Blaspheming the Blasphemy Law

Earlier this week extremists delivered yet another shocker to the world when Salman Taseer, the Governor of the Pakistani province of Punjab, was gunned down by his own bodyguard. The guard, 26 year old Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri defended his actions, insisting that Taseer “did blasphemy about the Prophet Mohammed” which under current Pakistani law, is a crime punishable by death. Yet it is the hero’s reception that Qadri is receiving in Pakistan that is the most troublesome aspect of this fiasco. Bedecked in rose garlands and showered in petals as he arrived in court for the initial proceedings, Qadri is a standard bearer for the extremist movement consuming Pakistan. Even supposed moderates are coming out in public support of an admitted killer, stating that his actions were just and in line with the law.

What is interesting to note is that Taseer never insulted the Prophet, taking aim only at a law on the books that he described as being a “black law.” In fact, Taseer did not even question the existence or need for the law, noting that the law should be modified to make the act of insulting any prophet "a criminal offense, but certainly not punishable by death." These comments were made in light of a media firestorm surrounding Asia Bibi, a Christian woman condemned to death for insulting the Prophet Mohammed, for whom Taseer was seeking a presidential pardon.

The law as codified under Section 295 of the Penal Code of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan forbids damage or defiling of any place of worship or sacred object. Furthermore, §295A forbids inflaming religious sentiments, §295B specifically prohibits defiling the Quran, and §295C forbids the defamation of the Prophet Mohammed. All instances of any violation of these sections must take into account the accused person’s intent at the time of the alleged violation, save for §295C, which does not require a consideration of the accused’s intent. It is the law under which Asia Bibi was charged and convicted.

The blasphemy law in Pakistan gets its teeth from Islamic Law, or Shariah law. As written in the Quran, the basis of Shariah law, “the punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter” (Surah Al Maidah 5:33). The only problem with Shariah law is that is applies only to Muslims, and cannot be applied to non Muslims regardless of where they live. The Quran also refers to “those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger” not those who speak ill of Allah and His Messenger. We must, therefore, give pause before determining who this line addresses; is it the person who carelessly tosses a business card with the name ‘Mohammed’ on it in the trash? Or a poor, illiterate Christian woman who is insulted by her Muslim neighbors? Or does it address a more specific type of person; one who unrepentantly persists in defaming the Prophet publicly? These are weighty questions to consider before issuing any fatwa against a person or cause.

A reflection on Islamic rule and law during the time of the Prophet reveals that there was no blasphemy law in effect during his lifetime. No Muslim nor non Muslim was ever punished by court of law for speaking out against the Prophet. One of the most well known cases of abuse against the Prophet is that of an old Jewish woman who would throw garbage at the Prophet on a daily basis. Instead of condemning her to death, the Prophet tolerated the insults and made it a point to behave respectfully towards her. When she fell ill and he came to inquire about her health, she was so touched by his kindness that she converted to Islam. Every school age child in Pakistan learns this story in Akhlaq (conduct and morals) class, yet as a society, Pakistanis fail to apply its lesson on kindness and forgiveness to their daily lives. With regard to the most unrepentant enemy of the Prophet, Abu Lahab, the Quran has this to say: “The power of Abu Lahab will perish, and he will perish. His wealth and gains will not exempt him. He will be plunged in flaming fire. And his wife, the wood-carrier, will have upon her neck a halter of palm-fibre” (Surah Al Lahab). Even in the instance of Abu Lahab, the Quran does not delineate a worldly punishment for him, instead choosing to describe his reward in the afterlife.

While the Pakistani Penal Code does not run directly afoul of Shariah law, the application of the law does run counter to the interests of a nation struggling to repair its damaged reputation in the international community. What Taseer suggested, a reform of the existing law, could certainly still conform to Shariah without allowing for the persecution of minorities in Pakistan. The law could be changed to include a consideration for the accused’s intent, just as in the other sections of the blasphemy laws, and the punishment can be modified from death or serious injury to exile, or even a hefty fine. Taseer’s strong stance on reforming the law does not run counter to Shariah, it in fact is completely in line with Shariah and instead of being condemned as a blasphemer, Taseer should be recognized for trying to wrest control from the extremists and restore sanity to a country run amok.

Those who support Taseer’s cause should push for reform of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan. If the country wants to establish Shariah law, it should do so correctly, and in line with the true principles of Islam and Islamic law. Islamic law does not apply to non Muslims, and the code should reflect that consideration. In addition to adding a consideration for the accused’s intent, the law should be amended to strike capital punishment for such an offense from the book. It should instead, allow for the forcible removal and exile of a person correctly convicted under the modified law, and a hefty fine to discourage further behavior. This reform will serve a two fold purpose: one, to prevent the misappropriation of justice by those who seek to oppress the voiceless minority, and two, to restore the international community’s faith in Pakistan as a country devoted to the principles of justice and freedom, not vigilantism by extremists seeking to hijack a nation and a religion.

Specter is an Ass. No, Really.

Yesterday's announcement that Arlen Specter was switching to the Democratic Party after serving close to thirty years as a Republican Senator was a real shocker. I mean, I never saw that coming. But the real kicker was the RNC's response to the switch. When asked if Specter gave them a heads up, Michael Steele emphatically said, "No, not at all." and followed up with "At least give me a call, or give the party leadership a call and let us know, 'This is what I'm thinking.'"

Well as if Michael Steele didn't have enough to worry about with the Coleman-Franken legal dogfight, and the upstate New York House seat upset, now he's dealing with defections to the other party. Specter's party switch is only the 13th ever in history.

While Republicans are obviously and rightly miffed, I'm shocked that Democrats are rejoicing over Specter's switch to the Democratic Party. They seem to think that with Specter and potentially Franken added to our side that we'll have the magic number 60. I've got news for you, buddy: Specter is stil Specter. Having Specter on board is like carrying a mule on your back. Sure, you HAVE the mule, but it isn't doing you any good on your back. Likewise, the mere fact that there are 60 professed Democrats in the Senate doesn't mean a damn thing if the 60th Senator is going to disagree with the party on big things like health care reform, dialing down the troop numbers in Iraq and Afghanistan, and environmental issues.

The Republican Party is in severe crisis mode. At risk of becoming as relevant and enduring as the Whigs, they are latching onto anything buzzworthy or trendy in the hopes that it will make them less anachronistic. When Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton's historic candidacies were making headlines and grabbing attention worldwide, John McCain was merely another "old white guy" running for President, yet again. When Obama and Clinton were actively courting the young vote and the women's vote, McCain's campaign was yet again, lagging behind in generating the appropriate buzz for the candidate. Only after they realized that "Gee, this women's issues business translates into actual votes!" did they quickly bring Sarah Palin on board in the hopes of stealing away any votes that Obama had alienated with his second in command pick, Joe Biden.

Then with the ground breaking Obama candidacy, making him the first ever African American to head a major ticket, and then his subsequent historic win, Republicans again, had to play catch up and seem somewhat relevant to a new generation of Americans. Steele's election as RNC chairman was an effective "Me too!" from the Republicans. After all, the Republican Party until that point had no African Americans in any significant leadership positions, and with the Democrats holding the highest office in the U.S. under the leadership of an African American man, well, it wouldn't be wise to buck the trend, now, would it? And therein lies the problem with the Republicans. They see these things as trends that will at some point, drop off the radar, and the political landscape will eventually return to a more familiar WASP-y backdrop for them to continue their exclusive party agenda.

Specter's defection to the Democratic Party is another "Me too!" It's cool to be a Democrat now, so why not join in on the foray? At least it will guarantee him another Senate term come 2010. Make no mistake about it, Specter did not claim to be newly embracing Democratic ideology. He said point blank in his statement to the press, that he "found that the prospects for winning a Republican primary are bleak."
Not willing to be another has been like Tom Delay, or Trent Lott, Specter "decided to be a candidate for reelction in 2010 in the Democratic primary."



It's just sad that the Republicans have moved so far right, as to alienate moderate, long time Republicans. As Specter said in his address, "As the Republican Party has moved farther and farther to the right, I have found myself increasingly at odds with the philosophy of the Republican Party." Maine Senator Olympia Snowe said that Specter's switch was devastating to the party. Yet fools like Limbaugh and Steele are saying "good riddance" and to "take McCain with you."

At a time when the Republican Party needs to be more and more inclusive to make themselves more relevant to a new generation of politically aware Americans, Limbaugh and Steele are further alienating their own peers and shutting out all constructive criticism from within their own party. Case in point, Miss Meghan McCain. Now I don't agree with her ideologically, but at least she is trying to resuscitate the party with what clout she has. Props to her.

With Specter now a "Dem" (really, I can't do it. I can't call him a Democrat) and Democrats finding themselves one step closer to an artificially inflated magic 60, I hope that history will be kind to the Obama administration. With "Dems" like Specter and Lieberman, who needs Republicans?

Kalashnikov: A symbol of Islam??

Reading the statement by the Taliban commander in Buner, Mowlana Mohammed Khalil, I was filled with a red hot rage I could barely contain.

"We came here only to preach Islam," Khalil said. He added that his fighters were carrying weapons only because they were an important symbol for Muslims.


OMFG! AKs and grenade launchers are NOT important symbols for Muslims! Muslim symbology dates back to Mohammedan times, and I am quite sure such weaponry never existed in that era. Sword symbology is specific only to Arab cultures, and has been combined with Islamic symbology in Arab nations. Note that I said that swords are specific to Arab CULTURE, not RELIGION. There is a big, black, BOLD line that separates the two. Not all Muslims are Arabs, therefore, not all Muslims find a sword to be of any significance at all.

It really pisses me off that people can be so damn ignorant and spit BS, and other ignorant people just accept that BS at face value.

Islamabad: The Next Hotbed of Terrorist Activity?

What could only be described as a "nightmare scenario" for the U.S. and the rest of the world could very well be unfolding in Pakistan at this very moment. Earlier this month Taliban forces took over a region in Swat Valley in Pakistan. Swat Valley is a poor, rural region not too far from the ultra-modern capital city of Islamabad. With concessions and "peace treaties" from the Pakistani government, specifically Asif Ali Zardari, the Taliban saw the government's inability (or refusal) to take a strong stance against their advances as an invitation to plunge further into the heart of the country. CNN reported that Taliban forces have recently taken over the Buner region, which brings them one step closer to implementing their perverted version of Shariah (Islamic Law) in Islamabad and the rest of Pakistan.

I put the blame of this squarely on Mr. Zardari, who isn't even a real President, since he fraudulently took over the post following the elections. The Taliban situation would be unthinkable under Musharraf. During the time that Musharraf was in power, the Taliban was relegated to the far reaches of the Northern Frontier and the mountainous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Taliban training camps and meetings were held in secret, and their militia hid in caves that dotted the border. Members of the Taliban were afraid to even be identified in public, or in the media. The situation in Buder is such that "heavily armed men openly patrolled the roads in pickup trucks" and the Taliban is out in full force, in defiance of the Pakistani government.

Though I am not a proponent of U.S. involvement in foreign nations when the intervention is unwarranted and unwanted, it would be in our best interest to get involved as soon as possible, to prevent another possible Afghanistan situation to occur again. Pakistan and pre-Taliban Afghanistan have many similiarities: both have similar topographies, including a shared mountainous border, large swaths of poor, rural communities desperate for resources, pockets of educated but largely apathetic communities with access to all the country's resources, and a government unresponsive to the needs of the poor. All these factors provided the Taliban with a fertile recruiting ground in Afghanistan's rural regions. The only diference between Pakistan and Afghanistan is that Pakistan has a significant arsenal of nuclear weapons and the technology to produce more.

The U.S. and Pakistan should work together on ways to target and weed out Taliban influence and operations. Zardari needs to be held accountable and meet benchmarks for success. Should he fail to do so, the U.S. should withhold aid to Pakistan and Zardari should step down and allow a more competent leader to take on the post. Involvement in Pakistan is a necessity at this point. The extent of our involvement should be dictated by the Pakistani goverment's willingness to take responsibility and action for the problem on their own. If Zardari fails to take strong stance against Taliban clerics and military action against Taliban forces, the U.S. should intervene to take action against the Taliban on Pakistani soil.

But a more necessary action would be to cut of Taliban funding at the source. The Bush Administration made much adieu about prosecuting anyone in the U.S. who funds terrorist activities. Yet these funds coming from the U.S. are a paltry sum compared to the millions and millions and perhaps, billions of dollars that go to fund the Taliban from Saudi Arabia and other neighboring countries. The Saudi government is quick to provide funds for Islamic centers and activities that propagate Wahabbism, which is the root of Taliban ideology, whether in the U.S. or abroad. When we signal to Saudi Arabia that this is no longer appropriate and that we will end diplomatic relations until it stops, then and only then will we see the Taliban shrink back into the caves that they were previously hiding in. Until then, the Taliban will continue to be richly funded by Saudi oil money, (provided generously by oil consuming nations, such as the U.S.) and they wil continue to threaten our security and the security of the rest of the world.

Hot Summer Days

The first day of spring was barely a month ago, and yet this past weekend, we have been experiencing a full on summer heat wave in the Bay Area. With afternoon temperatures in the mid to high 80's, I had to think of ways to keep Armaan cool yet entertained all week and weekend.

We took a trip to the park, but with limited mobility, Armaan just sat contentedly in the baby swing for less than 30 minutes. After that, we hit the mall, which was a zoo! Too many teenagers and teenyboppers yakking away on cell phones. It hits me that actual parenting is no longer en vogue with parents of the 13 and up age group, as retailers and Starbucks employees have more interaction with the kids than their own parents. I wonder why there are so many kids at the mall without their parents? My mother made certain to accompany me wherever I went, not just to keep tabs on me, but to *gasp* spend time with her teenage daughter. Alas, I digress.

Then on Wednesday we went to Borders and sat upstairs in the kids section. While large and expansive, there wasn't much for kid patrons to DO at the Borders. I was disappointed further, when I didn't see any information for activities posted. A salesclerk was terribly unhelpful, and I was forced to find other options for Armaan to enjoy. Fortunately, a metal shelf with toys and a few books on the floor were enough to keep him occupied for a while, but then again, an 8 month old is quite easy to please. Just give him some paper and let him destroy it. I will have to figure out some other avenues for play and distraction when he gets a little older.

I am also surprised that despite moving into the burbs, there are few parents willing to interact. Is it because they have playgroups/cliques already formed and exclusive to their own bunch? I'm disappointed. Not just for my son, but for myself. I was really hoping to find some other moms to socialize with.

I am now off to get ready for another day of aimlessly wandering around a mall, or maybe back to the Borders so I can find something for this little guy to do. Any suggestions?

If it's broke, then I cain't fix it

Oh the joys of motherhood! The six month milestone has always been my favorite, even before I had my own half year old munchkin wiggling all over his playmat. This age is the perfect harmony of optimum cuteness, tempered by minimal mobility. As much as he wriggles and squirms, he just can't escape he clutches of doting mommy dearest or over stimulating uncles and grandmom. And wouldn't you know it, he's just cute as a button. He finds comedy in a shaking rattle, or a silly voice, or Tigger jumpingup from behind a pillow. Any one of these actions sends Armaan into a fit of giggles that he just can't stop.

As much as I adore my lovely son, and wouldn't trade it for the world, who knew that I still wouldn't be WHOLE after six full months post delivery? I woke up a few weeks ago with a searing pain up my leg, concentrated mostly around my right ankle area. It still hasn't disappeared or even subsided in the least. An X-ray showed NOTHING. No broken bones, or cracks, nothing! So I did a little research of my own, and here's what I found:

I probably have a stress fracture. This is also called an over use fracture; silly, because one never over uses their bodies, only uses them to the extent that God has given us. But stress fractures are not common in young people, unless they are: 1) female atheletes 2) females with irregular periods 3) females with easting disorders 4) older females that have osteoporosis.

Seeing that I don't qualify under any of the first three, the deciding factor came to #4. And sadly, I knew that I already had osteoporosis, despite being under 40. I brought it up with my doc, and she said, well geez, this all makes perfect sense now!

So a stress fracture, unlike other breakages of the bone, cannot be fixed by setting the bone, putting it in a cast, etc. Because stress fractures are tiny cracks in the bone, there is no need to set the bone. They just hurt like HELL and are virtually undetectable on Xrays. The only remedy is rest and to abstain from using the injured ankle at all costs.

One would THINK that because I am now completely homebound, and stuck on a couch all day, I would be eager and able to update my blog on the daily. Nay, my friend, you are mistaken. Remember the adorable 6 month old I mentioned earlier? Well he has the keenest senses I've evre seen. It's like he smells blood. He knows that I can't really pick him up, carry him around, and run around after his needs: bottles, diapers, paci, toys, etc etc. But now that I can barely walk, he has new demands. He wants to be rocked to sleep in the standing position. He will lie next to me, and aggressivley kick my injured ankle. And God forbid that I want to take a nap with him. Already a light sleeper, his naps have been abbreviated to less than 30 minutes twice a day. It's enough to drive a girl mad!

I complain, but as my little boo lies next to me sleeping soundly as I type this, I am overcome with love and I can't help but forget that my foot screams in agony, and that I haven't showered or slept in days. It's as if his soft breathing melts away any stress. But strike me dead if I dare lie down next to him: it's like asking him to wake up and harass me again.

Reflections on the last month

The last month has been a whirlwind of activity on all fronts. I got back from my cousin's wedding in Houston the weekend before Thanksgiving. Even though Houston is my hometown, it shocked me still, to see so many McCain-Palin signs all over town. One would think that a city with a sizeable Black population and a Democratic mayor would at least be balanced in its political inclinations.
So there you have it. President-elect Barack Obama, Vice President-elect Joe Biden, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It sounds so strange to say, yet so deliciously satisfying. The only thing that would be more satisfying would be Al Franken soundly defeating Norm Coleman in the Minnesota Senate race. However, that joy is somewhat tempered by the news yesterday Saxby Chambliss defeated Jim Martin in the Georgia Senate race. It's a bad sign for Democrats; even in this anti-Republican climate, Martin just can't gain a foothold in the state.
Martin may have stood a chance against Chambliss, if he were a more moderate Democrat. Martin's support for a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants is not just too liberal for Georgia, it may be too liberal for the nation. The same goes for Martin's stance on universal healthcare. Many Americans, though they are receptive to the idea, are wary of government sponsored healthcare, because of the mess that Medicare and Medicaid are in. Higher taxes to extend healthcare to all just isn't palatable to the working class, and especially not in a time of Recession. With the factors all being the same, Martin stood a better chance of defeating Chambliss if he was just a little less left of center. The tides of change were not in Chambliss's favor, but it looks like Georgia is not ready for change.

The moment we've been waiting for

It's finally here. And despite being torn in a million different directions for the hundred things I must do today, I feel like today is not an ordinary day. For one, the Dear Husband is at home today playing hooky with me. And of course, the overwhelming feeling of excitement, anxiety and suspense about the results of today's election. Whatever happens, I know today is a historic moment in our nation's history. Today is the day that America can change course and go in the right direction. I have always been proud of my country, but even more so today. So many people are voting for the first time ever. Many others are voting Dem for the first time ever. And most importantly, for the first time ever, millions of people will be voting for the first black man ever to run for President on a major ticket. This is a day that I will be able to tell me son about, and tell him that he was a part of it in a small way, by helping me make phone calls, get out the vote, and accompanying me to the polling booth. It is a teachable moment for so many parents, and I hope that all parents take advantage of this today.
Go out and Vote! Vote Democrat, Vote Progressive! Vote to make this country a beacon of hope for all again!

Measure H - "Disaster Movie" of 2008

Looking for the "feel good" liberal movie of the year? Look no further than Measure H on the San Francisco Ballot, coming this November 4th.

A ragtag group of freedom fighters known as the "Board of Supervisors" fights an uphill battle for green energy against the evil forces of PG&E. Along the way, they are faced with opposition from rogue supervisors, the shadowy and elusive Frau Feinstein, and their arch nemesis Great Overlord Gavin Newsom. The Board concocts and ingenious plan to pass their green energy initiatives by asking citizens to help them authorize a "study" to determine whether the City should be responsible for providing clean energy from renewable sources. Time is running out for the Board. Can they pass Measure H before PG&E and its cronies destroy all hope for the City?

Sadly, like any bad, D-rated movie, Measure H fails to deliver. Proponents of Measure H say that the proposal only authorizes a study, and will not cost taxpayers a cent in higher taxes. What they fail to mention, is that once the study concludes that there is a benefit for the City to be the sole energy provider to San Francisco residents, the Board of Supervisors will be free to follow through with those findings "without voter approval." It's true. Sure, it will initially cost you as a taxpayer, absolutely nothing to authorize the study. But once the study is over, so is the party. According to the City Controller, the cost to build power plants and distributors could be in the billions. And the PUC intends to pay for those costs by issuing bonds; bonds that would not be subject to voter review. Bonds that would increase the cost to San Francisco's residents dramatically.

But all good things come with a price, correct? It would be silly for me to assume that we could have clean, green energy without investing significant funds into the reasearch and development of alternative energy sources. Point duly noted. However, it is naive to think that our problems will be solved by putting our energy needs into the hands of the City, and telling PG&E to take a hike. Consider another City-run institution: MUNI. We all know that the City runs a tight ship with MUNI, right? I have yet to board a train or bus that was running on time. You won't find any MUNI schedules at our house. Predicting the arrival of a MUNI bus/train is impossible. I'd have an easier time predicting Paris Hilton's BFF of the week. Putting the City in charge of our utilities is a step backwards for energy independence.

There is a better way for us to achieve cleaner, greener energy. The City and the State both need to work with PG&E to meet renewable energy standards in a concrete, effective manner. PG&E is already working to produce more renewable energy to the tune of of a 20% increase by 2010. With the national focus on a greater need for renewable energy, it is without a doubt that PG&E will follow the trend and work towards meeting that need. After all, energy is energy, and there is money to be made, whether it is renewable or non-renewable.

Bottom line, your time and money is better spent elsewhere. Measure H fails to deliver.

Colin the General

I am not one to stubbornly cling to a belief after I have been proven wrong. And make no mistake, I have often changed my mind about many things once I've given it further thought, or as the circumstances changed. However, I never thought that I would ever like Colin Powell. Until this weekend, that is.

As a central pillar of the Bush Administration Part I, Colin Powell earned my derision with his involvement in the first Gulf War. Though I was a young child, I knew my parents' feelings about the Gulf War, and I knew that war usually led to the deaths of innocent civilians. I remember that the only people I disliked more than Colin Powell were Norman Schwarzkopf and Bush Sr.

With his appointment to the post of Secretary of State in the Bush Administration Part II, Powell was a key player in building the case for going to war with Iraq in 2003. By that time, I was able to formulate my own opinions, and not rely on my parents' emotional vibes to make a decision about Powell's character. I thought even less of him when he flipflopped a year later, saying that it was unlikely that WMDs would ever be found in Iraq.

It was ultimately, his resignation that swayed my opinion of General Powell. To me, it seemed that he just could not, in good conscience, be a part of the tomfoolery and utter chaos that the Bush Administration was engaging in. With his resignation, Colin Powell was somewhat elevated in my mind.

But it is his endorsement of Senator Obama for President has redeemed General Powell in my eyes. Never before have I heard the case for Senator Obama been made so rationally, so clearly. The fact that General Powell is a long time friend of Senator McCain, and that he still considers himself a Republican, underscores the fact that his endorsement Obama is incredibly significant.

But leave it to the hypocritical Right, a la Rush Limbaugh, to try to diminish the significance of General Powell's endorsement. As Limbaugh sees it:
"Secretary Powell says his endorsement is not about race. OK, fine. I am now researching his past endorsements to see if I can find all the inexperienced, very liberal, white candidates he has endorsed. I'll let you know what I come up with."

Actually, according to Powell, the decision to deny his good friend and ally his coveted endorsement and give it to a relative unknown was due in part to the negative campaign that McCain and crew have been running. General Powell said that he was disturbed by the McCain campaign's insistence to pursue Obama's connections to "washed up terrorist" William Ayers, and the repeated accusations of Obama's proposals being "socialist." As Powell put it:
"Now, I understand what politics is all about, I know how you can go after one another and that's good. But I think this goes too far, and I think it has made the McCain campaign look a little narrow. It's not what the American people are looking for."

But let me tell you, it was his willingness to address the "Muslim" issue that made Colin Powell a true hero in my eyes:
"Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he's a Christian. He's always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet, I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, 'He's a Muslim and he might be associated terrorists.' This is not the way we should be doing it in America."
As a Muslim, an American and a mother to a little boy who may one day want to be President of this great nation, I applaud General Powell's strong stance on the issue. So what? If Barack Obama was a Muslim, would his ability to lead be diminished? Would his love for his country somehow be less valuable than a Christian, a Jew, or a Buddhist? Would his religion make him any less capable to deal with the very demanding job of being President? The answer is a resounding 'No.' And I am glad that someone has the courage to say that, and be the voice of reason in this crazy election season.

And what political rant would be complete without a tidbit about my favorite Alaskan, Governor Sarah Palin? Having had the opportunity to know her for close to seven weeks, Colin Powell echoed the sentiments of most rational, moderate Americans: "I don't believe she's ready to be president of the United States, which is the job of the vice president," Powell said. "And so that raised some question in my mind as to the judgment that Senator McCain made."

It was obvious to all, that McCain's veep pick was geared towards appeasing The Right. It is patently clear that this move has backfired; because while The Right is about as excited as a pig in a mudpuddle, McCain has effectively turned off middle of the way Republicans and Independents, and energized the Liberals as well. Colin Powell speaks to the concerns of those moderate Republicans and Independents. In a way, I feel that General Powell is more of an "everyman" American than "Joe the Plumber." Yes, General Powell is a decorated war hero, and lives an above average lifestyle, with above average intelligence and education, but he speaks to the issues that concern most Americans. He abhors the negative campaigning, the robocalls, the allegations of terrorism and socialism aimed at rivals. He rejects the credibility of Governor Palin as an effective or even functioning head of government. He sees an America that is meant for people of all races, creeds and color. Colin Powell just became my Joe the Plumber. And if someone mentions Colin the General two dozen times on TV, I don't think that I would be opposed to that.

Bedtime Battle : The Prologue

Insomnia probably runs in the family. It's the only explanation for my 10 week old son's refusal to go to sleep at 11:30pm. It isn't as if he gets long naps in the day; he cat naps two or three times for 5-10 minutes at a time. Yet, here I am, sitting awake because the boy doesn't want to sleep. We talked baby talk for about half an hour or more, and we had a lovely conversation, of which, I didn't understand a word (and I'm sure that he didn't either) but was the most enjoyable conversation that I've ever had.

*******************************************************************

Okay! Back from reading the blogs. I am thoroughly wiped out now. And as luck would have it, my dear boy is finally nodding off. I forsee a lot of this bedtime back and forth in the future. I'll just hope and pray that McCain-Palin fails at the polls, so SNL has no more Palin fodder for late night TV. Otherwise, I'll be fighting my son into the late night hours on a Saturday trying to pry him away from the TV. Oh wait....we don't have a TV.

Anyhoo. Time for bed!

Obama K.O.'s McCain....Again.

The third and final presidential debate of the election season, was by far the most interesting debate. Bob Schieffer did an excellent job as moderator, picking thoughtful questions that forced the candidates to be answer them in a detailed and decisive manner. Without making a big fuss, Mr. Schieffer prodded both candidates to remain on point, stay within the time limits, and refused to let either candidate slide out from underneath a question. I noticed that Mr. Schieffer called out both Senator Obama and Senator McCain at least once for dodging a question. BRAVO!

I have to give it to McCain: He really showed a lot more poise at the beginning of the debate. He was calm, collected, and was taking the lead as he answered the first two questions. I think it was the question about negative campaigning, that his "Straight Talk Express" completely derailed, and he boarded the "Shit Talk Express." McCain postured antagonistically, attempting to go on the offensive. Instead of putting Obama on the spot, McCain succeeded in appearing like a petulant first-grader, hurling accusations, and muttering "No I'm not. No I'm not" when Obama returned fire. McCain seemed visibly agitated and sulked throughout the remainder of the debate.

In typical Republican style, he latched onto a narrative about Joe the Plumber and tried to present himself as a man of the people; a man that sides with the average Joe wanting to achieve the American Dream of owning his own business. Unfortunately, the tactic backfired. Frankly, I found it annoying, and I'm pretty sure that more people disliked McCain's repeated reference to Joe the Plumber than those who found it endearing. CNN's panel of undecided voters in Ohio certainly tired of McCain's Plumber Joe refrain.

To his credit, McCain did also provide the highlight of the campaign when he said "Senator Obama, I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago." But aside from pointing out that he was in fact, not Mr. Bush, McCain did little to differentiate himself from his frenemy, George. He was not without opportunity to do so; Obama has pointed out on numerous occasions, that McCain votes with Bush 90% of the time. Instead of the "I'm a maverick and I've got the scars to prove it, gosh darnit!" song and dance routine, McCain should have at least mentioned Bush's rabid dog attacks when they were competing for the Republican nomination in 2000. That would have humanized him, and illustrated a very real emotional distance between Bush and McCain. How could McCain support a guy who ran an "anonymous" smear campaign against him, and humiliated him with such accusations of being mentally unstable, or having a drug addict wife? Regardless, Obama countered, "that if I occasionally have mistaken your policies for George Bush's policies, it's because on the core economic issues that matter to the American people, on tax policy, on energy policy, on spending priorities, you have been a vigorous supporter of President Bush." Boo-Yah.

The low point of the debate also came from McCain, when Mr. Schieffer asked both candidates about the negative campaigning that has dominated the tone of both campaigns int he recent weeks. McCain expressed disappointment that Obama did not call on Congressman John Lewis to repudiate his remarks in reference to a McCain-Palin rally where people shouted "Terrorist!" and "Kill Him!" when Obama's name was mentioned. Congressman Lewis likened McCain and Palin's refusal to condemn those people at the rally to that of segregationist, George Wallace. Lewis said that like Wallace, McCain and Palin were creating "the climate and the conditions that encouraged vicious attacks against innocent Americans." Obama said that he had put out a statement condemning Lewis's remarks, and that Lewis also issued a statement saying that the comment was inappropriate. Yet McCain never apologized for the hate-filled comments at his own rallies, defending himself by saying: "And I'm not going to stand for somebody saying that because someone yelled something at a rally -- there's a lot of things that have been yelled at your rallies, Senator Obama, that I'm not happy about either. In fact, some T-shirts that are very...unacceptable."
Really? You can justify such despicable behaivior at your OWN rallies because of some T-Shirts that are "unacceptable?" C'mon, give me a break! Death threats are okay because some fools made shirts that hurt your feelings?? Ridiculous! McCain should have simply apologized for the behavior of his "die-hard fans," and promise to take swift action if anyone else were to get out of line at future rallies. Instead, McCain childishly points to a T-Shirt in a "he started it!" fashion, and expects that issue to drop.

If you notice, every time McCain was asked a question, he glossed over some details before attacking Obama. Obama was consistently calm and answered each accusation clearly and definitively, at which point McCain would attack him again, on an unrelated issue.

I guess the "Shit Talk Express" is going to keep rolling full steam ahead. Luckily for us, the American people aren't buying it. McCain is struggling in what were once reliably red states, like Virginia. I'm sensing a landslide for Obama, and that will effectively put an end to the McCain-Palin "Shit Talk Express." Alllll aboooooard......NOT!

Back from Hiatus

Whew! Talk about a rough day. I've had a rough couple of weeks! Almost a month ago, I had a really high fever all weekend, the chills, uncontrollable shaking, and I was so cold, I thought I would die. I found myself at home with a 107.7 fever, and had to call an ambulance to take me to the ER. Turns out, that when I delivered my beautiful baby boy, he left behind a little piece of placenta, which calicifed, and resulted in a massive blood infection. I had surgery to remove it the same night, which meant getting a C-section cut in my lower abdomen, an IV jammed into my neck, and then being on antibiotics for two weeks! Needless to say, I've had a rough road to recovery, and it's only now, that I can think clearly enough to make coherent sentences (barely).

As an added bonus, because I had IVs in both my arms, I wasn't able to use them for anything else except getting on and off the bed, so I was unable to breastfeed for the week I was in the hospital, and then another two weeks while I was in recovery and on antibiotics. So when I was finally recovered enough to nurse my son, I found that I am now unable to, because I'm not producing anymore. DAMN IT! It's been a really shitty month for me.

Tomorrow I'm going to see the Blue Angels' Air Show, because nothing makes me feel better than speed. Not the kind that comes in tablets. The kind that comes from engines. YAY! Honestly, I don't think anyone has had a worse time with their delivery and post natal period (okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a leeeetle bit).

This leaves me only three weeks to get into shape for my cousin's wedding in November. I had started some pilates routines before I ended up on an ambulance gurney, but now all that work has gone to waste, and I don't think that the "spare tire look" is IN for fall. Tomorrow (before the Air Show yippeee!) I'll go to the gym and see if I can't start working out again.

Sleeping Giants

This week my son has decided to become nocturnal. Ever since our Monday outing to the doctor's office, where he slept in the stroller most of the day, he's taken to staying up later and later, until yesterday, at 2am, I decided that I had enough. So today, when he woke up at 1pm, I didn't try to put him down for a midday nap. Not that it matters; he refuses to sleep during the day anyway. He did fall asleep for half an hour between 4 and 4:30, but aside from that, he's been wide awake and fussy. Around 8pm he started getting sleepy and super cranky. Finally, at 10pm, I fed him and put him down to sleep. I think he will sleep most of the night through.



It's puzzling that a child this young can go the entire day without napping at all. From 1pm until 10pm, he slept just half an hour. At night, he wakes up every 2-3 hours for his feeding, then goes back to sleep. People tell me that he's extremely alert and aware for a six week old baby, and I'm thinking, You have NO idea. My aunt noted that he sleeps like a much older child, awake the entire day and (mostly) sleeping through the night. I wouldn't be complaining much if he was the kind of baby that I could put down in his chair or play mat and leave him be for an hour. He demands that you talk to him, hold him, at least be in his vicinity so that he is reassured that he is still the center of attention. If he would take a nap during the day, or at least play by himself, I could concentrate on a number of important things. Personal hygiene has fallen by the wayside, since I couldn't fathom taking a shower in the ten minutes it takes for him to realize that I have left him alone with the musical giraffe.



So now that he is asleep, I have some time to myself to write, to read, to start exercising and turning my flab back into some semblance of a toned, healthy body. The other day I started with a few simple pilates routines, and ten crunches. I've been so sore for two days, that I can barely get up and off the sofa. Who knew you used your abs to get off the sofa?! Add to that, this weekend's upward climb from my car to the restaurant with the baby, stroller and bag, and I can hardly feel my legs anymore. I have a wedding to attend in November, and although I am already back to my pre-pregnancy weight (yes, I know, hate me) I have a ways to go in taming this stomach to look like it did before.



Half the announcements are done. Only 40 more to go.....zzzzzzz........

Does your local Sex Offender approve of Sarah Palin?

I've heard a number of reasons why Sarah Palin is "qualified" to lead the country, including the fact that she's a governor (big deal, so was G.W. Bush), she's a mother of five (Obama is a father of two), and she's got an 80% approval rating as governor of Alaska.

Although I've read varying accounts ranging from 60% to 80%, suppose that the figure is completely accurate. Let us take a peek at the demographics of Alaska, shall we?

The total population of Alaska in 2005 was recorded as 663,661. That breaks down to
White - 74.71%
Black - 4.72%
American Native/Alaska Native - 18.77%
Asian - 5.90%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander - 0.88%
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Alaska

It looks like that approval rating comes from the White population with a whopping 75%, and borrowing a percentage point from every other ethnic group, you have approximately 80%.

Now let's take a look at the demographics for the rest of the U.S. including the "lower 48" as the Alaskans so affectionately call us.
The current U.S. population is a little over 300 million. It is estimated that in 2008 the demographics break down as follows:

White (non-Hispanic) - 68%
Hispanic - 15%
Black - 12%
Asian - 5%

By 2050, the U.S. is projected to look like:

White (non-Hispanic) - 46%
Hispanic - 30%
Black - 15%
Asian - 9%
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_demographics

So my layperson analysis is that the ethnic make-up of Alaska doesn't accurately reflect that of the rest of the United States, and is made more glaringly obvious when taken in comparison with the projected change in demographics by 2050. Alask is not in tune with the direction that the rest of the U.S. is moving in, and will never be. As Governor Palin's approval rating parallels that of the ethnic breakdown of her state, can we really expect a similarly high approval rating in her job as VP of the U.S., an ethnically diverse nation?

Just for kicks:

From Democratic Underground, "According to our research there were 63 registered sex offenders living in Wasilla, Alaska in early 2007. The ratio of number of residents in Wasilla to the number of sex offenders is 133 to 1."
One poster notes "According to the data, Wasilla has 9,780 people -- half of them are woman, but only one sex offender is a woman. Of the male population, roughly 33 percent are children. This means there are about 3270 men and 133 sex offenders. This means that one out of every 25 men in Wasilla is a sex offender. Yikes."

Makes you feel kinda slimy thinking about just whose approval Governor Palin has!

Busy as a Blob

It's nearly midnight, as I busy myself with our announcement cards. Armaan has been acting difficult these last two nights, taking much longer than usual to fall asleep. I really can't tell if it's normal baby fusiness, or some new phenomenon that I am yet to discover. All the lullabies and rocking of the past three hours didn't send him to dreamland. I just managed to get him to sleep a while ago after I let him doze off in my lap. If he was like a normal baby, and took naps during the day, I could accomplish a lot more, and these announcement cards wouldn't be sitting here six weeks after baby arrived.

Speaking of, I went in for my six week post-natal appointment with the Doc. He gave me a clean bill of health, and a prescription for birth control. I was a little misty eyed when I gave Doc a hug goodbye, as this was our last meeting. He and his staff have been so good to us, I really feel that they care about me and the baby, rather than treating us as just another patient. Our hospital was fantastic. Even the garage staff were kind and thoughtful. I never had to park far from the hospital door, and they would always bring my car to the exit for me. I'm sending the Doc and his staff a birth announcement, as well as a box of chocolates as a thank you. I told him that I would see him again in a few years with Baby #2. Hopefully he won't have retired by then!

To Do List for tomorrow:

- Finish addressing announcements
- Fold baby's laundry
- Eat lunch (this is getting more difficult everyday)
- Research for a project that I am starting with Mom
- Call to have pump rental renewed
- Sell couch
- Locate student loan documents and call for deferment
- Have prescription filled
- blah blah blah

Of course, I can only do any of these tasks when the baby takes a nap. Maybe I should add "Put baby for nap" on the task list. That should take the entire day in itself.

Strangle me with those leggings, Please.

Today Armaan and I went to the mall in celebration of one of the warmest days of the year. I think it was close to 85 degrees today. Certainly it was no comparison to the Houston summers of my youth, but I will take any degree of warmth and sunshine in this godawful cold city. So I put him in the Snugli and off we went to Powell street to pursue some low grade retail therapy.

I think having a cute baby strapped to your body is like having a get out of jail free card. Even the MUNI officers, who are usually Nazis about checking your proof of purchase stubs and booking you for not finding yours in time, seemed to back off from their attack. The checking officer at Powell station, one of the busiest in the city, and most notorious for fare skippers, waved me by as he meticulously checked all the other people getting out. "Go ahead ma'am don't worry about it." It was like garlic warding off vampires.

So I bought the YSL nailpolish in the fall 08 collection, a nice dark purple-y color. That, and a pair of leggings. I couldn't resist. I know I won't be going anywhere that I can wear them any time soon. I mean, the hubby can't seem to put the baby to sleep for the night, nor can he determine if the face the baby is making is a "I'm hungry" face, or an "I'm gassy" face. Knowing hubby, he won't be able to distinguish between the two, overdose him on formula, and a projectil vomit episode will ensue. Then he will call me in a panic on my cell phone, and I will have to abandon whatever semblance of the adult world I am indulging in, and come home to tend to a baby-turned-fountain-of-Similac.

The nailpolish will come to use sooner, though. While I can't head off to the spa to have my nails done, I can do a hack job at home. Imperfect 10, here I come!

Sexism!

Palins Under the Bus

I've come to the conclusion that Governor Sarah Palin is merely a pawn for the GOP and McCain. There doesn't seem to be another logical explanation for the fact that the McCain campaign picked a first term governor of a state with a population equal to that of El Paso, Texas, with little to no experience making executive decisions. The decision to tap Governor Palin, a self-professed conservative Christian, for the veep slot was exactly the spark that the GOP and McCain's campaign needed to ignite the evangelicals planning to sit out this race. As a mother of five, staunchly pro-life (even in the case of rape and incest), anti-gay rights and a huge proponent of offshore drilling and even drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Reserve (a position that even John McCain is against), this is exactly the kind of attack dog that the Right craves. The McCain camp probably thought that by adding Palin to the ticket, they would kill three birds with one stone: Energize the evangelicals, make McCain look like a forward thinking "maverick," and pick up former Hillary Clinton voters who haven't yet committed to Barack Obama. It looks like yes, they have gotten the evangelicals/right-wingers on board, but whether McCain will look like a "maverick" and whether they will pick up a large bloc of former Clinton voters remains to be seen. Personally, as a Hillary supporter, I am insulted. Did Team McCain really think that "any woman will do?" That if I can't have say, filet mignon, that ramen noodles will do? Come on. I have yet to hear anything of substance from Sarah Palin that would even nominally compare to Hillary Clinton.

That said, it's funny that all these scandals about Sarah and the Palin family are tearing out of the floodgates in rapid succession. The McCain camp thought that Governor Palin would be a great power play, but instead, are finding out very quickly, that their "through vetting process" lacked significant depth. Consider: McCain only met Palin ONCE in February this year, before offering her the VP job on Thursday August 28th 2008. The decision was announced on Friday, August 29th. Following the weekend, bright and early on Monday morning, September 1st, it was revealed that Bristol Palin is 5 months pregnant. It was also revealed that Governor Palin who also styled herself a "maverick" that fiercely fought pork barrel spending, strongly supported the pork project: Bridge to Nowhere before she was forced by Congress to drop the project. According to Governor Palin:

I told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks," for that Bridge to Nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, we'd build it ourselves..

So essentially, she lied to reporters (and to McCain's Team of veep vetters, I'm assuming) when she told them that she did not support the Bridge to Nowhere. She was forced withdraw her support after the federal funds for the almost $400 million dollar project were pulled, and Alaska would have to pony up $329 million of the cost themselves. So much for the "reformist" governor.

So now with the McCain veep pick going to hell in a handbasket, and even conservative Republican analysts blasting McCain for his hasty and irrational decision, it remains to be seen whether McCain will drop Palin and pick someone else, or burn the Republican party in the November election. Personally, I think he has insulted the qualified women of his own party, such as Condoleeza Rice, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and even top advisor Carly Fiorina. As much as I HATE Condi, I have to admit that she is experienced, and ready to lead (in the wrong direction, but at least for the GOP, the "Right" direction). And Fiorina has actual executive experience as head of HP. Kay Bailey, I just like. No reason, really. She's just Texan. And as a Texan, I love Kay.

With the Palin family kids at the mercy of the GOP puppetmasters, and their ego-maniacal, self-aggrandizing and self-serving mother, whose got a taste of the good life, going from small town mayor to Alaska's governor, and now the historic VP nominee, I feel really bad for them, especially the teenage girls and the baby. Being a teenager ain't easy, and Mom's ambitious agenda isn't going to help the situation either.

From the Horse's Mouth

"The parents here are the culprits!"--Rush Limbaugh reacting to the news in December 2007 that teen actress Jamie Lynn Spears was pregnant
Full exchange:
CALLER: Would you tend to think that a family in this position, though, wouldn't you think that there would be a more watchful eye as a parent to be watching over these kids so this doesn't happen to them?
RUSH: I would certainly hope so, but it's long past time for this to happen. The parents here are the culprits!
Taken from http://blog.beliefnet.com/stevenwaldman/2008/09/rush-limbaugh-on-jamie-lynn-sp.html

Oh Governor Palin, do I need to elaborate?