Stereotype- how we perceive a group of class of people to be- can be negative or positive.
Till the time it is positive it is good as all Chinese are supposed to be hardworking, all black people tall and good at basket ball, fine.
Now think of Pakistanis- what comes to a western mind- TERRORISTS! Well that is what we have done to ourselves, we bad mouth our own countrymen, portray a bad image of our own country and then how can we blame other people. They have a right to call us names; we need to put our image straight.
But this is not what has prompted me to write today.
When ever we see a movie and are being shown gulf countries, especially the Muslim world, if they are showing night life, they definitely have to show a belly dancer. When they show a coffee shop, its fine, when they show men smoking shisha, its true, but where the hell in Muslim culture does belly dancing enter? It is a part of the Egyptian culture and it is not at all related to the religious aspect of the place. It is more because these places were colonized by the French or the British and so the Egyptian, Jordanians, Syrians etc do dance to express their joy and these dances are mostly westernized- again nothing to do with religion but influence of the French and British rule.
Coming back to belly dancers- we the Muslims are so many times questioned by people of other religions and culture as to how as a contrast to the hijab and abaya our women are allowed to wear such clothes and how do they dance in this way?
Well they don’t! Belly dancing is not of UAE culture too but then we Muslims need to think. Are we depending on tourism so desperately that Desert Safari has to include belly dancing? This country has been blessed with a beautiful landscape, the sand dunes are really beautiful and see how nature contrasts the colours, the desert is lovely and so are the beaches. Is this not enough to attract people? Think O People, Think!
Monday, October 15, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
back after a long, long time
It has really been a long time since I wrote.
I guess I was suffering from what they call an empty nest syndrome. You get fed up of the ever complaining children, whining about their teachers, exams, food which never changes, menu which keeps getting cooked, you get sick and tired of all this but when these same kids go away, in pursuit of education or work keeps them away from home, there can be one hundred and one justifications, this grumbling become one of your fondest memeories.
it seems now the same food, which the kids kept complaining about, has become a craving for them. i am now waiting for the time when we can all be together and we can once again talk and shout at each other, sing loud besurey songs, and eat those familiar, favourite things!
I am blessed till my little one is still here with me, but till when that will be there, only Allah has the answer to that!
I guess I was suffering from what they call an empty nest syndrome. You get fed up of the ever complaining children, whining about their teachers, exams, food which never changes, menu which keeps getting cooked, you get sick and tired of all this but when these same kids go away, in pursuit of education or work keeps them away from home, there can be one hundred and one justifications, this grumbling become one of your fondest memeories.
it seems now the same food, which the kids kept complaining about, has become a craving for them. i am now waiting for the time when we can all be together and we can once again talk and shout at each other, sing loud besurey songs, and eat those familiar, favourite things!
I am blessed till my little one is still here with me, but till when that will be there, only Allah has the answer to that!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
happy birthday KM
Happy birthday to you and may you have many more. May Allah bless you and lead you all the way.
Today i am constantly reminded of a little boy just five years of age who would accompany me to the fruit market and enthusiastically say, "mama we will buy all the kinds of fruits available" when asked who will pick them up, the reply would be, "Main, Aap ka bhaiya beta hai na, main utaoon ga" today you turn 20, and i miss you a lot, not only me but all of us. Have a fine day and have lovely year too!
Today i am constantly reminded of a little boy just five years of age who would accompany me to the fruit market and enthusiastically say, "mama we will buy all the kinds of fruits available" when asked who will pick them up, the reply would be, "Main, Aap ka bhaiya beta hai na, main utaoon ga" today you turn 20, and i miss you a lot, not only me but all of us. Have a fine day and have lovely year too!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Bon Voyage Karachi Mutant
It was like waiting for several long weeks, months, and the formalities seemed never ending; people it seemed were not bothered enough but then all the pieces kept falling into the correct places and then today it the day, my darling son bids us a farewell and departs to pursue his degree and takes his first step towards independent life, where we will not be there to guide him, more aptly shout at him for every misdemeanor rather mistake, today it seems we have really been very harsh with him but then sometimes bringing up children makes us take difficult decisions!
Today I can only pray for him
May the road rise up to meet you.
traditional gaelic blessing
Today I can only pray for him
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
traditional gaelic blessing
Good bye Son and Good luck! May Allah guide you and bless you!
Monday, May 28, 2007
My beliefs
Reading Kaya's post today made me remember my much younger days.
My mother had an excellent taste, she liked to buy lovely household stuff, and all used to be kept in a cupboard to be used when some guests would be served. She had lovely sarees, and dresses which were kept neatly hung or folded away, worn for parties or whenever we did go to any ones place formally. Whenever she was told to get rid of some kind of glassware she would not be able to part from it. Over the years these things accumulated to an extremely size able amount and my mother's health deteriorated. I being the only child, when got married, also moved out. Time passed. Then after both of my parents passed away and i had to vacate the house, was sitting amidst a pile of plates and cups and other tremendous amount of glassware and wondering as to all these things which my mother collected, were they worth the effort?
'i was actually giving almost everything away to anyone who wanted something or to some deserving people we knew. Even her clothes many of them not even worn for a solitary time were to be given away, i did keep a few for remembrance sake. I was told that if she had given all these things away in her lifetime she would have earned the blessings but now all the blessings will go to the one who gives for charity.
All this may make someone feel that my mother was a miser who never opted for charity, this was not so. Point being, why do we collect all that we can never use, why not collect friends, blessings, happiness and save a lot of dusting time!
I, on the other hand use as soon as i buy, i do buy lovely dishes and stuff but use it for our daily use, not wait for someone to come, isn't my family special enough! i love good clothes but make as many as required.
Perhaps my mother would not agree but these are my beliefs!
My mother had an excellent taste, she liked to buy lovely household stuff, and all used to be kept in a cupboard to be used when some guests would be served. She had lovely sarees, and dresses which were kept neatly hung or folded away, worn for parties or whenever we did go to any ones place formally. Whenever she was told to get rid of some kind of glassware she would not be able to part from it. Over the years these things accumulated to an extremely size able amount and my mother's health deteriorated. I being the only child, when got married, also moved out. Time passed. Then after both of my parents passed away and i had to vacate the house, was sitting amidst a pile of plates and cups and other tremendous amount of glassware and wondering as to all these things which my mother collected, were they worth the effort?
'i was actually giving almost everything away to anyone who wanted something or to some deserving people we knew. Even her clothes many of them not even worn for a solitary time were to be given away, i did keep a few for remembrance sake. I was told that if she had given all these things away in her lifetime she would have earned the blessings but now all the blessings will go to the one who gives for charity.
All this may make someone feel that my mother was a miser who never opted for charity, this was not so. Point being, why do we collect all that we can never use, why not collect friends, blessings, happiness and save a lot of dusting time!
I, on the other hand use as soon as i buy, i do buy lovely dishes and stuff but use it for our daily use, not wait for someone to come, isn't my family special enough! i love good clothes but make as many as required.
Perhaps my mother would not agree but these are my beliefs!
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
The simple pleasues in life
Life is so busy and a whole lot of times, very depressing. In such a time simple pleasures in life add meaning to life.
Among such pleasures are my biennial date with my husband. We spend a whole day together, go places eat out, we don’t think of the home, children and any other responsibilities. This is not any set day; it can be anytime during the year when we feel we both have the time and then we simply quit every thing and go!
We keep the romance in our lives very much alive.
Among such pleasures are my biennial date with my husband. We spend a whole day together, go places eat out, we don’t think of the home, children and any other responsibilities. This is not any set day; it can be anytime during the year when we feel we both have the time and then we simply quit every thing and go!
We keep the romance in our lives very much alive.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
So near yet so far away
Living in an area in UAE which is bang opposite the Etisalat building, can you imagine that I can not be connected to E vision or a broad band connection!!! Why you would ask? There is no cable in my area. Or if there is some other reason, the dear Etisalat ppl don’t tell us clearly. So frustrating!!
Have been meaning to write for quite some time but really how time flies. The past few days passed like a whirlwind. There was a syllabus to complete, deadlines to meet, at all times the feeling that I can still do a better job at passing my message through and hence extra practice sheets had to be made. And then when all this concluded, came to know that there was a staff meeting, with a question mark in my mind as to the reason of the meeting for now the exams were just round the corner, I was sitting on my chair engrossed in my thoughts, when suddenly we see some certificates being arranged on the table and then it is declared that some awards are being initiated to appreciate the staff, the first was
The Prize for Distinguished Teaching, I say, ok, and Then I look at the projector screen, What! No way! My name is the third one in a list of six names, all being awarded!!
With an expression of dis-belief, I walk up and receive my certificate and cash reward. Back on my seat, I look around, I see people congratulating me, I thank them, the ceremony proceeds, a lot of more certificates of appreciation are given out, then came the worst time of all, I see a lot of tearful faces, people with questions on their face asking why not us???????
I was very happy, just a moment ago and now I am feeling bad, why does this happen to me, I did work very hard, I know I did deserve recognition but then when it upsets other people around me, I get disturbed! Why does this happen to me?
Have been meaning to write for quite some time but really how time flies. The past few days passed like a whirlwind. There was a syllabus to complete, deadlines to meet, at all times the feeling that I can still do a better job at passing my message through and hence extra practice sheets had to be made. And then when all this concluded, came to know that there was a staff meeting, with a question mark in my mind as to the reason of the meeting for now the exams were just round the corner, I was sitting on my chair engrossed in my thoughts, when suddenly we see some certificates being arranged on the table and then it is declared that some awards are being initiated to appreciate the staff, the first was
The Prize for Distinguished Teaching, I say, ok, and Then I look at the projector screen, What! No way! My name is the third one in a list of six names, all being awarded!!
With an expression of dis-belief, I walk up and receive my certificate and cash reward. Back on my seat, I look around, I see people congratulating me, I thank them, the ceremony proceeds, a lot of more certificates of appreciation are given out, then came the worst time of all, I see a lot of tearful faces, people with questions on their face asking why not us???????
I was very happy, just a moment ago and now I am feeling bad, why does this happen to me, I did work very hard, I know I did deserve recognition but then when it upsets other people around me, I get disturbed! Why does this happen to me?
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