My. Blood. Boilswhen I read that an organization that takes the name of my religion would do as heinous of an act as they did on Eid-ul-Fitr. It upsets, nay, it Disgusts me that anyone who claims to be Muslim would even imagine such a horrible plot. For those who are unaware, the infamous and feared ISIS took the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters (and I don't care whether you are Muslim or not, white or black, American or Japanese or Russian or whatever, they were family to ALL of us) on one of the most important days for a Muslim. On a scorching hot day in an Iraqi market, where the temperature was reaching 95 degrees fahrenheit, a man working for ISIS drove an ice truck (yes a damn ICE TRUCK in the middle of SUMMER on EID), lured over a hundred people in need of relieving their sweat drenched bodies from the heat. A profusion of people, all out in the market with the intent that, on this joyous and Holy day, they will celebrate properly with new clothes and delicious food and whatever the hell else they wanted to do. And a man comes with an ICE TRUCK, to lure people towards a haven from the heat, only to take their lives. I'll even attach a link for you to go ahead and read: I. Don't. Care. Who. You. Are
Next time any of us want to say, "but I'm only one person", remember that quote. I don't even want to be nice about it. If you don't want to be a part of a better tomorrow, get out of the way and let those who want a better world work towards it. Because I didn't start this website for fun. I want a better tomorrow and I don't want the excuses not to do something about it. We have a voice. A voice that can reach hundreds. A voice that no one can muffle. A voice that can be used to give to those who do not have one. You want to know what I want to do for the rest of my life? Give my voice to those who deserve it. And let them speak for themselves. With no fear. With no remorse. With no filter. Only their stories, to tell us the thing we fear the most. The cold Truth. So the Question remains.I'm not saying we can stop ISIS, or that we can cure world hunger, or that we can take oppressive leaders out and fix everything (*ahem* American mentality *ahem*). But because we cannot do that, we stop doing anything. The most powerful thing we have in this world is the ability to say what we believe and to be controversial. We live in the lap of luxury. Could you imagine that on the most joyous celebration, you have to fear for your life? You can't trust your brother next to you? This story is more than just a fatal crisis. It's a slap in the face for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. We're so beyond spoiled, we can't even imagine imagining what their situation is like. So many stories untold, so many voices drowned in propaganda, so many people lost and forgotten. The only question that remains is: WHAT THE HELL ARE WE GONNA DO ABOUT IT?
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it's underratedI think we take Happiness for granted. we don't really realize how beautiful of a feeling pure Happiness is. I'm not talking about those days where you got-something-you-really-wanted happy. I'm talking about those days where you walk with a smile on your face, the times when you treat everyone around you pleasantly. some of us have those days more often than others. when we can't find anything to really be upset about. in that moment in time, our Happiness is untouchable and we don't know why we feel so good, but it doesn't really matter. Alhamdulillah one of the best things that Islam has taught me is the concept of Alhamdulillah. which translates to "thanks be to God". a lot of Muslims say it habitually, without really thinking of why they are saying it. the beauty of Alhamdulilah is that it teaches you to be grateful for every single thing that happens. whether it be good or bad, happy or sad. it has the most impact internally when things are not so great. because you question, "why should I even think this a good thing?" I truly believe that everything that ever happens happens because God willed it. so you may question why something happens or why it happened to you, but when you say the words Alhamdulilah, you realize that in the end, whatever the why is, there is a purpose to it. it's our job to figure out what that purpose was. optimismit's a conscious effort. it's really easy to look at things in life negatively. it takes trust in yourself and the world around you. always trying to find the positives in everything, even if it sounds like you're just lying to yourself, helps your spiritual health a ton. it makes it easier to keep on keeping on. I don't have a ton of life experience but I want to get in to that mindset early. so when life throws me in a ditch and dares me to climb out, i'll be able to fight my way out and keep on moving. I know, I know. this is just one giant cliche. but the truth is, being Happy is more than just trying to be joyful. it's making the most of what life gives you, because you really can't complain about things you can't control. what you can control is how you react. that is probably the only factor that really controls our Happiness. so you may not be able to smile, or laugh, but at least you will be fighting to be Happy again. to move on, and to be stronger for the future. I'm no Happiness guruthere is a chance that I came off as a happiness shaman who knows the ins and outs of the keys to being Happy. but the honest truth is, I just really strive to be. Happiness has become something I've become more and more infatuated with and have really tried to revolve my life around. I truly believe that it can only really be positive for myself. this is one of those topics that not a lot of people really converse about because it seems like it should be innate when it really isn't, and I wanted to get the thought out there. maybe being Happy is more than just smiling. maybe it can be an actual lifestyle, one I definitely deem worth living.
Well Hello.I've never been good at introducing myself. I don't want this to sound like a resume, like you're some employer and I'm desperate to get a job. I want this website to be more about conversation, about a discussion between you and me. we all have lots of things to say, and I could go around posting them on my facebook or tweet it. but to be honest, that just doesn't sit right with me. I'll come around to my opinion about social media some other time. "what even is this?",you ask. well to be honest, i'm figuring it out with you. see there is just a ton of stuff that i wish i could do and get it formally published so that i could get input on it from those around me. say, photography projects or papers i want to write or videos i want to make, that all have a story about them. i've alway enjoyed a good story. and i hope you do to. because that is the direction i want to take my website in.
simply put, i want to create Stories. something that embodies a greater message. and i want an excuse to practice trying to capture those stories. so trek with me through this new world i want to immerse my self in and maybe we can help each other create some powerful messages for ourselves and those around us. we have a Voice don't we? I say we take advantage of that blessing and use it to better our world. |
AUTHORA financial analyst by day...dreaming of being a college student again ARCHIVES
December 2017
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