As some of you know, there is a huge campaign that has gone surprisingly viral over the last couple months which was sparked by Manal al-Sherif showcasing her “dastardly” driving skills in Saudi Arabia via a YouTube video. I guess it’s no surprise that what started out in the social space, has now continued to spawn in just about every social media corner imaginable. It’s truly fascinating to see the outpouring of support for many of the sisters in Saudi Arabia who want to drive.

The nature of this post is not to further elaborate on the injustice of the female driving ban in Saudia Arabia (just about every blog and media outlet has written about it ad nauseam from the NYTimes to Foxnews). What I want to touch on was a conversation that my wife (who is Saudi) and I were having this morning regarding the importance of other issues that have had deleterious effects on the region. For starters, how about the 62% Divorce rate in the Saudi Arabia?

Many people’s reaction to the driving ban in Saudi Arabia exhibits a certain type of repulsing, almost gaging response as if they saw a mass grave in front of their eyes. I do believe the ideology behind the female driving ban has a very gender-jim crowish feel to it. However, I would like to remind people of Ian Bremmer’s the J Curve: A New Way to Understand Why Nations Rise and Fall.

In short, countries move at their own evolutionary social, political and cultural pace. Depending on what country you grew up in, different social issues have a varying degree of importance and priority. What is socially horrific and unacceptable in America might not exhibit the same response in Saudi Arabia. We need to understand that issues are not black and white. They have varying degrees of complexity and concern. Our ladder of what is “I’ll burn the world down if I didn’t have this” is different from other countries. I’m not here to justify injustice, I’m here to put things in their proper context and priority. Let’s make sure we keep our eyes on the ball. If you’ve gone completely bat crazy because of the female driving ban, you should have gone just as bat crazy knowing about the other injustices that have had deeper, if not more negative effects on the empowerment of women in the Kingdom.

So when you wave your fist in rage from your armchair revolutionary seat at the alleged “backwardness” of certain countries just make sure you don’t spill your $6.00 Iced Vanilla Mocha Caramel Latte on your $100 dollar designer jeans and $200 dollar shoes while sitting in a country that has to print money to prevent a sovereign default, in addition to having a murder rate by firearm higher than the Czech Republic and Lithuania. It’s all about perspective.

You know, for a very long time I’ve tried to ignore the Birthers who started what appears to be a tar and feather campaign to smear President Obama since early 2008. I dismissed the Birthers as bunch of closet white supremacist cranks who would rather see the country led by Howard the Duck then a Black president. I figured they’d pause because the man is half white. However, the “one drop” rule nullified any possibility of getting good with the good ole boy (and girls) network.

Some may dismiss the Birthers as a fringe movement of the country that don’t hold any power and are just leftover DNA from the evolutionary soup that remained in it’s primitive state since the dawn of man. However, their numbers are nothing to laugh at. There about 55 million registered Republicans and I’m going to assume that the 14% of Americans that believe Obama was not born in the USA are mostly Republican. However you slice it, this is by far not a fringe movement.

I watched the Obama “submitting his long form birth certificate” press conference (i.e. black tax) and although he carried a dignified response you could can see the pain of disappointment on his face. The pain of being treated like a nigga after Columbia, Harvard, and being president of the one of the most powerful countries in the world. This is the worse type of racism—the cloaked kind. The type of racism that carries an invisible white hood. The type of racism that when decoded, carries 128 bit decrypted noose. The type of racism that lives in the back room of dusty bars and dinner tables. I find this particular brand of encoded hatred detestable. Personally I will continue my verbal assault on the Birthers because what they stand for is a throw back to the Jim Crow brand of white privilege that we, as a country, have so ardently tried to remove from the hearts of millions.

A few days ago while I on the 1 train, I was brought to tears; these tears streamed down my cheeks as I tried to fathom the lack of compassion in so many hearts. My sweet son looked at me with a sort of confusion in his eyes as I inconspicuously wiped my tears away, smiling at him pretending to read a book.

An obvious addict and a young man, no more than 35 years old, was in the same car as I was, sorrowfully telling the story of how he contracted AIDS, how he was jumped by a couple of men a few weeks back, how he could not afford hospital payments to remove fragments of glass from his skull and how he was homeless. I don’t know how much of his story was true or how much of his story was a lie nor was his story the culprit in releasing such sad emotions within me. What I do know is that compassion should never be removed from our hearts regardless of one’s choices in life.

What brought me to tears was not the fact that this young man was an addict or HIV positive or homeless. It is what happened before the train stopped at the 96th street that upset me. This young man shuffled through the car holding up a brown paper cup asking for anyone to help. I personally do not give money to people who ask but I will buy a meal for them. I just don’t know where that money will be end up; maybe on a bottle of beer or on a 5 dollar hit.

As this man shuffled through the car on his bad leg supported by a cane he fell down. He landed right on his back unable to pull himself up again. He landed at the feet of a mid-aged woman and a young man. It might have been hard for him to get up because he lacked strength or maybe he was high or even a combination of both. But why do we as a society not feel the need to lift a finger and assist this man up? Have we become so cold and so disconnected than a human being is so easily neglected? One man actually got up, looked at him like a dog and walked right over him to change seats.

Now, I am all for not supporting those who choose destructive paths in their lives. However, I am also not for leaving someone to roll around like a dog on the floor while he apologizes and struggles to get up. Where is our compassion as a people? This man is still someone’s son and he may even be someone’s father, brother and/or husband. He may not deserve a dollar but he definitely does deserve a helping hand and a little bit of compassion. When the train came to a stop he eventually struggled to pick himself up and waddled of the train.

A reminder to us all!

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

Those who are merciful have mercy shown to them by the All-Merciful.
Show mercy to those who are on earth, then He who is in Heaven will show mercy unto you. (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)

Below is a letter that I would like to send to a Masjid that I have frequented for several years. I wrote this post right after last year’s Eid Al-Adha because my experiences at a particular Masjid have become so frustrating. For the sake of privacy I have blocked out those areas of the letter that would give any indication of the Masjid I’m referring to. This particular Masjid has done lots of good work. They provide a house of worship for Muslims, Eid, Taraweeh, Arabic classes for children and adults, not to mention do lots of charity. They have done many good works (fisabilillah), but have unfortunately come up short in binding the congregants together across ethnic and or racial lines. Although this letter was spawned from my experiences at this Masjid, this is a problem at many Masjids. Whether the Masjid is in the U.S. or abroad. I hope that this letter reaches as many people as possible (inshallah), especially those leaders (Imams) of certain Masjids. As believing Muslims we cannot choose to ignore this problem as being silent on this issue is akin to being an enabler of this problem of cultural nepotism.

As Salaam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah.

It is with great sadness and frustration that I write these words. I have been frequenting this Masjid at

As a person of African descent (African American/West Indian) I have never felt completely welcome at this Masjid. I realize that the majority ethnicity is Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi and this monolithic South Asian community has intentionally or unintentionally created a wall of “ethnic Islam” that does not bode well for those individuals who are of a different ethnicity. I’ll explain.

Several times during the closing of the Eid Khutbah and many brothers are giving their well wishes, I have found myself completely by myself and somewhat ignored. I have had congregants look away from me and bypass me to give their well wishes to others. I have also observed this ill-loving behavior towards other brothers of African descent. This might seem trivial at first glance, but I have experienced this behavioral phenomenon in this center for several years. In addition, many times during the closing prayer and the Khateeb is rattling off countries of concern, I’ve yet to hear the Khateeb mention Africa. You hear Indonesia, Pakistan, Iraq, Palestine, Middle Eastern countries etc, but never Africa. You know where one of the largest populations of Muslims are? Africa. Over 30% of the global Muslim population lives in Africa. And considering all the issues that are going on in Africa (with such a large Muslim population), this continent should be on our Islamic radar.

Not that this is merely a numbers game, but I’m bringing this to your attention because there are many brothers and sisters of African descent (whether born in America or abroad) who feel ostracized and this cognitive dissonance towards ethnicities outside of your own needs to be addressed. Ignoring the problem will deepen the cultural fault lines in the Masjid. Even a simple As Salaam Alaikum to many other brothers is often ignored. The salaam rebuttal is robotic at best. I want to make it clear that this monolithic cultural problem is an issue at many Masjids. A very good and dear family member of mine who runs several Masjids in NY) frequented a Pakistani Masjid this past Eid (Eid Al –Adha 2010) and was given the same ill-loving treatment. After the Eid Khutbah not one member gave him and his brother well wishing nor shook his hand. No Salaams and no Eid Mubarak whatsoever. Completely ignored as if he and his brothers were the invisible men in the Masjid.

The Messenger of Allah [s] further guides us by saying:

“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should be hospitable with his or her guests.”

This monolithic cultural problem is not exclusive to just South Asian or Middle Eastern dominated Masjids. I have many close friends of mine who are of Pakistani and Middle Eastern descent who have frequented majority African Masids and have been given the same cold treatment. This is a problem in many Masjids, not just yours. Several years ago I visited Dubai and attended a Khutbah were the Khateebs’s main focus of the lecture was this same ethnicity issue. Although Islam makes it clear that we are all brothers and sisters in Islam, irrespective of ethnicity, I don’t believe that many people take this important message to heart, not to mention carry it out in their day-to-day lives. I want to be very clear on this issue, I’m not looking for some type of “charity love” from this Masjid. Patronizing me or others, with guilt driven acts, condescension, or empty or contrived intentions is just as dangerous. This is an issue that has to be fixed over time. Here are a couple of suggestions. These suggestions are based on successes from other Masjids that have had this problem:

1. Do more Khutbahs on the roots of racism and indifference. By not highlighting the problem this will not build awareness among the Ummah. Hear no evil, see no evil.
2. You should seek a more diverse group of Khateebs for your Khutbahs. Get groups from every walk of life. Young, old, converts to Islam, different ethnicities (especially those ethnicities that the congregants seldom see or talk to), etc so the congregants can see the Masjid demonstrating a core part of Islam, diversity.
3. Participate in helping countries that are outside of your culture and make it clear to the congregants that the Masjid is apart of this effort. One of the Masjids I volunteer at not only help countries in Bangladesh and India, but they do a lot of work in Africa too. Keep in mind that the Masjid is not run by Africans or South Asians. Yes, there are floods in Pakistan, but there are also floods in Dakar and Benin too. We need to step out of our comfort zone and lend a hand to all in need, not just those that have the same cultural background.
4. Get the congregants of the Masjid to meet up with other Masjids that are of a completely different ethnicity and/or Madhab and utilize the common ground that all Muslims have, the Quran and related Hadiths. There is no doubt this will help to melt away some of the perceived cultural differences.

Very similar to your point in the Khutbah you did for this past Eid-Al-Adha, we have to do more than just talk. Just like our children will be watching our actions, so will the congregants monitor the actions of the Masjid. With the Masjid being a central part of the community, it is critical that we remove this oppressive disease from our hearts (Allahualim). There is a perverse level of otherness and xenophobia that exists in our Masjids. This type of behavior would be unacceptable during the days of the Prophet (PBUH), and it is unacceptable today.

Before I bring this letter to a close, I will leave you with a reminder from our glorious Quran, a paragraph from the Prophets Last Sermon and related Hadiths which specifically touches on this subject:

Surat Al-Hujurat:
“O Mankind, We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous of you” (Quran 49:13).

From the Prophets Last Sermon:
“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly. Do not, therefore, do injustice to yourselves.

Remember, one day you will appear before ALLAH and answer your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.”

This is a very eye-opening Hadith on the evils of discrimination, prejudice and racism. The explanation below is pulled from a lecture by Shaykh Muhammad Hannini from his lecture Loss of an Ummah by the An-Nahda Institute.
It was also transmitted, in two different versions, by Ibn al-Mubarak in his two books, Al-Birr and As-Salah, that a disagreement occurred between Abu Dharr and Bilal. The context of this hadith is Abu Dharr and Bilal were having a discussion among the other companions about the war. Abu Dharr mentioned something and Bilal corrected Abu Dharr. Abu Dharr got extremely upset and said “Even YOU, son of a black woman is going to tell me that I am wrong?” After hearing this Bilal was extremely upset and said to Abu Dharr, “By Allah, I will complain to Rasulullah (PBUH) to tell him about what you said.” Bilal went to Rasulullah (PBUH) and said Rasulullah, “Did you hear what Abu Dharr said?”. The Prophet responded, “What did he say about you?”. Bilal then explained the incident between him and Abu Dharr. Rasulullah (PBUH). After hearing this, the honorable face of Rasulullah (PBUH) changed. With Abu Dharr using skin color he was threatening the bond of the brother’s and sisters.

The identity of emaan is being threatened. When you call someone the son of a black woman, this is not something light. After the news had spread about the incident, he went to the Rasulullah (PBUH) in the Masjid and said to The Messenger (PBUH) The Messenger (PBUH), “As Salaam Alaikum”. Abu Dharr later reported that he wasn’t sure if the The Messenger (PBUH) answered him back. The Messenger (PBUH) of Allah (saw) was extremely upset by Abu Dharr’s comment, so he (saw) rebuked him by saying, “That is too much, Abu Dharr. He who has a white mother has no advantage which makes him better than the son of a black mother.” In addition to this he said to Abu Dharr, “Did you tell him (Bilal) about his mother ? Did you put him down because of the color of his mother? You are a man who has jahiliyyah (kuffur) [disbelief] in him”. Abu Dharr cried. He went to Rasulullah (PBUH), “Forgive me, and ask Allah (SWT) to forgive me.” He left the Masjid weeping with tears. This rebuke had a profound effect on Abu Dharr, who then put his head on the ground (dirt) swearing that he would not raise it until Bilal had put his foot on his face. He said to Bilal, “You are the honorable person, and I am the humiliated person”. Bilal cried, and then came close to the cheek of Abu Dharr and hugged him, then said “Abu Dharr, a forehead that does sujud to Allah, does not get stepped on, but rather gets kissed”.

As quoted in Islam The Natural Way by Abdul Wahid Hamid p. 125

A man once visited the Prophet’s Masjid in Madinah. There he saw a group of people sitting and discussing their faith together. Among them were Salman (who came from Persia), Suhayb who grew up in the Eastern Roman empire and was regarded as a Greek, and Bilal who was an African. The man then said:

“If the (Madinan) tribes of Aws and Khazraj support Muhammad, they are his people (that is, Arabs like him). But what are these people doing here?”

The Prophet became very angry when this was reported to him. Straightaway, he went to the mosque and summoned people to a Salat. He then addressed them saying:

“O people, know that the Lord and Sustainer is One. Your ancestor is one, your faith is one. The Arabism of anyone of you is not from your mother or father. It is no more than a tongue (language). Whoever speaks Arabic is an Arab.”

These proofs and evidences demonstrate that tribal ties, exclusive ethnic allegiances and blind nationalism have no place in Islam. Muslims are commanded to stick together and not disassociate themselves from each other because they come from different ethnicities. I’m not naïve to believe that JUST one cultural center is the core problem, it’s the lack of good manners, etiquette, and a need to reinforce a lovingly brotherhood/sisterhood which seems to breed in certain Masjids. The cultural polarization that is created from this behavior is like acid being poured on the bonds of the believers.

With much sincerity and respect,
Malik

• Loss of An Ummah by Mohammed Haninini
• Falling in to the Trap of Nationalism or/racism
• VIDEO: Explaining the Hadith Series 2 – (Racism & Tabari)
• 33 Tips to launch your personal Jihad against Racism and Nationalism
• Hospitality towards Guests
• Prophet Muhammad: The Hospitable

Yea you know the type. “Hey I’m a perfectionist”. Before I continue, I apologize to anyone who has said this to me. I didn’t know I was going to write a post on this and chances are you probably don’t fall into the “OCD perfectionist” category, but too many people do.

And whenever I hear that, I sometimes hear following:

• “Hey, I’m difficult and unbearable”
• “Hey, I like to adhere to fictitious standards that don’t exist” (only in my head). And I’m not talking about the “I want to be great at ___________”, I’m talking about “Hey I want to be great at ____________ which means lifting up the Empire State Building. Guess what? It’s not going to happen
• “Hey, look at me”
• “Hey, watch me hurt everyone’s feelings but use the “perfectionist” line as a cover to mask my detachment from the world

Now keep in mind that I didn’t say being a perfectionist is a problem, it’s being an imposing perfectionist that’s the issue. Without humility your “perfect world” can become a “narcissistic or arrogant” world. Maybe not to you, but how you are perceived by others.

Too many times I’ve watched the “perfectionist” live on an island of solitude while believing that their behavior is welcoming and refreshing. At times, being around a “hyper-perfectionist” can be an annoying and crass experience. Once again, I’m not talking about mastering something. In order for us to be masters at what we do, we have work hard and rethink our approaches. Being a critical thinker on your day-to-day challenges in life is expected.

Being a perfectionist is not all negative. There are actually some positive aspects to being a perfectionist.

Over they years I’ve also noticed that people want to be perfectionist or want “perfect” things in particular areas of their life. One of the most abused areas for “wanting something perfect” is relationships. Here are some of the reasons (and these reasons will lead you to nowhere):

• I work hard and play hard
• I’m handsome/beautiful and intelligent
• I have certain standards (they usually forget to ad “unrealistic” before the word standards
• Why should I settle? (uh…because human beings are imperfect creatures and it’s ridiculous to think that you are going to find someone that matches every part of your warped world view)

In this age of narcissism, we have watched some of our most well respected figures in society fall from from grace. We pounce at the opportunity to drag their character and life down into the gutter. As a society we have not only put people on these unrealistic “pedestals of perfection”, but we have also put our expectations on “pedestals of perfection”. We have created a world where there is no wiggle room for natural improvement and correction.

We hear and say the phrase “nobodies perfect”, but I wonder if we actually believe it.

• Discovery Health Perfectionist Test: Are you a Perfectionist?
• Race to Nowhere A Film by Viki Abeles
• NY Times | Portrait of the Dancer, Perfectionist and All By Bernard WeinRaub

“I hope they’re paying you a little more than minimum wage to watch that baby!” She exclaimed in a thick Irish accent as I was getting ready to load Saud and myself into a cab. I turned around to see who she was speaking to. To my utter surprise it was me. “You poor thing” she continued to mumble, in reference to my broken toe I assumed? I politely smiled and responded with a simple “he is MY son.” She quickly apologized and added a “God bless you dear.” Then went on to run America’s name in the mud with a “in Europe they always offer to help.” In which I politely responded once again, “my cab driver is being very helpful.” I looked over at my cab driver who was Afghanistani and smiled.

As I sat quietly in the cab my mind was slowly beginning to fill up with random thoughts: “in Europe they do not offer to help any more or any less than they do here” “I have met as many helpful New Yorkers as unhelpful New Yorkers in my past 4 years in America.” But more than anything I was scratching my head trying to understand “why did this woman think I had to be a nanny?” But then there is the answer so evident in the very question I pondered: the color of my skin causes me to be associated with a “less fortunate individual only capable of a handful of jobs.”

It is quite interesting and scary all in one to think that she was actually trying to be supportive of me not realizing how insulting she actually was on many levels:

1. If I were a nanny, why feel so obliged to rub in my face your disgust and pity.
2. Why do you assume that I am a nanny rather than a mother?
3. Why stereotype me based on the color of my skin?

Then slowly it all started to make sense to me. The stares and glares at first myself and then Saud as we walked down certain streets and avenues in New York. I now realized that all this time those awkward looks were actually inquisitive eyes and minds. Curiousness of “whose baby is she caring for?”

I am forever flabbergasted at the senseless hierarchy of racial distinction (association) that seems to hover over our heads like a peaceful cloud before a deadly storm. I am also slowly starting to understand the social dysfunctions that contribute to such occurrences. I am reading a book called Whistling Vivaldi by Claude M. Steele. This book is an excellent resource into gaining a deep understanding of social identity here in America. No one race should read this book; it speaks of the importance of understanding identity threat to our own personal progress. This book dissects factors related to (indirectly and directly) societal progress, bettering group relations, equal opportunity and achieving an identity-integrated civil life.

Identity and stereotype threats are very dangerous. Many people often remark, “just get over the stereotype and move on.” It is not that simple. Many Whites worldwide have a preconceived notion about the progress and social existence of people of color. I have personally experienced this in Europe, America and even in the Middle East among Caucasians. The only way we can begin to eliminate such notions is to reduce the distance between us socially. This needs to start at home. There needs to be a focus on reducing these “threats” in schools, workplaces, gyms, neighborhoods and so on. We have to focus on making the identity less “inconvenient” as we come together, equally across identity lines. We cannot allow for our children to grow up in such a segregated world.

Recently, I’ve been reading The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement by Jean M. Twenge Ph.D. and W. Keith CampBell Ph.D. It’s one of the 12+ plus books that will contribute to my 4 part series on the Science of Relationship which I’ll be finishing later on this year (inshallah). The book is not perfect, but it makes some good points. A bit too much “soap boxing”, but the good intentions and clear warnings are there. However, I want to take a short pit stop and quote a couple of very insightful paragraphs from this book that highlight—what I think is very eye-opening information on what many of relationships are suffering from. When I read these paragraphs it reminded me of some of the issues I encountered in my bad relationships in the past. Some of you might read this and say. “Oh snap, that’s me”. Nevertheless, check it out:

Narcissists and materialism….

Materialism is also a real stumbling block in narcissists’ relationships. Narcissists’ partners, for example, often say that the narcissists’ interest in material goods interferes with the relationship. She’s more interested in stainless-steel appliances, fancy handbags, and Manolo Blahnik shoes than our relationship, guy will say. (Simply insert “a huge flat-screen TV, Rolex watches, expensive suits” to switch the sexes.) The partners have a point: If you can get social status from either an expensive watch or trophy partner, what does that say? Narcissists also sort their friends according to material standards.

Narcissist approach to relationships….

In place of love for another person, put love for the self, in place of caring, put exploitation; and to commitment, add “as long as it benefits me.” Narcissists’ approach to relationship is simple: it’s all about them. They want to look and feel good and if the relationship is a way to do this, great, if not, it’s time to find another one. People often use the term “feeding the ego” to describe narcissists’ approach to relationships. If the relationship proves to be sufficient food, it works, and if not, it doesn’t.

Narcissist triggers of aggression…

These three triggers of aggression—ego threat, rejection, and saying no—make a relationship with a narcissist feel like tiptoeing though a minefield. The excitement at the beginning is not worth the stress, anxiety and sometimes fear that comes later.

Narcissism relationship virus spreads…

Unfortunately, with relationships—especially romantic relationships, but also in friendships and even in picking CEOs—people have a major problem with selection. We really want two things from relationships: the sizzle the fun, exciting, confident, charismatic outgoing and “magic” part, and the substance, the commitment, caring, and teamwork part. Narcissists’ secret to success in relationships is that they deliver the sizzle up front, but then fail to deliver the substance. Instead, you end up with a bevy of relationship problems like those described above.

Why Narcissist threaten relationships….

Narcissists may seem like a tasty treat when you first meet them, but they are not. Narcissism is absolutely corrosive to social relationships. People who have been deeply involved with narcissists can tell you this. These relationships destroy trust in others. You learn not to trust anyone after being mistreated by someone so charming and likable. You also lose trust in yourself. If you couldn’t see this coming, what does that tell you about your judgement? And then to dip the wound in salt, relationships with narcissists are remembered and ruminated about for a long time. People ponder what went wrong; the ruminate about the warning signs they should have seen; and they waste a lot of time trying to figure out what made the narcissist into a narcissist.

The great thing about this book is it gives you the tools to spot a narcissists a mile away. Yet another tool to add to your social toolkit.

• No Returns on Downgrades by George Reid from The Nobel Realm
• Get the Book! The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement by
  Jean M. Twenge Ph.D.
• Why are our Relationships So Disastrous? by Malik Abdul Rasheed

In the wake of the new maniac and psychopath of the month (i.e Joseph Stack who did a homicide-suicide plane crash into I.R.S. building in a failed attempt to kill hundreds to Faisal Shahzad failed Times Square bombing that could of maimed/killed hundreds, maybe even thousands) who in some twisted sense of righteousness believe that killing innocent civilians equates to some deed of salvation or proper retribution for past misgivings. These characters are some of the more obvious examples. The definition of terrorism is the following:

terrorism, act of terrorism, terrorist act (the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear)

Here is my open letter to “The Terrorists”, current and aspiring psychopaths and cowards who might not have thought they “fit the profile”.

Dear Terrorists,(but not limited to)

The “loose cannon” who claim they are Muslim and follow the Quran and Hadiths in Islam who like to blow themselves up (and others) thinking (Allahhualim) that they are going to see Jenna (Heaven). You better go back to the deen of Al-Islam (if you haven’t already blown yourself up) and re-study because your eyes, ears and hearts are sealed with wickedness and the shaytan.
That’s violent terrorism.

Police officers and those in authority in the justice system who beat down and kill civilians mercilessly because you think they are expendable. You have the disease of cognitive dissonance towards those that you’ve concluded have an “otherness” about them which does not fit into your own cultural matrix.
That’s enforcement terrorism. (not to mention xenophobic and prejudice)

The executives and investment houses/banks/firms sitting in their ivory tower embezzling tens of millions and creating questionable investment instruments (money schemes) while undermining the integrity of the financial system. Impoverishing tens of millions for your own selfish benefit.
That’s financial terrorism.

For the murderers and killers who worship gang violence while killing people in your own community including innocent women and children because you want a quick drug profit.
That’s social and urban terrorism.

Those in the halls of Congress (politicians and law makers at the state and federal level) that play up people’s worst fears to usurp power and mislead your constituents with a divide and conquer strategy. Laying in bed with lobbyists and playing both sides of the political coin for your own one dimensional power grab.
That’s political and institutional terrorism.

For the country that goes into other countries claiming (lying) that another country has WMDs (Weapons of Mass Destruction) because so-called intelligent organizations with fancy acronyms “certified the facts” with a faulty threat matrix then mercliessly kills over 150,000 plus innocent civilians (45 9/11s) for almost 10 years while injuring millions then arrogantly occupies the same country creating more violence and misery for the citizens. Or any country that uses occupation as a foundation for foreign policy.
That’s sovereign terrorism.

For the governments and related banks that are in cahoots with one another who indulge in “too big to fail” bailouts and print money like it grows on trees while causing inflation and devaluing the dollar. Not to mention the draconian practice of fractional reserve banking and usury which buries people under so much interest that they are financially impotent.
That’s economic terrorism.

For the racist bigot (and many don’t even know they are and will read this and say, “Oh that’s definitely not me”….well not so fast, it might be you) individual that foolishly claims to believe in God but sympathies with their ethnic, racial, or tribal identity over the inclusive and humanitarian guidelines of all monotheistic ways of life. Now called religion. 
You are a ethnocentric terrorist. (Not to mention a hypocrite)

For the so-called news organizations that are muliti-milllon dollar partisan hack misinformation “non-thinking” tanks that spew misleading, demeaning, information and purposely confuse the public with empty politically inspired anecdotes and regurgitate sound bites from their corporate/ political slave masters.
That’s information terrorism.

If there was anyone who thought any one group of people have cornered the market on “terrorism”, you have not done your homework.

“He who kills a person without (the latter) having killed another person, it is as if he has killed all of humanity, and he who makes one person survive, it is as if he has caused all humanity to survive” – (32,5) – Quran

A friend of mine asked me about this and I’m sure there are others. I just want to be clear. Although I agree that this South Park episode is disrespective to the faith of Islam and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), people in America are given the right to say whatever they want. If we were in an Islamic country, they could say it but there would be consequences. And when I say consequences I’m not talking about death.

The “they should be killed” reaction from a handful of Muslim extremist do not speak for the billions of Muslims and should be viewed with caution. What I do find interesting is these same Muslims are quiet when Isa (Jesus) is ridiculed, and probably more ridiculed via entertainment than any prophet. We have just as much love for Prophet Isa so where is the love there? I find this selective rage…well..lets just say interesting. The fact that a handful of Muslims believe they have the right to selectively murder individuals on site is disturbing.

It would be nice for the MSM (Main Stream Media) to be balanced in their reporting on Muslim matters of various opinions. When Muslims are volunteering and doing good deeds, it’s seldom reported. I could care less what some writer wants to write and so do a lot of my brothers and sisters in Islam. I work with with 3 Muslims at work, a Muslim at the security desk of my building, and been attending prayer congregations at the Masjid since this has gone down, and no one has said a thing. No outrage. No one calling for the death of Trey Parker and Matt Stone. This issue is like a pin in the universe when it comes to matters in the Islamic community.

And when you see the word “Fatwa“, it’s just an opinion, albeit a significant opinion. There is nothing deadly about the word. It just a religious opinion concerning Islamic law. A fatwa is not a small matter and requires a thorough and satisfactory review from respected religious scholars from the Ulema (Muslim scholars trained in Islam and Islamic law). At this present moment I have not heard approval of the fatwa issued by the Revolution Muslims. Also keep in mind that not anyone can issue a fatwa which has global implications.

So in the future when you see this flair up from a micro-set of a particular community, you can refer to this post. Of course you’ll have some people who are more vocal and a bit more animated about this issue, but lets be objective folks. I want to be clear. I do believe that the issue is disrespectful, but I don’t agree with the response from this small group of Muslims. A better approach is to issue a respectful open letter to Trey Parker and Matt Stone explaining why this act is disrespectful. Not that things would change anyway (Allahualim), but the pen is mightier than the sword.

The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of the martyr.” Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

The time is 3:30 pm in my neighborhood and school is out. As I walk the streets of Kingsbridge Heights in the Bronx, I am taken over by sadness and disappointment. Sadness directed at our youth and disappointment directed at our adults. Ten minutes into my walk I witnessed a teenage boy smoking a joint behind a U Haul van, a teenage boy shoved a teenage girl forcefully (even though playfully) in the chest, a girl rapping vulgarly about her vagina and a boys penis, a young boy (must have been 10 or 11) trying to touch a young girls behind, the word M%&$#^ F%&#$%^ repeated by almost every child and a young teenage girl in Starbucks bawl her eyes out to her friend about her boyfriend pressuring her into sex.

As a teenager I was a rowdy young thing; somewhat of a bully and most definitely a rebel. However, I possessed a teen’s innocence; the innocence of a child. Other than trying to curse every now and then or trying to meet with a boy I was interested from time to time (which I hardly got away with because my parents were hawks in nature), my mind was focused on fun activities like sports, girlfriend hangouts, writing and school.

I look into the eyes of our youth and I see pain, sadness, unnecessary responsibility and emptiness. I see hyper sexualized boys and sexually objectified girls (by both their own doing and parental neglect). I see babies with babies. I see boys lashing out in anger towards one another. I see girls disrespecting their minds and bodies. I see boys disrespecting girls and girls disrespecting boys. I see emptiness. I see aimlessness. I see hopelessness. I see shamelessness. I see adults trapped in youngins’ bodies wishing they could escape; yet, still believing they are grown enough to pave the way to success. Yet, some don’t care to be successful.

I see mothers smiling proudly at an ill mannered young child whose voice is unpleasant and rude to those around. I see fathers neglecting their parental roles in other ways; avoiding being a father or physically present but not mentally there. I witness parents being friends to their children rather than disciplinarians. Today’s youth is lost but not to their own fault. How is a child to direct him/herself when he/she lacks the most crucial thing; a role model to follow and respect.

I remember when I was young it took a village to raise a child. If a child misbehaved the whole community stepped in to educate and direct that one child. The worst parts of American culture seem to dictate new standards to our adults and youth alike. The worst parts of American culture seem to have removed the innocence from our youth; forcing them into an adult-like role at a very young age. Who is to blame? Parents? Media? Technology? The education system? Our youth? Freedom (in an exaggerated form of freedom)? Or is it all of the previously stated combined?

I write this not to judge nor to blame but rather to find solutions; solutions to help our youth heal today, so they can lead tomorrow. I write this with love. I believe that our youth are only as strong as our adults. However, I fear that when today’s babies are having babies and parents are no longer parents, how does our next generation become a Barack Obama, a Sonya Sotomayor, or just simply educated, respectful and successful adults!