new reforms, all 'societies' are scrambling to secure their right to co-rule (through the parliament of course), to exercise their rights and let the people's voice be heard, only to subjugate their own people once they are in the positions of power.

People don't fear the leader that rises from among them, they look up to him. This leader cannot oppress you, because he is you, came from within you, to champion your causes and further your future. He is where he is today because you believed in him, choose to follow him. So clearly he has your best interest at heart. This belief in the righteousness of the leader is maginified when the leader is shrouded by a holy cloth. The leader is a man of the people and more importantly, a man of God. God is on his side and as such he can do no wrong. Slighting this leader, is an offensive to God, akin to blasphemy. This line of reasoning is a dangerous fallacy, a trap that most people fall into.

Why is it that the very group that fought for your voice to be heard are now attempting to squash it? Whether through the law or from the pulpits they are now twisting people's arms to accept their way. Objectors are tarnished as traitors or appostates, and they are marginalized by the very people who in reality are victims too of the politicians and religious leaders oppression.

Why? Because liberty is missing from the equation.

People often take liberty for granted and assume that it is part of the democracy equation. It is, only if you deliberatey make it to be. For liberty restrains democracy and democracy is a threat to liberty.

Bahraini Women Don't Work!

2008-09-04T19:20:00.003-05:00

Have you heard the latest news? We, Bahraini women do not work! Nops not a single one of us. Not only do we not want to, we surely don't need to. Why? Because we are all sitting on oil fields. Where the luckier ones of the world have blue circles in the back yards, we in Bahrain have black circles, brimming full of oil instead of the aqua blue.

So I was told today by a coworker who apparently heard the above from the mouth of an Arab coworker. One who was amazed, that I, Gardens in all my riches and glory, would stoop so low as to work a 9 to 5 job. It is simply not done! Beneath me!

Yup, I work because my job is my hobby; I am a glutton for punishment. I can't get enough of the snobbery, incompetence, buffonery, medicoreness, and laziness that I deal with everyday at work.

Or maybe I work so I can look down my Bahraini nose at those working to feed mouths and clothe bodies, while I choose to work on a whim.

Whatever my frivilous reasons to work, I apparently broke the rule as we Bahraini women simply don't work. It's just not done!

Ramadan Kareem

2008-09-01T15:31:00.003-05:00

مبارك عليكم الشهر، تقبل الله منا و منكم صالح الأعمال

Have a blessed ramadan!

Muslim Voters Detect a Snub From Obama

2008-06-28T20:41:00.001-05:00

The New York Times
June 24, 2008
Muslim Voters Detect a Snub From Obama
By ANDREA ELLIOTT

As Senator Barack Obama courted voters in Iowa last December, Representative Keith Ellison, the country’s first Muslim congressman, stepped forward eagerly to help.

Mr. Ellison believed that Mr. Obama’s message of unity resonated deeply with American Muslims. He volunteered to speak on Mr. Obama’s behalf at a mosque in Cedar Rapids, one of the nation’s oldest Muslim enclaves. But before the rally could take place, aides to Mr. Obama asked Mr. Ellison to cancel the trip because it might stir controversy. Another aide appeared at Mr. Ellison’s Washington office to explain.

“I will never forget the quote,” Mr. Ellison said, leaning forward in his chair as he recalled the aide’s words. “He said, ‘We have a very tightly wrapped message.’ ”

When Mr. Obama began his presidential campaign, Muslim Americans from California to Virginia responded with enthusiasm, seeing him as a long-awaited champion of civil liberties, religious tolerance and diplomacy in foreign affairs. But more than a year later, many say, he has not returned their embrace.

While the senator has visited churches and synagogues, he has yet to appear at a single mosque. Muslim and Arab-American organizations have tried repeatedly to arrange meetings with Mr. Obama, but officials with those groups say their invitations — unlike those of their Jewish and Christian counterparts — have been ignored. Last week, two Muslim women wearing head scarves were barred by campaign volunteers from appearing behind Mr. Obama at a rally in Detroit.

In interviews, Muslim political and civic leaders said they understood that their support for Mr. Obama could be a problem for him at a time when some Americans are deeply suspicious of Muslims. Yet those leaders nonetheless expressed disappointment and even anger at the distance that Mr. Obama has kept from them.

“This is the ‘hope campaign,’ this is the ‘change campaign,’ ” said Mr. Ellison, Democrat of Minnesota. Muslims are frustrated, he added, that “they have not been fully engaged in it.”
Aides to Mr. Obama denied that he had kept his Muslim supporters at arm’s length. They cited statements in which he had spoken inclusively about American Islam and a radio advertisement he recorded for the recent campaign of Representative Andre Carson, Democrat of Indiana, who this spring became the second Muslim elected to Congress.

In May, Mr. Obama also had a brief, private meeting with the leader of a mosque in Dearborn, Mich., home to the country’s largest concentration of Arab-Americans. And this month, a senior campaign aide met with Arab-American leaders in Dearborn, most of whom are Muslim. (Mr. Obama did not campaign in Michigan before the primary in January because of a party dispute over the calendar.)

“Our campaign has made every attempt to bring together Americans of all races, religions and backgrounds to take on our common challenges,” Ben LaBolt, a campaign spokesman, said in an e-mail message.

Mr. LaBolt added that with religious groups, the campaign had largely taken “an interfaith approach, one that may not have reached every group that wishes to participate but has reached many Muslim Americans.”

The strained relationship between Muslims and Mr. Obama reflects one of the central challenges facing the senator: how to maintain a broad electoral appeal without alienating any of the numerous constituencies he needs to win in November.

After the episode in Detroit last week, Mr. Obama telephoned the two Muslim women to apologize. “I take deepest offense to and will continue to fight against discrimination against people of any religious group or background,” he said in a statement.

Such gestures have fallen short in the eyes of many Muslim leaders, who say the Detroit incident and others illustrate a disconnect between Mr. Obama’s message of unity and his campaign strategy.

“The community feels betrayed,” said Safiya Ghori, the government relations director in the Washington office of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

Even some of Mr. Obama’s strongest Muslim supporters say they are uncomfortable with the forceful denials he has made in response to rumors that he is secretly a Muslim. (Ten percent of registered voters believe the rumor, according to a poll by the Pew Research Center.)

In an interview with “60 Minutes,” Mr. Obama said the rumors were offensive to American Muslims because they played into “fearmongering.” But on a new section of his Web site, he classifies the claim that he is Muslim as a “smear.”

“A lot of us are waiting for him to say that there’s nothing wrong with being a Muslim, by the way,” Mr. Ellison said.

Mr. Ellison, a first-term congressman, remains arguably the senator’s most important Muslim supporter. He has attended Obama rallies in Minnesota and appears on the campaign’s Web site. But Mr. Ellison said he was also forced to cancel plans to campaign for Mr. Obama in North Carolina after an emissary for the senator told him the state was “too conservative.” Mr. Ellison said he blamed Mr. Obama’s aides — not the candidate himself — for his campaign’s standoffishness.

Despite the complications of wooing Muslim voters, Mr. Obama and his Republican rival, Senator John McCain, may find it risky to ignore this constituency. There are sizable Muslim populations in closely fought states like Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Virginia.

In those states and others, American Muslims have experienced a political awakening in the years since Sept. 11, 2001. Before the attacks, Muslim political leadership in the United States was dominated by well-heeled South Asian and Arab immigrants, whose communities account for a majority of the nation’s Muslims. (Another 20 percent are estimated to be African-American.) The number of American Muslims remains in dispute as the Census Bureau does not collect data on religious orientation; most estimates range from 2.35 million to 6 million.
A coalition of immigrant Muslim groups endorsed George W. Bush in his 2000 campaign, only to find themselves ignored by Bush administration officials as their communities were rocked by the carrying out of the USA Patriot Act, the detention and deportation of Muslim immigrants and other security measures after Sept. 11.

As a result, Muslim organizations began mobilizing supporters across the country to register to vote and run for local offices, and political action committees started tracking registered Muslim voters. The character of Muslim political organizations also began to change.
“We moved away from political leadership primarily by doctors, lawyers and elite professionals to real savvy grass-roots operatives,” said Mahdi Bray, executive director of the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, a political group in Washington. “We went back to the base.”

In 2006, the Virginia Muslim Political Action Committee arranged for 53 Muslim cabdrivers to skip their shifts at Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia to transport voters to the polls for the midterm election. Of an estimated 60,000 registered Muslim voters in the state, 86 percent turned out and voted overwhelmingly for Jim Webb, a Democrat running for the Senate who subsequently won the election, according to data collected by the committee.
The committee’s president, Mukit Hossain, said Muslims in Virginia were drawn to Mr. Obama because of his support for civil liberties and his more diplomatic approach to the Middle East. Mr. Hossain and others said his multicultural image also appealed to immigrant voters.

“This is the son of an immigrant; this is someone with a funny name,” said James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, who is a Christian who has campaigned for Mr. Obama at mosques and Arab churches. “There is this excitement that if he can win, they can win, too.”
Yet some Muslim and Arab-American political organizers worry that the campaign’s reluctance to reach out to voters in those communities will eventually turn them off. “If they think that they are voting for a campaign that is trying to distance itself from them, my big fear is that Muslims will sit it out,” Mr. Hossain said.

Throughout the primaries, Muslim groups often failed to persuade Mr. Obama’s campaign to at least send a surrogate to speak to voters at their events, said Ms. Ghori, of the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

Before the Virginia primary in February, some of the nation’s leading Muslim organizations nearly canceled an event at a mosque in Sterling because they could not arrange for representatives from any of the major presidential campaigns to attend. At the last minute, they succeeded in wooing surrogates from the Clinton and Obama campaigns by telling each that the other was planning to attend, Mr. Bray said. (No one from the McCain campaign showed up.)
Frustrations with Mr. Obama deepened the day after he claimed the nomination when he told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that Jerusalem should be the undivided capital of Israel. (Mr. Obama later clarified his statement, saying Jerusalem’s status would need to be negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians.)

Osama Siblani, the editor and publisher of the weekly Arab American News in Dearborn, said Mr. Obama had “pandered” to the Israeli lobby, while neglecting to meet formally with Arab-American and Muslim leaders. “They’re trying to take the votes without the liabilities,” said Mr. Siblani, who is also president of the Arab American Political Action Committee.

Some Muslim supporters of Mr. Obama seem to ricochet between dejection and optimism. Minha Husaini, a public health consultant in her 30s who is working for the Obama campaign in Philadelphia, lights up like a swooning teenager when she talks about his promise for change.
“He gives me hope,” Ms. Husaini said in an interview last month, shortly before she joined the campaign on a fellowship. But she sighed when the conversation turned to his denials of being Muslim, “as if it’s something bad,” she said.

For Ms. Ghori and other Muslims, Mr. Obama’s hands-off approach is not surprising in a political climate they feel is marred by frequent attacks on their faith.

Among the incidents they cite are a statement by Mr. McCain, in a 2007 interview with Beliefnet.com, that he would prefer a Christian president to a Muslim one; a comment by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton that Mr. Obama was not Muslim “as far as I know”; and a remark by Representative Steve King, Republican of Iowa, to The Associated Press in March that an Obama victory would be celebrated by terrorists, who would see him as a “savior.”

“All you have to say is Barack Hussein Obama,” said Arsalan Iftikhar, a human rights lawyer and contributing editor at Islamica Magazine. “You don’t even have to say ‘Muslim.’ ”

As a consequence, many Muslims have kept their support for Mr. Obama quiet. Any visible show of allegiance could be used by his opponents to incite fear, further the false rumors about his faith and “bin-Laden him,” Mr. Bray said.

“The joke within the national Muslim organizations,” Ms. Ghori said, “is that we should endorse the person we don’t want to win.”

Proving His Metal: Obama is just as prejudiced as the next guy.

2008-06-18T21:10:00.003-05:00

Muslim woman: Scarf kept her from seat near Obama
By JEFF KAROUB

DETROIT (AP) — A young Muslim woman said she and another woman were refused seats directly behind Barack Obama — and in front of TV cameras — at a Detroit rally because they wear head scarfs.

Hebba Aref said Wednesday that she and Shimaa Abdelfadeel were among 20,000 supporters who gathered to see the Democratic presidential hopeful on Monday at the Joe Louis Arena when the groups they were with were separately invited by Obama campaign volunteers to sit behind the podium. But Aref said the volunteers told members of both parties in separate discussions that women wearing hijabs, the traditional Muslim head scarves, weren't included in the invitation and couldn't sit behind the podium.

Aref, a 25-year-old lawyer, said a member of her group was told by a volunteer that she could not invite Aref because of "a sensitive political climate."
Obama spokesman Bill Burton issued a statement saying such actions are "not the policy of the campaign."

"It is offensive and counter to Obama's commitment to bring Americans together and simply not the kind of campaign we run. We sincerely apologize for this behavior," the statement read.
Aref said she replied by thanking Burton, but requested Obama apologize directly to her and Abdelfadeel, as well as invitations to sit behind him at a future campaign event. Obama spokeswoman Amy Brundage said the campaign has apologized.

"He needs to take the matter seriously and send a strong message against any kind of discrimination," Aref said.

A message was left Wednesday morning by The Associated Press for Abdelfadeel.
Presidential campaigns routinely invite audience members they believe will enhance the image their candidate wants to convey on TV to stand behind the candidate at rallies.
Aref, who was born in the United States to Egyptian immigrants, said she had defended Obama during the primaries against a constant drumbeat of rumors that he was Muslim. Obama is a Christian.

Obama also has been careful in denouncing the links, noting that some rumors about him also have been insulting to Muslims.

"I don't want to be called something I'm not, but I felt like ... everyone was treating this accusation of being Muslim as though it were some sort of crime or sin," Aref said.
She was grateful that the group she was with at the rally, which included her brother, Sharif, as well as non-Muslim colleagues of his, declined the invitation to take seats behind Obama after she was refused.

Still, she said, it was difficult to hear Obama's message of unity among races.
"As he's saying it, I'm thinking, 'Well, wait a minute, I was obviously ... profiled and discriminated against an hour ago.'"

Jon Stewart's Overview of The US Presidential Candidates visiting AIPAC-Pro Israel Lobby

2008-06-10T22:20:00.003-05:00

Happy Reading

2008-05-31T21:24:00.004-05:00

I am excited! Today I dropped by Barnes and Noble for ten minutes or so and ended up buying four books! My fingers tingled as I walked out of the store and there definately was a skip to my step. I can hardly wait to start reading..there is nothing like losing myself in a good book.

I bough The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid, At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks, Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen and The Devil & Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho.

I picked those books at Random. The only two authors I've known of is Nicholas Sparks (Message in a Bottle) and of course Paulo Coelho. Hopefully, I have made good choices.

I'm also borrowing The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet and The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen from my local library. Both are audio cd books that I am hoping will turn my work commute into an enjoyable (I'd settle for tolerable) ride!

Happy reading everyone!

It’s the Foreigner’s Fault!

2008-04-23T01:36:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to share a funny conversation that transpired in my microeconomics class at 9:30 pm on Monday. What could be so funny in a 9:30 pm microeconomics class? Usually NOTHING, but this time the professor said something so profoundly true and with such libertarian gusto that upon thinking of it for a minute or two I burst out laughing!! Yes , I know I sound like a nerd (wish that I were one though!) and I am sure some students thought me weird but if only there knew Wonderland, they would see the humor.

So here goes:

Dr. C was pontification on how non-economists wrongly view the world through pessimistic eyes and how we economists being the wiser need to dispel the misconceptions. For example he says, most people are negatively biased towards immigration. They think it’s the worst thing that can happen to their country. They blame the foreigners. Everyone blames the foreigners. No jobs, it is the foreigners’ fault. High crime, it is the foreigners’ fault. Inflation, foreigners’ fault. Failing education and health systems’, yup you guess it, foreigners’ fault. Yet when you go around the world, I have yet to encounter one people that admit that they are the fault. Foreigners are always to blame yet who those foreigners are depends from one country to another. One thing the countries have in common: IT IS NEVER THE LOCALS’ FAULT! You never find a people that admit that they are to blame somehow. If only I acted different the world would be a better place!

In the USA, people are freaking about the influx of the Mexicans. The Mexicans meanwhile are going crazy trying to stop the Guatemalans from illegally entering Mexico! A Indian newspaper lamented the influx of Bangladeshi immigrants to India. Apparently they are lowering the standard of living in India and taking away all the jobs! Upon hearing the last statement I burst out laughing. How many times did I hear Wonderlandians complain about the Indians taking all the jobs and driving the wages down….aaaaah sweet justice! Lol I can just imagine what the Wonderlandian would say: Allah ma edeg eb 3a9a/ God doesn’t hit with a stick! (I on the other hand never harbored such a thought!)

And of course remembering the flood of immigration in Wonderland immediately wiped the smile off my face. How I long for the days of old when expat workers were the only kind of foreigners my country folk complained about. I lifted my hand to ask the professor his opinion of government driven illegal naturalization but the class ended.

Post-Midnight, Pre-Dawn Ramblings

2008-03-27T03:43:00.008-05:00

Warning! This thread is a post-midnight, pre-dawn rambling. I am NOT a morning person, and the hour being dawn and all, I can’t guarantee that this thread would make any sense!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So I am sitting here wide awake when it is 3:53 am. Why can’t I sleep? Because I slept all day! No I din’t plan on sleeping the day away, I am lazy but not that lazy! I had a million and one things to do but unfortunately I woke up with a wicked migraine. I knew it was brought on by my sinuses. I felt them throb all night. It is the weirdest feeling like a heart beat but behind your nose. Throb, throb, throb. I should’ve known that the pitter patter of my sinus spelt trouble. Your sinuses are supposed to throb dummy, only your heart.

So I end up taking an antihistamine to calm down my sinuses, a nasal decongestant and a migraine medicine. Well, next thing I know, not only are my sinuses throbbing, my head pounding and am getting drowsy from the antihistamine, but I also got nauseous from the stupid migraine pills that were prescribed to me in Bahrain.

After taking an anti-nausea medicine I give in to the drowsiness and fall asleep. Even after a couple of hours of sleep, I was still drowsy and lethargic all day. Until bedtime of course.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Being awake with absolutely nothing on TV I got to thinking about the number of pills I take everyday.

After watching Dr. Oz I thought I better listen to his advice and get myself some Vitamin D pills. I don’t spend much time in the sun and over 60% of people tested are Vitamin D deficient. So I got me some Vitamin Ds.

Watching another episode of him on Oprah convinced me that I need me some Omega 3 and Omega 6 pills. I don’t eat much seafood nor do I eat my Flax seed cereal (sounds yum I know) cereal regularly. (Flax seed in Arabic is bethrat al kattan). So after giving my mum grief about popping Omega 3 pills (so and so told her it’s good for the brain), I now take two Omega 3 and 6 pills everyday.

I’ve always takes a multivitamin pill but after realizing how my eating habits are not optimal I got myself Vitamin C pills. I just don’t eat as much fruit as I would like.

I also take allergy pills daily thanks to all the trees and vegetation. Per my Dr. I have to take the pill daily to avoid my allergies developing into bronchitis. Great!!

So tallying everything up got me thinking that I am nuts. Normally, I take 6 pills daily. Folks I’m only adding up the vitamins and allergy pills. Now that I am sick, I take an additional 2. I’ve been told to take echinacea pill or tea and some lysine to boost the immune system. Never took them but have some in stock in case I fall desparately ill and need to help my immune system.

Plus all the doctors advicing people to take metamucil because we don't eat enough fiber (alyaf). You can take the pills (a whopping 6 pills a day) or dissolve the powder in a cup of water for a tang-like flavor. I prefer the latter.

Seriously, seriously!! America is one pill-popping society and they are dragging me to the dark side.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Researching all the things I take took a lot of time. It was also very informative. I guess I will keep taking the various vitamins, at least until I can improve my eating habits. The allergy medicine is something that I just have to live with. All the research made me tired! Nothing like honest work, huh! This has turned into an informative babble!!

Cocoa-Bean Frankie Roxy

2008-03-27T03:38:00.004-05:00

I miss Cocoa-Bean Frankie Roxy. So much. I wonder if she remembers me. Probably not. She is happy that she is with her mummy and daddy. And her name is Lily, not Cocoa-Bean Frankie Roxy. Besides what kind of name is that for a dog. A small dog at that. I am glad her owners found her but a part of me wishes she still was with me. I found her outside a shop in West Virginia while visiting friends. She was scared and shivering with the saddest eyes. I went in the shop and when I came out she was gone. I found her in the middle of a street with cars whizzing by. She was terrified and crying, following two girls home. The girls did not know Lily, so I wound up taking her with me. I looked her up and she is a Dachshund. How can something so ugly be so cute? I couldn't pick one name so I chose 3; Cocoa-Bean because of her color, Frankie because she was shaped like a frankfurter (hotdog), Roxy because I was so stressed about what to do with her that I dreamt about her and in the dream her name was Roxy!

She latched on to me. She would follow me wherever I went. At night, she cried when I din’t let her in my bedroom. She was so sweet, licking my hands, sitting on my lap. Matching every step of mine with a step of hers. She would only sleep on my lap. We called the animal shelter, a radio show and the vet to see if someone reported her missing. I knew the best thing would be to leave her at my friends’ place in case her owners called. I can’t have pets in my apartment. Who would take care of her when I travel. And who would keep her company while I’m in college? She cried when I left. An hour after I left, I called them and told them to not to take her to the pound, that I wanted her. I asked them to keep her til I could come get her if her owners did not call. The called me back and told me her owners called and that the dog’s name is Lily. She danced when she heard her name. I am glad her family found her. She was so happy to see her owners. I din’t expect to get so attached to her but I miss her terribly. The funny thing is that I don’t even like dogs.

BD50, Who Gets It and Why?

2008-03-26T21:40:00.001-05:00

I wonder how the Bahraini government determines who is eligible to receive the BD 50/- a month for a year. (It is for a year right and not a measly one-time deal?) How does the government know who is needy or isn’t?

Here in the US, I received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service informing me that in May I will receive a one-time check for $600.00 if I filed a single tax return or $1,200 if I filed a joint tax return. The mailing also stated that you are still eligible to receive the amount if you din’t pay any taxes but have an earned income of $3,000, or something like that. This comes as a part of tax relief plan.

The US disbursements are clear, clearer than the Bahraini ones; the criteria for eligibility are stated and you know how the US government determined if a person should get relief or not. It determines a person’s needs, accurately or inaccurately, based on the individual’s tax returns.

When I received the mailing, I felt happy, then disgruntled and now somewhat puzzled. Happy because I am getting money, from the government no less! Disgruntled because instead of disbursing funds as a relief, the government could’ve just not collected as much taxes from me (yeah right! I know it’s a far fetched thought). Puzzled, because it got me thinking about Bahrain and the BD50/-. How is the Bahraini government determining who is eligible for the funds.

I quickly grew wary (I guess it’s the economist in me, or the libertarian thought that dominates the economic department of my college), how does the Bahraini government know who is eligible and who isn’t? Does the government keep tabs on its citizens’ earnings? The answer may not be as puzzling really, it can determine what an individual makes based on the amount that gets deducted for retirement etc. But what about the self-employed, most of whom do not make a bunch of money. The women that drive children to schools and such, it would be ridiculous to assume that they are putting any funds into retirement. How is their eligibility determined?

With the different questions popping in my mind, a final one leaves me worried, however flawed the means of determining eligibility, the government has a plan in place to do that, right? Or does it just pick names from a hat, or a favorable list???

Witness to Discrimination: What Would You Do?

2008-03-05T20:24:00.004-05:00

Witness to Discrimination: What Would You Do?
Bystanders Turn Away When Muslim Actor Hired By 'Primetime' Encounters Hostility
By ANN SORKOWITZ and JULIE N. HAYS
Feb. 26, 2008—

The Sept. 11 attacks, the Iraq war and suicide bombings worldwide have changed not only the way we live but the way we look at those around us, especially Muslims. "Islamophobia" has entered the American vernacular, and the anti-Muslim attitudes and prejudice it describes remain common.

But what if you witnessed "Islamophobia" in action and saw someone being victimized because of someone else's prejudices? What would you do?

ABC's production crew outfitted The Czech Stop, a bustling roadside bakery north of Waco, Texas, with hidden cameras and two actors. One played a female customer wearing a traditional Muslim head scarf, or hijab. The other acted as a sales clerk who refused to serve her and spouted common anti-Muslim and anti-Arab slurs.

The polarity of reactions was shocking, from support to seething disapproval. Never did we expect customers to be so passionate or candid.

His Place, His Right Our actor, Sabina, walked into the bakery in search of apple strudel. When she reached the counter, an actor posing as a sales clerk was quick to greet her with hateful anti-Muslim language.

"Get back on the camel and go back to wherever you came from," he said. "You got that towel on your head. I don't know what's underneath your dress. Just please take your business and go elsewhere with it."

"Sir, I am an American, I was born and raised here," she said.
The other customers seemed to hear the exchange but they barely looked toward our actors. When no one came to her defense, Sabina made a direct appeal to one customer.
"Sir, would you mind ordering me an apple strudel? That's why I am here," Sabina said.
Though visibly shaken by the hateful words, the man gave Sabina the cold shoulder, completed his purchase, and walked out of the bakery. "I really think that a person who owns his own business should be able to say who they sell to," he said after we told him about the experiment.

In fact, it is illegal for public establishments to deny service based on someone's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, according to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Regardless, this man was not the only customer to defend our sales clerk's "right" to discriminate.
A Narrowly Defined America A little while later, Sabina again entered the bakery, and again our sales clerk refused to serve her. This time, one man spoke up, but not on behalf of the Muslim woman. He was adamant that our sales clerk did the right thing. "She wasn't dressed right," he said. "If I was running the place I'd do the same thing." Once again, our sales clerk garnered customer support. After Sabina left the bakery seemingly frustrated and empty-handed, one man thanked the sales clerk for his discriminatory behavior. He then gave our actor a thumbs-up, not once, but twice. Jack Dovidio, a social psychologist at Yale University, said these men seemed to define "American" based on the way people look. They connected with the sales clerk and considered our female actor an outsider. "When we as Americans feel threatened from the outside, we're going to define ourselves in very rigid fashions," Dovidio said. "Either you're with me, and if you're not really one of me, then you must be somebody else who's against me."

A Very Different AmericaThe young woman in our experiment was an actor, but many of the hateful words she heard were based on the experiences of Chicago-born Nohayia Javed, who was watching our experiment from the control van. Javed said she has continually suffered verbal abuse and said she has even been physically attacked by fellow Americans just because she is Muslim. "They always start off with, 'you're a terrorist, Osama-lover, towel-head, camel jockey' on and on," Javed said. "If I tell them I'm American, they're like, 'No you're not. Just because you were born here doesn't make you American.' And I'm like, 'What makes you American?'"

Javed is not alone. The number of anti-Islamic hate crime incidents in the United States has more than quadrupled from 28 incidents in 2000 to 156 incidents in 2006, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's most recent figures.

Back in the bakery, the next customers had a very different answer to the question of American identity. First we met a man who angrily refused to buy anything when the sales clerk refused to serve Sabina. When our actor chastised him for being a "bad American," he begged to differ. "I believe I am a good American," he said. "My son just came back from serving in the army for over a year in Iraq and that has nothing to do with her [Sabina's] rights. I am deeply offended by this."

When we told him about the experiment, he explained why he stood up for Sabina. "I believe that people who use dress, skin color, language, heritage, financial means, education level, any of those things to say one group is better than another are using empty excuses for bigotry and hatred, and there's been enough hatred," he said.

We also met two young women who refused to let our sales clerk's hateful words go unchecked. "Sir, we are not buying our kolaches because you are really offensive and disgusting," one said. "Just because she's dressed like that doesn't mean anything," said the other, a Muslim-American woman herself. Rather than simply taking their business elsewhere, the young women demanded to speak to the manager, and they also challenged our sales clerk's definition of "American." "She's American. She's American. I'm American. You're the one that's anti-American right now," one said to the sales clerk.
When he refused to budge and our actress turned to leave, the two women walked out with her in a show of support.

The Silent Majority Even though people seemed to have strong opinions on either side, more than half of the bystanders did or said absolutely nothing. This is a familiar reaction for many Muslims such as Javed. "I was shocked because when these things happen to me in real life & I never see what happens after I walk out of that store," she said. "I would try to justify & that they probably didn't hear it & when I watched it, I realized, no, they hear it and they see it and they're okay with it." For Javed, tears of fear were mixed with tears of thanks for those she saw come forward to support Sabina. "In my lifetime, I've never ever had anybody stand up for me," Javed said. "It's very touching to see that because that's the right thing to do, I believe & as an American."

Kiss Kiss

2008-03-05T20:23:00.001-05:00

Remember this song? For some reason it popped into my head..Enjoy!

Simark-Tarkan

It's no slur to be called a Muslim

2008-03-03T01:56:00.005-05:00

It's no slur to be called a Muslim

1 Mar 1, 2008 - 6:58:57 PM
by Naomi Klein

The turban photos affair was a missed chance for Obama. If he really is to repair the world, he must tackle this Islamophobia. Hillary Clinton denied leaking the photo of Barack Obama wearing a turban, but her campaign manager says that even if she had, it would be no big deal. "Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely."

Sure she did. And George Bush put on a poncho in Santiago, while Paul Wolfowitz burned up YouTube with his anti-malarial African dance routines while World Bank president. The obvious difference is this: when white politicians go ethnic, they look funny; when a black presidential contender does it, he looks foreign - and when the ethnic apparel in question is vaguely reminiscent of the clothing worn by Iraqi and Afghan fighters (at least to many Fox viewers, who think any headdress other than a baseball cap is a declaration of war on America), the image is downright frightening.

The turban "scandal" is all part of what is being referred to as "the Muslim smear". It includes everything from exaggerated enunciations of Obama's middle name (Hussein) to the online whisper campaign that Obama attended a fundamentalist madrasa in Indonesia (a lie), was sworn in on a Qur'an (another lie), and if elected would attach speakers to the White House to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer (I made that one up).
So far Obama's campaign has responded with aggressive corrections that tout his Christian faith, attack the attackers and channel a cooperative witness before the House Un-American Activities Committee. "Barack has never been a Muslim or practised any other faith besides Christianity," states one fact sheet. "I'm not and never have been of the Muslim faith," Obama told a Christian News reporter.

Of course Obama must correct the record, but he doesn't have to stop there. What is disturbing about the campaign's response is that it leaves unchallenged the disgraceful and racist premise behind the entire "Muslim smear": that being Muslim is de facto a source of shame. Obama's supporters often say they are being "Swift-boated" (a pejorative term derived from the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth campaign against the 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry), casually accepting the idea that being accused of Muslimhood is tantamount to being accused of treason.
Substitute another faith or ethnicity, and you'd expect a very different response. Consider a report from the archives of the Nation. Thirteen years ago Daniel Singer, the magazine's late Europe correspondent, went to Poland to cover a presidential election. He reported that the race had descended into an ugly debate over whether one of the candidates, Aleksander Kwasniewski, was a closet Jew. The press claimed his mother was buried in a Jewish cemetery (she was still alive), and a popular TV show aired a skit featuring the Christian candidate dressed as a Hassidic Jew. "What perturbed me," Singer said, "was that Kwasniewski's lawyers threatened to sue for slander rather than press for an indictment under the law condemning racist propaganda".

We should expect no less of the Obama campaign. When asked during the Ohio debate about Louis Farrakhan's support for his candidacy, Obama did not hesitate to call Farrakhan's antisemitic comments "unacceptable and reprehensible". When the turban photo flap came up in the same debate, he used the occasion to say nothing at all.

Farrakhan's infamous comments about Jews took place 24 years ago. The orgy of hate that is the "Muslim smear" is unfolding in real time, and it promises to greatly intensify in a general election. These attacks do not simply "smear Barack's Christian faith", as John Kerry claimed in a campaign mailing. They are an attack on all Muslims, some of whom actually do exercise their rights to cover their heads and send their kids to religious school. Thousands even have the very common name Hussein. All are watching their culture used as a crude bludgeon against Obama, while the candidate who is the symbol of racial harmony fails to defend them - this at a time when US Muslims are bearing the brunt of the Bush administration's assaults on civil liberties, including dragnet wiretapping, and are facing a documented spike in hate crimes.
Occasionally, though not nearly enough, Obama says that Muslims are "deserving of respect and dignity". What he has never done is what Singer called for in Poland: denounce the attacks themselves as racist propaganda, in this case against Muslims.

The core of Obama's candidacy is that he alone - having lived in Indonesia as a boy and with an African grandmother - can "repair the world" after the Bush wrecking ball. That repair job begins with the 1.4 billion Muslims around the world, many convinced that the US has been waging a war against their faith. This perception is based on facts, among them the fact that Muslim civilians are not counted among the dead in Iraq and Afghanistan; that Islam has been desecrated in US-run prisons; and that voting for an Islamist party resulted in collective punishment in Gaza. It is also fuelled by the rise of a virulent strain of Islamophobia in Europe and North America.

As the most visible target of this rising racism, Obama has the power to be more than its victim. He can use the attacks to begin the very process of global repair that is the most seductive promise of his campaign. The next time he's asked about his alleged Muslimness, Obama can respond not just by clarifying the facts but by turning the tables. He can state that while a liaison with a pharmaceutical lobbyist may be worthy of scandalised exposure, being a Muslim is not. Changing the terms of the debate this way is not only morally just but tactically smart - it's the one response that could defuse these hateful attacks. The best part is this: unlike ending the Iraq war and closing Guantánamo, standing up to Islamophobia doesn't need to wait until after the election. Obama can use his campaign to start now. Let the repairing begin.

Source: Guardian (UK)

The Secret

2008-02-20T23:40:00.003-05:00

I decided to treat myself the other day. After all, us gals deserve treats & little pick me ups every now and then. So I purchased The Secret (book) and started reading it today. I have been skeptical of it and still am to a degree. However, I do believe in the principle premise and have always believed it.

I remember telling a friend that who she is, her thoughts and expectations, determines to a large degree the man that is attracted to her. I really believe that our aura (or whatever you wish to call it) attracts certain experiences or people to us. My friend always lamented how she ended up with the wrong man. I always thought that her expectations and thoughts attracted certain men. Example, you don't think you could do better, so you don't get better.

All my life, education has never been a problem for me. Passing or failing was never an issue; not only did I know, fully believe that I would pass but I knew with certainty that I could and would score among the highest, whatever the class was. Somewhere between then and now, I started doubting myself and abilities. For the first time in my life, I began thinking, can I do this, am I cut out for a Phd, should I even be here, am I smart enough. Now for the first time in my life, I find myself struggling with college.

I will fill my mind with positive thoughts, stop dwelling on the negative-no more of the we are doomed, the world is going to hell in a handbasket, people are nuts, selfish, greedy, corrupt-kind of thoughts. Somehow I gave up hope in alot of things and people, started focusing on the bad rather than encouraging the good.

Who knows what may happen, the mind is powerful thing. I hope (I am full of hopes this evening!) that I follow this through and that life doesn't get in the way. I don't know if changing the way you think can make you a millionare or heal you from a terminal disease (while I believe some can do it, I think the majority are unable to do so), I really think that changing your thoughts can lead to your happiness and inner peace.

Excerpts from The Secret-
Relationships: Treat yourself the way you want to be treated by others .. love yourself and you will be loved [...] Focus on being grateful for what you have already .. enjoy it!! Then release into the universe. The universe will manifest it. [...] What you focus on with your thought and feeling is what you attract into your experience [...] Whatever it is you are feeling is a perfect reflection of what is in the process of becoming.

Peace!

News and Blogs

2008-02-19T10:57:00.002-05:00

I stopped reading the news on a regular basis two years ago. I found that listening to the news during lunch made me queasy and gave me a tummy ache, reading the news during my time off made me depressed and watching it before going to bed gave me nightmares. So I stopped, or tried to stop. I began to skim the headlines and read only what interests me.

It was right about then that I started reading blogs. Not that one is a substitute for the other. Except that blogs, especially the personal ones are so telling and informative. They shed light on what the average person is going through and experiencing. The disconnect from reality that seems to exist between many sections of society that is then translated into some blog or the other. Living for the time being far away from home, Bahraini blogs offered me a rare opportunity of keeping up with my society, the trials and tribulations, the moans and groans, happiness and successes that my people are going through.

I am sure you have a selection of local, regional and international blogs that you read regularly. Here are a few blogs that touched something in me.

Here are a few I like reading: Muslim Hedonist, Raising Yusuf, Neurotic Iraqi Wife, The Angry Arab News Service, and Mosaic. There are a few more that I can’t seem to remember.

Any recommendations?

Whose Fault is it Anyway?

2008-01-28T23:24:00.001-05:00

Through the years, the people who have visited or lived in Bahrain all shared a similar experience; they were all surprised and pleased by the Bahraini people's tolerance, down to earthness, kindness and generosity. Despite the varying experiences of foreigners and expats in my country, some negative & many positive, one thing the folks I came across stressed: the Bahraini people's goodness.

Bahrain among its Gulf counterparts has always presented the real easts meets west pot, where foriegners and locals all were part of one society. At least that is how it seemed to me. This is now all changing. With the recent wave, no FLOOD, of illegal immigration Bahrainis are becoming less and less tolerant. Racial slurs are printed in the press and celebrated. The patriotic thing it seems is to berate and belitte the naturalized. Uncivilized, uncouth and unworthy are some of the names they have been called.

Emails containing pictures of naturalized citizens' passports are forwarded. A song of an Indian singing Bahraini ana (I am Bahraini) came out mocking those that came adrift the naturalization flood. The author of an article (see below) that I received in yet another forward showed disdain that a Bahraini would be called Daniel/Danielle, wondering if such a name is native or Arab or the name of a prophet.... Ironically, our sectarian rife society unites in discriminating against the new citizens! FYI, Daniel is a prophet in the Torah and Old Testament. Tsk tsk author, do better research next time, it might increasing your credibility.

I have to wonder at all the discriminatory remarks going around. Is this the new low that Bahrainis are stooping to? Is it that these new citizens are the low wall that we can vent our frustrations on? Who would forgo what they would view as a better life for themselves and their kin, what could be their only way out?

Whose fault is it anyways? Shouldn't the mockery and blame be directed towards those who put this policy in effect?

I can't help but think of how all these reactions towards the newly naturalized only serves to further divide our polarized socity. Let's face it folks, naturalized or local, we are all in this mess together. Let us stop slinging mud.

Here is what sparked this rant: (I did not list the author's name, as I got this in a fwd and did not see the original piece)

آشوف طالت وشمخت ... يا مجنسالذي يحصل في بلادنا البحرين .. في هذه الأيام .. من قبل المجنسين الصحراويين .. شيء لا يمكن السكوت عنه أبداً أبداً أبدا , ولا يرضي أي بحريني ( بغض النظر عن إتجاهاته الطائفية أو ميوله السياسية والإجتماعية ) لا من قريب ولا من بعيد ..فهؤلاء المجنسون الصحراويون أصبحوا خطراً خطيراً علينا وعلى أرواحنا وعلى أهلنا وأولادنا حاضراً ومستقبلاً .. وأصبح التصدي لهم يستلزم منا التكاتف جميعاً ضدهم .. وجميعاً تعني جميع البحرينيين الشرفاء من سنة وشيعة بلا أحقاد دفينة ولا عداوات معلنة أو مخفية , واليوم هو يوم الإتحاد مع بعض ووضع الأيادي بعضها مع بعض والوقوف صفاً واحداً للدفاع عن هذا الوطن وأبناءه ضد هؤلاء الذين جائوا كي يفسدوا في أرضنا ويعيثوا فساداً في وطننا ويهددوا أمننا وأمن أهلنا وأولادنا ..هؤلاء المجنسون الصحراويون الذين يتجمعون مع بعض على شكل فرق تخريبية وترهيبية تضم الأعداد الكبيرة من المراهقين والشباب والكبار , والمتسلحين بالسكانين وألواح الخشب الكبيرة المغروس فيها الكثير من المسامير الكبيرة الحجم .. هؤلاء ( الرعاع ) أصبحوا يتواجدون في أماكن كثيرة من البحرين ويمكن لأي شخص أن يرى قطيعهم في الرفاع الغربي والرفاع الشرقي وجو وعسكر والمحرق والبديع وأماكن أخرى كثيرة .. والمشكلة هي أنهم يتحرشون بكل بحريني يقترب منهم أو هم يقتربون منه تعمداً , والذي سبق وأن حصل في مناطق عديدة من البحرين وآخرها في مدينة المحرق .. من هجوم على البحرينيين الآمنين وضربهم بالسكاكين والألواح الخشبية والمسامير وتعريض حياتهم وحياة أسرهم للخطر .. ما حصل هو فقط القليل جداً مما سوف يحصل مستقبلاً من قبل هؤلاء إن يجدوا من يقف في طريقهم ويثبتهم عند حدودهم ويعلمهم أصول الإحترام للبلد التي إحتضنتهم .. فأما الإحترام وأما المغادرة .وهؤلاء المجنسون الصحراويون الذين أصبحوا يسيطرون على موقع منتديات مملكة البحرين ويدخلون إليه بأسماء مستعارة .. مثل أسد تكريت ودانيال نعمة الله .. ويسبون ويلعنون كل بحريني وكل مواطن صالح لبلده وأهله , هؤلاء هم الذين يحتاجون إلى من يقوم بتأديبهم وتأديب أهلهم أولاً لأنهم هم الذين يتسببون في إشعال الفتن بين الشعب البحريني الواحد , وهم الذين يحرضون إخوانهم من بنوا جنسهم ( الصحراوي ) لأعمال التخريب وإشعال الفتنة .. نحن اليوم في البحرين .. نريد أن ننسى إختلافاتنا في وجهات النظر جانباً , ونعتبر أن تلك الإختلافات في وجهات النظر لا يجب أن أن تصل بنا إلى الخلافات حول تأكيد من وجهة نظره هي الصائبة .. نريد أن نثبت المثل الذي يقول أنا وأخى ضد إبن عمي , ولكن أنا وإبن عمي على الغريب .. والغريب هنا هم حملة الأسماء الغريبة في مجتمعنا الخليجي المعروف بأسماءه وبأنسابه .. الغريب هنا هو شريفط ومريفط وتويسان .. الغريب هنا هو دانيال نعمة الله .. دانيال ؟ هل هذا إسم شخص بحريني ؟ هل هي بنت أم ولد ؟ وعندما تسأله عن إسمه يقول هذا إسم نبي من أنبياء الله .. هل سمعتم بإسم النبي دانيال ؟ أستغفر الله العلي العظيم ..لنتحد جميعنا .. سنة وشيعة .. ضد هؤلاء المجنسين الصحراويين قبل فوات الأوان ..

How about we unite not againt the blameless but against the corrupt policy that drowned the country with this flood? How about putting the not-to-be-mentioned report back on the discussion table and investigating its accusations? How about holding those responsible for unleashing the gates responsible? Naaaah, that would be too logical, let's just continue beating on the scapegoat. It won't change a thing but a few ppl might feel better.

Saudi Arabia to lift ban on women drivers

2008-01-22T11:41:00.001-05:00

Got this in an email. Congrats to our Saudi sisters on this victory, may this be the first of many human and women rights & freedoms gained back in Saudi and the region as a whole.

Daily Telegraph: Saudi Arabia to lift ban on women driversBy Damien McElroy in Riyadh
Last Updated: 1:02am GMT 21/01/2008

Saudi Arabia is to lift its ban on women drivers in an attempt to stem a rising suffragette-style movement in the deeply conservative state.

Government officials have confirmed the landmark decision and plan to issue a decree by the end of the year.

The move is designed to forestall campaigns for greater freedom by women, which have recently included protesters driving cars through the Islamic state in defiance of a threat of detention and loss of livelihoods.

The royal family has previously balked at granting women driving permits, claiming the step did not have full public support. The driving ban dates back to the establishment of the state in 1932, although recently the government line has weakened.

"There has been a decision to move on this by the Royal Court because it is recognised that if girls have been in schools since the 1960s, they have a capability to function behind the wheel when they grow up," a government official told The Daily Telegraph. "We will make an announcement soon."

Abdulaziz bin Salamah, the deputy information minister, said the official reform programme had been dogged by debate over the issue.

"In terms of women driving, we don't have it now because of the reticence of some segments of society," he said. "For example, my mother wouldn't want my sister to drive.

"It's something she cannot grapple with. But there is change on the way. I think the fair view is that one can be against it but one does not have the right to prevent it."

If the ban on women driving is lifted, it could be years before the full impact is seen. Practical hurdles stopping women obtaining licences and insurance must be overcome.

Mohammad al-Zulfa, a reformist member of the Saudi consultative Shura Council, which scrutinises official policies in the oil-rich state, said reversing the ban was part of King Abdullah's "clever" strategy of incremental reform.

"When it was first raised, the extremists were really mad," he said. "Now they just complain. It is diminishing into a form of consent."

Saudi Arabia maintains a strict segregation of the sexes outside the family home.
An unaccompanied woman must shop behind curtains and cannot hail a taxi.

Critics believe allowing women to drive would be the first step towards a gradual erosion of the kingdom's modesty laws. A woman would have to remove the traditional abaya robe to get a clear view behind the wheel.

"Allowing women to drive will only bring sin," a letter to Al-Watan newspaper declared last year. "The evils it would bring - mixing between the genders, temptations, and tarnishing the reputation of devout Muslim women - outweigh the benefits."

Saudi women have mounted growing protests. Fouzia al-Ayouni, the country's most prominent women's rights campaigner, has risked arrest by leading convoys of women drivers. "We have broken the barrier of fear," she said. "We want the authorities to know that we're here, that we want to drive, and that many people feel the way we do."

My Beloved's Fool

2008-01-08T22:23:00.002-05:00

My heart bleeds as I hear news of my beloved. I stare on, listening while my heart is thumping in my chest, thinking to myself, where is this, this isn’t the beloved that I know. I don’t recognize this monster that is being described. This terror, corruption, greed and evil that has ingrained itself into the very fabric of this beloved of mine. What has become of my beloved and where is she headed to? Destruction, doom, and sadness seem to be the path she is heading off to. Fool that I am I fell for her. Drunk in her love, I swallowed all the lies and believed that a leopard can change its spots.

Happy 2008!

2007-12-31T13:24:00.002-05:00

May you get a clean bill of health from your dentist, your cardiologist, your gastro-enterologist, your urologist, your proctologist, your podiatrist, your psychiatrist, your plumber and the I.R.S.

May your hair, your teeth, your face-lift, your abs and your stocks not fall; and may your blood pressure, your triglycerides, your cholesterol, your white blood count and your mortgage interest not rise. May New Year's Eve find you seated around the table, together with your beloved family and cherished friends. May you find the food better, the environment quieter, the cost much cheaper, and the pleasure much more fulfilling than anything else you might ordinarily do that night.

May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them. May someone love you enough to forgive your faults, be blind to your blemishes, and tell the world about your virtues. May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, may the commercials on TV not be louder than the program you have been watching, and may your check book and your budget balance - and include generous amounts for charity.

May you remember to say "I love you" at least once a day to your spouse, your child, your parent, your siblings; but not to your secretary, your nurse, your masseuse, your hairdresser or your tennis instructor. And may we live in a world at peace and with the awareness of God's love in every sunset, every flower's unfolding petals, every baby's smile, every lover's kiss, and every wonderful, astonishing, miraculous beat of our heart.

Happy 2008 friends!

Eid Mubarak

2007-12-18T22:46:00.002-05:00

Wishing you all a blessed eid! And a merry christmas for all who celebrate it.

Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

2007-12-17T18:51:00.001-05:00

Fresh snow on the ground:
half full- it's eeringly beautiful outside, looks like a postcard.
half empty- drive to work took 2 hrs instead of 30 mins.

Much needed rain in an area with drought:
half full- great! The reservoirs will fill up and the plants will quench their thirst.
half empty- the water will fall as freezing rain and the roads will be slippery wet.

It is Autumn:
half full- the fall leaves and color change are spectacular.
half empty- with all the leaves off the branches, the trees look like skeletons, scary at night, snow freezes into ice and well you guessed it, slippery roads.

Huge sales for the Christmas season:
half full- great prices on really good stuff.
half empty: the stores are a mob and it's horrible going anywhere.

Eid is round the corner:
half full- even though I am far from my, I have my sister and nephew to celebrate with.
half empty- being far away from home on Eid sucks big time. What sucks even more is having to work.

Finals are over:
half full: first semester down, I am beginning to feel like I can do it and now I have a full month to myself. I can't believe I made it through math econ alive.
half empty: I did not get the grades I want and somehow I feel as if I am slacking. Quick give me something to do!

Great professors:
half full- the label summed it up, who knew learning can be immensely enjoyable?
half empty- my instructors asked me what and where Bahrain is, then proceeded to sarcastically tell me that it must be a great place to live followed by his surprise that Bahraini women are allowed to drive?!!! Even the educated are ignorant!

Hosting a It's a Girl! baby shower for the parents to be:
half full: making my own, stunning (if I may say so) diaper cake and going wild with the theme.
half empty: nearly going crazy in the process, having a couple fight over with whether the man actually changed diapers and an invitee bring her step-mum's much older friend who in the karoake game requested 6ala3a el badro 3alaina followed by some anasheed deeneya :S

Who Owns You?

2007-12-04T23:16:00.000-05:00

Does a person own him or herself? The Rights of a Private Property differ with the different schools of economic thought;

· Socialism's fundamental principles are centered on a critique of this concept, stating, among other things, that the cost of defending property is higher than the returns from private property ownership, and that even when property rights encourage the property-holder to develop his property, generate wealth, etc., he will only do so for his own benefit, which may not coincide with the benefit of other people or society at large
· Libertanian Socialism generally accepts property rights, but with a short abandonment time period. In other words, a person must make (more or less) continuous use of the item or else he loses ownership rights. This is usually referred to as "possession property."
· Communism argues that only collective ownership of the means of production through a polity (though not necessarily a state) will assure the minimization of unequal or unjust outcomes and the maximization of benefits, and that therefore private property should be abolished.

Both communism and some kinds of socialism have also upheld the notion that private property is inherently illegitimate. This argument is centered mainly on the idea that the creation of private property will always benefit one class over another, giving way to domination through the use of this private property. Communists are naturally not opposed to personal property which is "Hard-won, self-acquired, self-earned" (Communist Manifesto), by members of the proletariat (Source: Wikipedia).

During my microeconomics class the issue arose about the test for full private property rights. The professor asserted that the ultimate definite test for full ownership of anything is if you can see that good or your share in that good.

This brought John Locke’s quote to mind: “Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself.”

Back to my question: Does a person own him or herself?

If that is true, should a person be allowed to sell themselves or take his/her own life?

Or on a less drastic scale, should people be allowed to sell their organs to the highest bidder when they can in fact choose who to donate their organs to?

And whatever your answer is, who decides? Should the government decide? Society? Or each person?

I have conflicting thoughts on private property rights. I have my religious perspective leaning one way, societal perspective running along the religious thought although not completely similar. Then there is the economist in me, that comes up with a whole different answer.

As I am writing down my answer, conflicting reactions spring up, showing that even for me, a person who thought about this for a while, studied it even, the matter is not so clear cut. So for now my answer will have to wait!

I am curious to read other people’s thoughts and see if they vary in a place as small as Bahrain.

Finals are Here!

2007-12-03T17:10:00.001-05:00

In a week or so I have my finals, next Tuesday I have my micro exam. Next Thursday I have math econ. The thought of the math exam sends me in full-fledged panic mode.

Then for a whole month I am free of school. YAY More time to blog, shop, exercise (yah right!) watch movies and do nothing! One whole month free from study groups, staying up late doing hw, reading 700 pages a week and night classes. I can't wait.

There are things I want to write about: sexual abuse for one. A real from the heart post rather than reciting stats. Although the stats are necessary for they do drive the issue home. I also want to write about my classes and professors. Last, I want to write about capital punishment and decriminalizing drugs. Yes I know that my topics are all over the place but they are the things that I have been thinking about lately.

As always, sorry about the typos. I really need to get back to studying and don't have the time nor the inclination (terrible I know) to proof read my thread.

Wish me luck!

Here We Go Again!

2007-12-03T17:02:00.001-05:00

Uff! So I change my layout and template and there goes my links! I was tired of the black layout. It was starting to depress me. I needed something light and airy, easy to look it and something not half bad. Well, my choices are limited but I like this harbor template. Problem is, same as before, as soon as I changed my template, my links disappeared. Last time Silly Bahraini Girl came to my rescue with a timely and blog saving email. It included instructions that even a techie dodo could figure out, a cut and paste job really.. Thanks SBG.

So growing more confident and tired of the ugly black, I decided to change my template. No worries coz I already had SBG's instructions, plus I saved a copy of my old template. In some ways, limited as they may be, I consider myself tech savvy. Well, I had to eat a huge portion of humble pie; no matter what I do, what I include or omit, I can't for the life of me add links to my page. This makes me feel, well, like a idiot!

So for the next two week until I am done with my finals, my blog will remain frill-less, link-less and well just less! I am sure I can find someone or the other who can fix this in like 30 seconds or so.

Ciao

Sexual Abuse- Wake Up and Face the Facts

2007-12-01T22:49:00.001-05:00

Think you don’t know anyone that has been a victim of sexual abuse. Think that sexual crimes don’t happen in your society. Think it is a problem of the other cultures and societies. THINK AGAIN. It is time you wake up and face the facts.

No One is Immune
-1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18.
-1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18.
-1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet.
-Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages 17 and under.

Family Comes First
-30-40% of victims are abused by a family member.
-Another 50% are abused by someone outside of the family whom they know and trust.
-Approximately 40% are abused by older or larger children whom they know.
-Therefore, only 10% are abused by strangers.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
-Evidence that a child has been sexually abused is not always obvious, and many children do not report that they have been abused.
-Over 30% of victims never disclose the experience to ANYONE (I a curious to see the number in Bahrain, I bet it is much higher).
-Young victims may not recognize their victimization as sexual abuse.
-Almost 80% initially deny abuse or are tentative in disclosing. Of those who do disclose, approximately 75% disclose accidentally. Additionally, of those who do disclose, more than 20% eventually recant even though the abuse occurred.
-Fabricated sexual abuse reports constitute only 1% to 4% of all reported cases. -Of these reports, 75% are falsely reported by adults and 25% are reported by children. Children only fabricate ½% of the time.

Once isn’t Enough
-Nearly 70% of child sex offenders have between 1 and 9 victims; at least 20% have 10 to 40 victims.
-An average serial child molester may have as many as 400 victims in his lifetime.

Health and Behavioral Problems
-The way a victim's family responds to abuse plays an important role in how the incident affects the victim.
-Sexually abused children who keep it a secret or who "tell" and are not believed are at greater risk than the general population for psychological, emotional, social, and physical problems often lasting into adulthood.
-Children who have been victims of sexual abuse are more likely to experience physical health problems (e.g., headaches).
-Victims of child sexual abuse report more symptoms of PTSD, more sadness, and more school problems than non-victims.
-Victims of child sexual abuse are more likely to experience major depressive disorder as adults.
-Young girls who are sexually abused are more likely to develop eating disorders as adolescents.
-Adolescent victims of violent crime have difficulty in the transition to adulthood, are more likely to suffer financial failure and physical injury, and are at risk to fail in other areas due to problem behaviors and outcomes of the victimization.

Drug and/or Alcohol Problems
-Victims of child sexual abuse report more substance abuse problems. 70-80% of sexual abuse survivors report excessive drug and alcohol use.
-Young girls who are sexually abused are 3 times more likely to develop psychiatric disorders or alcohol and drug abuse in adulthood, than girls who are not sexually abused.
-Among male survivors, more than 70% seek psychological treatment for issues such as substance abuse, suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide. Males who have been sexually abused are more likely to violently victimize others.

Teenage Pregnancy and Promiscuity
-Children who have been victims of sexual abuse exhibit long-term and more frequent behavioral problems, particularly inappropriate sexual behaviors.
-Women who report childhood rape are 3 times more likely to become pregnant before age 18.
-An estimated 60% of teen first pregnancies are preceded by experiences of molestation, rape, or attempted rape. The average age of their offenders is 27 years.
-Victims of child sexual abuse are more likely to be sexually promiscuous.
More than 75% of teenage prostitutes have been sexually abused.

Crime
Adolescents who suffer violent victimization are at risk for being victims or perpetrators of felony assault, domestic violence, and property offense as adults. -Nearly 50% of women in prison state that they were abused as children.
Over 75% of serial rapists report they were sexually abused as youngsters.

Source: http://www.darkness2light.org/

First Israeli store to open in Dubai

2007-11-28T00:16:00.001-05:00

Came across this article while reading the Angry Arab's blog (good blog by the way):

First Israeli store to open in Dubai

The ml men's clothing chain which specializes in large sizes will be opening a store in Dubai
in the near future, making it the first Israeli brand to reach the Arab emirate.
Opening the Dubai branch will bring the clothing brand back on the international scene, after other overseas stores have failed.
It was reported by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on Thursday that ml signed a distribution agreement with a French company which specializes in marketing large-size fashion lines.
The French company signed a deal with the Albulug Company owned by one of Dubai's wealthiest families to open an ml chain in Dubai.
In the fist stage of the deal, ml will open four stores with an average area of 100 square meters in prestigious shopping centers and leading malls.
Ml will invest some $1.5 million in its Dubai stores.

Murder in Paradise

2007-10-22T08:17:00.001-05:00

2 US sailors shot to death in Bahrain

By ANNA JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer1 hour, 33 minutes ago

A U.S. Navy sailor allegedly shot and killed two female sailors early Monday in the barracks of a American military base in Bahrain, a Navy official said.
The alleged shooter, a male, was critically wounded in the shooting at the U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain base, said the Navy official, who was not authorized to release the information to the media and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The official did not say if the alleged shooter shot himself or if anyone else was involved, but the Navy said the shooting was not terror related and only involved U.S. military personnel.
The shootings took place around 5 a.m., the Navy said. Officials closed the base temporarily and reopened it about an hour later.
No other details were immediately available, and the Navy said it was not releasing the names of those involved until their families were notified.
"The incident is under investigation, and it would not be prudent to discuss details at this time," said Navy spokesman Lt. John Gay.
Bahrain, a tiny island nation on the Persian Gulf, is a U.S. ally and home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, which is responsible for an area of about 2.5 million square miles (6.5 million sq. kilometers) of water including the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean.
About 3,600 personnel work on the U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain base, located just outside Bahrain's capital, Manama. The base supports U.S. naval ships in the region.
____

Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press.

Eid Mubarak

2007-10-11T15:20:00.001-05:00

Wishing you all a happy and blessed Eid!

So Hooked!!!

2007-10-10T19:58:00.001-05:00

I am hooked with Grey's Anatomy. I love the show, LOVE it....The new spin off I dislike...maybe it will grow on me, it better not, I don't have the time.

For ramadan, I watched Shaheen and Al 5arraz online but school got in the way...oh well, they weren’t that gr8 anyway… The first week of Qatheyat ra2y 3am, pissed me off so much I disconnected my ART and so no longer get Arabic programming on my cable...Why do I do these things, wouldn't have been easier to just turn the tv off??!

I really enjoy Law and Order SVU. I am at class when new episodes air, but I like watching reruns while studying. Just turn the tv low and solve hw assignments! Makes good background noise...

Mmm what else do I love? Yes, I LOVE Brothers and Sisters. I am absolutely hooked on that. Some parts of it, I can live without but overall a very nice show about family. I also enjoy Desperate Housewives, it hilarious! You must think I am a TV addict. I barely watch TV really. The only shows I must watch are Grey's and Brothers & Sisters. Grey's I watch online. So two hours a week, that isn't bad is it?

Actually 3 hrs if you count my latest fix: What Not to Wear, the US version...I swear when I am out shopping I hear Stacy London and Clinton Kelly in my head telling me what to look for and what to avoid!! That show though, I watch it as I am doing something else: studying mostly. I can't wait to see what happens on Grey's...This Merideth is pissing me off, what is wrong with her… who wouldn’t want to be with McDreamy??? And why is McSteamy human?? I have a feeling he will hook up with Callie.. And why is George cheating?? He is supposed to be decent and why is Izzy sleeping with her friends??? So many questions….I really like Callie and hate all the crap she’s getting…You would think she is huge but she is a size US 10 (UK14). And no, I don’t consider that big.

what are your favs??

Four Hours

2007-10-10T19:34:00.001-05:00

Four hours, that is all I have. Aaaah sweet four hours to do whatever I want. So, I choose to blog. Not for all the four hours mind you, time is a precious commodity, but I can blog for ten minutes.

Life has been hectic. School (I really should get used to saying college) is a B. Classes are so hard. What made me think that I would pick math up again after TEN whole years of not dealing with it?! It doesn't help that class is assigned 5 chapters at a time with a zillion problems or that my professor is crazy.....Seriously, I am struggling..... *sigh*

One class is sooooo interesting; I am learning a lot, the other is a mess!!! I love economics, its so interesting! Yet many times I feel overwhelmed and wonder at what I got myself into.

Also I just found out that there is a Bahraini economics professor at my college. How neat is that??

Started a new job, will quit it soon! No, I am not a quitter but I was hired on a contractor to permanent basis to prove my stuff, so to speak. Well, it hasn't been working out at all. I received no training at all. Can you believe, none! Senior accountant, overseeing several functions and no training at all. I had 1.5 days with my predecessor who was rude and treated me like a burden. Now I am expected to do all my work, plus cover for my coworker, meet all deadlines without even being told where to find the information I need, what are the accounts, processes, etc. What a nightmare. Example: I am preparing the accruals and the reconciliations for a zillion accounts. The deadline was last week! No one cared to tell me where I am supposed to get my info from or if the company is conservative in terms of the accruals. I have this one beast of an account that I spent 4 days tracking all the amounts flowing in it. You see, as I find out today, there is a mater list that I wasn't told about! How frustrating! I've been putting unpaid overtime hours trying to figure out the simplest things because no one has the time to train me.

The controller (married lady) told me all about her life "I a Guyanese, not Indian, although I am of Indian ethnicity!" you are beautiful, I believe in calling it as I sees it!!! She even plays with my hair when she comes in my cube (???) Tells me I have to meet deadlines yet acknowledges that I am having problems meeting them because she isn't training me. Yet the deadlines must be met! People who should provide the documents I need refuse to help and expect me to log thru files and cabinets finding the one piece of paper I need. *SIGH*

The silver lining in my dark cloud: I got offered a financial analyst position with a co I interviewed with before starting my job. I can wait to get out.

Social life, at the moment mine is nonexistent. I wait for the weekend only to enjoy staying home and finishing up all the cooking, cleaning and studying! I have yet to explore Washington DC and I have been there for a couple of months.

Ok, so the ten minutes are up! Gotta go....I will try to post more often, so many things to write about...so little time.

PS: excuse all the typos and what-nots, I am too tired to proofread! Apologies in advance!

Bahraini Terms

2007-09-06T22:36:00.001-05:00

Yup it's another forward. It's all that I can post right now with college and stuff. Made me laugh, I hope it will bring a smile to your face.

قاموس أهل البحرين

orange juice عرنجوش هي من الكلمة الانجليزية

..وصارت كلمة تنقال لكل انواع العصير

لبلب : يقولون حق الشخص اللي يتكلم بطلاقة

سريده : بروده

تمبه : كرة

دون : قريب

قميظة : حسافة

مملوح : وسيم

زنجفره : فنيلة

أدناة الدون : اقل شي

ورا = ليش

قطه = أرميـه

hospital سبيتار = المستشفى و اعتقد انها يايه من

الدختر يعني الدكتور .. أكيد تعرفون

محيوب = ممنوع من شيء

ميهود = مريض

سقطه = حر

سهده = هدوء

ميوه = خضرة و فاكهه على ما أظن

بست = باص

قريظة : لها معنيين ( قليل) و ( بعد شوي)

انشد : اسأل

دويحه : دائرة

قلج = صعب

دندره : ازعاج

سحة : تمر

نيشان : علامة أو إشارة

قراده : حظ سيء

فرم : فرن

نحو الأمية : محو الأمية

نوبة الثانية : مرة ثانية

هالنوبة : هالمره

كشته :رحله

الللابله :عقب باجر

دهريز:مدخل البيت

كرفايه:سرير

دزدان:شنطه

كشمه :نظارة

قبقاب :إنعال الله إيعزكم

روشنه:حفره في الطوفه في غرفة النوم لوضع الأغراض

خرمس:ظلام

حزاه : قصة

إحبيبة : قليل

يزرط : يبلع بدون مضغ

هبيط : منخفض

نمره : رقم

بارظ : مزاج

قصله : قصير

بريج : ابريق

بيديو : فيديو

ambulance عمبلوص = سيارة الاسعاف و يايه من

A Good Wake Up Call

2007-08-06T20:23:00.000-05:00

I was asked about my studies during the last bloggers meeting. After explaining that I am furthering my studies in the fields of economics, someone asked me what my thesis was about. Well, to be honest, I do not have one yet, still working on it as I have yet to start my classes. I explained a little about what I want my thesis to be on and what I hope to accomplish. Bint Battuta asked me if I ever read the works of Hernando De Soto.

Hernando who, was the first question that popped into my mind. I must've said it out loud because BB said that he is a Peruvian economist and explained a little of his ideas. I googled his name as soon as I got to a pc and read more. Thanks BB for the heads up!

Well now I am good and worried. Here I am embarking on in-depth study of a field, about to become an expert in it mind you, and don't even have the slightest idea about the movers and shakes of this field. Instead of taking economics and math classes as my advisor suggested, I hopped on the first plan back to Bahrain...

You see, economics isn't my undergraduate major and I only have two introductory courses under my belt. To say my knowledge in economics is lacking is being extremely kind. To put it bluntly, I know that once classes start I will suffer. BAD. But, God willing I am determined to make it.

I think De Soto served as a good wake up call. I needed a swift kick in the behind to remind me of what I need to do to get ready for college. It doesn't mean I am not worried though. Oh well!

Intolerable Demons

2007-08-06T19:18:00.001-05:00

I like children. A lot. I enjoy spending time with them, watching them play, hanging out with them and taking care of them. Or at least I thought so. However, I find myself quite impatient with kids since I am back in Bahrain. Suddenly, the idea of children being in the same place I am in fills me with dread. I want to back out of the plan I made, simply not show up and have the guts to say it like it is: I don't want to share any space with your kid for more than an hour. Okay, 5 minutes tops.

What is it with our kids? When have they become so intolerable? Such horrible, ill-mannered brats that one cannot stand to be in their company for more than 5 mins. Case in-point: Last week I was visiting my granny's house, a weekly habit that turns into an every other day thing during summer holidays. Usually, I don't mind going; I enjoy spending time with my aunts and granny, chatting and drinking tea, catching up. After a year away, I try to spend as much quality time with family and friends as I can to make up lost time.

The family starts arriving at about 5pm and by around 9pm everyone who usually comes is there. About 4 aunts or so, children, housekeepers (but of course dear, this is Bahrain), uncles and their wives. The children hang out together, teens and preteens walk around in the souq or meet up with friends, adults run errands and visit. Typical family scene.

Well, it was one of these days, a weekend if I remember correctly. I was hanging out, when the demon kids arrive. They are 2 brothers, 4 and 5 (before you think I am mean, read the rest and then decide). Their mum, dad, younger brother (1.75 yrs old), 2 housekeepers in tow. Soon the father leaves to run errands. It seems that what concerns the mum is enjoying the hareesa and waraq 3enab (dolmas) that she brought. Meanwhile, the littlest is walking about the living room with the two housekeepers swarming about him like flies. The 5 yr old is busy trying to dunk his arm into the tea flask milk teapot which just so happens to be right in front of me.

I swear for the next two hours I did not have a second's peace. Kids running around, loud noises, everyone talking and laughing while I am desperately trying to control my temper and get the kid to stop trying to burn his hand. His mother was sitting right next to me but she might as well have been on another planet. She did not say a word, while her son kept trying to grab hot cups of tea and make a run for it. Did I mention that he tried to dunk his arm in the tea flask??? I am pretty sure I did. She hears me reasoning with the kid and failing miserably, sees me grab a full cup of hot tea from his hand several times and does absolutely nothing except continue to stuff her face and chat.

Then the 4 year old joins in. It is horrible and it goes on for over an hour. I finally had enough and took the whole tray to the kitchen. I was sick of playing tea cop. Hoping it was over I resume chatting only to be punched in the arm and kicked by these kids. I guess it is a game they play. They thought it was hilarious. Running around like maniacs and randomly punching/kicking those sitting.

Then one of them proceeds to punch an adult and try to grab the car keys or whatever he can get his hands in between terrorizing the other kids and pushing them around. Meanwhile the other demon has taken it upon himself to punch and kick my brother (14 yrs old) all the while laughing hysterically. What was the mother doing you ask? Still stuffing her face! I swear, how many dolmas can a 5ft 0 inches woman eat? Quite a lot I assure you!!!

I had to ask my brother to change his seat (he was sitting between me and their mum) because I was getting punched and kicked. I guess after a while, my brother got tired of saying stop and pushed the kid away. Well, that was the first time I heard their mom say stop. Except she was saying it to all the other kids and not her own. "Stop yelling at my kids, stop picking on them, you never tolerate them, you are so harsh on them, they're your kin and this is how you treat them." This in turn prompts all the adults to yell at their kids for not putting up more with the demons. *SIGH*

I was at the end of my rope. I get up to leave only to find one of the demons at the door kicking my brother and throwing shoes at him. I take a deep breath, drag the kid and place him on the sofa sternly tell off all the kids. I then proceed to leave all the while holding down my temper. I then hear the lazy mum (who is otherwise a very nice lady) telling everyone how everyone (meaning me) picks on her kids blah blah blah. Well that was the end of it. Here is what happened next:

Me: So and so, if you dislike someone telling your kids off, or saying anything to them, maybe you should say something to them when they're misbehaving.
So and so: why Gardens do you see me watching them misbehave and doing nothing.
Me: Frankly yes, your sons killed me with the tea and were hitting everyone and adults too. You were just sitting and doing nothing. You kids are young that is true but you know M isn't an adult too. After putting up with your kid's beating, he finally had enough and pushed him away. All this time you said nothing. Surely you saw it happening.
So and so: Gardens, please stop this talk and respect me.
Me: So and so, please respect yourself by minding your kids.
End of conversation.

I did not hear the end of it. My mum nagged and nagged about it the whole way back. How I embarrassed her. How So and so is such a nice lady but has faults. Why can't I just put up with her? Why am I so judgemental and impatient? Why can't I just except people for what they are? (So should I pat So and so on the back for being a bad parent???) What will her husband think? How will my granny feel? All night this went on.... So and so cried a river after I left and at home too or so her husband claims. Suddenly I was Gardens the Terrible who came all the way from the US to make everyone's life miserable and disturb the peace. I know I lost my cool and butted into someone else's business, but seriously, should people just tolerate horrible kids and bad parents?

Needless to say, this being Bahrain, and me being a Bahraini chick and all, here for only a month, not wanting to embarrass my parents or ruffle family feathers and the oh so fragile peace, I had to call So and so and kiss a**. Apologize for losing my cool and pretend that she is a gr8 parent and the kids perfect. And so for the rest of my time here, I have to put up with the demons and their good for nothing but still a nice person parent if I want to see my gran.

I have never seen a more careless and lazy mum or more out of hand kids. It is certainly not the children's fault. Their parents don't discipline them and allow them to run wild. They are left in the housekeeper's charge all day while the parents work, have lunch, nap, dress up, visit, have dinner and go to bed. And of course the housekeeper isn't allowed to discipline because she is hired help...

I've seen kids that when hurt or sick prefer the maid to their own parent...who cry out for the housekeeper and want nothing to do with the parent. Quite disgusting and deplorable! It is to the point where I dread seeing my gran coz I know I have to put up with these demons and their lazy parent.

Why is our society so full of parents who don't want anything to do with parenting? Having children is a huge responsibility, one that doesn't end at birth nor one that should be transferred on to a housekeeper. How does this bode on our future? A whole generation of spoiled, undisciplined brats...Hmmmm....

Maybe I should pop a valium or 2, put on my rosy glasses and pretend there is nothing wrong with this picture. After all, very few people in Bahrain find nothing wrong with a child preferring the housekeeper to his/her parent and that undisciplined kids are just normal kids.

To Blog or Not to Blog?

2007-07-24T19:00:00.001-05:00

To blog or not to blog is a question plaguing my mind. For some reason blogging has become so difficult, almost tedious. It is such a chore. I love to chat and speak my mind, so it is not as if I have nothing to say. Also, I have absolutely nothing useful to do in Bahrain: I am between jobs, schools, etc... so it is not like I don't have the time. So why am I so unenthused? I guess I have the blogging blues. SIGH. I want to blog more often, I just don't feel like it. Anyone ever go thru this? I hope it passes... :-(

The First Female Bloggers Meeting

2007-07-24T18:43:00.001-05:00

July, 21st 2007 marked the first female bloggers meeting, or at least the very first I attended. Us gals met in Dulce cafe (I hope I'm saying the name right) at 11am. Me being myself and Bahraini on top of that arrived a few, ok more like 20, minutes late. A lady blogger arrived much later than myself (towards the end really) but with a genuinely good excuse: she came straight from work. I however, was stuffing myself at a breakfast buffet in Veranda. What can I say, old habits die hard...

Ok, back to the meeting; it was quite good! I expected it to be either dreadful or great. Fortunately, it turned out to be the latter. I enjoyed meeting my fellow female bloggers and am even planning to attend the regular one. I hope I remember to. There were some that I really looked forward to meet but din't quite make it. Maybe next time girls, huh? Others, I was pleasantly surprised to find that they are female bloggers. Girl power, yay!

The turn out was good, 8 of us there I think. I met some ladies that I can see myself befriending! I am a sucker for potential! Time flew away and before we knew it 3 hrs passed.

The meeting reaffirmed my belief that I should never judge a book by its cover. Or in this case, never judge a book cover by the its contents. It is amazing how one forms notions of another's appearance and behavior based on their writings. You expect them to be and look a certain way and boom! You meet in person and they are not at all how you thought they would be. It is funny how quick we are to peg someone.

I also decided to read more arabic blogs. I am missing out on some really good blogs.

All in all the ladies were very friendly, funny, interesting and intelligent. A wonderful meeting of minds.

Ladies, here is to all you gals, may we continue to successfully and happily blog away and may friendships blossom out of our experiences.

Back Home

2007-07-19T08:49:00.001-05:00

Yup, I am in Bahrain!!! I hope to blog more often now that I am home without work or any responsibilities. It is funny how much changes from one year to the next and how little other things change:

1- I noticed for the first time what my friend has been saying about Bahrain's sky; it isn't blue, more of a gray hue. What is up with that? All the pollution I guess. It is always hazy, not the low fog, but the haze that always surrounds LA from all the pollution.

2- Crazy driving. OMG, people can be insane...has anyone heard of signals and signalling before turning. Besides what's with the overtaking, do we have to go 120km/hr at all times.

3- No talking on the phone while driving except with a headset. That is one law I applaud. Good for whoever came up with it. Pat yourself on the back. Of course I wish someone reminded me of it. There I was cruising Bahrain talking on my phone for a full hour blabbering about everything and nothing, ok gossiping, when my friend casually mentions that I am using a headset right? WRONG...

4- Where did all the roundabouts go? So many are history! I kinda miss them, but not the usual mess that goes around with them.

5- All the kids are grown, and their attitude, well I don't want to get into that. All I can say is, what happened???

6- I am back to running errands. Same ol' same ol'.

There is more, alot more but I gotta go run an errand.

Talk to y'all later.

Men vs. Women

2007-06-27T10:45:00.001-05:00

Men:

1. All men are extremely busy.
2. Although they are so busy, they still have time for women.
3. Although they have time for women, they don't really care for them.
4. Although they don't really care for them, they always have one around.
5. Although they always have one around them, they always try their luck with others.
6. Although they try their luck with others, they get really pissed off if the women leaves them.
7. Although the women leaves them they still don't learn from their mistakes and still try their luck with others...

Women:

1. the most important thing for a woman is financial security.
2. Although this is so important, they still go out and buy expensive clothes.
3. Although they always buy expensive clothes, they never have something to wear.
4. Although they never have something to wear, they always dress beautifully.
5. Although they always dress beautifully, their clothes are always just "An old rag".
6. Although their clothes are always "just an old rag", they still expect you to compliment them.
7. Although they expect you to compliment them, when you do, they don't believe you...

This fwd brought a smile to my face on this dreary work day. I hope it brings a smile to yours. Have a wonderful day!

نعم.. هناك فقر وفقراء.......منيرة فخرو

2007-06-18T18:48:00.001-05:00

نعم.. هناك فقر وفقراء.......منيرة فخرو

الضجة التي أثارها تقرير فضائية الـ ''CNN'' بشأن موضوع الفقر في البحرين لم تهدأ بعد، وقابلها هجوم كاسح على المحطة الفضائية من أقلام معينة اصطفت كلها لتفند ما ذكره التقرير وتنكر وجود الفقر في البحرين. وشحذ الكتاب إياهم أقلامهم للدفاع عن ''كرامة '' البحرين التي أهدرتها المحطة الأميركية. المقابلة لم تقتصر على إبراز مناطق الفقر ولكنها استجوبت قيادات رسمية مثل وزيري الإسكان والتنمية الاجتماعية. وركزت المذيعة الحسناء هالة قوراني في مقابلاتها على التناقض الذي يميز البحرين بوجود مظاهر الغنى إلى جانب بؤر الفقر. وقد شاهد البرنامج أعداد كبيرة من المواطنين وتم عرضه على الإنترنت لمن لم يتمكن من مشاهدته على التلفاز. ربما الخطأ الذي ارتكبته مقدمة البرنامج هو اقتصارها على وجود الفقر بين الطائفة الشيعية من دون السنية على رغم إقرارنا أن بؤر الفقر تنتشر خصوصا في قرى البحرين وفي المدن الصغيرة. وللعلم فإن متوسط دخل الفرد في البحرين هو 17 ألف دولار وهو معدل يعتبر عالياً نسبياً إذا علمنا أن متوسط دخل الفرد في المملكة العربية السعودية أقل من ذلك بكثير .وقد عرّف البنك الدولي الفقير بأنه الشخص الذي ينخفض معدل دخله عن 600 دولار في السنة، إلا أن برنامج الأمم المتحدة الإنمائي يضيف معايير أخرى تعبر مباشرة عن مستوى رفاهية الإنسان ونوعية الحياة أي أن هناك نحو 45% من الفقراء يعيشون في مجتمعات غير منخفضة الدخل. وحتى في الولايات المتحدة يوجد 30 مليون فرد (15% من السكان) يعيشون تحت خط الفقر ولكن الولايات المتحدة لا تنكر ذلك بل تسعى للحد من هذه الظاهرة .نعم هناك فقر وهناك فقراء كثر في البحرين على رغم اعتبار بلدنا دولة غنية. تلك النتيجة التي وصلنا إليها نتجت من اعتبارات كثيرة أهمها ما يأتي : * فساد كبير ينتشر وعمولات تدفع من جانب القطاع الخاص صاحب المصلحة. * تجنيس مكثف ازدادت وتيرته في السنوات الأخيرة مما يبتلع كثيرا من الموازنة لتوظيف المجنسين ومنحهم السكن واستهلاكهم للخدمات المتعددة التي بالكاد تستوعب المواطنين. * تركيز على زيادة موازنة الدفاع والداخلية وتجميد لموازنات وزارات الخدمات كالصحة والإسكان والتربية والتنمية الاجتماعية .* البطالة المنتشرة خصوصا بين صفوف الشباب نتيجة عدم تناسب مخرجات التعليم مع متطلبات سوق العمل. * عدم وجود سياسة سكانية لتنظيم الأسرة وإرشاد الأمهات إلى تحديد عدد الأطفال كي تتم العناية بهم بصورة أفضل .* عدم العناية بالبيئة البرية والبحرية، والأخيرة تعد مصدر رزق للآلاف من الأسر البحرينية. كما لا ننسى متطلبات العولمة التي دخلنا فيها ووقعنا الاتفاقات لتنفيذ بنودها من دون احتساب نتائجها وأهمها ازدياد أعداد الفقراء، لذلك لابد من استمرار الدعم الحكومي لبعض السلع الأساسية للمواطن إذ ربما يؤدي إلغاؤها إلى نتائج اقتصادية واجتماعية غير متوقعة .إن الفقر يمثل في نهاية الأمر الإقصاء والتهميش والمس بكرامة الإنسان وبدلاً من إنكاره علينا الاعتراف بوجوده والتفكير بإيجاد أفضل الطرق للحد من انتشاره، ولكننا نرى المسؤولين يصرون على اتهام المواطنين بأنهم سبب الفقر، مثلما اتهم وزير الكهرباء المواطنين بأن استهلاكهم اللامحدود وغير المرخص هو الذي أدى إلى تدهور خدمات الكهرباء، ومثلما ذكر زميله وزير العمل أن شباب البحرين كسول ويريد وظائف مريحة. إن أول وسائل الإصلاح تبدأ بإصلاح التعليم والتركيز على التدريب للأعمال المتوافرة في البحرين خصوصا بالنسبة إلى فئة الشباب الذي طال انتظاره للحصول على وظيفة تضمن مستقبله ولكن قبل كل ذلك يجب أن تتوفر الإرادة السياسية للإصلاح.

Food Shortage Question- a fwd

2007-06-18T18:42:00.001-05:00

Recently, a survey was conducted by the U.N. worldwide. The question asked was:
"would you please give your opinion about the food shortage in the rest of the world?"

The survey was a huge failure because:

In Africa, they didn't know what "food" means.

In Western Europe, they didn't know what "shortage" means.

In the Middle East, they didn't know what "opinion" means.

In South America, they didn't know what "please" means.

In the U.S.A, they didn't know what "the rest of the world" means.

When Corruption Runs Rampant, and the Masses are Silenced...

2007-05-31T12:16:00.001-05:00

When corruption runs rampant, the masses are silenced and transparency is nonexistent, anything can and does happen. They say pictures speak louder then words. My fellow bloggers, I leave you with this image.

Is Syria to Blame?

2007-05-24T13:58:00.001-05:00

Reading Soul Search's Beirut Burning Again made me wonder at our state and that of our beloved countries. But it also raised an important question; who is responsible for Lebanon's latest bout of violence (the refugee camp)?

When asked, many people will say Syria. After all, any Lebanese will tell you of the Syrian army's shinanigans in Lebanon. However, Syria seems too easy a conclusion. I can't believe that the Syrian government would be that stupid. Not when it is already a target. A more likely scenario (and yes here comes the consipiracy theory) is that Syria is being set-up by groups sharing common interests. It is also a little too convenient or should I say inconvenient. All the violence breaking out right before the tourist season so that once again Lebanon's economy suffers and old grudges rehashed.

The Bush adminsitration are itching to silence Iran and Syria. Iran is getting too powerful in the region and must be taken out of the equation. Syria is a little fish but must serve as a lesson. The Bush administration admitted to conducting a cold war against Iran (and who knows maybe even Syria) which entailed supporting Afghani terrorists carrying attacks in Iran, negative and false publicity in American and Iranian newspapers, spies, stealing national secrets etc... What is happening in Lebanon validates Bush's assertion: ME needs US presence, Iran and Syria need to be taken out. US is the beacon of freedom...

Israel is definitely benefiting from this fiasco by sending out a clear message to the world thru biased media coverage:''look at these Palestinian terrorists, they kill their own people, we can't live with them. Our poor soldiers suffer too, we are all in this together, the wall is a good idea, the check points too." To the non-Arab/Muslim person, Israel and Lebanon are both victimized by the Palestinian terrorists.

Let's not forget the members of the Lebanese government who have been calling for disarmament of Hizballah. I have seen an interview of a high ranking official on Arabic and Western media and boy do the ppl in charge sing different tunes. It was obvious whose interests they cater to (ex. Siniora). That is not to say that they are behind this, just that they are benefiting greatly from it and milking it for all its worth.. What about Saad Al Harriri who rose to power riding his dad's corpse. In his case we are given a prime example of how political roles in our part of the world are inherited and not earned. Saad Al Hariri's benefited more from his father's death and Syria is the one most disadvantaged.

Also let's not forget the other Arab corrupt governments with their agendas and interests.

So who is responsible and who is to blame? The Lebanese people are partly responsible. Sectarianism is tearing them apart and unity is so fragile. The Arabs are also to blame, for standing idly by. But who is the head hancho of all this mess? The question is one that we will always speculate about and I don't think we will ever receive a definitive answer for.

Who are the victims? The average Lebanese is the victim, the one whose liveliood is now suffering and whose life is in danger. The Palestinians who are further victimized by being cast in the terrorist role while the world is oblivious to their plight and misery. And of course the Arabs and Muslims who now realize that there really isn't any functioning democracy among them.

And of course, with the pondering of the first question, others tumble out of pandora's box: When did Syria become the enemy? When, how and why did we become each other's enemies and are we turning on ourselves? Why are we idle while the world is watching us slowly implode?

دعاء بحريني

2007-05-22T12:45:00.001-05:00

A funny poem I got in an email:

دعاء بحريني

اللهم ارحمنا من من غرور الجيل الجديد..
وحرائق التايرات و الحديد
واستقصاد كل مدير.. وندالة القرايب والبعيد
الصغير منهم والكبير
اللهم أغثنا من كل تاجر عميل . ومن غلاء الماء والعصير
اللهم أرحمنا من زحمة الشوارع في كل حين,
ومن رجال المرور المجنسين
وسحب الليسن في كل كمين.. من الغلبان والمسكين
اللهم أهدى لنا سواقين الشاحنات
واصحاب الشركات و النقليات
اللهم ارحمنا من رؤساء البلديات
وهدهم لشفط المستنقعات والبلاعات
اللهم قنا شر المصانع والملوثات..
ومن غباوة المسئولين عن الطرقات
الهم انتقم من الجرائد والكتاب..
وهيافة الصحف والمجلات
الهم اجرنا من فواتير الهواتف والفاكسات
وقطع الحرارة فجأة عن التليفونات وقت الذروات
ورحمنا من مدارس البنين والبنات
ومن رسوم الكليات والجامعات
ووفق المسئولين عن الروضات والحاضنات
في تخفيض رسوم الدراسة والمواصلات
اللهم ارفع مستوى الدكاتر والطبيبات .
حتى يطمئن الشعب على روحه عند زيارته للمستشفيات
أو أرسل يارب عليهم صاعقة..
بدل ما يخلونا نموت ونتعذب في غرف العمليات
اللهم سدد أقساطنا .. ورحمنا من فوائد البنوك والبطاقات
ليتمكن الفقير من الاقتراض بدلا من التسول في الطرقات
اللهم ارزق العاطلين عن العمل ليعملو في الكويت وقطر
بدلا من يتعذبو في هذا البلد ولا يصبحو ثقلا على احد

The Human Wall in the Nuwaydrat Lecture

2007-05-22T12:35:00.001-05:00

Got these through an email. I think they were of the nuwaydrat lecture of Mushaime3, Sharif, etc...where the sha'3ab police intervened: the pictures speak louder than any words I could write. The comment below accompanied the pictures:

فعلاً أبطال ونشامى وأوفياء لرموزكم وقادتكم يا أهل البحرين ، أنظروا كيف تجمعوا على الرموز لحمايتهم من الطلقات بعمل حائط صد بشري تمنع وصول الطلقات إليهم .. يا الله

Got Milk?

2007-05-17T23:25:00.001-05:00

Idiocy has no limits; just when you think the latest batch of fatwas couldn't get any wackier, out comes a new one proving that lunacy and obsession w/ all things carnal are rampant among those issuing these fatwas.

The latest fatwa comes from Al Azhar Dr. (I am wondering about his creditionals...you will too once you read what he has to say) stating that a woman can BREAST FEED her ADULT male coworker in order for it to be lawful (halal) for both of them to be alone in the office unchaperoned. This will by no means prohibit marriage should they decide to do so in the future. The boobie fest would last 5 sessions and would be formally noted down! Upon the completion of the wierdo porn sessions, the woman can take off her hijab around him showing her male coworker her hair. I do hope he can restrain himself and hold it together when he sees her oh so glorious hair!!! Although now that I think about it, seeing just her hair and nothing else may be a let down after feasting on her upper body. Or does the man feed with his eyes closed and hands tied????

Here is a few paragraphs from the news article from Al Arabiya: (sorry for the formatting)

اقتراحات بطلبات احاطة برلمانية وجدل داخل الأزهر

فتوى تبيح للمرأة ارضاع زميل العمل منعاً للخلوة المحرمة

لأربعاء 29 ربيع الثاني 1428هـ - 16 مايو2007م

دبي - فراج اسماعيل

احتدم جدل بين علماء دين في مصر ووصل إلى البرلمان بعد فتوى لرئيس قسم الحديث بجامعة الأزهر، تبيح "إرضاع الكبير"، في وقت انتقدت عدة صحف تدريس كتاب في هذا القسم يؤكد أن الارضاع يحلل الخلوة بين رجل وإمرأة غريبة

عنه في مكاتب العمل المغلقة

وقال عضو مجلس الشعب عن كتلة الاخوان المسلمين صبري خلف الله إن نحو 50 نائبا في البرلمان تدارسوا هذا

الموضوع مساء الأربعاء وأعربوا عن قلقهم من انتشار هذه الفتوى اعلاميا، واقترح بعضهم تقديم طلبات احاطة، لكنهم اتفقوا على ارجاء ذلك، واعطاء فرصة للأزهر والاعلام لوقف الخوض في هذا الموضوع الذي أثار حالة من اللغط الشديد في الشارع المصري خصوصا في أماكن العمل التي تضم موظفين وموظفات، وعندها قد يمتنعون عن طلبات الاحاطة منعا لحدوث زوبعة برلمانية قد تساهم في تضخيم المسألة وتضر بالاسلام.كان د.عزت عطية رئيس قسم الحديث بكلية أصول الدين بجامعة الأزهر فجر مفاجأة حيث أباح للمرأة العاملة أن تقوم بإرضاع زميلها في العمل منعاً للخلوة المحرمة، إذا كان وجودهما في غرفة مغلقة لا يفتح بابها إلا بواسط أحدهما.واكد عطية لـ"العربية.نت" أن إرضاع الكبير يكون خمس رضعات وهو يبيح الخلوة ولا يحرم الزواج، وان المرأة في العمل يمكنها أن تخلع الحجاب أو تكشف شعرها أمام من أرضعته، مطالباً توثيق هذا الإرضاع كتابة ورسميًا ويكتب في العقد أن فلانة أرضعت فلانًا.وفي تصريحات لـ"العربية.نت" قال عضو مجلس الشعب خلف الله: أن الخطأ في هذا الموضوع أنه لم يتم تناوله بطريقة علمية أو أكاديمية، فلو حدث ذلك لاختلفت المسألة، لكنها أثيرت اعلاميا بطريقة ساخرة كأن هناك من يحبون أن تشيع الفاحشة

إلا أن الشيخ السيد عسكر الوكيل الأسبق لمجمع البحوث الإسلامية، وهي أعلى هيئة فقهية بالأزهر والنائب عن جماعة الإخوان المسلمين بالبرلمان، رفض هذا الرأي مؤكداً انه خروج على إجماع علماء الأمة، ولا يجوز القياس علي حالة خاصة، ومطالباً بالتصدي لذلك لأنه يسهم في نشر الرذيلة بين المسلمين

وقال د.عزت عطية ل"العربية.نت" إن بعض الناس قد نظر إلى رضاع الكبير نظرة جنسية بحتة وتساءلوا: كيف يجوز لشاب أو لرجل أن يرضع من امرأة غريبة عنه، وفاتهم إن الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم هو الذي رخص في ذلك. وأن من ينفذ أمراً شرعياً أو رخصة شرعية يقوم بعمل ديني في إتباع الشرع، وفي الأعمال الدينية يستشعر المؤمن عبوديته وخشوعه لله فتنمحي النواحي الشيطانية، وحينما يقوم الكبير بذلك للحصول على رخصة شرعية فإنه يتنزل منزلة الصغير في حالة الرضاعة، وإلا كان متلاعباً بالدين يستغله لأغراض خسيسة ويجرم في حقه

وأضاف: إن أحدا من دارسي الحديث وعلمائه لا يمكنه أن يشك في أن حديث إرضاع الكبير حديث ثابت وصحيح، أما المشكلة في تطبيقه فهي التي انتشرت في كتب الشروح، وكانت خاصة بأم المؤمنين عائشة رضي الله عنها وهي التي يحرم نكاحها على أي مسلم لقوله تعالي "النبي أولى بالمؤمنين من أنفسهم وأزواجه أمهاتهم" وقوله "وما كان لكم أن تؤذوا رسول الله ولا أن تنكحوا أزواجه من بعده أبدا".ويشرح ذلك بقوله: مع حرمة النكاح من السيدة عائشة شرعاً، فإن دخول الأجنبي عليها ممنوع وقد استخدمت رخصة الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم فكانت تأمر بنات أخيها وبنات أخوتها بإرضاع من تحوج الظروف إلي دخوله عليها ليكون محرماً لها من جهة الرضاعة، وما فعلته عائشة رضي الله عنها استثمرت به رخصة الرسول في دخول سالم مولى أبي حذيفة بعد رضاعه وهو كبير من زوجة أبي حذيفة وهذه الرخصة مقيدة بالحاجة أو الضرورة، وشرعها الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم لإباحة دخول من ترغب الأسرة في دخوله بغير تحرج شرعي

The First Muslim Clinic in the US- UMMA Community Clinic

2007-05-10T03:16:00.001-05:00

A very thoughtful and life-altering endeavor. We need more like it and we need to publicize such efforts.

ِِخطاب من غادة جمشير مرفوع إلى جلالة ملك البحرين بشأن إخفاقات المجلس الأعلى للمرأة والمطالبة بحله

2007-05-02T12:06:00.001-05:00

Got this by email. I apologize for the messed up formatting..I did the best I could...promise! An interesting letter despite my lousy formatting efforts (my pc is english only and I am at work :-( )... Hmmm surprised yes...I wonder about the reaction is is getting...

صاحب الجلالة الشيخ حمد بن عيسى آل خليفة حفظه اللهملك مملكة البحرين تحية إجلال و إكبار نزفها لكم من لجنة العريضة النسائية متمنين

لجلالتكم النجاح في مساعيكم بما فيه خيرٌ و صلاح هذا البلد العزيز. جلالة الملكلقد راودنا الخوف على وطننا من تداعيات ما آلت إليه أوضاع المواطنين بشكلٍ عام والمرأةُ بشكلٍ خاص في السنوات الأخيرة حتى الاستحقاق الانتخابي الأخير، الذي كشف بجلاء مدى عجز المجلس الأعلى للمرأة في مواجهة مخططات بعض الدوائر الرسمية وعلى رأسها الديوان الملكي في منع إيصال العناصر النسائية إلى قبة البرلمان عن طريق الانتخاب وذلك تنفيذاً لأجنداتٍ خاصة كما سجل المجلس فشلاً على صعيد تعزيز حقوق النساء، فقد عجز في ان يكون بمستوى الأمل الذي علقته به الآف النساء في المحاكم الشرعية، وتلكأ في دعم تمرير قانون الأحوال الشخصية، وأوقف الدعاية الإعلامية لذلك المشروع بعد أن حولت الحكومة ذلك المشروع إلى ورقةٍ استخدمتها للمساومة السياسية مع المعارضة الشيعية. كما عجز المجلس عن توصيل مرشحة واحدة من مجموع من تقدمن للانتخابات البرلمانية والبلدية والبالغ عددهن ثمانية عشر مرشحة برلمانية و خمس مرشحات للمجالس البلدية رغم الإنفاق الباهظ على دورات وبرامج التمكين التي بلغ عددها 13 برنامج[1]، وعلى الحملة الإعلامية، التي لم تحقق التأثير المطلوب، لان سمعة المجلس الأعلى للمرأة لدى الناخبين لا تلعب الدور الإيجابي المطلوب إن الإنفاق الباهظ لم يؤدي إلى توصيل أية امرأة من خلال صناديق الاقتراع، وقد وصلت مرشحة واحدة ولكن بترتيبٍ من وزير الديوان الملكي في جزيرة ينعدم فيها الناخبون تقريبا، فالمواطن لا يحسب إيصالها مكسباً للمجلس الأعلى للمرأة. وعلى النقيض وقف المجلس موقفاً سلبياً من دعم السيدة منيرة فخرو تاركاً الساحة للديوان ليسقطها ضمن حساباته في العملية السياسية لصنع مجلس بتوازنات طائفية تخدم الحكومة ومشروعها و ترجح كفتها الانتخابية داخل قبة البرلمان تمهيداً لخلق كتلة موالاه أكبر لجعل المعارضة عاجزة عن تحقيق أي مكاسب، وقد ترك المجلس السيدة فخرو تواجه الديوان منفردة رغم علمه بدعم الديوان لمنافسها الدكتور صلاح علي. وقد تم تزيين المجلس الاعلى للمرأه ببعض الأسماء النسائية، إلا أن هؤلاء ليس لهم أي دور فعلي أو تأثير في استراتيجيات وسير عمل المجلس. فيما كان العدد الأكبر هم ممن تم تعيينهم على أساس الولاء السياسي والعلاقات الأسرية، وبعض العناصر النسائية تشغل عدة مناصب ومسؤوليات مما يحرم الأخريات ويحد من الفاعلية والإنتاج وتؤكد المعطيات عدم استقلالية المجلس الأعلى للمرأة بل تبعيته للديوان الملكي بشكل مباشر، كما تؤكد هذه المعطيات وقوف المجلس موقف المتفرج من الحرب التي شنتها الحكومة ضد لجنة العريضة النسائية، ودفع الحكومة لتعقيد إشهار الاتحاد النسائي بغرض احتوائه وجعله جزاً من الديكور العام لديمقراطيتنا الوليدة. إن ما أنتجه المجلس الأعلى للمرأة مخجل بالقياس إلى ما أتيح له من إمكانيات ودعمٌ لوجستي وعناصر متفرغة، وما رصد له من أموال ضخمة تم صرفها على الأمانة العامة ومخصصات الأعضاء والدورات ونفقات السفر و الإقامة. كل هذا الدعم الكبير والمفتوح لم يفلح في جعل المجلس سيد قراره، إذ إن هذا الهدف يحتاج إلى إيمان حقيقي لقيادة المجلس بحق المرأة كإنسان ومواطن، و بترجيح البعد الإنساني على المناصب والحسابات السياسية وهو ما لم تفهمه الأمانة العامة للمجلس، التي كانت ترى في إبراز المرأة من خلال مواقع شكلية تعطي المجتمع الدولي والإقليمي انطباع دعائي للمملكة أكثر من العمل المنهجي على بناء امرأة عصرية ملمة بحقوقها الاجتماعية والاقتصادية والسياسية. كما لاحظت لجنة العريضة النسائية أن معظم النساء اللواتي وصلن إلى مواقع القرار السياسي جئن بقراراتٍ سياسية وعلى أساس قبلي أو طائفي أو الولاء الشخصي لبعض عناصر الحكومة والديوان. لذلك ترى لجنة العريضة النسائية أن المجلس الأعلى للمرأة أخفق إخفاقاً شديداً في بناء ودعم المرأة البحرينية بالسياسات التي اتبعها طوال الحقبة الماضية ولم يعتمد الأسلوب العلمي القائم على وضع منهج محدد و مزمن لرفع الوعي الحقوقي بدءا من إدخال حقوق الإنسان بمختلف أبعادها في المناهج الدراسية، ودعم منظمات المجتمع المدني وخصوصا النسائية لتلعب دورها الحقيقي بأقصى طاقاتها بتعديل دستور الإتحاد النسائي وتوسعة صلاحياته وتمثيله لكل المرأة البحرينية بدلاً من تقزيمه و توزيع الصلاحيات على كيان يخضع لنفوذ الحكومة والديوان الملكي. لذلك تتوجه لجنة العريضة النسائية إلى جلالتكم - مؤمنة ً بصواب رأيكم - بطلب حل للمجلس الأعلى للمرأة وإفساح الدور للمنظمات واللجان النسائية المستقلة ونشطاء حقوق المرأة لتلعب دورها باعتبارها نابعةٌ من المرأة و موجهةٌ إليها، و سترون جلالتكم مدى قدرة تلك المنظمات على الخلق والإبداع والعطاء. وفقكم الله وسدد على درب الخير خطاكم وحفظكم حامياً لوطننا العزيز

غادة جمشيررئيسة لجنة العريضة النسائيةمرفق: نساء في مناصب عليا في البحرين: نخبة الولاء السياسي والأسرى:أولا: تعيينات المجلس الأعلى للمرأة من سنة 2001 إلى 2004 ثانيا: عضوات مجلسي الشورى والنواب 2002-2006ثالثا: المرأة في الوزارات والمناصب الحكوميةنساء في مناصب عليا في البحرين: نخبة الولاء السياسي والأسرىأولا: لائحة تعيينات المجلس الأعلى للمرأة من سنة 2001 إلى 2004 الشيخه سبيكة بنت إبراهيم آل خليفة - رئيس المجلس الاعلى للمرأة - حرم ملك البلادمريم بنت حسن آل خليفة – نائب رئيس المجلس الأعلى –ورئيسة جامعة البحرين – (من الأسرة الحاكمة)لولوة العوضي – الأمين العام للمجلس الأعلى برتبة وزيرة – ورئيسة معهد التنمية السياسية التابع للحكومة – رفع 70 محاميا دعوة قضائية ضدها لاستمرارها بممارسة المحاماة رغم المناصب الحكومية، أختها غير الشقيقة (سهى فلامرزي) مديرة مكتبها بالمجلس الأعلى للمرأه

عضوات المجلس الاعلى للمرأه.اللاتي تم تعيينهن في 2001 ولم يعاد تعيينهم في 20041. جليلة السيد – محامية (لم يعاد تعيينها في 2004)2. وداد المسقطي – (لم يعاد تعيينها في 2004)3. صباح المؤيد – رئيسة بنك الإسكان الحكومي 4. فاطمة البلوشي – أصبحت وزيرة التنمية الاجتماعية بناء على توطد علاقة الحكومه بمجموعة الأخوان المسلمين.5. بهيجه الديلمي ـــ مديرة مدرسه حكوميه.6. طفله آل خليفه ـــ (من العائله الحاكمه) ـــ كاتبه فى جريدة أخبار الخليج. اللاتي تم إعادة تعيينهن في 2004:7. هند آل خليفة – (من العائلة الحاكمة) - كانت وكيل مساعد بوزارة العمل8. الشيخه حصة بنت خليفة آل خليفة – (من العائلة الحاكمة) – بنت أخت الملك وزوجة ابنه الشيخ عبدالله بن حمد آل خليفة محافظ المنطقة الجنوبية. 9. وفيقة خلف – زوجة إبراهيم حميدان –وزير سابق لعدة وزارات10. عائشة الأنصاري – زوجة محمد جابر الأنصاري المستشار الثقافي للملك10. بهية الجشي – عضو بمجلس الشورى لثلاث دورات، وخالة الرئيس السابق لمجلس الشورى فيصل الموسوي وخالة زوجة الرئيس الحالي لمجلس الشورى علي صالح الصالح. 11.عائشة مطر – مديرة سابقة لمدرسة حكومية 12. د. فضيلة المحروس – دكتورة أطفال13.منيره فخرو – أستاذ مشارك بجامعة البحرين (مدرسه علم الاجتماع والخدمة الاجتماعية)14. ندى حفاظ ـــ وزيرة الصحه وكانت عضوه بمجلس الشورى. العضوات الجدد اللتي تم تعيينهن في 2004:1. رباب العريض – محامية تعمل بمكتب لولوه العوضي (الامين العام لنفس المجلس)2. نجمة جناحي – موظفة بالجهاز المركزي للمعلومات (والذي يدور حوله لغط كبير ادارة شبكة تآمرية)3. مريم الرويعي – جمعت بين رئاسة الاتحاد النسائي غير الحكومي وعضوية المجلس الاعلى الحكومي.4. عصمت الموسوي – صحفيةكبار الموظفات بالمجلس الأعلى للمرأه :• هالة محمد جابر الأنصاري – ابنة المستشار الثقافي للملك محمد جابر الأنصاري، وابنة عضو المجلس الأعلى للمرأة عائشة الأنصاري – كانت تعمل باحثة بمركز الدراسات والبحوث الحكومي، ثم عينت بالمجلس برتبة وكيل وزارة مساعد. • بهيجة الديلمي – مديرة لمدرسة إعدادية للبنات وكانت عضوه بالمجلس والآن عينت برتبة وكيل وزارة مساعد.• نجوى عبد الرحيم – تعمل موظفة بوزارة المالية ترأسها لطيفة القعود (التي فازت بالتزكية على جزيرة حوارلمجلس النواب ) وعينت وكيل وزارة مساعد للشئون المالية بالمجلس (واستقالت من المجلس). • ضويه العلوي – وكيل وزارة مساعد بالمجلس للتخطيط الإستراتيجي

ثانيا: عضوات بمجلسي الشورى والنوابمجلس الشورى: الدورة السابقة 2002، واللاتي تم تعيينهن مجددا في مجلس 2006:1. فوزية الصالح – من عائلة الرئيس السابق لمجلس الشورى فيصل الموسوي وايضا أبنة عم الرئيس الحالي لمجلس الشورى على صالح الصالح. 2. أليس سمعان (مسيحية الديانة)- مقربة من الحكومة وتم تعيينها في جميع دورات مجلس الشورى3. بهية الجشي – عضوه بالمجلس الأعلى للمرأة، وعضوه بمعهد التنمية السياسي الحكومي وهي خالة الرئيس السابق لمجلس الشورى فيصل الموسوي وخالة زوجة الرئيس الحالي لمجلس الشورى علي صالح الصالح, وعضو بالمجلس لثلاث دورات. 4. وداد الفاضل – كانت مسؤولة عن رياض الأطفال بوزارة التربيةمجلس الشورى: العضوات الجدد اللاتي تم تعيينهم في مجلس الشورى 2006 1. سميره رجب – كاتبة بجريدة أخبار الخليج، تم تعيينها بعد ان كتبت مقالات طائفية مثيرة للجدل تدافع عن صدام حسين وحزب البعث العراقي وتهاجم المعارضة الشيعية في البحرين 2. رباب العريض – كانت محامية بمكتب الأمين العام لولوه العوضي وهي عضوه بالمجلس الأعلى للمرأة3. عائشة راشد – كانت تعمل في مركز دراسات المرأة التابع لجمعية رعاية الطفل والأمومة4. منيره بن هندي – أخت محافظ المحرق المعين سلمان بن هندي 5. هدى نونو – (يهودية الديانة) – عضو بجمعية مراقبة حقوق الإنسان التي يدور حولها الكثير من اللغط بسبب ارتباطها بشبكة سرية حكومية كشف عنها تقرير لمستشار سابق بالحكومة الدكتور صلاح البندر.6. دلال الزايد – محامية وتعمل لصالح المجلس الأعلى للمرأة (تقوم بتحسين سمعة النظام والمجلس الأعلى في المؤتمرات الدولية) مجلس النواب 2006:1. لطيفه القعود – تدخل وزير الديوان الملكي لتغيير دائرة ترشيحها لتفوز بالتزكية عن جزر حوار التي لا يقطنها فعليا أي أحد. تعمل بوزارة المالية، وإخوانها طيارون مقربون من الديوان الملكي

ثالثا: المرأة في الوزارات والمناصب الحكومية • ندى حفاظ – وزيرة الصحة (كانت عضوه بمجلس الشورى وحاليا عضوه وبالمجلس الأعلى للمرأة).• فاطمه البلوشي – وزيرة التنمية الاجتماعية –الوزيرة وعضوه بالمجلس الأعلى للمرأة في دورة 2001 – 2004 وكانت مدرسة بجامعة البحرين وأيضاً هي أخت سفير البحرين بواشنطن بالولايات المتحدة الأمريكية ناصر البلوشي وتنتمي لتيار أخوان المسلمين (شاركت في نشاط انتخابي لأثنين من مرشحي الأخوان المسلمين قبل الانتخابات الأخيرة). • مريم بنت حسن آل خليفة، وهي من العائلة الحاكمة وحصلت على شهادة الحقوق بالانتساب، وتم تعيينها رئيسة الجامعة ونائبة رئيس المجلس الأعلى للمرأه.• منى الكواري- أول قاضية– حديثة التخرج والعمل بالنيابة العامه، وهناك من هن اكثر خبرة منها، • هيا راشد آل خليفة – رئيسة الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة –محامية – كانت سفيرة البحرين بفرنسا، وهي أخت نائب رئيس المجلس الأعلى للقضاء خليفة راشد آل خليفة رئيس محكمة أمن دولة سابق. رفع 70 محاميا دعوة قضائية ضدها لاستمرار مكتبها بممارسة المحاماة رغم المناصب الحكوميه • ضحى الزياني ـــ أول قاضية بالمحكمة الدستورية ـــ كانت باحثه قانونيه بمكتب تسجيل الدعاوى بوزارة العدل وعينت مسجلا عاما بوزارة العدل سنة 2003 ومتعاونه مع المجلس الاعلى للمرأه. عن لجنة العريضه النسائيهغاده جمشير التاريخ 26-4-2007--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[1] ملاحظة : مشروع التمكين السياسي للمرأة كلف 660 ألف دولار أمريكي فقط لورش العمل والدورات والمحاضرات واستقدام الخبراء من الخارج، وليس من ضمنه راتب رئيسة البرنامج مريم جناحي ولا الطاقم الفني

Is the Law failing Mahmood?

2007-04-14T11:54:00.001-05:00

Reading Lulu Bahrain’s Minister v. Blogger thread has led me to do thinking and searching. If you don’t have a clue to what the fuss is all about, I recommended Lulu’s legal analysis of the case.

Borrowing from Lulu’s post:

Based on the Press and Publications Law (PPL) & the Penal Code (PC), a libel occurs when all of the following conditions are met:
1. The offender has published a criticism of a person holding a public office which includes slander, unless the criticism is proven to be factual and is related to the claimant's public duties (PPL 72); or
2. The offender has publicly associated a person holding public office with an occurrence that can make him subject to punishment or ridicule (PC 364); AND
3. The offense must have taken place publicly or published on a public forum (PPL 72, PC 364, 365).

Here is how libel reads in the US laws (I’m only using the US here because the information is readily available).
Defamation, Libel and Slander:
Generally speaking, defamation is the issuance of a false statement about another person, which causes that person to suffer harm. Slander involves the making of defamatory statements by a transitory (non-fixed) representation, usually an oral (spoken) representation. Libel involves the making of defamatory statements in a printed or fixed medium, such as a magazine or newspaper.
Typically, the elements of a cause of action for defamation include:
1.A false and defamatory statement concerning another;
2.The unprivileged publication of the statement to a third party (that is, somebody other than the person defamed by the statement);
3.If the defamatory matter is of public concern, fault amounting at least to negligence on the part of the publisher; and Damage to the plaintiff.

Public Figures
Under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, where a public figure attempts to bring an action for defamation, the public figure must prove an additional element: That the statement was made with "actual malice". In translation, that means that the person making the statement knew the statement to be false, or issued the statement with reckless disregard as to its truth. For example, Ariel Sharon sued Time Magazine over allegations of his conduct relating to the massacres at the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps. Although the jury concluded that the Time story included false allegations, they found that Time had not acted with "actual malice" and did not award any damages.

Our good old Bahraini law fails to address one important point: were the statements made in actual malice (hatred, spite)?

And another point becomes glaringly clear, while the Publication and Press Law and the Penal Code seem to protect public figures the American Laws applies to regular people and provides additional requirements to be met for public figures. Moreover, the additional requirement for public figures in the US defamation and libel law places the burden of proof on the public figure him/herself. After all the government official is a public servant with the duty to serve the society the best way he/she are able to.

So what you have here in Wonderland is a law that protects public figures from scrutiny. You cannot criticize a government official, candidate, etc for not doing their job because you will get sued!

In the case of the MP of municipalities, the criticism is valid. Having lived in Riffa this past year or so, and having relatives there, I can testify to the puddles of sewage that decorated the streets. The stream of refuse and what not that would run through the ‘ferjan’. Men walking with their thoubs hiked all the way up to their knees because they could avoid stepping in puddles only for so long. Having to change outfits a couple of times because the minute you step out of the door, you get sewage stuff on your clothes. Kids playing out with rats and cockroaches all around them. Calling the baladeeya (municipality) never helps. The trucks are too busy cleaning richer more privileged areas, making sure not a spot remains while the everyday people are left to sink in refuse. Complaining on the local programs achieves little or nothing.

So given all this, is it fair to assume that the municipality and by extension its MP are not doing their job well? Yet for some reason Mr. MP is offended at such honest criticism. Instead of doing something about the sewage situation, he runs to sue. Yet the great MP is not at all offended by the sewage and rain puddles.

My fellow readers I leave you with this gift.

Drink Tea, Skip the Milk

2007-04-13T16:33:00.001-05:00

For all those who drink chai 7aleeb or 7aleeb ma3a chai, check out this article.

Milk can do your body good, but maybe not when it's in your tea. Women in a study who drank black tea had improved cardiovascular function -- but that protection vanished if they drank it with milk. Temper the taste of your black tea with lemons instead. Or sip it as the Chinese traditionally do: straight up.

Researchers are not sure why milk may blunt tea's heart-healthy effects, but milk proteins called caseins are possible culprits. Tea is bursting with health-boosting
polyphenols, but proteins have been shown to counteract them. In one study, when researchers added a small amount (10 percent) of milk to black tea, it reduced the tea's concentration of catechins -- polyphenols credited with giving tea its antioxidant punch as well as fighting heart disease and boosting weight loss. The study results may help explain, in part, why tea's heart benefits appear to be missing in the United Kingdom, where milk is usually added to the brew.

It's not a done deal, however. Other studies have concluded that milk has no effect on tea's antioxidant powers. But the conflicting study results may simply be due to the way the scientists measured the good stuff in tea. In this recent study, researchers measured the effects of tea -- with and without milk -- on blood vessels in the cardiovascular system. Straight black tea helped blood vessels relax and widen, allowing blood to flow more freely. Tea with milk did not produce the same effect.

Copyright(c) 2007, RealAge, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Fermented Shrimp Incident

2007-04-10T15:35:00.001-05:00

This is the post where I gripe about my experience with Malay food. *WARNING* rant mode on*

I research Malay food and the restaurant itself. The customer reviews were great and so far everything I read seemed good. I convinced my friends to give the restaurant a try and off we went to dine there. We looked over the menu and asked the owner for advice. I settled on Belcan Okra (bamyah) with chicken. I love bamya and I eat chicken. The menu description stated that the dish is a stir-fry with a slightly spicy sauce served over white rice. Sound edible doesn't it? Well it was most definitely NOT!

While chatting with friends, munching on our lovely salad with ginger dressing, I smelled a horrendous stench right before the waiter brought my food. It took me a minute to realize the stench was coming from my table. How could such an awful smell come from food? Did they serve me something they found dead? Is there something stuck to the bottom of my plate or my shoes. I was dumbfounded. Meanwhile my friend, whose food wasn't great but certainly edible, was gloating. She told me not to try anything 'too weird.' I wondered if it was just me. Another friend of ours, one who eats absolutely anything wouldn't touch the dish. That's when I knew something was seriously wrong.

The food smelled like e77la (dried and salted fish) only 1000 times fouler! But my food wasn't seafood or was it? I ask the waiter what the red coating on my chicken was, and she said that it was coated with spices only. Surely, spices don't smell that bad??? I couldn't even eat the white rice and I finally asked that they remove it from the table and ordered something safe! Much to my surprise the owners/waiters got so offended and demanded to know why I did not enjoy the food. I couldn't exactly say 'well gee, it smells like ****!" They were genuinely offended and stunned that I did not like the dish.

When I went home, I googled my dish and whaddya know, good ol' wikipedia had an article on it. Here is what wikipedia had to say: "Belacan is a shrimp paste made from fermented ground shrimp, sun dried and then cut into fist-sized rectangular blocks. To many Westerners unfamiliar with this condiment, the smell can be extremely repulsive […] Belacan, a Malay variety of shrimp paste, is prepared from fresh tiny shrimp. These are mashed into a paste and buried for several months. Belacan is used as an ingredient in many dishes, or eaten on its own with rice […] the aroma from the frying mixture is unpalatable to most Westerner who have not become accustomed to it, but is an absolute delight to the Asian connoisseur." How could they not mention that?

They should've known that most people would not be able to eat the fermented shrimp. Serving it as part of their menu is their right and choice. However, it is very deceitful keeping this little fact from customers and misleading them. It is what makes the dish!
What if I was allergic to shellfish? I wish I knew what it was before leaving the restaurant; I would've faked a seizure and scared them all. I dropped more than 20 dinars on that awful food. Worse, I was embarrassed and felt like a criminal for not eating the food!

The next day I was relaying to my coworker about my horrible experience in the ladies room (ladies next time you engage in gossip in the WC check the stalls for legs!). One thing led to another and we start swapping our most disgusting food experiences. That definitely topped mine. Next thing I know, this girl comes out of one stalls (I didn’t even realize she was there) and says that as a Filipina she grew up eating the fermented shrimp paste and it is a delicacy. She stormed out all indignant while I stood mortified wishing the ground would open up and swallow me. I avoided that particular ladies room for days while I debated is I should apologize to her or if she should to me. I offended her that much was clear but she was the one eavesdropping. Once again, thanks to the stupid fermented shrimp I was made to feel like a culturally challenged twit!

My biggest gripe is not the food itself, but the deceit that surrounded it. Ok maybe the smell too!Ugh I feel like putting bu5oor just thinking about the smell. Ok, off I go, gotta get the stench off my mind.

A Yummy Post

2007-04-10T15:32:00.000-05:00

Since I cannot travel as much as I would like, I am trying the next best thing: eating my way around the world! Lol (My fellow reader, are you one of the lucky ones that had to sit through my whining and groaning about my unfortunate weight gain and how NOTHING fits? Now you know why!!!) So here are the cuisines I tried along with my opinion of them:

-Saudi: Yes it can be very different from Bahraini food, surprise, surprise! I was stunned and my hosts horrified (??) when I discovered that.
-Egyptian: My favorite would have to be the mole5eya although we make it the Lebanese way!
-Levant countries: I enjoy nearly all of the food. All time favorite would be the Tabouleh and ma2ane2.
-Jordanian: LOVE the ma2loobee and the mansaf. Need I say more??
-Turkish: I love everything they make. The yoghurt meatball soup is simply awesome.
-Sri Lankan: Yes it is very different from Indian and yes it is absolutely great! My favorite would be the mutton curry, the potato stir-fry with the curry leaves and the coconut salad. YUMMO
-Indian: Very very good. I like the red meats better than the chicken and for me that's unusual. The biryani and goat curry are tasty.
-Mexican: Absolutely love the whole fish, for some reason it is always called the mojarra, does that mean fish by any chance? No matter where I am, I have to lift up my sleeves and dig in. No forks for me, thank you very much!
-Spanish: Much to my surprise and yes I was stereotyping, very different from Mexican. It is nice, love Spanish seafood and of course the paella.
-Brazilian: love their red meats and seafood.
-Japanese: I hate sushi and am not a big fan of Japanese.
-Thai: mm I generally hate peanut sauce and/or oil, so I am not a big fan of it.
-Chinese: love the fake, not so wild about the authentic.
-Puerto Rican: Absolutely awesome, a certain dish they have resembles the saloona only with green olives!
-Columbian: Din't taste much but what I ate was also good. What struck me and again with stereotypes was how different it was from Mexican.
-American food: what can I say; there is the horrendous, the ugly, the bad and the good! What surprised me (now it doesn't) is the tendency to verge on gaminess (zaffer).
-Malay food: Oh boy, where do I start? Actually I won't get into it in this post.

So what cuisines have you tried? What would you recommend?

Globe Trotter

2007-04-10T15:29:00.000-05:00

I love to travel. Seeing new people and experiencing different places is something I find very exciting and satisfying. I am a citizen of the world and as such I want to immerse myself in as much of it as I can. Don't get me wrong, I like nothing more than just chilling at home after a hard work week. I am baytooteya as some say! Unfortunately, time, location and monetary constraints stop me from being the globe trotter I know I am at heart. Currently my travels are limited to seeing more of the United States as I can only get away on weekends. Eight states down, 42 more to go! I started writing down all places I would like to see.

Here are places I would love to visit:
Arab world: Morocco, Kuwait and UAE (yup I must be the only 5aleeji not to go to there), Oman (I heard it has beautiful sceneries), Lebanon and Palestine.

Americas: Toronto, Oregon (I'm curious to see what folks do there!), Argentine, Brazil and Peru, maybe Chile. Mexico too!

Europe: France, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria and Russia.

Asia: China, India, Indonesia and Malaysia. Australasia: Sydney, Canberra and New Zealand.
Last but not least Africa: Kenya and South Africa. Hey I told you I want to see the world!

What place in Allah's earth did you fall in love with? Where would you go and keep going to if you could? For me, I love Turkey: the scenery, the people, and the food. San Francisco and Northern California were simply breathtaking. California can actually be serene lol! Charleston, South Carolina. What are yours?

Dr. Ali Fakhro's Article

2007-04-10T09:31:00.000-05:00

Below is an interesting article by Dr. Ali Fakhro....Enjoy! (click on each image to get a larger, easier to read version).

تصريحات المهندس عبدالرحمن محمد النعيمي

2007-04-05T11:15:00.000-05:00

Received these gems in an email. Enjoy!

يظهر علينا أحد النواب قائلا لقد حصلنا على مكرمة للأرامل 50 دينار ومكرمة كذا وكذا، نحن نريد أن نغير هذه العقلية ، نحن لا نريد أن

نسمع أن المواطنين متسولين ، بل مواطنين أصحاب حقــــــــوق، وبالتالي ليست هناك مكارم في بلد أنعم الله عليه بهذه الثروة النفطية

يراد أن يقال في هذا البلد أن شيعة هم المعارضة والسنة هم الموالاة، باعتقادي هذا خطأ فهناك شيعة مواليين وهناك سنة معارضين، وفي الواقع لا المعارضة ولا الموالاة تريد أن تستلم السلطة ، فكلنا مقتنعون بجلالة الملك بأنه ملك للبلاد وأن الأسرة الحاكمة هي الحاكمة بموجب القانون والأعراف

بإمكان شعب البحرين أن يعيش – يوما من الأيام – دون ديون وبالتالي يمكن أن نحل جملة من المسائل إن لم يكن هناك تصور مستمر بأن يكون الشعب دائما مديون

نحن لا نريد أن نتآمر على البلد بل نريد الخير لهذا البلد، ونريد الخير لكل أبناء هذا البلد

الحكومة خايفة من الناس، والناس خايفة من الحكومة، والناس خايفة من بعضها بعض، هذي بلد يسمونها!!، كلنا نص مليون ، أنا لم أشاهد بلد آخر يشيع ثقافة الخوف كهذا البلد !!، إذا استطعنا أن نأسس لثقافة تقول أن المواطنين متساوون في الحقوق والواجبات

من حق جميع الجمعيات أن تختار أعضاءها حسب معتقداتها ولكن يجب أن تشيع ثقافة التسامح واحترام الرأي الآخر والتعددية وأن نعمل بشكل مشترك في قضايا مشتركة، فنحن جميعا متفقين في المطالبة بزيادة الأجور، لا سني ضد ارتفاع الأجور ولا شيعي كذلك

توجد سبعين قطعة حربية أمريكية في الأراضي البحرينية، وتوجد مناطق في المطار نفسه لا يمكن الدخول إليها لأنها تحت الحماية الأمريكية، الخطر الحقيقي الذي يواجهنا هو الأمريكان

نحن نعاهدكم بأن كل امتيازات أو أموال خارج القانون نرفضها، ونقول حتى هذه الألقاب التي لا طعم لها ولا معنى "سعادة النائب" نرفضها،قوله يالاخو لازم يعني سعادة النايب

You Can Help!!!

2007-04-04T07:35:00.000-05:00

Do you feel like no matter what you do, you cannot make a difference? Want to see your hard work fruit and blossom? Tired of contributing time, money, effort but find little results? Well, what if I told you there is something You can do to make a DIFFERENCE immediately?

Interested? You should be.... How about cleaning a beach?

Such a great idea by Soul Search. Click here to link to her post and contact her. Simple yet effective. You, yes you can make a difference! So will you join the efforts and make our beaches beautiful? Or will you sit back and let the filth and trash pile up? The choice is yours.

Take a stand now! Say no to trash and yes to a cleaner, more beautiful Bahrain. The time is this Friday April 06, 2007 at 9am. The place is a beach near Marina Club. If interested contact Soul Search at soulsearch78@gmail.com.

Remember a clean beach is a beautiful beach accessible to all.

Sawsan Al Sha3er's column: سوسن الشاعر-كلمة أخيرة

2007-03-15T10:41:00.000-05:00

18/01/2007

هل ننسى أن أول من عانى من جرائم التفجيرات هم شيعة العراق لأكثر من سنتين من بعد سقوط صدام، لا يمكننا أن ننسى أنه قد سقط منهم الآلاف وأصبح دمهم أرخص من دماء الحيوانات نتيجة تفجيرات الانتحاريين وأكثرها دموية تلك التي جرت في مرقد الإمامين، لا يمكننا أن ننسى أنهم ظلوا بلا ردة فعل فترة طويلة حيث كان زعيمهم الروحي السيستاني يطالبهم فيها بالصبر وعدم حمل السلاح، أم نسيتم؟ كما لا يمكننا أن ننسى إننا كنا ننادي حينها السنة في الدول العربية وخاصة دول الجوار أن يقفوا في وجه حملات التطهير والمجازر التي ترتكب في حق الشيعة، لكن رد فعل الأصولية السنية كان ضعيفا ومترددا ومتخاذلا نصرة لهيئة علماء السنة العراقيين الذي هم أيضا تعاونوا بصمتهم وما نطقوا إلا بعد أن فاق الأمر كل تصور وما عاد لسكوتهم تفسير إلا ضلوعهم بتلك الجرائم. أدنا الصمت الذي كان شيطانا أخرس حين ذاك، واليوم وكما هو متوقع انقلبت الآية وطال القتل سنة العراق وعلى جريمة الهوية فقط، الآن فقط بدأت تعلو أصوات الذين سكتوا استصراخا تحذر من حملة تطهير وتهجير ضد السنة! الآن نشط تبادل الأخبار ونشط عرضها ونشط الضمير الإنساني والخوف على الأبرياء، اليوم تتصدر أخبار المجازر صفحاتهم الأولى في حين كانت أخبار مجازر الشيعة تعرض في الصفحات الداخلية ويتم التلاعب بعناوينها والتخفيف من حدتها. لسنا نبرر مجازر اليوم التي تأخذ الإنسان بجريرة هويته، ولن نقبلها وسنندد بها ونستنكرها ونطالب الشيعة في كل مكان باستنكارها مثلما طالبنا السنة استنكار مجازر الأمس، ونطالبهم بعرضها في الصفحات الأولى والتعامل معها بحجم جرائمها الوحشية القذرة ونناشد مَن هو قادر على مساعدة الشعب العراقي بوقف هذا الحمام والتصدي لكل مَن له يد في تلك الجرائم سواء كان عراقيا أو أجنبيا أن يقوم بواجبه. لكننا نتساءل أين غاب هذا النشاط المحموم الذي نراه اليوم في نشر أخبار جرائم قتل السنة وبث خطب بعض علماء الشيعة التي تجيز قتل السنة والمتداولة على الإنترنت اليوم؟ أين كان هذا الضمير الإسلامي -إن جاز التعبير- حين طال التفجير النساء والأطفال والشيوخ والعمال ورواد المطاعم وطوابير المتقاعدين وتجمعات المصلين؟ ألم تكن هناك خطب وأشرطة النحر موجودة؟ ألم تكن هناك صور مقززة وخالية من الحس الإنساني يرتكبها سنة بحق الشيعة؟ فأين كانت صحافتكم وإيميلاتكم ومواقعكم؟ أليست هذه ازدواجية في المعايير؟ أليست هذه النتيجة بسبب الكيل بمكيالين؟

Al-Watan's Latest Shenanigan

2007-03-12T12:14:00.000-05:00

This post started as a comment to a post on Lulu Bahrain's blog (an excellent blog by the way). Lulu brings to light Al-Watan's recent monstrosity disguised in the name of prose. To read the horrendous poem click here.

The comment got longer the angrier I got so I turned it into a post. Here goes:
The newspaper (and I'm using the term loosely here) has certainly stooped to new lows. The poem is crass and more of what you see in tabloids than respected newspapers.

Several points that caught my attention:
The poem rightfully asserts that Al Gaoud has received government assistance to win the seat. In fact I heard she was guaranteed the win unopposed if she doesn't support candidates running in neigboring areas.

The poem also implies that Sunni MPs like Ms Al Gaoud represent the Government. What the poet fails to realize is that any MP- regardless of sex, ethnicity, sect or backing- REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE and THEIR INTERESTS (hence the term public servant). The people and the government's interests ALWAYS differ greatly.

The poet again assumes that Sunnis and the government are on the same side and share similar interests. Unfortunately, we are both suffering. Some Sunni villages are as decrepit and run-down as their Shia counterparts and unemployment is rampant among both sects. In fact, with this recent bout of illegal naturalization, the Sunnis come out the bigger losers. Why? Because army and police jobs are given to the newly naturalized rather than the Bahraini Sunnis.

Finally, and this one takes the cake, the poet (if you can call his work a poem) would have us believe that MP Al Saeedi continues to win his seat by earnest hard-work, prayers and blessings. I suppose the blessings would be Allah’s response to the fervent prayers of such a well-deserving man. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have PERSONALLY heard many persons of his area recount how Al Saeedi continues to bribe them and buy their votes. I remember one lady said that he promised to plant a garden infront of her home. Another stated that he promised to help her mum with the rent. I KNOW of the lies he spewed in the mosque about the other candidates and how the group backing him threatened the military and naturalized citizens to vote his way, how they spied on the competition. The sacks of rice and sugar, the school bags and BD 20s given out with a promise of vote in return. Anyone remember the smear campaign against Al Gaoud in the last election? The only solace I can find where he is concerned is that inshaAllah he will BURN in hell for his evil deeds and for using religion to further his political aspirations.

It saddens me that there are some folks who will side with the 'poet', so taken they are with the lies and brian-washed. Where Ms. Al Gaoud should be congratulated for voting her mind rather than towing the line, she is attacked for showing her allegiance to the people and not the government. When will we wake up and see our ugly truth? Until we do our situation and our beloved Bahrain will only deteriorate.

I will end this rather long rant by stating the obvious: we all know whose thoughts, ideas and version of news Al Watan represents, so really could we expect any better?

Interesting Tidbits

2007-03-12T10:31:00.000-05:00

Interesting tidbits, I wonder if some are true....let me know if you know they aren't:

* Paper money is not made out of paper but cotton.
* 40 % of McDonald's profits come from the Happy Meal (what are you feeding your kids folks???lol)
* The electric chair was invented by a dentist.
* Ketchup was used as medicine in the 18th century.
* English speaking Chinese exceed the United States population.
* Your eye is the same size now as its size at birth. Unlike the nose and ears, eyes do not grow in size.
* Chewing gum while handling onions will stop the tears. (I hope, definately will try this one, wearing contacts does too).
* The world's chicken population exceed's the world's human population.
* The elephant is the only animal that can't jump.
* The cat has 32 muscle in each ear.
* You can't kill yourself/end your life by holding your breath.
* All laser printers were invented by women (you go girls!).
* Honey is the only kind of food that never goes bad.
* A person cannot lick their elbows (I wonder who tried??)
* Alligators/crocodiles cannot stick their tongue outside their mouth.
* A pig cannot look up to the sky.
* Sneeze hard enough and you can break a rib. Hold a powerful sneeze and you can burst a blood vessel in your head or neck, this will result in death. Sneeze with your eye open and they will explode (now is this true??). Many things to be thankful for after a sneeze! :->
* A duck's quack has no echo. The reason is unknown.
* Coca Cola was originally green.
* Men can read smaller fonts but women have better hearing.
* Smart persons have higher level of copper and iron in their blood (now I know what to do with all those pennies!).

My Crushing Reality

2007-03-11T11:06:00.000-05:00

This is how I feel; my reality is slowly but surely coming down on me. The weight is heavy and I am being crushed. The little space I am left with leaves me no room to breathe.

I feel claustrophobic, only it’s my life that is confining me. The walls of my life are closing in on me, I have no room left. I need to break away from what???? My whole life? My reality? Me?

I have been told by all that it is my own doing. It is my fault and now I have to fix it or suffer the consequences. My own life so I choose they say, yet the decision to choose is not mine. I am selfish; I want to have my cake and to eat it.

I have hurt people and disappointed many others. In my defense, it wasn't intentional. Simply by being me and living my life. I try to live according to what I deem important, principles and morals that in the past have served me well. But it seems that I have forgotten to take into account what society demands of me, what is expected of me if I were to remain an active member of it.

The hurt is double sided; their pain and disappointment hurts me...Yet I am unable to work the cards I am dealt. So the hurt continues....

What happens when society expects more than what you can give, more than what you want to give up? What happens when you KNOW that society is wrong and you are right, but you are only a leaf facing strong winds? Do you bend to the wind and survive? Or do stand your ground and risk being broken? Do you perpetuate the wrong or do you make peace with the ill feelings, broken relations, stares, taunts and gossip that is bound to happen?

Bobbi Brown Rocks!

2007-03-11T10:59:00.000-05:00

Hahahhaa got you there! No, I am not talking about Witney Houston's crazy maniac soon to be ex-husband. I am talking about the cosmetics line.

For those of you wondering what I am blabbering about, this post is an update to the search for the perfect red. So I did find two new shades of red, one definately works, the other I have to think about some more.

The one that works is Bobbi Brown lip gloss 'ruby', the one that may work is Bobbi Brown lipstick 'scarlet'. The weird thing is that the scarlet looks brown, I guess it has too much brown undertones.

Maybe I just got to get used to seeing my face with red. I am determined to! I somehow look wrong, like I am playing a weird joke on myself??!

Of course, I did not just stop at buying cosmetics. There's the awesome sale at Bath and Body Works, cute outfits at Banana Republic, etc and pretty soon I am barely able to walk back to my car without my arms falling off in the parking lot!!

Ok, gotta work on this shopping and sale addiction, but that's a whole other post!

Prisoners Released!!

2007-02-25T13:02:00.000-05:00

Dr. Al Sehlawi and Mr. Al Habshi are released. Mahmood's Den has a nice article (with a picture too!) about it on his blog (click on his name to read it). I wish to congratulate these two men for standing their ground and their families for their release. I also want to thank all those who continued the pressure and their support. And of course all the bloggers that continued to write about them.

There are some who seemed shocked and rattled that I would write about Dr. Moh'd Al Sahlawi and Mr. Hussain AL Habshi's arrest. Some surprised that I would care! Why??? Because I don't share their politics or views. Because it seems in many way we are polar opposites. I explained that it doesn't matter if Al Sahlawi and Al Habshi are leftists, rightists, religious zealots, communists, liberal, etc. What matters is that they were punished for exercising their rights.

I support every Bahraini, regardless of their politics, affiliation, and faith, in exercising their rights, whatever those may be. I may not agree with what you say or how you act, but if its within your rights, I respect and will defend your right to say and act how you wish. Let us wake up people! I wish we give as much as we demand. We want to be free to express and act how we want, yet do we wish that these rights extend to all Bahrainis, even the ones we disagree with? I wish more of us would be more indignant when one of us-a fellow Bahraini- gets arrested or even worse for exercising his/her rights.

Kuwait May Require Visas for Bahrainis

2007-02-25T12:53:00.000-05:00

I heard murmurs about Kuwait thinking requiring visas for Bahrainis. Of course, Kuwait is somewhat upset over Bahrain latest wave of illegal and unconstitutional naturalization. This time we welcome among our folds a tribe (??)/group of Iraqi Tikriti Baathists. I read a figure of 3000 although some say alot more. Anyways, here is the email I received:

أفادنا مصدر مطلع فضل عدم الكشف عن اسمه، عن نية دولة الكويت بإلزام مواطني مملكة البحرين لاستصدار تأشيرة دخول "فيزا" لدخول الأراضي الكويتية. وتأتي هذه البادرة بعد تناقل الكثير من الأخبار المؤكدة عن منح آلاف العراقيين من أصول حزبية معادية لسيادة الكويت الجنسية البحرينية، وإلحاقهم بسلكي الدفاع والداخلية.
والجدير بالذكر أن ولي العهد الكويتي الشيخ نواف الأحمد الجابر الصباح قام بزيارة مملكة البحرين في شهر يناير الماضي، وذلك للتباحث والتشاور مع السلطات البحرينية حول ما أشيع عن نية البحرين لتجنيس آلاف العراقيين ذوي أصول "بعثية"، وما يترتب عليها من آثار تراها دولة الكويت تهديداً لأمنها واستقرارها. كما عرض الوفد الكويتي الذي زار مملكة البحرين عن نية الكويت بإلزام البحرينيين لإصدار تأشيرة دخول "فيزا" لكل بحريني ينوي السفر لدولة الكويت، بهدف ضبط و منع دخول "البعثيين" العراقيين الممنوحين الجنسية البحرينية أرض الكويت.
وتأتي نية دولة الكويت على إجبار مواطني مملكة البحرين لأخذ تأشيرة الدخول، كأول رد فعل خليجي واضح، لكبح جماح النظام البحريني لردع الوفود المجنسة حديثاً من تمازجها مع مجتمعات خليجية أصيلة.ويعلق مراقبون "إن ما ستقوم به دولة الكويت لإلزام البحرينيين بتأشيرة دخول لأراضيها، هو باب ستقرعه دول خليجية أخرى، للسيطرة على نسيجها الاجتماعي، وثوابتها الأصيلة من الخطر الذي ستساهم فيه مملكة البحرين بمنحها الجنسية البحرينية من ذوي الكفاءات المتدنية، وعبر معايير وأهداف سياسية وغير قانونية. بالإضافة لعدم الاختلاط الاجتماعي الغريب، الذي يهدد الوضع الأمني في دول الخليج

The Search for the Perfect Red

2007-02-25T02:24:00.000-05:00

I can't begin to tell you the amount of research I did in search of the perfect red. No, I am not talking about the red states or anything serious for that matter. I am looking for the perfect shade of red lipstick. I am desparate so I will settle for the perfect red gloss. I always loved red lipstick (when worn well) but always assumed that I couldn't get away with wearing it. I thought my color, shade, undertone, lipshape, just about everything was wrong for red. I swear a girl just can't get a break sometimes!

I don't know when I began to think different or why, but suddenly I have an overwhelming urge to wear red. I am liberated!! I can and god willing will someday soon sport awesomely red lips. I just have to figure out how!

I read articles, studied pics, looked at celebrities with my color and undertone to see what shades of red they wear, went to numerous shops, even bought 2 red lipsticks and 2 lip glosses, but still no success. :-( May be I am not used to seeing myself with red lips but so far everything looks BAD. One shade was so ugly that my sister upon seeing my picture declared it a horrendous look on me. Objectively looking at the picture, I realized I looked like a vampire whose mouth is dripping blood! UGH!! :-S Thanks to photoshop and the edit tools, I know look quite chic in a black and white pic.

But I will not give up! And yes, I know that I can be and am in this case a huge metfa'3ah. It is a stupid thing to be obesessed with. It just would be so lovely to own the perfect red. I know it will. Every girl should own a red lipstick. Girls just make sure you don't end up looking like you belong to the Adam's family. :-p

Ok, now that I pschyed myself with this post and restored my belief in red, I will resume my quest for the perfect red...tips anyone?

How do You View Your Government?

2007-02-24T20:48:00.000-05:00

Here is how Thomas Paine: Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.

Thomas Jefferson: Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms [of government] those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.

The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.

That government is best which governs the least, because its people discipline themselves.

Thomas Edison: There is far more danger in public than in private monopoly, for when Government goes into business it can always shift its losses to the taxpayers. Government never makes ends meet, and that is the first requisite of business.

Louis D. Brandeis: Our government... teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. Louis D. Brandeis

Larry Flynt: Majority rule only works if you're also considering individual rights. Because you can't have five wolves and one sheep voting on what to have for supper.

Sydney H. Harris: Democracy is the only system that persists in asking the powers that be whether they are the powers that ought to be.

Abraham Lincoln: No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent.

George Washington: Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.

Lewis Mumford: The way people in democracies think of the government as something different from themselves is a real handicap. And, of course, sometimes the government confirms their opinion.

However, Karl Marx states: The oppressed are allowed once every few years to decide which particular representatives of the oppressing class are to represent and repress them.

I view government at best a servant assigned by the public to serve and protect its interest. At worst, the government becomes a tyrannical master with the citizens his slaves.

Now my fellow reader, how do you view governments?

The Problem with Labels

2007-02-20T10:15:00.000-05:00

What are you? Are you a conservative or a liberal? A capitalist, socialist or communist? A believer or an atheist? A right winger or a left winger? Are you male or female? A primarily Arabic or English speaker? Are you Sunni, Shia, or as a friend put it, Shunni? Are you even Muslim? If you aren’t Muslim, are you a Christian, min ahl el ketab? If you are a Christian, are you a Baptist, Catholic or a Mormon? Are you… are you … are you?

Can we mix any labels? Are we able to be two opposite things? Say a conservative liberal or a liberal conservative? A right winger with left wing tendencies? A religious person with secular leanings? I know some self-professed communists that are the embodiment of capitalism.

All these questions and numerous others serve only to label you. And thereby the problem starts. The problem with labels is that they by definition serve to classify and describe someone or something. The label becomes your identification. Once you are labeled you are confined to an expected set of actions, views, opinions and beliefs. Think different, act different and you are ‘labeled’ a fake at best or a ‘traitor’ to your cause/sect/faith/politics.

I think it is human nature to label something. It makes the object easier to understand and deal with. We tend to peg things and try to make them fit in the tapestry of our lives. So either the piece goes along or we discard it, reject it as an unfit addition. But are humans like objects, so easy to label with predictable modes of behavior and actions?

When applying labels to people, aren't we setting ourselves up for failure and disappointment? Someone is bound to act in a way unbecoming of the label and then what do we do? Either we realize that labels really don’t work but use them anyway, or we become more rigid in the label system, writing the person off as a deserter of the cause, whatever it may be.

Labels limit our opportunities and bind us with their chains inside a box. When we do manage to break free, the damage to the box is substantial and those left inside suffer the consequences.

Labels also employ our preconceived notions and subconsciously play on our prejudices allowing us to pass judgements on whole groups of people. Labels can have you instantly dismiss a person as someone who at best has nothing in common with you and at worst, an enemy. Labels are also syptomatic of societal tensions and problems. If a person acts outside of what is expected, this person or even the action is seen as the exception to the norm. Even though he/she is ------, they do not act like it/are not lazy/are nice.

Here in Bahrain, labels are busy at work leading some to believe that a figure is for a certain group or against them not based on the person's actions but to the group such figure belongs to. Our parliament is a prime illustration with encumbants serving another term simply for belonging to a certain group (and thus labeled as a 'friend' or 'pro-this or that') when their track record proves other wise.

Ask yourself, would a shia candidate with the best professional track record and high morals ever win a seat in a primarily conservative sunni locale ex. Riffa? Would a sunni ever win a seat in a conservative shia village ex. Daih? The chances are remote not because of the candidate's credentials but because the candidate lacks the right label, he/she (don't even get me started on the she issue) doesn't belong.

I try to think of what labels I want, other than those I have to carry. I find myself shying away from defining me. The chant “I am more, I am more” keeps ringing in my head loud and clear. There are certain truths that I know about myself. Yet I hesitate to speak them out loud for fear of being pegged.

It is true that there are some labels we can’t escape. Others we proudly carry. I am a Muslim Bahraini female. These are labels I am proud to have. But they are not all that define me.

Everyone expects me to act a certain way: Because I am female, my society restricts me (ex. can’t be out after 11pm, can’t expect to enjoy the same freedoms as your counter males).

Because I am Muslim, often the world discriminates against me (ex. I thought you were progressive, what do you mean you are a practicing Muslim? You are Muslim, but you are so normal! If you were a good Muslim, you would wear hijab).

Because I am Bahraini, certain behaviors, choices and actions are expected of me (ex. Why are you still abroad, don’t you love your country?)

At times, I can't help but disappoint those around me. It is inevitable. My existence goes beyond my labels. That catches the people around me off guard and makes them wonder if they really knew me. Sometimes, I wonder too. Do they really know me, or do they know my labels and what I am ‘supposed to be’?

So fellow reader, think some and share if you like, what labels define and confine you?

Julia Botros - Win el Malayin

2007-02-15T17:56:00.001-05:00

Another Julia video. I promise this is the last one.

Enjoy if you can... I too wonder where are we?

Julia Boutros Ahibaii Videoclip

2007-02-15T17:49:00.001-05:00

I love Julia Boutrous, a truely wonderful artist. She reminds me of Fairooz and Majida Al Roumi. Just heard this song through her website. Enjoy!

Not in Defense of Mushaime, but for the Love of the Country by Al-Naeemi

2007-02-14T23:54:00.000-05:00

Excellent letter/article written by none other than Abdulrahman Al-Naeemi.... (I know the font is too small, click on the image to read the article)

Sleeping with the Enemy

2007-02-07T19:56:00.000-05:00

Strange bed fellows, don't you think? For more on Shimon Peres's visit to Qatar, please click on the title.

Yet Another Quote!

2007-02-02T15:17:00.000-05:00

A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right, a man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice, a man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Bahraini Ten Commandments

2007-02-02T02:08:00.000-05:00

1. Recognize and pay homage to the powers that be.
2. Thou shall see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Pretend you are in paradise and everything is just dandy.
3. Thou shall not consider yourself human.
4. Thou shall not make negative statements about the powers that be, actually just keep your mouth shut.
5. Remember that you are a nothing and act accordingly.
6. Thou shall honor the powers that be.
7. Thou shall not think for yourself.
8. Thou shall not expect any basic human rights. In fact, expect nothing.
9. Thou shall not bear as a true witness to all the corruption.
10. Thou shall be grateful for the little morsels of humanity thrown your way.

Now memorize them well and heed what they say. Remember in Bahrain these commandments are the most holy. They are crucial to your well-being!

Another Slap on the Face

2007-02-02T01:42:00.000-05:00

Barely two months into 2007 and the champions of a democratic Bahrain were dealt yet another slap on their respective faces. A lesson was met out to explain for all the limits of Bahraini 'freedom.'

Dr. Moh'd Saeed and Mr. Hussien Al Habshi were sentenced to serve terms of one year and six months respectively for exercising their right of free speech.

To rub salt onto the wound, Abdulhadi Khawaja (president of the Bahrain Center for Human Rights) and Hassan Mushaime (secretary general of the Haaq Movement) were arrested earlier this morning.

It is a shame and a crime that families have been robbed of their loved ones and men taken away from their lives, just so we can all be taught a lesson.

Oh powers that be, we learnt our lesson: we know you consider us subhuman not worthy of the space we occupy. Message received LOUD and CLEAR. Now powers that be, can you please let these men go...

No wait, I realize now that someone has to pay and it certainly won't be you.

The Dream that was a Nightmare

2007-02-02T01:15:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a tiny kingdom that was known as the jewel of the seas. Though plain, this island was magical and bewitched all its inhabitants. The citizens loved this kingdom deeply and thought it the greatest place on earth. Life wasn’t easy for the people faced many hardships. But all considered themselves fortunate to be part of this great kingdom. As the years went by hope blossomed in the hearts of the citizens that this great kingdom of theirs will afford them basic provisions. Now these people weren’t greedy nor were they lazy, for these provisions were part of human nature.

Well, what were those provisions you ask? It is quite simple really; these folks wanted a better life for all. This hope grew into a dream and soon many of the wonderful citizens believed that this dream will come true. They worked together to accomplish their goal. Day and night they toiled. And just when the dream started to materialize, a storm descended on this magical island. The good people were scattered about, some buried in caves that bound them. Other were carried by the mighty winds and placed in lands unknown. The storm was so ferocious that some were robbed of their voices and went about their lives silenced and torn. Many years passed with the people sad and worn.

However, the people of the magical island did not lose sight of their goal. Hope grew inside them ready to burst until they were compelled to act upon it. Just when the dream began to bear fruit, suddenly another storm rolled, threatening to sweep all their hard work. The wind gusts were powerful and caused significant damage but the people remained strong.

During the storm, a thought was planted in some minds: what if this hope that grew into a dream….what if it was a nightmare all along?

Another Quote

2007-01-11T02:15:00.000-05:00

"Watch your thoughts, they become words.Watch your words , they become actions.Watch your actions, they become habits.Watch your habits, they become your character.Watch your character, it becomes your destiny."

-Frank Outlaw

Quote of the Day

2007-01-05T15:26:00.000-05:00

I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write.

-Voltaire

or as Mahmood suggested:

I detest what you say, but I would defend to death your right to say it.

-Voltaire

Who is Dr. Mohammed Saeed?

2007-01-04T03:42:00.000-05:00

A relative and a fellow blogger asked me who Dr. Moh’d Saeed is. She came across his name on my blog and wondered about this person.

So who is Dr. Moh’d Saeed? Well I don’t know him personally, although I would certainly be honored to. However, I am related to him, a cousin of a cousin sorta deal. [Isn’t it wonderful how we are all one big family in Bahrain?] Yet this isn’t the reason why I blogged about him.

In fact, I only came to know of him when I heard from my father that he was imprisoned. “Do you know so and so’s son, who is so and so’s cousin was arrested?” Even then, I am ashamed to say that I din’t pay him or news of his arrest any attention.

Then I started reading more and more about Dr. Saeed and began to follow his story. On the personal and professional level, Dr. Saeed is a 35 year old Bahraini dentist. He is also a political and human rights activist.

The following is a summary of Dr. Saeed’s detainment:

Dr. Mohamed Saeed Al Sahlawi and Mr. Hussain Abdelrazaq Alhabashi were arrested mid November 2006. Their detainment was extended several times pending investigations. The chief prosecutor Ahmed Bucheeri claims that they were caught with leaflets they were planning to distribute. [The leaflets concerned the Bandargate scandal and urged people to boycott the elections.] They have been detained since mid November and could face up to three years in prison and an unlimited fine if found guilty.

They are held on two charges, relating to the Press and Publishing Code and Penal Code. The first charge is promoting "changing the system of the state through illegal means and without a legitimate reason". The second charge is that the publications allegedly contain false rumors that "would cause disruption of public security and damage public interest".

Interestingly enough, “the two laws under which they are to be charged and tried, the Law of Printing and Publications and the Penal Code had been described as both in violations of the fundamentals associated with freedom of speech and expression, as well as International Standards of Human Rights which defend those freedoms essential to any country which claims to be harboring the very example of democracy and justice.” (Bahrain Center for Human Rights).

So who is Dr. Mohammed Saeed? He is more than just another casualty of my beloved.

He is a son, a father and a husband. He is a fellow Bahraini paying the price of enjoying our ‘freedom of expression’ while the rest of us go on with our merry lives.

Attempts are being made to silence him, to punish him for being courageous and speaking his mind. And through him, an example is made to us of how we should be using our new found freedoms… or else suffer a similar fate.

He is a prisoner of conscience in this country that seemingly never tires of sacrifices and always demands much more blood and tears to be shed at her alters.

Free Dr Mohammed Saeed

2006-12-11T17:17:00.001-05:00

I Pity the Fool...

2006-12-05T22:39:00.000-05:00

So many things to say and many to write about. Yet, when I open my mouth words choke me and when I start to type reality frustrates me. It seems my beloved has once again played a cruel joke on me. The fool that I am, believed in her hopes and dreams. Hoped and dreamed right along. Cheered for her and her people. But once again, my beloved has shown me her true colors. My beloved has shown me how her faith has become a commodity in the hands of the highest bidder, and how easily money talks and corruption rules.

I pity the fool that is me....

Open Letter to Mohammed Khalid

2006-12-05T10:26:00.000-05:00

An open letter by Bahraini journalist Lamees Dhaif to parliament member Mohammed Khalid. (click on image to view and read the column).

على الوتر‮ - ‬لميس ضيف

رسالة إلى محمد خالد

لسبب ما أحفظ بشيئ ما للنائب محمد خالد رغم رعونته وطيشه وما‮ ‬يخرج به بين الحين والآخر من تصرفات‮ ‬غير مسؤولة ولا محسوبة‮.. ‬وذلك لأني‮ ‬لا أرى فيه اللؤم الذي‮ ‬أراه في‮ ‬الآخرين بقدر ما ارى فيه شخصية انفعالية تهيمن فيها العواطف والانفعالات على صوت العقل وأخال أن تلك صفة‮ ‬يعرفها تمام المعرفة عن نفسه‮.. ‬ولا ادل على ذلك من ان هناك من بين الرموز والنواب والمشايخ من‮ ‬يحمل في‮ ‬قلبه جبلاً‮ ‬من الحقد لخصومه ورغم ذلك فلا‮ ‬ينطق بربع ما‮ ‬ينطق به محمد خالد من ترهات وتصريحات عدائية‮..‬ولأن الدين نصيحة‮.. ‬فليسمح لي‮ ‬هنا بكلمة ـ لا تنسحب عليه فحسب ـ بل على كل متشدد سيدخل البرلمان حاملاً‮ ‬معه فكرا تسقيطيا تكفيريا‮..‬ قد‮ ‬يكون انتماؤك الإخواني‮ ‬يا شيخ خالد هو ما أوصلك لهذه المكانة التي‮ ‬أنت عليها اليوم‮.. ‬ولكنك بقبولك الدخول في‮ ‬البرلمان‮ »‬البحريني‮« ‬تحولت كنائب لشعب البحرين بأكمله لا لأبناء مذهبك فحسب‮.. ‬وشعب البحرين‮ -‬سواء أشئت أم أبيت‮- ‬لا‮ ‬يقتصر ولن‮ ‬يقتصر‮ ‬يوماً‮ ‬على السلفيين والأخوان بل هو أيضاً‮ ‬مكون من ذاك المزيج الذي‮ ‬تراه من‮ »‬علمانيين وروافض ويساريين‮« ‬على حد تعبيرك في‮ ‬خطبة الجمعة التي‮ ‬مضت‮.. ‬وكنائب تمثل كل بحريني‮ ‬في‮ ‬الداخل والخارج‮ - ‬بما فيهم من أسميتهم بأبناء السلندرات‮- ‬لا‮ ‬يليق بك التطاول على فئة والهجوم على أخرى‮.. ‬وعليك ان تدرك أن تسقيطك لفئة وتقزيمك لجمعية وتخوينك لجماعة أمر لا‮ ‬يتماشى مع المكان والدور الذي‮ ‬ارتضيته لنفسك‮. ‬هنالك بحر من التسجيلات المنتشرة لمشايخ عدة‮ ‬يتطاولون فيها على أبناء طائفة بعينها،‮ ‬ولكنها تسجيلات لا قيمة لها ولا نسمعها إلا للتندر والسخرية إذ أن من الطريف حقاً‮ ‬أن‮ ‬يظل لليوم من‮ ‬يتكلم بهذه العقلية‮. ‬ولكن لسماعها من نائب للشعب وقع مختلف‮.. ‬وقع مخيف‮.. ‬فهي‮ ‬تثير في‮ ‬نفوسنا الرعب من مستقبل ملغم بالإصطدامات والمواجهات الخطرة التي‮ ‬تؤجج سعار الطائفية في‮ ‬المجتمع،‮ ‬السعار الذي‮ ‬أحرق بلهبه دولاً‮ ‬عدة آلت للدمار من جراء تأجيج نعرات كهذه‮.. ‬ ويبقى لك أن تعرف أنك اليوم في‮ ‬موقع هام وحساس تأتي‮ ‬معه التزامات وطنية‮ ‬يجب أن تتقيد بها‮.. ‬التحشيد لجماعة والتنفير من أخرى لمجرد إختلافها معك ليس مما‮ ‬يأتي‮ ‬على قائمة تلك الإلتزامات‮.. ‬ونحن ننتظر منك أن تكون الوحدة همك و إنجاح تجربة التعايش هاجسك،‮ ‬وتحريض الناس على الوفاق‮ »‬كمبدأ لا جمعية‮« ‬منهجك‮.. ‬ننتظر منك اليوم ترميم الشروخ وتطهير النفوس من جيف الطائفية لا تعميقها من على منبرك‮.. ‬ ونذكرك هنا بأن الله نهى في‮ ‬محكم كتابه عن سب حتى آلهة المشركين لأن لا‮ ‬يفعلوا هم المثل‮.. ‬فكيف بل وانت تسئ لمذهب أخوة لك في‮ ‬الدين وتصفهم بأبشع النعوت‮.. ‬ولا أدرى كيف تقبل ان تكون معولاً‮ ‬لحفر خندق بين المسلمين عوضاً‮ ‬عن أن تبني‮ ‬بينهم الجسور‮..‬؟‮! ‬أشُيِّمْتَ‮ ‬لتفعل ما فعلته الجمعة في‮ ‬بيت من بيوت الله؟‮! ‬أم دفعت لزرع تلك الفتنة لأهداف انتخابية دنيوية؟‮!‬ إنني‮ ‬أطلب منك‮.. ‬وأطالبك كفرد من هذا الشعب أنت نائبه أن تترفع عن الخوض في‮ ‬عقائد الآخرين‮.. ‬أنت سني‮ ‬لأنك ولدت كذلك ولو ولدت شيعياً‮ ‬لما بدلت مذهبك بمال الدنيا‮.. ‬وأفضلية كل مذهب أمر لن‮ ‬يُحسم إلا‮ ‬يوم الحشر‮. ‬وحتى ذلك اليوم لا نطالب سوى بشيئ من الاحترام للآخر‮.. ‬الاحترام الذي‮ ‬عشنا في‮ ‬ظله لليوم شعباً‮ ‬مسالماً‮ ‬سالماً‮.. ‬ولا نريد من المجلس ولا من شخوصه أن‮ ‬يفقدونا ما عشنا عليه طوال حياتنا من تسامح وتقبل‮.. ‬

Quote of the Day

2006-12-04T01:57:00.000-05:00

He who can make you believe absurdities can also make you commit atrocities. -Voltaire-

I Dunno How to Link!!!

2006-11-15T21:17:00.000-05:00

I dunno how to link. There I said it. I can't. I tried and I failed miserabley. Several times. I tried and tried. I even joined a google help group. I read the blogger help. I even improvised. NOTHING works. It doesn't help that everyone's blog looks great, links, gr8 banners, pictures, videos, audio files the works. Mine, well I can't even get the stupid link thingie to work.

Oh well, who says a blog has to be all fancy like. Some like mine can be simple. Back to basics kinda blog. No links, no fancy shmancy banners or funny videos. It can perform its purpose: to have posts.

Yup! maybe if I repeat this enough I will believe it. Meanwhile, feel free to drop me any tips or hints!

Acts of Desperation

2006-11-15T21:10:00.000-05:00

Mobile phones being tapped with operatives listening to every word this family utters, from its parents all the way down to their preteen child…. Individuals working with the family under surveillance, their every move scrutinized, watched and recorded…. Payoffs and bribes, deals and promises are made in exchange of cooperation… a smear campaign carried out in places of worship and covertly behind closed doors… Coercion and threats are made to the members of the team working with the family…When this fails, arrests are made to put pressure on the big fish to give in…

Sounds like the cops staking out a mafia family in a movie or a TV show. Unfortunately, this is not the case… this stuff is going on right under your nose! Yes YOUR own nose, right HERE in WONDERLAND!!!

But in this case the family that is being watched and harassed is your average Bahraini, working to get by, family. The big fish that they are trying to defeat is none other than a candidate running against a powerful, corrupt, backed incumbent… Who is playing the role of the cops, well I will let you guess that for yourself, although I am confident you have a good guess who they are. I will give you a hint to help you come up with a name.. think southern governate, think payoffs and a big ugly beard.

It nice to see (yes I am being very sarcastic) that despite all this mumbo jumbo of democracy and reform, things are still what they used to be in Wonderland.

GRE SUCKS!

2006-11-15T15:23:00.000-05:00

I have to take the GRE at the end of the month.. This sucks, I don't understand the reason for it. They tell you immediately that the GRE is not a test of your college knowledge or intelligence. SOOO what is it a test for exactly? I hate having to study for it and I hate all the words they include in the verbal section. Words that have not been used in the 21st century.. alacrity, lassitude... are you kidding me?

Well as you can guess my study plans are not going well at all. I have a zillion or so words to memorize, along with their synonyms and antonyms... While everyone will be shopping, stuffing themselves, shopping, hanging out and yes, even more shopping, I will be stuck at home trying to cram for the stupid GRE and failing miserabley. Of course it doesn't help that I need my score to be in the top 10%, no pressure there at all!!

Ok-- rant mode off-- All I can say is IT SUCKS BEING ME.. :'(

The forces that be are at it again!

2006-11-14T18:11:00.000-05:00

It seems the forces that be are at it again to influene the outcome of the upcoming elections in their favor. Seems to me they are getting desparate. Illegal naturalization, payoffs just don't seem to be enough.

الرويعي: السعيدي ضالع في توقيف الهاشل
الوسط - علي العليوات تطورت الحوادث الانتخابية في الدائرة الأولى بالمحافظة الجنوبية بشكل متسارع خلال اليومين الماضيين، إذ اتهمت مترشحة الدائرة مريم الرويعي (رئيسة الاتحاد النسائي) منافسها في الدائرة السلفي المستقل جاسم السعيدي بالضلوع وراء توقيف مدير حملتها أحمد الهاشل، وقالت: »إن توقيف الهاشل جاء إثر شكوى تقدم بها السعيدي، يدعي فيها أن الهاشل أحد العسكريين ولا يحق له العمل في الحملات الانتخابية«.
وذكرت الرويعي أن »الهاشل لايزال موقوفاً في سجن القرين العسكري تمهيداً لتقديمه الى المحاكمة العسكرية بتهمة العمل في حملة انتخابية، كما أن أعضاء فريق الحملة الانتخابية تم استدعاؤهم يوم أمس الأول والتحقيق معهم حتى وقت متأخر من الليل، وتم إطلاق سراحهم بعد أخذ توقيعات منهم بعدم الاقتراب من خيمتي الانتخابية«.واستغربت من توقيف مدير حملتها بدعوى أنه تابع للسلك العسكري، وقالت: »نستغرب من هذه الانتقائية في التعامل مع المترشحين، لماذا يتم توقيف الهاشل دون غيره، وعلى الجهات المعنية أن تفتش خيام باقي المترشحين في الدائرة إذ ان غالبية شباب الرفاع هم من العسكريين، وباقي الخيام الانتخابية للمترشحين وحتى خيمة السعيدي تضم أفراداً عسكريين، وفي المقابل لم يتم اتخاذ أي إجراء ضدهم«، وأضافت »الهاشل كان يعمل مديراً للحملة الانتخابية للسعيدي في انتخابات 2002 ولم يتم التعرض له أو إثارة أنه يتبع السلك العسكري، فلماذا يثير السعيدي هذه الأمور في انتخابات 2006؟«، ورأت أن »ما يحدث هو إرهاب، ويستهدف تعطيل حملتي الانتخابية« بحسب قولها. وامتنعت عن التعليق عما إذا كانت تتخوف من تجيير أصوات العسكريين في الدائرة لصالح السعيدي، واكتفت بالقول ان »الناس ضمائرهم حرة، ويجب أن يتركوا بعيدا عن الضغوط«.من جانب آخر، أفاد المترشح المنافس للسعيدي والرويعي، محيي الدين خان أن الجهات المعنية أوقفت العاملين معه في الحملة الانتخابية إثر اتهامهم بالعمل في حملة انتخابية لأحد المترشحين إلى جانب كونهم عسكريين، ولفت خان إلى ان الجهات المعنية أخذت تعهدات من العاملين في الحملة الانتخابية بعدم التعاون معي. وحاولت »الوسط« الاتصال لأكثر من مرة بالسعيدي من اجل الحصول على توضيح منه، غير أنه لم يجب على اتصالات __________________________________________________________________جريدة الوسط - 11 نوفمبر 2006

Why Do I Feel So Sad?

2006-02-20T23:07:00.000-05:00

When I am in Bahrain, a feeling of euphoria accompanies me where ever I go for the first few days. I want to embrace every person I see, tell them how much I missed them; I want to kiss every child and feed the ground beneath me my tears of joy. I want to breathe in all the scents, the good, the bad and the ugly. I want to shout of the roof tops, scream out loud that I am home, I have finally come home.
Then the reality of Bahrain, the reality of my homeland and my people set in. The rosy glasses are taken off and I see all the ugliness. I take in the hypocrisy and double standards, the unemployment and poverty, the racism and sectarianism, the obsession some people have with all things trivial and the ignorance that still prevails, the conditional freedom and acceptance, the distorted freedom bestowed upon us and the decades-long struggle of my people for what they may never experience.
I try to reason with myself and others; how can we take one step forward and so many behind? How can we struggle for our freedom and at the same time let sectarianism and racism divide us? How can we think we are better than others when we have been put down all our lives? How can so many of us be ignorant of the plight of my beloved country? To the plight of those who gave up their lives, blood, family and efforts for the dignity of a country? I get mad, I become angry, my blood boils and I get agitated. Then I get jaded. I write off the dream of my beloved being free, a warm and loving embrace that encompasses all of its children.
Now that I am far far away, I hear and read of my beloved’s news, the same old stories that just take on new faces and names. Why am I not angry, why isn’t my blood boiling? Why does my heart ache and tears overflow my eyes? Why is it so difficult to write it all of as the same old story and a dream that turned to be just that: a dream? Why do I still long for a perfect beloved and a warm embrace that exists only in my head? Why do I feel so sad?

Cleric offers reward to kill cartoonist!

2006-02-17T11:02:00.000-05:00

Cleric offers reward for killing cartoonist Vow comes as Pakistan arrests 125, including radical Islamic leader
MSNBC News Services
Updated: 9:04 a.m. ET Feb. 17, 2006
PESHAWAR, Pakistan - A Pakistani Muslim cleric said Friday that he and supporters were offering rewards of more than $1 million for killing Danish cartoonists who drew caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.
Maulana Yousef Qureshi, a cleric in the northwestern city of Peshawar, said during Friday prayers that he personally had offered to pay a bounty of 500,000 rupees ($8,400), while a jewelers association was putting up $1 million, and others were offering $17,000 plus a car.
Qureshi repeated the offer at rally later in the city to protest against the cartoons.
"If the West can place a bounty on Osama bin Laden ... we can also announce reward for killing the man who has caused this sacrilege of the holy prophet," Qureshi told Reuters, referring to the $25 million U.S. bounty on the al-Qaida leader's head.

What a BRILLIANT Idea! Why din't I think of this first and put up the $100 that I have. It isn't much but I bet some Luny Bin will rise to the occasion and secure his way to paradise! Seriously though, when will we learn????? Will we ever??? We want the world to stop thinking we are terrorists, so much so that we will terrorize them into not thinking it! Hopefully, a cleric or something will do some damage control.

Yes oh West, we are all for freedom of speech and freedom of every kind, except that not one of us is free, and when we disagree with you, we will go for your throat, so you better not piss us off. SAD.

The loser of a cleric should be fired, but sadly, me thinks he will be revered. Quick someone kill him so he too can go to paradise.

Meet the Winners!

2006-02-14T18:13:00.000-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you.....

President George W. Bush:
At a closed-door meeting with lawmakers Friday at a Republican retreat in eastern Maryland, President Bush warned that "I expect this conversation we're about to have to stay in the room." He quickly added that "I know that's impossible in Washington." It was, even more so than usual. The first few minutes of his comments were being piped inadvertently through an open microphone to reporters who had just been escorted out of the event. In his supposedly off-the-record comments, he offered a defense of his National Security Agency eavesdropping program.

Vice President of the USA, Dick Cheney:
Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot his friend in the face and shoulder while bird hunting on Saturday. A birdshot pellet that hit the friend has migrated to his heart, causing a "minor" heart attack, hospital representatives said on Tuesday outside the hospital where Whittington is being treated.

It would be hilarious if they both weren't so destructively dangerous.

Quote of the Day

2006-02-14T18:09:00.000-05:00

"Whosoever of you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart – and that is the weakest of faith."
- Prophet Muhammed (SAW) as reported by al-Bukhari

Cartoons Reach Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

2006-02-14T17:42:00.000-05:00

So, here I am visiting a friend on Friday, when the tired old question came up: Did you see the cartoons? I did not have to ask what cartoons she meant, by now, all of us about THE CARTOONS. So I said yeah and changed the subject. After all, what could I do? So then I come to know through another friend that the Sun News, Myrtle Beach's most circulated (and pathetically boring) newspaper has published the Danish cartoons.

Ok, I was extremely bothered when the Danish newspapers published the offensive cartoons, but now I am past bothered. Infuriated, and surprised. Why on earth would a newspaper in Myrtle Beach publish the cartoons. Here, Muslims are referred to as Mozzlems or the Nation of Izzlam folks. People here don't even know where or even what Denmark is, yet the newspaper thought it fit to publish the cartoons.

Whom do these cartoons address in this little southern town, where most would not even know who the Prophet is, and what do they hope to inspire?

These cartoons and the violent reactions they caused around the world only serve to reaffirm the misconception that Muslims are terrorists to be feared, that I (being normal and peaceful) am the exception to the malignant and dangerous rule. I will continue to get the locks of shock and masked fear when people realize that I am not Hispanic but an Arab and worse, a Muslim.

So what should I do? This time, it hits to close to home for me to be comfortable.

The Ruckus over the Danish Cartoons

2006-02-01T00:46:00.000-05:00

When I was younger, my dad used to say that freedom is conditional. You see, with freedom comes responsibilty. You are free to do whatever you please as long as your actions or words do not hurt or limit the freedom of another. Once harm is established, then you have to face the ramifications and may even have your freedom restricted or revoked.

So in the West, people are free and democratic, something we still long for. Yet what is freedom, really, and how do you define it? Muslim girls in France are banned from wearing hijab in schools, a move unanimously backed by the french goverment. People with Muslim, Arab or African names have difficulty finding employment. In the States, there is the Partiot's Act which allows government agencies to spy on people.

On the other hand, the West has freedom of speech. So much so, that often time slander and hateful comments are regarded as the individual's inherent right to free speech. (antisemitic comments and negative remarks about the holocaust are crimes punishable by law in many western countries. These negative remarks include publicly doubting the holocaust.. but of course prophet bashing is free speech and welcomed!)

So this brings me to the Danish cartoons that slander the Prophet (PBUH). The questions that beg to be asked, is a person's freedom limited or unlimited? Shouldn't a person be held responsible for the results of his/her right to practice free speech? In this instance, my dad's words come to my mind, you are only free to do as you wish as long as no one is harmed. In the case of the Danish cartoons, clearly the sensibilities of all Muslims were offended .

So what do we do now? Do we murder him like Theo Van Gogh, the Danish filmaker was? Do we act violently and reinforce the negative image Islam seems to have? Do we act rashly with threats, hateful words and boycotts that would do Muslims more harm than good and create a backlash?

Or do we rise to the occasion? Why not sue the cartoonist for defamation and slander? Why not take the high road and settle this one and for all in courts? Why not establish a clear precedant in their courts and in their lands that makes it clear that slander of religion (whatever it maybe) is not freedom of speech and should not be tolerated? Why not be patient, resourceful and resilent until we have it established that with freedom of speech comes responsibility?

Wasn't the Prophet (PBUH) mocked and ridiculed by his opponents? For that matter, weren't most prophets (PBUT). But the Prophet never waged a war for that reason or incited violence and doled out threats. Why not mimick his actions as we struggle to right the wrong done against him?

Maybe because it is easier to make a ruckus and fuss, instead of being the bigger and better persons, instigating real and lasting change for the better.

So Whacko Jacko is at it AGAIN!

2006-01-31T23:58:00.000-05:00

So Michael Jackson has left Neverland to settle for the time present in Bahrain. With big talks of building a mosque, embracing Islam, contributing his efforts and expertise, being a entertainment consultant, MJ seems to have found life in Bahrain quite hassle-free (no one suing him....yet!) and enjoyable. Some might even say he is planting his roots. I wonder how long it will take him to get the citizenship?? Now I am veering off the topic, I will save this thought to another post. Seems too, he has added cross-dressing to the mix.

Quick information, the average Bahraini may not know about the infamous Michael Jackson:
-Michael Jackson was first accused of child sexual abuse in 1993 by the son of MJ's former dentist. A year later, the MJ settled out of court paying the accuser at least US $23 million. The case was dropped. In 2003, child molestation charges were brought against MJ by Gavin Arvizo who appeared with MJ in the documentary 'Living with Michael Jackson' and a civil suit was brought against him. Also, a criminal case was launched but MJ was acquitted of all 10 charges. However, two jury persons asserted that they believed MJ was guilty of the crime but did not have enough evidence to charge him. In 2006, allegations of sexual assualt were brought on MJ. His vet is suing him (or planning to) for having treated MJ's exotic animals at NeverLand yet never receiving payments. There is alot of speculation of MJ being in financial trouble as he still owes alot of ppl alot of money.

-In 'Living with Michael Jackson' a documentary by Martin Bashir, MJ appeared with a 12 year old boy (later his accuser), holding hands and the boy resting on MJ's shoulder. They both said that they slept on the same bed (platonically) and MJ asserted that he has shared his bed many a times with pre-adolescent boys who need plenty of love and affection. It also showed MJ speaking of being Peter Pan, never growing old. There was also talk of how the parents of the boys stayed in a different building than that which housed MJ's bedroom, while the boys hung out unsupervised with MJ. In response to the show, MJ accused Bashir of distoring MJ's words and images. MJ said a lot of weird stuff in that interview about his likes and dislikes, his family. Very dysfunctional to say the least.

Ppl seem to have mixed feelings about MJ's stay in Bahrain. Some are enthralled with the King of Pop being in their piece of the world, estatic to get a pic of him on their camera phone. Others are disgruntled, ready to rally and who knows, maybe even start a riot. But isn't freedom what we are vying for in Bahrain? So why not allow MJ to be free, without hassling him. Let him talk the big talk (I am convinced this is all it is). Bahrain certainly does not need any favors or mosques from MJ, but if he wishes to do so, well, let him. Let him cross dress if he wishes, he is the one looking like a fool. (which brings in another thought for a later post: what effect does MJ's public cross dressing have on Bahrain's Muslim society?).

So why did I post the above info? Just an FYI to all that may read it. All his antics are just that: antics. In a way, he provides a comical relief in a much tense environment. He is an adult and should be free to do whatever crazy thing that comes to mind, as long as no one is harmed in the process. That's why, keep your kids, esp. boys away from Whacko Jacko and let it be known to him and others in our society, that child molestors and pedophilia will not be tolerated.

PS: It irks me that he is the only reason ppl here in the US know of my Bahrain!

Happy New Year!

2006-01-31T23:39:00.000-05:00

Wishing the entire world a happy 1427! For those who do not know what this date signifies, Jan 31, 2006 marks the Hijri (Islamic) New Year.

I can't help but wonder if we Muslims celebrated our new year with the same enthusiasim as we did the gregorian calendar new year ( Jan 1, 2006)? Did we come up new year resolutions for this new hijri year? Did we wish anyone a happy and blessed new year? Did we celebrate or acknowledge this day in any way?

For me, I knew this day was coming.. I even marked it on my calendar so I can remember it. You see, this is not Bahrain and here in the USA, I did not have the day off from work/school to remind me of it. How did people in the Muslim countries celebrate (I am guessing most slept!).

So what did I do? Well I ate at a Mexican restaurant during my lunch break to celebrate the coming of my new year (not very holy I know). I am guilty of not doing anything special. But to my defense, I stayed home and watched TV on the other (more popular) new year.

It would be nice if we could celebrate the hijri new year with something fun and exciting that everyone, especially kids can look forward to. Oh well, me thinks its just me wishful thinking.

I knew of a lady that hosted a huge dinner party (clean and fun) to mark the occasion. Would that I be more like her.

Tolerance and Respect

2006-01-25T15:28:00.000-05:00

Found this article online while looking up information on diversity. It was posted for teens (in high schools) on a kids website. You would think adults would know to tolerate diversity, respect others' rights and not be prejudices. Unfortunately, they do not and in most cases, young ones learn to hate and discriminate from their family. So I post this article, to remind everyone what respect and tolerance are. Once you're done with the article, ask yourself, are we as a society tolerant and respect diversity? More importantly, examine yourself and answer if you are indeed tolerant.

Diversity, Prejudice, Tolerance, and Respect
Terri sat nervously waiting for the bell to ring, signaling the beginning of her first class. She looked around. The room was full of all kinds of faces: faces with freckles like hers, darker-skinned faces, faces of many colors. She was looking forward to getting to know the people behind the faces and making some friends. "I guess I'll be less nervous when I get to know people," she thought. She looked down at her smaller left hand, which had been injured years ago in a car accident. "I hope they'll like me when they get to know me."
Yusef's father was a diplomat from Tunisia, and his family had just moved to the United States. At first, Yusef missed his friends and school back home, but he was curious about all the new things he would see and learn - and the new friends he would make. He wondered, though, whether the traditional knit skullcap that he wore, like many Muslims, would set him apart from his new classmates.
Diversity means variety - and it doesn't take much looking around to see that America is a diverse land, with many people, religions, beliefs, and languages. You can see that in a classroom, at the mall, on TV, or just walking down some streets. That diversity has been part of American culture since its very beginning as a nation - and even before with the hundreds of Native American groups who lived across the land. In fact, much of America's strength, creativity, and energy comes from this diversity.
What Is Prejudice?
Have you ever felt that someone judged you before even taking the opportunity to get to know you? The word prejudice is the noun form of prejudge, which means making judgments or forming negative opinions before getting all the facts. Terri and Yusef both worried that other students would form negative opinions of them before getting to know them.
There are many examples of prejudice in the world, some of which you may encounter through news reports, at school, at work, or in your home. It's unfair - and often sad - but prejudice exists so widely. You may have heard others saying things about whole groups like, "All Italians are . . . ," or "Jews always . . . ," or "Girls can't . . . ," or "Gays always . . . ," or "Old people are . . . ," or, well, you get the point. The list just goes on.
Maybe you've heard people call others nasty names. Sometimes, people who say these things say them out of fear or because they just don't know better. If people hear prejudiced comments while growing up, it may seem hard to resist repeating them. Some people who feel unimportant or bad about themselves think they can feel better by picking on or bullying others.
Sometimes, people who say these things are angry or upset, and they want to lash out at others. When prejudice against certain groups leads to an act of violence, it's called a hate crime. The laws for defining and punishing hate crimes vary from state to state.
Respecting Differences
No two people in the world are exactly alike. All people, even identical twins, have their own experiences and their own viewpoints. Do you have to agree with people to respect their right to have an opinion? No. But people with differing views and opinions can respect each other's right to differ.
You don't have to like the same food, sports, or music as your friends or practice the same religion. But you're probably open to learning about their differences. An important part of growing is being willing to learn new things. Being open to seeing new things and learning about other people without negatively prejudging them is a form of tolerance.
But does tolerance mean that all behaviors have to be accepted?
No, of course not. Behaviors that disrespect or hurt others, like being mean or bullying, or behaviors that break social rules, like lying or stealing, should not be tolerated. Respect is about accepting people for who they are, for their best selves - not about accepting bad behavior. Tolerance also means treating others the way you'd like to be treated.
Here are a few ways to do this:
Don't judge a person on your first impression, which is usually based solely on the way he or she looks. Take the time to learn more about that person than what's on the surface.
Keep an open mind. It may be easier to spend time with people who seem just like you, but you can miss out on a lot of interesting experiences - conversations, foods, books, music and art, sports, religious ceremonies, and more. Getting to know people who seem different can be difficult at first, but you'll probably find that you have much more in common than you think.
Be informed about what's happening in America and the world and find out what you can contribute. You might volunteer at a social services or human rights organization. You might want to learn more about how you can combat hate. If you like to play music or write, you might try using those skills to express and share your feelings.
You probably know many people who have something that sets them apart from the norm. All of these people have feelings and deserve to feel accepted for who they are. Everyone has something to offer, even if it's something unexpected, like a new idea or a new way of looking at something. The more we learn about people, the more likely we are to realize that the myths and stereotypes we hear are unfair or incorrect.
When we learn about - and respect - differences, we not only get to experience more of the world, we also open ourselves up to more opportunities. That's because great jobs and career opportunities are going to the people who are comfortable working in a world that is becoming increasingly diverse. The ease of global travel, communications, and trade make it more important than ever to learn to respect and appreciate others.

Reviewed by: Neil Izenberg, MDDate reviewed: June 2004
Source: http://kidshealth.org

Outsourcing Torture in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Proud

2006-01-24T17:15:00.000-05:00

Read an interesting article on Reuter's website concerning the outsourcing torture allegations directed at the US governments. If true, which me humble self thinks it is, then the land of the free just got a whole less freer and a whole lot scarier, and the proud have one less thing to be proud of. Below is the article:

US "outsourced" torture: investigatorTue Jan 24, 2006 4:55 PM ET
By Jon Boyle
STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) - The United States flew detainees to countries where they would be tortured and European governments probably knew about it, the head of a European human rights investigation said on Tuesday.
But Swiss senator Dick Marty said in a preliminary report for the Council of Europe human rights watchdog that he had found no irrefutable evidence to confirm allegations that the CIA operated secret detention centers in Europe.
His report kept pressure on the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency over the charges that it flew prisoners through European airports to jails in third countries, but Washington denied any wrongdoing and critics said the report contained nothing new.
"There is a great deal of coherent, convergent evidence pointing to the existence of a system of 'relocation' or 'outsourcing of torture'," Marty told the 46-nation Council, based in the eastern French city of Strasbourg.
"It is highly unlikely that European governments, or at least their intelligence services, were unaware."
At the State Department in Washington, spokesman Sean McCormack dismissed the report as "same old reports wrapped up in some new rhetoric. There's nothing new here."
The September 11 attacks on U.S. landmarks sparked a U.S. global war on terrorism against al Qaeda and led to the invasion of Iraq. Public opinion has hardened in Europe since deadly bomb attacks in London last July and in Madrid in March, 2004.
But the allegations about the CIA, first made by newspapers and human rights groups late last year, have put pressure on the United States and European governments to explain their actions and those of their secret services.
Marty said it had been proved that "individuals have been abducted, deprived of their liberty and transported to different destinations in Europe, to be handed over to countries in which they have suffered degrading treatment and torture."
He estimated more than 100 people had been subject to the process known as "rendition."
NO "SMOKING GUN" ON SECRET JAILS
Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Kosovo, Macedonia and Bulgaria have faced accusations that the CIA used detention centers on their soil.
Marty acknowledged there was no firm evidence of detention centers in Europe similar to the one at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, where hundreds of people judged by the U.S. military to be illegal combatants are held without charge.
But he said U.S. media had faced government pressure not to publish further accusations, and he expected newly received European satellite and flight data to boost his investigation.
The United States has not denied or confirmed the existence of secret detention centers.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told reporters in Paris he had not seen Marty's report but "the government acts in accordance with the law and with respect to the sovereignty of host countries in which it operates."
"The authorities are free to investigate what they want to investigate but we should not allow ourselves to be distracted from the need to identify, prevent and protect against terrorist acts of violence," he added.
The State Department's McCormack insisted the United States "does not torture," respects the sovereignty of European allies and does not transfer suspects to countries where there is reasonable expectation they might be subjected to torture without first seeking assurances they will not be tortured.
There may be differences between Europe and America on these issues, but "we are fighting the same fight, we share the same core values. And what we need is discussion and dialogue about how to deal with the issues that confront us," McCormack told a news briefing.
He said if Europeans had more questions on this issue, the United States would try to answer them.
Denis MacShane, a British member of parliament and former minister for Europe, told reporters Marty's report "has more holes than a Swiss cheese." A British government spokesman said there seemed to be no new facts.
European Security Commissioner Franco Frattini urged EU members to cooperate fully with Marty's probe but said it was too early to draw conclusions.
Poland said the report left no "basis for thinking such camps or prisons existed on Polish territory."
(Additional reporting by Ingrid Melander in Brussels, Kate Baldwin in London and Paul Carrel in Paris)
© Reuters 2006.

What do you think?