Peace Out!

I'll be out of town next week and I don't know if I'll have internet access. I will definitely be back the following week, insha Allah.

Keep the peace!

Of course!

Only America knows how to conduct democracy, of course. We were the first democratic nation, weren't we? The foundation of democracy. Well, after Greece, of course.

Only America has the right to tell other nations what to do. If not for us, Wisconsin would be full of Germans. Not those of German descent, but actual sauerkraut-eating, leiderhosen-wearing fascist Germans. Who spoke German instead of English--like my grandmother did when she was a girl. I mean. . .Of course we had to fight.

Only America can serve as the moral leader of the world. If you don't count Playboy. And drive-by shootings. And mass consumption of alcohol. And deaths due to drunk driving. We are a Christian nation, of course, and they had better listen to us. Or else.

And don't listen to all those pinko liberals who try to tell you this nation is off course. They should all be taken out and shot.

Are we going to get to work or will we just keep partying?

I remember partisan politics of the past. I came of age, politically, during the Nixon administration. He was very good at it. But the mid-term election of 2006 diminishes even Tricky Dick.

I remember January 1993 when Rush Limbaugh started his "America Held Hostage" countdown. Because Clinton was in the oval office, dire predictions abounded. Unfortunately for the naysayers, the economy thrived and peace was at hand. That's why the Republicans had to produce a blue dress to make Clinton look bad.

I remember October 2000 when major Islamic organizations announced they would support George Bush for president because he had met with them while Gore declined. I was running errands when I first heard that announcement. I screamed at the radio and pounded the steering wheel. And when I went home I ranted about foreign Muslim doctors and engineers who knew nothing about American politics. I was a social studies teacher at the time, and every Muslim parent knew that the worst thing their child could study was the social sciences. There's no money in it. (Though parents have recently discovered that lawyers are paid well, and so we have a new batch of young Muslims pursuing political science and pre-law.)

I remember the Constitution.

America is not about donkeys and elephants and who can raise the most money for his or her campaign. It's about choosing the best person for the job. And we, the people, are the employers who can hire and fire our leaders.

That's something we really need to remember.

Muslims Behaving Badly

I was just wondering what I would write about today when the topic showed up on my doorstep. Literally.

My daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and I were enjoying a quiet evening at home while the "menfolk" went to a friend's house for dinner. (We chose to stay home--it was nice to be quiet.) When the guys finally walked in, after 10, they reported emergency vehicles right outside our home. Oddly, neither my daughter-in-law nor I heard the commotion.

We all watched and some went outside. The event was too new to be on the news, so we tried to get information on our own. Finally my oldest son learned that Muslims--he didn't know how many--had gotten into a fight.

As I write, the emergency vehicles continue to idle outside. A fire truck, two ambulances, and I don't know how many police cars. I expect there will be some arrests. I hope the ambulances aren't pressed into duty.

This is an area near a mosque where many Muslims live so I suspected "we" would somehow be involved. Either a terrorist threat perpetrated by "us" or a hate crime against "us." (After I learned about the Muslim woman in Fremont who was brutally shot down in broad daylight I felt much less safe. That was terrorism.)

I'm glad it's not a hate crime. But I hate when Muslims act stupid. Don't we have enough troubles already?

A Happy Eid

Today was Eid'l Fitr, the holiday marking the end of the fast of Ramadan. I knew it would be great this year because my son and his wife are here with their little daughter. This was her first Eid.

I won't go into details but we had a wonderful day--the kind of family time I often crave. Not everything went according to plan, but it was one of my best Eids ever--and I've had 26 years of them.

In the evening, as things were winding down, I turned on my laptop and read the news. More than forty Iraqis died today. There were other deaths too--solitary cases of grief.

It may sound strange, but even in the midst of joy it's good to remember that this life is fleeting.

Is Iraq like Vietnam?

Let's see. . .

Lies told to receive support for sending troops. Check.

Unrealistic expectations about the attitudes of the indigenous populations. Check.

American use of chemical weapons. Check.

Battle lines drawn between pro and anti-war groups. Check.

Inflated claims about the U.S. ability to win the war. Check.

Rhetoric indicating that a victory would stop the spread of an evil ideology. Check.

Strong parallels there. But there's something I'm missing. What is it?

Oh yes. Corrupt president sending young Americans to die. Check.

And would it be premature to include one last thought?

Ultimate defeat of American policy in the region.

Those who do not learn from history. . .

Islamo-fascists vs. Islamo-phobes

For the second time, a Qur'an was flushed down the toilet at a NYC university. It makes me wonder what those high-prestige Eastern schools are actually teaching their students.

On the other side of the world, ten US troops were killed today in Iraq. Was it Islamo-fascism, or was it defense.

In 1096 Pope Urban II called on Christians to form an army and reclaim the Holy Land from the infidels. They did just that in the First Crusade. Eyewitness reports state that after the Christian army had occupied Jerusalem the blood was up to the knees. And the holy warriors turned Masjid Al Aqsa into a stable.

In the Third Crusade, Salahuddin Ayyubi retook control of Jerusalem. And I think some Christians never forgave him for that.

In the days after 9/11, G. W. referred to a Crusade. And that's what it has become. A strugle for Jerusalem. A struggle for dominance.

Fortunately, calmer heads on both sides of the divide--Christians and Muslims--continue to call for peace. Those are the voices which must prevail.

Not with a bang. . .

Future generations will look back on this day. And they'll wonder how we could have been so blind.

This is the day the president of the United States signed into law a measure which blatantly violates the U.S. Constitution, which he twice swore to preserve, protect and defend. And the majority didn't notice.

When I was young, we had some corruption in the goverment. But no U.S. president has so flagrantly broken the letter and the spirit of the law. And he will not be held accountable. If he is challenged, he can always point to the newest "Al-Qaeda" tape and claim he is only making us safer.

Our children and grandchildren will wonder. What will we tell them?

Ramadan Attacks

I haven't watched the news lately, but the last time I did I heard that Ramadan was a time when Muslims were more likely to commit violent acts. That's interesting.

Okay, if someone says he is bombing something for the sake of Allah--well, first, he needs to go back to Islam 101 because he obviously missed something. Besides that, we would assume he is a Muslim fundamentalist (as opposed to Christian fundamentalists, some of whom cheer the Administration in its quest to "kill them all and let God sort them out"). A Muslim fundamentalist would, by definition, follow the fundamental beliefs and practices of Islam, including fasting all day every day during Ramadan from dawn to sunset.

So, you have a Muslim fundamentalist who wakes up in the early morning to eat and drink, then prays and reads Qur'an. He probably has a job to go to, so he does that. And in the evening he breaks his fast with water and dates, then prays, then eats a large meal. An hour or so later our Muslim fundamentalist will go to the mosque to stand for the night prayers--all 20 rakah. This takes at least an hour, and quite possibly longer. Then, because he is a fundamentalist, he will read Qur'an and possibly pray some more before going to sleep.

My question is, where do the Muslim fundamentalists find the time and energy to blow things up?

Hazardous to Your Health

I barely watch the news these days. I do check out the latest headlines online, but I rarely read a story in depth. My doctor told me to cut down on stress levels.

Do I need to know that half a million Iraqis have been killed since the invasion? Do numbers really matter anymore, or is it the principle of taking over another country based on the flimsiest of excuses?

Do I need to know about the most recent murder of civilians in Gaza or the harsh conditions there? What can I do about it? Most Islamic charities have been shut down by the government.

Do I even need to know about the latest school threat or home invasion? We live in an increasingly violent society. I don't need a talking head to tell me that.

I try to relax. And I pray. I wish I could do more.

Mysteries and Anxieties

When I heard about the plane which crashed into a New York apartment building, my first thought was my son. I hadn't seen him in a long time. He, his wife, and their daughter--whom I had never seen--were on their way for a month-long visit. The idea of military jets being sent out to shoot down any plane which fell under suspicion increased my anxiety. Thankfully, they landed safely a few hours ago and I'm feeling great--if a little sleepy.
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Why did the plane fly into the building? Will we know? I wonder how many secrets are contained in this one incident, and how many of them will be revealed.

I found one particular phrase in the initial CNN report to be somewhat troubling. According to White House sources, the report said, the crash was not due to terrorism. This came within only a few hours of the crash. How could the White House know?

I have flown only once in the last 14 years. I probably will fly again--it's hard to avoid--but I don't imagine I'll enjoy it. The pressure of take-off and the speed of the descent are enough to make me anxious. Add to that the possibility of an overzealous air marshal or a fighter jet with the wrong information. In some ways, they scare me more than the shadowy threat of terrorism. And of course there are the usual culprits--human error, severe weather, and mechanical failure. Dark thought which make me reluctant to fly the not-so-friendly skies.

My son and his family are here, and I am a very happy mother and grandmother tonight. But I wish they didn't have to fly.

Senseless Violence and Just Plain Nonsense

Another young lad at another school tried to commit an act of violence in Missouri the other day. Fortunately, someone was able to wrestle the gun away from him.

Three bodies were found in a house in Milwaukee today. No further information is available at this time.

Another report is coming out of Palestine of the brutal murder of a young wife who was trying to explain that her husband couldn't respond to the Israeli soldiers because he is deaf. Apparently they didn't want to hear any excuses. They shot her in cold blood.

A journalist was laid to rest. It's assumed she was assassinated by those who didn't want her to exercise her freedoms and open secrets to the world.

And four American troops died in Iraq today.

All murder and tyranny is terror. It doesn't matter who is committing it. All human life is valuable.

Meanwhile, the Republicans in Congress continued working to cover their lies and scandals. And was George Bush out campaigning again? He sure is a good Republican fundraiser isn't he? Too bad it's not the job he's being paid to perform.

Oh, and according to the latest celebrity gossip. . .

Not A Political Symbol

When I converted to Islam, I actually knew very little about my new faith. I had read the Qur'an, cover to cover, and spoken with some Muslims--all men. I was shocked when, a week after my conversion, I traveled to a somewhat larger town and met a gentle Muslim woman from Sudan who told me I would need to cover my head. It's in the Qur'an, but I guess I didn't pay close enough attention.

Six months passed before I was able to commit to wearing the headscarf. I was prompted after being cursed at by a narrow-minded person (also known as Rednecks) in our small town who said (remember this was 1980) he'd like to "take one of those Iranians and drag him through the street behind my pickup." When another girl and I challenged him, he called us filthy names. And I swore no one would ever talk to me that way again. On went the scarf.

I cover because I feel more dignified doing so. I can be judged by the contents of my mind rather than my physical appearance. I also cover because, now that I'm married, it's a special feeling to know that even my hair will not be seen by any men except my husband, sons, and nephews. And I cover because it is commanded by Allah in the Qur'an.

Wearing a scarf is not a political statement--at least not for any women I've met. It's a deeply personal commitment of faith.

Today Morocco joined other Arab countries in discouraging the scarf. I don't know how they can read the Qur'an, profess to be Muslims, and take such an action. They said they want to discourage extremism. If it is extremist to believe in the Qur'an as the revealed word of Allah, and strive to follow it, then I guess that's what I am. No apologies.

Will it really change anything?

The Republicans are shaken after this latest pedophile scandal. Shaken, but not backing down.

I caught a snippet of Hastert's press conference. He came off, to me at least, as unrepentant and worried not so much about the pedophilia itself--after all, he already knew--but about the political repercussions.

I remember in 1964 when Nelson Rockefeller was stymied in his presidential dreams because he had been divorced. In 1964, divorce alone was enough to ruin a politician.

But we're living in the Reagan/Bush era when a scandal only counts if it's committed by someone other than a Republican. Reagan was the Teflon president. G. W. Bush has him beat by a mile.

Democrats and independents are punished. Republicans can do pretty much whatever they want. That's the unhappy reality of living in 21st century America. I hope it will change, but I won't hold my breath. I'll vote in November, but I don't know if my vote will count.

I don't go to church, but I am interested in knowing if any preachers--you know, the ones who swore by the current Bush--will continue to stand by him and his party. Maybe pedophilia isn't a sin if a Republican commits it.

I didn't pay much attention to the news today but I know that. . .

. . .the Republican party is trying to cover its tracks in the wake of the latest scandal. Wouldn't it be nice if our leaders actually admitted when they are wrong?

. . .people are still dying in Iraq and Afghanistan--soldiers and civilians. It's not a clash of civilizations. It's a simple case of citizens defending their land against invaders.

. . .the situation grows worse each day in Gaza. Israeli troops have destroyed homes and crops and prevented many from earning an livelihood.

. . .the news is a ridiculous presentation of infotainment which I can barely stand to watch.

. . .and in Pennsylvania, a grandfather forgave a gunman. I believe in peace, but I don't think I could be that generous.

Violence and Muslims

Have you ever had an argument with a friend or family member? The other person becomes extremely tense. When you remind him or her to calm down, the reply is "I am calm!"

Muslims are peaceful. We keep telling everyone how peaceful we are. And if they don't believe it we will throw rocks through their windows and burn them in effigy.

Islam is a peaceful religion. Really. But the Muslim world needs to learn a thing or two about anger management. No matter what anyone says about Islam, we don't need to react with violence and rage. Everyone has the right to an opinion. And we will all find out who was right, and who was wrong, on the Day of Judgement.

So the next time someone criticizes Islam, use a gentle word of correction and then go about your business. We can't teach about the peace of Islam by threatening to kill--or actually killing, in the case of that nun. Who is more righteous? The man who kills an innocent women, or the one who refrains from violence?

I have been a Muslim for 26 years but I am not a violent person. Except, maybe, when my kids have been making noise for three weeks straight and I can't take it anymore. But that's not Islam either. That's my anger speaking, not my faith.

Islam is peaceful. Islam is peaceful. Islam is peaceful. I pray for the day when Muslims will be peaceful too.

American Crisis

According to the Decider, we Americans should be very afraid of shadowy foreigners (or converted Americans) who threaten our very existence.

But our enemies are not in Iraq, Iran, or North Korea. Our enemies are in Washington D.C. And last week they voted on legislation to take away our rights.

The Decider tells us he's fighting to spread freedom and democracy. He says this while he takes away freedom and democracy from his own people.

This country is under attack. Not from without, but from within.

I'll close with a statement I'm sure many are making these days. In the world of bloggers and truth-tellers, I am very low on the totem pole. But if I ever disappear, you know why. And I will never commit suicide.

How many people have to die before we call it terror?

How many school shootings have there been in the last week? Three, I think. It could have been more.

And the assailants were not just loners dressed in black who sought revenge after a lifetime of bullying. Two of the attacks involved grown men who intruded into the schools and singled out girls as their victims.

Imagine if something like this happened in a Muslim country? It would be portrayed as a reflection of the myth that Islam supports the degradation of women.

But all the school shootings, drive-by shootings, domestic murder-suicides, and so on, are not labeled terrorism because there is no common thread. Except that every one of the gunmen has been an American. Usually male. Usually white. And because white male Americans control the media, we're not going to hear about white male American terrorists.

But we are living in terror.

What should we call it?