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| D r u n k b u t S o b e r The Latest Buzz from Leena and Sarah |
____________________________________________________________ Monday, March 29, 2004 Leena and I have decided to finally get over our indolence and start blogging again. All it takes is a good caffeine source like Starf*cks for some blog-motivation at this hour. Unfortunately, it�s my second Starf*cks today. I really do feel guilty every time I purchase an item. Unfortunately Leena�s come to the realization that �we�re such [Zionist] Yahoodi supporters.� I promise if there came an alternative as yummy and as available�there would be no Starf*cks and instead a �Starwhat?� But until then, necessity trumps morality. :-/ Ooh ooh, speaking of Zionism and money being used immorally, the chief prosecutor in Israel is finally bringing the charges against Ariel Sharon in his scandal. Funny (or not) how a war criminal can massacre thousands of people and barely get slapped on the wrist, but when it comes to pecuniary corruption scandals action is finally taken� (which probably means a slap on the snout this time [not a racial comment].) Speaking of crappy rulers, I watched a film called Marooned in Iraq today. It�s about an old Kurdish guy (named Mirza) who forces his two sons to look for his ex-wife who left him 23 years ago and married his friend. The dude, his ex-wife and her husband were all in a band a long time ago, which Mirza breaks apart. Anyways, he goes back to look for her in some part of Iraqi Kurdistan. The journey is difficult blah blah. (his ex-wife left him because he wanted her to stop singing because of some honor-related reasons) One of his sons that was forced to accompany Mirza on the trip continuously nagged him because he was leaving is 7 wives and million kids (that were all girls). Anyways throughout the entire movie, inside every Kurdish city the dude and his two sons traveled through, the people were complaining about their lives and always ended up damning Saddam. Oh yeah you can constantly hear random planes flying over the city. So the point (or lack thereof) of the movie is that it sucked/sucks(?) to be a Kurd. Accordingly, I would like to a pose a question---does Kurdish life suck because of Saddam or because no matter how many wives you had, none of them could bear you a son �or does life suck because your wife refused to stop singing and left you for your friend who let her do as she pleased? Damnit. Even though I must admit the acting was fairly decent, the movie sucked. It lacks serious profundity and I don�t think this judgment is due to failure on my part to capture some deeper meaning. Other people who�ve seen the movie share similar thoughts about it. Since I�m tired and it�s damn near 4 am here I�m gonna get straight to the point- To simply put it, Marooned in Iraq is definitely a crappy film used as a propaganda tool to help justify the invasion of Iraq. No I am not pro-Saddamn- However, from a movie critic point of view, you might want to consider a couple of things before trying to create a film portraying the plight of a people. A- make sure the script is overly all coherent with a focus and a plot (If you have a short attention span you�ll end up putting a bunch of shit together and call it a movie) B- make sure it�s relevant (gassing of Halabja was 16 years ago)�things ultimately lose their significance when not dealt with immediately C- make sure not to exploit tragedies for ulterior motives (hypothetical example---regional autonomy that�s always been a precedence) . Anyways, I�m listening to Bashar from Starbucks-I mean StarAcademy. I think I�m obsessed with him. Anyways, it�s between him and my fellow Egyptian Attia (yeah, he looks like Julia Roberts) next week. Since they�ve been my two favorites ever since the show has first aired, I�ll be happy to see either win. But it�s too bad most Arabs don�t like Kuwaitis- poor Bashar- just blame it on Saddam. Anyways I just finished my Starbucks- can�t wait till tomorrow morning for more. The sooner I sleep the sooner it�ll come---goodnight. posted by: sarah 3:54 am ____________________________________________________________ Monday, March 29, 2004 Greetings blogheads! I would first like to begin by apologizing profusely for not updating this blog in what seems to have been forever. I just know how much you all enjoy reading the mundane details of my life�kidding. I'm not entirely sure why I've stopped writing. I could give you the boring answer and tell you that I was simply "busy" (which is partly true), but even I don't buy that excuse. Perhaps it was the sporadic blackouts I've been experiencing lately and the subsequent 'hang-over' feeling that have reduced my incentive to write-- (Hey, it's called drunkbutsober for a reason)--or simply the fact that nothing exceptionally interesting has happened to me lately. Hey, don't worry about the blackouts; it's probably just caffeine withdrawal. But mostly, I think that I've been slightly more overwhelmed than usual with all the news of today's world, that seems to grow more frightening everyday. To be honest with you, I've been finding it extremely difficult to even pinpoint a particular topic to discuss, let alone being able to muster up actual words to describe my thoughts and feelings on what is happening. And even then-what more could I possibly add-without getting myself in trouble, anyway? In any case, I hope to update more often before this site becomes a "one-hit wonder" of the blogosphere. Just keep checking for irregular updates, and I welcome anyone to keep badgering me until I do it. So, what's new with me-other than procrastinating homework to do this? (Be grateful, biatches!) Actually, lately I've been wasting my time watching more television than I would normally like-an odd mix of CSPAN, TNT, and way too much Queer Eye for my own good--hmm, is it wrong to love those "Fab Five" guys so much? Oh, and don't hate me for this, but I was flipping through the channels and I came across this old Canadian show I used to obsess over years ago-ah, yes, it's Higher Ground! It's too bad it got cancelled after one season. Come on, who wouldn't love a show about screwed up teenagers at a reform school in the mountains? Okay, I'm being completely rhetorical here. Haha, I guess in this case viewers agree with Dr. Arnade (old senile but loveable professor) that Canada is "sooooooo boring." Hehe. Anyway, Sarah came over today and we worked on our Palestine powerpoint presentation. We are specifically covering the human rights violations in the occupied territories, which unfortunately is an incredibly easy topic, as the Israeli government and the IDF just gives us so much damn material to work with. Although we hear about the massacres everyday, it is still really sobering for me each time I research this topic, as I sit here and imagine what these people go through on a daily basis. And believe me, there is always something new taking place-and always something new to be learned. Since I cannot actively join in their struggle (at the moment), I only pray that Allah (SWT) may continue to give them (and all oppressed peoples) the strength to resist. And still, there are more fights to be fought, more struggles to overcome, more truth to proclaim, and more people to damn-eh, just kidding (well, not really). Yesterday, I attended an awesome lecture by David Cole. It was a fundraising event for WMNF radio station (donate, guys!!), and was co-sponsored by the ACLU Tampa chapter, as well as a new grassroots organization called Tampa: Safe and Free, established in the wake of the Patriot Act. Hoping to follow the footsteps of the 270 cities nationwide that have denounced the Patriot Act, they have called an urgent meeting with the Tampa city council to discuss the ramifications of this insidious law that are detrimental not only to foreign nationals, but to the citizens of Tampa as well. Since the Finkelstein event has gone to hell unfortunately (or postponed indefinitely), let us be productive that evening by attending this very important meeting, which will be held on April 15th at 5:30 pm. It is incumbent upon us all to attend and show our support (especially Muslims, who did not show up yesterday--grr!) I swear to God, it really is the LEAST we can do. Anyway, Cole was amazing, as usual. He described the various tactics used by the government to silence individuals with "unpopular views," a relatively old phenomenon (hm, sound familiar?)--via unjust imprisonments, profiling, special registration, or even deportation. The catch is, these procedures were supported by elected officials and upheld in society because they typically targeted immigrants and did not pose an immediate threat to citizens' rights. Anyway, I guess his point was that this did not start with 9/11, but since the Palmer raids, McCarthyism, etc., and that while it may be convenient for many of us to turn a blind eye, we are ultimately surrendering our freedoms and handing over more and more power to the government. Stating the obvious, I know, but I just thought I'd remind you that no one is safe-so attend this meeting or suffer the consequences! On a lighter note, Layelle made a hilarious observation about how the crowd yesterday mostly all looked/dressed like Sean K. It was funny, she came to the conclusion that we were probably the best dressed there (Shoo-you know how we do!), as everyone else seemed to have been rocking these short shorts (reaching way above the knees), and these like strappy, beachy, odd-looking shibshibs. Ah, gotta love Florida activists keepin' it real! Finally, I thought I'd end by linking this disgusting comic I came across this morning in the Opinion section of the paper--the St. Pete Times of all places! (I was pretty shocked; I know Western media is garbage, but I honestly thought this paper had a little more integrity than that). I think this is just complete and utter bullshit propaganda once again unleashed by the Israeli government (and American media) to vilify and dehumanize the Palestinians, and justify the murder of innocent children (as well as extra-judicial assassinations of certain unnamed wheelchair-bound individuals for that matter). It just really sickens me that the IDF has the audacity (chutzpah) to spread these lies, when they know damn well what they're doing when they consciously pull the trigger and shoot a child in the head (or threaten them with such measures). Anyway, I'll refrain from any further comment. Just check out the links and write a letter to the editor if you're half as angry as I am. P.S. I know this is random, but since my hatred for these two people has grown considerably in this past week alone (which is an occasion, since I thought it was impossible for it to get any higher than it already was), I thought I'd share with you this hilarious link I stumbled upon today. It's a few years old and I'm sure some of you may have seen it, but have a laugh nonetheless. Inshallah, they will one day be joined together, in a Next Liiiiifetiiiiiime, as Erykah Badu would say. I think we all can reach a consensus as to where they will probably reunite, and boy, oh boy, it will be HOT IN HERRE!;) I hope Condi likes the taste of smoked ham�Peace, homies! posted by: leena 12:35 am ____________________________________________________________ Wednesday, March 10, 2004 Speaking of Super Tuesday, it's now Wednesday! Haha. Anyways, I guess I'm a stupid Floridian that Leena speaks of. I really was not in the mood to drive to a Church in the middle of a golf course to vote for "his cuteness" (Kucinich) that has no chance. Sorry Leenz. Besides, there's too much roadkill on the way there. And I might hit a squirrel again or something. Allah satar last time it wasn't somebody's cat or dog. Anyways, spring break has sucked ass thus far, although today was relatively fun. Dear friends Leena and Layelle came over and we watched the corniest movie ever. You've Got Served- I originally thought the movie dealt with volleyball or some crap. It turned out to be that B2K crap with olda brotha Roger from Sister Sister. Well I'm glad someone enjoyed the movie *coughs* Layelle. Leena and I got bored and went on Naseeb and just laughed at people cuz that's what bored people do. I Salamed this paki-looking Lebanese kid from her name. That was prety hilarious. Seriously though, SubhanAllah how everyone on Naseeb is either paki or looks paki (No I am not racist. I'm the pakiest [or Indianest---whatever floats your boat] Egyptian you'll ever meet.) But anyways, if I had watched that movie any longer, I would have shot the TV. Speaking of shooting, the Sniper John Allen Muhammad was sentenced to death today. Bitch-ara? I think not. What a disgrace. SubhanAllah how all my blog entries so far have dealt with how shitty Muslims are. (No I am not being self-righteous, call me shitty if you want). Ya3ni @ least I try. So his lawyer argues that this psycho dude "was born an innocent infant, then became a child and a man who was buffeted by crushing poverty, neglect and abuse, by war, and ultimately by the loss of his children and his marriage." Hmm... So I'm thinking if we all blamed our misery on societal conditions, there would be NO society. If I was his lawyer, I'd try to at least come up with a more convincing argument. Hmm like what? Like he's schizo or has cyclothymic disorder or something....Those psychological disease arguments always seemed to work.--yeah, just throw in a psychologist with a bunch of psychology vernacular in the court. Such defense could include for instance: "Our results have concluded that Mr. Muhammad has high levels of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, which all have a considerable effect on the nerve junctures in his brain." (Yeah I'm talking out of my ass). But yeah, you know how it goes...since the judges aren't psychology experts they might buy into that shit. Disclaimer: No, I am not defending him. InShaAllah all criminals like him are brought to justice and all the innocents see the justice. Ameen! And if the dude really was "muslim" A- He would not kill. B- Would try to find a way to alleviate his pains through spiritual means. Du'aa (supplication) is more effective than Prozac or Zoloft or Paxil or Effexor- you get my drift. (And no, I am not a Christian scientist, I totally believe in medicine.) Until next time, help control the pet population so I don't use roadkill as an excuse again for not voting in the primaries. And by pet population, I mean it--Not the human population like our sniper friend here. Have your pet spayed or neutered. Or better yet, have yourself spayed or neutered if you don't like people- just please don't shoot. posted by: sarah 2:16 am ____________________________________________________________ Tuesday, March 9, 2004 Wow, so word on the street has it that people are actually reading this. Does this mean I actually have to make this good?! The pressure is too intense! No, I'm just kidding. In any case, I apologize for not keeping you bored spring breakers pre-occupied with updates on my oh, so "interesting" life. Hmm....what have I been up to these past few days? Being Super Tuesday and all, I finally voted! It felt like the first day of Kindergarten or something, as it was my first time doing so. It's just too bad that these stupid Floridians let Kucinich down! Poor guy. I think all 2% of us here who voted for him should find an uncharted island (how about Gilligan's?--Don't hate) and build our own little utopian society. We can then elect him president, establish our department of peace, promote fair trade, and ride around in bicycles. Yeah, pretty soon you all can accuse me of being a commie bastard. Shh, just don't tell Dr. Nelsen or Peng. Anyways, enough of my stupidity. Perhaps it's the second-hand Vicodin intake (I only wish). This weekend was pretty interesting. I saw one the most amazing shows ever. John Mayer gave an outstanding performance (as usual), as did Maroon 5. It was loads of fun, considering that's the extent of my "partying" this spring break. Now back to less trivial matters... On Sunday, I took my little sister with me to church to attend a forum entitled, "Israel/Palestine and U.S. Christians: Moving from the House of Fear to the House of Love." It was as beneficial to me as it was interesting, as I am currently researching Christian Zionist movements for my Thesis. The Christian Peacemaker Teams, as they call themselves, serve as an alternative voice, as they oppose the theological and ideological arguments of the so-called Christian right, and rather work on social justice issues. It was really great listening to them describe their experiences in Palestine, as well the humanitarian work they've done in the region. They used the analogies of the "House of Fear" and the "House of Love" throughout their presentation to describe the tactics used by the Israeli government/settlers to perpetuate fear--through home demolitions, construction of the wall, denying Palestinians any means of livelihood, etc.-- as opposed to the vast majority of Palestinians (and some Israeli activists) who continue to fight against the occupation and move towards the "House of Love." I found their presentation to be extremely inspiring, as I was amazed (and to some degree surprised) to find that such truly geniune people like that still exist (regardless of faith or background). It makes me wonder what drives them to work so passionately and selflessly, when they can just as easily turn a blind eye? Now that to me is truly "Faith in Action" as the CAIR motto so dubiously proclaims.--Haram, I take that back; they gave us mugs! Anyway, long story short--it was an extremely uplifting experience and I felt so close to these people. Towards the end, we all recited a prayer they had prepared and distributed, meant for all three monotheistic traditions. Because I liked it so much, I've decided to end this entry by sharing it with you all. While I encourage and hope you include it in your own prayers (whether communal or solitary), I also hope you strive to make it a reality through social justice activism, education, and participating in the universal struggle of once again, *Come on, say it with me!* moving from the House of Fear to the House of Love. Muslim, Jewish, Christian Prayer for Peace O God, you are the source of life and peace. Praised be your name forever. We know it is you who turns our minds to thoughts of peace. Hear our prayer in this time of war. Your power changes hearts. Muslims, Christians, and Jews remember, and profoundly affirm, that they are followers of the one God, children of Abraham, brothers and sisters; enemies begin to speak to one another; those who were estranged join hands in friendship; nations seek the way of peace together. Strengthen our resolve to give witness to these truths by the way we live. Give to us: Understanding that puts an end to strife; Mercy that quenches hatred, and Forgiveness that overcomes vengeance. Empower all people to live in your law of love. Amen. posted by: leena 11:45 pm ____________________________________________________________ Saturday, March 6, 2004 Aw, so Martha Stewart's heading to the slammer. As the pakis would say "bitch-ari." (bechari in urdu means poor girl) And as Leena would say, "bitch Ari Fleischer." So anyways, so I was bored at home and I decided to watch the food network and it was Martha (aw) and her mom cooking. Even though she epitomizes the growing trend of the richer getting richer, I sort of felt sorry for her. Ostentatious lifestyles are pitiful. Sure money is sweet, but nothing lasts foreverrrrrrr (in this life). Enough about that... Speaking of court cases, the news of the day has gotta go to: 'German man wants state-paid sex.' The state refuses to fly in his Thai wife to Germany so he takes it to the courts---And he wants the state to compensate him for his porn, the trips he has to make to obtain the porn, and other stuff because of his lack of ...wife... I wonder who had the honor of representing him... Speaking of deprivation, I was watching this movie called Passion in the Desert on IFC (some independent film channel we get on the dish). It was about this French soldier that gets stranded in an Egyptian desert and bonds with this leopard that helps him survive. Eventually the title of the movie begins to make more and more sense. (Has anyone seen that Southpark episode of the chicken-f****r? Yeah it was something along those lines.) So the French guy ends up getting jealous when the leopard finds another of its kind and befriends it and plays with it. So the dude tries to make himself resemble a leopard by using various sand and mud elements.. Ultimately, jealousy and over-possession on the dude's behalf drives him to kill his beloved leopard. Yeah he cries and regrets it, but life goes on...though not for long. He finally dies due to thirst and starvation mostly because the leopard was no longer there to guide and assist him. hahaha sick movie. I still don't quite understand the exact moral/point of the movie. I just hope no PETA members come across this movie and accuse the directors of animal rights abuses. Speaking of creatures unable to talk things out, more bad news in Iraq---failure to sign the interim constitution. Blah. Must be embarassing for America. Seems like Iraq is heading towards a tryanny of the majority. For a people suppressed so long, the Shia's are demanding quite alot. If the need for this disproportionate power continues, the violence will only escalate. Takes me back to an earlier question: Why are Muslims retarded? We pretty much suck everywhere- abroad and at home. We need to learn how to get along and fight for our rights like that German dude. posted by: sarah 1:45 am ____________________________________________________________ Saturday, March 6, 2004 Hmm, another day flown by...It's weird, ever since I started writing in this blog, I've begun noticing how mundane my days actually are. Nothing particularly interesting happened to me today, other than being below normal body temperature (which happens to me more often than not) and exceeding the proper dosage of ibuprofen---hmm, nothing new here. Falling asleep around 4:30 am last night, I woke up this morning oddly enough at 7:30 and remained wide-awake for hours. I guess being sick will do that you. At least I managed to get a decent amount of work accomplished this morning. Today's pretty much been a depressing day, one of my occasional "off-days," if you will. I wasn't able to visit dad because I physically couldn't get up to go, but it may have been for the best because of the depressing news I was later told. I'm sure you'll eventually read about this later in a press release, but here's a brief overview of what happened. Apparently the fu**ers at Coleman decided to hold one of their frequent "shake-downs" of all the prison cells in the SHU unit, or Special Housing Unit which contains the "worst of the worst." Okay, never mind the fact that my father and his co-defendant are the ONLY pre-trial detainees in that ENTIRE correctional facility (meaning they have not been convicted of anything yet), but they are held in solitary confinement 24 hours a day in the SHU unit of the Maximum Security ward of the US Federal Penitentiary. Why, you ask? I don't know the answer to that either, other than the bullshit excuses of "National Security." Back to the shakedown. Basically, whenever prisons hold something called a "shakedown," it refers to a literal "shakedown" of the prisoners' cells. Dozens of prison guards dress themselves in entire "SWAT team-like outfits" (with big guns and everything), enter the shit-hole size cells and take the prisoners, strip them, shackle and chain them, and leave them waiting for hours while they undergo an entire search of the cells. For what you ask? Oh, in case the evil prisoners may have an extra blanket or pair of socks. God forbid they ever let them get away with such horrendous crimes! So my dad and his co-defendant were left sitting on a bench with other prisoners, stripped down to their underwear with their feet shackled and hands manacled behind their backs, shivering for hours because of the cold. Finally, when the fu**ers were done, they took them back to their cell which literally looked like a tornado hit it. Everything was taken. Hundreds of legal documents my father was working on (to prepare for his defense) were confiscated (no, this isn't anything new by the way) and after an exact 75 minutes of him banging on the door asking about their whereabouts, all he was able to get was a bleak "We got your SHIT!" out of one of the ---sick Fu**er, power-hungry, army-reject, probably used to get his ass kicked everyday as a kid---guards. Why hasn't he spoken to his lawyer, you ask? Because the Fu**ers at the prison don't allow him to phone anybody. And due to a prison "lock-down" for the past two weeks, no one (neither families nor lawyers) were allowed to visit with prisoners. What has the Judge done? Oh, well he seems to find this insidious treatment perfectly acceptable for pre-trial detainees. In fact, he's threatened my father and his co-defendant numerous times, warning them that if they aren't satisfied with their conditions, the minute they yell "Mercy!" he will move them to Miami, which will then be a four and a half hour drive away from attorneys and families, rather than one and a half. Notwithstanding, alhamdulillah, my dad's faith and Iman remain to be stronger than ever. Although I can never truly know what he's going through, nor will I even attempt as I sit here comfortably at home typing on my computer (fully-clothed alhamdulillah), I know that it is his faith in God (and only his faith) that has kept him so resilient and strong masha'Allah. Typing and reading the dozens of poems he's written, however, have given me somewhat of an idea of what he goes through on a daily basis--not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually as well. Thankfully, it's made me feel a lot closer to him than I normally could, as all communication for the past year has simply taken place once a week through a glass and phone. Inshallah, I'll post some poetry up soon. I know it must be weird for some of you reading this, thinking to yourselves how odd it is that I am speaking so "freely" and "openly" about this-- writing such "personal" things in a forum so public. But trust me, when you're in my shoes (and others w/ similar experiences), and you discover that privacy is something you've never really had to begin with, you are immediately thrown into this weird mindset where you sort of just desensitize yourself from becoming angry or reclusive, and something like "privacy" just ends up becoming some sort of luxury you force yourself to live without. Anyway, enough of my incoherent babble� Some good news for today was that I finally received my voting card in the mail, so I can finally vote this Super Tuesday. It's actually pretty funny because I haven't shut up about these elections, yet until this afternoon I was unsure whether or not I was even registered (I did it twice just to be sure because I've never received anything in the mail prior to this). I actually find myself thinking how weird and ironic it is that I'm devoting so much attention to these elections, while my experiences have actually caused me to lose all faith in the political/judicial systems in the U.S. But then I think again to myself that this isn't about me, but rather abou removing Satan and his evil helpers from the White House ASAFP! I just hope Kerry gets his act together and decides what kind of platform he wants to run on. Bush actually said something semi-true (I know! I know! Stop gasping, but he had a point). He was describing the Democratic candidates and the frequent inconsistencies in their positions, which bothered me too. He said, "The (Democratic) candidates are an interesting group of people with diverse opinions: for tax cuts and against them, for Nafta and against Nafta, for the Patriot Act and against the Patriot Act, in favor of liberating Iraq and opposed to it. And that's just one senator from Massachusetts." Okay, so obviously it's not as cut in stone as that, but I think it's somewhat good that he's making this observation so that Kerry and the Democratic Party in general can kick their game up a notch and make up their minds already! What's it gonna be, fellas?! In other news, poor Martha Stewart (no pun intended--though she immediately lost millions of dollars minutes after the verdict and is said to face numerous civil suits in the near future) is going to the slammer and more Muslims are getting screwed. But if such a thing as divine intervention exists, this has to be it. Oh yeah, I am laughing at you, you evil bastard. (Or maybe it's the voodoo pins working--stab, stab, poke, poke.) I know this entry has been long-winded and drawn out, so I'll just end it with a quote from John Kerry on Bush, "The Bush administration has run the most inept, reckless, arrogant and ideological foreign policy in the modern history of our country." That's right, bitches! I've also included this humorous forward I received from my buddy, Jeremy. Be sure not to scroll to the bottom until you've actually read the entire thing, otherwise you'll just ruin it for yourself. May there be brighter days ahead Insha'Allah. Ethics�Morals�and Leadership This test only has one question, but it's a very important one. Please don't answer it without giving it some serious thought. By giving an honest answer you will be able to test where you stand morally. The test features an unlikely, completely fictional situation, where you will have to make a decision one way or the other. Remember that your answer needs to be honest, yet spontaneous. Please scroll down slowly and consider each line - this is important for the test to work accurately. You're in Florida ... in Miami, to be exact ... there is great chaos going on around you, caused by a hurricane and severe floods. There are huge masses of water all around. You are a CNN photographer and you are in the middle of this great disaster. The situation is nearly hopeless. You're trying to shoot very impressive photos. There are houses and people floating around you, disappearing into the water. Nature is showing all its destructive power and is ripping everything away with it. Suddenly you see a man in the water, he is fighting for his life, trying not to be taken away by the masses of water and mud. You move closer. Somehow the man looks familiar. Suddenly you know who it is - it's George W. Bush! At the same time you notice that the raging waters are about to take him away, forever. You have two options. You can save him or you can take the best photo of your life. So you can save the life of George W. Bush, or you can shoot a Pulitzer prize winning photo - a unique photo displaying the death of one of the world's most powerful men. And here's the question (please give an honest answer): **Would you select color film, or rather go with the simplicity of classic black and white? posted by: leena 1:31 am ____________________________________________________________ Thursday, March 5, 2004 Alright man. Speaking of buzzes...I am currently drinking a cup of chai -had to have something with caffeine. I also took unnecessary medicine because of the high amount of caffeine it contains. Yeah, some might consider this substance abuse, but at least it's all halal baby. Plus caffeine to me (and Leena) is like air to you. Enough said. Eh- "kinda just stuck inside this gloom," but oh well... So spring break begins today! excited? not really. As Leena's mentioned, Miami and Cancun are not exactly on our lists this time of year (more like, any time of the year) but that's okay (?) hmm...yeah life...Well...about the elections...No I'll leave that for Leena to discuss...Oh wait one thing- I'm glad to see that people are finally noticing what a sick khara Bush is-- yeah, using scenes of 9-11 for campainging. Yeah, anyways, back to things that aren't obvious. Yeah, so I'm reading this book. I've only finished reading the intro (almost 30 pages long), but the book so far seems like a Sarah-gives-it-a-thumbs-up book (as opposed to Sarah-gives-it-a-middle-finger-book). Anyway, it's called The Paradoxes of Love by some white dude with a beard that can almost pass for a Muslim. Wait, he is Muslim. It's not a novel/story/fiction- don't be fooled by the title. Anyways, since white people tend to get corny, the book does have its corny moments, but for most of the part, it's deep.. The theme of the book is the Love for God with an emphasis on a few aspects of this process that at times, may seem paradoxical- don't be alarmed! When I told one of my friends about it, she assumed I was going through a phase or that I was depressed. No I am not going through a phase. Anyways, the book discusses the nature of human duality- the mind and the heart. In order to love God, we should stop thinking so rationally and materialistically. The whole idea of "I think therefore I am" is clearly being challenged. We start by putting our ego aside and in due time we are able to train ourselves to not ascribe value to our experiences, i.e. nothing is "good" or "bad." These experiences merely serve to teach us lessons. I'll further discuss the book when I actually start reading it. Even though the book is clearly Sufi-inspired (Oh my God, The S-word!), my friend said I sounded Buddhist , well maybe I did. Yeah, well Budda did once say that "The most addictive substance known to humanity is EGO"- man I could have sworn that it was caffeine a minute ago. posted by: sarah 3:34 am ____________________________________________________________ Thursday, March 5, 2004 Okay, so this is my second attempt at writing this blog. I started an entry last night when I suddenly stopped and thought to myself, "What am I even writing about? Who cares? Just go to bed, Leena." I mean what's the point of writing if I don't feel like I have anything profound or thought provoking to say? But now, after feeling sick and light-headed all day and subsequently overdosing on ibuprofen, I'm thinking "Screw being profound, just write..." Anyway, I never promised anything spectacular, just my usual incoherent ramblings... Let's see, well I had another grrrrrrreeeeaat week at USF-- drowned in papers, arguing with morons in class, volunteering for/meeting Kucinich for the third time (I'm sure the man must think I am stalking him by now), and oh let's not forget getting cursed and yelled at by the usual psychotic "Christians" standing around campus all day, preaching the so-called message of God. Well, I guess the only idea they did adopt from Christianity was that of "inclusiveness," because they sure as hell didn't leave a single person out of whom they chose to damn. Yes, in addition to the verbal abuse, they held up huge banners cursing all non-believers, anyone who supports women's rights, sports-fans, homosexuals, etc. Oh, and I think the poor guys ran out of room so they added "and all other miscellaneous heathens" at the end just to be sure they didn't leave anyone out. Thoughtful, ain't it? Gotta looove Florida! Anyway, as expected, the Kucinich lecture was awesome. He talked about empowering the youth, namely college students and their history of changing important policies in this country, such as the draft, Vietnam war, ending the apartheid system in South Africa through divestment---and mostly rising up against big corporations. It reminded me alot of the student movements today across the entire nation divesting from Israel. Yeah, so it's Kucinich talking. He's not going to win, I know. I also know some of you are probably scoffing and rolling your eyes right now, but all I can say is that there are very few people in this world today who give me hope for a better future. I am probably as cynical as one can get, but yes, I really did feel all "warm and fuzzy inside" after his lecture. I felt like hugging a tree and holding up a "Flower Power" poster. It was great. Oh, and how can I forget the end when some folk singer got up on stage and began singing "Come on people now, smile on your brother; everybody get together. Got to love one another Right now." Yeah, it was oodles of fun. Kudos to you, Dennis. It just depresses me to know that he's got "a snowball's chance in hell," as dear old Dr. Nelsen once said. At least he didn't call him a "kook" or a "commie bastard" this time. But why the hell is everyone so gung ho about Kerry? What's the point of getting rid of Bush if we're going to replace him with a "Bush lite?" Oh well, I guess it's a bit early in the race to really judge. Although he did vote in favor of the war, his track record shows him to be somewhat more progressive than one would think. Apparently, he voted against the first gulf war and against pumping more money in the defense/military budget. Let's just pray he wins the general election, but for now at least, Dennis will definitely have my vote this Super Tuesday, and I can rest easy that night--well, figuratively speaking. The only thing that pissed me off last night was those damn Bush supporters with their stupid signs, led by none other than the warped, Fat Zio-bitch herself. Yep, all you USFers know who I'm talking about. You should have seen her in action yesterday, I swear to God I almost ran her over with my car. It's just ridiculous seeing her, I just found out today that she's now president of the "College Republicans" or something. It's hilarious how she comes out with a new organization everyday just to promote whatever new agenda she's given by AIPAC. Haha, remember "Students for Safety on Campus?" Priceless. The only question I had (and the rest of ACS) was where the hell were their damn "free speech zones?" Why the double-standard? *SLAP!* ---Rick james, bitch. Nope, hasn't gotten old yet:) For more on why I love Kucinich, check this out. I got it in an email the other day and it made me just want to pinch his little cheeks. =D It's a Dan Rather interview with then all four presidential candidates discussing the semantics of The Wall. Sunday, February 29, 2004, New York RATHER: Congressman, what I need to do is to point out that we need a two-minute drill here now. We're inside the two-minute mark. The fence or wall in the Middle East -- the Israelis say it's a fence; the Palestinians call it a wall. Senator Kerry, what do you call it? KERRY: A fence necessary to the security of Israel until they have a partner to be able to negotiate. RATHER: Reverend Sharpton? SHARPTON: I think it's a fence, but I think that we must keep Palestinian rights in mind. And I think it will not work unless we have cooperation of all sides, and we not in any way, shape or form have an unbalanced Middle East policy that we've had so far. RATHER: Fence or a wall? EDWARDS: It is a fence, both symbolically and in reality. There are only a very few miles of it that are made of concrete. And the Israelis have the right to protect themselves. And I agree that until we get to the place that they have a real partner, which America has to play an enormous role in, they're entitled to build the fence. RATHER: Congressman? KUCINICH: When Israel builds something on its territory, it's a fence. But when they build something on the Palestinians' territory, it's a wall. And I think that we need to help bring the parties together, for peaceful coexistence and restart the peace talks. This was pretty interesting. I love the photo journals on BBC. If only there were more of these initiatives taking place. This, on the other hand, takes the "WTF" cake of the day. Not just any "WTF," but a Jon Stewart, *blank stare*...."WHAT THE F!!" Yeah, not sure what the moral of the story is....Hm, people are F***ing stupid? Anyway, don't forget to vote this Tuesday for Kucinich. I can't believe it's finally spring break, Subhanallah! And what a better way to start it than to visit dad and go to an Orlando Magic game tomorrow! Woohoo! Let's just hope I take advantage of this week to get my loads of work done! Catch ya'll on the proverbial flip side. posted by: leena 1:11 am ____________________________________________________________ Thursday, March 4, 2004 The following is a forward I received by e-mail. Feel free to send me things that you think are worthy of being posted. If an Insect Falls in Your Cup of Coffee, what would you do? Here is one analysis: 1. The Englishman: Throws the cup away and walks out of the cafe. 2. The American: Takes the insect out and drinks the coffee. 3. The Chinese: Eats the insect and throws the coffee away. 4. The Besieged Palestinian: Drinks the coffee and eats the insect. 5. The Israeli: Sells the coffee to the American and the insect to the Chinese. Screams that his security is in peril. - Accuses the Palestinians of throwing the insect in his coffee. - Alledges that Hizbullah, the Syrians and the Iranians advocate attacks with weapons of mass insects. - Relates this vicious attack to Islamic Terrorism, Attacks on Human Rights, Anti- Semitism, the Holocaust, the Diaspora, the Discrimination against Noah's Ark. - Commands Arafat to immediately stop insects from flying in the air or landing in coffee cups. - Re-occupies the West Bank and Gaza, raids houses, cuts off water and electricity, humiliates and terrorizes civilians, kills or maims anyone in his way. - Imposes more military aid on the Americans. - Demands a 100-year, billion-dollar, loan from America to buy another cup of coffee. - Claims life-time free coffee from the cafe as compensation. posted by: sarah 3:51 pm ____________________________________________________________ Tuesday, March 2, 2004 After spending over twelve long hours on campus I am finally home! Fasting was uber hard today not only because I woke up earlier than a mofo, but because I had to beat myself in between classes in commemoration of 'Ashura (joking). But what seriously got me through the day was my night class on Iraq (that I await oh so anxiously throughout the entire week). In the news�. bombings in Baghdad and Karbala kill 271 Shias making their 'pilgrimage.' Why are Muslims so f***ed up? Not only is murder a grave sin, but it is clearly stated in the Qu'ran that engaging in battle in the month of Muharram (along with three other months) is forbidden (except in instances of defense or retaliation). Back to� Hmm�So Ashura's significance to Shias deals with the commemoration of the death of Imam Hussein. And for the first time in over 30 years, Shias in Iraq are allowed to observe this day publicly. And even other Shias from around the world traveled to Karbala to visit the sites. So in class, while the professor was talking about how this day was only important to Shias, I felt compelled to intrude on the half-ignorant, half-talking-out-of-ass discussion. I mean, I was fasting Ashura and I am not Shia (I don't like labels). So I had to explain the 'Sunni' significance tied to 'Ashura. (The Prophet (S) used to fast in gratitude to Allah because He saved Prophet Musa and his followers from the Pharoah- The Jews used to fast on this day too). It's quite difficult to explain the in-depth history of this sectarian conflict in two minutes. Furthermore, it is also tough trying to explain that Shia-branching off of 'Sunni' Islam is unlike the Protestant Reformation. The initial secession was entirely political. And in due time, the theological differences transpired. I think all students should take a class on Islam (well especially Int'l Studies majors). I can't help but feel extremely embarrassed and ashamed when discussing the news- because 'terrorism' is always the hotspot. When you're the only Muslim in class and you are surrounded by brainwashed 1-ROTC wannabes 2-Republicans (lineage-thing) and 3-Zionists who've never heard of tweezers 4-Laptop guy- exerting their played-out propagand-ish opinions all the effing time, you can't help but go insane and feel half-dizzy and half-nauseous by the end of class. I mean you can't refute every single one of their claims or else the (hot) professor might get irritated from your big mouth. And it also becomes increasingly difficult to remind others that the news they see on their Dajjal-boxes (TV's) is NOT Islamic. But if they are constantly hearing the refutations being made on the Muslim behalf, they might be thinking "if that isn't Islamic and that isn't Islamic, then what is?" Someone please tell me why Muslims are retarded� Oh yeah, today I saw a table of Jews sitting all together drinking soda, laughing, talking, and I seriously envied their sense of togetherness. Some of you guys might be thinking I'm talking out of my ass when I say this because I have isolationist/anti-social tendencies, but it's really something to think about. They've got each other's backs, but so do we�except we go a step further than them- stab stab stab! posted by: sarah 11:35 pm ____________________________________________________________ Tuesday, March 2, 2004 Greetings everyone. After much pain, labor, and hours of procrastinating homework to work on our blog, it is finally up and running--mad props to Sarah:-). Inspired by a fellow bitter, angry, confused, yet somewhat hopeful Arab, my partner in crime and I have decided to follow the footsteps of Salam Pax and broadcast our rantings, opinions, and sentiments to the world--so long as you'll have us (or at least until we are forcibly shutdown by Fred, Bob, and Ida). Come on guys, if anything, we are just making your job easier here! Feeling like a zombie most of the day, I haven't gotten much work accomplished. I am just so tired of reading blatantly biased writings on the Holocaust. I have a paper due tomorrow, and I have zero motivation to write it, as the thought of sitting through that nauseating three-hour class makes me want to put a bullet through my head. I am sick of the likes of propagandists such as Elie Wiesel, Rubenstein, and others who continue to exploit the tragedy of the Holocaust to justify the continued, unjustifiable suffering of the Palestinians. I am sick and tired of reading about Israel as being the promised homeland to Jews who were forced to "defend" themselves against the greedy, barbaric Arabs. And I'm sick of reading about the "victory" in 1967, when the "Jews reclaimed Jerusalem." Of course no one mentions the Nakba in 1948, the millions of dispossessed Palestinians, and the theological, political, and humanitarian ramifications of establishing such a "homeland." Anyway, nothing I'm saying here is new, I am just tired of being hypocritical and sympathetic when no one gives a you-know-what about the plight of the Palestinians. God, I can't wait until Norman Finkelstein comes and gives these suckaz a real edjumakayshun! In other news, I'm still applying for internships--well "applying." I guess that will be delayed until Spring Break, which I promise won't be celebrated in Miami or Cancun. No, it never is. Instead, it will consist of frequent trips to Coleman (Insha'Allah--if there is no "security breach"--whatever the hell that means), reading on Christian Zionism, Malcolm X, Financial Times, and Iraq, and creating the most kick-ass powerpoint presentation on Palestine this campus has ever seen (see "giving suckaz a real edjumakayshun" above). Another thing I was told to do during Spring Break was to clean out my dad's office at USF since the government is now finally "done" with it. It just feels really weird going in there I guess, after all this time---it was closed to us prior to this (they changed the locks and everything). I think the last time I've been there, I must have been about 6 years old. I don't remember much except that it was filled with billions of books and a marker board that I would color on. More on that soon. Finally, although I also might be getting my wisdom teeth out then, I think the real highlight of Spring Break will be seeing John Mayer live! (Big sister is coming down for that too--woohoo!) Let's hope my incessant badgering of Omar and Ryan will get me backstage passes--comeon, we got you guys elected--don't go Bush on us, damnit! I promise to behave... =D Anyway, I think I'm boring you guys right now--it's okay, I'm boring myself just as much. Unfortunately, my weekend/day has been extremely uneventful--it actually just feels like one huge blur upon retrospect. But alot of awesome things are coming up that I'll include here so that you and I both don't forget: March 3: Dennis Kucinich --Special Events Center 7 pm March 5: Orlando Magic Game 8 pm March 7: John Mayer --Sundome 7 pm March 9: SUPER TUESDAY! VOTE KUCINICH!!! March 15: Lecture on Freedoms in the U.S. --ULH 5 pm March 16: One-year anniversary of Rachel Corrie's death, caused by Caterpillar bulldozer March 19: Lecture on Arab Americans in the Media, feat. Alison Weir and Hussein Ibish (TOL) 7 pm March 20: International Day of Action (Protesting the Occupations of Palestine and Iraq) March 27: David Cole, ACLU event and WMNF fundraiser March 30: Yvonne Ridley-- From Captive to Convert April 12: Mexican Speaker (Chiapas) April 15: Norman Finkelstein Okay kiddies, I'm out for now. I'm sick of replaying this Norah Jones song. Sarah, you need to get your hacker friend to send you the entire CD already so you can burn it for me! Awaiting the return of dear Laptop.........Peace & Justice. posted by: leena 1:05 am |
| Pray for Peace. Work for Justice. |
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| Give me peace of mind and trust. Don't forget the rest of us. Give me strength, reserve control. Give me heart and give me soul. Wounds that heal and cracks that fix. Tell me your own politik. And open up your eyes. |
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| "They love to tell you stay inside the lines, but something's better on the other side." |
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