Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

In Tahrir Square: 18 Days of Egypt's Unfinished Revolution

HBO2 is presenting a film on the anniversary of Egypt's Jan. 25 revolution. Click here for more information.



Here's their press release:


For Immediate Release Dec. 21, 2011
IN TAHRIR SQUARE: 18 DAYS OF EGYPT’S UNFINISHED REVOLUTION
DEBUTS JAN. 25, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO, ONE YEAR TO THE DAY AFTER THE BEGINNING OF THE PROTEST THAT CHANGED THE ARAB WORLD
They took over a city square and in 18 days brought down a regime that had ruled for 30 years. Emmy®-winning documentary filmmakers Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill were on the scene in Cairo, capturing the sights, sounds and passion of a modern-day revolution.

IN T AHRIR SQUARE: 18 DA YS OF EGYPT’S UNFINISHED REVOLUTION brings viewers into the streets of Cairo to experience first-hand what began as a small, peaceful demonstration and quickly grew into a revolutionary movement that would force the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak. The exclusive HBO2 documentary debuts WEDNESDAY JAN. 25 (8:00-8:45 p.m. ET/PT).
Other HBO2 playdate: Jan. 29 (11:45 a.m., 5:15 a.m.)

On Jan. 25, 2011, thousands of Egyptians from all walks of life and every social class began gathering in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. Bolstered by similar protests in other Arab countries and mobilized in part by social media, they were there to demand the end to President Hosni Mubarak’s three-decade rule. Directors Alpert and O’Neill immerse the viewer in the world of the protestors, from the peaceful first days of the uprising through the deadly battles between pro-Mubarak forces and anti-Mubarak demonstrators.

At the center of IN TAHRIR SQUARE is young Egyptian-American journalist Sharif Abdel Kouddous, who leads cameras into Tahrir and provides insightful accounts of those tense days. Part of a family of prominent Egyptian journalists – his grandfather was a famous writer and his uncle, also a journalist, is a longtime Mubarak foe and prominent member of the Muslim Brotherhood – Kouddous attended Duke University and is currently a correspondent and producer for the American radio and TV show “Democracy Now!” His tweets and live reporting from Tahrir Square attracted international attention.

Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians ultimately participated in the protests at Tahrir
IN TAHRIR SQUARE: 18 DAYS OF EGYPT’S UNFINISHED REVOLUTION – 2
Square, and nearly 850 were killed. On Feb. 11, 2011, the 18th day, more than a million Egyptians joined the revolution in the square and witnessed the surprise announcement by Egypt’s vice president that Mubarak would step down. At that historic moment of Egyptian pride, the crowd rejoiced, chanting in unison, “Lift your head up, you’re Egyptian,” and “God is great!” On the phone to an American news broadcast, an emotional Kouddous reported, “Everyone is proud to be Egyptian today. Everyone who fights for democracy and fights for freedom is Egyptian today, and stands with us.”

IN T AHRIR SQUARE: 18 DA YS OF EGYPT’S UNFINISHED REVOLUTION was produced and directed by the team of Jon Alpert (15 national Emmys®) and Matthew O’Neill (three national Emmys®), whose previous HBO projects include the Emmy®- winning “Baghdad ER” (2006); the Emmy®-nominated “Alive Day Memories: Home from Iraq” (2007) and “Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery” (2008); the Academy Award®- nominated “China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province” (2009); and the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award-winning “Wartorn: 1861-2010” (2010).

Alpert and O’Neill work at Manhattan’s Downtown Community Television Center (DCTV), a community media center founded by Alpert and his wife, Keiko Tsuno, in 1972.

Producer Jacqueline Soohen is an award-winning filmmaker with more than ten years of experience making social documentaries that emphasize global justice. Her films include “Fallujah” (2005) and “Shocking and Awful” (2005), which were featured in the 2006 Whitney Biennial.
IN TAHRIR SQUARE: 18 DAYS OF EGYPT’S UNFINISHED REVOLUTION was directed by Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill; produced by Jon Alpert, Matthew O’Neill and Jacqueline Soohen; edited by Patrick McMahon, A.C.E.; original music by Nicholas Pike.

For HBO: supervising producer, Jacqueline Glover; executive producer, Sheila Nevins. ###

Movie still:




Sounds interesting! Will you be watching?

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

A Review: Modscarfie: Scarves, Fashion, Accessories

My friend, Nadia, recently started blogging started a blog, Modscarfie. I absolutely love her posts! She has the prettiest clothing items, accessories and perfectly matching hijabs (scarves). She opened an Etsy shop online and is selling items she has featured on her blog and other items such as accessories, scarves and clothes. She sent me some items that I would like to share on here:



Here are the three items: a bracelet, a pin and a hijab.





I must say, my favorite is the bracelet because of the adorable little owl it has! How cute is that? The pin is sweet and will add a nice touch to a hijab.








The hijab is so soft! It is quite long so it can be wrapped several times.





























Thank you Nadia! Check out her blog and Etsy shop if you want to check out her wonderful stuff!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/modscarfies

http://modscarfie.blogspot.com/


**Disclaimer: These items were gifted to me by Nadia! Thank you.

Friday, December 9, 2011

#LowesHatesMuslims

Lowes pulled their on All-American Muslim show on TLC after seeing this e-mail from Florida Family Association:


The Learning Channel's new show All-American Muslim is propaganda clearly designed to counter legitimate and present-day concerns about many Muslims who are advancing Islamic fundamentalism and Sharia law. The show profiles only Muslims that appear to be ordinary folks while excluding many Islamic believers whose agenda poses a clear and present danger to liberties and traditional values that the majority of Americans cherish.

One of the most troubling scenes occurred at the introduction of the program when a Muslim police officer stated "I really am American. No ifs and or buts about it." This scene would appear to be damage control for the Dearborn Police who have arrested numerous Christians including several former Muslims for peacefully preaching Christianity. Dearborn Police falsely arrested Nabeel Qureshi and Paul Rezkalla in 2010 and Sudanese Christian Pastor George Saieg in 2009 for preaching Christianity at the Annual Arab International Festival. Information on these two arrests are posted below.

The first two episodes start off with Muslim youth complaining about non-Muslim Americans’ perception of them as extremists after 911. The show then reports on these youths’ daily, weekly and monthly prayer rituals. Many Imams who are at the head of these prayer rituals believe strongly in Islam and Sharia law. This TLC show clearly failed to connect the dots on this point but then again that appears to be their intent.

Many situations were profiled in the show from a Muslim tolerant perspective while avoiding the perspective that would have created Muslim conflict thereby contradicting The Learning Channel’s agenda to inaccurately portray Muslims in America.

The show portrayed a Roman Catholic who converted to Muslim to marry. However, there was no mention of a Muslim who attempted to convert to Christianity which has resulted in a multitude of conflicts in America and abroad. Many woman were shown wearing hijabs and many who were not, but the program did not show what happens if one of the hijab-wearing women decides to take it off. Such conflicts would conflict with The Learning Channel's agenda to inaccurately portray Muslims in America.

There is no mention of the honor killing of Jessica Mokdad who lived not far from where this show was taped in Dearborn.

The show fails to mention many Islamic believers’ demeaning treatment of women or great disdain for non-Muslims (infidels).

Robert Spencer’s article in Human Events and Pamela Geller’s article in World Net Daily regarding All-American Muslim are published below.

Clearly this program is attempting to manipulate Americans into ignoring the threat of jihad and to influence them to believe that being concerned about the jihad threat would somehow victimize these nice people in this show.

Florida Family Association sent out email alerts on November 15th, 22nd and 29th to inform supporters about All-American Muslim. The alerts encouraged supporters to send emails to the companies that advertised during the first three weeks that the program aired. The full article on this issue is provided below.


So, Lowe's replies back with this cute little e-mail:


Hello David,

Thank you for contacting Lowe's. We work hard to listen to our customers and respond to their concerns. Lowe's has strict guidelines that govern the placement of our advertising. Our company advertises primarily in national, network prime-time television programs and on a variety of cable outlets. Lowe's constantly reviews advertising buys to make certain they are consistent with its policy guidelines.

While we continue to advertise on various cable networks, including TLC, there are certain programs that do not meet Lowe's advertising guidelines, including the show you brought to our attention. Lowe's will no longer be advertising on that program.

Our goal is to provide the best service, products and shopping environment in the home improvement industry. We appreciate your feedback and will share your comments with our advertising department as they evaluate future advertising opportunities.

If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to call 1-866-900-4650, or email execustservice@lowes.com. You may also contact us by mailing your correspondence to Lowe’s Companies, Mail Code CON8, 1605 Curtis Bridge Rd., Wilkesboro, North Carolina 28697.

Thank you,

Andrew
Lowe’s Executive Support

Twitter came up with a hashtag #LowesHatesMuslims and people have been tweeting @Lowes and telling them how they feel along with the hashtag. Read some of them below:

@AmyChickie I'm boycotting @Lowes cuz bigotry offends my Christian values. We're supposed to love our neighbors. #LowesHatesMuslims @rezaaslan

@AinyKazmi Seeing so many ppl complaining 2 @lowes that #LowesHatesMuslims shows how Americans care about other Americans. Thx 4 standing up 2 bigotry!

@buckyogi.@Lowes Caving in to self-righteous bigots is a poor way to conduct business. You just lost mine. #LowesHatesMuslims #P2

@AliAbunimah Just called @Lowes branch I used to shop at and explained to asst manager that I won't be coming in any more because #LowesHatesMuslims


@iDreamOfShady اNo one likes @Lowes anyway Home Depot is where it's at #LowesHatesMuslims #racistpricks

@zaynabon @lowes rep took down my info+recorded what I said. I told him: It's not you today, Phil, but it could be you tomorrow. #LowesHatesMuslims

@Organica_ As long time @Lowes customer I will go to the competition.We used to buy our trees for fall/spring plantings.Never again! #LowesHatesMuslims

@lsarsour Call @Lowes at 1-800-445-6937 + ask them why #LowesHatesMuslims. Hold them accountable. Not another penny to bigotry. #AllAmericanMuslim

@ntantawy @Lowes shame on u 4 pulling out of #TLC show on #AmericanMuslims I'm boycotting ur store & products #LowesHatesMuslims #Islamophobia

This is what @Lowes said on Twitter:
@Lowes @ChrisDStedman We did not pull our ads based solely on the complaints or emails of any one group. It is never our intent to alienate anyone.

@Lowes @ChrisDStedman Lowe’s values diversity of thought in everyone, including our employees and prospective customers.

YOU can tell them what you think, too. Especially if you are against bigotry, hate, racism and stupidity.


You can e-mail them at: execustservice@lowes.com.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lowes?sk=wall&filter=1

Call them: 1-866-900-4650

Call your local Lowe's too!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Happy Eid!

Happy Eid everyone! I made this cake/cupcakes for my Sunday school students for our Eid party. I used fondant for the black covering on the Kabah. The cake is actually two brownie mixes split in half with chocolate frosting in the middle. The cupcakes also have fondant as the diverse faces. I tried to make it as diverse as possible and asked my kids what they noticed about the kids around the kabah. When someone said 'They are all different" I asked them how they themselves are different. Great quick lesson on diversity before we had the party and the kids loved the cake and cupcakes!

Happy Eid!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Islam Exposed: The Real Truth

I continue to be baffled when people in this day and age still believe that Islam is evil. I won't sit here and write about how much of a peaceful and good religion it is, though. I will not, again, apologize for other people's crimes. I will say again, that there are bad apples in every religion. However, the media loves to focus on only bad Moz-lems. Here, I will post verses of Quran and sayings of Prophet Muhammad (last messenger of God) and you can see for yourself what it's about.


photo from here


"God does not forbid you to be kind and equitable to those who have neither fought against your faith nor driven you out of your homes. In fact God loves the equitable." Chapter 60, Verse 8

"Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden (paradise) whose width is that of the heavens and of the earth, prepared for the righteous - Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity or in adversity, who restrain (their) anger and pardon (all) men - for God loves those who do good." Chapter 3, Verses 133-134

"And what will explain to you what the steep path is? It is the freeing of a (slave) from bondage; or the giving of food in a day of famine to an orphan relative, or to a needy in distress. Then will he be of those who believe, enjoin fortitude and encourage kindness and compassion." Chapter 90, Verses 12-17

"O mankind! We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know and honor each other (not that you should despise one another). Indeed the most honorable of you in the sight of God is the most righteous." Chapter 49, Verse 13

"Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors." Chapter 2, Verse 190

“Had your Lord wanted, all the people on earth would have believed. So will you force people to believe?” (Qur’an, 10:99)

“He does not forbid you to deal kindly and justly with anyone who has not fought you for your faith and driven you out of your homes, God loves the just.” (Qur’an, 60:8)

“ There is no compulsion in religion…” (Qur’an, 2:256)

"Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious." (Al-Qur’an 16:125)



“to you your religion, and to me, mine” 109: 1-4

“Whoever kills an innocent non-Muslim will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise.” -Prophet Muhammad

“You will not enter paradise until you have faith; and you will not complete your faith till you love one another.” -Prophet Muhammad

"He is not a perfect Muslim who eats his fill and lets his neighbor go hungry." -Prophet Muhammad

"Do you love your Creator? Then love your fellow beings first." - Prophet Muhammad


"Verily, there is heavenly reward for every act of kindness done to a living animal." - Prophet Muhammad


Leave comments below on other hadith, verses that relate to this topic. There are so many more and I will continue to compile them here. So much easier to just give people who want to debate me on Twitter and online this link rather than waste my time.

Peace and Love.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Converts, this one is for you.

This is for all the men and women who converted to Islam.

(photo from here )



I am sorry the way you are treated often by your fellow Muslims brothers and sisters.

I am sorry, ladies, for people who lecture you at the Mosque to start wearing hijab right away.

I am sorry, ladies, if you DO wear hijab, yet women scold you for what you're wearing.

I am sorry if person tells you your prayer is invalid because you did not recite the Quran in Arabic.

I am sorry if people continue to tell you to learn Arabic so you can pray properly.

I am sorry if you were ever told you must change your first name to a "Muslim" name.

I am sorry if you are constantly being nagged at how "wrong" you prayed and you must learn how to pray fast.

I am sorry if people tell you that if you don't pray five times a day, then you're not a good Muslim.

I am sorry if people tell you, guys, that you must grow a beard asap.

I am sorry if you are told to stop listening to music right away because it's all "haram"

I am sorry if you are told to give your dog away.

I am sorry if someone rolls his/her eyes at you if you ask a question.

I am sorry people look down at you because you were not "born" a Muslim.

I am sorry if people give you incorrect "fatwas"

I am sorry if people are shocked at you if you tell them you miss drinking.

I am sorry it people enforce their cultural practices on you.

I am sorry if people tell you to stop celebrating thanksgiving, mother's day, Fourth of July (i.e. your American holidays and traditions).

I am sorry if people often forget that the prophet's (pbuh) closes friends were converts themselves.

I am sorry for people's stupidity, ignorance and arrogance.


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Please comment down below about what else people should apologize to converts for ...