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
Thursday, June 5, 2008
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.
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.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
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...
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...
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...
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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...
Friday, May 23, 2008
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!
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