Ya Allah! I am at a crossroads and I am afraid to take the first step on the turn I know in my heart is right. It has been burning in my brain for weeks now: I want to become an EMT. I am a lover of knowledge, but in my bones, in my sinews, in my heart I must act. And I can think of no nobler profession than routinely pulling people from out of the jaws of death and giving them, by the grace of Allah, another chance at living. I am not spurning education. I plan, insha'allah, after I have completed EMT basic and attained the requisite experience (usually one year of practice, although in some cases it is less) to continue my training through the intermediate and paramedic levels until I attain a bachelor's degree in Emergency Medical Services. This plan of action would have the added benefit of having most of my tuition expenses (after the EMT basic program) covered by my future employer. Maryland, in particular, is having problems finding qualified EMTs, so I could recieve substantial aid while serving my home state.
Ya Rab, help me stand firm!

Check out the link for Badmash.org. Dishoom!

Ramadan Mubarak!

Tired of being oppressed by your employer? Fed up with a political process that leaves you with no voice in how _your_ government is run? If so, then come raise a ruckus at the Million Worker March!

FYI, I added a link to the weblog of Juan Cole. Check him out for in-depth analysis of foreign affairs, especially those concering the Ummah.

I came across one of those "help a Jew emmigrate to Israel" ads on one of the paid programming channels. It did the usual, played up the myth of 'tiny, helpless Israel,' portrayed the Palestinians as a gaggle of rioting thugs (and Arafat as their Moe-like leader), and asked for exorbitant sums of money. This time the focus was on effects of the Intifada on the Israeli economy, especially the big hit to the tourist industry and the effect on the elderly whom the organization (Guardians of Israel?) had already helped to emmigrate. Of course, they don't show the effect on the Palestinians of either the militarization of their territory or of the land grabs justified by the aforementioned immigration. I just got too sick and angry to watch it any longer and shut the thing off. The sad thing is that I know, once upon a time, America was advertised in an equivalent manner: the key to a better life for the downtrodden. Nevermind that those who made the advertisements were only looking after their own economic and political advantage, nevermind that the immigration would be at the cost of the Native American peoples. When one is powerful one can legislate entire peoples out of existence.

I spent yesterday helping Papa; I love how I've become integrated into family whose origins lie on the otherside of the planet from my own. And, truth be told, I love them just as much as my own family. I hope we'll be able to go to Lahore for Fahad's wedding.

From the Realm of Dreams blog:

http://www.lightstudy.org/askevidence.htm

His analogy with quantum physics is seriously flawed. As an experimental science, physics can only progress by serious criticism and questioning; by asking for what he calls "evidences" and submitting them to the most rigorous analysis. The founders of Quantum physics became such not by memorizing books by rote, but by having the vision to construct novel experiments and to interpret existing experimental results in novel ways. Any _good_ scientist (as opposed to someone merely trying to puff themselves up) will be able to reference the assertions they make back to either peer reviewed journal articles or original research. The former, of course, represent a synthesis of previous research and current experimental results. What is the result of this method in the sciences? Astounding, nearly exponential progress in nearly every field of scientific research. And what of the alternative, of learning by rote, of bowing to the authority of (and one could say, worshiping) the dead? Stagnation. And stagnation is something that this Ummah cannot afford.

The end result? A happy muslim. 

Oh no you don't... 

At the gate of our bed and breakfast. 

Our retreat. 

The Fun Cat- the catamaran which took us snorkeling at the spanish Virgin Islands. 

Notice the persian tree of life design beside my thumb.  

Leapin' lizards! 

Not a dead parrot. 

Breakfast is served. 

Life flowing down from the heavens at El Yunque. 

Natural, human and artificial beauty all in one shot. 

Mera khubsurat chona jaan. 

Carnival of Juan Ponce de Leon. 

Above ground cemetary at El Morro. 

The view from El Morro facing San Juan de Cristobal. 

Political graffiti in Viejo de San Juan. 

Nadia Jaan in front of one of the falls at El Yunque, the only rainforest in US territory. 

The People's Theater of Puerto Rico, a fine example of moorish-style architecture in the carribean. Inside there are tiles decorated with arabic calligraphy. 

Nadia and Luqman at their shadi. 

I'm actually disturbed by the fact that, after listening to Kerry in the last debate, I find myself in the position of not only voting against Bush but for Kerry. His honesty in recognizing his own socio-economic status, his support for a more just redistribution of wealth via a higher tax rate on those making over 200,000 dollars a year, for stem-cell research for organized labor, and for health-care for the millions has really impressed me. I'm still angry at him for backing away from his earlier position on Israel's illegal "security" barrier ("It's a barrier to peace") and for calling for more troops in Iraq, but it his ardent criticism of the administration for taking us there in the first place and his calls to make the occupation a genuine international (as opposed to imperial American) undertaking are a step in the right direction. I can only hope that once he is elected he would put the military on the fast track to leaving the country and would also act as a more impartial mediator in the conflict over Palestine. On the latter I think there is more hope then there currently is under Bush and even then there would have been under Gore (who picked a militant Zionist as his VP candidate). Only time will tell, but I have the feeling I'll still be out in the streets protesting the actions of a Kerry administration vis-a-vis Palestine. But, I hope, I would be doing so secure in the knowledgethat domestic affairs are in better, more progressive hands.

Comparing the current political climate to four years ago I am forced to come to a startling conclusion: Progressive politics is actually healthier now. There are not only very healthy anti-war and anti-globalization movements, but the fight for worker's rights, for healthcare, for education seems to be much more vital now than at any time since the early nineties. Serious progressive candidates vied for the Democratic nomination and because of this the winning ticket has leaned more sharply to the left than Clinton did (Clinton was a outspoken proponent of Free Trade whereas Kerry, while having voted for NAFTA, is now criticizing it's effects on domestic employment and proposing remedies which would substantially alter it de facto if not de jure). This is all the result of the increasing polarization of the country into two camps: the haves and their dupes (right-wing talk radio junkies, people who think they have "made it" or will "make it" under the current economic system, etc.) one side and everyone else on the other. The 2000 elections took place in the midst of a cooling but still powerful economic boom. As a result most people had faith in the prevailing economic arrangement and were more willing to take their chances under it than under an alternative. As a result both politcal parties took a step to the center with this crucial difference: the Republicans never neglected their conservative evangelical base while Democrats did neglect their progressive and african american bases. So while the evangelicals joined the moderates and swing voters who had been moved by Bush's so-called "compassionate conservatism" the Democrats were left with only their own moderates: the progressives voted for Nader and african americans stayed home. This was enough to tilt the election in Bush's favour. I don't think this will happen again; Kerry and Edwards have both been actively engaging and energizing both progressives and minority voters and the moderates in the party will vote for the ticket regardless. This leaves the swing voters whom, because of poor job growth, stagnant wages, and concern over the occupation of Iraq, I think will more often than not vote for Kerry. As long as Kerry stays on message and on target (and providing there's not another attack) I think he has an at least 60% chance of winning.