Am currently watching The View-crap show bas am bored-and they were talking about telling secrets. Ya3ni, a friend tells you something and then says the dreaded sentence-don't tell anyone! So the dilemma starts, I know myself, there are three/four people who when I am told something I instantly have the urge to call them up and tell them. I know that this is bad, since people trust me when things, bas I tell these people because I trust them then not to go and talk about it...anyho this is not the point, on The View, one of the women, said that when people tell 'secrets' it really is a subconscious desire for people to find out. I have heard this theory before, and I know that sometimes I tell certain people things, because I know that they will go and tell everyone...ya3ni within 10 minutes I am getting calls or texts questioning me about whatever it is I told this person.
Bas there are things that I tell only a certain few, and I never tell them-don't tell anyone-because I expect that to be taken for granted. I guess it depends on the subject one is talking about, there are certain things that I find trivial, so when people tell me about them I think-hmm, not so major can tell the close friend-there are other subjects, that I don't tell anyone about-well other then my diary. But this is quite serious especially when you are part of a group, for news spreads quite quickly, and since we are all close, one never really knows who doesn't know about something...and it all get very confusing, and argument happen.
But I trust people, and I hope people trust me, I know that there are certain things that no matter what I will not tell, and there are other things that I just think are not worth concealing, I know what people will say, who am I to decide what is told and what is not?
Guess it is all a matter of judgment, and one thing is for sure, I only tell it to people that I know won't tell-or the very least HOPE won't tell!
19 April 2006
18 April 2006
Literal Meaning
I have been reading about what is happening in Egypt, and I am truly saddened...I love that country and the people of that great nation. For this to be happening on the streets of Egypt, should make us all ashamed, sad, and also force us to rethink how to shape our lives according to religion. I don't believe in religion-like Marx said it is Opium of the masses-but after reading an article by Karen Armstrong in the Guardian, I had to rethink how I view the religion I was born into-Islam-and Christianity. The article is entitled: Unholy Scriptures. In it Karen tries to make the argument that people should stop reading the scriptures so literally, that it is in the essence, the spirit of the texts that we should be taking.
After reading this article, I decided that maybe I should try and see what Armstrong meant when she said that the Koran should not be read from cover to cover. That it was made to be recited aloud, that meaning comes from the sound patterns that link one passage to another. I went to a reading of the Koran, and I completely fell in love with it, not so much what it was saying, but the voice of the man singing, the way the words-their spirit-moved me, like a good song would. I sit and listen to Oum kalthoum sometimes, on my own, and I go into a sort of trance, I no longer can think about anything but her voice, not so much what she is saying, bas the way it sounds, how it is making me feel. The same happened when I went to the Koran reading, it was absolutely beautiful.
17 April 2006
Terminology
The operation that took place in Tel Aviv today, was reported on Aljazeera as a '3amaliya Feda2ya'-Feda'ya operation. This is quite a shift in the terminology being used when dealing with these kinds of attacks. Aljazeera used to call them '3amaliyat Istishadiya'-martyrdom operation, but to have shifted to Feda'ya is quite a change.
In the case of Palestine, the term Feda2i has always been used when talking about the men and women who fought before and during the first Intifada, it also has a very secular overtone to it, since during that time it was the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and Fateh-among others-that did most of the 'fighting' and they are both groups that are considered quite secular in their direction. Meaning that they are nationalist, and didn't connect the liberation of Palestine with either Islam nor Christianity.
But this operation was done by a man who is affiliated to the Islamic Jihad, and as thus is not secular at all. For them to change the terminology to a Feda'aya operation, is in my opinion, quite profound, and something that is either showing a change in the minds of the Arab street, or an attempt by the Arab media to reprogram how these attacks should be understood by this street. Aljazeera is most probably the most popular venue for Arabs when they go looking for news, and as thus, their use of words, and the way they present what is happening is of great significance.
In the case of Palestine, the term Feda2i has always been used when talking about the men and women who fought before and during the first Intifada, it also has a very secular overtone to it, since during that time it was the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and Fateh-among others-that did most of the 'fighting' and they are both groups that are considered quite secular in their direction. Meaning that they are nationalist, and didn't connect the liberation of Palestine with either Islam nor Christianity.
But this operation was done by a man who is affiliated to the Islamic Jihad, and as thus is not secular at all. For them to change the terminology to a Feda'aya operation, is in my opinion, quite profound, and something that is either showing a change in the minds of the Arab street, or an attempt by the Arab media to reprogram how these attacks should be understood by this street. Aljazeera is most probably the most popular venue for Arabs when they go looking for news, and as thus, their use of words, and the way they present what is happening is of great significance.
I love oranges...currently I am going through a phase where all I want to eat is oranges...I love pealing them-even though I hate the smell of my hands after-I love to throw the peels into the fire place during winter...it makes the whole room smell amazing! Bas I love that fruit...it tastes great. I just wish it wasn't orange in colour, I absolutely detest that colour...and would have loved oranges even more if they were called blues...lol...as you can tell Saudi is bring out the real bored version of Lulwa...la2 haram...its just my body is going through a bit of a detoxing period. I have not had a sip of alcohol for two days, I also am having withdrawal symptoms from not seeing my friends...today is Monday and that is a big going out night for people in Amman...and am sure my friends are out, and I am home...helping my 13 year old cousin look for Enrique pictures for one of her friends...lol...
(I wanted to put enrique's picture...bas it seems that blogger in Saudi does not allow this option!)
(I wanted to put enrique's picture...bas it seems that blogger in Saudi does not allow this option!)
Singers in my life
I have people in my life who LOVE TO SING! I mean they do it all the time...if we are in the car, at dinner, in a bar, at home, watching TV...or just being bored...they seem to have an inability to sit still and NOT sing. I even have a friend who calls me from Dubi just to sing me a line from a song that he knows I love/hate that has just come on the radio...he shuts the phone the minute he has done his two seconds worth of tearing my ear drum.
Bas what is really funny about these friends and family, is that they don't have that great voices...and what is even better, is that they REALLY REALLY believe with all their hearts that their voices are good...al my cousin tells me: "I do have a great voice, bas inti ma tla7'6een!" Ya Hasra!
Bas I guess we all have these things that we think we are amazing at bas actually suck ass in...3adi...kind of charming! Except when I am in the car...I HATE when people be ja3ro in the car...its just to tiny a space for that kind of aggro. Bas its my friends and family what can one do!!!!!
(Just kidding people-love the singers in my life-continue screaming!)
Bas what is really funny about these friends and family, is that they don't have that great voices...and what is even better, is that they REALLY REALLY believe with all their hearts that their voices are good...al my cousin tells me: "I do have a great voice, bas inti ma tla7'6een!" Ya Hasra!
Bas I guess we all have these things that we think we are amazing at bas actually suck ass in...3adi...kind of charming! Except when I am in the car...I HATE when people be ja3ro in the car...its just to tiny a space for that kind of aggro. Bas its my friends and family what can one do!!!!!
(Just kidding people-love the singers in my life-continue screaming!)
A Name
I am in Saudi right now, visiting family, and just relaxing...quite nice...the weather is hot, and humid perfect for vegging...and the pool is being cleaned-so I will swim bokra...bas the real nice thing is getting in touch with my family here...hearing their news, being asked to participate in their lives in one way or another.
Currently, one of my cousins-who is also an only child-is going through her teen angst, and as the only other only child in the family, everyone has decided that I should be her private counselor, they ask me why she does stuff, why she says stuff, and how I used to be. My aunt-her mom-seems to believe that I am being a bad influence on her since she is acting exactly like I did when I was her age-bas they want me to talk to her, al they don't like her friends...I mean honestly which parent ever liked the friends of their teenage kids!!!!
Bas the real news is that my cousin is pregnant...and I am so happy...since I will never be an aunt to anyone, the kids of my close cousins will become like my nieces and nephews. The best thing, is that they want to name the baby Lulwa if its a girl!! I am so honored-even though I am sure they are not going to name her that just because of me.
Bas it is also very odd...I mean I have another cousin called Lulwa-actually she is Lulu fa there is a difference...bas I have not met that many women who carry this name...and how possessive I have become of this name of mine. I don't think I would be me if I was called anything else-my baba wanted to name me Maysaloun after the famous battle-bas I just don't think I would have turned out like I am if I was not named LULWA...imagine Maysaloun's Logic...just does not have the same ring to it!!!!
Currently, one of my cousins-who is also an only child-is going through her teen angst, and as the only other only child in the family, everyone has decided that I should be her private counselor, they ask me why she does stuff, why she says stuff, and how I used to be. My aunt-her mom-seems to believe that I am being a bad influence on her since she is acting exactly like I did when I was her age-bas they want me to talk to her, al they don't like her friends...I mean honestly which parent ever liked the friends of their teenage kids!!!!
Bas the real news is that my cousin is pregnant...and I am so happy...since I will never be an aunt to anyone, the kids of my close cousins will become like my nieces and nephews. The best thing, is that they want to name the baby Lulwa if its a girl!! I am so honored-even though I am sure they are not going to name her that just because of me.
Bas it is also very odd...I mean I have another cousin called Lulwa-actually she is Lulu fa there is a difference...bas I have not met that many women who carry this name...and how possessive I have become of this name of mine. I don't think I would be me if I was called anything else-my baba wanted to name me Maysaloun after the famous battle-bas I just don't think I would have turned out like I am if I was not named LULWA...imagine Maysaloun's Logic...just does not have the same ring to it!!!!
13 April 2006
How Very True!
Es tan corto el amor, y tan largo el olvido.
(Love is so short, and forgetting is so long.)
Pablo Neruda
Sheltered
I have realised that my parents have really sheltered me from a lot of things, about Arab society. Now that I am in Amman and living without them-and 28-I am starting to realise things that are really upsetting me. One of the main ones is the whole Christian/Muslim thing. Lately, there has been a lot of discussion between friends of mine about the whole oh he/she is cute bas to bad he/she is Christian/Muslim. Or other friends telling me that they want to meet someone bas they have to to be Christian/Muslim...and at the beginning I didn't take it seriously...I don't think in those terms, fa I don't expect other people to...bas I have come to realise that there are people here in Amman, who still think in those terms and I don't like it. Take a story I heard of recently-not a very unique story bas yalla-this Muslim girl and Christian guy have been friends for quite a while, and they slowly start to fancy each other, bas because of the difference in religion, they never do anything...I got very upset when I heard this, and just can't understand why? Its like Romeo and Juliet!!!
Bas seriously, why should this be an issue, mish the important thing is for two people to be in love, to want to spend their time together, willa does it all come down to this divide? I understand that there is a lot of family pressure, and that even if people in our generation did fall for each other, the families would have a cow. But I have a friend who married the man she loved, and he was Christian, and British, bas she did it, and the family is ok with it now...they even love him...and whatnot...fa it can happen...another true story comes from my parents, my mom was disowned by her family for FIVE YEARS, because she married my dad-who is Muslim bas Palestinian (whole other can of worms there) and they finally gave in because I was the first grandchild! Maybe I am too idealistic, bas I really would like to think that if someone is interested in me, or if I am interested in someone, that religion won't stand in our way.
Bas seriously, why should this be an issue, mish the important thing is for two people to be in love, to want to spend their time together, willa does it all come down to this divide? I understand that there is a lot of family pressure, and that even if people in our generation did fall for each other, the families would have a cow. But I have a friend who married the man she loved, and he was Christian, and British, bas she did it, and the family is ok with it now...they even love him...and whatnot...fa it can happen...another true story comes from my parents, my mom was disowned by her family for FIVE YEARS, because she married my dad-who is Muslim bas Palestinian (whole other can of worms there) and they finally gave in because I was the first grandchild! Maybe I am too idealistic, bas I really would like to think that if someone is interested in me, or if I am interested in someone, that religion won't stand in our way.
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