been a while…

What up Ah-Kees and Ah-Kettes?! What the dilly yo’? Whats the word on the street (or the masjid)? How ya’ll livin’? Whuts good ya’ll? What’s poppin‘? What’s crack-a-lackin’? (don’t worry … its out of my system now)

Well, it appears that I’ve been away for a while. Yep. I know. The two of you who actually bother to visit this pathetic-excuse-for-a-blog might have actually noticed. The rest of you likely don’t care - and I don’t blame you one bit! To put it in a nutshell … this blog sucks. I really mean that. I hate it. Sometimes I hate this blog with a passion. Actually, I’ve even come to hate blogging and bloggers to be quite honest.

As far as this steaming piece-o-crap blog is concerned … I suppose that I have simply lost focus and direction. Blogging no longer means what it once did for me (at least I think it meant something). I actually used it as a release mechanism of sorts - an eOutlet if you will. I think I began blogging either because I felt that I actually had an opinion that mattered (I was obviously way off the mark on that), or perhaps that I could actually “make a difference” (what a bunch of pie in the sky BS that was), or I simply could have been bored (and therefore lacked anything else better to do … yes … I am aware that makes me a loser).

I don’t know if I want to blog anymore. Seriously, what’s the point? There are simply too many damn bloggers out there - especially in the Muslim blogosphere - and I jumped on the bandwagon too damn late. My sheer laziness is also a likely reason why I am not actively blogging at the moment. When I commit to something I usually go all our … or I just give up (which is often the case). I’m an all or nothing kinda guy I suppose.

What has really perturbed me as of late is my disappointment and disgust toward the entire damn Muslim blogosphere. Yep, you read that correctly. The entire damn Muslim blogosphere (with the exception of a couple of you out there - and you know who you are)! There is a profound and overwhelming ignorance about our Deen that has become a reality and has exploded onto the internet. When takes a moment to consider the impact of the digital revolution - the blog (and the net in general)- has become the new battle ground.  Or maybe it’s no longer new.

Muslims seem to care more about slogans and senseless campaigns these days - rather than dealing with issues of any substance. I recently came across such nonsense in the form of a misguided campaign titled “Wear Your Keffiyah Day” that intended to send some kind of message to Dunkin Donuts for its corporate decision to pull an ad with Rachel Ray. In the advertisement, Ray wore what appeared to be an Arab head scarf (Keffiyah or Kuffiyah) and far right-wing bloggers took notice.

What the hell? Are you sh**ing me? Are you people really being serious with this stick-it-to-the-man kinda crap? Frankly, I’d still rather put my support behind Dunkin Donuts instead of this ridiculous campaign.  If this is the kind of mindless drivel that we are going to promote on the Muslim blogosphere…then I want no part of it!  At least Dunkin Donuts provides society with a real service in the form of DONUTS!   You campaign organizers can keep your nationalism and cultural mumbo-jumbo to your damn selves! 

So that is where I am at the moment.  Disgusted with everything.

yep.  disgusted.  that’s about it.

…hmmm…

still disgusted…

p.s.    I forgot to mention that my disgust also includes the following:  self proclaimed “moderate” Muslims, Innovators of any description, Sufis, Shia, Hamzah Yusuf Hanson, Nuh Keller, the whole Zaytuna gang, Habib Ali Jiffri, Yusuf “the Cat” Stevens, nationalistic Muslims, Ikhwaanees, Neo-Salafees (Madakhilaah - SPUBS/TROID), secular Muslims (whatever the hell that means), media whores, MAS, ISNA, ICNA, Dar al Hijrah, ADAMS,  Deobandees, Asharees, Maturidees, Muslim boy bands, Muslim comedians, etc.

I hope I didn’t forget anyone…

pakistani politics…

Politics in Pakistan seems to get dirtier (if that is even possible) when you take in account the Bhutto Factor. I’m sure you’re disgusted…so am I.

Muslim astronauts…

I think that the news of Muslims in space must have the NeoCons a bit alarmed. Quick! Somebody raise the Terror Alert Level!

a question…

Where do contemporary Neo-Traditionalists find the nerve to attack Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah (mainstream Muslims & Scholars alike) with serious accusations of shirk when one of their most famous figures, Ibn Arabi (the deviant mystic), is clearly guilty of such crimes? How about al Hallaj (kaffir mystic)? Rumi, where he states, “I am God.”? Until, and unless, we have real intellectual honesty — and clarity — amongst Muslim scholars (on a whole host of issues including Aqeedah) … I find that “pacts” of any description will easily be rendered meaningless.

 

a grim anniversary…

Today, the survivors of the Sabra and Shatila massacre will recall a dark moment in history. It was today, Sept. 17th 1982, that a Lebanese Christian militia (supported by Israel) invaded a Palestinian refugee camp and went about the process of methodically killing all civilian inhabitants. The few survivors who did manage to escape this act of genocide 25 years ago are again reminded of the past when looking at the recent destruction of the Nahr al Bared refugee camp by the Lebanese military. The reality is that in a world of dirty politics, where allegiances can easily shift or be bought & sold at a moments notice, it is the civilian who often pays the ultimate price. I wonder how much media attention this won’t will get?

Robert Fisk visited the scene of the massacre…

food during Ramadan…

A new French book is aimed at Muslims fasting during the month of Ramadan. The purpose of this book is to encourage healthy eating so that Ramadan, the month of fasting, does not become the month of feasting (and unnecessary weight gain). I think this book is brilliant! There should be similar books written and distributed by medical professionals throughout the Muslim world. I should be the first person in line to buy this book…

pakistani politics…

So much for democracy in Pakistan, huh Busharraf supporters? I suppose, former cricketer, Imran Khan recently joined forces with the Taliban. Talk about persona non grata! Subhanallah, when will Muslims wake up?

a question…

Why is it the case that if Muslims (or anyone from the Middle East) are involved in a bombing/attack of some sort…the media rushes to the conclusion that such an attack is a nefarious terrorist plot…however…when it happens in Mexico it is merely an act of “sabotage”???

9/11: a day of mourning…

Today is a day like no other. It is a day that I will be in mourning. To be quite honest, I don’t know how to express the grief and pain that I feel today. Anyway, here it is in a nutshell: We have mithai in the house and I am on a diet … so I cannot eat it. Dammit! I know the nation feels my pain. Let us all bow our heads for a moment of silence…

 

slightly amusing…

Authorities in Israel recently arrested this group for involvement in a number of crimes as well as membership in a Neo-Nazi group. Oh the irony of it all. Besides having Neo-Nazis to contend with…I found it particularly amusing that these guys got to Israel through the “law of return” which enables just about ANYONE (it seems) with even remote Jewish ancestry to legally reside in Israel. I suppose importing Russian Jews in droves kinda came back to bite ‘em in the latka this time…

what’s the “big news” over at MuslimMatters.org ???

Have you ever wanted to find answers to some of the most important questions confronting mankind? Do you ever wonder what you’re life means in the grand cosmic scheme of things? Have you ever pondered the meaning of life itself? Have you ever been visited by Extraterrestrial beings? Is George W. Bush really that stupid? Is the the purple Teletubby (Tinky Winky) really gay?

Well…you won’t be finding answers to those questions (I think). However, you will find answers for questions related to Ramadan and other key Islamic topics. Actually, I’m not so sure about the whole “gay Teletubby” thing. Who knows, there might be a conclusion on that as well…

Anyway, do yourself a favor and check it out — if you haven’t already done so. Real Islamic scholars (Sh. Yasir Qadhi and Sh. Yaser Birjas) will be taking YOUR questions so feel free to give it to ‘em … Full-Force!

 

 

there goes the neighborhood…

It seems that (C)rap music is taking Morocco over by storm. Great. Just what the world needed…Moroccan rappers. Maybe they can rap about kabobs and shawarma — with an occasional riff (no pun intended) thrown in about Palestine or something. I wonder if Akon is going to be on DJ Shawarma’s first album?

 

GOP woes & Indecision 2008

Saturday’s resignation of Senator Larry Craig highlights what has loomed over the GOP for quite some time now…Hypocrisy. The “H” word almost seems to be a running theme amongst conservatives with the most recent controversy surrounding Larry Craig. To be fair though, both sides of the isle have had their fair share of - shall we say - unsavory moments. Think back to Rep. William Jefferson who the FBI discovered had $90,000 stashed away in his freezer. You know, for those “rainy days” when a Congressman simply wants to splurge on a new tie or leather briefcase. Or think about the Kennedy’s for a moment — a political family known for having skeletons in the closet. So, while such contraversy is not necessarily limited to one political party … it just seems so much more fun to point it out among Republicans.

Unfortunate for them, Republicans have had (and continue to have in some cases) a somewhat unique tendency to constantly bark about everything from “family values” to “weapons of mass destruction”… the problem is that they can’t help but fail on such issues when all of the political dust settles and the lies are exposed. Larry Craig, having reluctantly resigned from the Senate, now belongs to a new fraternity of brothers whose members include the likes of Tom Delay, Mark Foley (who was even later avoided by Scientologists if you can believe that), Alberto Gonzales, Scooter Libby, Karl Rove, and David Vitter just to name a few. While the circumstances in the cases of these political figures may differ — their eventual fall from grace seems to strike an all too similar note. A once powerful politician racked by scandal…now beleaguered — by an opposition out for blood — and on the defense while fighting to restore a tarnished reputation…only to end up being forced out of office and marginalized by former allies and party officials.

Indecision 2008: Compare The Candidates…

I found this somewhat useful in comparing the candidates for the 2008 Presidential election. While not as detailed as I would have liked, I think that this is a convenient tool and at least provides one with a point (or two) of reference to start at when considering a particular candidate for President. Simply select the two candidates that you would like to compare and there you go … its just that simple.

 

the poets of guantanamo…

This article looks a at newly released book containing poetry written by some of the detainees in Camp X-Ray (Guantanomo), aka “gitmo”. I thought this quote from the article spoke volumes:

“Commander JD Gordan, a Pentagon spokesman, said the detainees “have attempted to use this medium as merely another tool in their battle of ideas against Western democracies”.“

Hmmmmm….if, according to Commander JD Gordan, poetry is a “tool” that Guantanamo’s abused detainees are using in “battle” against Western democracies…I think that this may demonstrate how truly weak and pathetic Western democracies are (or at least have become). If indeed words - poetry no less - can be regarded as tools of warfare … then I suppose we are all capable of being enemies of the state. Perhaps the Communists said the same of Vaclav Havel, once upon a time.

Personally, I believe that the world would be better off if we all took a page from the detainees of Guantanamo and simply let our words be our weapons. I could be wrong though…