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.