boxafella.com/blog

I, am a winner! Haha. I don’t really win things much.. So it’s an honor to say that I’ve made blog of the week @ the Islamic Blog Directory! Thanks Queen!

You guys should check out her pages; here, here and here. She is a wonderful and wise woman with a beautiful heart. Her words aren’t to be taken very lightly; though she has an excellent sense of humor. Her message couldn’t be clearer. Islam is the way; Egypt is the World’s Mother. Learn it. Live it. Love it.

Whoa.. My sister forwarded me this video on Facebook.. After watching the first 30 seconds of it, I decided that it had to be shared with y’all. The producer asked 2000 Muslims what they’d like to say to the world… Here are the results.

A Land Called Paradise -- Sung by Kareem Salama & Directed by Lena Khan

I did a bit of cleaning up today.

I have removed all syndicated posts.

I have also added a new page on Islam. Check it out.

That is all.

“Success is 99% failure” – Soichiro Honda

The other day my sister and I got into a bit of an argument. I was trying to encourage my little brother to do better in school; I told him “You’re an Elkurdi. We’re destined for great things – So study! If you ever plan on succeeding, you’re going to need your education.”

My sister cut-in, and replied “Hah! Who in our entire clan has succeeded? We’re a family of failures.”

I never graduated high school. I dropped out when I was 16 to help my dad with home finances… I have accomplished much since then. I’ve attained my GED; accumulated credits in the Houston Community College System; co-founded a business with my dad. Does that sound like failure to you?

One sister graduated high school; on time. She currently works for Wells Fargo bank; has applied to University of Houston and is working on getting in.

The nay-sayer dropped out of high school and has given up on higher education. She lounges at home all day on the internet.

Of the three scenarios I’ve placed up there for you; which seems furthest from success? Well, it sure isn’t me!

Let’s just for one minute pretend like my entire family has failed. Everyone from my great-grandpa to my second cousin twice-removed.. Would there not be at the very least one success story? I’m not necessarily saying that there would be one successful person; but rather one successful move. I believe so.

So what if I’m not a multi-millionaire? Who care if I don’t live in a 10 figure home? I know Allah sure doesn’t. My sister’s response alarmed me. Il7amdulilah (thank God) we have our health; we have a roof over our heads; food in our stomaches; and one another.

Who has succeeded more? The man with no money; but his entire family at his side? Healthy and striving to move forward no matter what has come their way? OR the man with all the money in the world, no cure for his ailing daughter and with a wife who doesn’t care?

Success should not be measured by how fat your wallet is, but rather by the quality of your life.

My dearest readers; Come the time for our deaths we shall not carry our worldly possessions with us to the hereafter. True success is in the eyes of God. It is from Allah we arrive, and to Allah we shall return.

Besides; so what if I’m not “ballin’” right now? I’m still young with a head full of ideas. Riches will come in it’s own due time. But until then, Il7amdulilah (thank God) for my succeeding in being healthy; and my attempts at being a good person; a good Muslim; Il7amdulilah (thank God) for my being able to pay my bills; and for my family’s health and wellbeing. Il7amdulilah (thank God) I feel successful.

MAN! I ran across a blog today written by another Arab.. Although I’d have to say I’m disappointed in her response to her mother’s invitation. Let me clarify my history to everyone. I was born in Lebanon. At 3 months, my family immigrated to the US. I was raised between Ontario, Canada and Houston, Texas. My entire life, I’ve visited Lebanon 3 times: 1992, 1996, and 2004. Each time, my stay was shorter than 3 months.

Anyways; her negative reaction to a blessing prompted me to write this post. 10 Reasons to Go to Lebanon. I can honestly think of more than 10 but for the time being I hope it’s enough to convince anyone of you to at least visit. I know it’s more than enough to show you that there is plenty of culture to be taken in.

10 – The Lebanon Mountain Trail

A journey on the trail will bring the Lebanese, and those of Lebanese descent, closer to our land, to our history, and to each other.

So this morning I get this in my inbox:

Senator Leahy Asks Secretary Rice . . . "Was the agreement violated?"

Below is the transcript of an exchange between Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice regarding Israel’s use of cluster bombs in Lebanon during the summer 2006 war. The exchange took place at a 9 April 2008 hearing of the Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee for State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, which Sen. Leahy chairs.

Senator Leahy has asked Secretary Rice for the U.S. State Department to release its finding on whether Israel’s use of cluster bombs violated U.S. arms export control laws.

You can support Sen. Leahy’s call by sending a message to your Member of Congress, your Senators, the President, and Secretary Rice using ATFL’s on-line form by clicking on the link below:

http://action.atfl.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=6641&track=atflib11

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Transcript: Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

SEN. LEAHY: But we’re a great and good nation and sometimes it’s simple things that – incidentally, I wrote and we passed legislation that bans the exporting of cluster munitions that are going to be used by any country against civilian targets and those that don’t have a 99 percent fail-safe rate, which would pretty well preclude most of the cluster munitions being exported from this country. We saw Israel use hundreds of thousands of these bomblets in Lebanon, many supplied by the United States – innocent civilians hurt. I’m not going into question obviously outrageous, unprovoked attacks against Israel, but then as this escalated our cluster munitions badly damaging, killing, maiming Lebanese civilians. So they were used in a manner that violated the export agreement on them. Am I correct in that? Was the agreement violated?

SEC. RICE: Senator, I should probably get an answer to you. I remember that we investigated this matter. We talked to the Israelis about it. But I will need to get back to you on the conclusion. I -

SEN. LEAHY: I understand the department issued a finding. It may have occurred; they’re looking at it further.

SEC. RICE: That’s right. It’s a may have -

SEN. LEAHY: That’s part of the -

SEC. RICE: I don’t know where it is, but I will get to you as to where we are in those discussions.

SEN. LEAHY: Is this one of those things that the “may” is a good way of slipping it into the wastebasket and -

SEC. RICE: I think that -

SEN. LEAHY: – I’ll get back to you, the check’s in the mail?

SEC. RICE: No, we actually continue to have discussions with the Israelis about this, and I know they’ve done a number of internal looks and investigations. I just don’t know where it is, what the status is. So I’ll get back to you about it.

SEN. LEAHY: All right.

- end -

I felt the need to share it with everyone. If not because I’m Lebanese, but because I’m a human. I humbly request that you all send an email to President Bush, Sec. C. Rice, your State’s governor… Demand that Israel release the target data from 2006. Demand that your government NOT USE cluster bombs! Demand that they STOP MAKING them!

Every day little kids get their limbs blown off from one of these things. A child isn’t aware of what to watch out for.. They may think it a rock, or a ball. An object that wouldn’t do them much harm… Only to get too close. Imagine if that were your child. Imagine if this was happening right here in our backyards.. God knows I wouldn’t want any left over bombs from a war that happened almost 2 years ago to blow up in my yard; Near my relatives, siblings and friends.

You could potentially save hundreds of thousands of lives; By only having taken seconds out of your day.

Being a Muslim is so beautiful. If you are a Muslim then you understand what I mean when I say that Islam is absolute perfection. On Thursday I thought it would be a good idea to go pick up an old friend of mine and take him with me to the Masjid. I had been praying for a while now, and yet I wanted a bit of encouragement I guess you could say, so I rallied up my buddy.

I guess I had more of an influence on him than I had originally thought, because a few hours after having dropped him off at his house, he calls me up inviting me to tag along with him to a lesson he heard about from his uncle. That action in itself was more than I had expected from said friend.. So I agreed, without hesitation.

The next day,we arrive at the Mosque early where we met up with his uncle. I’m going there expecting this lesson to be taught by an elder. You know, someone wise and gray.. The gentleman hadn’t arrived yet so we passed the time chatting over a Dr. Pepper. Before we knew it the lecturer had arrived and was prepared for the day’s lesson. When my friend’s uncle introduced me to him I was shocked to see that he couldn’t have been much older than me.

At first, I thought “Nah… This can’t be right.. He’s my age.. Teaching? Islam?!”

I quickly brushed those thoughts from my mind, and introduced myself. After we said our salams, we all sat in what he later called “The Circle of Knowledge” and listened. The lesson, captivating. His words, clear. The message, sublime.

He began with the basics. Most of the students sitting in were of high school age, or younger. Do you know the story of Islam’s introduction into the world? Do you have any idea how long they had to work on establishing faith alone? If you’re a Muslim and you can’t answer yes to both those questions; fear not. For you are still alive and able to learn. If you aren’t a Muslim; fear not. For knowledge is available for those who seek it.

“Plan like you will live forever. Work as though you are to die tomorrow.”

Plan like I’m going to live forever? But God doesn’t guarantee me tomorrow! Work as though I’m going to die tomorrow? But of course! Faith must be worked on. I cannot simply tell myself I believe in Allah, and not practice the faith the way it was laid out for me. I must work for my akhira. My afterlife. I must pray, and fast. I must give zakat and attempt to make Hajj. I must work at being a good Muslim.

It is our duties as Muslims, as slaves of Allah to remind each other of our responsibilities. We must work together, as a community, to grow. If I don’t ask my friends to join me in prayer, they might not pray. I have failed. If I don’t implore you to study and learn Islam, I have failed.

My Muslim, and non-Muslim readers, find peace within yourselves. Find peace with God. Learn about Jesus in the Quran. Discover Islam’s beauty and perfection. Arm yourselves with knowledge, for it will be all you shall carry to the afterlife.

I love my heritage. To me, being Lebanese is so much more than just being Arab. It defines me. Stereotypes exist in all cultures. Unfortunately so, there are those of us who fit perfectly into these stereotypes. Most of us don’t. Most of you know that Lebanon is home to Hezbollah. Some of you think that is reason enough for Israel and America to do to us what they do.

Look at this unfortunate, but beautiful baby Lebanese Muslim boy. One of the recent victims of Israeli air-raids. Honestly, do you believe it right for the West to be doing this? Do you feel that as a Westerner, you are so much more superior that your lives are worth more? That Arab children deserve to die so as they won’t grow up and fight back? Israel is armed heavily with artillery. Palestine is armed heavily with rocks. Hrm, a bullet versus a rock… I wonder which shall do more damage…

I do not condone the actions of suicide bombers; I believe that to be blasphemous. Allah warns us that suicide in any fashion is deemed Haram (a sin.) To kill yourself and believe you are a martyr is a bit of a stretch. Only God knows what the afterlife holds for us. For me to condemn the actions of my Muslim brothers and sisters without prior knowledge of their life stories is also wrong.

You must realize that those who do react violently in the Middle East were raised around violence. Since the founding of Israel there is been much chaos centered around the new Jewish state. We as a nation, know that Israel commits war crimes. But we are too afraid of being “Anti-Semitic” to voice our opinions. I am a Semite. My saying that Israel is in the wrong and should cease and desist all actions against Palestinians can and may be construed as “anti-Semitic.” Fine.

This post is probably the furthest from coherent that I may ever get. My thoughts and feelings seem unorganized and random. I honestly don’t care to be politically correct right now. I see so many “We Support Israel” signs and banners all over the place, that I feel I must say something. Anything.. Even if it means to babble on.

I don’t hate Jews, nor do I hate Israel. I hate what the Zionist Jews in Israel are doing. There’s a huge difference between Zionists and Orthodox Jews. Differences so big that one calls for total annihilation of all Arabs and Muslims – while the other is moving towards true peace. I know not every Jew in Israel is after Muslim blood.. I know that there are many Jews who protest along side Arabs. I also know of many interracial marriages consisting of either a Jewish male and a Palestinian Female, or vise-versa.

We should follow the examples of those living there; protesting for peace. We should stand together and unite against any and all tyrants – as one unit. Muslims and Jews in the Middle East have been peacefully living together a long time in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and the likes. But until the American influence in the Middle East is exterminated, I don’t think that we’ll ever hear of them having a good day.

Honestly; I’m pretty sick of reading. I have read hundreds of thousands of words lately, and it’s like the more I read, the more I’m disappointed in humanity. I am an Arab-American. To me, this means a great deal. Let me make sure you all have this straight; I love the US of A. I’m just not too keen on the people running our government as of late. Being an Arab means that I’ve got to be cautious in regards to what I say.

We are in the year 2008, and yet our government is spiraling back towards the era of old. Where once white people were considered to be superior to everyone else. How many of you have truly experienced racism? How many of you have been turned away from, because of your heritage? I’m going to guess not many. My people are being black-listed in the United States today, and we go on with our lives as if nothing is happening. Martial law will soon pass in our great country. We will eventually be experiencing a police state.

I’m not psychic. I’m no prophet. My name is Khaled, not Nostradamus. I cannot foretell the future.. But what I can do is read. Cross reference, and hypothesize. Long have I loved to discuss my “Ancient Babylon” theory. In my perspective, America is much like Ancient Babylonia. A power in the world far exceeding that of it’s neighbors and allies. History, no matter what it is that we do as a civilization, will repeat itself. As humans, we fail to actually learn from our mistakes – and live to repeat them.

Our popularity around the world has been diminishing due to the amounts of excessive force our great country flexes around the world. We sell ammunition and weapons of mass destruction to countries our leaders deem “righteous.” These weapons are then turned, and used on Arabs. The largest foreign recipient of American weaponry is Israel. Most Israeli citizens carry American made or financed firearms. We as Americans, have the right to bear arms. Our right to bear arms is being challenged by Congress and the Supreme Judicial system.

Were you aware of the fact that most police forces in the United States and their Armed Forces are currently undergoing training on how to disarm an American civilian who refuses to surrender his weapon? Oh yeah. Martial Law, baby. Lets take a quick look into the “Patriot Act.” This infringement on our constitutional rights grants authorities permission to eavesdrop on your phone calls, without a warrant; raid your home/apartment/storage unit without a warrant; arrest you without cause; detain you for up to 48 hours, without probable cause.

This news is especially bad for me. We are currently at war in 2 Muslim countries. One of which, is primarily Arab. I feel my freedoms being taken from me each and every time I want to travel. Be it local, or international. I’m certain most of you know about the “Random Screening” process that goes on in the airports.. Let me ask you a quick and simple question; If their screening truly is random why is it that I am chosen every time for additional screening? Am I randomly picked from the bunches of faces? EVERY time? No. They call it “random” but are really racially targeting us.

Do you have a common name? John Smith, or Jane Doe, maybe? You too, will be “randomly selected.” You may not even make it on the plane. Why? Because apparently, everyone named Jack Johnson is actually an Arab terrorist, disguised as an American – trying to bomb the plane.

NOT!

We are heading towards a serious downfall as a nation. We are allowing fear and ignorance to govern our actions, while we all idly sit by and watch our constitutional rights being raped right under our noses. What’s next? Net neutrality? Don’t be surprised when AT&T and Verizon begin to filter your content. Feeding you what they want you to see.. For when that day arrives, we can only blame ourselves for allowing it to happen.

The following was copied from http://www.mohamadlatiff.com

I DID NOT write this entry, I copied it. I’ve watched the movie, and much of this gentleman’s opinions and views are similar to my own. At this point, I feel as if I couldn’t have said it better myself. My feeble attempts at summarizing my thoughts and opinions on this movie seemed ignorant, and so in order to avoid political conflicts, I present you with Mohamad Latiff’s works..

Watch Fitna here (link opens in a new window / tab).

Now my opinions, in point form:

1. I don’t think Geert Wilders deserves to be killed. Seriously. And this is not just because I’m pretending to be a ‘moderate’ liberal-minded Muslim or I don’t want to earn the wrath of my non-Muslim friends. He deserves to be brainwashed – washed of all prejudice and paranoia. Nah, maybe that won’t work. He’s just an attention seeker.
2. The beheading video-makers, the bombers, the shooters, all will go to hell. Don’t worry.
3. “God Bless Hitler” is an insult to Islam as much as the Prophet cartoons. It is an insult to all humankind. Muslims who say, “God Bless Hitler” are akin to those who curse the Prophet.
4. The part that says, “Islam will rule the world” comes from the speech of some Iranian (presumably) Shiah scholar, then proceeds on to Ahmadinejad’s opinions on Islam dominating the world. Yes, we Shiahs, like most Muslims, believe Islam will eventually dominate the Earth. Deal with it. How? I won’t debate the How here. But just imagine this – if you were to go back in time to pre-democratic Europe and tell all the peace-loving peasants who were generally okay about living under a monarchy that eventually an idea and a system known as democracy will eventually dominate (most of) the world, or their continent for that matter, what would they think?
5. Geert Wilders somewhat wants to make Europeans feel threatened by the exponential growth of the Muslim population (of course he wants to elicit an emotional response, why would he show a statistic without a purpose?). Remember how Hitler used to blame the Jews (which were many in number back then) for all the problems Germany (or Europe for that matter) was facing.
6. What’s with the displays of news about Halal investment schemes (the Halal industry is a multi-billion perhaps coming close to a trillion-dollar industry anyway, why throw away this opportunity? I thought the capitalism-loving West should know better) or the non-banning of the Burqa (people want to ban the Burqa or the Hijab because they feel it is an ostentatious display of religious belief which the Muslims voluntarily don. Compare this to Nazi Germany making the Jews involuntarily put on the Star of David armband so that people can recognise who are the Jews. Both are opposites – one forcing, the other banning – but stem from the same source – paranoia and prejudice)?
7. The “you’re taking verses from the Quran out of context” argument from Muslims or apologists of Islam is the most cliched one even I, a Muslim, have ever heard. But how this film quotes from the Quran and links them to (real) instances of violence caused by (or allegedly caused by) Muslims; is like a kid shouting, “Mommy! Mommy! I learned from school that Shakespeare said all the world’s a stage and that we’re all actors! Wow! We’re famous!”
8. Any consumer of Noam Chomsky’s works on media and propaganda will see and know how paper thin Geert Wilder’s arguments are.
9. If the likes of Irshad Manji, or anyone who is influenced by this film, want to tear out pages from the Quran that have ‘violent’ verses, go ahead. It’s between you and Allah. I, a Muslim, who will harm no person, will not. Jews and Christians have not torn pages from the Old or New Testament (respectively), why should we?
10. I am always, always, always enraged whenever I view any media of some saliva-spewing, sword-shaking (only 1 instance in the film), ugly-bearded, Arabic-speaking Sheikh talking about beheading Jews and killing infidels. They are slaves of the religion that worships Abu Sofyan, Muawiyah and Yazid. The Prophet did lead battles against the non-Muslims of Arabia who had oppressed and massacred the early Muslims, yes, but he never, ever (even after reclaiming Mecca) talked about militant expansion or of massacring entire populations of civilisations that do not want to accept Islam. His so-called ‘companions’ started that tradition.