Thank you for the kind words ...

theelementary said:

I wasn't sure which post to comment on first; the whole idea of your blog is brave and hopeful and I am moved by your determination to make the world better.
People are scared by what they do not understand. It comes across as hatred but everything comes down to fear of the unknown. That's why I love books and reading so much- even if I can't travel all the time I can still explore new world and investigate things that are a puzzle to me.
I will most definitely be reading your blog regularly. 
As for this post, it struck me as incredibly sad that anybody should have to live like that in America (or anywhere, for that matter, but since I've come to live here I've seen so many changes and they're startling in how they seem to creep up on you until you don't recognise the place you called home. I don't like to fly anymore. My husband is from India, I'm from Ireland; America is our home and we have family in other parts of the world- but our joy of flying has been slowly erased.
This is an admirable blog.

I sincerely appreciate your kind words and the sentiment with which they were written.  I hope that I continue to earn them.  Sadly, I have not been able to write as much as I'd like, but I suppose that's life in America ... work, work, work.  I will try to do a better job of posting more regularly, in the hopes of keeping readers, like you, engaged.

As for my post, life in America has dramatically changed since 9-11, particularly for Arabs, for Muslims, and for poor "brown" people from other countries that are sadly mistaken for Arabs or Muslims due to, again, ignorance on the part of the racist.  Given that you mentioned your husband is Indian, I am pretty certain he's experience a rough situation or two.  =)

Hopefully, we will be able to encourage folks to read and seeks knowledge to combat prejudice.  Thanks again for taking the time to write me - it was most appreciated and I am most humbled by your comments.  I hope to continue to hear from you.

Flying While Arab

Sadly, in a post 9-11 world, flying while Arab (FWA) has become an issue.  I use the term "Arab" loosely as it is really is anyone who's "brown" or has an Arabic or Muslim name.

When people see me, they aren't sure what I am.  Some people think I'm just a white girl, others think I'm Latina; I've even gotten Greek or Italian.  Rarely do people guess, on the first or even second try, my ethnic heritage.  

I travel a lot.  My family is spread out in different states and, of course, the "homeland."  I also travel quite a bit for work.  It is always the same look I get when I hand over my boarding pass accompanied by my ID - one of sheer surprise.  

The TSA agent is sometimes smiling and sometimes straight-faced and bored looking, but when they see my name, it is always the same reaction.  A cartoon-like double take.  Then I always see them glance at my left hand to see if I'm wearing a wedding ring.  As if the only way I could have the name in front of them is if I married into it!  

They stare me down with elevator eyes, make all sorts of markings on my boarding pass, and tell me to "have a nice day."  I would say I'm about 50/50 for the "random" screening.  An extra body search.  An extra search of my bags.  Sometimes they even ask to see my ID again.  As always, I conduct myself in a polite and peaceful manner and pretend to not mind these extra searches in the least.  After all, I have time.  It's not like I have a plane to catch or anything.  =)

Last week though, something happened to me that has NEVER happened to me before.  I actually travel with a pocket sized version of the Qur'an.  I have had this Qur'an since 2000 and I have traveled with it - every flight I've ever taken in the past eight years - since then.  I've been all over America, Canada, Central America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East and never had much of an issue ... but not this day.

My bags are on the x-ray machine and I've been chosen for an extra body search.  I'm moved over to the side, waiting for a "female assist."  She pats me down and waves me on.  I go to collect my bags and the x-ray tech asks me. "Do you have anything organic in your bag?"

What an odd question, I thought to myself.   

"What do you mean, sir?" I said.

He answered, "There is something about this size of an organic nature in your bag."  He used his two hands to make a fairly small rectangular shape to demonstrate what he was looking at.

I thought about what was in that bag.  "Perhaps, it is the power source for my laptop?" I said.  That was the only thing I could think of that was that shape.

"Nope, it's organic," he repeated.

"I have no idea, sir." I said.  

"Bag check," he called out.

A tall, skinny, lanky, white male came over.  He had glasses and a full strawberry blonde beard.  "Hello, ma'am ... I gotta take a look in here.  Please bring the rest of your things and follow me."

"No problem, sir," I replied.  I grabbed my other bag, put on my shoes, and followed him over to one of those little, silver metal tables.  

He started digging in my bag.  "Are you a Texan?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered.  "But, I don't live here anymore; though I am trying to get back here as fast as I can."

He smiled, "Yeah, I lived in a couple of other states, but there is nothing like Texas," he stated with pride.  He was still digging around for the "organic" object.  He didn't seem to find what he was looking for.

"Where did you grow up?" he continued to initiate small talk while trying to find the mysterious object in question.

"Dallas, " I answered.

"Ah, well, you seem to have done alright for yourself."  He was starting to look concerned.  "Are there any other pockets in this bag?"

"There are outer ones on each side," I answered.

He pulled out my pen and gum from one of them.  "That's not it," he said.  He began to look puzzled.  Then he started in on the other pocket.  He pulled out this small book.  it was my Qur'an.  "Ah ha!" he said as if he'd just struck gold!  "This was probably it.  Whatchya readin'?" he asked as he began to turn the book over to read the title.  His eyes got so wide I was almost worried.

He looked me up and down and then began putting things back in my bag.  The man who had been polite and cordial up until now just completely shut down.  I gave him a half-hearted smile and said, "Don't see too many Texans with Qur'ans, do you?"

He simply shook his head no and continued to throw everything into the bag at a faster pace.  He zipped it up, as if he couldn't wait to have me out of his sight and, without a word, he handed it back to me.  

"Thank you, sir.  Have a nice day," I said.  But before I could get the entire sentence out, he had turned his back to me and started walking away.

What had I done to deserve that?  I suppose, given his position and the environment he could have made things worse for me, but we were being kind to one another and then it was as if a wall was erected.  Why the fear?  He just searched my bag for God's sake!  There was nothing in there that was dangerous.  Nothing but a book!  A few pages of paper instilled so much fear in this man.  Why?

I love Texas.  I love Texans.  I love southern hospitality.  I don't blame this man for his fear or even his hatred.  As someone who lives between what feels like two worlds, I can see both perspectives.  If I was bombarded with hateful propaganda every day and having it passed off as factual news stories and I had no other point of reference, who knows what I would think or how I would act.  I'd like to think I'd react better and not judge but one cannot say, with certainty, until they find themselves in a situation.

What I don't understand is why we choose to be ignorant.  It is a book.  Even if you don't think it is the word of God, what would be so terrible if you READ it?  It's just literature, right?  At least then you'd see that the news lies.  You could read verses in context (and hopefully properly translated) and draw your own conclusions versus having the "establishment" tell you how to think and feel.

Why does it seem easier to hate what we do not know or do not understand?  Why is "ignorance bliss?"  Do we really choose darkness over light?

GET EDUCATED.  STOP THE HATE!

Jesus Camp ... Almost Speechless- Part 1

I don't know where to start on this one. This is going to end up like a rant, I can already feel it -my apologies, in advance.

Jesus Camp is an 84-minute documentary that you can't help but wish was a "mockumentary." Within minutes, I had to pause the DVD to get a pen and paper to take notes because I just couldn't keep track of my outrages. By the end of this film, I had over five pages of angering notes and quotes and a stomach that was tied in knots from my disguist. Can this really be happening in "my" America?

One of the main reasons I started this blog was because I could no longer sit idly by as ignorance spreads like wildfire. I watch the "news" in amazement most days. Bewilderment and stereotypes, veiled as facts, passed on to millions of people in this great nation only to fuel prejudice. Arabs and Islam (the two are NOT mutually exclusive by the way) set up as the enemy of America - Public Enemy #1.

Why? Because a majority of the American public perceive Arabs and/or Muslims  to be responsible for 9 -11? Really?!

I think 20 very bad people committed a horrible act. Does that really speak for approximately 375 MILLION Arabs (of which many are Christian and Jewish) or the 1.5 BILLION Muslims (of all races, nationalities, and ethnicities)? I don't think so.

Do those 20 need to be punished?  YES.

Should the terrorist groups be stopped?  YES.

How do we do that? Apparently, we should become LIKE them. Huh?

Jesus Camp focuses on the Evangelical movement/sect of Christianity in America. One of the central "characters" is Becky Fisher, a Pentecostal Children's Minister. While she calls Muslims the "... enemies..." she elaborates on how the Taliban and Al-Qaeda use children by saying that those "... camps are putting hand granades in their hands. They are teaching them how to put on bomb belts. They are teaching them how to shoot rifles ..." She goes on to say that it is an "... intense training ..." and "... that those young people are ready to kill themselves for the cause of Islam."

I disagree with her statement because Islam is not a "cause" it is a faith. One that preaches peace and ethics ... but I digress. I'll leave this issue for another day.

So these camps are, in her own words, what the "enemies" use. Yet, she goes on to say, "I want to see young people as committed to the cause of Jesus Christ as they are committed to the cause of Islam. I want to see them as radically laying down their lives for the Gospel as they are over in Pakistan, Israel, and Palestine because we have, excuse me, but we have the truth."

Hmmm. Did Jesus (pbuh) teach us to mimic our enemies? To be "radical?" I must have missed that day of religious study.

One little girl says, "I feel like we're kind of trained to be warriors."

Levi, a young boy who is one of the main "characters" and wishes to be a preacher says, "A lot of people die for God and stuff. They're not even afraid."

Another little girl says, "There are missionaries and stuff and when they are about to go somewhere dangerous and stuff, people yell 'martyr, martyr.' It is really cool."

Rev. Fisher goes on to preach that "The Apostle Paul said 'make war with them ... this means war.'" The camera pans the audience of children jumping up and down, chanting, speaking in tongues, and with their young faces painted in cameoflauge - like the army. It is a chilling scene. Again, to me, no different than watching a young middle eastern kid on the news.

This isn't "brain-washing?" This doesn't sound like an Al-Qaeda camp? The Taliban? These kids want to be martyrs! They want to not fear death and think dying for the sake of God is "cool." How are they any different from the suicide bombers in the Middle East? Other than they are white and Christians living in America .... um, nothing.

They are still children and young adults, being manipulated and used as pawns in a political game of chess, in which religion is just another weapon in the over all war being waged on the board. Rev. Fisher was even quoted as saying that "... children are usable in Christianity."

"Usable."  "Warriors."  "Martyrs."  "Dying for God."  "We have the truth."

How are these words and phrases above, any different from the ones terrorist groups use?  The same terrorists we're trying to eradicate?

The answer, again, is that they are not!

To be continued ...

The Origins of Arabic

Thank you for your comment anonymous.

Anonymous said...
Interesting post. I always wondered how the keypad symbols related back to Arabic letters. One thing though: I don't think that Arabic originated from Sanskrit. Its from a totally different linguisitc family: Semitic vs Indo-European.

My sources on this particular post was Wikipedia (granted not always the "best" source) but from what I know of the language, it seemed accurate. Here is some additional information about the history of the Arabic language:

http://www.indiana.edu/~arabic/arabic_history.htm

The Semitic language family is a descendant of proto-Semitic, an ancient language that was exclusively spoken and has no written record. This relationship places Arabic firmly in the Afro-Asiatic group of world languages. Specifically, Arabic is part of the Semitic subgroup of Afro-Asiatic languages. Going further into the relationship between Arabic and the other Semitic languages, Modern Arabic is considered to be part of the Arab-Canaanite sub-branch the central group of the Western Semitic languages. Thus, to review, while Arabic is not the oldest of the Semitic languages, its roots are clearly founded in a Semitic predecessor.

Aside from Arabic, the Semitic language family includes Hebrew, Aramaic, Maltese, Amharic, Tigrinya, Tigre, Gurage, Geez, Syrica, Akkadian, Phonoecian, Punic, Ugaritic, Nabatean, Amorite and Moabite. While a majority of these are now considered "dead" languages, either entirely obsolete or used only in religious practice, Arabic has flourished. The reason for this is inextricably linked with the rise of Islam and, more specifically, Islam’s holy book, the Qur’an.

I hope that helps clarify a little bit. My apologies if I passed along some incorrect information. I write with the best of intentions.

Please keep the comments/questions coming. I will try to do better in responding in a more timely fashion.

This is NOT my America!

"It is a sad day, when you need to leave the United States of America in order to be 'free'." - Abdallah Al-Arian (Sami's eldest son)  

"It is sad really.  My mother is a Palestinian refugee.  My father is a Palestinian refugee.  And now, the United States of America is making us (their children) refugees too." - Sami Al-Arian's daughter

I don't want to live in an America that falsely accuses people of being terrorists and then AFTER years in prison, a lengthy trial, and NOT GUILTY verdicts on 51 counts of BS charges the government will not let him go.  He is still in prison!  ALMOST FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR NOTHING!  

An America where Habeous Corpus is suspended.

An America where the Patriot Act is an excuse to rip away our civil rights one by one.

An America where the government abuses its power via "Executive Decision."

An America where we wrongfully imprison innocent people.

An America where we actually hold "political prisoners."

An America where there are NO RIGHTS, NO FREEDOMS that are guaranteed!

An America where you are "... with us or against us."

THIS IS NOT MY AMERICA!

I am a statistic!  I am one of the 8,000 people that the FBI contacted "requesting" an interview post 9/11.  Of those 8,000 Arab-Americans and Muslim-Americans that were rounded up like cattle, stripped of our rights, American citizens or not, by the FBI, CIA, NSA, etc. NOT ONE OF US has been convicted of any crime, much less convicted of a terrorist act!  NOT ONE!  

And as painful as that experience was for me, I am one of the "lucky" ones.  I am not Sami Al-Arian.  While the government maybe taping my phone conversations and maybe even tagging my e-mails or even this blog ... I am NOT Sami Al-Arian.  My anger here banks on sheer rage!  Bush has turned America into the MOST HATED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!

Which country has:

-Nuclear Weapons?

-Nuclear Reactor Programs?

-Military forces occupying foreign lands?

-Political prisoners for years without being formally charged with any crimes?

-Political prisoners taken to countries with no extradition treaties and no laws against torture?

-A government who spies on its own citizens? 

-A government who suspends the rights of its own people to "protect" them?

-A government who violates international laws?

-A government who violates the 4th Geneva convention?  Iran?  North Korea?  The entire "Axis of Evil?"  NOPE!  THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!!!

Bush has turned this country into those countries we're allegedly fighting because of a conflict in our "ways of life" and for "freedom."  Ironic isn't it?  Not only is this 1984 because our government lies to us and strips us dowto protect us from ourselves, spy on us, and dehumanize others - but this is 1984 because we've become the very thing we "hate."

Our government is terrorizing its own citizens by using the "fear factor" to make us think we need to give up our civil liberties in order to be safe.  The American government has become "Big Brother."  We can stop it ... we have to stop it!  Raise your voice ... write Congress and ask them to free Sami Al-Arian!

Read about this remarkable man and his amazing family and his BS case .... 

http://www.freesamialarian.com

And read about the documentary made about his case and the fact that this man should be FREE!  He is innocent!  He was found innocent by a jury of his "peers."  A Palestinian, Muslim was found not guilty by a majority WHITE and non-Muslim jury POST 9/11 in America on ALL 51 counts and yet, he still sits in prison because he refuses to lie and give the government ammunition to wrongly accuse others!  This man is a hero!

http://www.usavsalarian.com

Be active in your world!  Make America realize its potential!  Make America great again .... SAY SOMETHING, WRITE SOMETHING, BECOME POLITICALLY ACTIVE.  Stop being a sheep.  Stop being a follower.  Start having some sort of say in your country!  "Stop bitching, start a REVOLUTION!"

Friendship is Everything

"Friendship takes many years to establish; so do not fall out with a friend over a single disagreement."

-Sadi, "Gulistan"

From "366 Readings From Islam," translated by Robert Van der Weyer. Copyright 2000. All rights reserved. 

Sound advice, no?  God created us as rational, and yet emotional beings.  We need companionship.  We need friends and partners.  We get angry with one another from time to time, but it is not worth the years of memories to walk away over a little disagreement that can be talked out logically.

If we could all master this on an individual level, there would be no need for lawsuits, for courts, for divorce, for war.  We have to learn to rise above our emotions and remember the bigger picture - the reason why we are all here.  Perspective is everything!

Give each other the benefit of the doubt.  Strive to understand one another.  Long to love one another.  Forgiveness is, truly, next to Godliness.

When God Closes a Door, Somewhere He Opens a Window

I don't know who came up with the, now cliche, phrase "When God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window," but I have been thinking a lot about "missed opportunities" and "missing opportunities" in the future. 

My wheels began turning after a conversation with one of my best friends.  Do the decisions we make, on this path called life, alter our course forever?  If we choose to be associated with a person, does that keep us from meeting new people?  Does committing to something, regardless of whether it is a right decision or a wrong decision, "close doors" in our future?

When people are uneasy or going through a trying time in life, and they have some knowledge of God or a higher power, it is my experience that they tend to react in one of two ways.  They either get closer to God or they go far, far in the other direction.  With the latter option, it is almost as if we're holding a personal protest to God's will.  I suppose that is "arrogant" but it seems to be the way humans react from time to time.

I have done both and I'm sure that throughout life, I will struggle with that "yin and yang" reaction to faith and matters of the heart and soul in general.

My friend, really got me thinking though.  So, this time, I turned towards God to see if I could find an answer.  I found ... something:

Do not be upset at the good things you miss, and do not be overjoyed at the good things you receive.  God does not love those who are arrogant and boastful; He does not love those who are stingy, and encourage others to be stingy also.  Those who ignore these words, should remember that God alone is self-reliant, and God alone is worthy of praise.

- Qur'an (57:23-24)

Muslims, not unlike other faiths, have this concept of "God's will."  We say "insha'Allah" which is Arabic for "God willing" all the time.  With this concept though, there is another cliche, "It is written" or "maktoob" in Arabic.

So, are our lives already mapped out for us or do we have free will?  I asked an imam, if the day we die is written why bother to be careful with life?  His response was, "Do not throw yourself in the ocean and then, when you drown, say 'it was written.'"

Well, that makes it clear as mud, doesn't it?  It seems that while we have some notion of free will, it is combined with the fact that God knows what our choices will be and what path we will choose to be on, even before we do.  So, is that why when a door closes, a window is opened somewhere for our escape?  Either to a new path or to get back on track to our original path?

Who knows?  Personally, while I am usually the "dreamer" and yet, somehow maintain being a "realist" I prefer to think our choices in life open doors.  If I choose to be a friend to one person, doesn't that lead to meeting their circle of friends?  And after introductions don't you, usually, end up being friends or at least acquaintances with one of two of them?  And so forth and so on?

Even if a door "closes" and that window is open somewhere ... you crawl out of it and cross on to the other side and that leads to a whole new set of doors.  Is that not life?  Take chances, take risks, learn from your successes, and learn from your failures ... life, hopefully, without regrets.

If you stand on the sidelines and "play things safe" where are the rewards?  If you never try anything and never commit to anything, doors might not close, but then again, you never opened any!  How is that living life to the fullest?

"Do not be upset at the good things you miss, ..."

If you're happy with what you have and where you are in life ... why would you think you are missing anything important?  Perhaps you think you're missing something good, but God lead you away from it because it would have been bad for you?

"...and do not be overjoyed at the good things you receive."  

How many times in life did you find yourself "overjoyed" about something and then, with the gift of hindsight, realize that it was not the right move for you?  Over the past year and a half or so, this seems to be the story of my life!  

Being human means we are fallible.  We are emotional beings and those things weigh on our state of mind and state of mind is everything when it comes to making decisions in life.  I truly believe we actually learn more from our failures than our successes, so it is my goal to pay attention, to be humble and have humility.

If I see something I want, I'm going to go for it and pray for God's guidance.  I will open doors in my path, knowing they will lead to another set of doors, and another, and another ... for infinity.  Life is a twisted, wind-y, sometimes scary, road.  Who says we can't back-track?  Open more than one door at once?  

I attempt, in my life, to use the word of God as guidelines to life.  While I have faith in the Lord, I also must have faith in myself.  I pray that my decisions make me happier and that they give me all I want, need, and deserve in this life.  I pray that my decisions effect others, that I have the privilege of touching, in a positive way and that by knowing me they are better for it.

I pray that doors never stop being presented to me and that when I choose to open one, it doesn't close ... perhaps it just remains open as I continue to walk through the maze of the other doors I open throughout my life; but by staying open, I can always go back "home."