It's Just a Teddy Bear!

I followed the news today, saddened when I learned that a Sudanese judge had convicted the teacher and sentenced her to fifteen days in jail and deportation. The saddest statement came from one of her students, named Muhammad. "It's my fault," he said. He wanted to name the teddy bear after himself.

This incident concerns me on three levels (not counting the six and seven year olds affected). First, Muslims need to stop thinking of ourselves as victims. Muslims have been oppressed in places throughout the world. However, much of that could have been avoided if the Muslims living there had banded together. In every instance of oppression, there has been at least one 'Muslim' who sold out and betrayed his community. If we are victims, it is of our own disunity.

Second, I'm concerned that some Muslims are coming close to worshipping Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). When he was alive, at the beginning of his mission, Muhammad often was mistreated by other, non-Muslim, Arabs in Mecca. His response was always kindness, not vindication. Muslims respect and deeply honor Muhammad, but we must be certain not to cross the line over to worship. That is definitely not Islam.

Third, I hope that countries such as Great Britain and the U.S. don't use this incident as an excuse to go after the Muslims living there. Will Muslim teachers now be fair game? I hope not. We had nothing to do with what happened thousands of miles away. But some people still hold on to the notion of guilt by association.

Over the years, I have been very impressed with the Sudanese people I've met. I'm disappointed in the government, and especially in the judge. I don't speak Arabic but I'm smart enough to know that this is not Islam.

Muhammad

Muhammad is the name of the last prophet of God, according to Islamic belief. He received revelation of the Qur'an over a period of 23 years, led the young Muslim community with wisdom, and left behind teachings to guide future generations. He is respected, though not worshipped, among all Muslims.

Muhammad is also the name of millions of men and boys throughout the world. Some are devout and sincere. Some aren't.

Muhammad is the name given by Sudanese 7-year olds to a teddy bear. Some of the children may have been named Muhammad. Others may have fathers, brothers, uncles, cousins with that name. All Muslim children, by the age of 7, have heard about Prophet Muhammad and the respect he is due.

They didn't name the bear after a soccer player or TV star. They didn't go with Fluffy, Chubby, or any other cute little name. They--these 7 year olds--gave the bear the name they knew the best. Muhammad.

The Christian teacher allowed the 7 year olds to give that name. Now the teacher is in prison, facing a prison term, a fine, or even possibly a lashing.

I am a Muslim. If I were teaching 7 year olds and they wanted to name the class teddy bear or hamster Muhammad, I would praise them for their Islamic awareness. After consideration, I may encourage them to choose something else--maybe one of those cute names. But I certainly wouldn't make a big deal out of it.

The teacher's fault, if any, is that she didn't understand the repercussions. Maybe if the children had suggested "Jesus" she would have known. But she didn't. Then why don't we teach her instead of imprisoning her?

And the children were innocent. They were only doing what their Muslim parents had taught them--to remember the prophet Muhammad, whom we respect. For a 7 year old, naming a teddy bear is indeed an act of respect.

Between Parent and Child

Last night I was too tired to post. The day had been fairly busy.

One of my errands yesterday was to take my 14-year old for a physical check-up so he can go out for track and field. Because we just moved this summer I had to take him to a new doctor. Overall, the check-up went well.

But I was surprised--though I suppose I shouldn't have been--when the doctor kept harping on drugs and alcohol. He asked my son a few times if he had ever tried these substances, and before we left he told my son that if he did have a problem he could come to the doctor and speak with him confidentially.

I don't know what kind of patients this doctor has been seeing, but I'm not in denial when I say he didn't need to address my son in this way. This is my fifth child I'm talking about so, first of all, I do have a little experience raising teens. Also, we have a very close family. My kids complain about that sometimes--especially when they hit 19 or 20--but we're so close that we would know if something was wrong. And, considering that neither my husband nor I has ever drunk or smoked--okay, I drank communion wine when I was a Christian, and I did try a cigarette once when I was in college--and our older sons don't either, the likelihood that this son will is very low. Finally, he's only 14. I know kids grow up faster these days but. . .he's 14.

I'm not exaggerating when I say I know where my son is at all times. I've memorized his class schedule, and actually walked it during open house. He goes to school and comes back by bus. If he doesn't show up, the school calls me. If he doesn't come home on time, I call his cell. A few weeks ago he took a different bus and wasn't home when I expected--and he didn't answer his phone. I was ready to go looking for him when he walked in. He knows I will. (I wasn't worried about drugs, etc. Sometimes I simply worry because it is a dangerous world.)

I'm sure the doctor was fulfilling a professional duty by giving my son this talk, and he may do some other kid a world of good. But I feel uneasy when a routine doctor's visit becomes a lesson in morality--especially because my son was encouraged to go behind our backs, if he deemed necessary, and talk with the doctor.

I don't fault the doctor but I do think this points to some serious problems in our society.

P.S.--I have never talked about drugs explicitly with my kids, but my 14-year old and I talked on the way home. His health teacher had already been through the lesson on drugs--okay, I didn't know that. Actually, I emphasized the practical concerns that kept me away from smoking, alcohol and drugs. I mean, it's expensive and it kills brain cells. That's enough of an argument right there, as far as I'm concerned. My son agrees.

Thanksgiving Day?

Culturally and historically speaking, Thanksgiving is controversial. And of course we should give thanks every day and not just one day a year.

But the best part, I think, is taking a day off to be with people we care about. We could use more days like that.

Keeping Track of Time

I nearly forgot to post tonight. All day it's felt like Friday. My husband and my kids are home. It's great to have some time to simply be.

This is one of those days when I didn't care about the date on the calendar or even the time on the clock. It's a great feeling to be free.

Not Islam

I've been pained as I've followed the story about the 19-year old girl in Saudi Arabia, a rape victim, who is to be punished with lashes and imprisonment. I need to make one thing very clear for my readers. This is not Islam.

The girl did show some poor judgement. She met a man who was planning to blackmail her over a picture. Not the smartest thing to do. I don't know how secluded the area or the time of day, but I do have the sense that she unknowingly put herself in danger. Young girls sometimes do that. I did, a few times. And I probably would have done it more often except for the watchful eye of my parents. My parents aren't Muslims and I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, but, unforunately, there are some universal truths regarding safety for young women. The crime of rape can happen anywhere.

So the girl did something wrong. Not evil, just not particularly wise. I'm sure the rape itself is more than enough punishment for her foolishness. She learned her lesson all too well. Leave her alone unless you intend to help her heal.

The seven young men who raped her, on the other hand, should receive the maximum penalty. The girl's lawyer was calling for execution, and I agree. Instead their sentences are not much harsher than the girl's.

This case proves the accusation that Muslims oppress women. The sentences in this trial are very unfair. But even though Muslims are the ones making the decision, this is not Islam. I don't care that they speak fluent Arabic or have studied Islamic history for twenty years or that they've memorized the Qur'an. I'm not a scholar, but I know this decision is not Islam because Islam makes sense. What sense is it to punish the victim?

According to the Qur'an, the fornicator or adulterer is to receive one hundred lashes. The woman whose reputation is tarnished because of a certain circumstance is to be treated with compassion and her accusers are to be punished. That is Islam. Islam does not condone rape or punish the rape victim. That is man's law, not God's.

Who's Taking Care of the Kids?

I grew up in a golden era for children. As a member of the Baby Boom Generation, I was one of the privileged. TV shows and toys were manufactured especially for us. We could play outside all day, ride bikes or throwing balls, with no fear of being kidnapped. We didn't have to worry about food tainted by chemicals or the threat of terrorist attacks. There was the possibility of a nuclear attack from the U.S.S.R., but most of the time that threat was far-off and unrealistic. Not all kids had it so good. There was still poverty and child abuse. Still, overall, it was a great time to be a kid.

This fall has not been very kind to children. Bush vetoed their health insurance bill and Congress failed to override the veto. School bus accidents and abandonments on school buses seem to be a weekly occurence. And on Saturday children were forcibly vaccinated. Children who already are required to have more shots than my generation ever was.

Have you ever read the ingredients they put in vaccines? Animal blood. Formaldehyde. MSG. One list said they use aborted human fetal tissue. That's what we're injecting into our children. The needle is the least of their worries.

That's one of the challenges childen face. They also suffer because we expect them to grow up too fast. Sometimes, tragically, they oblige. Three boys--ages 8 and 9--raped an 11 year old girl recently. There is something very wrong in a society where this kind of thing can happen.

Accessibility

There's another debate tonight. I plan to listen to at least part of it. But I have a beef.

We're one of those rare American families without cable or satellite TV. We can afford to pay for it, but where's the sense it in? A couple months ago someone called trying to sell me a satellite TV system. He offered 80 channels. I said we're too busy and we can't watch 80 channels. So then he gave me a quote for 40 channels. I repeated that we're too busy to watch that much TV. I'm not sure if he ever understood what I was saying. Of course, I could have hung up on him but I did telemarketing when I was in college and I know what a tough job it is.

So we have a run-of-the-mill TV, the kind that probably won't get a signal in a couple of years, and we receive the networks, PBS, and local access. But the presidential debates are always carried by CNN. The only way I can watch them is online. And frankly I have other things to do on my computer. I'm trying to decide how long I'll want to listen to a string of political rhetoric--which is nearly impossible when I'm trying to write a novel.

I hope next year's debates are carried by major networks. They need to be accessible to everyone. Not just those who are rich enough, or willing to go into debt, to get CNN on TV or online.

Or are we really the last family in the country without cable or satellite TV? My kids think so.

What should I write about today? O. J. Simpson and Marie Osmond are both in the news. I could pontificate on the O.J. Simpson trial, offering my own analysis of the evidence, or I could pry into Marie Osmond's personal life. Maybe I should offer my own opinion on the world's sexiest man. (My husband, of course.)

I could talk about the war veterans for peace who were silenced in a Veterans' Day parade. Then there's the increase in the number of foreclosures and the devaluation of the dollar. Should I resurrect the controversy on Barack Obama's lack of a flag in his lapel? I never did talk about the unholy union between Pat Robertson and Rudy Guiliani. And there was an earthquake in Chili today. Is that important?

Maybe I'll just lock my doors, pull down my blinds, throw away my cell phone, trash my laptop, and close my eyes. If I do that, do you think it will all go away?

Religion

Over the last few days I've managed to get into a few online discussions about religion. They've all be stimulating. I often didn't agree with the other person's point of view, but I don't think there always has to be a resolution. Sometimes it's fine to just disagree.

Throughout the day today I've noticed responses to the latest CNN poll about praying for rain. The clear majority doesn't believe it. I find that also interesting--especially since I now live in the Bible belt and spent the weekend traveling down highways and seeing crosses at least every ten miles. Obviously, some people do believe.

On Saturday I spoke with a Muslim woman from Jamaica. Her family is Christian. I asked about atheists and agnostics in her country. She said there were none until a few years ago. That really made me wonder.

What is it about faith and belief which appears to be backward? Is it because of the rich evangelists who do not practice what they preach? Do Catholic pedophiles or Muslim suicide bombers have anything to do with it? Or is that all an excuse?

My faith shouldn't depend on the deeds or misdeeds of someone else. I believe in Something greater than that. There are bad people in every religion, and there are bad people who have no religion. Sometimes outwardly religious people do bad things--I interpret this as a personal failure rather than an indictment of the system.

Don't talk about religion, they say. Lately it seems that's all I have been talking about. And I'm surprised at the anti-religious tendencies (outside of the Bible belt, that is) I've seen.

It does take faith. But so does getting up in the morning. Otherwise we might as well just pull the covers over our heads and continue to sleep.

Honor?

Veteran's Day. Formerly Armistice Day, held to commemorate the official end of World War I at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

No mail came today. The government was on vacation. I imagine some other people were too, though none of the schools were closed.

There were sales. It was supposed to be a day of shopping, celebrating, and flag waving. A day to celebrate and relax.

But I have a question. If this day was meant to celebrate veterans, how were the veterans treated? What about the soldiers in the field? Were they off today too?

Though I'm vehemently opposed to war I was taught to respect veterans. Some of my uncles fought in World War II. My father was sent to Korea. None of my cousins went to Vietnam though--they all found a way out.

Respect veterans by giving them proper medical care. By helping them deal with the psychological traumas of war. By assisting them in the difficult transition to civilian life.

Have you been to a VA hospital recently?

Flags, parades and fancy speeches mean nothing.

A Long Day

I'm in Virginia for a conference. We drove. It has been a very long day. Oddly, after a 500 mile drive, finding the hotel was much more difficult than finding the city.

Have a good weekend.

Use Sense, Not Scents

Tonight I'll leave political events to the politicians (which is probably not a good idea) and dwell on personal matters.

I have a real beef with a large percent of the population. You know who you are. You burn scented candles throughout your home. You spray Febreeze on every available surface. You use scented soap, scented shampoo, scented lotions, scented deodorant. Then you douse yourself with perfume or after shave before leaving the house.

Enough already. Oliver Wendell Holmes said his freedom to extend his arm went so far as the other fellow's nose (or something to that effect). My nose is deeply offended. And it goes beyond that. When I'm exposed to scents my gums bleed, I become tired and irritable, and my face becomes puffy. I also have brain fog and my lymph nodes swell, sometimes painfully. And I'm not alone. The number of people who are sensitive to scents is growing. Some workplaces and schools have banned them. None of the places I go to, unfortunately, have.

You need to be clean. You don't need to smell like a perfume factory. Think about that next time you start dousing your home, your car, and yourself.

Oh, and if we cross paths you will definitely recognize me. I'll be the woman frantically trying to avoid you.

Busy Day

I spent most of the day in parent-teacher conferences. Then I voted. Now I'm tired. Very tired.

Goodnight.

Technology

I just wrote the post for this blog. Unfortunately, it went to my other blog. I'll leave it there because I've had enough wrangling with technology these last few days. I (almost) completed making a new website. Whew!

You can check out the website at www.jamilahkolocotronis.com. And you can check out tonight's post at echoes_series.blogspot.com.

When I was young, tape recorders had reels and so did movies. TV shows were in black and white. When I wanted to communicate I dialed the number--no texting. And I had to type my papers on a manual, sometimes redoing whole pages because I failed to leave enough room at the bottom of the page for footnotes.

There are people older than me who know computers better than I do, but I think the fact that I'm able to blog (with only occasional errors) and even put together a website should count for something.

Disappointing?!

Pervez Musharraf, the Pakistani dictator and American ally, has suspended the constitution and declared martial law. Supreme court justices, who opposed him, have been arrested. The White House called the situation "disappointing." Condoleeza Rice said it was "highly regrettable."

Are these the same people who deposed Saddam Hussein in the interest of democracy?

It's too bad Pervez felt he had to exercise his powers over his country. But I guess the White House figures he must have had his reasons.

They Should Know

I just learned Steve Colbert has lost his opportunity to run in South Carolina's Democratic primary for the presidency. A spokesperson said Colbert would "make a mockery of the election."

Interesting. I guess the big-named politicians don't want to share the mockery label. I mean, the presidential election of 2000 wasn't a mockery, was it? The Supreme Court has the right to choose the president. Doesn't it say so in the Constitution? It doesn't? Oh well. It must have been an oversight.

And then there was the presidential election of 2004. The last I read, Ohio never did report a truly accurate ballot count. And John Kerry conceded before anyone had a chance to contest the accuracy of the election. I remember that well. I was living in Massachusetts at the time and had hoped to make the trip into Boston for his victory party. Oh well.

Let's not forget the congressional elections of 2006. The Democrats carried the day. We anticipated a change in the status quo. But it's been a year after the election and nothing has changed. In fact some things are now worse. They couldn't even override the veto on child health care. Not to mention measures they've passed upholding wiretapping and funding the failed Iraq war. Yeah, we had a real change in 2006.

Let's forget about the Democratic process and instead use a democratic process. Let's throw out the Republicans so we can save our republic.

It's time for someone to show what a mockery both parties have made of this country.