"Ugly Duckling"

This was in an email I recently received from a friend titled "Need a little pick me up." Although it does make the stereotypical argument of how Muslim women are better than their counterparts because they reject the western definition of beauty, it is still captures how a woman's beauty is exploited for financial gains.

Here's the text from the email:

So I am honored. But it is not by my relationship to men. My value as a woman is not measured by the size of my waist or the number of men who like me. My worth as a human being is measured on a higher scale: a scale of righteousness and piety. And my purpose in life — despite what the fashion magazines say — is something more sublime than just looking good for men.

Growing up, you read me the "Ugly Duckling." And for years I believed that was me. I am a woman — that ugly duckling among men. For so long you taught me I was nothing more than a bad copy of the standard.

I couldn't run as fast or lift as much. I didn't make the same money and I cried too often. I grew up in a man's world where I didn't belong.

And when I couldn't be him, I wanted only to please him. I put on your make-up and wore your short skirts. I gave my life, my body, my dignity, for the cause of being pretty. I knew that no matter what I did, I was worthy only to the degree that I could please and be beautiful for my master. And so I spent my life on the cover of Cosmo and gave my body for you to sell.

I was a slave, but you taught me I was free.

I was your object, but you swore it was success. You taught me that my purpose in life was to be on display, to attract, and be beautiful for men. You had me believe that my body was created to market your cars. And you raised me to think I was an ugly duckling.

But you lied.

Islam tells me, I'm a swan. I'm different — it's meant to be that way. And my body, my soul, was created for something more.

God says in the Qur'an: 'O mankind, We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another (not that you may despise each other). Verily, the most honored of you in the sight of God is the one who is most righteous." (Qur'an 49:13)

And so God tells me to cover myself, to hide my beauty and to tell the world that I'm not here to please men with my body; I'm here to please God. God elevates the dignity of a woman's body by commanding that it be respected and covered, shown only to the deserving — only to the man I marry.

So to those who wish to 'liberate' me, I have only one thing to say:

Thanks, but no thanks.

I'm not here to be on display. And my body is not for public consumption. I will not be reduced to an object, or a pair of legs to sell shoes. I'm a soul, a mind, a servant of God. My worth is defined by the beauty of my soul, my heart, my moral character. So, I won't worship your beauty standards, and I don't submit to your fashion sense. My submission is to something higher.

With my veil I put my faith on display — rather than my beauty. My value as a human is defined by my relationship with God, not by my looks. So I cover the irrelevant. And when you look at me, you don't see a body. You view me only for what I am: a servant of my Creator.

So you see, as a Muslim woman, I've been liberated from a silent kind of bondage. I don't answer to the slaves of God on earth. I answer to their king.

Bones is my new obsession. No, not actual human remains but the Fox series named "Bones". It is the smartest, funniest, and at times the grossest criminal drama series yet!

The series is based (very) loosely on the life of a forensic anthropologist and author Kathy Reich. By very loosely I mean the only thing Kathy and her character share are their profession.

The series follows the life of a Forensic Anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan (Bones) and her FBI partner Special Agent Seeley Booth. Bones and Booth are worlds apart. Booth is able to read people like an open book whereas Bones lacks any social skills but is a genius and the best in her field. Together, they solve crimes by figuring out how the victim died using only the bones--at times years after the actual crime occurred.

By now, you're probably wondering how is Bones any different than CSI or NCIS. It's different because Bones focuses not on the crime (although it's a big part of the show) but on the relationships between the main characters. There is great chemistry between Booth and Bones--so strong that one can feel it seeping out of the TV set!

The show is now in its third season and I can tell you, its as strong as ever. Although Fox, for some odd incomprehensible reason, does not like to put all it's episodes online, you can see some of them by Clicking here.

Enjoy!

Heaven on Earth?

I recently read a great article in Newsweek about how oil rich countries are using their wealth to create luxurious attractions to increase tourist flows.

Click here to read the full article.

Plastic Surgery Explained--to a 4 year old

Long gone are the days when children's literature told stories of heroes, heroines, witches and villains. A new book, "My Beautiful Mommy" by Dr. Michael Salzhauer (a plastic surgeon) tells a tale of why mommy is getting a tummy tuck and a "prettier nose". The story is told from the point of view of a child and caters to the growing market of mothers in their 40's trying to look like their pre-pregnancy figures who don't want their young children to be frightened by their bandages and frequent doctor visits.

Although it does seem like a good idea to include your children in this decision, I'm a little skeptical on how this will play out on the self esteem of little boys and girls. As adults, would they constantly look at themselves in the mirror and see how they can look "prettier" if they got a little work done here and there?

As much as I am against plastic surgery, I'm just as much for freedom of choice and if some woman wants to get prodded and pocked to look like their 20 year old self again, then so be it. An easier alternative to such expensive surgery? First thing every morning & last thing every night, look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself with conviction- "I am bold, beautiful, and intelligent!" and see the magic work!!

My Favorite Song!

Superman Kryptonite

By: Three Doors Down

I took a walk around the world to
Ease my troubled mind
I left my body laying somewhere
In the sands of time
I watched the world float to the dark
Side of the moon
I feel there is nothing I can do, yeah

I watched the world float to the
Dark side of the moon
After all I knew it had to be something
To do with you
I really don't mind what happens now and then
As long as you'll be my friend at the end

If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman
If I'm alive and well, will you be
There holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side with
My superhuman might
Kryptonite

You called me strong, you called me weak
But your secrets I will keep
You took for granted all the times I
Never let you down
You stumbled in and bumped your head, if
Not for me then you would be dead
I picked you up and put you back
On solid ground

If I go crazy then will you still
Call me Superman
If I'm alive and well will you be
There holding my hand
I'll keep you by my side with my
Superhuman might
Kryptonite

It's Time To ChaCha!

Another reason why an iPhone is unnecessary

Yesterday, I discovered this new mobile web search service that works on all cellphones. All you have to do is register your phone number (you do not have to provide any other personal information) and if you have a question, all you do is send a text to "chacha" or call 1-800-2chacha and ask your answer in conversational English. Within a couple minutes, ChaCha's guides will send you your answers via text. It's a free service but you will be using your minutes as well as text when you utilize it. I have already used this a couple of time and it's amazing!

ChaCha's approach is that Machines are not human. A simple web search will never provide us with exactly what we are looking for. By adding a human factor to the web searches, live ChaCha guides who are available 24/7, ChaCha aims to provide exactly the recommendations one is looking for.

Being a skeptic of most unconventional things, my initial experiment with ChaCha consisted of trying to find out how late The Field Museum in Chicago is open. Not only did ChaCha provide me with the information I was looking for but they also provided me with the address, phone number, and a link I could access via my cell to get more information about the Museum.

It really is an excellent service and quite new since the text answer service was launched on January 3, 2008. It will be very handy when you're arguing with your fiends and need answers pronto!

Click here to visit ChaCha's website and to register your phone!

Charlie Bit My Finger, Again!

A friend just introduced me to this video on YouTube and I have to share it. Enjoy!

How Muslims are Treated in the U.S.

ABC news: 20/20 did an experiment, as they always do, on how people will react to a Muslim woman being unjustly denied service by a clerk. The clerk and the woman were both actors but what 20/20 wanted to see was whether people would stand up for the woman or not.

The results were polarized: 22 people did or said nothing; 13 people stood up for the woman including walking out of the store; 6 people sided with the clerk.

As a Muslim woman myself, who covers her head, I was moved to tears just watching this program. Although I have not faced such prejudice, it still rules my life. My parents are very reluctant to let me go out at night or travel alone because they constantly fear for my safety. Most people that stop me on the street are just curious about my reasons for covering up, and I'm more than happy to answers their questions, but the few who resort to verbal abuse or violence indirectly constrain my freedom.

Check out the YouTube video below for the 20/20 experiment.

Book Review: A Thousand Splendid Suns

I recently finished reading "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. It is his second novel (first one was called "The Kite Runner") and is breathtaking. It follows the life of two Afghan women, Mariam and Laila, who are married to the same man. Laila is the educated daughter of a teacher whereas Mariam is the illiterate and illegitimate daughter of a very wealthy man who refuses to acknowledge her presence to the world. The story follows these two women from their pre-Taliban childhood to their married lives with their husband Rasheed in the post-Taliban era. You will be amazed by Laila and Mariam's friendship, smile at their shared moments, cry at their struggles, and be angered by atrocious treatment of women by Taliban.

The novel is extremely well written and heart breaking. Beware that it is a very emotionaly charged book. There were moments during my read when I wanted to throw the book across the room, but couldn't do it because it was borrowed from the library. =P

I highly recommend this novel as well as "The Kite Runner" and I promise that you will not regret it. I have recommended both these book to numerous friends and colleagues and they all loved it.

Check out the video below to hear Khaled Hosseini talk about this book.

Feel free to post your reactions and Happy Reading!

First Steps into Blogosphere

Hello all,
I am so excited to have started this blog. I hope to post interesting tidbits as well as opinion pieces on here to facilitate healthy discussions or just for entertainment.
Check back soon for updates!