Although its satire, it is on the mark. Thanks to the onion for a nice perspective piece. Please don't click the link if you are not comfortable with foul language.
http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/american_muslims_to_fort
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
As everyone I am sure knows, Mike Tyson was arrested yet again. This time he was in the airport, and he supposedly clocked a photographer because he's iron Mike. He claims he was defending his family, and both he and photographer are pressing charges against each other.
I was there in 1995 at the headquarters of the Islamic Society of North America, when Mike was released and he stopped by to offer prayers and move on to his new life. The masses of media that came that day included hundreds of reporters, at least 3 or 4 helicopters, etc.
I saw very clearly the aggressiveness of the paparazzi then, when we stood up to pray and many of them stepped in to the sacred prayer to fake praying to try to get the picture. During the prayer, when we got up from prostration, one turned and took a flash picture, disturbing all those around him. After the prayer, I think everyone pointed him out, and the body guard graciously took him outside.
So when I read this most recent tragic episode in iron Mike's life, in a sense I feel its not unexpected for him to lose his cool. In another sense though, I feel sympathy at the obvious frustration he and other celebrities have with the aggressive antics of the paparazzi. It could be argued that not only what he did was in self defense, it was truly justified, as the paparazzi begged for it or instigated it.
Surprisingly coming to his defense is iron Mike's victim of "eargate", Evander the real deal Holyfield. I must say, I have to applaud Evander for his commentary. Mike, after losing the only real sincere and positive influence in his life, his trainer Cus D'Amato, went to prison, and turned to Islam to right his ways. As Evander says it, the media insisted on prodding and kicking Mike until he returned to his old uncontrolled ways. They couldn't leave him be.
http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/evander-holyfield-rightfully-swings-to-mike-tysons-defense/
Obviously, Mike, like all of us, has his vices and his demons. And like every one of us, he has to fight hard internally to control his demons. I pray for his strength to overcome this pitfall and others that befall him, for a serene and peaceful future to his life, and for him to become a positive contributor to humanity.
I was there in 1995 at the headquarters of the Islamic Society of North America, when Mike was released and he stopped by to offer prayers and move on to his new life. The masses of media that came that day included hundreds of reporters, at least 3 or 4 helicopters, etc.
I saw very clearly the aggressiveness of the paparazzi then, when we stood up to pray and many of them stepped in to the sacred prayer to fake praying to try to get the picture. During the prayer, when we got up from prostration, one turned and took a flash picture, disturbing all those around him. After the prayer, I think everyone pointed him out, and the body guard graciously took him outside.
So when I read this most recent tragic episode in iron Mike's life, in a sense I feel its not unexpected for him to lose his cool. In another sense though, I feel sympathy at the obvious frustration he and other celebrities have with the aggressive antics of the paparazzi. It could be argued that not only what he did was in self defense, it was truly justified, as the paparazzi begged for it or instigated it.
Surprisingly coming to his defense is iron Mike's victim of "eargate", Evander the real deal Holyfield. I must say, I have to applaud Evander for his commentary. Mike, after losing the only real sincere and positive influence in his life, his trainer Cus D'Amato, went to prison, and turned to Islam to right his ways. As Evander says it, the media insisted on prodding and kicking Mike until he returned to his old uncontrolled ways. They couldn't leave him be.
http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2009/11/13/evander-holyfield-rightfully-swings-to-mike-tysons-defense/
Obviously, Mike, like all of us, has his vices and his demons. And like every one of us, he has to fight hard internally to control his demons. I pray for his strength to overcome this pitfall and others that befall him, for a serene and peaceful future to his life, and for him to become a positive contributor to humanity.
Freddie Roach determined to protect fighters like Manny Pacquiao - SI.com - Magazine
I must confess. I am a boxing addict. I used to box when I was younger, not formally, but with my friends. And as a teen I got into plenty of fights, almost daily at one famous school. As I grew older, and my sports addiction grew, I followed boxing, especially the heavyweight championships religiously. I bet that I have seen the majority of Muhammad Ali's fights, even though most occured before I was born.
But as I grew older (and dare I say wiser), I came to realize the harm of the way of the pugilist. I was in California for a summer camp about 15 or so years ago, and a friend had brought gloves with him. He asked me if I wanted to spar with him. He was a bit larger than me, but I never turned down a challenge. I knew myself in the sense that I needed to get hit a couple of times before I became focused. So after a couple of nose shots from him, he swung, I dodged, and I followed through with right cross that caught him flush across his exposed face. Immediately, I felt bad. I may have hurt the guy. I dropped the gloves and apologized to him. He complimented me on the punch, and we both moved on. Thank God he was not hurt. There was no sense in some silly physical game resulting in injury to anyone.
As I watched more and more boxing during these years, especially in the lighter weight categories, I became more and more disgusted with the sport and with myself for watching it. When you watch two flyweights throw and land hook after hook and remain standing delirious yet opposed to each other, there is something wrong.
People used to always say that Muhammad Ali got parkinsons because of boxing. I used to always dispute that, especially in observing parkinsons in others, such as Michael J. Fox. But when Parkinsons hit my family, it hit home, and the causes of it became very important for me to investigate and discover. (For a while I even was suspicious of suffering from it myself).
The below article puts the spotlight on Freddie Roach, the famous boxing trainer who just coached Manny Pacquaio to another victory (yes I confess I did watch the fight). Mr Roach is himself a former boxer and a victim of parkinsons. The article begins with a reference to his brother's death (his former boxing partner). It goes on to discuss the other boxers he has seen deteriorate or have neurological disorders or symptoms, and his efforts to "protect" his fighters.
Now with the growth of MMA (I confess, I do follow it too), and even less protection and more possible damage to fighters (have you ever seen one fighter mount another and throw a barrage to the other's head?), the issue of these sports and the permanent damage they may cause needs to be looked at. The article briefly mentions some potential solutions that have been thrown out there for boxing(eg. no punching in the head, wearing headgear, etc). The challenge of facing another man in the ring is one that I enjoy doing and watching, but there must be limits and there must be measures to protect those involved. I would endorse following the example of amateur and olympic boxing - headgear, lesser number of rounds. It may not be an ideal solution for the purists, but lets start the discussion to come up with the solutions that we can collectively accept.
Freddie Roach determined to protect fighters like Manny Pacquiao - SI.com - Magazine
(PS. It's not just boxing, with the recent highlight on neurological issues for old football players and older studies on soccer players).
But as I grew older (and dare I say wiser), I came to realize the harm of the way of the pugilist. I was in California for a summer camp about 15 or so years ago, and a friend had brought gloves with him. He asked me if I wanted to spar with him. He was a bit larger than me, but I never turned down a challenge. I knew myself in the sense that I needed to get hit a couple of times before I became focused. So after a couple of nose shots from him, he swung, I dodged, and I followed through with right cross that caught him flush across his exposed face. Immediately, I felt bad. I may have hurt the guy. I dropped the gloves and apologized to him. He complimented me on the punch, and we both moved on. Thank God he was not hurt. There was no sense in some silly physical game resulting in injury to anyone.
As I watched more and more boxing during these years, especially in the lighter weight categories, I became more and more disgusted with the sport and with myself for watching it. When you watch two flyweights throw and land hook after hook and remain standing delirious yet opposed to each other, there is something wrong.
People used to always say that Muhammad Ali got parkinsons because of boxing. I used to always dispute that, especially in observing parkinsons in others, such as Michael J. Fox. But when Parkinsons hit my family, it hit home, and the causes of it became very important for me to investigate and discover. (For a while I even was suspicious of suffering from it myself).
The below article puts the spotlight on Freddie Roach, the famous boxing trainer who just coached Manny Pacquaio to another victory (yes I confess I did watch the fight). Mr Roach is himself a former boxer and a victim of parkinsons. The article begins with a reference to his brother's death (his former boxing partner). It goes on to discuss the other boxers he has seen deteriorate or have neurological disorders or symptoms, and his efforts to "protect" his fighters.
Now with the growth of MMA (I confess, I do follow it too), and even less protection and more possible damage to fighters (have you ever seen one fighter mount another and throw a barrage to the other's head?), the issue of these sports and the permanent damage they may cause needs to be looked at. The article briefly mentions some potential solutions that have been thrown out there for boxing(eg. no punching in the head, wearing headgear, etc). The challenge of facing another man in the ring is one that I enjoy doing and watching, but there must be limits and there must be measures to protect those involved. I would endorse following the example of amateur and olympic boxing - headgear, lesser number of rounds. It may not be an ideal solution for the purists, but lets start the discussion to come up with the solutions that we can collectively accept.
Freddie Roach determined to protect fighters like Manny Pacquiao - SI.com - Magazine
(PS. It's not just boxing, with the recent highlight on neurological issues for old football players and older studies on soccer players).
Sunday, November 15, 2009
"I'd like to apologize to all the fantasy football players out there. Sorry for taking the knee."
-- Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew.
Can you believe this?
Mark Sanchez called the play for which MJD is apologizing "An MVP Play"
Was his apology in jest?
I don't think so.
It just goes to show how big fantasy football is now. Players have to apologize if they do something which results in a higher likelihood of victory for the team, but diminishes their fantasy result.
BTW if you missed it, he had the opening to go into the end zone with a minute plus left. Instead he got to the one yard line and took a knee. His team wound down the clock, and kicked the winning field goal with no time left.
... And no, I didn't have him on my fantasy team
... and my fantasy team lost anyways.
-- Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew.
Can you believe this?
Mark Sanchez called the play for which MJD is apologizing "An MVP Play"
Was his apology in jest?
I don't think so.
It just goes to show how big fantasy football is now. Players have to apologize if they do something which results in a higher likelihood of victory for the team, but diminishes their fantasy result.
BTW if you missed it, he had the opening to go into the end zone with a minute plus left. Instead he got to the one yard line and took a knee. His team wound down the clock, and kicked the winning field goal with no time left.
... And no, I didn't have him on my fantasy team
... and my fantasy team lost anyways.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Surprisingly, a positive piece from Geraldo Rivera of Faux News (Fairly unbalanced) on the Ft Hood tragedy and the service of the Muslims in Uniform:
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/11/06/geraldo-rivera-ft-hood-hasan-murder-muslim/
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/11/06/geraldo-rivera-ft-hood-hasan-murder-muslim/
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Our Community in Flint steps up to assist the victims in the Fort Hood tragedy.
Donate now at http://www.forthoodfamilyfund.com
Donate now at http://www.forthoodfamilyfund.com
Monday, November 09, 2009
The American Muslim community has setup a fund to benefit the victims of the Ft Hood tragedy. Tax Deductible donations can be made at http://www.forthoodfamilyfund.com
This is sponsored by the Islamic Society of North American, in collaboration with various national Muslim and interfaith organizations.
This is sponsored by the Islamic Society of North American, in collaboration with various national Muslim and interfaith organizations.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
"Man attends his own funeral"
I don't make this stuff up.....
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/11/08/walking.dead/index.html
I don't make this stuff up.....
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/11/08/walking.dead/index.html
The last few days have been a blur for me. (True I did go on a 2000 mile road trip in 3 days, but still).....
When I heard the news at Fort Hood, everything went numb.
Such a horrible tragedy. So many questions. Could it have been avoided? Why would a physician, a psychiatrist who treats his own colleagues, go and mercilessly mow down his colleagues? Did he himself have issues? If he was against deployment (as has been portrayed in the media as a possible motive), why not just take the conscientious objector route?
I can't answer these questions. All I can say is lets all pray for an end to these senseless crimes (the next day a guy in Florida shot 6 people. And a few days before, a guy in Ohio was found with many bodies in his house. and thats just the domestic news.). Lets pray for the victims who survive to have a full and speedy recovery. Lets pray for those who passed and their families.
For me as an American Muslim, this, like the sniper episode, puts another stain on the face of our community when we need it least, when the rabid Islamophobes are pushing harder and harder to demonize our community. And for our men and women in uniform, I can't imagine the pressure they are under now. I am sure they, if they haven't already experienced it, are viewed with suspicion by even those who are not bigotted, let alone the bigots. I pray for their strength, perseverance, and the ability to set the record straight about the service of Muslims in the armed forces to our nation, and about what Islam truly stands for. As God tells us in the Quran, "whosoever takes one life, it is as if he has taken the life of all of humanity, whosoever saves one life, it is as if they have saved the life of all of humanity". This is also the irony of a Muslim physician perpetrating such an act. It violates every moral, religious, occupational or other principle that he stands on.
My friend Junaid Afeef put together an excellent perspective on the event, read it here at
http://americanmuslimjournal.typepad.com/an_american_muslim_journa/2009/11/nidal-malik-hasan-the-ft-hood-massacre-responses-reactions-the-day-after.html
When I heard the news at Fort Hood, everything went numb.
Such a horrible tragedy. So many questions. Could it have been avoided? Why would a physician, a psychiatrist who treats his own colleagues, go and mercilessly mow down his colleagues? Did he himself have issues? If he was against deployment (as has been portrayed in the media as a possible motive), why not just take the conscientious objector route?
I can't answer these questions. All I can say is lets all pray for an end to these senseless crimes (the next day a guy in Florida shot 6 people. And a few days before, a guy in Ohio was found with many bodies in his house. and thats just the domestic news.). Lets pray for the victims who survive to have a full and speedy recovery. Lets pray for those who passed and their families.
For me as an American Muslim, this, like the sniper episode, puts another stain on the face of our community when we need it least, when the rabid Islamophobes are pushing harder and harder to demonize our community. And for our men and women in uniform, I can't imagine the pressure they are under now. I am sure they, if they haven't already experienced it, are viewed with suspicion by even those who are not bigotted, let alone the bigots. I pray for their strength, perseverance, and the ability to set the record straight about the service of Muslims in the armed forces to our nation, and about what Islam truly stands for. As God tells us in the Quran, "whosoever takes one life, it is as if he has taken the life of all of humanity, whosoever saves one life, it is as if they have saved the life of all of humanity". This is also the irony of a Muslim physician perpetrating such an act. It violates every moral, religious, occupational or other principle that he stands on.
My friend Junaid Afeef put together an excellent perspective on the event, read it here at
http://americanmuslimjournal.typepad.com/an_american_muslim_journa/2009/11/nidal-malik-hasan-the-ft-hood-massacre-responses-reactions-the-day-after.html
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