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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

You can do it, I only have a Bachlors Degree in art so I do not know anything....

So, my mother's church wants me to do a project for them( of course NON paying project) and I was to meet with the coordinator before class yesterday. I scheduled and set the meeting with "Lady X" and "Father Y" and we met briefly about the project. "Lady X" is an over-zealous know it control freak and "Father Y" is a very nice Priest at the un-named church. They want to put together several projects and document them in a brochure and press kit so they can increase membership and gain attention from the Archdiacies of D.C. So we are there discussing the project, getting an Idea of how things should be done, and I am doing some mock-ups on the laptop using Adobe Illustrator( a professional graphics program). So I swing around my thoughts and she then says "Well, I had visioned something else" and she pulls out these drawings on lined paper that she did with her daughter's crayolas.

I am clearly a hijab wearing Muslimah, sitting with a very nice Priest with whom I could see me befriending. He and I exchange looks as she unveils her masterpiece which gives a child's drawing a bad name. I listen, and explain why it is not a professional look to do a brochure in the paint program that comes free on your basic computer. We get into a very heated dialog and then she says very coldly, "Well I think I wil do it myself and I am sure I will get a better product".

I am sorry, but sister-girl needed to get it- I said, "That is fine, you can do whatever you want. It is clearly the diseasion of the church and it's members. I am sure the church would like to have a professional looking product, and if you think you can deliver that over me than I am woman enough to step back and let you handle it. I only have had 14plus years training and experiance. I only have a Bachlors of Fine Arts degree and work experiance at The National Archives, doing a project very simular to this one that is still being used and duplucated today. I am sure you are better skilled with your crayola special on lined paper than I. So I will not waste your time with my trivial ideas. Please excuse me Father, but I am not about to sit here and be insulted by Ms Kindergarden Art when I have other things to do. Good day and my best regards for your upcoming project."

Why do people think that if they are crafty at scrapbooking and knitting they can do art. Art is not that easy, it takes years of study and practice to be able to do things on purpose. There is more to it than microsoft clip art. I guess people who go to school for art have a degree equvialent to basket weaving. I guess I wasted my life learnig the methods and proper design concepts. Why do people think that they can watch some online tutorials and call themselves whatever! IT IS THE FAULT OF THAT DAG-ON EXPERT VILLAGE AND YOUTUBE!

I don't think I have ever seen a pissed Priest before but that guy was LIVID and boy I wish I could have been a fly on the wall when he discussed the events of the meeting with the other Priests of said church. Wow! That was something special. She needs to give up her crayola's for lent, LOL. Question- Are Priests supposed to cuss? I thought they took a no cussing vow along with the vow of poverty.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

How many times are you gonna...

OK, here are a few thought...

How many times are you supposed to say Hi to people in one day. At work, while walking through the halls I see the same faces all day long. There is one lady in particular I see at least 6 or 7 times in a day and each time she says "Hi, How are you?"...every time...Now here is what I was thinking. Either, you do not really care how I am , or you have the same question milling around in your head as well. Here is the tip, The first time I see you, say "Hi, How are you?" once, and then subsequent times we pass a smile will do.

How come when someone sends nasty office email they always end it with Thanks! What is the deal with the nice-nasty politeness? Why say -Thanks when you really want to say "Fall off you cushy chair and die." or "Thanks for being an example of someone who is high quality stupid." Personally, when we are having an email war, I'd rather you end the email with a period(.) not a thanks, like I work for you or something. So here is the question, Am I rude for not adding the -Thanks at the end of meaning less emails that do not require such an ending? How many times is the obligatory thanks supposed to be used?

Where are these questions in the office etiquette rule books? Just a few thoughts for the day.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Do I look like a sucker to you?

I am so sick of the media portraying Muslim women as chumps and suckers. Why do people assume since you took your shahadah that meant you traded your black-woman card for the punk-sucker one? I am so sick of this ignorance, but we are partly to blame

Now these shenanigans are spilling into the schools. My daughter wears her hijab to school 2 or 3 days a week, when she feels like it. ( Which is alhamdull'lah because she is only 7) She loves the deen and is always speaking positivly of islam. She has as schoolmate, who must be the prodigy of some really hateful nasty people. This particular schoolmate always says some not so nice things to my little Muslimah about her headcover and her religion. My daughter is not the only Muslim in her class but the other student is a little african boy who is very sweet and well studied in his deen. He then definded my daughter during aftercare, like he always does-His mother wants to arrange their marriage BUT I am not into that-

So moving forward- This morning when I droped my pooh off to school she says to me "Mommy there is soandso, she is mean and she bosses me around. I don't like her, and she puts her hands on me..." I immedatly went into the procteive mama role, but I remembered what I was told when I was little... "If she puts her hands on you again, you punch her in the mouth and let me worry about getting in trouble, and if I hear about you letting this person touch you and you do not defend yourself, I am going to put my hands on you. We are Muslim, we enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. You are NEVER going to be afraid of ANY human being. Allah is the only thing to fear!"

Here is the tip, the media portrays this image of the timid Muslim saying Islam means peace, in a meek tone. They never show the black Muslim saying something like, If you hit me then I will hit you back... I became Muslim in the 10th grade and I was not a punk before the shahada nor will I play the punk role now. When people are allowed to say and do what they want to others they gain their strength from fear. Muslims gain strength and guidance from Allah and Allah alone. He says "BE" and it is- and that is that. We can keep tiptoeing and pussyfooting around the fact that people are saying and doing what they want because they think we are inferior and from some actions of some people, I think some of the Muslims think they are too.

Allah says in Qu'ran:

Al-Baqara (The Cow)

فَهَزَمُوهُم بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ وَقَتَلَ دَاوُدُ جَالُوتَ وَآتَاهُ اللّهُ الْمُلْكَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَهُ مِمَّا يَشَاء وَلَوْلاَ دَفْعُ اللّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ الأَرْضُ وَلَـكِنَّ اللّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ (2:251)
Baset - Hussari - Minshawi

Fahazamoohum biithni Allahi waqatala dawoodu jaloota waatahu Allahu almulka waalhikmata waAAallamahu mimma yashao walawla dafAAu Allahi alnnasa baAAdahum bibaAAdin lafasadati alardu walakinna Allaha thoo fadlin AAala alAAalameena

Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Allah's attributes:full of bounty] [Allah's Bounty] [Allah's signs] [Children of Israel] [David:given power and wisdom] [David:slays Goliath] [Earth:mischief (corruption) in] [Goliath]

  • 2:251 (Asad) And thereupon, by God's leave, they routed them. And David slew Goliath; and God bestowed upon him dominion, and wisdom, and imparted to him the knowledge of whatever He willed. And if God had not enabled people to defend themselves against one another, [242] corruption would surely overwhelm the earth: but God is limitless in His bounty unto all the worlds.

  • Al-Imran (The Family of Imran)

    وَلْيَعْلَمَ الَّذِينَ نَافَقُواْ وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ تَعَالَوْاْ قَاتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ أَوِ ادْفَعُواْ قَالُواْ لَوْ نَعْلَمُ قِتَالاً لاَّتَّبَعْنَاكُمْ هُمْ لِلْكُفْرِ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنْهُمْ لِلإِيمَانِ يَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِهِم مَّا لَيْسَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ وَاللّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَكْتُمُونَ (3:167)
    Baset - Hussari - Minshawi

    WaliyaAAlama allatheena nafaqoo waqeela lahum taAAalaw qatiloo fee sabeeli Allahi awi idfaAAoo qaloo law naAAlamu qitalan laittabaAAnakum hum lilkufri yawmaithin aqrabu minhum lileemani yaqooloona biafwahihim ma laysa fee quloobihim waAllahu aAAlamu bima yaktumoona

  • 3:167 (Asad) and mark out those who were tainted with hypocrisy and, when they were told, "Come, fight in God's cause" - or, "defend yourselves" [128] - answered, "If we but knew [that it would come to a] fight, we would indeed follow you." Unto apostasy were they nearer on that day than unto faith, uttering with their mouths something which was not in their hearts, [129] the while God knew fully well what they were trying to conceal:

  • Where in these verses does it say anything about let people beat on you, spit on you, talk bad about your religion to you, talk about how your mother must be ugly cause she wears all that stuff. We are African-Americans, who are stronger than we are? We were raped, beaten, abused and broken for centuries but we are still here and we are thriving. We come from greatness and we are great. We are also Muslims and a Muslim strives for the pleasure of Allah in all he/she does, and Allah is pleased when we are doing what he loves, spreading the deen al-haqq.

    My little Muslimah is a warrior in the cause of Allah and she tells everyone she meets about Islam and how we are Muslims and a Muslim prays 5 times a day and Muslimah cover so that her beauty is saved for her Husband and family. She says that there is no such thing and boyfriend and girlfriend in Islam, Muslims get married. She says the a Muslimah should recyle
    and leave a place better than she found it. She says that she is greatful for her parents who taught her about her religon.

    Yeah, I had to get some Ayats in...

    Thursday, February 5, 2009

    Something Under My Skin

    So-

    My "best-est" friend and I were having a discussion about Islam and Women. Here is some background information. My husband and I have been married for 8 years. Neither one of us have a wonderful example of marriage to pull from so we have been doing ok. Our standard debate is on duties and responsibilities of the spouses but we got into a conversation about why Muslims especially Muslim men do what they do. Lets break down something-I know some brothers who get "Islamaically Married" only and refuse to do a state marriage license and when they have children they refuse to add their name to the birth certificate because they do not want "The Man" in their business. Guess what brother-If you die suddenly your next of kin could be your mother, your ex-wife or whoever and they may not be Muslim, and they may not respect your wishes to have a janazah in 3 days and buried in a Muslim cemetery. They may just be money hungry and take the cheapest way out to deal with your dead body-cremation (which is so haraam on so many levels). Then look at your dumb behind-or rather your ashes.

    Why do some Muslims try to get over so hard? Are you afraid that when you abuse and misuse your state legally married wife she may divorce you, make you pay child support and alimony (what you are supposed to do anyway because it is in the Qu'ran to take care of your children for life and your wife for 1 year)? You are afraid to be held accountable. And what is this business of "I need another wife" The Qu'ran says "One is best for you if you but knew." I am not claiming that all Muslimah's are the best things on the planet, because there are plenty of Muslimah's with their fair share of issues, but I am saying that you should want to be just and correct on all levels.

    How come when some Muslim men gets married they think they have a right hand possession? This woman is in your possession and you get to treat her like a child- with this asking permission to do this or that- and asking for this and that. Please. I am an adult, I went to college, I go to work, I take care of mine, I am not asking anyone permission for squat. NO ONE! I will ask your opinion and take that into consideration, but, I am not asking for anything. If I want it I get it, if that means that I have to work overtime, save money, clip coupons, find a babysitter for the kids- I am going to get it, period. I am not going to ask permission to go to New York for the day for business, Go shopping with my money, go out at night to visit friends or to go to get a cup of coffee at 2am if that is what I want. I am an adult, capable of deciding when and if I get married and to whom, why am I asking permission for anything. I guess that is the negro in me but hey- love me or leave me alone. If I have to work to help with the responsibilities of the house then I GET EQUAL SHARE IN THE SAY OF WHAT GOES ON. When I get treated like a princess and can stay home all day and put henna on then I may THINK about asking someone something. Don't get me wrong, I do discuss with my zawj my events but it goes something like "I got invited to do a bridal party in New York, do you want to go? If you don't want to go I will take the train instead of driving." Then he says something like "When are you supposed to be there, I have to check my schedule." Not like "Husband, May I please go to the movies with my girlfriends after I worked and took care of our children and took care of the house."

    These are the same reasons that strong women are turned off of the deen because these ignorant, chauvinistic, women-hating brothers walk around town spewing this type of garbage and rhetoric to people so they can feel like "the man in charge." Attitudes like this make it hard on Muslims who strive for the pleasure of Allah in all they do, but are confronted with this kind of stereotypical Muslim self-promoting agenda. You can not imagine how many times I have had the conversations about how someones brother's-cousins-best friends-baby daddy is a Mooslim and he makes his wife for permission to go to the store or she will get a beating with a stick, and then they ask me why did I chose to become Muslim.

    These type of messed up Muslims do not share the beauty of Islam and the blessings you get from Allah to be married and treat your spouse with respect and love, and the bountiful blessings you receive from Allah to do well by your children and wife. They do not share the knowledge of the blessings from Allah to have children and to raise them as believers in the oneness of God and the endless love from Allah for striving in his cause. Islam is so beautiful, why do some humans make it so ugly.

    I am done ranting for today.