confused arab chick

Update on my life:

Went to a great Halloween party on Friday night- NERT. Very chilled out. Organizers did a fantastic job. Dressed up.. As a friend. :) YES- she is that entertaining.

Confused Arab Chick -----> Blonde Swedish Chick. KICK ASS

Saturday was theoretically reserved for studying. Of course, in reality.. Well, this is what happened.

I left my house with my heavy bag pack planning to get shit loads done. Of to Cafe Study I went.. Then something happened. It was sunny. And (relatively speaking of course) it was warm.

SOoo... I decided to walk around downtown for a little bit, somehow I ended up in Urban Outfitters buying a candle and a hat. Just as I decided I had spent enough $$, I ran into a friend and we ended up going for a "quick walk". Of course, up to our beautiful Mountain we went. Walked up to Pine (yes, up the monster stairs), across and back down cote de neige. FINALLY, we got to cafe study. Grabbed a quick bite and had some chai. All of a sudden, its 5:00 pm. Kick friend OUT OF MY FACE so I can get some work done..

Started looking at math. Got very sick and dizzy. Had a complete panic about how STUPID I obviously must be if I can't solve for X. Called a friend, walked to Videotron, picked up movies and came home. Never watched the movies.. Just hung out and talked.

See, the thing is... Doing stuff like this does NOT make me feel better- it just makes me feel worse and more stressy.

Today, I spent the day cooking for my ASA peeps. Good food, good times. Its nice having an ASA that isn't so... hmm, Stereotypical?

Now, must stop finding distractions and get the fuck out to go get some work done.. And no- I can't do it at home.

OUT

No, I don't have something to say everyday. Actually, I feel like bitching about this paper I have to write, but I don't want to bore my nonexistent readers.

So.. What did I do today?

Had my eyebrows RUINED by lady at salon. NEVER EVER EVER having my eyebrows done in this city again. I quit. I'm done. I'm tired of getting upset every time I get them done.

Went to CSU clubs fair, v.boring- good fruits after.

Came home, watched "Aftershave". Very well directed story. Only 27 minutes long. Powerful and well written. LOVED the cute old guy.

Now well work on paper for half hour before bed. More math tomorrow.

OUT

So I wrote my prof to tell her I'm sorry my midterm was SHITE, but I wasn't feeling the questions.

She responded by agreeing that my takehome was shit, but since it was pretty much too late to do anything about it now. We might as well WHY it was shit. I said it was cuz her questions were shit.

I don't know how that will fly?

Anyway, we ended up deciding that I am to go through my papers with a pencil(yeah, there's 2 of em) and highlight what I would have explored further, why and how. This is supposed to save my ass from a shitty grade and allow her to examine her questions in order to write a better final.

baah.. What did I get myself into. I don't know what I would have explored further. I just know that the questions didn't turn me on. I don't know why? Maybe she should have asked me why women were oppressed and understudied in the past.(for those of u that are confused, this is an intro to women and religion class) I am perfectly capable of opinionating my ass off... And then ill find shit to support it (there is ALWAYS shit to support shit).

bah. gonna be a long night

OUT

So my workload has pretty much doubled over night. The next 6 weeks are going to be interesting.

However, I'm much more concerned with the fact that there are a bunch of people out there with these hateful ideas.

I KNOW Islam has developed a bad rep recently. I'm always the first to bitch out fundamentalist religion. Orthodox organized religion is bad news. I'm much more 'spiritual' than I am religious.

But browsing a bunch of blogs recently- I've come to the conclusion that there are people who actually hate Muslims and Arabs- and I'm not talking about the hick cowboy in Texas either. They are around the corner. When they walk down the street, they think I'm oppressed and raised to hate based on how I look.

To those that do.. You are wrong.

Western Style Democracy is not the solution for the Middle East. The problems in the region are not going to be solved by converting the government into a US-style democracy. The culture is different. The people are different. And if you haven't lived there- you don't know and can't possibly understand. Just as the crazy terrorists that think the west is void of morals and values are wrong.

The region needs strong, fair leaders with clear visions to steer it in the right direction, and in time, maybe a democracy would be a good option. But right now.. It would create craziness.
Oh, and by the way- invading a country isn't the way to do it either. I think Bush proved that idea doesn't work like no one else could. The 2000th US soldier just died in Iraq. Most of these soldiers are kids. Fresh out of high school. I've met them, and sat at dinner tables with them. It's so sad.

What do I know? This is just what I think..

Pretty much spent most of the day either absorbing calculus, writing papers or cooking.

All in all, relatively productive day.

Doesn't matter though, I'm tired and still have more paper writing to do.

OUT

Brain Fried is it.

Worked on papers ALL day, then came home for a girlie night and Desperate Housewives.

Now I have to work on my calculus before bed.

I can't wait till Christmas, I need some peace.. I'm gonna do absolutely nothing during the break (except eat of course)

I don't wanna work on Cal :(

You know what? Not gonna. I'm going to bed. Worry about it in the morning, I have fuck loads to do tomorrow. I need rest.

OUT

So.. I'm not allowed to drive. I'm covered in a black garbage bag type outfit. I'm not allowed to work except in fields deemed 'suitable for women'- by men in the government. I'm not allowed to travel without permission. I'm basically deprived of the ability to think. But I'm happy. so its ok.

Apparently this is the case. As long as we are not having our culture desecrated by American Imperialism or European Colonialism, or whatever it is Arabs apparently seem to hold some grudge about, everything else is OK.

I'm glad these girls are speaking out, and by all means if they want to stay the way they are once their country is normal, GREAT! I'll throw them a party myself.

I completely understand having the choice to veil/un-veil, drive/be driven but for fucks sake- the point is HAVING the choice.

But maybe I'm just loony.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/628E1CFC-EAD0-45A4-881F-94365CEF048C.htm
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In other news,

Saudi King Abdullah believes firmly in women's rights, but says they will not be allowed to drive a car any time soon, according to extracts of a television interview published on Thursday. Well isn't that nice. How considerate. Read about it here:

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B14BA7D5-F5EF-43AD-965A-91CFB68F4402.htm

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An Anglican congregation plans to build Qatar's first Christian church since Islam's arrival in the 7th century.

YAY! GO QATAR!! GO QATAR!!

I don't care what anyone else says- This is a step in the right direction. Qatar has broken down so many other barriers in the last few years. I'm proud of Doha, I'm proud of the Emir. A testament that Democracy may not have been the best solution in all of the Middle East. He is pointing little Qatar in the right direction- tolerance, acceptance and mutual respect. I gotta say it again- YAY QATAR!

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D29F4435-C427-4A17-9AC8-467D264E7C9C.htm

I basically spend the entire day formulating what I plan to say for this paper. Actually, it's 2 questions, so its technically 2 papers.

Made lots of notes, so I have something to show for like 8 hrs of work.

I've finally figured it all out- so now I get to chill out for a while.

Later going to kickboxing party of some sort. Should be interesting.

OUT

Egyptian riot police have battled to prevent thousands of angry Muslims from storming a church in Alexandria, beating protesters with sticks and firing tear gas in a riot that ended with three people dead and 53 arrested.

The riot was the latest in a series of incidents at the church in which Muslims have condemned the distribution of a DVD of a play, performed at the church in 2003, that tells the story of a young Christian who converts to Islam and becomes disillusioned.

The rioters hurled stones that injured police officers, smashed church windows and damaged the white facade of the three-storey church, a police official said.

They also set a police car on fire and wrecked eight other cars, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

On Wednesday, a Muslim man stabbed and seriously wounded a novitiate nun inside the church. He was arrested.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/17129B86-C3FB-4B61-B789-2F6230C5369E.htm

I'm kind of sickened. It's all very upsetting. How do you bring yourself to stab a nun?!

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Iran has banned American and other films that promote Western culture in a move to combat what the Islamic government calls attempts to damage and humiliate eastern traditions and culture.


http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/44A407C1-CD07-4279-A249-324F5428D215.htm

Can't watch American films. Would be immoral. Then we would become like them. ugh. I don't understand how you can run a an entire country like Iran and still lack the basic logic chip.

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So I spent a big chunk of the day trying to figure out what the hell it is I think I'm going to write for that take home midterm due on Thursday. I have loads of random ideas but they cant seem to come together to form one decent paper. I've been thinking about it for like a week though- should have figured it out by now.

The other chunk of my day was at Living. David Guetta was Djing and the guy is fucking amazing!! Only thing is the place was INSANELY packed. Like, they must have over filled the place waay past legal capacity. Couldn't BREATHE! Anyways, it was amazing music, but over all not the best night.

One girlfriend disappeared halfway through the night, and the other one ended up getting very very drunk, needed to be escorted to the bathroom a lot. Which I don't mind- I honestly don't, but the poor thing ended up puking out of the cab. and on the cab. Cab driver wasn't very happy. But he was a sweet old guy. Helped me hold her hair and everything.

Anyway, now she's tucked in bed and I'm here writing this when I should be going to sleep so I can wake up early tomorrow and work on that midterm.

OUT

Diane responded to my comments:


"Of course I understand.
Don't you worry.
Anger is good, and sure it beats indifference.

Arabs are not the only ones who have to look at them selves. All societies need to do this exercise over and over. It is a part of human evolution, human society. In the Arab world however, people have suffered so much whether their were rich or poor because they have been living in cage, some in golden cages. The results, sadly is that stagnation. Arab literature through publication, Arts..., in the field of sciences, industrial production have been too scare. There are numbers which demonstrate such lacks. It's a tragedy. It is linked directly by the great domination of Islam, a religion married to power, a religion that is nothing else than a Nation spread in all nations of the world. Simply put, Arabs can't do what they want, physically or other wise unless it follows the code, the pressure is governmental and social. Islamic regimes use this to remain in power. No artist per example can produce in a cage, it's like a bird like trying to fly inside a box.

You know, it is wonderful that many blogs are taking about the same thing, it mean that people around the world are getting more and more aware. That is the beginning of real change.
I must have repertories more than 400 links in the past few years addressing all these issues.

With my modest sites I can't pretend to do anything new. I am just an artist mostly sharing with others from my community.
Very few of us actually address these issues in this perspective, sadly.
In Quebec racism, intolerance, indifference and a lack of desire to learn what is going on in the world plague our society. I am very sensitive to this reality and my work is only another one in the ocean of the biosphere. I am adding my voice, to share ideas on the subject as artists do. It's my job. if you go to the main site who can read a text and see the images on my project. This might help you to understand what I am up to...

In Quebec racism, intolerance, indifference and a lack of desire to learn what is going on in the world plague our society. I am very sensitive to this reality and my work is only another one in the ocean of the biosphere. I am adding my voice, to share ideas on the subject as artist do. It';s my job. if you go to the main site who can read a text and see the images on my project. This might help you to understand what I am up.

In any case, what really matters is that the Arab world is going through an important existential crisis. We, Arabs and others, should all be undestanding not judgmental.
The Arab world will eventually over come the difficulties and evolve into a richer and freer society.
There is a lot of hope because there are people like you and Dan at CandianPharaho in Montreal, Ali from Faith Freedom; the adorable young Sunshine in Mosul; our friends Mohammed and Omar at Iraq the Model; my dear friend Fayrouz at A Iraqi in America, Medya in Kurdistan, the Religious Policeman from Saudi Arabia; The MUSLIM REFUSENIK - Irshad Mandji, our famous Canadian Palestinian; our friend Sam at Hammorabi, Iraq, Big Pharaoh in Egypt, the author at KnowIslam from Turkey, Joumy in Lebanon, the clever Salman Rushdie in the UK; a great number of brave Iranian bloggers... All these amazing people who are Arab and many more are not afraid anymore to voice their thoughts. They reject using words and in honorable manners all submission to dictatorship and to abusive "Islamic regimes. They know what they are talking about and I am impressed each time I visit their sites.
I hope we'll see you there. We are a few Canadians lurking. Email me, if ever you have any specific questions regarding these blogs. I will be happy to oblige.

Thank you for your reply, it was very touching."

And so.. I say:

I personally find Irshad Manji a little extreme (her general idea is a good one, her method I'm not sure I agree with). Telling the world that Islam is barbaric and yet still insisting on remaining Muslim seems a little weird to me. Islam is what you choose for it to be and like all religions it is open to interpretation. However blatantly taking the piss out of everyone else's interpretation of their own faith and then getting upset when they react negatively is also somewhat strange.

All I'm saying is that method is everything, here is an example I made up:

Look, you have your difficult images website. An Arab in Saudi Arabia or some place like that comes across it and decides to start one of his/her own about Israeli/American violence and 'difficult images'. A second Arab guy, relatively young and unemployed, bored and wondering what to with his life comes across this, is appalled and angered and decides to go to Iraq to "help" the Iraqis and fight a "holy war". This is bullshit.

It is also worth noting, that other than for the exceptional case of Saudi Arabia, the people are a lot more conservative than their governments and are much more Islamist in their thinking. Therefore promoting a western style democracy in the Middle East is somewhat futile as it will result in Islamic parties getting elected who would more than likely abolish all forms of democratic participation from that point on.

Rehashing the past is not going to achieve anything, and combating the monstrosities of war is futile unless it is done through constructive, positive dialogue between both parties and peoples.

A lot of governments (Western and Eastern) need to rethink their policies and actually listen to what people are trying to tell them.

What a lot of people don't realize is that the rise of political Islam has been pushed by the fact that America disapproves. Arabs don't like being told what to do by Colonial/Imperial powers and their resentment is much like that of a teenager. They defy the Western government by becoming even more conservative.

Furthermore, we (myself included) tend to associate Islam with the Arab World, when in fact there are more Muslims in the Indonesia or India than the entire Arab world combined. India's Muslims seem to be getting along fairly well with everyone else. If it weren't for all the political turmoil (internally and externally inflicted) this could be the case in places like Egypt and the West Bank/Gaza.

The comment below is in response to a previous comment.. in response to a comment I made. All very complicated.

If you care, check it out yourself.

http://difficultimages.blogspot.com/
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Hi Diane,

I realize that a lot of terrible things happen in the name of Islam and its God.

I also think a lot of this has to do with the reason you mentioned earlier, Islam is a young religion etc.
Ofcourse, the causes for all the atrocities going on are a lot more complex than that, but I believe it to be a factor.

However, I could start a blog today about a number of genocides and wars and murders going on around the world. I don't really see the point in making Arabs and Muslims look worse than they already do. The mainstream media does a good enough job of this.

I realize I am biased based on the fact that I am Arab and Muslim. However, I in no way extreme, in fact- most people wouldn't even call me moderate. I am very very liberal.

There are hundreds of websites on the Internet posting terrible photographs about the brutal murders of Palestinian children and the slaughtering of Iraqis. Your blog achieves the same thing those websites do. Inviting more anger, creating a larger rift between people and leaving little space for constructive dialogue.

I apologize for ranting like a mad woman in my previous comment, but I was angered and reacted badly.

I hope you understand my point of view.

I’ll readily admit it; when I first heard the words “Sharia in Canada”; my first reaction was “No! It doesn’t belong here.” and I was ready to go marching with the rest of the protesters.

However, I decided to give the idea the same ‘respect’ that I give to most current issues that interest me- I googled it.

That’s when I found out that the proposed voluntary religious arbitration for Muslims was not going to result in the Mullah depriving a mother of the right to see her Children, nor was is it in anyway to contradict the Canadian Charter of Human Rights. The tribunals were purely on a voluntary basis and were to deal exclusively with family law.

To be honest, I probably should have given the Canadian government more credit. They are not going to sit back and let people implement and enforce a twisted version of Sharia in this country.

Previously, the arbitration law allowed disputes to be settled in alternative ‘religious’ courts to prevent congestion in the court system. The proposed Sharia courts were to offer a very ‘basic’ Sharia anyway as Canadian Civil Law takes priority.

Like Jewish law and Christian canon law, Islamic law is interpreted differently by different people in different times and places. In the hands of moderates, religious law can be moderate and even liberal. In the hands of fundamentalists, however, it is legally binding on all people of the faith and even on all people who come under their control. We live in a country that allows for religious freedom, and a fundamentalist takeover of our courts is highly unlikely. I would be the first to run.

I am not going to sit here and defend Islam. Most people reading this are University Undergraduates and are intelligent and informed enough to come to their own decisions about the religion. I’m not going to quote the Qur’an and explain how Islam is fair and just and does not oppress women. Women are being persecuted in various places all over the world in the name of Islam, regardless of whether or not the Qur’an condones this.

People come to Canada for a multitude of reasons, one of these being religious freedom. That includes the right to practice any faith and follow its laws if you so choose. There are plenty of women who are persecuted in the name of Islam but there are also plenty of educated, intelligent women who readily prescribe to this faith and their decision should be respected. This does not mean that religious policy is going to infringe on a Citizen’s rights, nor does it mean that it is going to override secular legal authority. It is simply allowing Muslims a method to practice their faith if they so choose.

These rights were taken away (from Muslims and Jews alike) the day Premier McGuinty banned religious arbitration because so many people stuck to their original ideas and refused to be open minded about the issue.

Western Media tends to portray Muslim women as oppressed, demoralized and jailed within their own burkaas. I think that this negative and largely false portrayal is one of the biggest reasons behind the uproar that followed the proposal. I also think a lot of walls need to be torn down in that respect. There are a lot of veiled Muslim students at Concordia who have come from half way across the world, on their own, in order to get an education. Please explain to me how these girls don’t have rights? I don’t understand how anyone could possibly think that a veiled girl who has been allowed to live on her own in a big city like Montreal could possibly be oppressed by the shackles of her religion.

From my experience, negative imagery in the ‘reputable’ media establishments of today is to blame for a lot of the unfavorable impressions people have. We don’t believe Fox when they tell us that the War in Iraq is going great or when they explain how Bush is a wonderful president. I don’t understand why we have to believe that a Muslim woman is never allowed to make a choice and that Sharia is always inherently misogynous.

However, despite the fact that I am somewhat disappointed because there was such uproar about Islamic family arbitration coming to Canada, I do not support the idea. I don’t see why Muslims should need special courts, nor do I think they should be provided for them.

Another issue is the worry that women may feel pressured by their communities to go to Sharia courts, regardless of whether or not they want to; otherwise they may face shame or become ostracized.

Let’s be honest. Since it is plausible and highly likely that women will be pressured by their communities to attend these courts; we should avoid them altogether. This is not because Sharia is inherently evil, nor is it because we are all a bunch of Islamophobes who think everyone with a beard is Osama, but because it creates a distinct rift in Canadian society in general.

So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that I do not support any religious arbitration in family law. But I am also disappointed by the media’s automatic terrified response.

OUT

Really, the title is almost comical if you think about it.

They weren't allowed to begin with? Yup, you got it. There are NO Cinemas in Saudi Arabia.

"Some 20 years after public screening of films was banned, the first cinema will open next month in conservative Saudi Arabia, but showing only cartoons, a source from the firm handling the project has said.
The cinema will open for women and children at a Riyadh hotel at the Eid Al-Fitr feast at the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan on 2 or 3 November, said the source who requested anonymity."

Apparently, this move is to 'prepare' people for the arrival of a new, real, censored cinema. Amazing.

Oh well, atleast there is something Women in Saudi can do that men can't.

OUT

Ok.. Mona Al Tahawy wrote an article on a one of my favorite time wasting websites, www.muslimwakeup.com

Its called A Different Kind of Jihad in Kashmir and is basically asking whether the people who finance suicide bombings are going to finance sending those same British Pakistani Youths to Pakistan to help out after that terrible Earthquake.

For some reason, I agree with her in that they wont. They suck.

Too tired to bitch more, but you (if you exist) should read it.
http://www.muslimwakeup.com/main/archives/2005/10/a_different_kin.php#more

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On a different note, did fuck all for most of the day and managed a very pathetic and minimal amount of studying. Hot milk and honey = MAJOR sleepiness, thanks to that little discovery today I got very sleepy and accomplish not much (at least I choose to blame it on that)
oh, and the midterm is after tomorrow- FUCK


OUT

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Second Level of Hell!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	High
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	High
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Very Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Moderate
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

Seven Things I plan to do:
1) Graduate
2) Decide what I want to graduate with!
3) Quit smoking
4) Figure 'me' out
5) Make my daddy proud- and my mom too
6) Travel. Everywhere- top of the list? India, China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Kenya, L.A, Damascus, Palestine/Israel.. ok, I'll stop.
7) Run a marathon

Seven Things I can do:
1) Cook (finally- and well!)
2) Love unconditionally
3) Be loud
4) Make an ass of myself and laugh about it
5) Set a goal for myself and achieving it (its coming to the decision of setting the goal I can't seem to always do)
6) Sing (NOON else will agree)
7) Rant. Constantly.

Seven Things I can't do:
1) Say no
2) Decide what to study/do with my life in general
3) Pick the right people to depend on
4) Get my fat ass back to the gym
5) Take care of myself
6) Quit Smoking
7) Clean

Seven Things that Scare me:
1) Lack of love
2) Lack of hope
3) Death
4) Islamic fundamentalism (actually, all religious fundamentalism)
5) Loss
6) Heights
7) Flying- I think this one combines the heights and death thing?

Seven Random Facts about me: 1) I don't know where I'm coming from or where I'm going
2) I can eat an insane amount of fries and never ever get full
3) I have pierced my nose, top of ear and tongue at different times and places
4) I have a tattoo
5) I spend way too much $$
6) I'm a season schizo- 2 very different people in the summer and winter
7) I HEART desperate housewives

Surprisingly very little to rant about. Miserable day. Rain is giving me a HORRIBLE headache, and I have to go study for that damn midterm I don't want to do. Oh, and according to theweathernetwork.com and all the other sources that control our weather, its going to be raining forever and ever and ever.

and ever.

Rain sucks. I'm going jetskiing this christams, i dont care if i have to wear a wetsuit to do it.

sucks.

OUT

so.. its finally here, I've finally done it- after much browsing through blogs and alot of ranting on "myspace" ive decided to yell about everything I love to yell about on blogger, kind of like most people do it.

No time to bitch right now, gotta go take soup to sick friend.

But I promise much to bitch about later (Like anyone is reading this?!)

OUT