Coming Back

How can I describe coming back and getting into the mix of things after six weeks in a country that left its charm on me? It’s difficult, well not so much difficult but really it’s a little hard. Anybody who has a home can easily become comfortable because of their knowing the situation they’re in, knowing how to get around, how to operate, basically the ins and outs of daily life. That’s a good thing but, at the same time, the spontaneity, the newness, the learning about a culture and people which inevitably leads to a person learning about their own self, these things bring out so much in a person. It’s true that we can learn a lot while at home but, the level and the amount we learn while we’re away seems to magnify big time. At least in my case it did.

Coming back I realized how much I’ve changed and though it may sound cliché, it’s nevertheless a true thing. Like the size of a tree can be gauged against a mountain or a hill, I’ve gauged myself against people here, people I know, some who may be friends, others who may be acquaintances and still others who I’ve never met but have heard or heard of and gained an insight into their thought. Sometimes this gauging is done on purpose but most times for me, it’s not. And gauging myself against others I’ve seen that my way of thinking hasn’t necessarily changed full circle but has actually gone through a growing phase. What was theory is now a reality for me, what was large is now small. Big issues are minor ones now. Rivers and lakes were big but after seeing the Atlantic they’re a drop of water. Beaches were vast, but after walking, riding and sleeping on the Sahara, they’re sandboxes. I feel as if my eyes have been replaced and I am seeing things in a new life and unfortunately, this is going to lead me to a point of departure with some. Though it may not be a physical one, mentally I may not be there any longer or in full attention. How can one convey an experience? How can a person explain what true poverty is, a poverty where there is absolutely no foreseeable way out? And at the same time, how can one describe the embrace that would be given to a lifelong friend that’s given to a person only known for a week? Most importantly though, how can one explain a community? In a society that stresses the self, the independent self, over and over again, how can it be explained or talked about to give of yourself and to let go of selfish tendencies? Maybe I could try, maybe I could share stories but in the end, from what I’ve experienced, a story is started to be shared and after 2 ½ minutes attention is turned away and before you know it, no one’s listening anymore. How then is insight to be given?

Coming back, I’ve seen what I’ve only thought in the past; that sometimes a person is at home where they are not at home. That is to say, where we are born and raised is considered our home but in the true and fully encompassing definition, it’s not necessarily our home. Where I was, I felt at home, I could in all reality think clearly and function much better than the place where I’ve been brought up. Maybe it was the atmosphere, maybe the people, who knows. One thing is for sure, I did feel more at home there than here.

Things are different here now and business will not be as usual. In fact, business can’t be as usual, this is just a part of life, a growing stage that we enter into. I hope that Insha’Allah my changes and development will be the kind that can enable me to become a better individual for the collective whole and to contribute as much as possible wherever possible. There are some who may travel the world and see everything and their travels which broaden their scope combine with an ego to turn them into cocky condescending types. This is a shame and hopefully this won’t come of me. However, it’s true that once going through life a person changes drastically and actually can experience a social shock when getting back into the social “norms” of their old community. As a lyricist once said

"The world looks a lot different after you do a bid

The way your life done changed

While primitive minds (are) still stuck in the same game"

Trouble in Tangier Part 2

Incommunicado! No way to get in touch with the group and here we were in the middle of Tangier, 45 minutes after our expected rendevous time with the group. We went to both places with no luck and now, there was no way to get in touch with our people. How could we get back, what could we do?  I was annoyed at the situation and getting more and more fired up, a common thing in my life.  My friend thought of options we could take..."maybe you can buy a charger so you can give them a call?"  That was the smartest thing to do, but, I was concerned thinking about the chance that the group might happen to drive by and miss us so I didn't want to stray to far.  We were in the plaza circle at this time and looking turning around to see if any stores were in sight that might sell phones.  As we were scanning the area an old man came up and started talking to us.  "Are you new to Morocco?  You are welcome. You need tour of city?  I make tour for you". 

"Thank you but no, we're lost right now", responded my friend. 

"Lost?"

"Yes, we were supposed to meet with our group and we thought we were going to meet here but they weren't here so we went to another place where they might have been and they weren't there either".

"Who is your tour guide?  How does he look?  I saw a group go into medina, let me take you."

"No, I don't think that was them, we weren't in the medina as a group, we were there separately, we were supposed to meet somewhere else".

"What was your tour guide wearing"?

"He had on western clothes, we didn't really have a tour guide though, he's a director. I don't think it's the same group.  We need to call our director though, my friend has a phone but it's dead and he needs to charge it, do you know where we can charge his phone"?

"Charge phone"?

"Yes, he needs to, do the battery..."

"Ohhh, yes, here, here, here!"

He led us to a shop across the street which also sold telephones, batteries and also had pay phones to use. The old man explained the situation to the shopkeeper, a middle aged guy wearing glasses with a dark thin beard, black with beginnings of salt starting to show.  When he heard he asked to look at my phone which I showed him.  He proceeded to open it and took the battery out, attaching it to a plug in battery charger.  The old gentleman who brought us there told us we should have a seat in the shop next door to the telephone shop while we waited.  I and my friend went there and as I waited for my cola which I ordered we discussed what could have happened.  Did we get around the area too late?  Was there a miscommunication?  Maybe the bus parked somewhere and we didn't notice? While we were talking a thought came to my mind. Something the director said.."Did he say something about a port"?

"I think he mentioned a port but I don't know what about".

By this time around 15 minutes passed and we thought the phone would've been charged long enough to at least have made a call and get an idea of what's going on. We went to the telephone shop and the phone was good enough to call from.  Finally!  I called one assistant director...no answer. I called a second assistant director...no answer. Hmmm...not a good sign.  I didn't have the main director's phone number and so couldn't get in touch with him.  What to do?  I called my roomate's phone number, he was on the bus and could probably get the message sent about our predicament. The phone rang and it wasn't my roomate but the main director who picked up. When we spoke I was told they waited for 30 minutes then they had to leave because they didn't see us.  Hmmm, not good.  I asked "Where did you guys wait for us at" because I was trying to figure out where we should've met at. He continued talking though, I don't think he heard me.  I asked again, he continued talking. Asked a third time and was told it was at the port where they waited for us. So, there, the port was where we were supposed to have waited at. Both of us had the wrong idea of where to be for the group meet. He continued to talk,

"You two need to catch the train back to get to Meknes.  The next train leaves Tangier station at 5:00pm so you have to hurry up because the one after that is going to be at 8:00pm.  It should cost about $200 for both tickets on 1st class if you want to be comfortable and have a seat instead of standing.  How are you two doing"?

"We're surviving".

"Okay.  Just try to hurry up and get that train before it leaves".

We had to catch a train by 5:00pm and the time was 4:45.  Too close for comfort.  We had to leave immediately if we were to avoid waiting another 3 hours.  I told my friend and her face had astonishment on it.  "THEY LEFT WITHOUT US?!?!?!" 

And then I told her about the train. 

"5?!?!?!"

We told the old man about the situation and before we knew it he hailed one of the blue petit taxis for us and as was to be expected "Do you have a little change for your appreciation?" Hurriedly I dropped some money in his hand and got into the taxi with my friend. Our older gentleman told the driver where we wanted to go and we were off to the train station. 

We arrived at 6 minutes before 5.  Too close, too close.  The fare was about  11 Moroccan Dirhams, I had a 200 dirham bill.  Our driver said he had no change...

We had to get change with 6 minutes before the train left. We didn't know where we could go to get change and run out to meet him to pay for the fare and then get back to the station in time for the train. What to do?  He drove closer to the station near a taxi depot and luckily we found a driver who had change and exchanged it for us.  We payed our fare (and then some) and ran off to the station to buy our tickets.  1 minute to spare.  We ran to the train and luckily it was a full, an over full load so it wasn't leaving immediately.  We got on. 

When we were on the train we had to keep moving through the walk way which was inside the train but outside the small cubby rooms with seats.  There were no empty seats, this train was filled to the brim and more.  It was hot but I think most of my heat came from my frustration.  When the train was full we proceeded to move down the tracks.  My friend was eager to find out if we were on the right train so she began to practice her arabic asking the passengers around us if this was the one going back to Meknes. Eventually she found out that we had to transfer at another station later down the line and catch the Meknes train and that our total trip would be about 4 hours in time.  A nice long hot trip.  Seething frustration in me.  

I stood up in the walkway as did many of those near us but, my friend sat down as did some others around her.  She happened to sit next to a girl who earlier told her about the train transfer.  They began to talk and before you knew it they became friends (as did two other girls with my friend and two guys as well).  Though I didn't speak for the majority of that ride, I did listen, it was interesting. They wanted to hear American jokes and American songs, she was really Ms. Popular.  But, she has such an energy and vibe about her that I can't really say I'm surprised it happened.  The girls really wanted to get to know her and they seemed to click with her.  One guy though I had to hold my laughs inside.  He began talking and asking questions which quickly turned into "so are you married? why aren't you married? you should be married. what's your number in the states? your email?" it was weird.  Eventually he began talking to me and after a couple of minutes I was annoyed.  There are some people who talk to really get engaged in a conversation but then there are others who talk and don't hear a thing you say. They'll repeat the same questions to you 3 times and every time you try to answer they interrupt then ask the questions yet again.  This was the case with this guy.  

Anyways, though I was frustrated I was happy to see that my friend made friends and was able to take her mind off the situation we were in.  After a while, the first train ride was over and we waited on the platform along with one of the friends my friend made, a Moroccan gentleman in his mid to late 20's.  They talked for a bit until the next train came which we boarded.  On this one I was able to finally sit after my friend and her friend persuaded someone to allow me to have a seat. Too nice. During the rest of the ride while sitting next to my friend we discussed the whole situation at hand, what happened, how it happened...interesting times.  We arrived in Meknes a little after 9pm, the trip was long and still I was frustrated but looking back on it, this was an experience I didn't quite mind and it didn't kill me.  It was something I wouldn't have had if everything worked out "perfectly" and sometimes a person is placed in a situation they're not expecting that can actually be beneficial or insightful for them.  I think this is one of those situations. 

Trouble in Tangier

Yesterday turned out to be an interesting day.  This past weekend our group took a trip to Asilah (in Morocco) as a kind of vacation to get a free mind before the start of reviews, cramming and finals for this summer session. Asilah is a beautiful place, on the coast not far at all from Spain, in fact many of the Moroccans speak Spanish fluently here and it's not unusual to see a Spanish flag here or there.  Across from the hotel we roomed in was a beach and if we took a 15 minute walk on the boardwalk we'd reach an area which had an abundance of restaurants, most of which served fresh seafood.  

On Sunday (yesterday) we left Asilah and headed to Tangier to get another look at yet another Moroccan city.  This place as well was nice to behold although more urban and tighter packed than Asilah.  When the group arrived in the city and got off the bus our director gave a talk and some instructions about some things to do, places to go, and where to meet up at the end of our day at around 3:30pm. Unfortunately, I didn't here the ending location...

After the talk the group took a 10 minute walk to a square near the Tangier medina in front of the Cinema Rif and from there we were free to do whatever we pleased.  I along with a group of  about 6 broke off and went our own way in search of food for lunch before going to maybe Ibn Battuta's Mausoleum or the Museum of Tangier.  The majority of the group seemed to be looking for a certain type of food while a few of us wanted to just find a place that might have good food and simply try something new without any preset ideas of food types.  So I and two others went off on our own and found some western style food.  I ended up getting a burger with some fries; simple but filling and cheap.  We finished our food, talked for a bit and from there we departed in search of the Museum we were eagerly looking forward to. 

Something that really annoys me in tourist areas is that some people find a way to insert themselves into your daily activities even though you didn't invite them.  What's even more disappointing is that there will be individuals who are Muslims who attempt to take advantage of you.  In fact, it really gets me angry to be quite honest.  This happened yesterday.  While we were walking up a steep hill, maybe only 3 or 4 blocks from the museum, a guy says "Welcome to Morocco, you are welcome".  We respond by saying thank you and try to head on our way.  However, this guy continues near us and says "Tangier museum here, over here".  From our group of three one had been in the country for a longer period than us since he's been here since the last summer session.  He, out of his experience knew what I was thinking already, that being that this guy would continue to follow us and tell us where the museum was and then at the end would want money.  So, our more experienced group member suggested we slow down and let this faux tour guide go on his way so we wouldn't have to deal with him. 

When the "guide" was somewhat gone we continued on our way but, of course, he popped up again and was showing us the way once more. We continued on our way trying to lose him and we thought we did a little bit, however now a boy showed up and started giving us his tour.  As we walked he'd make mention of the walls, the doors, what one building and another was, and interspersed this with "take picture, go ahead my friend take picture of door, beautiful shot". And of course, the older guy shows up and now they're acting as two faux tour guides.  We decided that we'd just take "the tour" and pay them some dirhams and be on our way. The tour continued and culminated with us being led to a kind of cliff that overlooked the sea.  It was completely blue and there weren't too many ships in the area.  Honestly, the sight was magnificent though I don't think any words can do it justice. Soaking in the sight was hard to do though for me because I just wanted to shake these two (maybe they were older brother and younger?) off and explore without anyone leading the way.  Ah well, such is life, you deal with what's dealt to you. 

From the group of three, myself included, there was a Muslimah who has become a friend of mine.  While we were all viewing the sight below (two others from the larger group happened to be there at the same time so now we were 5) the adhaan began to be called and I wanted to go and make salat ul dhuhr.  We asked the "guides" where the masjid was and also asked them if they could find a spare hijab for the sister so she could make her salah as well.  Alhamdulilah they had one and the sister was able to make her dhuhr, albeit in a little box in the masjid that's reserved for the Muslimat...similar to many masajid throughout the world...

When we met outside I could see on her face she wasn't too happy, the cubicle masalla wasn't  to her liking. It seems like time and time again, I am given reminders of how blessed I am to have Imams who don't follow cultural traditions but practice an Islam that's based on their reading and best comprehension of the Qur'an and ahadith without any of the cultural baggage that so many, unfortunately carry. So, after chatting and walking for a bit, we "were led" to the museum, though we already knew where it was.  This game was really comical in a seriously annoying kind of way. The cost of admission was 10 dirhams a piece, not too bad for a museum.  The museum had some interesting artifacts, but in all honesty, it could've been better, and more should've been done with the available space.  It looked like it was once a Masjid but I'm not sure. We spent around 20 minutes in the museum and then we were out, we weren't too sure if we saw the entire thing but there didn't seem to be another entrance or door for us to go through so we headed out.  And of course who was waiting for us but our "tour guides"...

These guys were hard to shake off.  I forgot to mention that there was only two of the group now; myself and the sister since we went to make salah and the others went off to explore on their own. I was ready to just ditch the two guys and be on my way, I was really hot thinking about random people coming up to offer their services unasked then expecting money.  However, I had to hold my decorum as much as possible since I was with another person. I was ready to head back out of the medina to go to the plaza and get on with the rest of the trip but the guides wouldn't have it and I think my friend is just nice and didn't want to be rude to them.  They continued to take us through more and more alleyways into the areas of the shops and stores and even stopped at a rug store telling us to stop in for a look. I was becoming more and more heated with every turn they took.  My patience wore severely thin and I was thinking about our getting back to meet with the group in the right time so we wouldn't hold anyone up. Finally, we told them we had to go and it was now, not later.  They led us to the plaza area and gave their greetings then began asking for their money: 100 dirhams.  I wanted to say a few things to them for their even asking for money for services no one asked for. Normally I wouldn't mind paying for something and even giving tips since; we're all working and there's nothing wrong with supporting a person who's trying to make a way in their life.  However, this was different, they saw two people they could label as tourists and tried to run their game.  My friend didn't have money, I had more than enough so I decided to pay them...not 100 though.  We asked them to lower it, they said 80.  I laughed and said "no! 40". 

"40"?

"yes 40, 20 each, and that's it, that's all you're gonna get".  

I wasn't going to budge, I probably wouldn't have paid them at all if I was by myself to be honest.  After paying them I shook hands with the younger while glaring at both he and his "co-worker". 

"as salaamu alaikum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatu AKHI!"

I sometimes like to remind people that they've been trying to take advantage of their own brothers and sisters. It might not do something now, but in the future, when all is said and done and the reckoning begins, they'll have a lot to answer for. 

After this, we looked at the time and realized we had a lot to spare so we decided to go for a walk hoping to see the strait of Gibraltar.  Of course that was a distance away and we ended up in a park where we saw some Arabic writing on a huge tablet. Maybe about a meter and a half high and 2 and a half meters in length, divided into three columns.  On and around it, someone had sharpied "fake", or "fak" and drawn middle fingers. Guess they didn't like what was written on the tablet...  

While we continued reading a guy walked by us saying "bonjour, welcome, hello" then when he was a little off, out of nowhere he says "negro". Decorum, decorum, sometimes some people need to be kicked.  They need to be reminded that though they have authority over some people and can abuse them, not all who are like them are under their authority and further, they have no right to abuse people in the first place. I would've loved to have been his reminder. Decorum! Anyways, being a little tired, we decided to sit for a bit under a tree and just relax.  We had to meet at 3:30 and when it was 3 til, we decided to head out to Cinema Rif to meet the rest of the group. At 3:40 there was no one to be seen, 3:45 the same.  Really weird.  I went inside the Cinema Rif for a couple of minutes while my friend decided to wait outside and read at one of the tables.  I came out, still none from our group.  By 4:00 we decided that maybe the group was in the area where the bus dropped us off.  We walked there and by maybe 20 minutes arrived to see no one.  "Hmm, that sucks, this is really weird". We decided to walk back to the Rif thinking perhaps something was off about the timing.  When we got there and saw no one we realized that there was some trouble.  She became a little anxious and i was thinking of where they might be. My phone was completely dead and so I could make no calls nor receive any.  Incommunicado!

So far...

Things have been going well.  Aside from the language problems I'm facing here Morocco has been a great experience.  When you travel to the country you see signs around that regard Morocco as "a feast for the senses" and this is no overstatement.  Everything around here feeds the senses in one way or another.  

What hit me the most first was the food here.  Even without recipes, just tasting plain fruits and vegetables are beyond believable.  The fruits are nothing at all like what you'd get in the U.S.  Everything that I've tasted thus far has been super ripe, super sweet and filled to the brim with flavour.  These fruits are like candy.  I find myself searching for melons whenever and wherever I can get them.  Its almost like eating fruit for the first time, something like a baby being introduced to nature's candy.  Of course this is just the start of the food items.  When I got to have Moroccan recipes I was floored.  The combination has of course Arab influence but like Morocco itself there's a mix of African and Mediterranean flavors as well.  I don't think Moroccans have foods that they haven't found a way to incorporate into their dishes.  I don't know the names of too many  dishes yet but once I find out I'll start putting them on here.  Bastilla is one dish that I like a lot.  It's almost like a pastry with a flaky, semi-sweet crust and it's stuffed with meat (I had mine with chicken) and sometimes rice and some vegetables.  Sometimes Bastilla comes as a huge item that's cut and other times its in the form of a roll like the size of half a burrito.  Another dish I've had is something with lamb and a lot of sauce along with apricots and prunes.  The combination is AWESOME! You get the tender meat with the sweetness to compliment it.  This plus the khubs plus the fresh salad with olive oil dressing = mumtaz!!!

There's more to Morocco besides food though.  From what I've seen and experienced with the people they like most Africans are some of the nicest people you can come across.  Even when people don't understand you they're willing to help you out as much as possible and if they can't, someone who can will try until you're in a good situation. 

Something I'm not too comfortable with though is this idea that people who live in the U.S. can't be Muslim.  How interesting is it that so many are taken by surprise when a person with an American accent says they're a Muslim. It's as if because a person lives in the west they're unable to be a Muslim.  I'm starting to wonder what the family and friends of immigrants to the states say about their experience.  There's also the fact that many immigrants keep to themselves and make little to no attempt at associating with people from outside their cultural bounds so due to that, they're probably not giving the whole story to their family members and friends about the Muslims in the states.  Is it possible to make it known the world over that there are Muslims in the west?  Maybe its the Muslims fault as well for being so meek and quiet that people would think they are non-existent in various pockets of the world...

In due time insha'Allah, I'll get used to people's reactions here and not become frustrated with their shock and surprise and I'll be able to then communicate the truth with them. 

This place where I'm staying at is pretty nice, the community is vibrant and there's pretty much movement on the streets till maybe 1am or so.  Around here are plenty of cafes, Cafe Dimehck (sp?) is one with very good coffee. Actually, I haven't had bad coffee since I've been here.  Espresso, Au Lait, Cafe Normal, all have been superior to anything I've had in the states even at Caribou or in Seattle.  I kind of expected this though.  There's also a plaza with a fountain in the area.  At nights families, couples, individuals and everything in between walk around and just relax.  It's not unusual in the  least to see 4, 5, 6 year olds out at 11pm riding their bikes or walking with their parents.  Very normal.  And everyone is just taking in the night, enjoying themselves, having walks, its been crowded every time I've been out.  Further down I've seen a movie theater, insha'Allah I'll catch a few movies before I leave, and across from the theater is a park where even more families hang out at night.  

There's more to write but, in due time insha'Allah. This is just the beginning and there'll be more to come. 

Some Comments on post-election Iran

A week removed from the elections in Iran and there are protests in the streets.  At last count 7 have been confirmed killed so far.  So many are protesting the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, the president who has consistently made statements against Zionist Israel and the support that’s been given to them by various countries throughout the world. Due to his position and verbal expression he’s been looked down on and stigmatized by many world powers, most of them hailing from the west.

            Many especially the younger adults in Iran have seen the way President Ahmedinejad has spoken and conducted himself as shameful to Iran and Iranians.  They feel that he’s making conditions worse for Iran by bringing sanctions upon them and drawing the ire of the world (well, the western world) onto them.  Of course there are other issues at hand too, which include what is viewed as a huge mismanagement of money and not taking care of business at home.  Due to these and other reasons Mir-Hossein Mousavi has been championed as the candidate of change.  He’s been put out there as the one who will make Iran acceptable in the eyes of the west (the world) and for the younger adults he’s what Obama was to the young people in the U.S.; a symbol of hope. So these have and continue to don their green ribbons and wristbands symbolic of their support for Mousavi.  They wanted change and they voted for it with their heart and might however something happened; they lost.

            The days leading up to and during the election world (west) media said there would be a neck and neck race and the election would be a very close and tight one.  And it was with the Ahmedinejad and Mousavi coming in first and second place respectively however, the current president received over 60% of the votes while Mousavi got around 30%.  How could this happen, how could this guy win the election?  There were so many people in support of Mousavi and he received less than half of what Ahmedinejad did?  It was a fraud, election fraud, recount, recount, have to recount the votes because the election is not legitimate!  This is what was being said by the world (west) media and by many greenies who felt disenfranchised. However, we must ask, where does this idea of voter fraud come from, is there any evidence of it?  Were some being intimidated and others turned away from the vote?  Of course there are stories of it, but has proof been produced and also were the people (if there were) who abused power part of the incumbent’s crew or were they simply individuals too keen on getting the person they supported in office?  In short, were these zealous persons acting as individuals or were they a part of a group and/or part of the incumbents circle?  Of course these stories are heard but have stories been heard post election about any kind of similar incidents to restrict voting for President Ahmedinejad?  Maybe they haven’t been heard because no such thing’s happened.  Then again according to MSN news three individuals were not yelled at, run off or beaten to prevent them to vote but, they were shot.  Three persons including a child were shot at the president’s voting headquarters (http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3036132).  Perhaps there are more stories such as these that are currently being neglected by the world (west) media. Who knows.

            So the greenies felt disenfranchised because their voting didn’t get their man into office.  They decided to take their dissatisfaction out to the streets and demand the world (maybe west? Hmmm…) hear them and know how they feel.  In fact, not only did they take this tactic, Mousavi himself said he’d be out in the street and wouldn’t be satisfied until he received a voting recount.  Since the election the world (..you know what goes here) media has been talking about Iran consistently.  Images have shown up of people who have been shot (perhaps one of the individuals who have died) in a news media that’s known for its clean, bleached broadcasts in which violent image are more or less banned.  One has to wonder why exactly the western media has taken such a strong interest in the elections in Iran and more than that, why they’re so interested in seeing a recount and having Mousavi elected.  This seems similar to the Darfur issue in the sense that the entire continent of Africa is typically a neglected entity by the west yet when the Darfur issue came up everyone wanted to all of a sudden care about the Sudan.  Of course we ought to assume that this is a genuine interest and that it’s not related to the oil beneath the sands of the Sudan. Iran too was more or less a neglected entity in as far as its internal politics were concerned (at least to the extent that it wouldn’t garner attention in the daily news) but now, the spotlight is shining on high over the election and Iranian politics. Why is this?

            Through nearly the entire existence of mass media or even simply media, the main means of communication have been utilized by one group of people or another to spread a message whether true or false.  During times of war, psychological wars have been waged through the dissemination of propaganda into the minds of the citizens of a nation waging war as well as into the minds of citizens of a nation on whom war has been declared. From the last few years the world (…) media has gone to the lengths of promoting Ahmedinejad as an anti-semite (whoever sees this term ought to define it and determine what constitutes a person being Semitic), a racist, a warmonger, a person against human rights and everything else under the sun.  This has been put into the heads of people in the west as well as people in Iran.  Often, in the days leading up to the election, during the election and after the same terminology used by the media has found its way into the mouths of protestors almost verbatim.  Of course this could be because the description of Ahmedinejad is true but then again, it could be because greenies are parroting what they’ve heard said.   Regardless, the media has played a large role in influencing the minds and hearts of the public both in the west and elsewhere.  Adding to the fuel is internet usage including that of Myspace, Facebook and the younger Twitter. According to islamonline.net  The US administration has delved into Iran’s election dispute by asking the micro-blogging website Twitter to delay maintenance shutdown to avoid disrupting communications among tech-savvy Iranian activists.

"This was just a call to say: 'It appears Twitter is playing an important role at a crucial time in Iran. Could you keep it going?'" P.J. Crowley, assistant secretary of state for public affairs, told the New York Times on Wednesday, June 17.

State Department official Jared Cohen e-mailed the social-networking site with the unusual request to delay its scheduled maintenance shutdown because of its use as a communications tool by Iranian activists who stage nonstop protests.  There appears to be a vested interest in regards to the U.S. government seeing and having this protest against the current president.  Sadly, those who are protesting and trying to remove the president from office are not questioning why Western nations are so interested in seeing the success of the protest movement.  Perhaps for some it’s great to have western backing and they’ve been so thoroughly infiltrated mentally by an imperialist mindset that the closer they are to being westernized the better.  Perhaps the imperialist-capitalistic value system is something many want to have after being exposed to so many broadcasts coming from the west to their own backyards. If that’s the case then of course one can’t blame the protestors for doing what they’re doing.  However, if they’re seeking the freedom they say they want, then why are they fighting for a person or at the very least a situation that from all appearances is supported by a group of nations not too interested in the self-determination of Iran?  This reverses an independent Iran does it not? 

            When a nation decides it wants to fight for freedom or their human rights they ought to do so on their own terms and according to the standards of the society within which they live.  In more cases than not, they shouldn’t be attempting to live up to the standard or rules that are set up for them by system that has no true regard for their well being and freedom of mind and life.  Too often in the history of people from the “third world” our leaders who’ve been supported and/or endorsed by the west as our saviors have been the one’s who’ve done the most damage to us and have exploited our being and our lands for the benefit of themselves, their families, their friends and rich racist nations.  From Africa to Asia to South America this has historically been the case.  Can the situation be any different now?  Those who are protesting in Iran right now (not Ali’s who become Al or the Babaks who become Bob but the ones who say they really want something better for their nation) should really analyze why they are protesting, what they are protesting for and what they’re protesting against.  Is the individual they protest in favor of really any good for them, will he have the best interest at heart for those who voted him into office or will he sell out his own people?

Poem: version 1

Between expectations and resignation

he sits-  Thoughts flowing,

interrogating his mind

trying to figure how this could happen time-

after time.

 

Once upon a time he was brimming,

expectations swelling inside like

a high tide lessening the ocean shore-

but what he sought couldn’t be,

it was only a tease going back to sea. 

 

His mind is a mess confused.

Today they say you’re too direct

past times though you’re too discreet,

should’ve said something before a season’s time.

His mind was jarred by the broken rhyme.

 

His mind is a confused mess

not to be confessed in public yet,

the facial distress snitched more than any words.

 

What’s so wrong with being direct?

In front of me was one so immense

I couldn’t take the chance of not saying

and not showing…

couldn’t take the chance of silence…

 

from the left they told great things

from the right was even better.

My eyes took in great scenes that

Fit the character to the letter-

Should I have acted like I’d never seen?

Never heard?

Should I have taken the chance of silence?

 

            He didn’t know the subtleties,

            unwritten rules and regulations

            of this game where you don’t say

how you feel-

            Of this game where you don’t show

                        how you feel-

            of this game that’s

 far from being anything real

 

            solid floors and open doors,

            windows from which to behold sights-

            without tint, in its own perfected light.

           

Sadly he was simply too simple.

Fortress walls he wasn’t a fan of,

nor was he of holding a falsified fortified stance

for him it was about being open and direct

being open with and fully honest.

Coming soon

I'm gonna get back into the blogging soon...insha'Allah. Stay tuned!!!

An Era of Clarity

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahiim

As I'm writing this we are into the second day of what has been termed a shaky cease-fire between Palestine and Israel.  Nearly 2000 Palestinians killed, many more injured, around $2 billion dollars in damage to Ghazzah's infrastructure, countless homes demolished, burned out or outright bombed.  The 3 weeks of Ghazzah being turned into a sporting spectacle and a slaughterhouse didn't have to occur, this is my humble belief. It all could have been stopped in its first few days if not prevented before the Israelis decided to once again attack the Palestinian people.  Had people, groups, nations spoken out, not even taken physical action but just spoken out strongly and firmly with resolve this situation could have been corrected from the get go and the lives that were snatched and martyred would probably have been less than what it is now.  This might have been the case had people spoken out but people did not speak out on the whole. So many were quiet, only a select few were confident enough in what's right and what's wrong to speak out against the wrong in favour of the right. Countries like Venezuela and Bolivia had the guts to kick the Israeli ambassadors out of their nation while Lebanon and Iran vigorously spoke out against the zionist entity and pressed the Muslims worldwide to support their suffering sisters and brothers. Qatar was yet another nation with some kind of conscience trying to press the Arab nations to get into action immediately and not to delay for one second with each moment potentially meaning the life of yet another Palestinian.  

Unfortunately these nations appeared to be only a drop in the bucket.  Expectedly the majority of western nations were in favour of "Israel defending her freedom and doing whatever is necessary to live in security" while the Arab lackey nations were nearly silent and in some cases complicit with the attacks against the Palestinians. Most notable of these is Egypt's Hosni Mubarak who openly sealed the Palestinian border on the Egyptian side.  Knowing the amount of people being killed, the medical and food shortage and the general suffering being faced Mubarak kept the border nearly completely shut off.  Not only were Palestinians denied entry into Egypt (with Egyptian troops stationed there and allegedly American troops keeping watch), doctors and aid workers who were willing to volunteer their services were prevented from crossing the border into Palestine.  Mubarak had the ability to open a door for the Palestinians yet he chose to seal their fate into the hands of the zionist nation-state. 

The Saudi government also presented the same kind of attitude.  In fact, their reaction was no different in this Palestinian situation than it was in the 2006 Lebanon war. The Saudis, having plenty of influence in the Muslim world could easily have led sentiments of Muslims into being more proactive in this situation yet they chose to stand on the sidelines as they always seem to do and have been doing increasingly in the last few years.  These who are said to maintain and secure the Haramain failed to maintain and secure their brothers and sisters in Palestine.  Their failure wasn't due to an inability but it was due to a lack of want, they didn't have a desire to help.  In fact, Egypt and the Saudi government held up some of the Arab summit meetings losing precious time and in a way procrastinating while blood was being shed daily.  

While before excuses could be made in favour of Arab governments and it wasn't apparent to many in the Muslim community what they were about, today everything is out in the clear.  Most admitted to there being corruption, to certain officials in certain governments being tempted by money and even by women but many still felt that the governments weren't all too bad. They were happy about the haramain getting air conditioning or having shade or being kept up to date, they were happy about their respective nations keeping its history intact.  Others were simply to scared to speak out against or about their rulers.  Now, the story has been turned over because things are in an utmost state of clarity...when people die, it sometimes becomes that way.  Everyone has seen the behaviour and action (or inaction) of these regimes towards the Palestinians who've been suffering for the past 60 years and now they are wondering. "What happened to the great Arab nation we were taught about in school as kids"?  Some have said "The great Arab nation we learned about is a fantasy, it only exists in books and in the dictionary, it's not in real life".  Where were the governments and what were they doing?  Why didn't they force the Egyptian government to open its border for the Palestinians?  Where was the unity for these Palestinians?  People are wondering these things and as they think on these things they come to realize one thing after another and slowly but surely clarity hits them like a flash of light in the dark. 

Something else which has become extremely clear is the realization of who is genuinely for the Palestinian cause and who is only for their own private, personal cause.  In Mahmoud Abbas, time and time again, we've seen a behaviour in which this "leader" has been willing to sell out his own people.  Even in this situation this lackey and his own lackeys have tried to stir division between the Palestinians in on the smaller level and Muslims on the larger level.  He's almost blamed the elected Palestinian government of Ghazzah for the situation they were in when Israel aggressed against the peopled of Ghazzah.  Additionally, his party in the West Bank has attacked and arrested fellow Palestinian protesters when they rallied in support of their brothers and sisters.  Where is the heart of Mahmoud Abbas?  What is his interest?  Does his interest reside with his people and their welfare and safety or is he simply another in a long line of Arab puppet "leaders" who are propped up by western governments and do the bidding of such governments?  These are questions and thoughts which are coming out in this era of clarity and especially pushed by this latest trend of zionist aggression.  This is of course only on the Muslim side of things.  There is clarity coming on the horizon for the non-Muslims the world over.  

Where before when Israel was talked about and thought of, there was always a shadow of the holocaust and the Nazi (NOT GERMAN, but Nazi) campaign in the background today that image is being erased rapidly so.  Finding recourse in labeling a person or group anti-Semitic due to their questioning and condemning the atrocious acts of the zionist Israeli state is becoming old and is wearing out completely.  The labeling has been over done and is about to be done. And here, a question has to be asked: who is anti-Semitic?  The one who questions the program of the zionist nation? Or is it the zionist nation and its western backers?  The literal term "anti-semite" means to be against one who is semitic.  A semite is a person who is Arab, Ethiopian, Somalian, from other parts of East and North Africa which are semitic.  However, a European person, unless they have blood from these backgrounds is not a semitic individual.  Simply adopting a religion and part of the language does not make one of that background.  When an African-American becomes Muslim and learns Arabic, does that make the person an Arab?  Do they all of a sudden have an Arab background? No, they don't and this holds true to those of European background too.  Of course it's said that there was a great migration from the middle east to Europe however we need to have evidence of this and it has to be strong evidence. Going back to the topic at hand, the aggressive tendency of the Israelis has now become apparent to all except those who are in support (whether overtly or covertly) of the zionist nation and those who are extremely shielded and living in a box set up for them by the western media outlets.  Those however, who take the opportunity to read and who watch a variety of news programs and who are able to differentiate between propaganda and true news reporting have begun to see the not the over reaction by the zionist entity but, the pushing of the Palestinians to defend themselves with whatever means they have then accusing the Palestinians for being the aggressors and using this accusation as a justification for brutally attacking those who live in places like Ghazzah.  They see the nearly 2000 who've been killed, they see the zionist usage of white phosphorous on civilian populations, the usage of new weapons against the civilians () the blaming of attacks on schools and hospitals and every other structure that serves as a shelter on "militants firing from 'x' building".  All of these and more have been seen by the world at large and where it wasn't exposed before and allowed the zionists to continue their facade of innocence and their ability to escape condemnation by crying whenever someone vigorously questioned them, today the truth has been clearly seen by the world and that image of the zionist entity has yellowed away into the past.  

There is sadness, disappointment and for some there is seething anger growing in the hearts of people in the world.  They are disgusted, from the local socialist, to doctors who have begun to come across stories of what's been happening in Ghazzah.  It is clear that lies have been told and have been sold for decades and now, as the truth comes out and is clear and upfront the people see that there is an inhuman, brutal, savage in this world; a satanic one at that.  It kills everyone including children, then it presents itself as being innocent.  It creates new weapons to shoot from corners, to remove limbs, to penetrate into the organs of individuals and kill them within hours with no way of surgically saving the individual and presents itself as being innocent.  

As the fog dissipates and this story becomes more clear questions again will be asked.  Just as Muslims are asking and thinking about their nations and the lack of response from them, the non-Muslims will ask and think about the zionist entity and its western backers.  Attention will focus on it as well.  All this talk about genocide in the world over, it's focus will turn on the 6 decade genocide.  Talk about ethnic cleaning?  The focus will fall on the 6 decade ethnic cleansing). Talk about crimes against humanity and war crimes?  The focus will be on the 6 decade crime against humanity and war crimes.  Whatever the Nazis of Germany did will only be a footnote because there are real life zionist Nazis in our contemporary era.  This is a time of clarity and the only ones who will not see are those who don't want to see but, things are too clear for people to be unwillingly blind.  Those who try to hide the facts will trip up on their lies and stumble down every road because their lies can not be kept up .