new blog address

dear readers,

i have changed my blog to RECONNECTED. Click the word.

battlefield

where love meets hate
where anger meets affection
where jealousy meets contentment
where belief meets rejection

where loyalty meets treachery
where honesty meets deception
where justice meets injustice
where happiness meets depression

where perseverance meets impatience
where desire meets repulsion
where humility meets pride
where peace meets convulsion

where tolerance meets prejudice
where apathy meets exhiliration
where generosity meets stinginess
where forgiveness meets condemnation

where the fields are soaked in blood
where the war cries are softly sung
where battles are always fought
where battles are seldom won

who is really "homeless"?

While I was driving to work this morning, I saw the following handwritten poster/sign right before I entered downtown:

You say, "We cant understand the
Homeless, how can they live like that?"
We say, "What part of 'Trust in God'
can we help you with?"

inspiration

inspiration falls from above
like shimmering raindrops
if only i could catch them all
before they hit the ground
and never dry my palms

bumper sticker i saw this morning

“Not all those who wander are lost." - Tolkien

celebrate diversity part 2

This was one of the signs that just went up in the men's locker room bathroom at my workplace. Actually, one of my non-Muslim coworkers spotted it first and came by and told me yesterday morning. Rightfully so, he figured I would be concerned.

Getting ready for the five daily prayers in Islam involves washing parts of the body; the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, head, and feet. Personally, to me it ties a physical, mental, and spiritual cleanliness altogether. But Im getting off track...

There is one other person that I know of that makes wudu (ablution for prayer) in the sink and both of us are very mindful to keep the area dry when we are done. Now obviously someone had to have seen either of us washing our feet in the sink, and someone had to be offended enough by the sight of it that they had to make a complaint.

So you know what this sign says to me? It says that "I dont even care to ask you why you are washing your foot in the sink, I think its disgusting and Im going to complain." On top of that, the person who made the sign must have felt strongly about it too.

I went down to the Human Resources director and told her what was up. I showed her the sign, explained my take on it, and she found it offensive too. We agreed that we would have the facilities department take the rest of the signs down and provide an alternative solution for washing feet. Because it is true, sinks are just not built for washing feet. I just happen to be tall.

She also left me with this, "You are all hired to work here based on your skills and your performances. We all come from different backgrounds, ethnicities, religions, sexual persuasions so we've got to learn how to "live" together. Our job is to accommodate you so you can continue on with the things you got to do to live your life."

Facilities upon request installed a retractable shower head that could reach the floor this morning.

celebrate diversity part 1

Confession: I knew some Arab-hating Pakistanis (first semester) in Egypt who I would occasionally chop it up with....discussing the Arab world's cultural, lingual, and socio-economic monopoly on the religious practices of Islam and its particular influence on the Indian subcontinent. We would revel in our prejudices over chicken tikka masala, naan, and chai with milk while people outside ate koshary and fuul.

Even in college, when I saw Pakistani students wearing Arab-esque garments to the mosque or when giving the Friday sermon, or attending any religious function for that matter, I saw it as an appealed attempt to over-extend their religiosity. It bothered me to the effect of utter annoyance. Sometimes even sheer disgust.

My views on the matter however have long been reformed, but somethings recently had reminded me of how I used to feel.

Quite simply, I saw Chinese people in Pakistan wearing shalwar kameez (Pakistani garb). And Thai Muslims in Bangkok wearing dhotis (worn throughout the Indian subcontinent) in the airport as they were about to embark on the hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. Celebrate diversity.

But before I went to Pakistan, I heard Dr. Sherman Jackson, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Michigan speak at the ING (Islamic Networks Group) dinner back in early December of 2006. I remember him (or one of the speakers there...now I forget) giving the following analogy on the relation of Islam and culture:

"In forensics, the thread collected from a crime scene can reveal the whole jacket. That piece of thread when examined can tell you the brand, color, etc. But you cannot rely on that piece of thread as a replacement for the whole jacket."

What I take from this: You can observe Islam being practiced in one place, in one time period, and conclude yes the beauty of Islam resides there. You can then look at a completely different place, time period and also say yes Islam resides there too. The product of people's struggle for righteousness within themselves and their respective societies would reflect that.

Of all the countries Ive been to, all the mosques (Muslim place for prayer) are vastly different in appearance, style, and architecture even. They bring in so many different kinds of people; wearing so many different styles of clothes. Only one thing in common; they are all built to align the people to pray in one unified direction. Towards one central location. Towards Mecca.

Celebrate diversity.

the fog

while the sun still slept
i crept out of bed

the old men in their hands wept
off to the fields i went

too cold for a walk
so i disobeyed health

too quiet to talk
so i spoke to myself

i know you're listening
but you dont seem to speak

dialogue was missing
no other way
ever made sense to me

the plants gathered tears
in the cusps of their leaves

the birds sung of their fears
from the height of the trees

but i kept walking
ignoring the cries for mercy

why the sun never dares to sleep in
always ready for duty?

is it still too cold to feel
my body's going numb

or am i just too cold to feel?
im a casket for none

but i kept walking
at least the warm blood is still flowing

but blood was scared too
and surrendered to you, the All-Knowing

then your fog moved in
and surrounded a rebel

the cold mixed with caution
softer steps with a tremble

the fog grew thicker
the fields disappeared

the fog moved quicker
curled nearer and nearer

now truly lost
a distance from knowing

which direction i came from?
and where am i going?

im blind, i cant see
and im screaming for help

in the fog it was just you and me
and nothing else