Today Egypt is free. Today Egyptians cleaned their streets. Today’s body count stands well over 300 Egyptian citizens and that doesn’t include the injured. But this ancient race, they are resilient. Peacefully, they removed bombed-out cars, broken glass, and (18) days worth of litter and debris.
So why is America rejoicing? Why are we happy that Hosni Mubarak stepped down? Wasn’t he our best bud only (19) days ago? No? He wasn’t? Really, then why did we kiss his wrinkled 82 year old bum for 30 years?
I haven’t posted during these eighteen days. I haven’t commented on this uprising, this overthrow of everything the Egyptians know. I’ve remained silent to this scream for power in a vastly Muslim country. And why not?
Perhaps, I wanted to be able to babble in favor of the winning team? I wanted to remain as neutral as a Swiss bank? But oh, how the mighty have fallen, even the untouchables now have dirty hands.
Why I? She, who fights daily with the one man who holds her heart in his Islamic fist, why have I remained as silent as the graves of those who have died? How melodramatic, it was a democratic movement. Have I been sleeping? Have you? For I can assure you I have not.
I have listened with a deadening ear to the holocaust that has been brewing across the pond. I have watched each news reel with a hardening heart. I have predicted each step of this bloody fiasco with uncanny accuracy, even our own.
And for once, my wonderful Muslim husband and I agree. And not a little, one hundred percent, we are completely aligned against this snake in the grass successful move of the Muslim Brotherhood. How can I say such a thing? Because it’s true. Egypt has been mollified for thirty years with their regime. Was it right? Was it fair? Was it exploitive? Search the “world” news over the past thirty years for your answer. Counting the lives sacrificed to make it what it was; can we call it a democracy? In my world, no, but it was still theirs.
But for a historically volatile population that form of democracy worked. We want to look at Egypt with our Benjamin Franklin tinted glasses, we want to see every corner of the world through our constitutional lenses. But who are we to judge? When did God/Allah/Buda/Joe’s cat throw down his gauntlet and ask the luckiest citizens of the world to pick it up?
I wish I could say I am happy for this supposed win for democracy. I wish I could say that the Muslim Brotherhood had nothing to do with the sudden rise of the masses of the Egyptian populace to have their voices heard. I wish I could say that I believe the Egyptian military will do what is in the best wishes of the people they serve, that they will obey a higher command, not the foreign governments lining their pockets, especially our own. I wish I could say I believe the Muslim Brotherhood is a mostly secular organization.
I wish I could say I am not terrified for the people Israel and Jordan. But most of all, I wish I could say I rejoice with you, Egypt. When all I can say is…be careful what you wish for.
Showing posts with label moslem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moslem. Show all posts
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Is Attending the Sick Anti-Islamic?
This is my first blogpost since returning from a month in Kosovo and some short sojourns in civilized Europe. As usual hanging out with my Haxhi (pilgrim to Mecca) father-in-law was barely tolerable. But after all that time in his presence, I’m proud enough of myself to say that he is still breathing and without broken bones. It’s not that I hate the man, honestly I don’t-I make a very conscious effort not to. It’s his very ungodly, but apparently Muslim, disregard for his bedridden wife of fifty-plus years that I find intolerable.
Nënë, my mother-in-law, is blind and in the latter stages of Alzheimer’s. She no longer recognizes my husband, myself, or anyone other than Haxhi. When I hear the word mother-in-law, I picture Marie from Everyone Loves Raymond, a meddlesome tyrant that doesn’t know when to back off. But not so with me and Nënë, to me she is a saint. She is the mother that religion stole from me, my mother’s cult ruled (and still does, even with the cult leader dead) her life and thus mine. My dear mother-in-law is now in diapers and her own daughter (yes, the devout Muslim one with an affinity for breaking and entering) will not clean her. So we hired a caretaker for her, but apparently Haxhi seems to think she belongs to him, as in his own personal slave since Nënë has become too weak to grovel at his every wish.
In Islam, per the Quran, it says you are supposed to take care of the sick, poor and elderly as quoted, “Allah enjoins adl, ihsaan, and giving help to kith and kin (i.e. to give them financial assistance, visiting them and caring for them), and He forbids you from fahshaa and from munkar, and from baghya (oppression of all kinds).
In fact this along with much of the Quran mirrors the Old Testament. The major differences being, wait for it….yep, holy war, jihad, not making friends of Christians or Jews, yada, yada, yada. But I digress.
I take issue with anyone dumping their parents off at a home if they are capable, financially, physically, and emotionally, of taking care of them themselves, regardless of religion. But someone to place themselves above all others, a haxhi, someone who demands respect for his religious devotion, to ignore such a fundamental part of that very religion then I find them to be a hypocrite.
He ridicules her, mocking her as she moans. He pulls her when she shuffles when required to walk a few steps. He leaves her in a filthy diaper for the entire night, if she goes to the bathroom after the caretaker has left. He has her fed milk and bread only. I can’t write anymore of the conditions in which he treats her, but I will say this… I don’t believe in organized religion, but I do believe in my version of Karma, what goes around, comes around. And what do you know, he ain’t getting any younger…
Nënë, my mother-in-law, is blind and in the latter stages of Alzheimer’s. She no longer recognizes my husband, myself, or anyone other than Haxhi. When I hear the word mother-in-law, I picture Marie from Everyone Loves Raymond, a meddlesome tyrant that doesn’t know when to back off. But not so with me and Nënë, to me she is a saint. She is the mother that religion stole from me, my mother’s cult ruled (and still does, even with the cult leader dead) her life and thus mine. My dear mother-in-law is now in diapers and her own daughter (yes, the devout Muslim one with an affinity for breaking and entering) will not clean her. So we hired a caretaker for her, but apparently Haxhi seems to think she belongs to him, as in his own personal slave since Nënë has become too weak to grovel at his every wish.
In Islam, per the Quran, it says you are supposed to take care of the sick, poor and elderly as quoted, “Allah enjoins adl, ihsaan, and giving help to kith and kin (i.e. to give them financial assistance, visiting them and caring for them), and He forbids you from fahshaa and from munkar, and from baghya (oppression of all kinds).
In fact this along with much of the Quran mirrors the Old Testament. The major differences being, wait for it….yep, holy war, jihad, not making friends of Christians or Jews, yada, yada, yada. But I digress.
I take issue with anyone dumping their parents off at a home if they are capable, financially, physically, and emotionally, of taking care of them themselves, regardless of religion. But someone to place themselves above all others, a haxhi, someone who demands respect for his religious devotion, to ignore such a fundamental part of that very religion then I find them to be a hypocrite.
He ridicules her, mocking her as she moans. He pulls her when she shuffles when required to walk a few steps. He leaves her in a filthy diaper for the entire night, if she goes to the bathroom after the caretaker has left. He has her fed milk and bread only. I can’t write anymore of the conditions in which he treats her, but I will say this… I don’t believe in organized religion, but I do believe in my version of Karma, what goes around, comes around. And what do you know, he ain’t getting any younger…
Monday, January 10, 2011
Brave Nuns in the Center of a Muslim World
It has been two years since I last visited Kosovo. It's a Muslim country, part of the former Yugoslavia, situated north of Greece and east of Italy, along with a couple of other countries that you might not recognize the names of. The first time I spent any time here was in 1990, it was still part of Serbia and steeped deep in tradition. Not so anymore.
Today Kosovo is a contradition in ideas, as mini-skirts and free love walk down the same sidewalks with rapidly radicalizing Moslems. The only thing everybody seems to agree on is their united hatred for Serbs. I can't blame them; I have personally seen the horror that many Albanians suffered at Serbian hands. But I've also seen the unjustices that many Kosovo remaining Catholic Orthodox Serbs have suffered by Muslim Albanian hands.
But rather than focus on the open wounds afflicted by both sides, I'd like to praise the most amazing women I've come into contact with in years, quite possibly in my life; the nuns of Gracanica Monastery.
A mere 5 kilometers from Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, sits a 13th century Orthodox Catholic Monastery. The existing monastery was built over the remains of a 6th century monastery and is a tear evoking example of Byzantine architecture. The nuns residing there, lead a simple life, devoid of politics. There ancient doors are open and welcome to peoples of all faiths and their innocent trust shines through their aged eyes. As I walked through the stone nave with its frescoes blackening and crumbling away, my soul was cleansed and my heart was filled with wonder at the sacrifice these women make to uphold their belief in God and ultimately humanity.
I wish I could say that they have remained unscathed by the hatred flowing through this small country, but not so. Gracanica has seen several attacks over the centuries, but apparently you can't keep a good monk down. The monastery housed monks until WWII when the monks fled or were killed and the sisters moved in. In the last Battle of Kosovo 1999 they were once again attacked, but bravely stood their ground, only losing some of their sacred documents.
I am not a person of faith, I'm afraid my childhood in a religious cult, scarred me forever against organized faiths. But these sweet women with their self-denying peaceful existence, gives me a new faith. A faith in the power of forgiveness and hope for the future.
Today Kosovo is a contradition in ideas, as mini-skirts and free love walk down the same sidewalks with rapidly radicalizing Moslems. The only thing everybody seems to agree on is their united hatred for Serbs. I can't blame them; I have personally seen the horror that many Albanians suffered at Serbian hands. But I've also seen the unjustices that many Kosovo remaining Catholic Orthodox Serbs have suffered by Muslim Albanian hands.
But rather than focus on the open wounds afflicted by both sides, I'd like to praise the most amazing women I've come into contact with in years, quite possibly in my life; the nuns of Gracanica Monastery.
A mere 5 kilometers from Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, sits a 13th century Orthodox Catholic Monastery. The existing monastery was built over the remains of a 6th century monastery and is a tear evoking example of Byzantine architecture. The nuns residing there, lead a simple life, devoid of politics. There ancient doors are open and welcome to peoples of all faiths and their innocent trust shines through their aged eyes. As I walked through the stone nave with its frescoes blackening and crumbling away, my soul was cleansed and my heart was filled with wonder at the sacrifice these women make to uphold their belief in God and ultimately humanity.
I wish I could say that they have remained unscathed by the hatred flowing through this small country, but not so. Gracanica has seen several attacks over the centuries, but apparently you can't keep a good monk down. The monastery housed monks until WWII when the monks fled or were killed and the sisters moved in. In the last Battle of Kosovo 1999 they were once again attacked, but bravely stood their ground, only losing some of their sacred documents.
I am not a person of faith, I'm afraid my childhood in a religious cult, scarred me forever against organized faiths. But these sweet women with their self-denying peaceful existence, gives me a new faith. A faith in the power of forgiveness and hope for the future.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Jihad Baggage Not Allowed
The day soon approaches for our trip to Kosovo and thus the vultures begin to circle. And by vultures I mean his well-meaning(for themselves)family members with baggage, and I'm not referring to their mental issues.
Every year as we plan our sojourn to Eastern Europe for a little R&R the age old question arises, "How many bags are you allowed to take?" The answer has not changed from the beginning of international travel, er not in my economy flying lifetime anyway, but I guess they can always hope. Two per passenger. When we traveled with the kids that totalled a whopping eight bags, and mayhem and madness soon ensued.
Apparently cargo mailings are not kosher (or perhaps halal?) in the muslim religion, as the minute travel plans are announced we have more muslims (many only seen upon such occassions) on our doorstep than illegals in a field at strawberry picking time. Each bearing gifts desperately needed by family members still residing in the old country. (Which is also inaccurate as Kosovo is the newest country in the world, but I digress.)
This year, it being only the old man and I, I said, "NO!" We only get four bags after all. My dearest love agreed that being strapped to such stringent luggage rules, it was probably for the best. He didn't need to mention that I'm on every Homeland Security terrorist list created and Allah only knows what his family is liable to pack. Trust me, I'm not exaggerating, common sense is not a family trait.
So, I get everything I want, right? I get the better part of a month off, 1 week Kosovo, 1 week Dubrovnik, 1/2 week Kosovo, 1/2 week Budapest. Absolutely Fabulous! Of course not, no sooner were tickets purchased and hotels booked, (I always pay the side trips in advance to avoid extra family members joining our excursions as well as the assurance that I actually get to take them)than we get the 'must bring list' for certain persons.
Now you must appreciate the list, not only does it command what they'd like, but gives exact brand names. But I smile, pull out the wallet, curse extensively under my breath and start shopping. All's well that ends well, right? Wrong, two days ago I learn I've been preempted on our arrangement and a certain person will be packing a bag to take with us and could I please turn over my purchases to be included in that luggage. I smile, I scream, I curse, I send spells of diarrhea, (all silently naturally)and I turn over the bag.
My generous beloved has agreed to give up one of his bags to carry the extra bag and bless his heart, I hope I can some fit underwear into the ONE he will be carrying, because not a gosh darn thing is going in my TWO.
I did get one concession...his family will not meet us at the airport with said bag of jihadables, (unmatching hideous luggage held together by duct tape and razor wire). I will receive the suspect luggage the night before. Giving me the opportunity to repack it, thus matching my chic luggage, and offset profuse sweatage ensuing when asked by Homeland Security if, "I packed each bag and or received any unknown items from unknown persons?"
So let the prodding, puffing, poking, and this full body scanning commence!
Every year as we plan our sojourn to Eastern Europe for a little R&R the age old question arises, "How many bags are you allowed to take?" The answer has not changed from the beginning of international travel, er not in my economy flying lifetime anyway, but I guess they can always hope. Two per passenger. When we traveled with the kids that totalled a whopping eight bags, and mayhem and madness soon ensued.
Apparently cargo mailings are not kosher (or perhaps halal?) in the muslim religion, as the minute travel plans are announced we have more muslims (many only seen upon such occassions) on our doorstep than illegals in a field at strawberry picking time. Each bearing gifts desperately needed by family members still residing in the old country. (Which is also inaccurate as Kosovo is the newest country in the world, but I digress.)
This year, it being only the old man and I, I said, "NO!" We only get four bags after all. My dearest love agreed that being strapped to such stringent luggage rules, it was probably for the best. He didn't need to mention that I'm on every Homeland Security terrorist list created and Allah only knows what his family is liable to pack. Trust me, I'm not exaggerating, common sense is not a family trait.
So, I get everything I want, right? I get the better part of a month off, 1 week Kosovo, 1 week Dubrovnik, 1/2 week Kosovo, 1/2 week Budapest. Absolutely Fabulous! Of course not, no sooner were tickets purchased and hotels booked, (I always pay the side trips in advance to avoid extra family members joining our excursions as well as the assurance that I actually get to take them)than we get the 'must bring list' for certain persons.
Now you must appreciate the list, not only does it command what they'd like, but gives exact brand names. But I smile, pull out the wallet, curse extensively under my breath and start shopping. All's well that ends well, right? Wrong, two days ago I learn I've been preempted on our arrangement and a certain person will be packing a bag to take with us and could I please turn over my purchases to be included in that luggage. I smile, I scream, I curse, I send spells of diarrhea, (all silently naturally)and I turn over the bag.
My generous beloved has agreed to give up one of his bags to carry the extra bag and bless his heart, I hope I can some fit underwear into the ONE he will be carrying, because not a gosh darn thing is going in my TWO.
I did get one concession...his family will not meet us at the airport with said bag of jihadables, (unmatching hideous luggage held together by duct tape and razor wire). I will receive the suspect luggage the night before. Giving me the opportunity to repack it, thus matching my chic luggage, and offset profuse sweatage ensuing when asked by Homeland Security if, "I packed each bag and or received any unknown items from unknown persons?"
So let the prodding, puffing, poking, and this full body scanning commence!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Who Will Dominate the World? WalMart or Moslems?
I have to preface this blog with a note for my stalkers. If you follow me on twitter or ask to 'friend me' on facebook and your only goal is to spout your muslim rhetoric at me, please note I will delete you and/or not accept your friend request.
That being said, I'd like to thank the guy or girl who's comments I've deleted, so hard to tell from an anonymous coward, for inspiring today's short blog. I will not allow any comments to stay that propagate your agenda of world muslim domination. This is my blog, if you want to babble ignorant garbage, go get your own.
I'm participating in NaNo this month, so I don't expect to have time to write a new pithy scathing review of mine and my husband's love life again this month.
Whenever; my sweetie and I get a little tipsy we like to play a little game, yes that one too, but the one to which I refer now, we call, "Who Shall Rule the World?" If you follow the news at all, you might notice a common thread among muslim dialogue. World domination! It is absolutely their goal to convert each and every heathen alive. Whether they use force, their most popular plan, or they use soft spoken untruths, the goal is the same. Bring Islam into your household even if it means shoving it down your throat. In being fair, there are an overwhelming number of christian fundamentalist that would gladly do the same. Haven't heard of any jihading Buddist though....hmmm.
So who is strong enough to stop them? Have you tried to fight a suicide bomber? You can't win, they come prepared to go out with a bang. We've considered the vatican, but those long dresses are cumbersome to walk in, much less run. Take my word on it, I was forced to take junior high PE wearing one, makes dodge ball living hell.
We've considered all the TV evangelists we can think of, but that always ends the same. They're not committed enough to the goal. Don't judge, it'd be hard for me to give up my Rolex for a ton of dynamite too. So who? Who will step up and take the challenge?
The Chinese? Possibly, they do consider the muslim infiltration as a bothersome gnat to their own plans of taking over the world. I prefer their invasion, everyone needs thousands of worthless plastic items and electronics that only work for a day.
But that always brings us to WALMART, yes they will be the victors. There fiendish need to hunker down, run every small business owner under, and sell us more junk than we have cabinet space for, will be our salvation. You ponder ominipotently, why wouldn't they just join the terrorist plot. Take up selling head scarves or what not? They do. But are they willing to give up selling beer, wine, cheap non-hallal ground beef,or savory pig's feet, short shorts, and bikini's? There's a ton of profit in a bikini, $40 for 1/3 yard of cloth.
Feel free to leave your comments or who may save us.
That being said, I'd like to thank the guy or girl who's comments I've deleted, so hard to tell from an anonymous coward, for inspiring today's short blog. I will not allow any comments to stay that propagate your agenda of world muslim domination. This is my blog, if you want to babble ignorant garbage, go get your own.
I'm participating in NaNo this month, so I don't expect to have time to write a new pithy scathing review of mine and my husband's love life again this month.
Whenever; my sweetie and I get a little tipsy we like to play a little game, yes that one too, but the one to which I refer now, we call, "Who Shall Rule the World?" If you follow the news at all, you might notice a common thread among muslim dialogue. World domination! It is absolutely their goal to convert each and every heathen alive. Whether they use force, their most popular plan, or they use soft spoken untruths, the goal is the same. Bring Islam into your household even if it means shoving it down your throat. In being fair, there are an overwhelming number of christian fundamentalist that would gladly do the same. Haven't heard of any jihading Buddist though....hmmm.
So who is strong enough to stop them? Have you tried to fight a suicide bomber? You can't win, they come prepared to go out with a bang. We've considered the vatican, but those long dresses are cumbersome to walk in, much less run. Take my word on it, I was forced to take junior high PE wearing one, makes dodge ball living hell.
We've considered all the TV evangelists we can think of, but that always ends the same. They're not committed enough to the goal. Don't judge, it'd be hard for me to give up my Rolex for a ton of dynamite too. So who? Who will step up and take the challenge?
The Chinese? Possibly, they do consider the muslim infiltration as a bothersome gnat to their own plans of taking over the world. I prefer their invasion, everyone needs thousands of worthless plastic items and electronics that only work for a day.
But that always brings us to WALMART, yes they will be the victors. There fiendish need to hunker down, run every small business owner under, and sell us more junk than we have cabinet space for, will be our salvation. You ponder ominipotently, why wouldn't they just join the terrorist plot. Take up selling head scarves or what not? They do. But are they willing to give up selling beer, wine, cheap non-hallal ground beef,or savory pig's feet, short shorts, and bikini's? There's a ton of profit in a bikini, $40 for 1/3 yard of cloth.
Feel free to leave your comments or who may save us.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
My Beer Drinking Muslim
He doesn’t pray, he doesn’t make bombs, and he can suck down a six-pack with the best of them. Does that make my husband and best friend of twenty-three years a bad Muslim? His father would say so, so would his brothers. Just marrying me, (ex-Christian, Chardonnay drinking fool) the personification of infidel, is enough to get him kicked out of most mosques. But I know he’s a good Muslim, not only a good man.
The relationship we have is not all pork buffets and all night bingers. In fact we detest buffets and a binge would have me in bed sick for a month. Us, our thing, is rocky, passionate, and quiet.
Since 9/11 we’ve argued about his religion. Prior to that date, we never discussed it, it was a non-entity. His father was a former mayor in their small village in pre-war Kosovo. As part of the communist regime, he never attended mosque and to my husband’s recollection never spoke of Islam at all. The entire family kept the festivals, but only his mother fasted during Ramadan. So why has 9/11 changed so many people? Not only the Americans were affected, the entire Muslim community was affected just as deeply as we were.
My father-in-law suddenly became devout, and along with one my brothers-in-law even made the pilgrimage to Mecca. But why? My husband, a man I thought I knew more than anyone on earth, changed overnight. He was suddenly torn between his loyalty to his family and his love for America, his home. He no longer thinks of Kosovo as his home, America is.
Having been raised in a cult, I do not respect any organized religion. I do respect the individual’s right to religion and freedom to choose any form of observance they so choose. But having said that, I still fear Islam.
Specifically, I fear radical Islam. I fear the impassioned imams taking undereducated boys in poor countries and brainwashing them into beasts of hatred. Brainwashing exists. I personally underwent thirteen years of it before I was rescued by foster care. While the damage was done in only thirteen years it has taken thirty to begin the healing of the scars left by it.
The relationship we have is not all pork buffets and all night bingers. In fact we detest buffets and a binge would have me in bed sick for a month. Us, our thing, is rocky, passionate, and quiet.
Since 9/11 we’ve argued about his religion. Prior to that date, we never discussed it, it was a non-entity. His father was a former mayor in their small village in pre-war Kosovo. As part of the communist regime, he never attended mosque and to my husband’s recollection never spoke of Islam at all. The entire family kept the festivals, but only his mother fasted during Ramadan. So why has 9/11 changed so many people? Not only the Americans were affected, the entire Muslim community was affected just as deeply as we were.
My father-in-law suddenly became devout, and along with one my brothers-in-law even made the pilgrimage to Mecca. But why? My husband, a man I thought I knew more than anyone on earth, changed overnight. He was suddenly torn between his loyalty to his family and his love for America, his home. He no longer thinks of Kosovo as his home, America is.
Having been raised in a cult, I do not respect any organized religion. I do respect the individual’s right to religion and freedom to choose any form of observance they so choose. But having said that, I still fear Islam.
Specifically, I fear radical Islam. I fear the impassioned imams taking undereducated boys in poor countries and brainwashing them into beasts of hatred. Brainwashing exists. I personally underwent thirteen years of it before I was rescued by foster care. While the damage was done in only thirteen years it has taken thirty to begin the healing of the scars left by it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)