The Myth of "The Myth of Modern Islam"

This article that was recently printed on the Islamica Magazine website points out some crucial truths that relate to Islam today and the manner of which it is perceived in the Western World:

In a recent article in The Spectator magazine in the UK, the evangelical leader Patrick Sookhdeo takes a swipe at Muslims and their religion. Does his case stand up to scrutiny?

by VINCENZO OLIVETI

Patrick Sookhdeo’s Article (July 30, 2005) in London’s The Spectator, “The Myth of a Moderate Islam” reflects a dangerous trend in the war on terror. Under the guise of informing Westerners about Islam, he is in fact spreading the very same disinformation that anti-Islamic polemics have been based upon for over 1,000 years. This plays directly into the hands of Osama bin Laden, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and others, for it encourages the “clash of civilizations” they so appallingly desire. It is indeed of the utmost importance that we learn more about Islam and fight the scourge of extremism with all the tools possible. But Sookhdeo and those like him corrupt this process, seeking to advance their own agenda by turning the war on terror into an ideological war against Islam.

Muslim Violence

Sookhdeo’s bias is evident from the outset. He argues that terrorists truly represent Islam, writing: “If they say they do it in the name of Islam, we must believe them. Is it not the height of illiberalism and arrogance to deny them the right to define themselves?” The remainder of the essay, however, is an extensive effort to deny other Muslims the right to define themselves by rejecting extremist interpretations of Islam. In fact, less than 5% of Muslimscould be classified as fundamentalist in outlook, and of that 5%, less than 0.01% have shown any tendency toward enacting terrorism or “religious violence.” It is thus “the height of illiberalism” to define as terrorists over 1.3 billion Muslims who have nothing to do with “religious violence” because of the misdeeds of a fringe minority of 0.005%. At most, one in every 200,000 Muslims can be accused of terrorism. That is to say there are a maximum of about 65,000 terrorists worldwide—roughly the same figure as the number of murderers on the loose in the U.S. alone, with over 20,000 homicides a year and a population of only 300 million.
Sookhdeo claims that Muslims “must with honesty recognize the violence that has existed in their history.” However, given that the majority of books that record the transgressions of Muslims have been written by Muslims, it is difficult to argue that Muslims have chosen en masse to ignore the atrocities of their past. Of course, there are Muslims who deny many parts of this past, just as there are British people who still deny the atrocities of colonialism; Americans who deny the massacre of the Native Americans; and Germans who deny the Holocaust of 6 million Jews. But the fact remains that Christian civilization has given rise to many more atrocities than has Islamic civilization, even relative to its greater population and longer age.

Christian Violence

Nowhere in Islamic history can one find a doctrine similar to Saint Augustine’s cognite intrare (“lead them in” — i.e. “force them to convert”). In fact the Qur’an says the exact opposite: "There is no compulsion in religion" (2:256). Augustine’s frightening idea that all must be compelled to “conform” to the “true Christian faith” has unleashed centuries of unparalleled bloodshed.
Indeed, Christians have suffered more under the rule of Christian civilization than under pre- Christian Roman rule or any other rule in history. Millions were tortured and slaughtered in the name of Christianity during the periods of the Arian, Donatist and Albigensian heresies, to say nothing of the various Inquisitions, or the Crusades, when the European armies were saying, as they slaughtered both Christian and Muslim Arabs: “Kill them all, God will know his own.”
Needless to say, these transgressions — and indeed all the transgressions of Christians throughout the ages — have absolutely nothing to do with Jesus Christ and or even the New Testament as such. Indeed, no Muslim by definition would ever or will ever blame this on Jesus Christ (the Word made Flesh, for Christians and Muslims). So how is it that Sookhdeo blames Muslim transgressions (even though far less than “Christian” ones) on the Qur’an (the Word made Book, for Muslims)?
By no means was such indiscriminate violence limited to Europe’s “Dark Ages” or to one period of Christian history. The Reformation and Counter Reformation took inter- Christian slaughter to new extremes; two thirds of the Christian population ofEurope being slaughtered during this time. Then there were (among many others wars, pogroms, revolutions and genocides) the Napoleonic Wars (1792-1815); the African slave trade that claimed the lives of 10 million; and the Colonial Conquests. Estimates for the number of Native Americans slaughtered by the Europeans in North, Central and South America run as high as 20 million within three generations.
Despite the ravages of Europe’s violent past, in the 20th century, Western Civilization took warfare to new extremes. A conservative estimate puts the total number of brutal deaths in the 20 th century at more than 250 million. Of these, Muslims are responsible for less than 10 million deaths. Christians, or those coming from Christian backgrounds account for more than 200 million of these! The greatest death totals come from World War I (about 20 million, at least 90% of which were inflicted by “Christians”) and World War II (90 million, at least 50% of which were inflicted by “Christians,” the majority of the rest occurring in the Far East). Given this grim history, it appears that we Europeans must all come to grips with the fact that Islamic civilization has actually been incomparably less brutal than Christian civilization. Did the Holocaust of over 6 million Jews occur out of the background of a Muslim Civilization?
In the 20th century alone, Western and/or Christian powers have been responsible for at least twenty times more deaths than have Muslim powers. In this most brutal of centuries, we created incomparably more civilian casualties than have Muslims in the whole of Islamic history. This continues even in our day — witness the slaughter of 900,000 Rwandans in 1994 in a population that was over 90% Christian; or the genocide of over 300,000 Muslims and systematic rape of over 100,000 Muslim women by Christian Serbs in Bosnia between 1992 and 1995. The horrible truth is that, numerically and statistically speaking, Christian Civilization is the bloodiest and most violent of all civilizations in all of history, and is responsible for hundreds of millions of deaths.
The production and use of nuclear weapons alone should be enough to make the West stand in shame before the rest of the world. America created nuclear weapons. America is the only country ever to have used nuclear weapons, and Western countries strive to maintain a monopoly over them. As the record stands, we have no moral grounds for objecting to the acquisition of such weapons until we prove willing to forfeit them entirely.
It should also be mentioned that although Islam has the concept of legitimate war in self-defense (as does Christianity, and even Buddhism), nowhere in Islamic culture (or in other cultures that survive today) is there latent the idealization, and perhaps idolization, of violence that exists in Western Culture. Westerners think of themselves as peaceful, but in fact the gentleness and sublimity of the New Testament, and the peace-loving nature of the principles of democracy, are scarcely reflected in Western popular culture. Rather, the entire inclination of popular culture — Hollywood movies, Western television, video games, popular music and sports entertainment — is to glorify and inculcate violence. Accordingly, the relative rates of murder (especially random and serial murder) are higher in the Western World (particularly in the U.S., but even in Europe, taken as a whole) than they are in the Islamic world in counties that are not suffering civil wars, and this is true despite the much greater wealth of the West. So has Sookhdeo ever read the following words?:
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5 ) The Qur’an and the Use of Force
Like most anti-Islamic polemics, the rest of Sookhdeo’s article is a mix of fact and fiction. For example, he argues that many of the Qur’anic verses that advocate peace were abrogated by later verses. It is true that many Muslim scholars claim later verses abrogate earlier verses, but the extent of abrogation is greatly debated. Some scholars say that only five verses have ever been abrogated. Some say that over 150 have been abrogated. Sookhdeo’s claim that “wherever contradictions are found, the later-dated text abrogates the earlier one” is thus a gross simplification. To claim that all of the peaceful verses are earlier revelations that have been abrogated by later militant verses is simply false. For example, verses revealed in the last two years of Muhammad’s mission enjoin Muslims to not seek vengeance against those who had driven them from their homes:
Let not the hatred of the people — because they hindered you from the Sacred Mosque — incite you to transgress. Help one another in goodness and reverence, and do not help one another in sin and aggression"(Qur’an 5:2).
O ye who believe, be upright for God witnesses injustice; and let not hatred of a people cause you to be unjust. Be just — that is closer to piety" (Qur’an 5:8). One can hardly imagine a more emphatic message of justice, forgiveness and reconciliation.
Moreover, many highly qualified Muslim scholars have cited the earlier verses advocating peace to dissuade young Muslims from answering the call of the extremists. Would Sookhdeo prefer that these young Muslims listen to those who explain these verses away by applying his truncated version of abrogation?
Significantly enough, like extremist interpreters of Islam, Sookhdeo misrepresents Qur’anic verses by citing them out of context. He claims that Qu’ranic verses 8:59-60 condone terrorism. Verse 8:60 does indeed condone fighting one’s enemies, but it is followed by verse 8:61: "And if they incline unto peace then incline unto it" — another later revelation. In this context, verse 8:60 is advocating that one not take the course of passivism when threatened by an enemy, but 8:61 then limits the application. This hardly constitutes terrorism. Perhaps if Sookhdeo knew Arabic properly, he would have the capacity to read the Qur’an more clearly. But he does not. This makes it difficult to accept him as an authority on Islamic teachings, whatever may be his post or title.
Sookhdeo goes on to claim that one can pick between Qur’anic verses that support violence and those that support peace. This is true, but one would be hard pressed to demonstrate that the Qur’an condones violence more than the Old Testament (say, for example, the Book of Leviticus or the Book of Joshua). And if we say that the Qur’an condones violence, what are we to think of the passages of the Bible that directly command slaughter and genocide? In Numbers 31:17 Moses says (of the Midianite captives, whose menfolk the Israelites have already slaughtered): "Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and every woman who has known a man intimately."
I Samuel 15:1-9 tells the story of the Prophet Samuel commanding King Saul to eradicate the Amalekites as follows: "Slay both men and women, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey."
Such extremes were forbidden by the Prophet Muhammad who ordered his community: "Fight in the way of God against those who disbelieve in God! Do not act brutally! Do not exceed the proper bounds! Do not mutilate! Do not kill children and hermits! And likewise, "Attack in the Name of God, but do not revert to treachery; do not kill a child; neither kill a woman; do not wish to confront the enemy."
To claim that the warfare advocated in some Qur’anic verses is a justification for wanton acts of violence fails to acknowledge that classical interpretations have always limited the scope of such verses. For example, a verse that is often misinterpreted in the modern era is 2:191-92:
Slay the polytheists wherever you find them, and capture them and blockade them, and watch for them at every lookout. But if they repent and establish the prayer and give alms, then let them go their way.
On the one hand, extremists employ this verse to sanction shedding innocent blood. On the other hand, it is employed by non-Muslim polemicists to portray the Qur’an as a bellicose declaration of perpetual warfare. But according to the classical Islamic tradition, this verse cannot be taken as a carte blanche to fight non-Muslims. It can only be applied to the specific polytheists who opposed the early Muslim community and threatened the very survival of Islam. As one authoritative jurisprudent Qadi Abu Bakr Ibn Al-‘Arabi of the 11th-12th century CE writes:
This verse is general regarding the polytheists, but is restricted by the Prophet’s prohibition of the killing of women, children, religious adherents, and non-combatants. But understood also are those who do not fight you nor are preparing to fight you or harm you. The verse actually means, “Slay the polytheists who are attempting to slay you.” Such interpretations could be cited ad infinitum. They clearly demonstrate that Sookhdeo’s equation of “radical Muslims” with “medieval jurists” who claim that “Islam is war” is not only unfounded, but an utter distortion. Either Sookhdeo is not qualified to analyze the classical Islamic tradition and compare it to modern deviations, or he is intentionally distorting Islamic teachings. Either way, he proves himself to be completely unreliable.
Dubious Scholarship
Sookhdeo’s dubious scholarship is on display throughout this article, particularly when he uses the hackneyed distinction between Dar al-Islam (the abode of Islam) and Dar al-Harb (the abode of war) to argue that Muslims accept nothing but war or triumph. These are important classical terms, but Muslim scholars also wrote of many other abodes between them. Some classifications include three abodes, some five, and some seven. In the modern era, Europe and America have been regarded by the vast majority of Muslim scholars as the Dar al-Sulh, or “the abode of treaty.” This means that a Muslim can engage with this world on many levels and should abide by the laws of the land if he or she chooses to live there or to visit. Using this distinction, Muslim scholars have even declared that Muslims can serve in the U.S. Army, even when combating other Muslim countries. Only those who seek conflict continue to misinform the public by limiting the world to Dar al-Islam and Dar al-Harb.

Islamic Scholarship

Sookhdeo’s miscomprehension is also revealed when he discusses the recent conference of Islamic scholars in Jordan, which issued a final declaration that opposed the practice of calling other Muslims non-believers and clarified the qualifications for issuing fatwas. He argues that this has “negated a very helpful fatwa which had been issued in March by the Spanish Islamic scholars declaring Osama bin Laden an apostate.” However, a war of words wherein Muslims begin calling other Muslims unbelievers is precisely what Al-Qaida and other extremists desire. This way they can brand as apostate and kill everyone who disagrees with them. Let us not forget how two days before 9/11, Al-Qaida assassinated Ahmed Shah Massoud. This was no mere coincidence; it was a strategic imperative. By removing the most charismatic representative of traditional Islam in Afghanistan, Al-Qaida removed the greatest obstacle to their distortions of Islam, a credible leader who would expose the spurious nature of their claim to represent Islam.
In order to avoid people being killed over even petty faults or sins, classical Islamic law does not allow one to “excommunicate” another Muslim for sinning nor to declare him or her to be a non-believer. By reaffirming this and removing the possibility of takfir (calling someone an apostate) in our age, King Abdullah’s conference has made the world a safer place. This is true not just for traditional, “moderate” Muslims — the only ones in fact who can effectively isolate the extremists and thus protect non-Muslims — but also for others, such as Jews and Christians whom the Qur’an (and the greatest classical scholars of Islam, such as the famous al-Ghazali) regards as “fellow believers.” Sookhdeo desires to keep this “door” open so that Muslims he does not like can be “excommunicated.” He wants to keep this “sword” — in effect — unsheathed, completely forgetting that all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword (Matthew 26:52).
Sookhdeo further displays a complete lack of understanding of Islamic law when he asks: “Could not the King reconvene his conference and ask them to issue a fatwa banning violence against non-Muslims also?” In fact this is exactly what did happen by the scholars declaring that the fatwas issued in support of wanton violence are illegitimate. For everyone who commits an act of terrorism in the name of Islam attempts to first justify that act through the issuance — and misuse — of a fatwa , and no one commits terrorist acts without being convinced that terrorism is justified.
The conference reaffirmed that all fatwas must necessarily be bound by a triple system of internal “checks and balances”: all those issuing fatwas must have certain, stringent personal and educational credentials; they must all follow the methodology of the eight Madhahib or tradional schools of Islamic jurisprudence; and no fatwa may go outside the bounds of what the traditional Madhahib allow—precisely what the extremist fatwa s attempt to do. The conference assembled over 180 major scholars from 45 countries, and garnered 17 major fatwas from the greatest Islamic Authorities in the world (including the Sheikh Al-Azhar, Ayatollah Sistani, and Sheikh Yusuf al-Qardawi) to declare this. The conference thus not only de-legitimized the extremists de jure, but, to quote Fareed Zakaria in Newsweek (July 18,2005), constituted “a frontal attack on Al-Qaida’s theological methods.” This is surely a vital tool in the war against extremism, and so the King and his conference are very much to be commended.

Eradicating Extremism

Isolating and eradicating extremists does not, however, appear to be Sookhdeo’s agenda. Rather he wishes to misrepresent the Qur’an, history, and contemporary Muslims in order to substantiate his own claim that terrorism and extremism are inherent to Islam. Following this approach is exactly how we will lose the war on terrorism. The true war is the war of ideas.
The lynch-pin in the arguments of Bin Laden, Zarqawi and others is that they think they represent Islam. Traditional Muslim scholars from around the world have confirmed that such deviant ideologies and actions violate the very principles of Islam. By working with such scholars we can help them to consolidate the traditional middle ground of Islam and further expose the extremists for being just that. This is the most efficient, most peaceful and most effective weapon in the war against extremist interpretations of Islam. If we do not use it, we will have surrendered the higher ground in the war of ideas. By responding with extremism of another kind, Sookhdeo and those like him allow the extremists to determine the general inter-religious ambiance and thus the course of events. Rather than providing a realistic presentation of the challenges we face and their possible peaceful solutions, they take advantage of the situation to advance their own hidden polemical agenda and prejudices. In doing so they work not only against Muslims and Islam, but against the whole of humanity, Christians included (or perhaps especially). Onward Christian soldiers, Reverend Sookhdeo?
____________________
VINCENZO OLIVETI is the author of Terror’s Source: The Ideology of Wahabi-Salafism and its Consequences.

Another link for in article which discusses our generation's take on political participation and voting...

Again, this was back in high school, but as the Presidential election is a hop, skip, and jump away, it has relevance nonetheless:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2004-03-07-youth-vote_x.htm

Link to a play that I wrote not too long ago...

I wrote a play, "Waking Up", in my senior year of high school and it won the Playwright Competition for Pegasus Players, a Chicago theater company. Here are a couple links to a few of the reviews:

http://www.creativeamerica.us/festival/index.html

http://www.chicagogayhistory.org/articlearchives.html?AID=7158

It's been a while since I wrote anything since, but it's encouraging to see that part of my life unearthered after so long...

Any Ideas on How to Make Hair Grow Back Faster?

I know this is kind of an odd question, but I chopped off a good 6 inches of my hair back in November...and continued to maintain it until Febuary. Since then I've been growing it out, and have trimmed it just once in the past couple of months. Now I want to have it back to my original length, give or take and inch or two. What would be the best way to achieve this?

Religion throws wrinkle into Iowa flood recovery

By HENRY C. JACKSON Associated Press Writer

DES MOINES, Iowa—Tayeeb Foods Inc. always enjoyed a modest profit, but Nazar Osman said running his six-year-old Sudanese grocery was never about the money.
Now the survival of his store in Coralville depends on finding money, but unlike hundreds of other small Iowa businesses affected by last month's flooding Osman can't accept low-interest loans from the federal Small Business Administration.
Like many Muslims, he takes a strict interpretation of the Quran's prohibition against paying interest.
Osman, 41, was among the thousands of Iowans pushed out of their homes and businesses by flooding last month.
He had prepared for the likelihood that about a foot of water would hit his business, hurriedly raising his freezers, refrigerators and everything else a foot off the ground.
However, the Iowa River eventually filled his store with water 8 feet deep, soaking everything for days.
The grocery played a large role in the community.
"I was serving 400 to 500 people from Sudan and other parts of Africa," Osman said. "It was a small store, but it was important to that community. For the last six years this was the only store surviving in this area for these people."
Osman's landlord is Brian Ho, who says he will rebuild the complex that held his Chinese restaurant and Osman's grocery.
Osman said that gives him hope, but even with a repaired building he figures he must find about $18,000 to reopen and restock—money he said would be difficultto find without paying interest.
His lawyer has told him the best course may be to declare his businesses bankrupt, but Osman views that as akin to declaring defeat.
"We survived the last six years with little profits," he said. "This is not about profits."
Osman has begun to look into alternative loan programs, run by Muslim banks, and said he will also consider dipping into personal savings if it is feasible.
But in the meantime he tries to keep everything in perspective.
"With all of our losses here, even the loss of a six year effort, I still feel that we were blessed," he said. "I thank God that I have a home that was safe and a job. I can't imagine my wife and five kids if I lost my home."

Heath Ledger's Last Role...

I'm not much of a superhero buff, much less a fan of superhero movies (though Ironman was surprisingly quite good) but I am an admirer of Heath Ledger's work and loved him in "Brokeback Mountain" -- I thought he was brave to take up a role that was viewed as so risky about it dealt with a taboo issue, and play it in such a manner that any one could relate to his character's tortured feelings of love. But, several of my guy friends insisted that I check it out, though, and I think I will, not only because it seems to be getting rave reviews, but also because it's the last work of Ledger's that I will be able to see.

You see, my generation grew-up with Heath Ledger. We aged with him. We were cheering for him in his first American movie, "10 Things I Hate About You", as he repeadtedly tried to woo Julia Stiles and again in "A Knight's Tale" when he was trying to prove his worth not only to society, but to himself. Sure, the same critics that praise him "Dark Knight" bashed him then because to them, he was playing typecast roles in movies aimed towards the pre-teen and teenage audience. But, let me tell you, those pre-teens and teenagers loved him and appreciated the dedication with which he played those characters that we were so invested in for that mere hour-and-a-half. I should know, because I was one of them.

So, I think it's safe to say that unless you belong to my generation, you won't be able to completely understand the gravity of the loss we will feel as we walk out of the movie theater after seeing Ledger in his last, complete performance because you simply did not see him as we did.

Are You Surprised by this?

I am not suprised by this cover at all -- why should I have any more faith that our media sources, especially those as prominent as the New Yorker, deliver us news in an objective, truthful fashion? I just recently interviewed for a field organizer position with the Obama Campaign for Change, and the individual who was interviewing me asked me how I, as a Muslim, would answer someone who was ignorant about Mr. Obama's background and religious practices questions regarding those two topics. I told him that I would truthfully answer that Barack Obama is indeed half African and his father was indeed Muslim, but he was raised in Hawaii in a very American upbringing, and is a practicing Christian. Yes, he was educated in a private, Muslim education school for a brief period in his childhood, but it was not a Madrassa as many media outlets tried to claim is was, but a private, religious-based school no different than the private Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim schools that we have here in America. Just because he did not find a reason to change his name to appease middle America, does not mean that he should be viewed as a perpetual foreigner, a terrorist, or be viewed under any more scrutiny than his caucasion, Republican counterpart.

I believe this cartoon, which should undoubtedly be viewed as satire, does nothing to refute the views of many ignorant critics of Mr. Obama, his wife, and his general background. I believe that this does much to affirm the worst beliefs of more Americans then we think, and gives many of those (members of the KKK and similiar groups, for example) more reason to stand against change and progression, and work to ensure that a lesser candidate gets into office and runs this country into the ground for another eight years.

"The widow of Indian army Brig. Ravi Datt Mehta (right) is comforted by a family member during a cremation ceremony Tuesday in New Delhi. He was among the 41 people killed in Monday's bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan."

This war is causing people to suffer around the world in a way that most of us cannot even comprehend. It's not only U.S. Soldiers that are sacrificing their lives for their country -- families in countries we would not even think of understand the pain of losing a loved one in war.

The Hypocritical, Mr. Reverand Jesse Jackson...

Yes, yes, Jesse Jackson has done it again. If having a love child out of wedlock who is currently, like, five years old, and crying wolf all the damn time wasn't enough, he had to go ahead and talk about cutting off Barack Obama's nuts, because he felt as though Mr. Obama was "talking down to the black community". Now, whether you think he did or did not when he spoke to black congregations recently about how the black community must begin to take responsibility and better itself is all relative. At the end of the day, however, the Rev. Jackson's aggression towards his manhood was a bit uncalled for. Mr. Obama quickly accepted Jackson's apology that he made yesterday (coincedentially, before the clip of him making the remarks under his breath unaware that a mic was picking it up was aired on every news channel known to man), but the damage was already done. To Jackson's reputation and credibility, that is. Anyway, here it is:

This link is the original story:

"Jackson Apologizes for Obama Remarks"

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-jackson-obamajul10,0,3401382.story?page=2

This link is John Kass' take on the entire event:

"Jackson's Cutting Remark may be Helpful to Obama"

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-10jul10,0,725595.column


Shake your head, love Obama, and enjoy.

Deadly Drinking?

Jenna Foellmi, 20, joined 83 individuals who have died from alcohol poisoning from 1999 until now, when she passed away on Dec. 14 after a night of heavy drinking; she had just finished taking her last final that day:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-drinking-deaths,0,5494021.story?page=2

This is unfortunate on several levels; first, I think that these is evidence that despite the fact that the legal drinking age in the U.S. is 21, individuals who are underage are still finding ways to drink. For this reason, I believe that the legal drinking age should be reduced to 18, the way it is in Europe. I believe that if this was done, alcohol would not be as tantalizing to teenagers, thus reducing the level of binge-drinking and various accidents that occur while under the influence -- drunk driving being the most prominent amongst them. There is a reason why Great Britain and Germany do not have the high level of drunk-driving accidents that occur with underage drinkers the way the U.S. does, and I think that our legal drinking age is the main problem.

Secondly, note how in the article, Jenna embarked upon a night of heavy drinking after finishing her last final of the semester. I believe that she sought alcohol as a means to (1) celebrate and (2) blow off some steam and relieve stress. I believe that there is a big problem with American youth in regards to looking to alcohol and narcotics as a source of stress relief whild in college -- I witnessed it first-hand during the past four years. There is a problem when people are taking aderol in order to get through finals week or write a 20-page paper. We either have to ask our educators to re-evaluate the amount of work they give us (again, overworking students seems to be another American trend) or we need to further educate our youth so that they use other methods to reduce stress. The latter would suggest things like "get at least eight hours of sleep" and "eat three square meals a day", but that would mean that college students would actually be afforded the time to do so, and speaking as a recent Denison graduate, that is a little easier said than done. Nothing says little to no sleep like two midterms in one day.

Anyway, that's my take on the situation. Of course, there are other variables that one should consider in a situation such as this -- peer pressure, greek life culture, the psycological mindset of being immortal that comes with being an adolescent/young adult -- but for the most part, this is my take on the issue as it stands today. What is yours?

Where is the Muslim Community supposed to turn to in this upcoming election?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/us/politics/24muslim.html?ex=1372046400&en=f404cdb933e61aaa&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Summer in Chicago, and apparently, living is not so easy...

Today marks the funeral of the 27th child within the Chicago Public School system who was ruthlessly murdered since the beginning of the 07-08 school year. A few weeks ago, a CPS school teacher was shot in the head while she was waiting for her neice in her car -- it was a case of mistaken identity, but that clearly does not matter now. It is beyond me how this city could lose 27 children within nine months; however, while our mayor and governer are intertwined in business that deals with their own greed for money and power and out police force struggles with corrupt cops, it comes as no surprise. In the midst of our leaders' personal issues, they are losing sight of the big picture, and as a result our children and educators are dying.

Just a little over two months ago, a friend of mine who was only 19 and on the eve of finishing up her freshman year, died in a car crash. It was most unexpected, and all I could think was that her life was cut short, so short that it had barely even begun. I think about her often. I wonder what kind of woman she would have grown up to be, what she would have accomplished, how proud she would have made everyone who loved her and cared for her. And now I think that the loved ones of 27 people have to wonder the same thing of the person that they lost -- in many cases much sooner than we lost Maria. They will never ceases wondering.

This is the first summer that I have been home in over two years, and I was looking forward to it. Summer in Chicago is amazing in so many ways -- from the beach, to downtown, to the festivals and the Taste, there is so much to do. And yet, May marked marked what seems to be the most bloody, dangerous summer that we have ever experienced. All of a sudden, I feel as though there is much to fear instead of look forward to.

Interesting Link Concerning Religious Pluralism...

Go Harvard: http://www.pluralism.org/index.php

Sexism in the City

Though I am merely a mediocre fan of the now syndicated show, "Sex in the City", and thought at times that the outfits were a bit out there and the content a bit unnecessarily raunchy, I still developed an appreciate for Samantha, Carrie, and company. And I'm glad that she picked Big. So, like every woman under 35 who has an affinity for shoes, I was more then a bit excited about the SATC movie -- even proud of it once it hit the box-offices and became the most successful R-rated comedy, and movie with completely female-leading roles (let's not even start on how women are too often made to play the role of the doe-eyed, eye-lash-batting, adoring-and-sexy love interest in EVERY movie). However, I was more than a bit surprised when certain critics (by "certain" I mean those of the male persuasion, of course, who identify themselves as heteros) began to bash the movie -- I became offended. Below is a link to an article that best explains why these absurdly sexist, biased critics evaluated the movie the way that they did:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/139889

My, how sexism envelopes us.

Obama is in...now he must be all that he promised to be -- and MORE.

The following is from an e-zine called Colorlines, which I frequent a lot. It makes a valid point: once in office, Obama better make good on his promises and be as dynamic as he has led us to believe he can be -- not a puppet in the hands of a corrupt, selfish, "experienced" cabinet (full of old white men? Or people of color there to fill a criteria?). Check it out and let me know what you think:
http://www.racewire.org/archives/2008/06/obama_makes_history_needs_to_m.html#comments

Obama is in! It's a new and different day in America!

For the record, I've BEEN knowing this for about a year now; behold, all ye doubters, Obama is the Democratic Presidential Candidate! Now, let's get him to the White House! Below is an article that explains what went right (for Obama) and wrong (for Clinton...who might be our next VP?!) and...basically how McCain doesn't matter. Well, maybe that last part is my own personal bias, but behold:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-clinch_charticlejun04,0,2494342.story

The New Face of Islam

After decades of radicalism and terrorism shining a negative light on Islam, it was refreshing to read this recent article from Newsweek, entitled "The New Face of Islam":

http://www.newsweek.com/id/139433

I urge anyone and everyone to check it out -- be informed, never ignorant, about the present-day, true Islam.

This is an ACTUAL article, no joke...

U.S. Marines Accused of Proselytizing in Fallujah

Posted on May 29, 2008; from the Council of American-Islamic Relations main website, www.cair.org.

At the western entrance to the Iraqi city of Fallujah on Tuesday, Muamar Anad handed his residence badge to the U.S. Marines guarding the city. They checked to be sure he was a city resident, and when they were done, Anad said, a Marine slipped a coin out of his pocket and put it in his hand.

Out of fear, he accepted it, Anad said. When he was inside the city, the college student said, he looked at one side of the coin. "Where will you spend eternity?" it asked.
He flipped it over, and on the other side it read, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16."

"They are trying to convert us to Christianity," said Anad, a Sunni Muslim like most residents of this city in Anbar province. At home, he told his story, and his relatives echoed their disapproval: They'd been given the coins, too, he said.

"Iraq is investigating a report that U.S. military personnel in Fallujah handed-out material that is religious and evangelical in nature," said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, a U.S. military spokesman, in a statement e-mailed to McClatchy Newspapers. "Local commanders are investigating since the military prohibits proselytizing any religion, faith or practices."
Fallujah, the scene of a bloody U.S. offensive against Sunni insurgents in 2004, has calmed and grown less hostile to U.S. troops since residents turned against al-Qaida in Iraq.
Now residents of the city are abuzz that some Americans who they consider occupiers are also acting as Christian missionaries. Residents said some Marines at the western entrance to their city have been passing out the coins for two days in what they call a "humiliating" attempt to convert them to Christianity.

It's Nikhar now:
The above news is absolutely unacceptable. I am all for people believing in what they want, or choose, or were raised to believe, as long as that means that they are good people and treat others well, and with respect, regardless of where they come from, the color of their skin, their creed, etc. The above article is proof not only of America's unwelcome presence in Iraq, but also of certain soldiers' attempts to target Iraqi civilians for the purpose of getting them to convert. First and foremost, this is NOT the job of these soldiers. Second, they need to understand that they are in a MUSLIM COUNTRY. Third, they need to comprehend that Christianity is not the solution for what problems are occuring in that country, and that Islam is not the problem either: power, greed, illiteracy, and politics are the heart of those issues. And last but not least, these soldiers need to really get what it means to respect others and their beliefs and refrain from handing out this unwelcome coins and offering their unwelcome ideas. And people wonder why the Middle East doesn't trust America, especially the American military...

NIkhar Ahmed: Distinguished Leadership Award 2008 -- Specific Page!

I have been searching for the link to this page for a while...it took them a little bit to load up my picture, so I didn't want to post the following link: http://www.denison.edu/offices/publicaffairs/pressreleases/leadership/2008/nikhar_ahmed.html until they did! Check it out -- this award was a long time comming, and I appreciated it not for the attention, but more so for the recognition for the time and efforts I had contributed to both the Denison community and the surrounding community!

Shout out to Ozzie Crump, without whom I would not have realized that it was picture day at Denison, and so I would not have the wonderful picture that they used in the profile for the DL award...major props Oz! Thank you for calling me and urging me to come to take the picture, saying that "People gotta know that colored folk attended Denison!" So true, so true...

Nikhar Ahmed...and AmeriCorps?!

Those of you who know me, know that I am passionate about three things: diversity, equity, and social justice. Working for the AmeriCorps appears as though it would give me the opportunity to express the latter two qualities all while helping people in the bargain. Has anyone participated in an AmeriCorps program, who would have any insight or advice to offer me concerning the organization?

Black Men and Asian Women

I don't come along too many articles or books that I feel are quote worthy or feel strongly enough to want to take the time out of my life to post, but this one here struck my interest: http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/41857 . Granted, it may be because I am somewhat personally invested in the "phenomenon", but let me make it clear that I do not completely agree with everything that the article says, but support the fact that interracial dating, especially for Asian-American women, must become more acceptable both within the Asian-American community and out amongst general society. Let me know what you think...

Nikhar Ahmed -- The Goings on of Summer...

So, my father came through again! That means that I am working at Devon Bank for the summer. The bank is located in Chicago; my father has worked there for nearly 18 years, and they've been very good to him and the family. While I must admit that banking was never really a passion of mine, the work keeps me busy and engaged. Plus, knowing that I am being productive and serving the community makes me feel good -- it's a lot better then folding clothes at the nearest Gap for eight hours, or waitressing (though I may take that up for a bit, just to make more money). Money, though, is the reason why I am working, rather than relaxing after graduation; I don't know what God has in stock for me yet, but I want be prepared, and you need dollas for that. Anyway, if anyone ever comes by the bank, make sure to come and see me!

Nikhar Ahmed -- Help, I need an apartment in the CO!

Hey all, I am excited to announce that I have graduated (as of May 11, 2008) from Denison University and am embarking on a new life! I plan to find a job soon, hopefully in Columbus; thing is, this means that I will need to relocate from my home in Chicago (by way of Skokie) to Columbus, OH. My plan is to actually move to the CO in late August, no later than mid-September, and that means I need two things: an afforable apartment, and a roommate. I think I may have a good hold on the latter -- a friend of mine from college is potentially interested in rooming with me if she is able to find a job in the CO. When it comes to apartment hunting, though, I'm a bit clueless. Anyone have any suggestions/advice?

Nikhar Ahmed - Distinguished Leadership Award

Link to an award I recieved after four years of service to my college community.

http://www.denison.edu/offices/publicaffairs/pressreleases/leadership/2008/

Nikhar Ahmed - NASPA

Me listed on the list of NASPA Undergraduate Fellows

http://www.naspa.org/programs/nufp/roster.cfm?show=cf

Nikhar Ahmed - AASU

An article about how a group of us at Denison University helped to form its first Asian American Student Union.

http://media.www.denisonian.com/media/storage/paper1253/news/2008/04/22/News/Without.A.Venue.Asian.Americans.Form.Student.Union-3350146.shtml

Nikhar Ahmed - MAASU Leadership Retreat

Link to a site about a conference I helped organize

http://maasu411.blogspot.com/2007/11/maasu-lr-112-114-denison-university.html

Nikhar Ahmed

Hey guys, this is Nikhar. I read about these blogs before but I never thought that I, Nikhar Ahmed, the most computer-illiterate of them all could ever come to understand how to use one/actually utilize one. I have decided that this is a good way to keep in touch, though, so comment away (those of whom I know and love, of course)!