What are we waiting for?

So, I've been thinking lately, that we are at a point in our existence (humanity as a whole) where change is inevitable. I mean, human beings are defined by the constant change of society, nature, everything. With everything going on in the world, something is going to happen, and we're all sitting at the edge of our seats waiting for it to happen. What are we waiting for?

That is the ultimate question: WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?
I'm so sick of people talking about change and doing nothing about it. I believe fully in the concept of internal change, and that feeding off into society. I don't believe change comes from top down, but from bottom up. (or rather the internal to the external) But the people on the bottom (such as myself) are so preoccupied in waiting for change, that it doesn't happen. We're distracted by the fact that we think someone is going to make that change for us... The question: 'what are we waiting for?' isn't a question of literally 'what' but 'why are we waiting?'.

My answer is, as simple and straight forward as it may be, we are scared. Change is unexpected in our daily routines, yet people wait for it anxiously, expecting someone else to take care of that change, to do it for us. But aren't the most successful struggles won through a grassroots efforts. When individuals took it upon themselves, and made the struggle their own. Living your life to the utmost best of your ability. You know the Golden Rule, giving your brother/neighbor what you want for yourself. In the Quran, God says 'God does not change a people, until they change what is within themselves'

With the issues of Palestine, Iraq, Kashmir, Kosovo.... and yes America (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_cities_by_crime_rate) we always try and reflect on the problems... And silently promise that our leadership will change for the better... But who are our leaders? Our leaders are a REFLECTION of their constituents (i.e. us)! If we do nothing, they do nothing. If we aren't concerned, they aren't concerned... Why is it possible for pre-war torn Iraq, that Saddam Hussein was able to almost eliminate illiteracy for some time, but in the United States, illiteracy rates are undeniably high. We need to vocalize our concerns, we need to live by our own standards... We can't expect others to be the 'ideal men/women' of soceity, when we can't even conceptualize ourselves in those roles.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this... although the world is at a point where it can go one way or the other... The reality is, we can direct the world the way we want it to go, if we just internalize the change. If we want justice to prevail, then we need to be just. If we want peace, then we need to be peaceful. If we want sincerity, then we need to be sincere. If we want others to help us, we need to be helping others. and it works the other way too....

Because we are self absorbed, countries/people all over the world are self-absorbed. Because we want what is best for us, people fight for what is best for themselves. Because we are preoccupied with money, people are preoccupied with money. Because we think we're better than other people, people think they are better than us. Because we stake a claim, people will question our claims and stake their own. In our society, we are in a battle of wills. (yes very nietzscheian/freudian/hobbesian) It isn't about going off on a limb and helping people, it's about having our own power, our own control, our own property. It isn't about society... it's about me.

That is our problem. When we lose our selfishness, then we have hope for society to become just. Sure this might sound totally idealistic.... but the reality is... the world is a reflection of who we are and what we make it.... my question is this...
If we want change, and it's bound to happen, what are we waiting for? Why are we waiting? We should be scared of giving up some of ourselves for the better of society. I'm talking about pooling resources.... actually i'm talking about pooling justice, peace, security, faith, and sense of community at large. If we give up a little portion of ourselves, collectively, we get a society that we want.

So... What are we waiting for?

self-imposed burdens

"Allah wishes to lighten (the burden) for you; and man was created weak" Al-Nisa 28

This verse pulled at me today, while flipping through the Quran, and although to understand it, you need to know that the preceding verse talks about repentance, and how God wants to accept it from us, however following our desires (hey look at that... it seems to be a recurring theme so far) causes us self-inflicted deviation.

So, what was I thinking when this verse popped up at me? A couple of things. First, I was thinking... this burden is not light!!! In my head, I was like 'you have to be kidding', but then I remember something fatima (my friend) said to me, and yes this is paraphrasing, she said: That true, God doesn't burden a soul more than they can handle, but people can burden themselves in their woes and that can be too much for themselves. And well, it's true, God does wish to lighten our burdens, but we're weak, and burdens can come in the form of wolves in sheep clothing. Desires are appealing, but succumbing to them can have crazy triggered reactions, and those can be insanely burdensome. God saves us these burdens by simply abstinence (refraining from over-indulging in our desires).

Your desires are not only a personal thing, but they can effect society at large. A decision I may make, can reciprocate into the lives of other people. I might decide today to pull an all nighter, I get in a car accident that totals my car and detrimentally hurts the other driver. This other driver, even though was participating in the accident and reacting to the situation, had nothing to do with my decision to pull an all nighter, yet he was effected (he almost lost his life) by simply me not sleeping enough. (This actually happened in the past)

Anyway,
I'll stop now because I can feel 15 different tangents pulling at me simultaneously, and if i started writing them all down... well.. i'd never stop..

Gas prices fall? will political support as well?

It is an amazing phenomena when gas prices fall beneath the $2/gallon range. I mean, I almost cried when I filled my tank at $19 yesterday (and yes it was completely empty). But then something in my head triggered, somewhat of a conspiracy theory, but I couldn't help myself. I mean, the last time gas was under $2 a gallon was about 2 maybe 3 years ago. And a couple of months before the elections they're at $4.50 (more or less), what's going on here?!
I thought about it... I realized that Bush, as he's passing on the presidential torch, is trying to stake a claim. I have a theory, that once the symbolic torch is passed to Obama, give or take a few months, gas prices will rise...
(yes, i know there are other factors to gas prices dropping or rising, but i'm holding all those other factors constant for the sake of this theory)
I honestly don't know what will happen, but I have this feeling that as soon as Obama steps into the white house, maybe a toe through the threshold of a door, gas prices will sky rocket, and people will associate it with him. I hope that's not the case... but enh, what's one gonna do?

I mean, what do I believe in? Honestly, I'm for higher taxes, you know pooled resources to make a better society... but not when the taxes are used for warfare. I mean, sure, you can build better buildings and repave streets, but I'm for a system that collects taxes and allocates it to places that truly need it... That truly need development. I mean, why can't tax collection be used to create jobs?! (you know, rather than taking them away). Okay, I'll stop about the taxes thing, but really... don't be too surprised when gas prices go up... (hopefully it won't, but that's wishful thinking)... why can't we just go green...?

I wish detroit wasn't so far away... if it wasn't, i'd just ride my bike (well my brothers bike) to work/school everyday... hmmmm... maybe when the weather is warm again, I'll just depend on the bike... at least that way, i'll build some much needed muscle, you know, healthier lifestyle.
So, lets all turn to bike riding during the warmer seasons :) (i did do it a couple times to work... and well, i guess showing up at work a bit sweaty isn't that great, but i mean, show up early and get a change of clothes... you'll be fine)

well i managed to get distracted yet again...

by the by, i was in boston last week... and every time i go, it's like a stab past my spinal cord and into my chest... I feel like my greatest loss there was an amazing public transportation system... (sorry friends, but i value a big metallic tube-ish automotive over you). I hope metro-detroit adopts a well coordinated bus and train system. One day, i'll dedicate a whole post just on the pros (and cons) of public transportation. :)

anyway PEACE \\//

One for Billy Talent

So, I'm a huge fan of Billy Talent, and honestly if there was a band that spoke the language of my soul, they're the closest thing to it. I know, it sounds weird to say something like that, but they're the one band, that instrumentals and lyrics have totally been in sync with me on all levels. Yeah, I might be punk, rock, emo and all of the above, but they're an amazing band, with such a unique sound, and I hope they continue to do amazing! I can't wait till the newest album comes out!

Anyway, so I was listening some of their songs online, and it's just amazing, so I decided I'd like to just post one.

"Worker Bees"

March on, worker bees!
Know your enemy!

We take our orders given by the queen
We're not the killers, we're the worker bees
If you resist us you will feel our sting
Surrender now before the swarm sets in

Protect the hive from enemies!
Protect the hive from enemies!
Follow the herd mentality!
Can we fight to save our souls?

March on, worker bees!
Know your enemy!

A pollination coming from the west,
And in a flash we will invade your nest
Supply of honey flowing bottomless
Play by our rules or you'll be powerless

Protect the hive from enemies!
Protect the hive from enemies!
Follow the herd mentality!
Can we fight to save our souls?
And we'll march... along, with our blindfolds on
And we'll ride... the rails, with our pistols drawn
Can the Lord... above, forgive what we've done?
Can we fight to save our souls?

And we'll march... along, with our blindfolds on
And we'll ride... the rails, with our pistols drawn
Can the Lord... above, forgive what we've done?
Can we fight to save our souls?

Can we fight to save our souls?
Will we die to save our home?

-------

Anyway, you can clearly see my addiction, they have amazing instrumentals and have these amazing lyrics with these clearly (okay, not always, but their second album was really loaded with political messages)... but anyway. I will never forget that day, when I walked into Brockton mall for a blood drive and met them there, having never of heard of them.... and getting introduced while we're lying there donating blood. Lol. and then went home and googled them, and totally fell in love with their music.

So, rock on billy talent! Cuz I totally posted a whole blog just for you guys.
check out their website at http://www.billytalent.com/

Peace \\//

Bandaid effect...

So, I'm working on a research project with my professor on Black Identity, and me being the theory student in our department, I have been reading excessive literature. So, we're sitting there in the office discussing Dubois, talking about insecurity within the self, and how people are conditioned to see things a certain way (ref when Dubois is talking about black being beautiful and the audience laughs out of being ashamed, because the white washed society was defining the conceptions of beauty)... when he mentions band-aids, and how they're racially exclusive, and serve as a reminder to blacks (or any one generally darker, like the many arabs, indopaks ect) that they are the minority....
At first i didn't get it, i honestly never noticed, i just thought band aids were the color they were because they just were (well i grew up with scooby doo band-aids and colorful ones, so i honestly never noticed)... I never realized they were supposed to match skin color (i.e. predominantly white skin color) and I was shocked!!! My professor laughed at me, because I never noticed, he was like "yeah once i cut myself on my forehead, and that band-aid just stood out as a reminder of difference" (not exact quote, but what i could remember of it).
So, I wonder, are band-aids one more example of a band-aid effect not working in our society. Have the issues of race, racial integration and equality been thoroughly discussed and cured, or have they just been hastily covered up with yet another pasty colored band-aid?
I propose we strip the pasty band-aids off, and address the real issue, find the real cure. We are constantly inculcating the "other" mentality within our children. We should be inclusive, regardless of race, class, status, gender, and what not. Exclusiveness is what deteriorates society, because society is all about people coming together! Please, please, please JUST GET OVER YOURSELF! and realize the world surpasses your tiny little bubble of a world.
Lets hope they start selling ebony (as well as other shades) colored band-aids in all stores... lets socialize society a little more effectively... hello it's 2008.... racial equality/respect/so on (in all aspects, including accessibility of band-aids) should be an undeniable truth, not something that is questioned... constantly forcing someone on the sidelines, labeling themselves "the other."
If society persists in this concept of exclusiveness, then we'll never be able to move forward.

I recently found this blog discussing the same exact issue the day before me!!
http://8centimetersdeluded.blogspot.com/2006/10/band-aid-of-any-other-shade-would-heal.html

Chemical irritant attack on a praying public

Chemical irritant empties Islamic Society of Greater Dayton's mosque
Update: Islamic Society baffled by incident at worship service

By Kyle Nagel

Staff Writer

Saturday, September 27, 2008

DAYTON — Baboucarr Njie was preparing for his prayer session Friday night, Sept. 26, when he heard children in the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton coughing. Soon, Njie himself was overcome with fits of coughing and, like the rest of those in the building, headed for the doors.

"I would stay outside for a minute, then go back in, there were a lot of kids," Njie said. "My throat is still itchy, I need to get some milk."

Njie was one of several affected when a suspected chemical irritant was sprayed into the mosque at 26 Josie St., bringing Dayton police, fire and hazardous material personnel to the building at 9:48 p.m.

Someone "sprayed an irritant into the mosque," Dayton fire District Chief Vince Wiley said, noting that fire investigators believe it was a hand-held spray can.

According to fire dispatch communications, a child reported seeing two men with a white can spraying something into a window. That child was brought to the supervising firefighter at the scene.

Wiley would not discuss that report, but said the investigation has been turned over to police. Police were not commenting.

The 300 or so inside were celebrating the last 10 days of Ramadan with dinner and a prayer session, but the prayer session was interrupted so those suffering from tearing, coughing and shortness of breath could receive treatment.

Wiley said an adult and juvenile were taken to area hospitals and others had their eyes or faces washed on the scene. He did not know how many people were treated at the scene.

Ismail Gula, ISGD secretary, said people were praying during the weekly service when some in the audience began to cough and experience breathing troubles, then left the building. Once outside, several of them called 911, Gula said.

Tarek Sabagh, a member of the ISGD board, wasn't present when the incident occurred.

He said his daughter called and told him to stay away because of the possibility of remaining fumes. Sabagh arrived shortly after and watched from the mosque's steps as members were allowed back inside about 11 p.m. to collect belongings.

"It's very disturbing," Sabagh said. "Something like this has never happened before."

Sabagh said members moved to a Beavercreek school to finish their prayer session as police continued to investigate.

"I don't know if people will have the feeling of trust to come back tomorrow or next week or next month," Sabagh said. "I don't know how people will feel."

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. During the month, Muslims fast (do not eat) from sunrise to sunset. In the evening and in the morning before the sun comes up, they eat small meals. During this month, they take extra time for family, inner reflection, and spiritual growth.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/09/27/ddn092608evacweb.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=16

gang banging hijabi??

hey,
yesterday I had this conversation... literally... and it just cracked me up... only because sometimes people have no clue... but anyway... I tried to throw it into a poem...

I was asked yesterday if
I was part of the bloods or crips
in class cuz i had a bandanna on, i gripped
tightly to my desk, and felt my mind flip
over, mentally preparing myself for the conversation ahead
neither... I pointed at it and said
'it's black.. is that supposed to stand for something?'
the questioner looked at me funny and laughed
and said 'you aren't black'
skeptically my hand moved away from my head
I eyed him with curiosity, strangling the dead cat
he returned that look filled with question, stare off combat
I mean, how do you respond to with 'you aren't black'
'no shit sherlock, it doesn't take a genius to deduce that'
Instead I shook my head, side to side... and just cracked up
I pointed at my head again and said 'it's a hijab'