Open Thread

I’ve advertised a little bit. Hello Facebook crew! I’m curious to see who checks this blog out after my little message.

 

Saying hello is only a comment away

Texas: The Lone Star and Crescent State

I don’t think I’ve ever had a desire to live in Texas…until now. How is it Texas MSAs are pulling together such an awesome event, and East Coast MSAs have…? I have never been to any event that has offered anything even half as cool as a sisters’ kickball tourney. Go Texas MSAs! I might have to take up my friend T’s offer and mosey on down there.

Stories not Stereotypes

Some of y’all might have heard of Link Tv’s One Nation Many Voices film contest, Muslims in America: Stories not Stereotypes. Comedy, animation, shorts, drama, scandal (did that hijabi kiss a boy?!?) If you haven’t heard about it, then check it out. All of them can be found on youtube or on the Link TV website. Voting is over, but you can still check you which ones made it to the finals (now being judged by Link’s “celebrity” panel).

My favorite is probably Bassem is Trying (below).

Massachusetts beware…

Sudan man forced to ‘marry’ goat

A Sudanese man has been forced to take a goat as his “wife”, after he was caught having sex with the animal.The goat’s owner, Mr Alifi, said he surprised the man with his goat and took him to a council of elders. They ordered the man, Mr Tombe, to pay a dowry of 15,000 Sudanese dinars ($50) to Mr Alifi. “We have given him the goat, and as far as we know they are still together,” Mr Alifi said. Mr Alifi, of Hai Malakal in Upper Nile State, told the Juba Post newspaper that he heard a loud noise around midnight on 13 February and immediately rushed outside to find Mr Tombe with his goat. “When I asked him: ‘What are you doing there?’, he fell off the back of the goat, so I captured and tied him up.” Mr Alifi then called elders to decide how to deal with the case. “They said I should not take him to the police, but rather let him pay a dowry for my goat because he used it as his wife,” Mr Alifi told the newspaper.

There’s never been a stronger case for sharia law. Islamic jurists never would have allowed this marriage to take place. Unless of course the goat converted to Islam first (we all know goats are notorious polytheists). But more than likely, they would have both been killed. Problem solved.

Wise Words

For the past few weeks I have been staying with a very wise, and beautiful woman named Mary. She has had an incredible range of experiences in her life, and has somehow managed to become a very spiritual, kind of enlightened person. Although she has her own struggles she has for many years been helping people to find direction in their lives and careers.

I just had a very thoughtful discussion with her and she said something that resonated very strongly with me that I thought I’d share:

 

“What you long for and desire is God’s way of telling you what it is you need to do.”

 

 

Gettin’ it started

This post marks the official beginning of our blog. Expect changes and randomness, and give us some ideas if you’d like But just to get things started we’ll give you some background info on us:

Audra: After completing my undergrad at Penn State in Spring 2007, I moved to Los Angeles, California where I’m still figuring out life, work, and everything else. I converted to Islam over 3 years ago and am still learning, still exploring.

Asiyah: Also graduated in May ‘07. I live in Charm City, work in public health and am constantly contemplating my next move. I converted to Islam a little over 4 years ago and I’ve discovered that the more I know, the more I know I don’t know anything. I also can’t decide on the best way to spell Asiah/Asiyah/Aasiyah.