…rissa…

Recently I posted a Note on Facebook referring to the following statement made by Sen. McCain during the third and final Presidential debate between him and Sen. Obama:
“We need to encourage programs such as Teach for America and Troops to Teachers where people, after having served in the military, can go right to teaching and not have to take these examinations which — or have the certification that some are required in some states.”

and RIGHT after he said that he said, “Look, we must improve education in this country.”

My concern was and is when allowing ex military to become insta-teachers:
1) What id a Veteran just got back from a warzone? Should they be able to go straight to teaching our children? Hello PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder).
2) Should someone who has never taight children be able to teach without any cerification and without having to go through any of the requirements of the State? Heck no! ..Especially if the Veteran might have PTSD. There are certain requirements that EVERYONE (including military vets) should have to pass before being allowed to teach our children.

Somehow the commenters on my FB note went totally off topic and the discussion turned into a debate about Israel. Some people posted numerous facts about the oppression of the Palestinians by Israel. Yet there were two people who argued that we should never be against Israel because God said so in the Bible.

My Mother used to believe and think the same way… Until she watched some documentaries on the creation of the current Zionist State of Israel. She saw how Arabs were kicked out of their homes, displaces, and many were even killed. She was discusted. Then thanks to satellite television she saw news from the Middle East. Day after day she watched as Palestinian homes were being bulldozed to make room for new Israeli settlements. She watched as Palestinian children would throw rocks as their only weapon against huge Israeli amoured tanks. She watched as Israel shot rockets into buildings killing and injuring innocent people. She watched. She learned.

In relaying all the aforementioned… I recall once a few years ago I was traveling across the country by bus. The bus I was on stopped at a terminal at which I spotted a young man around my age wearing a yarmulke. The time came for us to get on a bus in Cincinnati, Ohio that traveled to Lousiville, Kentucky. As we were approaching the transit I asked if he was Jewish, he then replied in the affirmative. After getting on the bus - we happened to be seated near eachother and began to conversate. We had a conversation about religion for the most past, his and mine comparativly. He being an Orthodox Jew and I being a Muslim it made for a very interesting conversation.

He asked a few questions about Islam. We discussed suicide bombers; we both agreed that people have the right to defend their homes and land from being bulldozed and occupied. We also agreed that going into a Pizzeria in Tel Aviv or a Ba(r) Mitzpah killing innocent people isn’t right either.

We got along so well..
Why can’t we all get along?

We should always stand for truth and against oppression whenever and whereever need be.

In other news, I have launched PoeticMeadow where I post some of my poetry and short stories.

sorry Allah for my transgressions

everyday more confessions

my own fault I confess it

Paradise surrounded by tests

Hell surrounded by desire

ya Allah open up my chest

please save me from the Fire

Your Paradise I desire

the Prophets -peace be upon them- I admire

show me the way with Your Light

know I wanna do right

help me win this fight
help me help others

we’re all sisters and brothers

need to learn to love one another

You’re the only One;

there is no other

to You I turn

sorry for everything

know you guided me to siratelmustaqheem

away from the path of the mushirkeen

united with fellow muslimeen

ya Allah please keep me on your deen

I desire to be of Your mumineen

[end]

Welcome to my new blog. :) I hope you will enjoy reading this blog post as well as all the others I’m going to post in the future inshallah (God-willing).

I’m currently saving money so that inshallah I’ll be able to return to Egypt in February. I plan to attend a language school in Mohandiseen (suburb of Cairo) and study both Egyptian and Standard Arabic. I lived in Egypt earlier this year (near Alexandria). Even though it is difficult for me to admit… I miss Egypt.

Where I lived before was right on the Mediterranean in El-Agami. It became home to me. It felt like home more than any other place I’ve ever lived. Egypt isn’t perfect and I wasn’t happy there at first. However, the longer I was subjected to the country the more my love for it grew. Just as I was stepping aboard Air France on my way back… I stopped in my tracks and realized I was definately going to miss the place.

It was strange coming back to the States. As soon as I arrived at the airport I was in a slight shock. Everyone around me spoke English. I seriously felt like a stranger in my own country.