Conversations

The only careless social delve I commit is a direct effect of the lure of captivating conversation.
These images are an attempted conversation with my life’s inspiration.



The timid, circling approach of an unknown destination:


The lack of quantitative response and failed repartee:





The rejective mock injuring mercilessly:




inspiration has seized to lay claim

I'd pray for peace but my Mosque is about to be demolished.

Another racist and Islamphobic U.S. Representative or Congressman has made comments that just plain scare me.
Rep. Peter King (R-NY) who is the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee said, "Unfortunately, we have too many mosques in this country. There are too many people who are sympathetic to radical Islam. We should be looking at them more carefully. We should be finding out how we can infiltrate. […] King added, "I think there's been a lack of full cooperation from too many people in the Muslim community. And it's a real threat here in this country."

Great, that’s how you get cooperation, by bashing the people you need help from. I’d be scared to talk to such a person. And what type of cooperation does he want? Why is it ok for him to assume there is something wrong at my mosque? Does he want me to stand at the door of my mosque and point a finger at my innocent brothers as he tears down the place I worship? Would the world’s problems go away if there weren’t any mosques? Or would they go away if there weren’t any hate-mongers like Rep. King? These guys only want us to be informant citizens without voicing any concerns or opposing views. If we speak up we will go to jail, get tazered, have our assets frozen, or even get killed by some of his gung-ho, beer-drinking, flag-wearing, ignorant constituents. While we’re at it, who do I talk to about the hate crimes against my mosque and it’s congregation?

BTW, does anyone remember who other than Presidential Candidate Tom Tancerdo wants to bomb Mecca? (I’m planning on going to Haj this year, I’d like to know what’s coming)



To watch the King interview see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMydUdKtA_Q&;


From an ADC alert:
Rep. King has a history of racism and bigotry toward Arab and Muslim Americans. In the past, he has said, Muslims are "an enemy living amongst us." He has also called for ethnic and racial profiling of Arabs and Muslims. It should be noted that Rep. King also serves as a top advisor to presidential hopeful Rudy Guiliani alongside leading Islamophobe Daniel Pipes. Pipes also serves on the board of coalition which tried to derail the opening of the Khalil Gibran International Academy in Brooklyn, New York. For more information see: http://www.adc.org/index.php?id=3157

Slumbering a Silent September

Some thought on this month:

Tragedy struck on the first, but I kept quite and unaffected. I've been through so much, that shock holds no value any longer.

On the 11th, I was reminded of what constitutes this country. On the anniversary of one of the biggest tragedies this country has experienced, the average joe was as ignorant as ever. People at work, oddly enough, knew we were still at war but couldn't remember why, even on Sept 11th.

Sept 11th is a bizarre day for me, not only for the tragedy and the events that followed but for the day it could never be. Sept 11th is my oldest son's birthday. Although we celebrate it at home, he can never feel comfortable celebrating with his friends, since in 2001, as he was excitedly announcing his birthday at school and ready to pass cupcakes to his class, the teacher announced to the class that they will be picked up by their parents early because "some bad people killed all those people in the two buildings with an airplane". A five-year-old at the time, he came home confused and shocked and that was the first he ever heard of death. and death is ever linked to his birthday. And he, unlike some of my coworkers, will never forget. I wanted to talk to him about death when he was older, I didn't want an angry teacher to tell him. This was almost as bad as when she brought in baby Jesus to class to teach the Muslim kids about Christ.

Side note: I found it difficult to teach me child about some realities when they were non-existant in school. I told him about Palestine, but it took a while for him to believe me since the teachers told him there was no such country, he couldn't find it on the maps or globe. I bought my own globe and drew it in, and he and I created our own flag and pasted it on a poster of world flags.

On with September; Then Ramadan began and I started noticing all the calendars with all the Jewish, Christian, African and even Canadian holidays, but no Muslim holidays. Even worse, after seven years in the same office, I'm still explaining the concept of Ramadan and our dietary restrictions, I'm tired of being polite.

This has been the most bizarre Ramadan yet. It seems idle, calm, sleepy. I am staggering through it like it was a hallucination. I keep waiting for some monstrous calamity. perhaps this is my last one.

It used to be Ramadan was my most productive month, when I would stay awake 22 out of 24 hours with the day spent working since there is no food, coffee or cigarette breaks and the night was a glorious time of spirituality and creativity.
Now only a groggy stumble through one unproductive day after another. Something is missing and I can't figure out what.

my lazy Ramadan greeting card

An article on Others

Here is an article on our Other Art Collective and the scene in Detroit.



read it here:
As-safir

Find out more here:
www.otherart.org

Let me know what you think...
(really, let me know, I don't read Arabic)