Dear All,
I am going to give a lame edition right now,and i wont deny it its because im so tired and with my mum being here and work just pilling up I cant believe how hard everything is at the moment, I will be giving a Shamina update soon once my mum (and my dad) has left, its just so tiring and stressful.
So I have just been so stressed, and really cant right a decent column however this week I should be able to write two good entries...to keep my faithful readers happy!
Take care
Asif
Friday, March 30, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Now thats What I call Qatar 53 : Education Part 2
Now the second part I want to focus on is the MCB(muslim council of Britiain) guide for schools to deal with muslim students, i will give a brief breakdown of the guide, along with other peoples views(from the BBC):
The document says more needs to be done to respond positively to the concerns of Muslim pupils and parents.
It calls for special considerations for Muslims in almost every aspect of school life: collective worship, PE, dance, swimming, exams, school meals, sex education and parents' evenings.
The report rejects from the outset the policy that religion is a strictly private matter that lies outside the school's remit.
It says such an approach makes it "more difficult" for schools to respond positively to the "distinctive" needs of Muslim children.
Dress codes are one obvious source of potential problems. The MCB report is silent on the full-face veil.
But it does say schools "should accommodate" Muslim girls so they are allowed to wear "a full-length loose school skirt or loose trousers, a long-sleeved shirt and a head scarf".
It adds that the headscarf, properly tied, should also be allowed in PE and science. It also says that amulets containing Koranic verses "should not be considered as jewellery".
As for boys, the guidance says they should be allowed to wear beards. Like the girls, they should be allowed to wear tracksuits during sport and PE.
Changing for PE, which is a compulsory part of the national curriculum, is one of the more troublesome areas.
Many primary schools lack separate changing facilities for boys and girls. Younger children often change in classrooms. This guidance says they should use portable partitions.
It argues that all schools, including secondaries, should ideally have separate changing facilities with "individual changing cubicles".
Muslim children "should not be expected to participate in communal showering".
The compromise of allowing Muslim pupils to shower in bathing costumes is not acceptable either, says the guidance, because Islam also forbids being in the presence of nakedness.
Sports involving physical contact (basketball, for example) should happen only in single-gender groups.
Swimming is fraught with difficulties. Again schools are urged "to make every effort" to provide single-sex swimming lessons, as well as allowing Muslim girls to wear full leotards or leggings in the water.
During Ramadan, some pupils might wish to be excused swimming if they fear that swallowing water would break their fast.
There are many other areas in which Muslim pupils need special consideration:
they cannot take part in dance
school meals must include halal options
Islamic Studies should be offered to all Muslim pupils in RE at Key Stage 4 (GCSE level)
schools "should consider" offering Arabic to Muslim pupils.
The list is long: there are stipulations covering music, drama, art, school libraries, provision for prayers, school visits, and raffles.
Yesterday I quoted one of my least favourite newspapers, well to go along with the Telegraph the Daily Express is a equally vile, maybe even more so, aneway when the guide came out, the title in the express was
Muslims demand "Taleban-style" conditions in our schools, and this is why it pisses me off, it causes hysteria and unnneccesary panic, and the target audiance is middle class women (most likely white, and who have little contact with muslims) and so will play to the paranoia of these mums, that the 'muslims' are coming and will ruin you and your children...I have to admit I dont agree with a number of points raised and think its a little ridiculous but there is no mention of the Taleban in that guide and its meant to be a source of reference.
I think there was a need for some sort of a guide, as after all there are 400,000 Muslim pupils in school education and 96% of the them in state school, that figure must be like at least 5-10% of School kids are muslim, which is a huge number, and the teachers who have little knowledge of Islam will need to be more aware incase of cultural snesitiveites. I remeber when I was at school, i used to play on the fact that some of the teachers knew very little on Islam, and would miss lessons or even whole days due to somethign Islamically releated, and I wasnt the only one, and we could get away with that. However I would try pullin that on someone i knew who was clued up in Islam.
Something intresting raised is that the whole focus is on how schools should adapt to Muslim children and not Muslim children should adapt to School, and i think that is partly where we are going wrong. I mean it is a two way process where children come to learn and be socialise and school teach and offer convient venues for intergration and a harmonious society, at an early age a child has no prejudice no preconceptions,and so if you manage to get tolerance at a early age in children then their would be alot less beef(fighting) in the world!
While the MCB is correct to bring awareness of the fact that schools and society in general can indeed do much to become more aware and attune to minority religions, cultures and languages, this document verges on the bizarre. I grew up in Saudi Arabia, perhaps the strictest Islamic State of all, in a school with over a 100 nationalities, encompassing all faiths and traditions. Close to half the pupils were Muslim, and none of these issues from PE to dance were ever a source of conflict.
Saj Chakkalakal, London
The changing for PE issue is one which I think all parents should be concerned about as children develop at different rates and are entitled to some privacy. When I was at school, the girls from two classes got changed in one classroom and did Netball or whatever, whilst the boys did woodwork. Then the boys from the two classes got changed in the other room and did football whilst the girls sewed. And that was a one form entry primary school.
Jan, Birmingham
As someone who teaches in a secondary school I understand the importance of adapting to accommodate as many belief systems as possible. However, I feel that is up to the individual schools to make a decision as to what extent this happens. We are in essence a Christian country, and although I love having a mix of people our society, there needs to be acceptance of the fact that we are predominantly Christian.
Victoria, Brighton
I think that the increase in lack of Christian values has led to problems for the Muslim minority that didn't exist before and that is why the "guidance" provided by the MCB seems so burdensome to provide. Christianity has a lot of similarities with Islam and when our parents settled although they may have experienced racism they still felt safe because the values of Christianity meant that promiscuity was frowned upon and dress codes were modest. Now Christianity has nearly disappeared and politicians keep insisting on "Britishness". What is "Britishness"? Could the British born white person pass the citizenship test? What does a person have to be like to be British?
Zara, Bolton
This is a simple issue, the principle of "when in Rome" should apply here. If I move to a country where the culture is not what I'm accustomed to, it means that I must adapt, not the host country. I would research the culture before I went, not after I arrived.
George Denyer, Glenrothes,
The Muslims should adapt to our norms not the other way round. Do we have the Chinese insisting on everyone celebrating Chinese New Year or Hindus insisting on no beef, no we don't, they adapt to the cultural norms of this country.
Tom, Aylesbury
If a Muslim is allowed to wear a headscarf then other pupils can argue that they are being discriminated against by not being allowed to wear a hat or a hood. Treating a child different because of their religion only encourages a divide to exist. How can you teach children that everyone is equal when they see their friends being treated differently from them.
Sean, Scotland
The face veil is not simply a barrier to communication. Girls should not be required learn to separate themselves from boys and men. Schools are places where girls and boys learn to take their place as equals in the adult world. To allow Muslim girls to wear the face veil in schools would make teachers complicit in the unequal treatment of the girls and boys of one particular religion.
Elizabeth Foster, Oxford
What pupils wear at school is surely not a big issue. I can understand that a school would want everybody to wear the same uniform, but surely a uniform rules could be adapted for certain religious and cultural groups. The other issues: changing systems, employing specialist staff and erecting structures to accommodate Muslim requirements are more of a problem because (i) the cost and (ii) this will start to look like segregation - even apartheid - as different groups are treated differently.
Ken, Bristol
The one thing I have to say in response to the above views, is about the thing of well you live in this country so u have to live as we do, and when were in your country we live like u do. Well the Middle East and Asia dont really pride themselves on demoracy and try to be the 'beacon' of light that is meant to be the example of democracy or freedom. So yes if you lived in the Middle East you are expected to live in more stringent conditions, however if you live in England, despite it being a Christian country is supposed to by its very foreign policy nature supposed to encourage freedom of expression and will, and so for me wearing a hijab or niqab is a form of that expression. I also agree strongly with what Zara wrote, in that we live in a more secular society where relgious conduct has decreased over the years and thats played a large impact in allienating minority groups who still hold on to strong relgious morales...
Thats all from me Folks today...
The document says more needs to be done to respond positively to the concerns of Muslim pupils and parents.
It calls for special considerations for Muslims in almost every aspect of school life: collective worship, PE, dance, swimming, exams, school meals, sex education and parents' evenings.
The report rejects from the outset the policy that religion is a strictly private matter that lies outside the school's remit.
It says such an approach makes it "more difficult" for schools to respond positively to the "distinctive" needs of Muslim children.
Dress codes are one obvious source of potential problems. The MCB report is silent on the full-face veil.
But it does say schools "should accommodate" Muslim girls so they are allowed to wear "a full-length loose school skirt or loose trousers, a long-sleeved shirt and a head scarf".
It adds that the headscarf, properly tied, should also be allowed in PE and science. It also says that amulets containing Koranic verses "should not be considered as jewellery".
As for boys, the guidance says they should be allowed to wear beards. Like the girls, they should be allowed to wear tracksuits during sport and PE.
Changing for PE, which is a compulsory part of the national curriculum, is one of the more troublesome areas.
Many primary schools lack separate changing facilities for boys and girls. Younger children often change in classrooms. This guidance says they should use portable partitions.
It argues that all schools, including secondaries, should ideally have separate changing facilities with "individual changing cubicles".
Muslim children "should not be expected to participate in communal showering".
The compromise of allowing Muslim pupils to shower in bathing costumes is not acceptable either, says the guidance, because Islam also forbids being in the presence of nakedness.
Sports involving physical contact (basketball, for example) should happen only in single-gender groups.
Swimming is fraught with difficulties. Again schools are urged "to make every effort" to provide single-sex swimming lessons, as well as allowing Muslim girls to wear full leotards or leggings in the water.
During Ramadan, some pupils might wish to be excused swimming if they fear that swallowing water would break their fast.
There are many other areas in which Muslim pupils need special consideration:
they cannot take part in dance
school meals must include halal options
Islamic Studies should be offered to all Muslim pupils in RE at Key Stage 4 (GCSE level)
schools "should consider" offering Arabic to Muslim pupils.
The list is long: there are stipulations covering music, drama, art, school libraries, provision for prayers, school visits, and raffles.
Yesterday I quoted one of my least favourite newspapers, well to go along with the Telegraph the Daily Express is a equally vile, maybe even more so, aneway when the guide came out, the title in the express was
Muslims demand "Taleban-style" conditions in our schools, and this is why it pisses me off, it causes hysteria and unnneccesary panic, and the target audiance is middle class women (most likely white, and who have little contact with muslims) and so will play to the paranoia of these mums, that the 'muslims' are coming and will ruin you and your children...I have to admit I dont agree with a number of points raised and think its a little ridiculous but there is no mention of the Taleban in that guide and its meant to be a source of reference.
I think there was a need for some sort of a guide, as after all there are 400,000 Muslim pupils in school education and 96% of the them in state school, that figure must be like at least 5-10% of School kids are muslim, which is a huge number, and the teachers who have little knowledge of Islam will need to be more aware incase of cultural snesitiveites. I remeber when I was at school, i used to play on the fact that some of the teachers knew very little on Islam, and would miss lessons or even whole days due to somethign Islamically releated, and I wasnt the only one, and we could get away with that. However I would try pullin that on someone i knew who was clued up in Islam.
Something intresting raised is that the whole focus is on how schools should adapt to Muslim children and not Muslim children should adapt to School, and i think that is partly where we are going wrong. I mean it is a two way process where children come to learn and be socialise and school teach and offer convient venues for intergration and a harmonious society, at an early age a child has no prejudice no preconceptions,and so if you manage to get tolerance at a early age in children then their would be alot less beef(fighting) in the world!
While the MCB is correct to bring awareness of the fact that schools and society in general can indeed do much to become more aware and attune to minority religions, cultures and languages, this document verges on the bizarre. I grew up in Saudi Arabia, perhaps the strictest Islamic State of all, in a school with over a 100 nationalities, encompassing all faiths and traditions. Close to half the pupils were Muslim, and none of these issues from PE to dance were ever a source of conflict.
Saj Chakkalakal, London
The changing for PE issue is one which I think all parents should be concerned about as children develop at different rates and are entitled to some privacy. When I was at school, the girls from two classes got changed in one classroom and did Netball or whatever, whilst the boys did woodwork. Then the boys from the two classes got changed in the other room and did football whilst the girls sewed. And that was a one form entry primary school.
Jan, Birmingham
As someone who teaches in a secondary school I understand the importance of adapting to accommodate as many belief systems as possible. However, I feel that is up to the individual schools to make a decision as to what extent this happens. We are in essence a Christian country, and although I love having a mix of people our society, there needs to be acceptance of the fact that we are predominantly Christian.
Victoria, Brighton
I think that the increase in lack of Christian values has led to problems for the Muslim minority that didn't exist before and that is why the "guidance" provided by the MCB seems so burdensome to provide. Christianity has a lot of similarities with Islam and when our parents settled although they may have experienced racism they still felt safe because the values of Christianity meant that promiscuity was frowned upon and dress codes were modest. Now Christianity has nearly disappeared and politicians keep insisting on "Britishness". What is "Britishness"? Could the British born white person pass the citizenship test? What does a person have to be like to be British?
Zara, Bolton
This is a simple issue, the principle of "when in Rome" should apply here. If I move to a country where the culture is not what I'm accustomed to, it means that I must adapt, not the host country. I would research the culture before I went, not after I arrived.
George Denyer, Glenrothes,
The Muslims should adapt to our norms not the other way round. Do we have the Chinese insisting on everyone celebrating Chinese New Year or Hindus insisting on no beef, no we don't, they adapt to the cultural norms of this country.
Tom, Aylesbury
If a Muslim is allowed to wear a headscarf then other pupils can argue that they are being discriminated against by not being allowed to wear a hat or a hood. Treating a child different because of their religion only encourages a divide to exist. How can you teach children that everyone is equal when they see their friends being treated differently from them.
Sean, Scotland
The face veil is not simply a barrier to communication. Girls should not be required learn to separate themselves from boys and men. Schools are places where girls and boys learn to take their place as equals in the adult world. To allow Muslim girls to wear the face veil in schools would make teachers complicit in the unequal treatment of the girls and boys of one particular religion.
Elizabeth Foster, Oxford
What pupils wear at school is surely not a big issue. I can understand that a school would want everybody to wear the same uniform, but surely a uniform rules could be adapted for certain religious and cultural groups. The other issues: changing systems, employing specialist staff and erecting structures to accommodate Muslim requirements are more of a problem because (i) the cost and (ii) this will start to look like segregation - even apartheid - as different groups are treated differently.
Ken, Bristol
The one thing I have to say in response to the above views, is about the thing of well you live in this country so u have to live as we do, and when were in your country we live like u do. Well the Middle East and Asia dont really pride themselves on demoracy and try to be the 'beacon' of light that is meant to be the example of democracy or freedom. So yes if you lived in the Middle East you are expected to live in more stringent conditions, however if you live in England, despite it being a Christian country is supposed to by its very foreign policy nature supposed to encourage freedom of expression and will, and so for me wearing a hijab or niqab is a form of that expression. I also agree strongly with what Zara wrote, in that we live in a more secular society where relgious conduct has decreased over the years and thats played a large impact in allienating minority groups who still hold on to strong relgious morales...
Thats all from me Folks today...
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Now that What I call Qatar 52: Education Part 1
Dear All,
I been reading quite a lot of stuff regarding the education establishment in the UK, and have been overwhelmed by the state that the education system is in. Its absolutetly shocking and its going to get a whole lot worse, here is extract from a article I read by Mike Baker:
Picture the scene: the crumpets are toasting gently over the fire, the college butler is serving tea from the silver tray, bicycle clips and gowns have been removed, and the admissions tutors are settled in their deep leather armchairs, choosing next year's student intake.
As they sift through the piles of Ucas admissions forms, there is suddenly a triumphant shout from behind one tottering tower of papers. A don emerges, holding aloft an application form.
"Eureka! I've found one. Yes, a student from a state school, whose parents both left school at 16 and are now unemployed. And he is from an ethnic minority.
"What's more he was even placed in care for a few years while his parents were treated for drug addiction."
"Yes, but what were his A-level grades?" asks one of his colleagues, peering suspiciously over his bifocals.
"One E," comes the response.
"Oh well, let's offer him a place and a bursary, and do it quickly before the other universities grab him. Think what it'll do for our widening participation benchmarks."
Well basically the reason for the above situation possibly arrising is
"In future universities will be given this information - alongside details of parental occupation, ethnic background and whether or not applicants have been in care - ahead of the admissions process not, as now, after it is completed."
Now some of you deem me as a middle class, and a bit of a snob however i dont think its snobbish to think that if this plans goes ahead then its ridiculous, i mean im all for people from lower income/social standings attaining higher education but why should Children, who just like their less fortunate coutnerparts have no choice of where their family come from, prejudice is both ways.
Now I would never normally agree with one of the worst papers in England however when the Daily Telegraph's editorial commented ominously about "the creation of quotas" and of the middle-classes becoming the new "whipping boys". I had to concur.
Here is a example given in the article Mike Baker
"The problem for universities today is that most of them do not interview candidates. They see only exam grades, a head teacher's report, and a personal statement.
That is not a very rounded picture. Nor is it a very level playing field: some schools and some parents provide more help and coaching with personal statements than others. So, on this basis, perhaps some extra information will help create a more rounded picture of the applicant.
And if two candidates emerge with identical grades and similarly effusive head teachers' recommendations, how is the poor admissions tutor to decide between them?
Suppose candidate A is from an inner city "sink" school and is the child of recently arrived, poorly educated immigrants who speak no English at home.
And suppose candidate B came from a high-performing school and has parents who are graduates.
Which would you say had probably (and hold on to that "probably") showed the greater determination and drive to get to the grades they achieved?
More often than not it would, probably, be applicant A.
However, things may not be all that they seem on paper.
The middle-class student may have been ill, may have a special educational need, or may have endured a broken and unsupportive home.
They may in fact have had to show the greater drive and resilience."
I think what he is trying to say is, we actually require more information not less, and this example does illustrate that with the correct information then universitys can make more informed choices. However knowin if someones parents went to university has in my opinion no effect on weather the child is academically capable to go to university. I agree it might make them better prepared but inviersity is a differing experience for all, i know people whos family never went to unversity and yet they settled in and did well, whilst others whom had generations of families going to university, dislike it and just dont fit in. This shows in my opinion, being sons/daughters of graduates does not provide any indication of whether someone should get into a university or not.
Well thats my one cent, and tommorrow will be my other cent...
Take care
Asif
I been reading quite a lot of stuff regarding the education establishment in the UK, and have been overwhelmed by the state that the education system is in. Its absolutetly shocking and its going to get a whole lot worse, here is extract from a article I read by Mike Baker:
Picture the scene: the crumpets are toasting gently over the fire, the college butler is serving tea from the silver tray, bicycle clips and gowns have been removed, and the admissions tutors are settled in their deep leather armchairs, choosing next year's student intake.
As they sift through the piles of Ucas admissions forms, there is suddenly a triumphant shout from behind one tottering tower of papers. A don emerges, holding aloft an application form.
"Eureka! I've found one. Yes, a student from a state school, whose parents both left school at 16 and are now unemployed. And he is from an ethnic minority.
"What's more he was even placed in care for a few years while his parents were treated for drug addiction."
"Yes, but what were his A-level grades?" asks one of his colleagues, peering suspiciously over his bifocals.
"One E," comes the response.
"Oh well, let's offer him a place and a bursary, and do it quickly before the other universities grab him. Think what it'll do for our widening participation benchmarks."
Well basically the reason for the above situation possibly arrising is
"In future universities will be given this information - alongside details of parental occupation, ethnic background and whether or not applicants have been in care - ahead of the admissions process not, as now, after it is completed."
Now some of you deem me as a middle class, and a bit of a snob however i dont think its snobbish to think that if this plans goes ahead then its ridiculous, i mean im all for people from lower income/social standings attaining higher education but why should Children, who just like their less fortunate coutnerparts have no choice of where their family come from, prejudice is both ways.
Now I would never normally agree with one of the worst papers in England however when the Daily Telegraph's editorial commented ominously about "the creation of quotas" and of the middle-classes becoming the new "whipping boys". I had to concur.
Here is a example given in the article Mike Baker
"The problem for universities today is that most of them do not interview candidates. They see only exam grades, a head teacher's report, and a personal statement.
That is not a very rounded picture. Nor is it a very level playing field: some schools and some parents provide more help and coaching with personal statements than others. So, on this basis, perhaps some extra information will help create a more rounded picture of the applicant.
And if two candidates emerge with identical grades and similarly effusive head teachers' recommendations, how is the poor admissions tutor to decide between them?
Suppose candidate A is from an inner city "sink" school and is the child of recently arrived, poorly educated immigrants who speak no English at home.
And suppose candidate B came from a high-performing school and has parents who are graduates.
Which would you say had probably (and hold on to that "probably") showed the greater determination and drive to get to the grades they achieved?
More often than not it would, probably, be applicant A.
However, things may not be all that they seem on paper.
The middle-class student may have been ill, may have a special educational need, or may have endured a broken and unsupportive home.
They may in fact have had to show the greater drive and resilience."
I think what he is trying to say is, we actually require more information not less, and this example does illustrate that with the correct information then universitys can make more informed choices. However knowin if someones parents went to university has in my opinion no effect on weather the child is academically capable to go to university. I agree it might make them better prepared but inviersity is a differing experience for all, i know people whos family never went to unversity and yet they settled in and did well, whilst others whom had generations of families going to university, dislike it and just dont fit in. This shows in my opinion, being sons/daughters of graduates does not provide any indication of whether someone should get into a university or not.
Well thats my one cent, and tommorrow will be my other cent...
Take care
Asif
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Now thats What I call Qatar 51: Shamina Update
Dear All,
After my blitz last week, its all be quite at www.stormy786.blogspot.com , that is because my mum has come to town, which means DDAY for me and Shamina...
Its realistically one of the last chances we have to get our well my parents on board before the planned engagement this summer. So I need and want to get my family on board ASAP so we can have a "normal" wedding, now this is going to be turn out in two ways and I will give both scenarios, either way after some hesitation I will most likely be marrying Shamina..
So Scenario 1:
I speak to my mum and she goes AWOL and just refuses to accept Shamina has her daughter-in-law which in turn means my sisters too will reject her as a sister in law and most likely my dad will join the masses and add to the rejection, this will result in me going Solo, and trying to convince her family, to take me on my own and not as part of a family(as is the norm in Bengali Weddings). This will be very hard to accomplish and if they do not come on board then it will most likely result in me and Shamina being unmarried and will go our different ways, as she believes without the support of either parents it was be too hard to have a successful marriage, and I do see where she is coming from.
Scenario 2:
I speak to my mum and after a long and emotional chat I manage to convince her to accept Shamina as her sole daughter in law, and therefore in turn my sisters will accept her as a sister in law and most likely my dad will join he masses and add to the acceptance. Then as a family we approach Shaminas family who duly accept me and my family, and then we plan the wedding and have a engagement in July.
Its so straightforward scenario 2 but its such a distant reality right now, its near impossible to convince my mum, I am a eternal opportunist however Shamina is the eternal pessimist and her pessism has got to me and im nervous as hell bout this. There is a part of me that thinks that playing the fact that im the only son, I might be able to convince my mum, however its a long shot.
This Friday im taking her to Ritz for Brunch, and I am thinking that the perfect time, in a beautiful surroundings with amazing food and company I will tell her that I plan to marry Shamina this summer, and I want her to be part of it.
For those of you that are married, I am so envious you have all of this process out of the way, as its really heart wrenching, the choices one has to make in life. When you think of all the stuff most parents have done for their kids, its impossible to throw that away over someone you have known for a few years, however when that person means alot to you, it becomes a plausible reality, however in a ideal world I would have both and iA this is my ideal world where I can have both. I will continue to be optimistic on our chances, and Only time will tell if the glass is half full or half empty...
Take care
Asif
After my blitz last week, its all be quite at www.stormy786.blogspot.com , that is because my mum has come to town, which means DDAY for me and Shamina...
Its realistically one of the last chances we have to get our well my parents on board before the planned engagement this summer. So I need and want to get my family on board ASAP so we can have a "normal" wedding, now this is going to be turn out in two ways and I will give both scenarios, either way after some hesitation I will most likely be marrying Shamina..
So Scenario 1:
I speak to my mum and she goes AWOL and just refuses to accept Shamina has her daughter-in-law which in turn means my sisters too will reject her as a sister in law and most likely my dad will join the masses and add to the rejection, this will result in me going Solo, and trying to convince her family, to take me on my own and not as part of a family(as is the norm in Bengali Weddings). This will be very hard to accomplish and if they do not come on board then it will most likely result in me and Shamina being unmarried and will go our different ways, as she believes without the support of either parents it was be too hard to have a successful marriage, and I do see where she is coming from.
Scenario 2:
I speak to my mum and after a long and emotional chat I manage to convince her to accept Shamina as her sole daughter in law, and therefore in turn my sisters will accept her as a sister in law and most likely my dad will join he masses and add to the acceptance. Then as a family we approach Shaminas family who duly accept me and my family, and then we plan the wedding and have a engagement in July.
Its so straightforward scenario 2 but its such a distant reality right now, its near impossible to convince my mum, I am a eternal opportunist however Shamina is the eternal pessimist and her pessism has got to me and im nervous as hell bout this. There is a part of me that thinks that playing the fact that im the only son, I might be able to convince my mum, however its a long shot.
This Friday im taking her to Ritz for Brunch, and I am thinking that the perfect time, in a beautiful surroundings with amazing food and company I will tell her that I plan to marry Shamina this summer, and I want her to be part of it.
For those of you that are married, I am so envious you have all of this process out of the way, as its really heart wrenching, the choices one has to make in life. When you think of all the stuff most parents have done for their kids, its impossible to throw that away over someone you have known for a few years, however when that person means alot to you, it becomes a plausible reality, however in a ideal world I would have both and iA this is my ideal world where I can have both. I will continue to be optimistic on our chances, and Only time will tell if the glass is half full or half empty...
Take care
Asif
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Now thats What I call Qatar 50: 50 NOT OUT in Qatar
Its the big 5 - 0 here in Qatar, 50 entries whilst I been in Qatar, and lets hope I do alot more.
I have been thinkin of reducing my 9 a month to possibly 8 or 7 as its actually quite demanding and though it doesnt sound a lot it is.
I went out the other night with my functional manager and a few collegues, this funtional manager is quite high up in the company and was really insighful into how the company is run at a much higher level and obviously was good to socilise with the bosses bosses boss!
My work load is manageable at the moment in terms of my every day activity, however as I am a Area Warden, I have a lot of things to do with preparing stuff for the people who living in my area with respect to safety and security. Im also doing this thing called Six Sigma, where using mathamatic formulaes to try to better processes. I am training to be a yellow belt, and hopefully iA i will become one over the next couple of months.
I dont know if i mentioned Merit before, its this competetions that is held by Loughbrough univeristy, and invites people from all over the world to participate in running a virtual construction company. Bechtel has like 4 teams in it, and other companies have like 12 or soemthing stupid like that, aneway we started off really well, and was like in the top 50 out of over 300 teams, however we started to go down and now were just out of the top 100, however were still top of the bechtel teams so we have local bragging rights!!
There is a new shopping centre here in Qatar called Villagio, its amazing, it has a huge Carrerfour with a wicked electrical selection! They jus oppened a virgin megastore which has a really good booked section, and there are not many places where u can find decent books here in Qatar. It has lots of the fashion shops of oxford street, like Topman/topshop, Bershka, Hm,Zara,mango etc but the best thing is the river within the mall. It has a gondolla service for people to take u shop to shop, its such a novel idea, im sure its copied from somewhere else in the world but for me its a novel area.
I have decided to improve my quality of life here in Qatar, as I usually dont spend much money here in Qatar but now I am renting a car, i already had satalitle but now i got like the Platinum package as my mum is coming and also the cricket world cup! its going to be sooo good!
Im getting internet and phone line installed and Im getting my teeth fixed iA lol!(its about time i know!)
Last night saw the return to my illustraious football career with bechtel!it was a cracking performance and though i didnt play much i got really stuck in, shame about us losing 10-0. However I came on when it was 8-0 and they only scored 2 goals, I lost whatever fitness i built up in the last few weeks and now i need to restart again! However the cool thing abuot yesterday was i met someone who went to my old school. He was a couple years older than me, he was playing for the other team and is a teacher here in Qatar, hes enjoyin himself alot here and i think it will be good I know more and more people outside of work, and will hopefully lead me to become a better networker!
Well thats it for today its the weekend for me and if ur very lucky u may get a update over the weekend!
Take care
Asif
I have been thinkin of reducing my 9 a month to possibly 8 or 7 as its actually quite demanding and though it doesnt sound a lot it is.
I went out the other night with my functional manager and a few collegues, this funtional manager is quite high up in the company and was really insighful into how the company is run at a much higher level and obviously was good to socilise with the bosses bosses boss!
My work load is manageable at the moment in terms of my every day activity, however as I am a Area Warden, I have a lot of things to do with preparing stuff for the people who living in my area with respect to safety and security. Im also doing this thing called Six Sigma, where using mathamatic formulaes to try to better processes. I am training to be a yellow belt, and hopefully iA i will become one over the next couple of months.
I dont know if i mentioned Merit before, its this competetions that is held by Loughbrough univeristy, and invites people from all over the world to participate in running a virtual construction company. Bechtel has like 4 teams in it, and other companies have like 12 or soemthing stupid like that, aneway we started off really well, and was like in the top 50 out of over 300 teams, however we started to go down and now were just out of the top 100, however were still top of the bechtel teams so we have local bragging rights!!
There is a new shopping centre here in Qatar called Villagio, its amazing, it has a huge Carrerfour with a wicked electrical selection! They jus oppened a virgin megastore which has a really good booked section, and there are not many places where u can find decent books here in Qatar. It has lots of the fashion shops of oxford street, like Topman/topshop, Bershka, Hm,Zara,mango etc but the best thing is the river within the mall. It has a gondolla service for people to take u shop to shop, its such a novel idea, im sure its copied from somewhere else in the world but for me its a novel area.
I have decided to improve my quality of life here in Qatar, as I usually dont spend much money here in Qatar but now I am renting a car, i already had satalitle but now i got like the Platinum package as my mum is coming and also the cricket world cup! its going to be sooo good!
Im getting internet and phone line installed and Im getting my teeth fixed iA lol!(its about time i know!)
Last night saw the return to my illustraious football career with bechtel!it was a cracking performance and though i didnt play much i got really stuck in, shame about us losing 10-0. However I came on when it was 8-0 and they only scored 2 goals, I lost whatever fitness i built up in the last few weeks and now i need to restart again! However the cool thing abuot yesterday was i met someone who went to my old school. He was a couple years older than me, he was playing for the other team and is a teacher here in Qatar, hes enjoyin himself alot here and i think it will be good I know more and more people outside of work, and will hopefully lead me to become a better networker!
Well thats it for today its the weekend for me and if ur very lucky u may get a update over the weekend!
Take care
Asif
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Now thats what I call Qatar 49 Incest: An Age-Old Taboo!
Dear All,
I am going to continue my assult on the blogging world with yet another entry! I was disappointed not to find my blog in the list for one of the worlds best blogs, however I have only been doing this for about 8-9 months iA i will be the no.1 blogger on the net, (you can tell im not short of ambitition!)
I watched the Man utd game last night against Uefa All stars and was a really enjoyable game, however didnt think the fans really got into it, and its pretty hard to get into a game where their is not much riding on it. I was watching Fox Soccer report during the half time, and it was so gay the yanks commenting on football, the only guy that had any credibility on the show was a Scottish guy, the others jus seemed like such knobs, Aneway they did make an intresting point in how Man utd and Chelsea could play each other 3 times in one week to potentially decide three competetions. If that happens that will be immense, but my biggest fear is the fact that Squad rotation will become to most important factor and everyone knows Chelseas squad pisses on everyone elses in Europe, due the endless money that was going into the club.I still tink though they UTD could win two of those 3 matches just not sure which ones. I really hope Totenham beat Chelsea, as do Valencia it will be so awesome, as though they'll have less games than UTD they will be so down their morale will be way down! So Chelsea have a game tonight, and if Man City can do their city rivals a huge favour and beat them, then you got to belive the title is heading to Old Trafford!
Well apart from footy, I been reading alot of more stuff online, and thanks Fern for the comment yesterday to the previous entry, and for all those who emailed me comments. I was reading another intresting article, which I have included below( i was going to write a summary but decdied its too hard to condense and the whole thing is generally quite intresting) and thought I would share it with you...)
Incest: an age-old taboo
Forward thinking? Napoleon dropped incest from France's penal code
As a German brother and sister take their fight for the right to a sexual relationship to the country's highest court, the BBC News website's Clare Murphy looks at the history of the incest taboo and how it is changing.
When Henry VIII wanted to be rid of Anne Boleyn, he made sure she was accused of one particularly heinous crime: sleeping with her brother.
According to the great modern anthropologist Claude Levi Strauss, the incest taboo has been the driving force of humankind. By forcing man to find a mate outside the home, disparate, warring clans have been brought together and society has flourished.
Others see the abhorrence for sleeping with relatives as having a primarily biological motive - a human instinct to prevent defective genes being passed down.
"Society has long relied on the family unit as its basis," says sociologist Vikki Bell. "That's why it has been so important to keep family roles clear."
It is not hard to see how incest can make family life very complicated, potentially turning brothers into fathers and mothers into sisters.
Yet while most are clear that sexual acts between a related adult and child constitute abuse and as such must be punished, there is no modern consensus on whether society has the right to ban consensual sex between siblings, or indeed parent and adult child.
Too close to attract
If Sigmund Freud is to be believed, everyone would be sleeping with their close relatives given half a chance. Society had to keep these deep-seated desires in check, he argued.
No need, countered Finnish anthropologist Edward Westermarck, who said that if anything, close association in childhood automatically created sexual aversion - in other words, familiarity breeds contempt.
His theory was tested in a study of unrelated children growing up together in an Israeli kibbutz. Despite the parents being keen on their children forming relationships, the children themselves had no sexual interest in one another as they began to mature.
Here lies the daughter, here lies the father, here lies the sister, here lies the brother, here lie husband and wife, and yet there are only two bodies in the grave
16th Century French poem
The theory was also backed up by another study in Taiwan by a US academic Arthur Wolf.
He looked at two forms of marriage - one in which the two partners married as adults, and another in which the wife was taken into her future husband's household as a young child, growing up with him.
The latter produced more adultery, more divorces and fewer children than the former. This, he said, indicated closeness as children stifled rather than stimulated sexual feelings.
Locked up
But these cases, which in any event did not involve actual blood relatives, fitted uncomfortably with the only well documented case of a society which embraced sibling incest outright - that of Roman Egypt.
For about 300 years, a significant proportion of all marriages recorded were between brothers and sisters.
German brother and sister Patrick and Susan did not grow up together
The relationships appear to have been both social and reproductive.
But there might have been years between the siblings given the high rate of infant mortality, so sibling husband and wives may have barely grown up together.
The phenomenon of genetic sexual attraction - where siblings fall for each other on meeting after an estranged childhood - accounts for some of the high-profile incest cases of recent years.
In the German case, Patrick was brought up in a foster home while Susan remained with the biological parents, meeting for the first time when she was 16 and he 23.
And in the US case of Allen and Patricia Muth, which went to the Supreme Court in 2005, the sister was raised in care, not meeting her brother until she was 18.
Both of them have served prison sentences for incest.
Biological risks
Both of these relationships have produced children with special needs, although whether this resulted from their parents' biological proximity is unclear.
Some geneticists put the risk of producing a disabled child as high as 50%, but this is hotly debated. Opponents of the incest ban also argue there are double standards, noting that no-one would ban those with hereditary diseases from reproducing.
In some countries, the law has tried to take into account the risks while legalising incest in certain circumstances. In Brazil, an uncle and niece may have a relationship provided they undergo health checks.
In parts of the US, first cousins may marry if they are beyond reproductive age or ability.
Our moral guardians don't need to get too worked up about this
Joachim Renzikowski, criminologist
But even in countries where incest between adults is not prosecuted, the rights of both parents and children born of incest are not clear cut.
France dropped incest from the penal code under Napoleon - 200 years ago.
But siblings may not marry, and in 2004, a man who was having a sexual relationship with his half-sister was refused legal paternity of his own child.
In the Netherlands meanwhile, where consensual incest is no longer prosecuted, the legal status of the child born of such a relationship is ambiguous, according to Masha Antokolskaia, an expert in family law at the Free University in Amsterdam.
Sweden is the only country in Europe which allows marriage between siblings who share a parent.
"In many ways society no longer wants the state to intervene in private lives when it doesn't have to," she says. "But it is still not prepared to grant incestuous couples full rights."
There is also debate over how much laws affect behaviour. Some even argue that what is proscribed becomes all the more attractive.
Not according to Joachim Renzikowski, a criminal law professor at Germany's Halle University.
"I don't believe that because incest is banned, there's a certain attraction about doing it," he says.
"But I doubt equally that getting rid of our incest law will result in any measurable increase in cases. Our moral guardians don't need to get too worked up about this."
Well I think the article raises so many questions about mankind and about our society, what is inhearietly right or wrong, why do we take offence to one thing but not another, why is incest worthy of going to jail when its two consenting adults?, does the fact that a brother and sister whom havent been brought up together make it ok to be incesterious?, I have plently more questions and thoughts that were popping into my head, but before all that I want to accredit the people who introduced me to the ideology of Incest, its those fine people who made the show Brookside, (for those who dont know it, its a British Soap, that is based in scummy Liverpool and had a storyline of a attractive sister and her brother fallin in love, it was sick ill be honest and horried plently of people in the UK).
Incest passes racial or relgious lines and is generally seen as a human diesase, i know thats quite harsh, but what I mean is, it can happen to anyone and is irrespective of anything, its like someone getting Aids, in that its fairly random and anyone from any race or relgion is equally succsectible.
I am personally against incest, and the thought of it is sickening, however is that because of the way i brought up, or the soceity around me, if as the article states I was brought up in Roman Egyptian times then would I be more accepting of incest? what is it that makes me sick, especially if its two consenting adults. I am torn in my thinking, however something that i definelty know is wrong is throwing them in prison for it, i dont see how they are hurting or endangering society by being in love with your brother/sister. America and Germany prides itself on their democract ways and if Merkel(I cant stand her personally much prefered Schroder, but thats jus the socialist in me trying to get out) does not allow that couple rights to be together then does it not go against everything they stand for.
I just dont know what to say or think regarding the topic, as i continue to write the more I get confused, as Islamically I know its wrong, but so is Homosexuality, however I also have a belief that people are entitled to do as they please, and as long as it doesnt infringe others in their beliefs or manners than it really shouldnt be a issue.
Well those are my brief thoughts ,and because they are muddled, its clear that for me the issue is one of moral conflict where it goes agaisnt your nature in so many ways that it becomes acceptable in some of the ways.
Anyway take care
Asif
I am going to continue my assult on the blogging world with yet another entry! I was disappointed not to find my blog in the list for one of the worlds best blogs, however I have only been doing this for about 8-9 months iA i will be the no.1 blogger on the net, (you can tell im not short of ambitition!)
I watched the Man utd game last night against Uefa All stars and was a really enjoyable game, however didnt think the fans really got into it, and its pretty hard to get into a game where their is not much riding on it. I was watching Fox Soccer report during the half time, and it was so gay the yanks commenting on football, the only guy that had any credibility on the show was a Scottish guy, the others jus seemed like such knobs, Aneway they did make an intresting point in how Man utd and Chelsea could play each other 3 times in one week to potentially decide three competetions. If that happens that will be immense, but my biggest fear is the fact that Squad rotation will become to most important factor and everyone knows Chelseas squad pisses on everyone elses in Europe, due the endless money that was going into the club.I still tink though they UTD could win two of those 3 matches just not sure which ones. I really hope Totenham beat Chelsea, as do Valencia it will be so awesome, as though they'll have less games than UTD they will be so down their morale will be way down! So Chelsea have a game tonight, and if Man City can do their city rivals a huge favour and beat them, then you got to belive the title is heading to Old Trafford!
Well apart from footy, I been reading alot of more stuff online, and thanks Fern for the comment yesterday to the previous entry, and for all those who emailed me comments. I was reading another intresting article, which I have included below( i was going to write a summary but decdied its too hard to condense and the whole thing is generally quite intresting) and thought I would share it with you...)
Incest: an age-old taboo
Forward thinking? Napoleon dropped incest from France's penal code
As a German brother and sister take their fight for the right to a sexual relationship to the country's highest court, the BBC News website's Clare Murphy looks at the history of the incest taboo and how it is changing.
When Henry VIII wanted to be rid of Anne Boleyn, he made sure she was accused of one particularly heinous crime: sleeping with her brother.
According to the great modern anthropologist Claude Levi Strauss, the incest taboo has been the driving force of humankind. By forcing man to find a mate outside the home, disparate, warring clans have been brought together and society has flourished.
Others see the abhorrence for sleeping with relatives as having a primarily biological motive - a human instinct to prevent defective genes being passed down.
"Society has long relied on the family unit as its basis," says sociologist Vikki Bell. "That's why it has been so important to keep family roles clear."
It is not hard to see how incest can make family life very complicated, potentially turning brothers into fathers and mothers into sisters.
Yet while most are clear that sexual acts between a related adult and child constitute abuse and as such must be punished, there is no modern consensus on whether society has the right to ban consensual sex between siblings, or indeed parent and adult child.
Too close to attract
If Sigmund Freud is to be believed, everyone would be sleeping with their close relatives given half a chance. Society had to keep these deep-seated desires in check, he argued.
No need, countered Finnish anthropologist Edward Westermarck, who said that if anything, close association in childhood automatically created sexual aversion - in other words, familiarity breeds contempt.
His theory was tested in a study of unrelated children growing up together in an Israeli kibbutz. Despite the parents being keen on their children forming relationships, the children themselves had no sexual interest in one another as they began to mature.
Here lies the daughter, here lies the father, here lies the sister, here lies the brother, here lie husband and wife, and yet there are only two bodies in the grave
16th Century French poem
The theory was also backed up by another study in Taiwan by a US academic Arthur Wolf.
He looked at two forms of marriage - one in which the two partners married as adults, and another in which the wife was taken into her future husband's household as a young child, growing up with him.
The latter produced more adultery, more divorces and fewer children than the former. This, he said, indicated closeness as children stifled rather than stimulated sexual feelings.
Locked up
But these cases, which in any event did not involve actual blood relatives, fitted uncomfortably with the only well documented case of a society which embraced sibling incest outright - that of Roman Egypt.
For about 300 years, a significant proportion of all marriages recorded were between brothers and sisters.
German brother and sister Patrick and Susan did not grow up together
The relationships appear to have been both social and reproductive.
But there might have been years between the siblings given the high rate of infant mortality, so sibling husband and wives may have barely grown up together.
The phenomenon of genetic sexual attraction - where siblings fall for each other on meeting after an estranged childhood - accounts for some of the high-profile incest cases of recent years.
In the German case, Patrick was brought up in a foster home while Susan remained with the biological parents, meeting for the first time when she was 16 and he 23.
And in the US case of Allen and Patricia Muth, which went to the Supreme Court in 2005, the sister was raised in care, not meeting her brother until she was 18.
Both of them have served prison sentences for incest.
Biological risks
Both of these relationships have produced children with special needs, although whether this resulted from their parents' biological proximity is unclear.
Some geneticists put the risk of producing a disabled child as high as 50%, but this is hotly debated. Opponents of the incest ban also argue there are double standards, noting that no-one would ban those with hereditary diseases from reproducing.
In some countries, the law has tried to take into account the risks while legalising incest in certain circumstances. In Brazil, an uncle and niece may have a relationship provided they undergo health checks.
In parts of the US, first cousins may marry if they are beyond reproductive age or ability.
Our moral guardians don't need to get too worked up about this
Joachim Renzikowski, criminologist
But even in countries where incest between adults is not prosecuted, the rights of both parents and children born of incest are not clear cut.
France dropped incest from the penal code under Napoleon - 200 years ago.
But siblings may not marry, and in 2004, a man who was having a sexual relationship with his half-sister was refused legal paternity of his own child.
In the Netherlands meanwhile, where consensual incest is no longer prosecuted, the legal status of the child born of such a relationship is ambiguous, according to Masha Antokolskaia, an expert in family law at the Free University in Amsterdam.
Sweden is the only country in Europe which allows marriage between siblings who share a parent.
"In many ways society no longer wants the state to intervene in private lives when it doesn't have to," she says. "But it is still not prepared to grant incestuous couples full rights."
There is also debate over how much laws affect behaviour. Some even argue that what is proscribed becomes all the more attractive.
Not according to Joachim Renzikowski, a criminal law professor at Germany's Halle University.
"I don't believe that because incest is banned, there's a certain attraction about doing it," he says.
"But I doubt equally that getting rid of our incest law will result in any measurable increase in cases. Our moral guardians don't need to get too worked up about this."
Well I think the article raises so many questions about mankind and about our society, what is inhearietly right or wrong, why do we take offence to one thing but not another, why is incest worthy of going to jail when its two consenting adults?, does the fact that a brother and sister whom havent been brought up together make it ok to be incesterious?, I have plently more questions and thoughts that were popping into my head, but before all that I want to accredit the people who introduced me to the ideology of Incest, its those fine people who made the show Brookside, (for those who dont know it, its a British Soap, that is based in scummy Liverpool and had a storyline of a attractive sister and her brother fallin in love, it was sick ill be honest and horried plently of people in the UK).
Incest passes racial or relgious lines and is generally seen as a human diesase, i know thats quite harsh, but what I mean is, it can happen to anyone and is irrespective of anything, its like someone getting Aids, in that its fairly random and anyone from any race or relgion is equally succsectible.
I am personally against incest, and the thought of it is sickening, however is that because of the way i brought up, or the soceity around me, if as the article states I was brought up in Roman Egyptian times then would I be more accepting of incest? what is it that makes me sick, especially if its two consenting adults. I am torn in my thinking, however something that i definelty know is wrong is throwing them in prison for it, i dont see how they are hurting or endangering society by being in love with your brother/sister. America and Germany prides itself on their democract ways and if Merkel(I cant stand her personally much prefered Schroder, but thats jus the socialist in me trying to get out) does not allow that couple rights to be together then does it not go against everything they stand for.
I just dont know what to say or think regarding the topic, as i continue to write the more I get confused, as Islamically I know its wrong, but so is Homosexuality, however I also have a belief that people are entitled to do as they please, and as long as it doesnt infringe others in their beliefs or manners than it really shouldnt be a issue.
Well those are my brief thoughts ,and because they are muddled, its clear that for me the issue is one of moral conflict where it goes agaisnt your nature in so many ways that it becomes acceptable in some of the ways.
Anyway take care
Asif
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Now thats What I call Qatar 48: Hijacked by the Green Conspiracy
Dear All,
I am starting to get settled back in to the qatari way of doing things. I am in the process of trying to lease a car, I have my eyes set on a renault clio, I like small cars and their alot easier to drive and park, Its cool having a Hummer or a Range but practicality wise the clio does it for me! So im in negotions with the company and hopefully they will agree to my price, i can be a hard bastard when bargaining and its something i really pride myself on. I accept in most eastern countires ill never get local rate however I always try to play the lowest western rate possible!
The draw for the champions league was made the other day and it looks promising for Man Utd, we have Roma which are my 2nd favourite team in Italy after Inter Milan, however the way Man utd are playing this season it will be hard for any team to beat them. I think Man utd must win at least 2 of the 3 tropies that are left, its going to be a REAL tense finish to the end of the year..not only in football but also fantasty football.
I am so pissed with myself, as one of the biggest gameweeks in history and I didnt make any subsitutions coupled with the fact that Arsenal and Chelsea play twice and I have all my Arsenal and Chelsea players on the subbench because they didnt play the previous week. I got so fcuked over its not funny, and basically all my hardwork for the last 7 months went down the hill over one week, its so heartwrenching.
Now about the previous entry regarding the women in Saudi, someone responded to me and because I felt it was very interesting, I will share it with you guys,
part of me, though i hate to admit is, is angered by the way the woman was dealt with. And, due to my lack of islamic education still believes to some extent that women are wrongly treated as inferior to ment eventho they are supposed to be the foundation of the future and all that, which in itself contradicts itself.. but anyway what one of the women said in your quote about islam not being modern enough and needs to update itself, she angered me so much. I dont understand how a religion, which implies divine intervention, can remain a religion if if it is meddled with and men allow themselves to make amendents as and when they please. such carelessness and arrogance defeats the purpose of religion as the words and instructions of God do not remain and this, in turn, leads to the religion being desolved to have just another theology to replace it. in such cases there is no point in religion as it will not serve its purpose.
I know im going on but I just cant put into words how rediculously preposterous i think what these ignorant people say.
Though it is hard to accept, Inequality between the sexes is inevitable despite how we try to get around it in the western world. i dont mean to sound ice aged but men and women do serve different purposed (though there are the few men who serve no purpose at all...but thats another story). if people want to adapt religion then they might as well not follow it because that means that they dont really have the faith that is required anyway. they might as well look into another religion or bocome an aitheist and live a good life anyway.
but how dare she say... All men have a Penis and our lives are pretty much ruled by it. Take away women from the equation and what happens, well Saudi happens, that's what. ? How dare she?? who is this lady and what is her position that enables her to make such sweeping judgements? she's so stupid!
Then the person decided to speak about a programe she saw the other day which was posing an alternative view of the reasons behind global warming and rise in carbon in the atmosphere. aparently, its all natural and the contributions that man makes to the levels of carbon in the atmosphere is next to nothing as the oceans produce vasts amounts of it and if we stopped emitting our carbon tomorrow there would be no impact. the world and the universe follows a certain cycle and we are scientifically at a point where the wordl is naturally getting warmer and ice caps are naturally melting and carbon levels are naturally rising. flooding and other changes in the climate has always happened and is inevitable despite our actions and things will get back to 'normal' in another few hundred years.
The reasons why politicians emphasise on us being more greener is that it is politically and economically more advantageous for the west and when they form alliances and create international laws to firstly curb fossil fuel useage and then to stop it their ulterior motive is to cripple the economies of the countries who have oil resources and make themselves, the countries who do not have an abundance of sources of oil and gas, richer. by making its population more greener they create another field in the economy where they can make profit. by advancing in green energy and solar power generation they cripple oil rich countries as they will not have to buy oil from them and force them not to sell or use it but instead buy their 'green' products. this is why they are producing all these stats to prove how the world is being ruined and pushed to and end.
And it made her convinced me that this whole go green thing might be just one big farce and me being the ultimate conspiracy lover, will always be quick to point the finger and I do think that their is a element of truth but it seems a little like its jumping on the anti-western goverment consiprircay bandwagon.
I am starting to get settled back in to the qatari way of doing things. I am in the process of trying to lease a car, I have my eyes set on a renault clio, I like small cars and their alot easier to drive and park, Its cool having a Hummer or a Range but practicality wise the clio does it for me! So im in negotions with the company and hopefully they will agree to my price, i can be a hard bastard when bargaining and its something i really pride myself on. I accept in most eastern countires ill never get local rate however I always try to play the lowest western rate possible!
The draw for the champions league was made the other day and it looks promising for Man Utd, we have Roma which are my 2nd favourite team in Italy after Inter Milan, however the way Man utd are playing this season it will be hard for any team to beat them. I think Man utd must win at least 2 of the 3 tropies that are left, its going to be a REAL tense finish to the end of the year..not only in football but also fantasty football.
I am so pissed with myself, as one of the biggest gameweeks in history and I didnt make any subsitutions coupled with the fact that Arsenal and Chelsea play twice and I have all my Arsenal and Chelsea players on the subbench because they didnt play the previous week. I got so fcuked over its not funny, and basically all my hardwork for the last 7 months went down the hill over one week, its so heartwrenching.
Now about the previous entry regarding the women in Saudi, someone responded to me and because I felt it was very interesting, I will share it with you guys,
part of me, though i hate to admit is, is angered by the way the woman was dealt with. And, due to my lack of islamic education still believes to some extent that women are wrongly treated as inferior to ment eventho they are supposed to be the foundation of the future and all that, which in itself contradicts itself.. but anyway what one of the women said in your quote about islam not being modern enough and needs to update itself, she angered me so much. I dont understand how a religion, which implies divine intervention, can remain a religion if if it is meddled with and men allow themselves to make amendents as and when they please. such carelessness and arrogance defeats the purpose of religion as the words and instructions of God do not remain and this, in turn, leads to the religion being desolved to have just another theology to replace it. in such cases there is no point in religion as it will not serve its purpose.
I know im going on but I just cant put into words how rediculously preposterous i think what these ignorant people say.
Though it is hard to accept, Inequality between the sexes is inevitable despite how we try to get around it in the western world. i dont mean to sound ice aged but men and women do serve different purposed (though there are the few men who serve no purpose at all...but thats another story). if people want to adapt religion then they might as well not follow it because that means that they dont really have the faith that is required anyway. they might as well look into another religion or bocome an aitheist and live a good life anyway.
but how dare she say... All men have a Penis and our lives are pretty much ruled by it. Take away women from the equation and what happens, well Saudi happens, that's what. ? How dare she?? who is this lady and what is her position that enables her to make such sweeping judgements? she's so stupid!
Then the person decided to speak about a programe she saw the other day which was posing an alternative view of the reasons behind global warming and rise in carbon in the atmosphere. aparently, its all natural and the contributions that man makes to the levels of carbon in the atmosphere is next to nothing as the oceans produce vasts amounts of it and if we stopped emitting our carbon tomorrow there would be no impact. the world and the universe follows a certain cycle and we are scientifically at a point where the wordl is naturally getting warmer and ice caps are naturally melting and carbon levels are naturally rising. flooding and other changes in the climate has always happened and is inevitable despite our actions and things will get back to 'normal' in another few hundred years.
The reasons why politicians emphasise on us being more greener is that it is politically and economically more advantageous for the west and when they form alliances and create international laws to firstly curb fossil fuel useage and then to stop it their ulterior motive is to cripple the economies of the countries who have oil resources and make themselves, the countries who do not have an abundance of sources of oil and gas, richer. by making its population more greener they create another field in the economy where they can make profit. by advancing in green energy and solar power generation they cripple oil rich countries as they will not have to buy oil from them and force them not to sell or use it but instead buy their 'green' products. this is why they are producing all these stats to prove how the world is being ruined and pushed to and end.
And it made her convinced me that this whole go green thing might be just one big farce and me being the ultimate conspiracy lover, will always be quick to point the finger and I do think that their is a element of truth but it seems a little like its jumping on the anti-western goverment consiprircay bandwagon.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Now thats What I call Qatar 47: World of contrasts
Dear All,
2 blogs in 2 days well someone has some writing to do right!
Well aneway as some of u may know im a keen photographer and i read the following article
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6385969.stm
Which is about this guy winning photograph of the year award at some press event, aneway, the photo is one of the war in lebanon in the summer and shows some lebanese in a mini cooper entering a area that has been destroyed and as usual the lebos look glamourous despite the carnage around them.
I do think its a fantastic picture that does really encaspulate the disgusting world the lebanese live in. For those who dont know me, i cant stand the majoirty of lebanese, at least the ones i met, there incredibly obnoxious, pompous and arrogant. The ones in the uk, the ones here, and the ones i met whereever i gone, and my feelings stay the same. The one thing that i feel they can be proud of is the one thing that the lebanese i meet are ashmed of, and thats Hezbolla. Now I dont regard them as a terroist organisation, and think if you were to label them a terroist organisation then u shud label MI6 or Mossad or CIA/FBI, because despite them not being the offical army of the country they protect their citizens, and with Hezbolla they also provide for them in a underhand way in my opinon. The lebanese i meet feel that they dont have protect them, so I ask them, well who does, and they will reply the goverment, or that they are not intrested about that and it doesnt affect them. So when their is indisriminite bombing and attacks against their family and friends who will they ask or seek protection from? and the reply is, it wont happen again, and this naivety is geniune. The society that exists in lebanon is plastic and i think this picture descipts that.
Finally about lebos i heard this fact that their are more lebos in brazil than in lebanaon, thats disgusting fact and shows what pride they have in their home land.
Aneway I also wanted to quickly speak about the cricket world cup starting next week i cant wait, my beloved bangladesh is in HOT FORM, they beat new zeland who jus thrashed Austrila so using the logic were better than Austraila. IF bangladesh dont win it, then i want england to win it, and if that doesnt happen either india or pakistan im undecided, as India is wheres my dads from and its having quite a few muslim players these days so itsa hard choice, but i cant wait!
Aneway i best be off take care
Asif
2 blogs in 2 days well someone has some writing to do right!
Well aneway as some of u may know im a keen photographer and i read the following article
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6385969.stm
Which is about this guy winning photograph of the year award at some press event, aneway, the photo is one of the war in lebanon in the summer and shows some lebanese in a mini cooper entering a area that has been destroyed and as usual the lebos look glamourous despite the carnage around them.
I do think its a fantastic picture that does really encaspulate the disgusting world the lebanese live in. For those who dont know me, i cant stand the majoirty of lebanese, at least the ones i met, there incredibly obnoxious, pompous and arrogant. The ones in the uk, the ones here, and the ones i met whereever i gone, and my feelings stay the same. The one thing that i feel they can be proud of is the one thing that the lebanese i meet are ashmed of, and thats Hezbolla. Now I dont regard them as a terroist organisation, and think if you were to label them a terroist organisation then u shud label MI6 or Mossad or CIA/FBI, because despite them not being the offical army of the country they protect their citizens, and with Hezbolla they also provide for them in a underhand way in my opinon. The lebanese i meet feel that they dont have protect them, so I ask them, well who does, and they will reply the goverment, or that they are not intrested about that and it doesnt affect them. So when their is indisriminite bombing and attacks against their family and friends who will they ask or seek protection from? and the reply is, it wont happen again, and this naivety is geniune. The society that exists in lebanon is plastic and i think this picture descipts that.
Finally about lebos i heard this fact that their are more lebos in brazil than in lebanaon, thats disgusting fact and shows what pride they have in their home land.
Aneway I also wanted to quickly speak about the cricket world cup starting next week i cant wait, my beloved bangladesh is in HOT FORM, they beat new zeland who jus thrashed Austrila so using the logic were better than Austraila. IF bangladesh dont win it, then i want england to win it, and if that doesnt happen either india or pakistan im undecided, as India is wheres my dads from and its having quite a few muslim players these days so itsa hard choice, but i cant wait!
Aneway i best be off take care
Asif
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Now that What I call Qatar 46: The Unfair lashing?
Its been a while since my last entry and its the first entry of the month which means im way behind my 9 a month target however i think i do have quite a lot to write about this month, with champs league footy back on and the never ending religious and war issues in the world and just my own trials and tribulations.
Today rather than talk about what i been gettup up2 over the last 9 days or so, i want to focus on a article that was brought to my attention by one of my readers from Qatar Living, here is the link
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,256980,00.html
Here's a summary:
A woman in Saudi Arabia meets a man in the mall and they get in his car to go somewhere, however i belive they do know each other. The man then kidnaps her, threatens to blackmail with a story about how they're having an affair out of wedlock, and she is raped 14 times by 7 different men in a matter of hours. Some of the men are captured and sentenced, but she receives a sentence of 90 lashes for being alone in a car with a man to whom she isn't married. She's currently appealing to the King to eliminate her sentence.(also turns out her brother battered her because of the whole incident)
I had mixed feelings as to whether i should write about this, as it shows Muslims and therefore Islam in a negative light, and as im fairly protectionist kind of a guy, it goes against my nature. However I feel despite the negative light its just such a terrible story it must be shared.
The obvious feeling is pure empathy for the women involved and outrage at the men and the government. I have been reading up peoples comments to the news stories in chat rooms in the middle east and alot of people are quick to jump on the wahabi hating bandwagon. Now the story isnt so much about the rape but the fact that the women is getting punished despite being rapped.
Now much more relgious people than me will be able to tell you if Islamically she was correct to get in the car or not (it has been reported supposedly she was kidnapped but that could just be a rumour) from my own learnings i believe if she got in the car consciously then Islamiclly its wrong unless their was a need for her to get in the car, (need being something like go to hospital or some sort of important/or emergency situation).
Now people who are brought up in the west therefore have a certain amount of Christian morales, and therefore dont see free-mixing as such a issue as it is in the muslim world, even myself as a Muslim in the west I dont see it so wrong in the UK(albelit im not the strictest muslim) however in the muslim world its completely different and in public its a complete faux-pas. With this in mind, when reading this story try to understand the culture and morales that exist here in the middle east and not for those reading in the UK and whereever, as obviously the decision to punish the women seems ludicrious there is some logical understanding.
It doesnt mean i agree with it, especially in hindsight of what happened. However if she didnt get raped then would it still be right to give her lashes?
Another point is, and this is common phase you hear as a british muslim or a minority if you leave near a strong BNP(british national party, basically nazi wannabes) area, 'your in England now(Saudi for this womens case) you got to live by English law and rules" and for a british muslim that means you get the laws used against u more(such as me at the airport when i was leaving the uk, the electronic thing didnt go off when i walked through yet I was still taken to be searched and everything, whilst most others jus walked through). Well aneway I have to accept the rules as i choose to have England as my home, and though for a lot of countires people cant choose where their home is, Saudis can, and this women chooses to live there and therefore she should abide by its rules.
I know im coming off as harsh, but in no way am i saying what happened to her is what she deserved for getting in the car, and rape is completely haram(unlawful) in Islam, and I hope the men who did it suffer, but that I see as a seperate issue.
Here are some of the comments I have found from other people regarding the topic in chat rooms:
"This something happens across the board. People tend to assume the actions of Saudis are indicative of Islam. However, the contrary tends to be true.
Rape is a major sin in Islam and only in saudia would someone apply the perverse logic of punishing the victim.
Wahbaism in my opinion justifies pre-Islamic cultural habits through an Islamic context.
Please do not look to the gulf for theological enlightenment, Islam itself isn't applied as the religion it's meant to be.
The cultural effect of wahbaism has lead to the perception of being devout seeming to take precedence over the spiritual teachings. Forgiveness for one, is an all too forgotten principle of Islam amongst this particular group.
I for one, as a Muslim am disgusted by this."
“Say for instance if I was in the US which has laws against murder and against drug selling. If I was in the middle of a drug deal when a fight happened. I was shot by someone. The police come and they arrest both of us for the drugs and him for the assault. They will not release me because I was still selling drugs which is against the law. I can argue all not long to the prosecutors and judge that I was the victim- i.e. aggravated assault attempted manslaughter.
The law stands I will still be prosecuted. This is their law in Saudi wheter we agree with it or not. They choose to have their law this way. The law against being with a non-mehram applies to men and women. It is a part of Sharia law rather a Muslim chooses to follow it or not is their choice. However if I am in a country whose laws are such then if I choose to break the law then I have to be ready for the consequences. It is the same as in the US some people saying I was only selling drugs to feed my family.
Newspapers like to report things slanted. The question is was her boyfriend also prosecuted using this law and the kidnapping. It did not say if he was a part of the rape group. A lot of people get outraged with certain laws but in any legal system the fault doesn't lie with the law it is usually the inequality in which it is applied. Selling cocaine in the US is against the law but it is applied differently depending on the form i.e. powder or crack. The legality is not questionable however the application/ powder versus crack is definitely questionable.”
“as a Muslim convert I won't pretend to be an expert on Islam, but I have tried to educate myself on my new religion with open eyes. I'm saddened therefore to see a number of replies to your story that state this is 'nothing to do with Islam and is a cultural thing', I do hope these replies are not from Muslims because this is very much to do with some of the basic tenants of Islam. A Woman cannot be alone with men unless that man is related to her as stated in the Quran or the Hadiths - period. Saudi operates a state of Shariah law and as such its citizens are required to follow that law. Both men and women breaking the law are liable for punishishment as detailed in Shariah.
The fact that the woman was alone in the car was an enabler (and I'm not saying the actual reason this happened) to the act of rape happening. The ideology behind a woman not being alone with a man is that if this does not happen then an awful crime like rape simply cannot be commited. The hadiths clearly state that men typically have weaknesses that can be uncontrolable, be it women, alcohol, gambling etc. A womans lone presence with a man can be the straw that breaks the cames back (yes i know this is really sad but just look at how often it happens!)”
“Is the punishment acceptable - I will leave that to those who know better than I.
Did they both commit a crime, the question that was originally asked - yes, in Shariah law they did.
The punishment meted out to the woman is disgraceful. Sadly though it is a reflection of what can happen in a country dominated by men where woman have little or no rights.
I have always thought that the Muslim religions view of women is its major downfall and marrs an otherwise noble religion in my mind.
It would seem from what I have read and what we have all seen in this country that the segregation of men and women goes against a human beings natural inclinations.
Men and women are meant to be together as equals Men are supposed to pursue women interact with women and they are a big part of our lives.
All men have a Penis and our lives are pretty much ruled by it. Take away women from the equation and what happens, well Saudi happens, that's what.
The Muslim religion for all its plus points is totally ruined by their attitude to women, if there views on Women were to change and adapt to the modern age then it would work.
Sadly this is not going to happen, unlike the Catholic church where the pope can change basic tenants of the religion if he chooses. The Muslim faith is governed by the "book" and is never going to be updated therefore it will only ever be up to individuals to change their personal views and adapt their own understanding of how they personally want to live and interpret the "book".
This is going to be a long slow and painful process and sadly countries such as Qatar and Saudi will always lag well behind the rest of the world when it come to human rights and the rights of the female population.”
Now I wont comment on all of them, as it will take me forever but I thought its quite a varied range of responses and is becoming a really topical issue here in the middle east and thought for the UK readers it’s a intresting topic and would welcome other peoples thoughts.
I would like to finally just say how people now days tend to diss religion(any relgion not just Islam) and say because of stories like this, atheism is much more ethical or high moral ground, however I really beg to differ, as because of religion I believe it really changes most people moral conscious and without it people really would act completely differently as they belive their decisions aren’t being governed the same way. Despite those men most likely claiming they were muslim they aren’t really, and im sure for most people being a athesist doesn’t mean you’re a rapist or a bad person. But what I am saying is that for those that follow relgion they will try to do more good in this world as they belive in their next life (be it them being re-born, or in heaven or hell) they will be judged and that will lead most religious people to be good people.
Anyway welcome back and hope you are all ok!
Asif
Today rather than talk about what i been gettup up2 over the last 9 days or so, i want to focus on a article that was brought to my attention by one of my readers from Qatar Living, here is the link
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,256980,00.html
Here's a summary:
A woman in Saudi Arabia meets a man in the mall and they get in his car to go somewhere, however i belive they do know each other. The man then kidnaps her, threatens to blackmail with a story about how they're having an affair out of wedlock, and she is raped 14 times by 7 different men in a matter of hours. Some of the men are captured and sentenced, but she receives a sentence of 90 lashes for being alone in a car with a man to whom she isn't married. She's currently appealing to the King to eliminate her sentence.(also turns out her brother battered her because of the whole incident)
I had mixed feelings as to whether i should write about this, as it shows Muslims and therefore Islam in a negative light, and as im fairly protectionist kind of a guy, it goes against my nature. However I feel despite the negative light its just such a terrible story it must be shared.
The obvious feeling is pure empathy for the women involved and outrage at the men and the government. I have been reading up peoples comments to the news stories in chat rooms in the middle east and alot of people are quick to jump on the wahabi hating bandwagon. Now the story isnt so much about the rape but the fact that the women is getting punished despite being rapped.
Now much more relgious people than me will be able to tell you if Islamically she was correct to get in the car or not (it has been reported supposedly she was kidnapped but that could just be a rumour) from my own learnings i believe if she got in the car consciously then Islamiclly its wrong unless their was a need for her to get in the car, (need being something like go to hospital or some sort of important/or emergency situation).
Now people who are brought up in the west therefore have a certain amount of Christian morales, and therefore dont see free-mixing as such a issue as it is in the muslim world, even myself as a Muslim in the west I dont see it so wrong in the UK(albelit im not the strictest muslim) however in the muslim world its completely different and in public its a complete faux-pas. With this in mind, when reading this story try to understand the culture and morales that exist here in the middle east and not for those reading in the UK and whereever, as obviously the decision to punish the women seems ludicrious there is some logical understanding.
It doesnt mean i agree with it, especially in hindsight of what happened. However if she didnt get raped then would it still be right to give her lashes?
Another point is, and this is common phase you hear as a british muslim or a minority if you leave near a strong BNP(british national party, basically nazi wannabes) area, 'your in England now(Saudi for this womens case) you got to live by English law and rules" and for a british muslim that means you get the laws used against u more(such as me at the airport when i was leaving the uk, the electronic thing didnt go off when i walked through yet I was still taken to be searched and everything, whilst most others jus walked through). Well aneway I have to accept the rules as i choose to have England as my home, and though for a lot of countires people cant choose where their home is, Saudis can, and this women chooses to live there and therefore she should abide by its rules.
I know im coming off as harsh, but in no way am i saying what happened to her is what she deserved for getting in the car, and rape is completely haram(unlawful) in Islam, and I hope the men who did it suffer, but that I see as a seperate issue.
Here are some of the comments I have found from other people regarding the topic in chat rooms:
"This something happens across the board. People tend to assume the actions of Saudis are indicative of Islam. However, the contrary tends to be true.
Rape is a major sin in Islam and only in saudia would someone apply the perverse logic of punishing the victim.
Wahbaism in my opinion justifies pre-Islamic cultural habits through an Islamic context.
Please do not look to the gulf for theological enlightenment, Islam itself isn't applied as the religion it's meant to be.
The cultural effect of wahbaism has lead to the perception of being devout seeming to take precedence over the spiritual teachings. Forgiveness for one, is an all too forgotten principle of Islam amongst this particular group.
I for one, as a Muslim am disgusted by this."
“Say for instance if I was in the US which has laws against murder and against drug selling. If I was in the middle of a drug deal when a fight happened. I was shot by someone. The police come and they arrest both of us for the drugs and him for the assault. They will not release me because I was still selling drugs which is against the law. I can argue all not long to the prosecutors and judge that I was the victim- i.e. aggravated assault attempted manslaughter.
The law stands I will still be prosecuted. This is their law in Saudi wheter we agree with it or not. They choose to have their law this way. The law against being with a non-mehram applies to men and women. It is a part of Sharia law rather a Muslim chooses to follow it or not is their choice. However if I am in a country whose laws are such then if I choose to break the law then I have to be ready for the consequences. It is the same as in the US some people saying I was only selling drugs to feed my family.
Newspapers like to report things slanted. The question is was her boyfriend also prosecuted using this law and the kidnapping. It did not say if he was a part of the rape group. A lot of people get outraged with certain laws but in any legal system the fault doesn't lie with the law it is usually the inequality in which it is applied. Selling cocaine in the US is against the law but it is applied differently depending on the form i.e. powder or crack. The legality is not questionable however the application/ powder versus crack is definitely questionable.”
“as a Muslim convert I won't pretend to be an expert on Islam, but I have tried to educate myself on my new religion with open eyes. I'm saddened therefore to see a number of replies to your story that state this is 'nothing to do with Islam and is a cultural thing', I do hope these replies are not from Muslims because this is very much to do with some of the basic tenants of Islam. A Woman cannot be alone with men unless that man is related to her as stated in the Quran or the Hadiths - period. Saudi operates a state of Shariah law and as such its citizens are required to follow that law. Both men and women breaking the law are liable for punishishment as detailed in Shariah.
The fact that the woman was alone in the car was an enabler (and I'm not saying the actual reason this happened) to the act of rape happening. The ideology behind a woman not being alone with a man is that if this does not happen then an awful crime like rape simply cannot be commited. The hadiths clearly state that men typically have weaknesses that can be uncontrolable, be it women, alcohol, gambling etc. A womans lone presence with a man can be the straw that breaks the cames back (yes i know this is really sad but just look at how often it happens!)”
“Is the punishment acceptable - I will leave that to those who know better than I.
Did they both commit a crime, the question that was originally asked - yes, in Shariah law they did.
The punishment meted out to the woman is disgraceful. Sadly though it is a reflection of what can happen in a country dominated by men where woman have little or no rights.
I have always thought that the Muslim religions view of women is its major downfall and marrs an otherwise noble religion in my mind.
It would seem from what I have read and what we have all seen in this country that the segregation of men and women goes against a human beings natural inclinations.
Men and women are meant to be together as equals Men are supposed to pursue women interact with women and they are a big part of our lives.
All men have a Penis and our lives are pretty much ruled by it. Take away women from the equation and what happens, well Saudi happens, that's what.
The Muslim religion for all its plus points is totally ruined by their attitude to women, if there views on Women were to change and adapt to the modern age then it would work.
Sadly this is not going to happen, unlike the Catholic church where the pope can change basic tenants of the religion if he chooses. The Muslim faith is governed by the "book" and is never going to be updated therefore it will only ever be up to individuals to change their personal views and adapt their own understanding of how they personally want to live and interpret the "book".
This is going to be a long slow and painful process and sadly countries such as Qatar and Saudi will always lag well behind the rest of the world when it come to human rights and the rights of the female population.”
Now I wont comment on all of them, as it will take me forever but I thought its quite a varied range of responses and is becoming a really topical issue here in the middle east and thought for the UK readers it’s a intresting topic and would welcome other peoples thoughts.
I would like to finally just say how people now days tend to diss religion(any relgion not just Islam) and say because of stories like this, atheism is much more ethical or high moral ground, however I really beg to differ, as because of religion I believe it really changes most people moral conscious and without it people really would act completely differently as they belive their decisions aren’t being governed the same way. Despite those men most likely claiming they were muslim they aren’t really, and im sure for most people being a athesist doesn’t mean you’re a rapist or a bad person. But what I am saying is that for those that follow relgion they will try to do more good in this world as they belive in their next life (be it them being re-born, or in heaven or hell) they will be judged and that will lead most religious people to be good people.
Anyway welcome back and hope you are all ok!
Asif
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