You Should Celebrate Holloween If...

1. You are a Pagan
2. You want to honor Samhain, the Celtic "lord of death"
3.You are interested in entertaining evil spirits who demand a feast and sweets
4. You are certain that if you don't entertain these spirits, they will reak havoc on you for a year to come
5. October 31st is your New Years Eve.
6. You need to thank the sun god for providing a good harvest
7. Sacrificing animals if fun
8. You would like to dress your child up as an animal because you know human spirits live in animals
9. You want to bob for apples to see into the future
10. You just can't stand the fact that ole' drunken Jack will lose his way to a final resting place if you don't carve a scary face in a pumpkin and put a candle in it!

Most people don't believe in any of this nonsense, yet they still celebrate. Why? Because it's fun? Because you don't want your kids to be left out? Educate your family on the real meaning of Holloween and perhaps it won't appear so appealing. Sometimes we choose ignorance over knowledge because we think it is easier, but is it? Perhaps it will be easy to free our minds by corrcting our actions. Say no to Halloween and other ridiculous holidays.

Guidance From the Quran

"When it is said unto them, 'Come to what Allah has revealed, come to the Messenger,' they say, 'Enough for us are the ways we found our fathers following.' What! Even though their fathers were void of knowledge and guidance?" (Qur'an 5:104)

"Has not the time arrived for the believers, that their hearts in all humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah and of the Truth which has been revealed to them? That they should not become like those to whom was given the Book aforetime, but long ages passed over them and their hearts grew hard? For many among them are rebellious transgressors." (Qur'an 57:16)

Puberty on facebook.com

 Yes, I have a facebook profile. I have a love/hate relationship with facebook.com. I love being able to stay in touch with family and friends who I would have otherwise lost contact because they are not in my immediate circle. I also find it cool to be able to connect with people I have never met who share similar interest. We can join forums, share knowledge or even support revolutions!

However, there are many very troubling aspects of facebook. To keep this post short, I will focus on just one: teens and preteens growing up IN FRONT OF THE WORLD. Teens, perhaps more-so than adults, happen to be very trustworthy of social networking sites. I suppose that is because of two elements:

1. They grew up in this digital world, and so facebook to them would be what my diary and photo album was to me as a teenager.

 2. Teens are naïve due to an immature brain (literally) and lack of experience in life.

I am constantly in awe at the gull teens have when posting on their statuses their personal business, photos and grotesque language. I’m the first to admit I was NO ANGEL as a teen. But only a handful of friends were a witness to my behavior. All of the incidents were isolated by time and the number of people who knew. The only way my parents or any gown up could find out about my mischief, was if someone told on me, and then it would still be their word against mine. But with facebook, the information is out there, and is owned by facebook.com. Any status update can be used against you, whether it’s now of in the future.

Facebook has revolutionized growing up. Many times I have checked my homepage and seen grotesque language and pictures posted by youth who are either my family or acquaintances. Other times, the postings are not grotesque, but they are deeply personal. They say things that I know the young person would not want thousands of people to know. But the truth is, unless you only have a friend list only of people you talk to on an everyday basis, you should not post these type of things because facebook’s privacy is very NOT private. Ever Google your name and see your profile pic? Even with the security settings, we must be more aware.

And it’s not just teens. I was just thinking how I’ve been “friending” a lot of Muslim Sisters – at least they say they’re Muslim sister hmm? - on my page. I do not personally know most of these sisters, yet they can view pictures of my baby shower and 2010 vacation. Would I show a stranger my hardcopy photo album? No, I would not. But I figure since I’m covered up, it okay. But, is it okay? Or is it just the norm that we’ve gotten used to in this digital age where private is now public and public is worldwide?

Food for thought.

I AM WOMAN

I like to call myself a realistic feminist. First I must give my definition of an unrealistic feminist: A woman who believes that women are equal to men in every way, shape and form and should be treated as such. After giving birth to my daughter, I am left without a doubt that woman and man are NOT created equal: there is no way my husband could have survived childbirth! I mean seriously, our bodies are just built for it- yes even the 1st so-called "pregnant man" (which obviously proves that a woman can call themselves a man, but God can reveal otherwise.)

I think the women's liberation movement was great because the truth is that we live in a misogynist society and sometimes drastic measures have to be taken to acquire civil rights. All I ask, is do not take away my God given right to be a wonderful, powerful, strong, unique WOMAN. It doesn't bother me that my husband has more upper body strength. As I watch the ways in which we interact with our daughter, they are not the same, and I am thankful for that. Women and men have unique qualities to bring to the table- in business, education, marriage, and child-rearing- one not more important than the other. Allah has created us in a dynamic fashion that we may never fully understand, but we can accept. The sooner one accepts and appreciates their attributes , the sooner one will be secure with the mind, body and soul God gave them. THANK GOD FOR WOMAN! . . . AND MAN!

-Judge Not!