Superb Cynic... Much ado about nothing

weehawken!

2006-06-11T15:23:00.000-05:00

There is something about Weehawken.

It is the best kept secret in New Jersey. Half the people cant pronounce the town, its tough spelling it out (W like Wisconsis, E like Elephant, Elephant again, H for the hawk, continue writing the word Hawk, add an elephant and then N as in Nancy)

I would absolute hate moving away from here and the mere thought of getting married and having to move makes me very uneasy. I still need the social order to change so that perhaps I won't have to move, he could in fact come into my house.

I went for a run and realized everyone from Weehawken is extremely peaceful at heart. Hello's and have a nice day's are a part of being from Weehawken. We are close enough to new york city (5 minute bus ride, 10 minute ferry ride, 3 minute walk to path train) and we have Hoboken, Jersey City, Fort Lee and Edgewater.

Running and walking anywhere else, with the tree-lined streets, stone walls, the breeze from the water and the view of the entire new york skyline is just something I will never, ever, want to leave.

update of May/7th day of Russia

2006-06-08T22:19:00.000-05:00

I have been working, in school and watching movies. I will be interning at the US Federation for Middle East Peace and I know I will enjoy the experience. The objective of this organization is to just encourage and promote peace. I have too often fallen back and as per my "about me" I am a very cynical person. If nothing, this internship will at least set me to look at more positives in a society that receives such negatives.

I have decided to go to Rutgers University- New Brunswick for their Middle Eastern program and political science department. I think I will be more satisfied with everything, the diverse community, the mix of intellect and lack thereof, but really all aspects of today's youth is most likely represented at Rutgers.

I also am Vera close to finishing day Vinci Code and I recall my father (three years ago) telling me to read this book, I would not regret a minute spent on it, instead I would praise him for passing on the book to me. He was extremely grateful for some reading time after having stopped his John Grisham novels that continued one after the other but abruptly stopped. I miss him and I wish I could have just taken the DAMN book and read it then, instead of proving myself falling towards a "different" genre of 19th century British novels. I regret not having picked it up and reading it with him and recall the night I sat next to him and he said "why don't we read it together, so we can talk about it and argue," I told him "we argue anyway!" It got a laugh for a few seconds but we could have laughed for much longer if I took his advice.

But it happened and I shouldn't regret something that already occurred. yes, yes, moving on... I just miss him.

SO, I also saw The Break Up, with Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston. An usual approach to a comedy but it was extremely interesting to see something more serious coming out of such comedy.

Last day of Russia

The people we met were at the end were those we considered, with a failed attempt to erase any sign of cheesiness, best friends forever. Everyone left a lasting mark and in our week in Saint Petersburg, it was more than a political summit arguing issues. It was a weekend we realized politics of our personal life were quite possibly host to more complicated dynamics than we previously thought. Our personalities clashed and we worked around it, our policies differed but we found consensus and on things we did not agree on at all, we put away for reasons of practicality. We wanted to be after all, practical people for a better world.

Day Six of Russia trip

2006-05-09T23:48:00.000-05:00

We moved into sessions and I walked into with great stride in hopes that my performance as a diplomat would be tested and proved. I was now going to portray beliefs that I mostly work against. For pins that I sport on my bags that state “Pro-Palestine, Pro-Israel, Pro-People” something some argue the US believes and what most Americans know is not the case in Iraq is on another pocket, “End War, Bring Peace.”

Now I was speaking against dialogue with Palestinians and against signing on troop withdrawal in Iraq. Foolish Nadia, what I thought would be new and exciting, now was putting a horrible damper on my heart. My words were coming out and my head felt heavy all I kept thinking in my mind was that I spoke on, I didn’t believe. That was what helped me make sense out of this trip though. This was helping me realize that my life would never be easy and if I wanted to work with the US State Department or around the world for bettering the Middle East, I needed to start being open to compromising theories, clearly theorizing both sides of the conflict and analyze what changes meant to those who would eventually receive it. Things were not always as simple as our rationality makes it, especially when reality hits.

I was grateful for viewpoints from the Japanese proposals of peaceful dialogue, Russia’s strategic place on Middle East investment, and the refusal of war by the Germans and the voiced anger at the handling of Iraq by France.

In my speech, after hearing many declarations of anti-Iraqi war sentiment, I told my counterparts “Iraq is a war that won support from the people in the country, they are now voting and to think three-fourths of us in this room, of the most powerful leaders in the world, did not support or initiate it, saddens me.”

The response from the French delegation put both my worlds into perspective. Marina told me the war was wrong, the outcome was good, the road that is being taken now is towards more wrongs. The Italian minister, Enrico continued “now, we should play smarter roles, understand the people on the battle ground and this war will end, yes?”

Yes. I agree.

What I actually said was something else. “No I don’t agree, because we do understand the cultures on the ground, they must be more receptive to us, we cannot control their minds and it will take time to work with these people, which is why we will be there until no specific deadline.”

Shortly thereafter, Enrico, the Italian Foreign Minister angrily came to me during dinner and said “I don’t know if you want to be a diplomat or a politician but all I know, is that you would be a great actress.”

I realized, this worked against everything I wanted to achieve and now it was time to change my approach without letting go of the current Administrations handlings. I realized at that moment, the point of this conference was to think about the future, not about the theories of a government whose reign would be over in two years. The real test was figuring out solutions our government would most likely consider in two years in what will be known to our generation as the most pressing transitional period.

Day five of Russia!

2006-05-01T09:25:00.000-05:00

We each had consultation with delegations with respective consul Generals and specialists this morning. The American delegation would meet the Russians privately, with three officials for Culture and Youth development from the Russian United Nations Association of Russia. After stating our approaches to our respective ministries, we asked questions to the officials about spreading democracy in the Middle East, Hamas, energy and education.

Following this, we went to the Mariinskiy Palace that usually hosts the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg. We sat, listening to assemblymen, a Diplomacy League official, G8 Research Group advisor, and heads of state speeches from each delegation.

Our conference was officially opened and it felt great. We had time for a reception and it was in the congress hall. It was then, most of us tried to search for our ministries that would hold our policy friends, our military enemy, or finance marriage partner and our defense policy divorcee.

We laughed about politics and events, leaders and past presidents. We talked about our individual approaches to situations we would discuss over four cups of tea for me and wine for the others. We slowly realized our sessions would be heated. So we smiled a nervous smile. We may have all looked confident but in truth, we felt dreadful. We didn’t know what to expect.

Day four of Russia

2006-04-23T10:05:00.000-05:00

This is the boredom felt from the triviality of this day

04/04/06: Major Session Begins

Our plenary sessions began today and we went over the happenings that would occur over the week. When the Russian delegation said we were going over the planning for each day, we didn’t think they meant they would go over every hour of the day. I kid you not,“11 p.m., 12 p.m., 1 a.m. till 8 a.m., we will sleep… 8:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m. we will eat breakfast.”

In this plenary session, each delegation sat together and we were all staring at everyone else trying to figure out their approaches strictly on their facade: Hardliner or compromiser? I chose to use the exciting way, the American approach of hard in the room, a jokester outside sessions, confused the hell out of everyone.

Every delegation went their separate ways for sightseeing and the Americans laughed about already having finished every possible street corner in Saint Petersburg, we were done!

We waited, relaxed, a few left the hotel, me and Nicole paid what seemed like a million dollars for 2 minutes on the internet and I sat (rather patiently) for my missing bag that was lost in Moscow! Mind you, it had all my suits and sessions had already begun!

Day three of Russia!

2006-04-20T21:35:00.000-05:00

04/03/06: Sight-seeing, delegations arrive

We visited the Hermitage, the Fortress of John and Paul and a vegetarian restaurant. We took several stops in many churches and it took me back to my Medieval Civilizations class with the frescos and the arches, portraits of saints and baby Jesus held by Mary in several different forms.

On the streets of Russia, I often felt we went back two decades. There were old cars, dark-tone clothing with fabrics of the 80s we made fun of our parents for wearing and genrally the city’s look. We did see construction to mark Saint Petersburg’s rich history, perhaps this was their road to fit into the millennium. I wondered if these people cared to match their streets with the rest of the world. Or was it just the American theory of giving pity to those who did not have the American ideals or the American façade, maybe they truly enjoyed living in a calmer, more cultured city with thousands of statues, hundreds of small bridges and small shops aligned with larger ones, without competition.

I don’t know whether to call them the people you meet or if it’s a long-lost friend reunited. This trip hadn’t begun its summit portion for discussion on forming a communiqué; we were given time to socialize with all the delegations.

For a person with my personality, I wondered why they hadn’t started the debates and discussions between ministers of affairs yet especially since we would get to know them in sessions anyway. The answer was simple, the personalities you get in politics is quite a different face you receive during dinner. I imagined myself arguing policies with Russia and I both cringed and smiled, I got it now…. Oh no. I no longer was anxious to rush into session, instead I enjoyed my dill potatoes and bottled water.

Day two of Russia trip!

2006-04-19T20:56:00.000-05:00

Here is my second day... :-)

04/02/06: traveling and sight-seeing

The weather is slightly unfavorable to a New Jerseyan who just got comfortable in putting on sneakers and shirts instead of boots and sweaters. By the end of today, the American delegation argued every other hour about every possible argument that could occur but shortly thereafter laughed about yes, everything that could be laughed at. We ended up finishing each others sentence, sharing gloves, paying lunches and getting away from the formalities, such as “so, the weather is different from home, huh?”

The streets in Russia had no lines separating traffic and the metro felt like an inferno. The hotel bed epitomized the stereotype of everything European style meant everything half-sized. The toilet paper felt like sand-paper and the small food portions were so normal to Russians that it was as if Weight Watchers formed a coup over Russia.

But for some reason, we felt good about being here. I think we would have fed into the American stereotype of being seen as “uncultured” if we didn’t accept all these things that put us out of our “comfort zone.” It still felt like the Russians were the British guardsmen outside the Queen’s palace, we wondered how we’d make them laugh, smile or move.

Nicole as my roommate, I joke, is the white version of me. She does things I would do if Islam didn’t say sacrifice some enjoyments and pleasures on this earth for eternal happiness. It’s a good sell. For some who don’t have tenants questioning faith on a constant basis, my decision to wear pajamas instead of a cocktail dress are different approaches to life. Nicole made me feel comfortable, and when she found me prostrating in the corner of the hotel room, she grabbed her necklace with a Saint of Catholicism and closed her eyes in reflection.

That night during dinner, the Japanese delegation arrived and exposed to us the most perfectly aligned but natural unforced smiles. It was a few minutes after meeting the Japanese, each American thought we now had to repeat our thoughts thrice in our heads before we said a comment or joke, if it was something ONLY an American would understand, save it for later.

Then, the Germans came! The first-three were Karsten, the uplifted, free-spirited jokester, the second was Max, the tall broad model-type with the softest heart and the third was Moritz, who had a wild-boy look who analyzed everything with great thought. The rest of the Germans slept and Max number two, who would be in my ministry, was flying in from another UN conference from Beijing. It was also this night we hereby declared the Germans as the Americans of Europe.

Day one of Russia trip

2006-04-18T19:23:00.000-05:00

I have not posted for a while. I have dealt with various politics (family, school & world), with each having a profound effect on my life.

But I kept a blog for the Herald News (New Jersey paper) and I know not every portion of my blog will be published for the sake of their "sexy" angle... so, here I will start with the first day and go down to day nine in the coming days.

04/01/06: airport/plane

My father used to say the trips’ essence was in the ride towards your destination. I hardly think he meant that for the ten-hour plane ride on Aeroflot, the Russian airline who served only “meat” or “chicken.” Ergo, the beginnings of a great trip for a Muslim, vegetarian or a Jew.

I am aboard an aircraft with several dozens of anxious homebound Russians, ten High School students to tour the city of Moscow and the seven of us, what we started to call “Team America,” quite ironically alluding to the politically controversial and stereotypical cartoon movie.

We were made up of firstly, the mother of the group, Linda (Minister of Energy), who laughs loudly about the small things in life, Brian (Minister of Internal Affairs), who smiles at those who likes, dislikes and everyone in between, Nicole (Minister of education), who speaks only the language of ‘excited,’ Nick (Minister of Defense), who speaks only when spoken to and laughs at and with everything, Anthony (Head of State), the huggable member of the group who needs to be told to stop talking and Dan, the ‘serious’ one who we called “step-Dad” because when he told us to ‘sit up straight,’ we responded “uhm, no,” and laughed with fear. Oh, and myself, Nadia Sheikh (Minister of Foreign Affairs) I don’t have enough courage to give myself a particular position or title in the group but here goes my attempt: I am the petulant sarcastic “Moslem.”

I will represent the US Foreign Minister in what I believe is the most pressing issue in the most pressing region, “democratization” in the “Middle East.” And I wonder, what the rest will think when a girl with a headscarf walks into a room filled with suits and international accents. My biggest fear of this conference is I will focus too much trying not to be subjective on my personal views that I will completely lose my trust in my own beliefs all together.

When our flight landed in Saint Petersburg we met our guide Masha, who would handle seven nervous, anxious and uncontrollably sarcastic bunch. Masha would be in charge of the US delegation for the week and I began to wonder how fate played its role. She was the Russian version of our whole team. This was definitely going to get interesting.

Till then,
Nadia

MSA East Zone

2006-03-16T10:33:00.000-05:00

Been a while---but helllo

updates on my life:
My TiVo stopped taping Oprah and I am upset
Also, I have tried to stop listening to so much music because I think it eats my brain out and hinders me from doing something I lack: dhikr or remembrance of God.

I LOVE me some Sami Yusuf because firstly:
He is beautiful
secondly: he sings beautifully
thirdly: his message is beautiful and well executed
fourthly: even his back-ups are extra beautiful

So I think I will just not turn on the radio, hook up my iPod and really do some Night at the roxbury head-bopping to Sami Yusuf.. not an appropriate shift but an Islamic alternative.

I also went to MD for the weekend and went to the Muslim Students Association. I don't know about other attendants but I am SO sick and tired of going to the VA-MD area, I feel like all the conferences have been there! Too much Denny's.

When the MSA was formerly in jersey, it was my cousin's wedding so I couldn't go. And really all the fun happens when you are a volunteer and that is why I loved the NYC conference.
I understand we are a little crass at times when people ask questions but SO many people were like "Hi, you are from around here, where is the nearest starbucks?"
I basically pointed out the doors and told them to JUST WALK.. and you willll see... indeed they did...

And we are a little fast-paced... and the MD people this year were SOOO CALM like their registration table was very, verrry slow-moving and "Assalmau Alaikum- name please, thank you" for us it was like
"HoLD ON, move back-- dont send anyone yet-- last name first THEN first name... verify school! Do you really go to Harvard or are you lying to find a wife!?"

But then, after several fights with Sondos about make-up, a few stalkers and some coffees laterr we managed to get over everything...

I learnt a few things from the MD conference because I was very impressed with their handling and how well they had done with people, speakers and setup.
I loved the treasure-hunt and the iPod nano give-a-way...

I did not understand the food. I just didnt get it.

But the Qiyam-al-layl or the after-Isha and before-Fajr prayer about after-life was very interesting. I dont think there was a dry-eye in the room during prayer and I really respect the effects of the power of belief and trust and fear and love of God that was invoked. Subhanallah.

This theme was very important and the Sunnah is something that has the ability to change us all. We know what the Prophet would have wanted us to do in life, the only thing left is practicing the knowledge given to us.

--Diplomacy-- and lack thereof

2006-02-18T10:48:00.000-05:00

An interesting update on Palestine

Russia invites Hamas to speak
Israeli minister says it was like Israel inviting the chechen seperatists
Then Turkey plans to talk with Hamas
Israeli ministers says it was like Israel inviting the kurdish seperatists

Are we noticing a pattern here?
What's next... Spain asking Hamas for talks and Israel saying its like Israel inviting ETA....

Situations in each country are vastly different from each other. Chechnya, for example does not want soverienty because they want an Islamic nation... they want it because they believe their ideals dont match those of Russia's and with several other nations breaking off from Russia, what stops them from allowing a Checnya? There is no self-economy because Russia will not allow the growth in power. That is desperation.

Next:
America asks the Palestinians for the US50 Million back. WHAT a diplomatic move by America by making everyone in the region cringe except for Israel!?!

Well, luckily for Palestinians, they have a cause to sell and they really threw the 50 million back without any issue. Most of the 50 Million was in the bank anyway.

Tell me why its okay for most Israelis to say we are not compromising with terrorists but not okay for Palestinians to say they are not compromising with occupiers?

The biggest mistake the world made was not giving Hamas a chance... you called for democracy and then you took it back... I remember Bush saying he would help fund democracies in fledging middle east, esp. Palestine... calling back 50 million is definately not gnna help the 1.3 trillion dollar debt..

School...

2006-02-09T09:39:00.000-05:00

I am a little upset about liking Seton Hall after all. I didn't want to. It's like an arranged date/engagement/marriage... like you are thinking "I DONT WANT TO... ugh, maybe I willll like it... I should just give it a try."

Then the next step is not liking it.. hating it because you had to push yourself in the beginning and your entrance into the experience has already been subjected to weariness and angst.

BUT THEN... you think, after giving it a chance- after spending more time.. wow, NOT BAD.

Now I am ASSUMING this is like an arranged date/marriage because I have never been but this is what I think it would be like. At least I understand it now beforehand.

So then I am still thinking of Barnard and their 5-yr Columbia program and I realllly want to go! But then I really like Seton Hall and my communications program... and think I can just go to masters at Columbia.

Then.. I think, socially- Seton Hall is very dry. Very.
The Muslims on campus lack you know, Islam.
The Asians are too Asian.
The honors kids are very "eclectic"
and I don't know... Its just an odddd experience.. but for some odd reason- I do like it.
There is that intellect I ignored in the beginning.

I have a cold sore and it hurts... I am off- till then...
with hope,
Nadia

The Danish cartoon- idiocy

2006-02-05T11:19:00.000-05:00

I have been busy the last few days. Not really but I just didn't have time to write in my blog.

A lot has happened on the news but the most newsworthy story for me is the source of what has increased my impatience with Western thoughts of freedom over press... aka Bull Sh*t.

Freedom of speech is ONE COMPONENT of a functioning democracy... where are the other concepts like respect, understanding, promotion of tolerance... etc.

The most moderate-reformist Muslims are angry about this (Egyptian Pres. Hozni Mubarek, King Abdullah of Jordan).

For centuries since Prophet Muhammad's death, he was not depicted because it was seen as disrespectful and more importantly, he never wanted to be depicted to prevent iconography from succeeding the messages of Islam through verse and to emphasize the powers of God.

(No one ought to die over this, it is just wrong but so is depicting a leader of such soft, tender beliefs)

The fact all the anger is coming at embassies around the world shows a lot of impatience for this last straw. For the past 5 years, Muslims all over the world have been labeled terrorists when there are a counted KNOWN thousands out of ONE POINT TWO BILLION Muslims around the world.

We could care less about depicting Usama bin Laden in a bad light because most real Muslims, would never consider him a leader, not even a Muslim. He is not worth our anger because to us, he has done for than kill thousands, he has killed a religion.

But when it comes to the Prophet Muhammad (May peace be upon him), the only thing that shows the Prophet in bad light is mere ignorance. I want anyone reading this to google the word Hadith and take a look at what the Prophet had told us to do to lead our lives in the best way.

I want to leave with a few noted Hadiths of the Prophet "The greater Jihad is the Jihad with the self." He said avoid going into wars, only defend yourselves but never be the aggressor. Be the kind one and be kind to your mother three times over your father because the gates of Heaven are under her feet. Do not hurt animals and if you must slaughter them to eat, make sure the death is swift. In a time of war, kill no women, children, animals or elderly. See war as a last resort.

Hamas and Democracy--- Hariri bends down to Bush

2006-01-30T13:56:00.000-05:00

Hamas wins election! Shock to the ignorant- the usual for Palestinians.....

What's funny to me is America calls for democracy- I mean they FIGHT for it, they say "Live by it and die by it." But the irony arises as democracy in the Middle East are not the "reforming" modernists but are the traditional citizens who want to turn towards modernization at a slow pace and stick closely to Islamic ideals while preserving their lands not for the use of externalization, globalization nor exploitation by the bigger nations.

Take for example Saad Hariri... poor young fool sits and has to hear Bush claim his love for justice by telling Saad, America is here for him if he everrr decides he wants to take down Syria to retaliate for his father's death.. he went as far as to say "We dont them bullying you 'round, kay?.... LebanonThat is the example of the right American democracy.... an example to other Muslim nations as a stupid Democracy.

(Look its cute, they are even matching--)

Palestinians.. have VOTED in, with majority rule (hence Democracy) who they believed spoke for them as people and as a a nation (YES TO DEMOCRACY, RIGHT?----> WRONG) America and Europe both say "No" to it now that it doesn't work to their interest and less puppets are here to control.

It is important to note, however, that PM Mahmoud Abass is hear to stay... if that means control or not is a different question.

What I want to leave with today is relaying a message of Hamas. Yes, they supported suicide bombers in the past-- but for them, they are in a state of war, for Israel they are in a state of war.... Hamas are warriors they say in this fight for the land that we Westerners claim as a quarrel with terrorists on one said and defense on the other.... NOTE: People do not blow themselves up until they absolutely think they live in a society they will gain nothing in because of restrictions or because it is a war and they are martyrs. In many cases to Palestinians, they are both. I do not support suicide bombings firstly, because Islam condemns it and secondly because I don't think it is necessary if peace will surely not result from it and innocents will always die.

BUT NOW, have they said they will continue a militant front? No. Have they said they will not "compromise" with Israelis, Yes. For many Palestinians (please excuse the extremities in my example) It is like asking a Jew to compromise wit a Nazi soldier after the war.. even for the Israelis you will receive the same refusal... 25% of them will not communicate with Palestinians because they also call for the extermination of land-mongers. (See: Zionism)

I will REALLY leave you with this:
While I was in Montreal this past weekend for the conference on Globalization, I read Canada's equivalent to NYT and the headline was "Hamas goes Extreme: makes same-sex schools" NOT "Hamas builds infrastructure, starts building schools," how's that for propoganda against something that MAY work if given a chance.

10 things I wish to do before I die!

2006-01-21T23:36:00.000-05:00

Top 10 things I want to do before I die

10. Visit all 7 continents (5 down, 2 to go)
9. Invest in Dubai
8. If I ever have a son, name him Feisal after my dad...
7. Stay in Kenya (father's birthplace) and help strengthen Islamic Schools and mosques
6. Teach children in the Middle East how to speak English after #5
5. Learn Arabic fluently (I would rate my 3 out of 5 in it currently)
4. Help change the image of Democracy in both Islamic nations and Western nations (Email/Aim me I will elucidate)
3. Build a Muslim Private Academy ( a REAL one for this Ummah- community)
2. Make my mom smile constantly and hope she will one day feel as happy as she was w. my father
1. Finish memorizing the Quran <---- Inshallah! One day....

Scary two days (Iraq gov't and Usama tape)

2006-01-20T16:18:00.000-05:00

It was extremely scary to note Iraq's 10 votes shy from being a Shiite-ran government. You would think, there was some LITTLE intellect left in the US government to make sure more a Sunni turnout occurs so as to prevent fatalities of Shiite's.

Sunni insurgency is more collaborative than the US government and the Shiite coalition combined. Reason being: Sunni Muslims can be found everywhere. Not to say AT ALL Sunni's wreak havoc just for being Sunnis but for sympathizers of a country being run by a group they believe after four decades, will not be able to maintain proper powers to keep it functioning. (Note- I did not mean that it is functioning now-- because well... because)

Then Usama comes... Mr. Bin Laden-- a conversation with a Bush advisor from Texas on the phone... here is the Advisor's reactions:
"YOU!! ... well loookie here.. wha? you want peace? Mr. Bin, I aint milkin' around...I am serious... haha... Waiit, a second.... you're not joking...
Oh.
Well... we don't understand peace.. I mean we want peace too.... but why?

...you say you don't want to backstab?.... or kill anymore?... Did you just threaten me Was that a threat!?!.. Oh. okay...

Well, I just really think we are doing well on this war thing with the muslamics... its just not possible... we like the way things are being done by Georgie.. I mean President Bush.. you know Al-President... so yea we have decided to just brush your threats off, call you a turban-wearing enemy and really want to continue on killings on both sides because truce is not possible....... did you just say I wanna kill my own people?!! No sir-reyy, I don't think you understand...

No truce- go ahead... I call your bluff....... Nooo- you'll see! "

My thoughts: America begs for trouble- it is war.. this is an unstated war with America... Continuously coining them terrorists is to have called everyone in the past you went to war with terrorists... it is true... and to them, America breeds terrorism and pays for it (army) and family retribution (dead army members) so its paying martyrs like the criticism of Palestinians fighting for their land.... on the other side- you are the same to your enemy what you call them to be...

In the past, peace has been made with treaties.... this is the SAME thing. It was just a longer war, a war with different people with a different language in a NEW era. This New era gives us room to get out of turmoil and promise better futures with not compromising with the "terrorists" but looking outside yourself and seeing both sides as conducting heinous crimes.... It is a philosophical key to understanding everything-- see yourself like your enemies see you... Become a best friend with your worst enemy and there will be peace- that is just the way it is.

.... quotes from Iran-- always a good read

2006-01-19T11:16:00.000-05:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4616336.stm

Interesting quotes by Irani President

A birthday and a forced event

2006-01-18T19:30:00.000-05:00

'Twas my birthday yesterday and it was a rather interesting occasion.

Here is a low-fat banana cake with red icing and blueberries that my health conscious sister made for me (can you tell I want to feed it to the next-door pug?)

My last birthday included my father and I scalping Simon and Garfunkel tickets outside Continental Arena and getting quite possible the WORST seats but I misss times like those... just me n' him...

My sisters as usual, got me nothing because every year when it comes time for my birthday they claim the whole "but we don't celebrate birthdays" BS. You got to love their humor.... Someone has to because I don't! I am still expecting something.

We went to P.F. Chang's (awesome food, WORST service) and then I was late for a meeting to discuss MUN's next week Montreal trip to McGill University where I will be representing the African Women's Association on the US Special Session for Globalization and Interdependence. Its gunna be fun! (all pun intended, please feel free to add in your powers too)

ALSO, If anyone has some opinion on globalization please introduce them to me, I would love for a talk (that always turns into an argument) in what the world is headed for with globalization....
________________________________________________

Besides thaaat:
My cousin is doing this Matrimonial Event sponsored by www.sheikhproductionsllc.com and he wants me to do the promotion for it. For people who are not aware of what these matrimonials are like it basically is "speed-dating" with chaperones.

The reason why dating in Islam is not allowed is because it lessens seriousness in the sanctity of marriage and how there ought to be only one relationship as to preserve a properly monogamous relationship. I say this because when people start dating, when they finally secure a fiance, they will be (more than likely) thinking of another person they dated that was more "exciting" in some aspects and laughed at jokes more etc.

So I will end up volunteering at this event because my mom thinks that I will completely let go of marriage until I am getting my Master's. She is probably right but I am not going to this event to speed-date but rather, chill around, laugh a little about the extremely odd setting and laugh harder about the coined weirdos that always increase attention. I will be volunteering and NO not at the registration booth because you might as well be speed-dating but at managing a sought after American Muslim speaker Imam Siraj Wahaj that was brought to increase attention and a more comfortable reason for people to come for the event.

So have fun while looking at the flier! Because for about an hour, I laughed at him. Rest assured, there were calls from the Arab community fearing exclusionary aspects of the flier and wondered if there would be any Arabs "allowed." Of course, at the expense of my cousin's stupidity, he will now have to design something more... inclusionary (not a word- should be though)

But COME! And just chill for a rather interesting informal night with formal wear and have a good night... even Arabs.. (hehe)

A poem for the 'Individual'

2006-01-16T18:26:00.000-05:00

You upset me
And I fall
I Fall beneath you
But why is it I can close my eyes
and conquer everything- a cut above the wind
I know I can blow stronger towards your forces
If I can battle the winds God throws at me
The small punches should mean nothing
But why do your words affect me so?
Why is it most of the times I do things to please not myself
But to please you
When all it will ever be are words you have heard before
Words of monotony
Perhaps, my fear is to be that of nothing... to become void
To mean little and to say a lot
I do not wish to become a person of no substance
I wish to be me the way I want to be
Not the way you can mold your theses to impress those who subconsciously mold you
Not the way you mold your own thoughts to impress your own false intellect
I ought to be the way I want to be,
I wish to be the me, I should and will be.

Me. 1/16/06

Iran Holocaust Day

2006-01-15T21:01:00.000-05:00

So there is this guy that I am crushing on, his name is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

So yeah, if you have not already gotten it by now, its the Iranian President I am talking about because no other man in the world is that into his own mind, that so obviously politically incorrect, that darn hott (JOKE- kinda) and just well- a guy people love to hate but really laugh about. That is my man!

A picture of him getting ready to sing ghazals/qawali (Also another Joke)

Doing a little lightbulb movement with his hand...a new form of bhangra perhaps- a still form?

So today, Iran announced they would host an Islamic conference to evaluate the truth about the holocaust. Of course, this is after France, Germany and England all tried to talk to Iran about halting a Nuclear facility AND the US said that invading Iran was still not ruled out.

But rest assured, Ahmadinejad does not care. He does what he loves doing, being a needle in peoples @$--- even the Irani clerics are wearisome about his actions and how it will create an ever larger destroyed picture of Iran.

I personally happen to think this day and age, he brings egotism to its level and he tells all these 'powerful nations' they needn't have to carry this title of a 'democracy' and give themselves permission to rule and effect the world. So here you have a coined 'dictator' making decisions for the most of the country doesn't mind seeing.

You might wonder why would they like what Ahmadinejad was doing by banning specific alluring music and closing fashion boutiques that increase a 'Western' look? Well its simple, people are sick and tired of becoming something their nation has never ceased to become.

Iran was the world's capital of poetry, love and passion. A few centuries later, passion is the US way of saying become free and take off the headscarf to liberate yourself is to shed more clothes of but not for more increased intellect; where love becomes less of a state of mind and a link from the heart and into a round of dating circles and sleep-arounds.

Don't get me wrong, Americans as I am myself one, believe to know a lot of families who believe dating should only happen when people are ready to settle down and not look for a great fling. (Disclaimer: When I say America I do not mean All Americans but for the sake of a less analytical blog, I am leaving as just saying "Americans")

I don't think Ahmadinejad is truly opposed to the arts and poetry but he is opposed to his country saying they want to belong to somewhere they should never belong to. It is important to also create a link to Islam. The Prophet (PBUH) said music was allowed on occasions to cause jubilation but not to be used for amusement to increase drinking and partying and the exploitation of women as dancers when music was used was put out in Arabia. Prostitution, porn and a lot of things that destroy family circuits and true Islam will take over nations that don't nip it when it begins. Ahmadinejad has basically decided not only to nip it so that when his reign is over, it will flourish again, but instead to take it from its roots and say "no more." Perhaps "great" western minds wont understand the lifestyle of Iran and the Middle East but if they are thrown from traditionalism to ultimate modernism in the matter of one year....within ten years, there will no longer be an Iran or a Kuwait, there will be a 52nd and 53rd US State. My advice it to give time for Iran and countries to get democracy in its TRUE Islamic form (not heinous honor killings in Pakistan, NOT Beatings for ankles showing in Afghanistan and NOT cutting people's hands off).

BBC reported Ahmanijad as to have said " The Iranian nation is a learned nation. It is a civilised nation. It is a history-making nation... You know and we know: you need us far more than we need you. "

Russian G-8 Summit Here we COME

2006-01-14T19:16:00.000-05:00

OKAY.. Great News!!

I am going to Saint Petersburg, Russia to represent the United Sates as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The way the Model G-8 Summit is set is so that each country has Eight Representatives--- and well.. I am one of the 8! Forget the Jewish theory of them as the 'Chosen People-' WE are the CHOSEN People!
A photo of St. Petersburg, Russia

I have yet to tell my extended family because ever since my father died- everything is an extreme and then the occasional "but your Father died..." I assume 8 months of my life being put on a halt and pretending to feel alright but really bleeding from inside wasn't enough to prove my sadness. Of course they would never say this but when they think it, it is as worse.

My mother is really happy for me and she asked me if she could be a chaperone--I reminded her we had pets to take care of who can also be referred to on a humanistic level as my sisters.

Don't be fooled!

What should be the most interesting part of the April '06 trip would be hands down, wearing a headscarf and repping the US Foreign Affairs... Don't worry I will do my best to impart the Foreign policy to the best of my knowledge, as a War-stricken Republican-ran era that we should all look forward to soon voting out of existence.

But seriously speaking, I am going to be discussing Democratization in the Middle East... a theory the world believes the Middle East is foreign to but all they need is a correct theory of what Democracy is and not the butchered version the President displays before them. (Note: Butchered version get it, as in bombs over Baghdad should teach them how Democracy shouldn't play like)

A B Moo-V

2006-01-14T11:03:00.000-05:00

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to see "Tristan & Isolde"... you know... Before there was Romeo and Juliet, there was Tristan and Isolde.... orrr.... 'hoow many did you love before me?' None. 'and after me?' None.

Well, if you haven't got it by now, I assure you it is okay. The movie hailed a B for me and the sensitivities of love were overplayed. With King Marke as the winner of the Irish princess Isolde that Tristan won for him unknowingly, you would think King Mark would be an ugly fellow that one couldn't fall in love with. With Isolde, and their supposed "powerful love" there was still a strong attraction to King Marke as the audience would often think, "but he isn't a bad lad after all... forget Tristan!" That to me doesn't show the Relentless Power for Love if towards the end (not to be confused with the ending itself) we wanted Tristan to just, go, away.

But then.... in the End... when he was perishing, the soft tears of Isolde were not convincing enough for me to see him go because Isolde was going to a dashing King anyway while Tristan fought for the man who was like his Father and lost his life. Therefore it left me thinking Isolde needs to go and kill herself too to die next to him to convince me of their "undying love" but no, she tears and he dies.

Another move I snuck into was a 40 minute preview of Memoirs of a Geisha after dropping my sisters in "Fun with Dick and Jane" only to have them come back with a loss of IQ.

Till then, keep well.

This Hajj and the politics of Eid

2006-01-12T15:38:00.000-05:00

Eid Mubarek! (Blessed Eid) for those who either celebrated it Tuesday or Wednesday... and therein lies the problem.

1 billion Muslims celebrated Eid with the Hajj pilgrims as they cited the moon sighting in Saudi as a day for universal Muslim celebration. Then.. there is South Asia. I won't be a victim of religious subjectivity and willl not take sides, howeveerr... I will. (mwahah)

I believe local moon sighting is what the Prophet Muhammad (May peace be unto him) said to look to. He also made it imperative for Muslims to look to their community and follow centrality amongst local people. Local people= New Jersey Teaneck mosque. Eid Celebration at the ironic venue of the Teaneck US Army armory ( I just love it!)

Eid ul-Idha is symbolic of Abraham's sacrifice for God by being ready to kill his beloved son to show God his trust in him and his son's proclamation for God to be ready to be killed.

This is our way of saying we sacrifice too! By waking up for our 8 am prayer and wearing clothes that would kill a normal white person for its horrible itch from the seams.

Picture:
__________________________________________________________________

What to make of the recent Hajj stampeding? I know that their time to die was then, reducing any tension to the brutal event that lead to their death- I would trade places Any day to die in that manner, in Holy Land only to be promised the best after-life.

Although for the western audience, I will try and portray a solution to this issue. When I went on my journey to Hajj, my father (after two days of begging) took me to the Jamaraat ( stoning ritual) at Mina and held tight to my hand. I noticed people holding umbrellas, so as to not be hurt by pebbles being thrown. The umbrella would fall to the ground and people would be hurt by stepping on it. I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE!

I suggest a nice trendy visor
a cross between medieval armory and poker visors..
and/or

But on a serious note:

May God bless the souls of those that passed away and may their families understand the blessing.

Hopefully a better monitoring system of "group numbering" for three different entrances/exits is most suitable for the Saudi regime to be initiating.

First Day- 2nd Semester

2006-01-09T19:51:00.000-05:00

I went back to my God-forsaken University for my second semester. This so-called B.S. haven can also be known as Seton Hall University.

So here is the deal! Seton Hall bull shitted their way into white people pockets and raised the number or black people entering the school through neighboring Newark and to 'enhance' the supposed diversity SHU claims to uphold.

I went to Seton Hall hoping to get some intellectual gains---- instead I see Louis Vuitton purses and Italian guys sporting bad tans. In the winter, they dress like they are on the Jersey shore, one more BMW and I could very easily be enticed to smash the windows, yet again.

Figure 1.1- the Bull Shit begins

Today, as my friend signed me into the cafeteria, so I could later vommit- I met a girl who told me her roommate came from Connecticut to find a more diverse setting and so she transferred into Seton Hall. To our left and right sat the Seton Hall basketball team and the token tall white Russian in the middle. To the front of us was a table of Asians and Filipinos and everywhere else sat white people. Just this ghostly "waiiiins" and " did you see just see that- I KNOOOW!!"

Mind you, I dont mind if everyone else did, all the other colors of the 'diverse' campus, but really, I cringe- I CRINGE.

But for Will who sported the corn rows- you are an okay white person.
To Brad, who claims to be Venezualen everyday, I love it
To Cendahl who is the sweeeetest white person ever- i lowwee you
and to a few other white people I have yet to converse with- I am sure you are okay yourself too, deep down- deeeep down. (pun intended- I am really a nicer person- really)

The end of a 'leader" & Voted-in *&%()(&^@ and Me and my beginnings :-)

2006-01-07T11:39:00.000-05:00

I had a blog, once- and then I stopped because I realized I didn't like my Username and the reasons of having the blog--- so the most evident thing to do was... Drum-roll please... get a NEW BLOG!

This is me: WARNING: Don't be fooled, I didn't go to the Jet Ski offices... I show this because it was once true... but NOOO.. not this vacation.
And I begin:

A sickening attempt at making this vacation worthwhile, I think I can now rest knowing that this vacation was not worth the effort I made in trying to make it work. Insanely fast, too short and drama atop drama superceding the drama before that, calls for quite possibly the worst vacation, ever.

I started my job at CAIR-NY. It was wonderful!!! For a day.
Also, I went to Value King, I realized my skills in being a salesman, and selling to the Black community and handling rejection 100% of the time, " Maam, do you need help,".... response: "WHAT'D YOU SAY!?"
I said, " have a nice day..." and then... I run.

But let's be more positive shall we? Let's look at this week's news..

Egyptian-elected (haha) president Hozni Mubarek turned back Sudanese refugees and told them to go back into their war-torn country... to die? So for once Egyptians were right: its true-Mubarek does think he is God. Over 650 refugees were arrested at a camp the Sudanese set up for themselves and are now being questioned by UN officials. During the horrible protest-breaking, 10 Sudanese died as they left a country stricken by a 21 year war into a new age of war, a voted dictator and power to rule over the poor, destroyed African neighbor that may never make it to see a land they can call their own and children they can once claim as theirs.

Israel PM Ariel Sharon is being held on by a thread. His stroke has left Israeli doctors battling not only for their patient but for a country held in the middle of a historical move towards establishing some Palestinian credibility in land also belonging to them.

His doctor, and I love this name: Shlomo Mor-Yosef , said the President was en route to a healthy recovery but does not see him continuing in office. The 77-year-old, whether leaving the Hospital dead or alive, holds some certainty to the situation and that is, there will be no room for the recently established Sharon party Kadima.

The recent news of Sharon caused a boo-hoo for half the country and left the other half can be blowing instruments of happiness on the streets of Jerusalem by orthodox Jews angry at the recent Gaza pull-out, as seen on BBC.

I personally can commend Palestinians during Yaser Arafat's brush of death at a Paris Hospital as Palestinians, whether fans or enemies of the party all joined in to pray for him, as a man and nothing more or less. Oh yes, and my furniture salesman Ezra, an Israeli Modern Jew who also said, he prays for Sharon because he is a man- but also prays he does not continue in power. Well put Ezra, well put. I was not sure myself of the motives behind the gaza pullout but I do know, leaving one place only meant they were taking the Jews into another part of Israel that Palestinians claim to be theirs. A solution? Just another call for just another war in just, another, ten years.