Why Turkey Matters

The Turkish protests are being likened to the Arab Spring, but is there any real correlation to it? Not at all in ready my latest article on the new media platform, New India TV,

Rights in Islam, have no color or nationality

Sometimes just because of looks, people get you all wrong.

  As I walked on a narrow sidewalk  along Jamal Abdul Nasser, a woman and her two children were coming towards my way. I guess rules of etiquette would mean that someone gives way, I thought that since there were three of them standing side by side, the mother would tell the two children to get in front of her or behind her and for a single file line so that we could all share the walkway without endangering ourselves walking in the street and oncoming traffic. This was not the case however, she decided that it was better to push against and nearly smashing me into her son.

I’ve faced this sort of petty violence against myself as many people assume so many things about me. In this particular case, the women was Indian and was determined not to be bullied by an Arab, which she perceived me to be. I’ve seen this sort of behavior time and time again. One time a doctor assumed that I was Emirati and had pushed my way into her office without an appointment, but I had been sent there from emergency. She didn’t care, she began shouting at me and refused to see me and sent me to the other doctor, who nevertheless was kind and thorough in doing his duty. So much for doctors helping people.

 Now those are my perceptions, however it could be another element to it-the Muslim non-Muslim factor. This usually occurs within the Indian context where some non-Indians just refuse to talk to you regardless of who you are or what you do. This was the case of my neighbor across the street, whose friend who used give me cold looks each time, we chatted. I tried to smile at her. Both were Indians and both were non-Muslims. Of course I had my assumptions, perhaps she didn’t want to talk to Muslims, since she was Hindu and the other, friendlier, woman, a Catholic. However, the non-smiler did come around after two years of my nodding her way. I guess perseverance is the key.  Without asking, I haven't a clue why she chose not speak to me for such a long time. 

All American Muslims must be spies.

This is one theme that bubbles up often out of nowhere, without provocation. I would love to think that this is just me, who has suffered from this, however, I’ve heard it so often, even I began suspect certain people after a while.

What does a spy look like? I have no clue. However, some may suspect Americans especially if they are white and Muslim. Suhaib Webb is a white convert to Islam from Oklahoma, who found Islam while studying in California. He them went on around the Muslim world studying Islam and later on, teaching it. However, he has complained more than once of been accused of being a spy and being spied on. This is in part in some ways from the notion, of Islam being as a step down and especially those who are white. I’ve often heard of whites suffering after becoming Muslim, so much so that they often have to leave their families. So, being called a spy is often becomes extremely painful.

Then you have people like me, whose overt curiosity and sociological background forces me to ask a lot of questions in order to understand how people function within the society. Living in UAE, were people often live within sort of closed bubbles, it makes everyone seem fascinating, especially for me. So, I too have had the moniker of spy attached to me as well. I’m not white, but I am still
American.

Of course looking to others to give you your rights in this world should be is almost like looking for applause for taking out the trash.  Allah is the only one who can give you your rights. This is the social politics of UAE, many people run on assumptions. Also, when dealing with you, they often suspect acts of kindness or even a ‘salaam’. But this I am told is just the signs of the end of days. Allah protect us from evil and harm during these trials.

I remember the woman who teaches my daughters Quran at the masjid, forbade them coming too early asking them, “Aren’t you afraid that the Indian men will get you?” Meanwhile she never got the hint that my husband is Indian and my daughters are too.  How may Arab mothers have I heard threaten their children with the evil ‘Hindi’ man who is going to get them and do them harm?

Shaytan is an equal opportunity, employer. He reaches out to everyone, in every language and those who respond, come from all walks of life.

Then, while shopping, the sales lady told my daughter, “You have to be careful about touching everything, there are many Indians around and they are very dirty.” I hear it all of the time. However, whenever I got to Majaz Park, It’s not the Indians who are eating a million pumpkin seeds and throwing their shells on the ground. Nor is it the Indians who bring cups, food, plates and tissues and not even bother to dispose of them properly.

Then I hear many Arabs say, “Oh, those Indian children are so polite and respectful.” It is true. Then again, fear and racism makes you polite doesn’t it?

In Fredrick Douglass’ autobiography, he describes his master beating him when he was a slave. Then I remember the shocked I felt while reading the words that I have often hear African American used130 years later. Black people beat their children using the same language. Then when you think of the unbridled cruelty of the Israeli government towards Palestinians, it is also, in some way the same cruelty if not worst than that they suffered from while living in Nazi Germany.

Similarly, there are millions of South Asians, Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis who who live and work in UAE. Many of them are Muslims. Yet, many are so careless with giving them their rights according to Islam. The UAE national anthem says, “Our faith is Islam and Quran is our guide.” There are many proofs that there are many who believe this, but there are also, many that show that there is some doubt.

Islam came to end cruelty, to stop violence. However, it can only do so if one uses it and the model provided to us from our beloved Prophet Muhammad Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. Imagine the ajer multiplied by millions with justice and safety, that comes when people treat each other well, think the best of each person they meet, and do their best to help each other. This is not some fairy tale, it is the promise of Islam and a command from Allah. 

There is no doubt that UAE has been showered with many blessings, I pray that Allah continues to shower his niamah, barakat, and rizq upon this oasis in the desert. 

Can Somebody Bail Me Out in This New Wal-Mart Economy?

 I originally wrote this in 2009 for the National newspaper in Abu Dhabi, but it is till very much relevant today, given the recent catastrophe in Bangladesh and the attitude that wreaks havoc on the lives of workers and how corporations get away with murder. 

Today I went to the supermarket and got the feeling that perhaps they were actually selling super-food, since the prices seemed to have doubled since I last bought a box of croissants.  Instead of seeming like the place to bargain hunt, it was like being in a bodega in Brooklyn where the prices are usually double of those in the big chain stores. Well, if buying bulk isn’t the best bet, then what? I think that I am going to invest in some whole wheat flour and go back to my Copious Carrots Inc. days when I made baked goods and sold them on the side. Only this time I will be my very own premier customer. Times are hard.

Also, I got a call from a friend asking me did my husband still have a job. Another’s husband just lost his, sending her into the labor market. When you are not a Maddoff it seems that there is very little place on this great big earth for us serfs to eek out a decent living? Don’t worry, I won’t start lamenting on how Marx was right, while he did have some good points. I’ll just say that somebody will be making a killing on spoons while the rest of us are standing in soup lines. Since this is UAE, let’s hope for harees since it sticks to your ribs.

I can’t say that I’m sad when high-rollers take a hit, but what about the globalized workers? Living in the UAE, where some people live off only 600 dirham’s a month, often wonder, what is happening to them? The billionaires, who are suffering now, are not becoming homeless, losing their aspirations to live a better life. What about the aunty in India, living in a banana leaf hut, waiting on money from the Gulf? Now that it’s dried up? You know those execu-thieves should be made to give the money they stole to the poor and moved into a banana leaf hut and see how they like it.  What caused all of this? Let’s just say, the Wal-Mart effect. Where businesses do everything they can to turn a buck, crushing whoever is in their way. But now that the good times are gone (for some) they are crying broke too. But are they really?

It’s funny, that now even biggie corps are looking down in the mouth. Even the mega brand Wal-Mart, has announced that it will being laying-off some of its staff a few weeks ago. This came as a shock to me because in January, in a tiny, side bar, column in the back pages of the Financial Times, there was a report, that Wal-Mart, despite all of the hand wringing about the global economic disaster, has risen from a well stocked storm cellar (no pun intended), with their executives boasting how they have managed to “expand sales despite the slump in consumer spending. And that their “high efficiency model” helped the economy to “play into their hands.”  I’ll bet.

 So, could their recent claims of poverty have to do with the words “corporate bailout”?  Why not, it’s the great American way. But is this fair? Should they be allowed to do so? Is anybody even looking into their books?  Given Wal-Mart’s history of perennial economic, bliss which appears to be an Aztec Empire-inspired economic model where at the bottom of their mountain of money lays mound of corpses and body parts. Hence, this matter definitely needs to be investigated, because the Wal-Mart Economic model is leading to the disintegration of work and wages for many.

Most of Wal-Mart’s success is built on the near million outsourced product manufacturers creating products in floating factories, called export processing zones. (EPZ’s), workers are sometimes, locked in factories, or closed in military-like barracks, guarded in secrecy that rivals the CIA, working in 16 hour shifts. Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, are their main sources of global employees, targeting especially girls and women, who make up the majority of this labor source. These were the ones globalization was to benefit, and now look at who’s getting the handout? While factory workers in China go back to the farm. Where is Stiglitz now that we need him?

Wal-Mart’s reputation at home is not much better. In the internet film, Wal-Mart: the High Cost of Low Prices illustrates, the other ingredient that has help the retailer to make a killing. With Guantanamo-like tactics, its employees suffer starvation where they bypass lunch hours because they could not afford to eat and eat their dinner at soup kitchens. As a lobby, it won a suit which prevented workers from unionizing and getting paid healthcare. The problem is in some small US towns Wal-Mart is the only employer. Really how much were they paying them in the first place? Will the cuts even make a dent? Can it really be that much in the red?

Wal-Mart, like the rest of America likes getting the free stuff; USDA free cheese (given out in the 80’s), food stamps, or free lunches (there was a camp using free government lunches, but they were charging $500 per child), you don’t have to be too broke or have a conscious either to get in on the goods. Just look at what happened on Black Friday.

Black Friday is the most coveted day in the US retail industry, where the night before, Wal-Mart, shoppers looking for the best deals, camped out side of Valley Stream store, all night, doors opened at 5 am. The 2000 horde, of rabid shoppers, stampeded into the store, killing one man, and injuring several others, including a woman in her eighth month of pregnancy.

 This madness almost turned into massacre when the store management announced that the store was closing, in order to care for the injured and out of respect for their fallen co-worker, one enraged shopper, said, “I’ve been here since yesterday morning.” I can imagine the rest of them, cursing and joking their way through the aisles, dryly rebuking the announcement, “So what he’s dead, I didn’t wait all night to get a plasma TV for nothing.” American selfishness is mind-boggling indicator of the disease of materialistic greed is perhaps what is really at the root of this global crisis, where big corporations win and we regular folks wonder what’s next.

Finding the Truth in The Smoke and Mirrors Game

The Suspects:

Jumping the gun is a phrase that is used when things get out 

of hand, when people start to accuse each other, or point 

fingers at someone without evidence. And in the case of the 

two young men who are suspected of causing the explosions 

at the Boston Marathon the gun has not only been jumped, 

but it has been fired and the run to stick this crime on 

someone has already started.

Unlike most pundits, experts, or commentators posing as 

journalists, I am not going to try to prove a case for or against 

the suspects because, they are just that, suspects-people who

are thought to have put the bombs in place at the marathon....

Read More at New India 

Bangladeshi Workers: The Value of a Human

The Tragedy in Bangladesh should compare to that of the Boston Bombing, in that it is an extreme tragedy, however it's not been labeled as that.  To me, it's worst.

Quitting Facebook and Twitter

I know in the news, Facebook (FB) and Twitter is all the rage, but you know, I've learned that it takes a certain kind of person to be in it. I am not one of those special people. I love seeing my friends' cute pictures on Facebook and reading their quips on twitter, but most often people misunderstand them. It's a sort of soulless communication.

Also, there is another thing that I don't like about Facebook, it seems that once you've added someone on FB, the conversation stops there. They don't call you because they know what you are doing, or they have seen a side of you that they may not like, I am not just talking about my personal experiences, but these have become very common.

I rather meet up with folks, have a chat and a tea, you know what I'm saying?

Twitter can be fun. I sometimes find that some people are so witty and cheery and sardonic and I just love reading their stuff, but to what end?

Also, I hate spammers and they are rampant on twitter.

Next, like FB it just wastes too much time, and I really feel that I am growing duller by the day, because I am not reading books and concentrating and analyzing what I read in a deep and critical way. 

So, finally I've broken away. And if any over you want to contact me, well email is always good. maryam@journalist.com

Now, if I can do the same thing for late night milk and cookies, I'd be really doing something big.  :)

Enjoy Your Life-A Book Review

Book Review:

Muhammed Al Arifi's Enjoy Your Life:

Most people would wrongly assume that this book is for Muslims only, but they would be missing out to do so. Enjoy Your Life has the basic feature of a self help/management book, the difference is that it uses stories and incidents that are mostly based in the Arab and Islamic world.

One of the most important elements of the book is that it offers advise for more than the usually cranky friend or obnoxious boss, and nosy neighbor. It offers advise on how to change yourself.

He begins with the classic story of the near suicidal caller who threatens to kill himself, Arifi's reply is, "Well go ahead." He shocks the caller into telling his story and convinces him to reassess his life and move on.


But this book is not just about individuals, it also discusses society problems and how individuals can help change their world around them. -to be continued