Otowi

Bird Photos 2011 (and Jan. 2012)

2012-01-21T20:28:00.000-07:00

Fountain Creek Great Blue Heron

Red Wing Blackbirds, FCNC

Mourning Dove, FCNC

swallow, FCNC

Mississippi Kites, my neighbor's tree in Security

Paul Intemann Trail Is this a Townsend's Solitaire?

Cheyenne Mountain State Park Junco

Rice's Pond, FCNC Green wing teal and Cackling Goose?

Scrub Jay, Pulpit Rock

Red-Tailed Hawks, Pulpit Rock

Harris's Sparrow, FCNC

Downy, FCNC

Black-capped Chickadee, FCNC

Mississippi Kite photos

2012-01-21T14:11:00.002-07:00

In May or June (2011), I noticed hearing a bird I hadn't heard before and the call was very distinct and beautiful. Eventually I was able to see the birds and associate the call with them, and came to discover the nest which by that time had mom and two young in an elm tree in my neighbor's yard just behind Watson Jr. High's track - not sure if dad had been around earlier before I figured out who was making the calls. By the end of the summer, the babies were calling for mom pretty much non-stop whenever she wasn't on nest, and when she came back they gave excited little welcome noises and as soon as she left would start calling for her again. The fledglings eventually showed themselves on branches near the nest and were attracting quite a bit of attention because they were so noisy. They didn't fly until September, and shortly after they did, the family was gone. (If you click on the pictures, they do get larger).

Mom

the tree

babies/nest

FCNC Hawk ID fieldtrip

2012-01-21T13:51:00.001-07:00

This was so much fun! We met at the Nature Center, then went to Big Johnson Reservoir where we saw a pair of Bald Eagles (from the distance) that may be trying to nest. They tried before, but so far haven't succeeded. Let's hope they do! Also saw Red-tailed hawks, and plenty of other birds including a Western Meadowlark and some diving ducks too far off to ID. Then we headed out further east and saw more Red-tailed hawks, several Ferruginous hawks, a Kestrel, and two Golden Eagles - one juvenile and one adult. The Eagles were high, so my pictures are poor, and the Kestrel was gone too quickly for me to get. Also saw a few Northern Harriers, and some people saw some kind of falcon but it was too quick to ID and I missed it entirely from the back seat of the van. When we were pulled off on the side of the road taking pictures and viewing our first Ferruginous Hawk through scopes, some cops came over to see what we were doing - they were quite friendly and interested. Met lots of fun people. One Red-Tailed Hawk was literally 2 feet from the van and when it took off that was a spectacular image, but too fast for the camera.

Fountain Creek Regional Park Winter Count 1/14/12

2012-01-14T13:22:00.000-07:00

I didn't take a lot of pictures today because I was in charge of the count sheet, but I went to the winter count at the Fountain Creek Nature Center today. I was assigned area 7 with Patty Lovekin and some people I met for the first time today.

This is a white-breasted nuthatch that I got a decent picture of.

This is a hairy woodpecker that was in our assigned area. It was sitting on the creek edge just north of the bridge on a dead fallen tree. I didn't have one in my official life list until this.

People have been excited for days that a Harris's sparrow has been hanging around the nature center. I got lucky enough to see it and get a so-so picture of it, above. That was a new one for me, as well.

In area 7, we had a few 'maybes' that we didn't count - a possible quail was heard, and possibly saw a virginia rail or other shore bird we didn't have time to ID before we lost it, and maybe a flycatcher.

Other species we saw included Canada geese, gadwall, mallard, green-winged teal, red-tailed hawk, gulls, rock pigeons, eurasian collared doves, kingfishers, downy woodpecker, flickers, blue jays, magpies, crows, black-capped chickadees, white-breasted nuthatch, robin, starling, tree sparrow, song sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, juncos, red-winged blackbirds, house finches, and house sparrows.

Pulpit Rock

2012-01-07T16:23:00.002-07:00

The semi-obligatory New Year post

2012-01-01T18:52:00.002-07:00

2011: I lost a lot of weight (on purpose). Lots of neat hikes with Mark and Irma in summer and fall. My cousin Frankie died - third year in a row for losing family. Pay cuts, lay-offs and general feelings of insecurity at work. Moved to a new room at work (from 15 to 10). Third and final run for dept. chair. Revert Conference in October, White House in November. Christmas bird count. Lunar eclipse in December (again!) Osama bin Laden gone. Horrible earthquake/tsunami in Japan. Poor economy all around. "Arab Spring". Parents both retired. Kind of a general anxiety/worry feeling this year.

I don't know what to want or wish for in 2012, but I would like the fear, anger, worry, and general negative vibes that permeate the world right now to subside. I would like joy, peace, stability.

Birding Today

2011-12-27T19:15:00.001-07:00

Went to Fountain Creek Regional Park with Kathy and Nina.

A few new ones for me:

white-crowned sparrow:

The females and juveniles are more brown, less white. I think I saw one last time that was female but didn't know what it was.

virginia rail:

sharp-shinned hawk

The banding on the tail is pretty distinctive.

bufflehead

gadwall

I might have seen these at Prospect Lake a week or so ago but wasn't sure.

common merganser

These definitely weren't here last time. The geese had moved on and there were interesting ducks everywhere.

belted kingfisher

Very beautiful; heard its call, too.

A few of these I've seen before but wasn't officially tracking yet or didn't know what it was. The mallards were out in force and were beautiful and sounded just like Daffy Duck.

Fountain Creek Regional Park 12/18/11

2011-12-18T14:32:00.001-07:00

Mallard in the middle

American coot

Hooded Merganser lower right

1 pair snow geese

Red-tailed hawk, (dash and comma pattern)

female green-winged teal

I just think this is cute. :)

Beautiful Day!

Waiting for the feeder

Species I identified: black-capped chickadee, magpie, cackling and Canada geese, snow geese, hooded merganser, american coot, ferruginous hawk, green-winged teal, house finch, red-winged blackbird. Saw sparrows but not sure what type they were.

Christmas Bird Count 2011

2011-12-17T17:42:00.001-07:00

Today I did my first Christmas Bird Count with members of the Aiken Audubon Society here in town. I went first to a member named Patty Lovekin's house in OCC, and from there was assigned to go counting with a lady named Kathy Miller in the area West of Cimarron and bounded by 8th Street and Red Rock park. We drove around and stopped whenever we saw birds and I.D'd them ( she did most of the I.D.ing but some are common enough that I knew them) and counted them. In some places, like Bott Park or some empty fields near Fountain Creek or Fairview Cemetery, we got out and walked around.

Here's our count:
Rock pigeon: 45
Raven: 8
Canada Goose: 77
Crow: 25
Starling: 8
House Sparrow: 43
Collared Dove: 52
Junco: 6
Red-Shafted Flicker: 17
House Finch: 110
Pine Siskin: 2
Blue Jay: 1
Black-capped Chickadee: 3
Magpie: 13
Red-tailed Hawk: 4
Prairie Falcon: 1
Scrub Jay: 2
Robin: 2
White-breasted Nuthatch: 1
Downy Woodpecker: 1
Merlin: 1
Song Sparrow: 1
American Kestrel: 1

I recognized pigeons and doves easily, but she called everything a collared dove and I would've thought I would need to look more closely to see if some are mourning doves - I want to check up on the differences. I looked them up in a book and I can see the difference in the band, which I knew before, but now I see there is also a difference in color. Update: Kathy said, "On the doves, the size of a Eurasian Collared dove is larger, they are "whiter" looking, and their tails are a smooth semi-circle with a whitish band near the tips, where the Mourning doves are slimmer, dusky colored, and have long pointed central tail feathers with the tail looking like a very elongated pointed V."

I knew a little about differences between Crows and Ravens but learned some more. I knew Ravens were bigger and a little scruffier in the neck, but I learned that Ravens have a v-shape on their tail (convex) while crows have more of a rounded-fan shape.

I recognized Starlings and Sparrows, House Finches, and Juncos, but I would've had to spend a lot more time telling them apart from a distance. I learned to recognize the way the finches fly, and I would not have been able to differentiate a Song Sparrow or Sisken, etc., - a lot of those little birds I don't know the differences. I learned I could use some stronger binoculars and some practice using them.

I learned that Mountain Chickadees have a raspier sound than the Black-Capped, and we might have heard one but we weren't sure. I know the call of crows, doves and magpies easily enough but some of the songbirds I haven't really learned to differentiate.

I recognized the hawk and falcon, and I'd seen a nuthatch before but didn't know what it was called. I wouldn't have known the name of the Merlin without using a book to I.D. But in the field the birds may not stay still long enough for that. I learned that Canada Geese come in larger and smaller varieties.

After the official count, we went down to the pond by the Doubletree on Lake/Circle to see a rare-for-this-area duck that had been reported there. It was a long-tailed duck. We also saw the two kinds of Canadian geese, Mergansers, Mallards, Gulls, a Coot, Shovelers, and Canvasbacks. I wasn't sure about some others.

This is a picture of Kestrel. I didn't take this, but it shows how pretty they are. This was maybe my favorite sighting of the day. It does this kind of bowing/flicking thing with its tail that is pretty distinctive. Kathy was very exciting by the Merlin, because it was a life bird for her, meaning it was a new bird for her life list, a collection of all the species of birds she has seen in her life. I think I will start my life list now, because I really had a good time doing this and hope to do it some more. Notable about it for ID purposes is the yellow on the beak, the white "eyebrows" and the brown and white belly. This is a Merlin:

This is a merganser:

These were very entertaining to watch in the water - they were lively and diving a lot.

This is a shoveler:

This is a long-tailed duck:

She was by herself and spent more time underwater than on the surface.

This is a goldeneye:

These are canvasbacks:

This is a nuthatch:

This is a pine siskin:

This is a song sparrow:

House sparrows:

House finches:

Black-capped chickadee:

Junco:

These are often near the ground flitting around in bushes.

red-shafted flicker:

They have a distinctive shape and a long beak, and in flight that white patch is very visible.

This is a downy woodpecker: Males might have a red spot on the head.

I found a cool app for my Kindle (also available for phones) that is like a whole bird I.D. website/book that has pictures, their songs, I.D. tips, etc. Very cool! It is called iBird 2.0 I think. I want to work on some of the more common birds around here. Maybe I'll use the county bird list I found on Aiken's site.

Lunar Eclipse 12/10/11 about 6:30-45 a.m.

2011-12-10T07:19:00.001-07:00

from resolution to revolution

2011-12-07T06:35:00.001-07:00

When I attended the International Reverts Conference last month, I received as a gift a truly wonderful and amazing book, "from resolution to revolution - The Message of Ashura: Reflections on Religion, Ethics, Culture, Family, Youth and Citizenship" by Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini.

This book is a compilation of three years of Muharram lectures delivered by Sayed Al-Qazwini in the years 2005-2007. The lectures were designed for youth in the West and repeatedly address themes of challenges in the West, prayer, death, repentance, marriage, parenting, inter-gender relations, and self-reform. The part of the lectures which strictly relate the events around Ashura are not included, but the personalities and events are referenced as examples and guidance in each of the themes.

Each lecture is highly inspirational and readable and only around 10-15 pages. Sayed Al-Qazwini's approach is very uplifting and loving and calls upon the youth to recognize their worth and build self-respect. As he says in the first lecture, "When we respect ourselves, we will consider it beneath our honor to do any wrong actions." He is very empathetic to the struggles faced by all believers and has a way of delivering excellent advice with great gentleness. He properly emphasizes the Merciful and and Forgiving aspects of God without giving undue lightness to the effects of sin. Rather than simply admonish youth for possibly doing wrong things, he teaches the harm and damage to the self caused by sins and encourages the believers to protect themselves and one another from these dangers. He also powerfully illustrates the beauty of worship, good deeds, and building one's relationship with God and Ahlulbayt (as) - he helps fuel appetite and desire for drawing near and communing with God. He uses easily understandable, clear English and only minor and rare typographical errors are present in the text. The resulting book is great for Muslims and non-Muslims of all ages seeking moral guidance.

As I was reading this book, I often could not wait until the next time I could open it again and found myself underlining and starring passages regularly. I am eager to read it a second time. If you can find this book, it is an opportunity to fall in love with Islam again (or for the first time) and get some good direction and motivation for self-improvement. However, I am unfortunately not sure where to purchase this book. It was published in March 2011 by the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County http://www.iecoc.org with layout and design assistance by the Islamic Publishing House http://www.iph.ca, yet neither website currently lists the book for sale. I did find video/audio of some of the lectures, such as these: http://www.alulbayt.com/muh%201428/muharram%201428.htm .

The lectures serve as excellent examples of delivering the message of Ashura in a way that its modern and personal relevance is understood by Western youth. The transformative and uniting power of the lectures also show the importance of believers coming together for education and service for the revival of true Islam in the hearts. Without that internal revolution of our individual hearts, we as a community cannot become ready for the Imam of our Age (as, ajtf), who is awaiting us.

Fremont Peak

2011-11-11T16:51:00.001-07:00

Zebulon Pike stepped onto the summit of Fremont Peak on Jan. 5, 1807.

White House Trip!

2011-11-02T18:50:00.001-06:00

Link to the article/page NEA made for the trip (with me as the token teacher activist): http://www.educationvotes.nea.org/2011/11/02/video-nea-members-talk-school-modernization-with-president-obama/

NEA representatives in front of the White House prior to the Nov. 1, 2001 meeting on the American Jobs Act.

Vice President Joe Biden addressing the audience.

President Barack Obama

NEA President Dennis Van Roekel and David Plough during the West Wing conference call.

Me with the NEA President in front of the West Wing.

The group photo with VP Biden on his way out of the office.

President Obama exiting the meeting.

Me with the President speaking behind me.

The White House as it looked as we headed back to the hotel.

Write-up for CSEA newsletter:

I had a very unexpected messagewhen I got home from parent-teacher conferences in late October. Themessage was from Andy Linebaugh at the NEA offices in Washington D.C., and hewas inviting me to go to the White House for a meeting with PresidentObama. It was too late to call him back that evening, so I had to waituntil the next day to get more information. I was being invited becauseof a short paragraph I had written at the Education Votes website in responseto an NEA e-mail request asking teachers to describe how budget cuts wereaffecting their schools.

This is what I wrote:

“My school has been lucky compared to many in these times ofcuts. We didn’t have to lay off nearly as many teachers as some schools. But,year after year we come to work in 90+ temps with packed classrooms and no AC.We can’t pass a bond issue for many reasons—public education’s batteredreputation and “we-can’t-take-one-more-request-for-money” battered voters aretwo of the big ones. I have classes of 36 and 37 teenagers packed into desksthat are falling apart, using textbooks older than they are. Every day,students ask for food, paper, pencils, fundraiser purchases, even clothes, letalone the graphing calculators we want them to have to keep up withtechnological advances in education. Our carpet is threadbare, stained, andapproaching 40 years old, but can’t be replaced because there is an asbestosissue we can’t afford to address. New mandates come from the government everyyear, but never with any funding for the training and infrastructure requiredto implement. We’re supposed to be a magic black box that produces perfectwidgets out of students with nothing. I wish we could have some of the joy ofFinnish education; I wish I could feel that people of America believed in thevalue of free quality education for all. That was a principle I was raised onand firmly believe in, but I feel it is a value that is being sorely eroded.”

I felt I shouldn’t pass up arare opportunity like this one, so I accepted the offer and the followingMonday I was flying to Washington D.C. All the business happened onTuesday. I made my way a block from my hotel to the NEA offices where Iwas warmly welcomed. It turned out, I was the only classroom teacherattending – the ten others representing NEA and teachers were the NEAPresident, a member of his staff, and 8 representatives from various statesthat are association Presidents and Vice Presidents at the state level. We attended a briefing, and then were interviewed and video-taped individuallyabout school conditions to be used in press releases or provided to the stateand local associations to use as needed. We went to the White House inthe afternoon. The meeting was in the East Room and included some otherorganizations like the NAACP in addition to NEA for a total of about 120guests. Three cabinet members and the Reverend Al Sharpton were inattendance. There were four speakers including Vice President Joe Bidenand President Obama. The topic of discussion was the American Jobs Actand the need to create and preserve public sector jobs andinfrastructure. The President did take questions and comments from theaudience and committed to continue fighting for school funding. He saidthat the most important thing educators and students can do to try to advocatefor school funding and infrastructure is to get their stories out in the localpress as much as possible. Much of the public does not really understandhow budget cuts are affecting what happens in the classroom and the state ofrepair of schools and the only way they will learn is if people in the schoolstell them and show them.

After the President left, theNEA group was quickly ushered to the West Wing to attend a conference call withDavid Plough (President Obama’s campaign manager and political strategist) andNEA President Dennis Van Roekel, and a variety of NEA members from around thecountry who wished to learn about the meeting we had just attended or expresswhat is happening in their schools. When the call concluded, we left theWhite House and each gave short video synopses of our experiences to the NEApress crew.

While we hope that the meetingwill make some positive difference that all of us will benefit from, theexperience was also very exciting and fun. We all had opportunities toget pictures of the President and Vice President, some shook hands with one orboth of them, and we had a group photo with the Vice President as he wasleaving the West Wing on his way home. We were made to feel quite welcomeat the White House. I put some of my trip pictures on my blog at http://masooma.blogspot.com/2011/11/white-house-trip.html, which also includes a link to an article with pictures and video that NEAwrote up about the event. They decided to make the stories with me thefocus of the event because I was the classroom teacher as opposed to a stateofficer. I tried to represent us all well and am very thankful for thisonce-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Awesome Story

2011-10-26T18:37:00.000-06:00

Thousands of years ago, Prophet Moses was crossing the Sinai Desert when he encountered a man who asked Moses where he was going. Moses told him he was going to Mount Tur to speak with God. The man asked him to convey a message to God for him.

He said, 'Tell your Lord that I am very angry with him! Tell Him that He should be ashamed of Himself. I do not want to be His servant, and I do not want Him to be my Lord! I do not want His sustenance, food, health, or assistance! He can keep them for Himself! I am very disappointed in Him, and I do not want anything to do with Him!"

Moses did not want to convey this message, but after communing with God, God asked him to tell what He knew there was to tell.

After Moses relayed the message, God replied, 'Moses, hasten to this man. Send him My peace and greetings. Tell him that even if he does not love His Lord, his Lord still loves him. Even if he does not care about Me, I care about him. I am not doing him a favor by providing for him, this is my obligation. He may be ashamed of being My servant, but I am not ashamed of being his Lord. I still want him to return to Me and will welcome him back whenever He decides to return."

Moses ran to tell this message to the man. When the man heard it, he fell to the ground and cried out, "Oh God, I thought You hated me. Now, I know that You are my true friend."

Source: from resolution to revolution Sayed Al-Qazwini

Blackmer Loop - Cheyenne Mt. State Park

2011-10-22T17:00:00.003-06:00

IRC 2011

2011-10-17T06:31:00.001-06:00

On the recent Columbus/Thanksgiving Day weekend I was blessed to attend the third International Revert Muslims Conference in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. This conference was hosted by the Masumeen Islamic Center and sponsored by the Islamic Humanitarian Service IHS, and was attended by born Muslims and reverts alike, hailing from regions all over the West, including the UK, Canada, US, the Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago. The speakers were a diverse group of scholars and reverts with origins in Iran, Pakistan, India, Canada, and the United States.

The conference was organized and carried out by board members of the Revert Muslim Association RMA, founded by revert Sr. Jennah Heydari in 2005, as well as many volunteers from RMA, IHS and the Masumeen Center.Speakers included Sheikh Jaffer H. Jaffer, resident Alim of the Masumeen Islamic Center who was born in Los Angeles, California; Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shomali from Qum, Iran; Sheikh Muhammad Bahmanpour from the UK and Iran; Sheikh Saleem Bhimji from Canada; Sayyid Mohammad Rizvi from India and Canada; Sheikh Mohammad Razavi from Pakistan, Iran, east Africa and UK; Sheikh Hassnain Kassamali and Sister Tahera Kassamali from East Africa and Canada; Sister Arifa Hudda from East Africa and Canada; and Sheikh Shafiq Hudda from East Africa and Canada. The revert speakers were Sr Fatima Ali of Montreal, Br. Vinay Khetia of Toronto, and Sr. Masooma Beatty of Colorado, as well as emcee Br. Mohammed Langston from Detroit. British revert brother (and cast member of the movie 313) Abd al Rauf Shokoya spoke on behalf of Ahlulbayt TV and worked with staff to collect interviews with reverts for the program Revert's World.

The intention behind organizing a revert conference was not to separate reverts from the general Shia Muslim population, but rather to bring together reverts and born Muslims alike from diverse backgrounds to address education, needs, and issues encountered by reverts and also born Muslims in the West. One of the beautiful things about the IRC has been the coming together of believers from many communities and, in the case of many reverts, no communities at all, to experience the benefits of brother and sisterhood. Many enjoyed the feelings of coming together and one lady even announced her intention to convert to Islam after being invited to the conference and traveling from the United States and feeling the love and and beauty of Islam at the event.

The topics of lectures and workshops covered a wide range of needs. For example,Sheikh Mohammed Saeed Bahmanpour spoke on life and death in the hereafter. Sheikh Bahmanpour made a beautiful analogy between this world and the hereafter and a "caterpillar universe" and "butterfly universe". He taught that this existing universe will evolve in the universe of the hereafter and was apply to supply inspiring explanations and descriptions.

Sheikh Mohammed Ali Shomali spoke on the collective nature of wilayah. Based on an article he has written in The Message of Thaqalayn, vol. 10, no. 3 (Fall 2009), in this lecture he explained that we often think of wilayah as an individual relationship of guardianship between ourselves and God and Ahlulbayt (as), but there is a social function of wilayah that stresses the unity of believers. Among many sources, he cited a saying of Imam Mahdi (as, ajtf): "Surely, if our Shi'ites - may Allah help them for their obedience to HIm - were united in their hearts securely on their promises with us, there would not be any delay in the blessing of meeting us." Thus, he stressed that the various communities should be working, meeting, and praying together in spite of whatever differences they have, and that every believer should be meeting with and knowing the well-being of other believers and interacting with them peacefully, and that this is a crucial duty in preparing ground for the Imam (as)'s return. We must unite and not divide no matter what.

Sheikh Saleem Bhimji spoke on a western-muslim cultural identity in a very practical lecture highlighting 6 aspects of developing this identity, including using the common language, developing artistic expressions, finding contemporary manifestations of spirituality such as volunteerism, creating inclusive social events beyond just "religious" events, and networking and supporting the businesses of one another.

Workshop topics included issues related to salat, light/noor, the Qur'an, prophets, hijab, spouse selection, interfaith, morals, facing difficulties, free will vs. predestination, and interacting with non-Muslim family, and there were also many other lecture topics such as mercy in the Qur'an, Irfan, social and domestic issues of reverts, and pluralism and perennialism.Question and answer sessions were held and many scholars and guests offered assistance to the cause of helping reverts as well as serving the needs of Western youth, etc. Vendors provided information or sold Islamic clothing, decorations, prayer items, and media, and halal food was provided throughout the conference. For many reverts, the vendors provided access to Islamic items and information that they did not know how to find previously.

The Revert Muslim Association is already making plans for the next conference, and organizers are hoping that it will be held in London in 2012. Many of the lectures from this conference were recorded and pictures were taken. People interested in the conference lectures and images may visit the RMA website for more information. The videos may not yet be up but should be forthcoming. People can also join the forums there and/or the group on Facebook. Anyone interested in getting help to learn more about Islam, get help with revert or other issues, or to help reverts find Shia contacts wherever they may reside or provide other assistance can contact RMA.

As a revert myself, I am grateful for the efforts of others that I have benefited from on my journey to provide opportunities such as this. Many of the efforts made by born Muslims for their own children being raised in the West are also of great benefit to reverts and are appreciated. Sometimes reverts have very bad experiences that can sour their understanding of Islam, and often they may feel the highly cultural/linguistic divisions of many Shia centers and organizations leads them to be always outsiders or guests and never really fit in anywhere. The multicultural nature of a conference like this and the use of the lingua franca both help greatly in forming relationships and providing a hopeful direction for the future.

Mt. Muscoco

2011-10-16T12:34:00.000-06:00

From Resolution to Revolution: The Message of Ashura by Sayed Moustafa al-Qazwini

2011-10-14T08:09:00.000-06:00

Muharram season is still about 6 weeks away, but I just received this book, and in interest of preparing for the season I thought I might read and make notes on some or all of it.This book is a compilation of lectures made by Sayed Moustafa Al-Qazwini during the Muharram season for Western youth. The portions of the lectures which relay the history of Ashura are removed to avoid repetitiveness.

Part One is from lectures in London in 2005.Last night I read Chapter One, titled Dignity and HonorIn this lecture, he tries to point out the honor of the human being. He notes that human life is sacred and sites the verses about not killing children due to poverty or other reasons, that Allah swt will provide for them. This did not particularly move me until he relayed a hadith from Imam Sadiq (as). In this hadith, a man complained to Imam (as) about being poor. The Imam instructed him to get married. "The man thought that perhaps the Imam did not understand that the reason why he was not married was because he was poor. However, the Imam understood his complaint the first time and again instructed the man to get married. The Imam was indicating to the man that God would provide him a better life for the sake of his wife and children if he gets married!"This just made me think that many times we create obstacles for ourselves that Allah swt did not impose upon us, and that many times the solution to our problems lies in hope and expectation for a good outcome and in keeping moving forward, trusting in God no matter what.

In the lecture, this subject was the introduction to the idea that human honor is from the Creator, but many people seek it in the wrong places. We think that honor comes from wealth or beauty, etc. He notes that, "The commercial tendency of society has conditioned a great number of people into believing one's value lies in their appearance and possessions.... Unfortunately, this sort of thinking is a fallacy and a trap designed to exploit the vulnerable. However, while this trend has spun out of control today, it is nothing new as it was also rampant among the hypocrites who claimed Islam but secretly fought the Prophet. 'When you look at them, their exteriors please you; and when they speak, you listen to their words. They are as (worthless as hollow) pieces of timber propped up (unable to stand on their own). 63:4' These hypocrites looked impressive...but they sank beneath the level of animals." This point is so true - especially women, but all of us, are so damaged by this conditioning and it is so pervasive that it is almost impossible to eradicate - it is so second-nature to who we are that we are not even aware of it in many cases and have no idea how to think differently. We inherently judge people by how they look, but just because someone looks great and talks eloquently does not mean his honor and message are better than someone else.

He then talks about a historical incident when a person complained that removing a person's fingers for wanton theft (not of out need) was against the honor of the human being. The complaint was to Sharif Al-Radi, who compiled Nahjul Balagha. His response was that the value of a human being was "in his soul, not his hands. As long as a person used his hands for honest deeds, they were invaluable." But once he used them for evil, they were worthless - it was the quality of the soul that gave them their value.This leads to what was for me the main point of the lecture that recognizing our honor is important to our self-development. He says it very well when he says that, "When we respect ourselves, we will consider it beneath our honor to do any wrong actions." This particular point was powerful to me. It shows that when we sin or commit doubtful acts, we are disrespecting ourselves and showing how little we value and think of ourselves. It shows we undervalue our worth while Allah swt does not undervalue it - Allah swt values us greater than we value ourselves! It also provides a means for us to improve ourselves.

By adopting this thinking, that doing wrong is beneath our honor as believers, we can find help in getting the will power to avoid sins. And the great thing is that this will power has a positive rather than negative source. Instead of saying, "I fear hell," which is true, but a negative motivation, this is a positive motivation, "I am better than this, or I am worth more than doing this." He goes on by talking about how honor is sincerity of our actions in doing them for God and gives examples from Karbala and he talks about the validity of crying for losses like the death of Imam Husain (as) even though it was a victory - it is part of our natural compassionate humanity that God made us to have and is part of the practice of the Prophet (saw) and Imams (sa).Insha'allah I will cross post this on the Muharram blog ( see side bar), and also post additional chapters there.

Aspen near Pikes Peak

2011-10-01T12:34:00.001-06:00

Red Mountain Hike

2011-09-10T18:36:00.001-06:00

Cheyenne Mountain State Park -North Talon Trail

2011-09-03T19:12:00.001-06:00

The Hikers

2011-09-01T20:14:00.001-06:00

The Nature of Knowing God

2011-08-27T01:00:00.003-06:00

Science is a human exercise in making sense of that which exists through the use of reasoning and gathering evidence. The scientific process is generally agreed to be one of positing of a conjecture, gathering and analyzing evidence to test the conjecture, and then drawing a conclusion about the conjecture based upon that evidence. The nature of conclusion that can be drawn from this process has some limitations. Some limitations arise from the methods of gathering evidence. For example, if the evidence is gathered from a study on 100 people, there are limitations on how far any conclusions can be said to apply to other individuals outside those 100 people in the study. Yet, since testing every person is impossible and ridiculous, guidelines are developed from probability theory to make a prediction about how well the study results might apply to other individuals, and decisions are made based on that prediction. This prediction in reality is one that is rarely if ever testable - we do not have means to know if the prediction is right or wrong, but we must act on it anyway. Limitations arise due to the psychology of the scientific process as well - even scientists, trying to be objective, are more likely to report, publish and be swayed by evidence that conforms to their existing beliefs.

Limitations also arise due to the nature of evidence itself. Consider the example of planetary motion. Most people may laugh today at the idea that the Sun moves around the Earth instead of vice versa. Yet, it is not such an unreasonable idea given the evidence that most people understand and have access to even today let alone in the past. When a human looks to the sky, it certainly appears as if the Sun is rising in the East and setting in the West and thus moving around the Earth. And, if a person lives his life under such a belief, his quality of life or ability to function and thrive are unlikely to be affected. Yet today's world would not be as it is if we as a society still held such a belief. A person might think that the Sun's motion around the Earth is a "fact" because it seems so obviously true given the evidence. In reality, it is not a fact, but is instead a conception or explanation that humans constructed in order to make sense of that of which exists. At some point, people made some observations that are at dissonance with this "fact". Eventually, as more observations were made and more evidence was gathered, the preponderance of evidence no longer seemed to support the conception that the Sun moves around the Earth and so most people changed their conception to a new idea that does seem to be in accord with the evidence - the Earth revolves around the Sun. Yet, this construct is not conclusively proven "fact", either. That is, it is impossible to absolutely and completely be certain that there might not be some other explanation for what is observed or that some evidence in the future might not come to light that would again lead to a further revision of our conception of planetary motion. Even interplanetary travel and imaging is not 100% proof of our conception. One might say that it is extremely powerful evidence against the former conception, and the current conception is in accord with the evidence much better, but we do not know for sure that future evidence might not modify our conceptions even further.

Actually, we rather hope that there will be further revisions to our conceptions, because increased and refined sense-making of what exists tends to have benefits. As we learn more, we are able to do things such as send craft to other planets, treat diseases, and communicate with each other across vast distances nearly instantaneously. Science provides models, and models are very useful even if they might not ever be 100% correct, or even if we can never truly know just how correct they are. We do not prove things in science, per se. We make a decision to believe or adopt a certain model to explain things and operate by, given a preponderance of evidence one way or another.

Even outside of the realm of formal science, people constantly engage in the act of sense-making in order to function. If we see a shadow, we naturally seek an explanation for the shadow. Barring an "obvious" or "natural" explanation, we tend to make up explanations, such as an unseen person, or even a creature made of shadow, or a ghost. Once we adopt such a conception, whenever we see a similar shadow, we interpret it as evidence in support of what we believe, even if it might not really be evidence in favor. The shadow is just continuing to be whatever it is, but we are interpreting it as evidence in support of what we believe or have decided it is. This psychology extends well beyond the physical realm and plays into everything we do, such as politics. Once someone develops a political belief, such as "Obama is a good leader", he or she will interpret events as supporting that conception the vast majority of the time, while someone else with the belief "the Tea Party is right" will interpret the very same evidence in favor of his own belief. It will take extraordinary evidence to cause someone to change his established conception, and in some cases no matter the strength of evidence, he will not change. This kind of sense-making, although sometimes faulty, is key to our survival, because it allows us to make decisions such as avoiding something that sounds like the rattle of a rattlesnake even though we haven't actually seen the snake.

A skeptic is someone who demands a higher threshold of evidence than most people in order to firmly adopt a conception. A skeptic will look for alternative explanations for events, especially in cases when a "natural" explanation does not seem to be at hand. Just exactly what is "natural" and what isn't, however, is in itself a construct that is determined by many factors such as education, culture, history, personality, and more. Generally speaking, it is wise to be a skeptic and to demand a high threshold of evidence. This critical thinking improves the societal process of sense-making and can prevent victimization from intentional deception or misguidance. For example, skepticism and the scientific process has enabled us to learn that what people may be inclined to interpret as a paranormal ability for fortune-telling can be accomplished through skillful employment of flattery, double-headed statements, vagueness, interpreting body language and facial expressions, redirection, misdirection, and so on. Even someone who genuinely believes in his own ability to tell fortunes may subconsciously employ these techniques. Further, we have learned that so far, no tested example of fortune-telling could be shown to not be explainable by these means. Similarly, other paranormal phenomena such as out-of-body experiences, telekinesis, talking to the dead or spirits, seeing ghosts, hypnotism or mind control, and prophecy can be shown to have "natural" explanations, and no examples that could not be explained "naturally" have come to light in tested conditions. (If you have interest in this area, you might enjoy reading Paranormality by the famous British skeptic Richard Wiseman.)

Therefore, it seems perfectly reasonable to reject these phenomena as paranormal, but it must also be understood that science has no means of proving that every single instance of any of these phenomena can be explained "naturally". That is, just because 1000 instances of some type of event can be explained a certain way, one cannot know absolutely that the 1001st instance will be the same. However, we call it "likely" that the 1001st instance will be like the others and "reasonable" to adopt a construct or belief and behavior in accordance with the 1000 known instances.

As we have seen so far, all of our constructs, even those we typically consider "facts", are really things that we have simply decided to believe, usually based on interpretation of evidence of some kind. No construct or belief is proven or disproven by science or any other means, but its likeliness can in some cases be gauged and we are often comfortable saying evidence is so convincing as to enable us to reject certain ideas with a sense of "certainty". All of these constructs we develop constitute one kind of knowing. But, many people claim that there is another type of knowing, one that might be compared to one of recognition rather than one of learning. This second type of knowing, if it exists, is not so easily tested. This cognizance or recognition knowledge is cited in matters of religion such as the existence of God or the soul. Religious texts or scholars may say that people cognize God. But if one wants to test the existence of God or soul or life after death, no one has come up with a way to do so.

What we can do is test what people claim is evidence of any of these. If someone claims that an Out of Body Experience (OBE) is evidence of the soul, we can scientifically investigate OBEs to search for a "natural" explanation for them. And, we should not be surprised to find a "natural" explanation if we have the appropriate tools, conditions, and means to carry out appropriate tests. But, whatever results we get tell us nothing about the soul, but only about OBEs. If OBEs have a natural explanation, this does not prove or disprove the existence of the soul. And if OBEs do not have a natural explanation, this also does not prove or disprove the existence of the soul. Neither result provides any evidence either way about the soul, but may only serve to advise people that the phenomenon of OBEs does not prove the existence of soul (which could have been concluded without conducting the studies anyway.) But we must also say that the fact that OBEs may be naturally explained does not even prove that OBEs have nothing to do with the soul, either.

Muslims believe, according to the Qur'an, that God creates through His "wish" (mashiah). Some things or events are created directly, in which case the Qur'an uses first person singular "I" in describing the Conductor of the action. But generally, things or events are created through means or causes, and the Qur'an uses the plural "We" to indicate the Conductor. Thus, we expect what we observe in our existence to have explanations, to make sense, and to have natural causes, because that is the nature of their creation or existence. So, a Muslim should believe as skeptics do, that "paranormal" phenomena most likely have natural causes that we can gather evidence about and learn from and that can aid in our sense-making of the existence. We should not expect "paranormal" phenomena to prove the existence of things that fall into the realm of recognition knowledge rather than testable knowledge. Yet, the Qur'an is made of and speaks often of a large variety of ayahs, or signs, of things that fall into the recognition category. These signs aid in recognition and some people may interpret some of them as "evidence", but as we have already seen, science cannot speak to this one way or the other.

This is indeed a discomfiting situation for the particularly hard core skeptic, because his high standard of evidence that he prefers to operate by and which usually serves him exceedingly well is not functional or usable for decision making for recognition knowledge, if it is exists. Many atheists reject God and whatever else must be cognized rather than learned because they decide that if is untestable it cannot exist, or they mistakenly believe that tests involving "paranormal" phenomena disprove God if the results suggest "natural" explanations.

In conclusion, critical thinking and reasoning are essential tools of sense-making that advance society. The scientific process develops our understanding and level of functioning in this existence. However, not all types of questions can satisfactorily be answered through this method, even though many wish it were so. Every thing we think we "know" is really a decision to adopt a certain construct or belief. In every day life, people routinely adopt some constructs as "true" even though they are improbable in light of evidence, but skeptics tend to demand higher probability for certain constructs. In the case of the learning type of knowledge, scientific reasoning helps us choose useful constructs. In the case of recognition knowledge, ayahs or signs can guide what we believe but scientific process is of little use. If you believe in God, you know Him through recognition.

Palmer Red Rock Trail Summit

2011-08-20T16:56:00.001-06:00

Bird ID?

2011-08-07T11:47:00.000-06:00

Does anyone know what kind of bird this is? It stays high in tree tops and has a piercing high-pitched two-note call. It looks reminiscent of a mini- bald eagle when flying because its head is lighter than its body and the way it flaps its wings, but it is more gray than brown. It seems to have a tiny bit of yellow on its belly and kind of a mask around the eyes. It is about the size of a mourning or collared dove but very different shape. It is a hooked beak like a parrot's. I've been hearing its call all summer in the early morning and various other times and seen a few fly high up as well, but hadn't seen the bird while calling to associate it with the call until today and to get a decent look at it as well.

Crags

2011-08-05T21:33:00.000-06:00

Paul Intemann Trail Area

2011-07-29T15:08:00.000-06:00

Shahr Ramadan blog starting again

2011-07-24T20:45:00.002-06:00

Starting up the month of Ramadan blog again. If you wish to join, go here.

Reading Harry Potter

2011-07-24T19:42:00.004-06:00

Since the last Harry Potter movie just came out a week or so ago, and it was good, by the way, I felt inspired to re-read all the Harry Potter books. It took me about a week to do but was worth it, I think. The first three books seem to me to be written differently than the last four, as if for a younger audience. I think the writing in books 4-6 are the best. The last book just ties up most loose ends but is not particularly exciting. There are some strong themes throughout the series. One is the desire that every person has to some extent to be special, but that there are always consequences. Harry Potter is special due to something he had no control over and must deal with people's judgments and reactions to his fame, and he must also deal with it within himself. Ron Weasley must deal with being overshadowed by his siblings and best friend. Hermione Granger is the class genius, Luna Lovegood is the "odd" one, Neville thinks he's a near-squib, etc. Related to this is the theme of love - the need for and the power of love. Another theme is what we inherit from parents - bad blood, relationships, knowledge, things, judgments, stories, pride, fears, etc. This theme plays out for adults as well as kids - Hagrid, Sirius Black, and many others included. Draco has one of the toughest challenges in what he inherits from his parents - a role as a 'racist' Death-Eater. One of the primary themes is of course death - choosing death, courage in death, meaning in death, sacrifice in death, etc. The Deathly Hallows, the horcruxes - they're all about seeking eternal life but one of the major themes of this series shows the fallacy in that and how anyone - even Professor Dumbledore - can be misguided by the desire for eternal life. Along with this is the theme of power and corruption - this comes up not only with You-Know-Who but also with the Ministry and Hogwarts. At times the series is very dark/heavy - probably most so in book 5. It was really hard in that book to deal with the lies and rumors. It is very painful to have people doubt you when you know you're telling the truth, it is painful to have people believe things that aren't true. Yet, this theme, which carries on into later books, is an important lesson about how we digest and interpret media, how we judge others on rumors and first appearances, etc. - this idea carries on to the ever-present question of Professor Snape's loyalties, the Malfoys, Luna, Neville, Percy, and others. It is present in earlier books, in fact, from the very start, with Potter's family's treatment of him.

I didn't see Harry Potter as being as much the hero as I did the first time through. His flaws were more noticeable, but entirely realistic. Neville and Luna really shined on second reading as favorite characters for me. I think Neville was "The Chosen One" with Harry Potter, but never fully recognized. The prophecy could apply to him, and he did kill Nagini, the last horcrux. Major theme number xxxx: HP could never have done it all alone. Did the book say what Luna ended up doing 19 years later or did I miss that part? Now I want to re-read LOTR for the umpteenth time....

Mt. Esther

2011-07-22T16:53:00.000-06:00

Dark Knight Rising

2011-07-15T22:24:00.002-06:00

This is just too funny.

Goodbye Frankie Sue

2011-07-14T19:58:00.001-06:00

My cousin Frankie Sue Wichman Bower passed away today at age 44. On Monday night she had a sudden massive stroke in her brain stem that it was not possible to recover from.
I had just seen her on July 4th at the annual family picnic at her mom's. She is loved and missed.

We don't know that it would have made a difference in this case, but in her memory please get a health check-up if you haven't had one in the past year. Undiagnosed high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc., could take your life in an instant at a young age and leave loved ones behind reeling in the wake.

Pike's Cave Attempt - Quarry on Mt. Rosa

2011-07-13T18:07:00.000-06:00

Garden of Gods view, St. Mary's Falls

2011-07-11T14:31:00.000-06:00

Catamount Trail from Green Mountain Falls

2011-07-05T15:19:00.002-06:00

Red Rock Open Space

2011-06-28T12:29:00.000-06:00

Circumcision

2011-06-27T16:59:00.002-06:00

On July 1st, 17 U.S. states will drop Medicaid coverage of circumcision as part of budget-cutting measures. However, other forms of insurance may still cover the procedure, or families may opt to pay out-of-pocket to cover the expenses. Dropping circumcision coverage comes at a time when movements against the procedure are gaining steam.

A bill banning routine circumcision was introduced in Massachusetts last year, and some other states have similar bills in the works. Circumcision bans have been proposed in municipalities such as Santa Monica and San Francisco. In the November elections, these cities may make circumcision a crime.

Historically, the United States is one of the most circumcision-friendly nations in the world. According to the World Health Organization, circumcision is the most commonly performed medical procedure on American children. It estimates that 75% of men in the United States are circumcised, while only 30% of Canadian men and 6% of UK males are circumcised. Many Americans pursue circumcision as a matter of social custom and/or religious belief. There is a general cultural perception that uncircumcised boys and men face ridicule from peers and mates, and that being uncircumcised is less hygienic.

On the other hand, opponents to circumcision claim that it is a procedure with no real medical justification and that infants are not able to give informed consent for the procedure. At the least, they would have males wait until the age of consent. However, some doctors point out that adult circumcision is a more complicated, expensive, and trying process. Some studies have shown that circumcision slightly reduces incidence of urinary tract infections in infant boys, and that it slightly decreases HIV and other STD transmission in sub-Saharan Africa, but as with any medical procedure, complications such as bleeding and infection from circumcision can occur. The most extreme anti-circumcision activists tend to equate male circumcision with female genital mutilation (FGM), which is commonly illegal and culturally held as a heinous and repugnant practice.

The Jewish Anti-Defamation League (ADL) considers legislative efforts to ban circumcision a violation of free exercise of religion and considers the efforts to be a form of anti-Semitism. In Jewish tradition, the reasons for circumcision are stated in the Torah and relate to a covenant between Abraham and God. In Genesis 17:1-14 the covenant is mentioned, and Abraham is commanded to "circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, as a sign of the covenant between Me and you. At the age of eight days, you shall circumcise every male child born to you throughout the generations."

Circumcision is not mentioned in the Qur'an, but is mentioned in hadith, although rather sparsely. Some hadith indicate that all prophets were born circumcised. One tradition on circumcision mentioned in Shia sources is from Imam Ja'far Sadiq (as), with a nearly identical tradition related from the Prophet (saw): “Do the circumcision of your child on the seventh day of his birth. This is best for him. It is also beneficial for his proper growth and upbringing. Certainly, the earth abhors the urine of the person who has not been circumcised".(Wasail al-shiah, v15, p. 171) Another tradition, from Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (a.s.) has said: "I asked Abu Ja'far (a.s) about a bondwoman that was captured from the land of polytheism and there was no woman to circumcise her. The Imam said: "The Sunna recommended the circumcision of men and not of women." (quoted from fatwa of Sayyid Fadlullah) As for female circumcision, other hadith are more ambiguous or even apparently recommending it, but scholars have spoken out against female genital mutilation, referring to a saying attributed to the Prophet (saw) that if female circumcision is practiced, it is necessary not to wear out and do not mutilate. The general stance toward female circumcision is that if it does not cause harm and is not required by Shariah, then it is a matter of personal choice, but if it causes harm then it is prohibited. This general guideline applies to male circumcision also, but it is more commonly considered that male circumcision is required by Shariah, or at least strongly recommended.

Practices vary as to the age at which circumcision is usually performed and whether it is considered required. Among the four Sunni schools of thought, Shafis consider it wajib, Hanafis consider it mustahab, and Malikis and Hanbalis consider it ja'iz (allowed, but not recommended for or against). The reason for male circumcision in Muslim tradition is generally considered to be honoring of the covenant between Abraham and God and is thus related with the hajj rites. Many Muslim scholars consider circumcision a prerequisite for performance of hajj by an adult discerning male.

The matter of declining insurance coverage of circumcision likely cannot be construed as stemming from the anti-circumcision movement, but it may reflect a gradual change in cultural sentiment around circumcision in the United States that can be bolstered by declining budgets and vocal anti-circumcision activism. If bans of circumcision gain ground, Muslims may join Jews in concern over religious freedom and may question if motivations lie in anti-Muslim sentiment, just as the ADL is now crying anti-Semitism. At this time, anti-circumcision movements are generally motivated on opinion of cruelty to perform a painful and perhaps medically unnecessary procedure on a child who cannot consent, with anti-religion themes as prominent side-issues. However, people must constantly be alert to threats and erosions of freedoms regardless of their origins, and must educate themselves on the issues and make themselves prepared to self-advocate, because freedom has a way of disappearing when left untended.

Pictures from Fountain Creek

2011-06-27T16:57:00.000-06:00

Shining Sun

2011-06-16T20:23:00.000-06:00

Shining Sun was written by Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Husayni Tihrani, a close friend of 'Allamah Tabataba'i, as a tribute to the latter shortly after his passing in 1981. It has been translated to English by Tawus Raja and is now available for purchase from ICAS press.

Sayyid Tabataba'i is probably best known today for his exegesis of Qur'an called Al-Mizan (The Scale), which is notable for its methodology of using the Qur'an to explain itself. The tafsir and its methodology have both become standards for scholarship in the field.

The tribute consists of two main parts; a brief memorial of Tabataba'i followed by transcriptions of several discussions the author and/or other students of the 'Allamah had on religious topics in the fields of history, philosophy, mysticism, theology and Qur'an. As is standard for books published by ICAS, the work is graced with copious footnotes, glossary of transliterated terms, indices of Qur'anic verses, hadith, and poetry for comparison or reference between the English translation and original forms, and a general index.

If a reader approaches this book expecting a biography or a religious textbook, he may be surprised to find neither. The memorial section does contain biographical information that provide glimpses into certain aspects of Allamah Tabataba'i's life, but is in no way comprehensive enough to be considered a true biography. A reader with little or no prior knowledge of the scholar will not be able to develop a very clear picture of him as a religious scholar or as a man, but will be able to appreciate the love and high esteem afforded him by many people such as the author, and will also be able to have a basic appreciation for his importance and achievements in Shia religious scholarship. Similarly, the larger discussion section of the book may contain some religious information that educates the reader, but that would be incidental to the apparent larger purpose of elucidating methods and content of religious reasoning and discussion employed by 'Allamah Tabataba'i and his students.

These discussion transcripts cover a range of topics such as explanation of particular verses in Qur'an, logical analysis of the concept of tawhid and its ramifications on what happens to the perfected soul when it reaches a stage of annihilation or return to God, explanation of the meaning of ruh in Qur'an and the role of angels, method of delivery of Qur'an, history of Qur'an compilation, numerology, experiences of barzakh depending on spiritual status of the individual, tayy-al-ard (claimed ability of highly-advanced mystics, jinn, and others to instantaneously transport themselves to other locations), issues related to Torah and Gospel and other prophets, and more.

Many of the issues or questions discussed are the type of questions that almost everyone has at some point in his life, often beginning in childhood. For example, most people have worried or pondered about what happens to their souls after death. Do the souls continue to exist permanently? Or, at some point, is all creation annihilated and no identities remain except the one true identity, God? Was the Qur'an revealed to the Prophet (saw) through Gabriel only, or was it sometimes revealed directly to him, and if it wasn't always revealed the same way, why was that so? Who compiled the Qur'an, and when, and is it the same as what was originally revealed? Why are there minor differences in recitations, such as "Owner (Malik) of the Day of Judgment" vs. "King (Maalik) of the Day of Judgment"?

If a reader is hoping to use Shining Sun as a reference to answer these essential questions, it might not be satisfying for that purpose. The discussions do not really take place in a question/answer format. Rather, in many cases a philosophical or logical debate amongst the 'Allamah and the students takes place. The general aim in many of these discussions seems to be to use logical reasoning, grammar, and accepted reference in Qur'an, hadith, poetry, etc., to "prove" a posited answer. For example, a student may claim and provide evidence using logical reasoning as developed in the field of philosophy that all of us will at some point cease to exist and there will only remain God. Others may find logical inconsistencies in the reasoning and then try to solve those inconsistencies. The group becomes satisfied with a solution if it answers the question and has no logical inconsistencies or errors. But some of the discussions expire without any solidly arrived-at conclusion or summary of results. It is illuminating to see that students freely disagreed with the teacher or each other in some cases and yet the reputations of participants and decorum in the discussions remained impeccable, as the focus was clearly on Truth-seeking rather than egoistic tendencies.

However, a reader may be dissatisfied in following such a discussion seeking the ultimate answer, because the end result may not be an indisputable conclusion. Rather, it is more likely that a reader may come to appreciate or understand the process that was taking place as an act of scholarship and reasoning, but may not always be personally convinced that every solution or answer mentioned by 'Allamah Tabataba'i or his students is definitely correct. In fact, some readers may be a little disturbed by a few of the issues raised and the uncertainties or implications arising in their discussion. This disequilibrium may precede a reader's personal resolution of the issue, or the issue might remain personally uncomfortable and unresolved.

Shining Sun is an important text as a memorial of a master of Islamic philosophy and spirituality. It provides a unique window into processes of reasoning and discussion applied to religious topics that must be preserved and developed in the current and future generations for the sake of all mankind. While logic and reason are held separate from religion in some schools of thought, they are essential in the Shia faith. While the lay person may not need to engage in such exercises on a regular basis, every person needs to learn how to think and reason and how to apply these processes to all matters, including religion, so as not to be misguided or oppressed. If Shining Sun is read with this in mind, a general audience has much to gain from the experience.

Easy Bag

2011-05-15T16:32:00.000-06:00

I haven't sewn anything in quite awhile. I decided to make something very quick and easy. I had a panel fabric with birds on it that I turned into a bag using these directions: Twenty-Minute-Bag. I modified the directions slightly. The dimensions of my bag are different because I cut the panel so that each of the four main birds would be featured. The only other thing I did differently is I didn't cut the corners at angle; instead, I sewed across the corners to provide bag depth. See instructions for making bags out of t-shirts in my blog for more information on that. And, I didn't want inside-out fabric inside the bag, so I used two of the birds as lining inside of the bag. Also, I was running low on thread and getting lazy, so I didn't zig-zag stitch around the bag at the end - only straight-stitch. It could probably use a snap in the middle but I've never done that and don't have the equipment and I'm too lazy to do a button. Velcro or zipper could probably be done, too. But it is fine as is, too. I'm really slow and not particularly good at sewing, so from cutting to sewing this took longer than 20-minutes but the actual sewing was probably right on about 20 minutes with me sewing on the slowest setting.

New Mexico Volcanoes and Ruins trip, Corral Bluffs Hike

2011-05-07T21:38:00.000-06:00

Photos from a hike today and a trip last weekend. (Click links to see more photos).

Juniper in Corral Bluffs

Near Ludlow, CO

Green Deen - review

2011-04-28T20:03:00.001-06:00

In Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet, Ibrahim Abdul -Matin attempts to show how an environmentalist/conservationist belief system and lifestyle are “deeply imbedded in the Muslim tradition from a variety of perspectives.” Abdul-Matin is an American-born Muslim who attended Hamza Yusuf’s new Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California before returning to his native New York to further his education and pursue work in line with his family tradition as a community activist or policy advisor. His thesis is that six Islamic ethical principles or ideas form a framework of an environmentalist ethos. The six principles he addresses are tawhid, which he describes as the Oneness of God and which he often expounds in a sense of the interconnectedness of all subjects of Creation, ayat, or the idea of signs of God being everywhere including in humanity and nature, khalifah, which he views as the idea of humans as stewards of the Earth, amana, described as a divine trust for humanity to protect the planet, adl, interpreted in context as a call toward just use of resources and treatment of Creation, and mizan, explained as living in balance with the whole of Creation.

After a nice forward by Muslim Congressman Keith Ellison, Abdul-Matin divides his discussion into four main parts: waste, energy, water and food. For each, he briefly outlines the environmental issues and tries to show how American Muslims are working to solve these issues by highlighting certain individuals as examples. He also sometimes refers to hadith or Qur’anic verses or in some other way tries to connect one or more of the six principles (tawhid, ayat, amana, adl, khalifah, and mizan) to solutions.

As far as the quality of this item for someone interested in following a "Green Deen", a way of life that emphasizes responsible use of resources as part of and in line with Islamic teachings, his advice and outlines are mostly rather pedestrian. The historic and scientific background information in this book tends to be drastically oversimplified. The author fails to address any scientific debate over some claims made, and he makes sweeping gestures around history, at one point seemingly suggesting that there has been one smooth arc of progress from humanity as environmental devils toward fulfillment of the Islamic ideal of humans as proper stewards of the world’s resources. However, as an overview or introduction, these aspects are adequate.

The writer finally seems to catch his stride about 1/3 of the way into the book. He presents many solid, standard ideas for topics such as making a “Green Mosque” through energy audits, weatherizing, adding off-grid energy sources, avoiding use of disposable dishes and bottled water, incorporating ride-sharing plans, composting food waste, using low energy appliances, getting LEED certification on new construction, growing a community garden, and so on. He also does a fair job of describing a relationship between the modern political landscape and the unjust appropriation of natural resources by some governments and makes an impassioned argument against bottled water. He further succeeds at demonstrating through example that many American Muslims are working on environmental issues in a variety of contexts, although the book would’ve been well-served to have had even more such examples.

Abdul-Matin admits in his introduction to a few limitations that do affect the overall quality of the work. His attempts to tie his chosen six Islamic principles to his overall discussion are often weak. The connections are there, but insufficiently supported in the writing. He becomes extremely repetitive, beginning sections with nearly identical wording and retelling some facts and stories multiple times. The questions he ends chapters with often leave them feeling unfinished rather than bringing them to a satisfying conclusion. He excessively uses the phrase “Green Deen” as if it were a religion or mantra of its own, separate from Islam, in contradiction to his correct contention that Islam and a conversationist stance are already perfectly aligned. And, he presents some content that involves fiqh in ways that may be incorrect for some schools of thought. For example, while making a strong case for organic and free range zabiha meat, he nonetheless claims that eating meat slaughtered by People of the Book is religiously acceptable – a claim that is certainly not a unanimously held position.

As a whole, this work lacks in sophistication or nuance, but succeeds in filling a necessary niche in the available literature. A reader will find some content of worth in this effort, although may not be satisfied by the book as a whole. A youth group interested in leading its community toward more environmentally sound practices may find some inspiration and ideas in its pages and may benefit from the effort to employ an Islamic foundation, but will not find a clear, practical guide on how to accomplish its goals; the author leaves it to the reader to figure out how to put the ideals, ideas and examples into action in one's own particular context.

Sufi Comics - review

2011-03-28T17:00:00.003-06:00

40 Sufi Comics by Mohammed Ali Vakil and Mohammed Arif Vakil is an amazing collection of forty one-page comic strips that illustrate key spiritual teachings in fields such as ethics, prayer, existence of heaven and hell, and existence of God. On the facing page of each comic are relevant excerpts from the Qur’an and traditions of Ahlul-bayt (as). Some facing pages also include artist’s notes which serve to relay a personal application or further explanation of the lesson in the comic.

One of the great beauties of this work is its suitability for all audiences and ages. An 8-year-old child, a 55-year-old adult, or an open-minded non-Muslim – indeed almost anyone – will enjoy and benefit from this material. Some of the comics do have a bit of humor in them, but really they are perhaps better described as illustrated anecdotes, each revealing a principle or idea that one can live one’s life by. For example, one comic shows Imam Baqir (as) being insulted by someone using a play of words on his name, calling him Baqara (cow), followed by the calm and polite response of the Imam (as), which brings about a change of heart in the insulter. One of the Qur’anic verses accompanying it is 25:63 - “And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace…,” and an artist’s note explains how he thinks of this anecdote whenever someone is rude to him. In no more than 5 minutes’ reading, a life lesson on how to deal with rude people is well taught in an insightful, succinct and entertaining way.

The graphic format of 40 Sufi Comics encourages reflection and application. People who do not like to read, people who are very busy, or people who prefer to get straight to the point or take things in small chunks can all easily digest a short comic and a few short related verses and traditions and then put the book down for another day. The lessons in each anecdote are simple enough for a small child but deep enough for a learned and pious religious scholar to both be able to transform their selves in application. The format and nature of the content also makes it a prime candidate for regular re-reading because there is always something more to learn or improvement to be made in its application, and the comics are so brief and clever that they will not become mundane or boring when seen multiple times.

There is a potential for this to be used in a madressa or study-circle type format. It would certainly be more novel , engaging and have broader appeal than many other choices, while being no less in content or quality, and further could be used for almost any age group that is able to read or be read to. One of the shortest comics at only three panels relays a saying of Imam Ali (as) about man being food for worms. Some worms are at a grave and are saying “Yum!” The Qur’anic verse and two traditions that go with it simply remind us of death and the importance of remembering that it comes to all of us. A topic that could be frightening or heavy-handed is well served by brevity and honesty. There is no sugar-coating and yet the lesson is accessible to youth.

40 Sufi Comics can be read or previewed online (as well as a few comics published at Islamic Insights)and can be followed on Facebook . The book is a delight and highly worth having in hard copy where its formatting can really be appreciated. It would also serve as an excellent gift for young and old. It can be purchased currently for only $6 on Amazon where it is listed as "Volume 1". Let us hope there are many more volumes to come!

Believing Woman

2011-03-22T05:02:00.006-06:00

Who is a believing woman that she should be yours?

What women are not existing merely for the comforts and elevation of others,
their humanity an inconvenience
but women with trust placed in God,
whose souls resist subjugation and dependence on people
and who know God is the only one on whom they can rely?

Women who give themselves freely
to the one who will not hurt them
- neither through ignorance or arrogance -
but rather one who is merciful
and honors their complex femininity
and does not cheapen it, sell it, abuse it, confuse it, or deride it.

Is a believing woman out of sight, out of mind, out of heart?
In the dark night she rises for communion with one whose heart can hold her
one who she can accept as guardian and leader without fear of error
for what greater misfortune befalls a believing woman but to be held
by a weak man or a prideful one or an angry one or a misguided one
or one who is farther from God than she is?

What man's heart can be entrusted with hers so that she is uplifted by it toward her Creator?

What sacrifice should a believing woman make?
Surely not the freedom of her soul to be real and complete
in order to disappear into the whims of a man's desires and conceits?
Is she a worldly comfort for the other gender or is she a fully-realized being
whose comforts are blessings not constrained by constructs of others nor
ever claimed to be possessed and traded by them as commodities
or leverage against her soul?

A believing woman is selling nothing and must fight being sold.
She struggles for education and enlightenment -
rather she is told her salvation is in servitude,
and some would have her serve them rather than God
and tell her that only by this indirect means can she draw near
to the one she seeks.

For she alone is not worthy or capable of approaching Him of herself
and she has no real value or piety unless she gives herself to one of them.
But what greater misfortune befalls a believing woman than to be held
by a weak man or a prideful one or an angry one or a misguided one
or one who is farther from God than she is?

Warsan Shire - for women who are 'difficult' to love.

2011-03-22T03:51:00.001-06:00

I like this poem especially for the line I put in bold....

you are a horse running alone
and he tries to tame you
compares you to an impossible highway
to a burning house
says you are blinding him
that he could never leave you
forget you
want anything but you
you dizzy him, you are unbearable
every woman before or after you
is doused in your name
you fill his mouth
his teeth ache with memory of taste
his body just a long shadow seeking yours
but you are always too intense
frightening in the way you want him
unashamed and sacrificial
he tells you that no man can live up to the one who
lives in your head
and you tried to change didn't you?
closed your mouth more
tried to be softer
prettier
less volatile, less awake
but even when sleeping you could feel
him travelling away from you in his dreams
so what did you want to do love
split his head open?
you can't make homes out of human beings
someone should have already told you that
and if he wants to leave
then let him leave
you are terrifying
and strange and beautiful
something not everyone knows how to love.
Posted by Warsan Shire

Love in a Headscarf (Review)

2011-03-15T13:44:00.003-06:00

Love in a Headscarf is a memoir written by award-winning UK Muslim blogger Shelina Zahra Janmohamed, light-heartedly depicting her decade-long spouse hunt. Her fantasy as a 13-year-old of marrying John Travolta (after he converts to Islam, of course) and of finding Prince Charming is juxtaposed with the difficult realities of modern young Muslims in the West trying to get married. All the lectures from the imam at the masjid about marriage notwithstanding, she reports that her community finds itself in a situation of large numbers of Muslim girls being unable to find spouses, with too many of the boys marrying “back home”, seeking marriage primarily for residency purposes, being uninterested in marriage, or being wholly unprepared to be husbands. The match-making Aunties fret over the possibly too-high education levels and aspirations of the girls while the girls fret over the contrast between the Islamic teachings on love and marriage and the cultural realities.

Her tales of potential matches gone wrong are humorous, candid, and disconcerting. From the brother who announces up front he will not consider marrying her because she is only 5’3” but wants to meet her for dinner anyway, to the one who agrees to meet her at 5 p.m. for introductions over coffee, only to show up at 7 because he was busy watching a soccer match on T.V., and who then proceeds to pocket her change from the Dutch-treat evening along with his, to the one who admits that he is only meeting her and her family because his mother insisted it was time for him to get married although he has no interest, Sister Shelina is left to wonder where the “good men” are and why aren’t they interested in her and her friends. Over time, she and her friends begin to contemplate the possibility of never getting married, a fate met with sad clucks, admonitions, and shakes of the head at the masjid.

She goes through a mild rebellion by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, traveling to Egypt with her girlfriends, and buying a fancy car – the kind of car boys, not “good girls”, get - all the while trying to balance her independence against the possibility of ruining her reputation with the match-making Aunties. Initially her searches are entirely traditional, but she gradually expands her methods to include online matchmaking sites and even disastrous Muslim “speed dating” events in London. Eventually, she does meet “Mr. Right” at an Islamic conference, but it appears only perseverance and good fortune or blessings from God, rather than any solution to the marriage problem of the Muslim community, gets the credit.

Love in a Headscarf is a fast, easy, almost frivolous read and would primarily appeal to young women. Janmohamed supposes a non-Muslim audience and addresses it with occasional, generally engaging monologues on why she wears hijab or about her post 9/11 experiences that do not quite fit seamlessly into her theme, but may nevertheless serve to educate. Her delineation of Islam vs. culture is perhaps not always clear enough for that non-Muslim or different cultural-background audience, particularly early in the story, and might create some confusion or monolithic interpretation of Islam and marriage that is not fully warranted. Some, like myself, may be a little uneasy with her implicit depiction of the marriage problem as primarily a male one, but perhaps others will claim she hits the nail on the head. If the Muslim women have some contribution to the problem, she seems unable to get a good grasp on it, aside from blaming general cultural matters. She does not come across as a male-bashing feminist, but all the failed matches in her tales have either fate or men to account for them, with the women merely victims- a fact which becomes wearisome and may even invoke pity or concern for the long list of potential matches whose private conversations with her during the matching process end up aired publicly in this book. Perhaps the men were made anonymous through name and/or detail changes or were fictionalized, but if so, this was not announced, and members of the community the author is part of could likely easily still determine who is being talked about. Although the stories are nothing out of the ordinary, the unflattering depiction of some men left me to wonder if they had been backbitten, which, if true, would be cause enough to avoid recommending this book.

Although this memoir contains humor and seems to be light-hearted, it is not uplifting. To the contrary, for those single Muslim men and women who are enduring the struggle to find mates or are preparing to embark on that journey, it is not helpful and is even rather despairing at times, although that was clearly not intended by the author. The unwounded in the modern Muslim marriage plight may miss that negative tenor, but the potential emotional drag for those with real-life experience in this arena may be enough to recommend passing over this book. Those with plenty of optimism and with time on their side may yet be able to thoroughly enjoy this energetic, youthful true tale.

Meme Award

2011-03-07T19:52:00.002-07:00

Dear Sr. Roshni at http://deadlylightshade.blogspot.com/ tagged me for this.

1) when did you start your blog?

This blog is now 7 years old.

2) What do you write about?

Well, the tags can give you an idea. Mainly Islam, science/nature, education type stuff.

3) What makes your blog special?

Well, it's pretty old now. I once got "recognized" for having one of the longest continually-existing Shia-owned blogs, even though it is not strictly on that topic. In fact, there a lot of things I purposely avoid writing - I would say my deepest or most heart-felt thoughts and feelings rarely make it to any public forum. The blog evolves over time according to my life and interests. Right now it is not posted to that often, really. For example, a lot of the news/article stuff I used to post is easier to post on FB and so is now there.

4) What made you want to start writing a blog!

I don't know. I actually didn't want to for some time, because it seemed so conceited in a way to put your writing out there as if you had something worthwhile to say. But a friend of mine was doing it and on a whim I gave it a try and found it to serve some purpose for me from time to time, such as interacting or connecting with others, creating some kind of archive or record of certain aspects of life or certain thoughts and events, etc.

5) What would you like to change in your blog?
Maybe it would be better if I utilized it more instead of having other blogs for specific topics, but I do think those other specific-topic blogs serve their purposes just fine, and I guess I don't really care how little or much I post - whatever it is, it is.

Passing on the award to:

Carol for Peace (http://apeacecarol.blogspot.com)
Safiyyah (http://www.shaalom2salaam.com/)
Peppermint Prose (http://peppermintprose.livejournal.com/)
Oasis of Truths (http://oasis0ftruths.blogspot.com/)
Umm Ibrahim (http://muhajabat.wordpress.com/)

If you care to, "pick up" your
award, answer the questions and don't forget to share the love, and
pass it on!

Shi'ism in America - Liyakat Takim

2011-02-22T16:46:00.005-07:00

I recently read Dr. Liyakat Takim’s Shi’ism in America, intending to write a review for an online Islamic magazine that I write for on a fairly regularly basis. However, the magazine editor, at the advice of a scholar, declined a review, due to the apparently contentious viewpoints that come across in the fourth chapter, Shi’i Leadership and America. I felt motivated to write something anyway, because the book represents a unique and necessary study that I find to be both interesting and informative. To be up front, I’ll say that I have met the author in person on several occasions. I find him to be an excellent lecturer with highly engaging, well-informed, and relevant topics, and I wish I had taken more advantage of the opportunity to learn from him while he lived within 100 miles of me. Dr. Takim is a religious studies scholar that has served in several universities, as well as a Shi’i community leader and scholar. What follows is largely summary but includes some personal reaction.

In the introduction, Takim provides a brief overview of Shi’i history and rationale for the study. I particularly found interesting the few paragraphs on history of the authority of Shi’i scholars. These tie-in with his fourth chapter which many conservative Shi’is judge overly critical of the current jurisprudential system and scholars. However, the introduction is entirely factual. The portion I am noting here briefly suggests the development of the authority of ‘ulama (scholars) over time. It describes the origins, “crystallization”, and some of the evolution of the concept of marji’ al-taqlid (imitation of a jurist deemed to be the most learned), including the invalidation of a believer’s actions who fails to follow a marji as a 19th/20th century development, and the use of the controversial concept of wilaya al-faqih (overarching authority of a jurist) for the establishment of a theocratic state in post-revolutionary Iran.

Chapter 1 attempts to outline a history of Shi’is in America. The earliest significant Shi’i communities were primarily working-class, Syrian and Lebanese in origin, arriving in the latter 19th and early 20th centuries and settling primarily in the Northeastern United States. Many members of these communities assimilated into the predominant culture to a greater extent than some of the later waves of immigrants. Changes in immigration law altered the make-up of the Shi’i immigrants toward the more highly-educated and religiously conservative, with some notable exceptions, by the end of the 20th century. Political and historical factors such as military drafting in the Ottoman Empire, the Iranian revolution, the reign of Idi Amin in Uganda, and the Gulf War influenced the number and origins of Shi’i immigrants at different times. In this chapter, the author touches on the Sufi movements in America and how some of them are related to Shi’ism. He gives particular attention to accounts involving interviews of members and descendants of the earliest Shi’i American communities, as well as an interlude on the origins of the Khoja Shi’is. Dr. Takim reasonably proposes that the number and diversity of Shi’i Muslims in America may be underestimated and largely ignored in the political and scholarly spheres of influence in America. This chapter and the next provided a relevant grounding that American Shi’is could benefit from by gaining a greater understanding and appreciation of diversity and development.

The second chapter continues the examination of Shi’i communities in the United States, focusing on ethnic diversity and the pattern of ethnicity-based religious centers. The reader learns why this phenomenon is more pronounced in the Shi’i communities than the Sunni communities in America. The consequences of the ethnic structure in many of the communities, such as those related to differences in certain rituals, dress, food, weddings and language are explored. This chapter includes some brief but fascinating descriptions of marriages customs in different ethnic groups, and also a discussion of variations in and importance of Muharram observances (related to the murder of Imam Husayn (as), grandson of the Prophet (saw)). Replicas or symbols used in Muharram observances in one community or the portraits of holy personages used in another community might be seen as borderline polytheistic representations by a different ethnic group. The pattern of lectures, or majlis, during Muharram also varies, with South Asian Shi’is have certain dates dedicated to certain historical figures and other cultural groups using different styles and patterns. The complexity of Shi’i American identity is first brought to point in this chapter. A Shi’i American is a minority within a minority often several layers deep. Shi’is are minorities in the Muslim faith, and Muslims are minorities in America. Certain ethnicities are minorities within the Shi’i communities, and so on. This minority role can feature importantly in the development of individual and community identity for American Shi’is, and coincides with the minority perspective that has been inherent in Shi’ism throughout most of its history. The ethnic nature of many Shi’i centers has often been an alienating factor for youth, who identify less with their cultural homelands than the immigrant generations. Youth are more likely to prefer and pursue de-ethnicitized ways to express and practice the faith. English-language programs, summer camps, and Internet forums that are multi-ethnic are some examples of this, that if absent or inadequate can lead to erosion of Shi’i identity.

As a personal reaction to this chapter, even though I may not technically fit the profile of a second-generation Shi’i youth, I related to their experiences as a revert (convert) of Western origin. The cultural representations and traditions in Shi’i centers are fine as such, but they do not always speak to or resonate with me and have at times accentuated my sense of being outside the community. Further, the conflicts that have at times arisen when different ethnic/cultural groups did not agree on various matters have prevented the community from achieving its full potential. No matter how much time I may spend in or with a community, it never becomes my community psychologically, and I always remain a guest at best. With some physical distance between me and the nearest center and a naturally somewhat introverted nature, the personal benefit of attendance at programs is often not compelling enough to get me to make the commute. Certainly there is merit in engaging with the community in person rather than just on-line, and many opportunities to learn and be of service, etc., that I miss out on by not making myself be more engaged with the nearest center. However, at some level, this chapter validated my personal experience, not in the sense of giving me an excuse, but in allowing me to feel that some of the ways in which I do choose to participate in the Shi’i community are acceptable and relevant and are also chosen by others.

Chapter three of Shi’ism in America addresses sectarian differences. Dr. Takim provides some evidence that until the 1970’s, Sunnis and Shi’is generally worked together in America with a Sunni lead due to majority. Then the revolution in Iran threatened the power and control of some Sunni governments, such as the House of Saud, and strengthened the presence of Shi’ism around the world. Many Muslims were inspired by the revolution and experienced a sense of rebirth. The rising of Shi’ism increased conflict between Sunnis and Shi’is in America and elsewhere, particularly through a Saudi-sponsored spread of a Salafi/Wahabi puritanical interpretation of Islam that is highly disparaging of Shi’ism. Shi’i organizations are late in forming and so far less impactful than Sunni organizations that have benefited from foreign state-sponsorship and a longer history of development in America, as well as majority status. Organizations that have pretended to represent all American Muslims such as CAIR, ISNA, ICNA, and MSA have in fact often excluded, ostracized, and misrepresented Shi’is. Shi’i Muslims in correctional facilities have faced enormous struggles obtaining rights granted to Sunni Muslims and have faced serious threats from Sunni inmates. Shi’is have faced the burden of terrorism committed by the Salafi Al-Qaeda and similar groups, while themselves being predominantly innocent of it, and also being the greatest victims of the same groups, a fact which goes largely unrecognized by an American majority that does not understand the heterogeneity of Muslims.

The next chapter apparently has rankled some people in the Shi’i community. It provides a fair explanation of the general workings of the system of marji’ al-taqlid and elucidates some of its extreme advantages over Sunni jurisprudence, including the superior ability to handle modern situations, and a general independence of religious jurisprudence from the political leadership. The controversy arises in what amounts to an expression of opinion about the responsiveness and understanding of the marji’ and the current hierarchical system of taqlid to matters of Western context. Although it is couched in the context of survey responses, the presentation is unbalanced toward what some might call a reformist position, leading to a claim that it is disrespectful of maraji’ and exaggerating the size and importance of a Western Shi’i community as well as the need for reform. Personally, I find that interpretation of this work to be overly sensitive and dramatic, as well as antithetical to productive dialogue. I think there needs to be an avenue through which possibility of reform can be entertained, and that squelching of “unorthodox” viewpoints tends to seem heavy-handed and alienating. On the other hand, if one supposes that the unorthodox opinion is incorrect and is a potential source of confusion and misguidance to a population that does not possess the base knowledge to weigh the matters properly, then one might conclude the existence of a responsibility to minimize the confusion or misguidance. I do not feel qualified to advocate a position, but it is certainly possible for me to envision a system of jurisprudence that might still meet all required religious constraints, whatever those might be, and yet would be more beneficial and accessible to me personally than what currently exists. Therefore, I did not find offense in this chapter as some others have. However, given the multifarious audience of this book that extends well beyond the Shi’i community itself, I can appreciate that the airing of intracommunity issues raised in this chapter and others can feel to some like the public airing of dirty laundry and thus potentially damaging, instead of the informative and constructive nature that is presumably intended.

The fifth and final chapter addresses Shi’i outreach in America. American Shi’i communities are often developing and insular in nature, and therefore outreach activities are mostly in their infancy or not considered high priority. Modern political and social context has, however, spurred some growth in this area. There is evidence that American Shi’is are becoming more civic-minded, taking greater roles in community service and leadership by organizing blood drives, running food banks, advocating for voter registration, and so on. Of particular note in this chapter is an examination of the African American Shi’i experience as juxtaposed with those of immigrants and African American Sunnis, and the general weakness, so far, of Shi’i communities in reaching out to and including native Muslims, Muslims of other ethnicities than their own communities, and non-Muslims.

In his conclusion, the author basically calls for the continued development of the American Shi’i identity in positive directions, with the results of his study as a valuable picture of where-we’ve-come-from and where-we-are-now. Interestingly, even though this book is recently published, the quickly changing human landscape of America and the world begs the question of how this snapshot is already becoming dated. As I read it, it was highly relevant and timely, yet I could already begin to see how certain current events would have potentially added to or changed some of what appears in this work. Also, I wish the footnotes had been included in context rather than in an appendix, because although most are citations, a few of them provide additional detail important enough that failure to read the note could be problematic. I personally found this book to be of great benefit as well as highly engaging, albeit slightly repetitive at times as it made similar inferences from a limited data set. It is unique and does indeed fill a true gap in the literature of its genre and thus comes highly recommended by this reader.

Conscious

2011-02-11T16:12:00.002-07:00

O Humankind!
Worship your Sustainer, who has created you
and those who lived before you,
so that you might remain conscious of the One
who has made the earth a resting-place for you and the sky a canopy,
and has sent water down from the sky
and with it brought forth fruits for your sustenance:
then don't claim that there is any power that could rival God,
when you grasp the truth.

2:21-22

Light Upon Light

2011-02-07T19:26:00.002-07:00

God is the Light of the heavens and the earth.
The parable of His light is,
as it were, that of a niche containing a lamp;
the lamp is enclosed in glass, the glass like a radiant star;
lit from a blessed tree ---- an olive tree
that is neither of the east nor of the west -----
the oil of which would almost give light
even though fire had not touched it: light upon light!
God guides to His light the one who wills to be guided;
and God offers parables to human beings,
since God has full knowledge of all things.

[24:35]

اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ ۚ نُورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ ۗ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ {35}
[Shakir 24:35] Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth; a likeness of His light is as a niche in which is a lamp, the lamp is in a glass, (and) the glass is as it were a brightly shining star, lit from a blessed olive-tree, neither eastern nor western, the oil whereof almost gives light though fire touch it not-- light upon light-- Allah guides to His light whom He pleases, and Allah sets forth parables for men, and Allah is Cognizant of all things.
[Pickthal 24:35] Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.
[Yusufali 24:35] Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light: Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things.
[Pooya/Ali Commentary 24:35]

The great mystery of existence, its eternal origin and infinite permanence is described in the most comprehensive and eloquent parable of light, which contains layer upon layer of allegorical comparisons to make apparent to man the purpose of the great author of the universe. The physical light is but a reflection of the true light in the realm of reality, and that true light is Allah. The performance of light is to manifest. It is Allah who manifests the universe. The human beings can only think of the factors of the spiritual world in terms of the phenomenal experience obtainable through physical senses; and in the phenomenal world light is the purest thing known to man. Due to the limitations of human experience man cannot see the real light but perceive only the lighted objects. So the physical experience is an illusion, because physical light has drawbacks incidental to its physical nature. It is dependent upon some source external to itself; it is a passing phenomenon; if it is taken to be a form of motion or energy it is unstable, like all physical phenomena; and it is dependent on space and time. The perfect light of Allah is free from any such defects. It prevails everywhere. It envelops everything. It is independent of time and space. The niche (mishkat) is the recess in the wall, high from the ground in the house. The divine light, according to the parable, is placed high above everything, all that which has been created, the whole universe. The lamp is the core of the real illumination. It is placed inside a glass which protects it from any outside interference or disturbance (refer to Saff: 8). The illumination shines bright like a star. In this world, governed by the laws of cause and effect, it becomes natural to know what makes the lamp burn, as no lamp burns without oil. So to give man the idea of causative factor of the generation of light, it is said that the oil of the blessed tree of olive keeps the lamp alive. It is said that after the great flood, the olive tree was the first to grow on the earth. This mystic olive is not localised. It is neither of the east nor of the west. It is universal like the light of Allah.

The light of wisdom (the Quran) in the heart of the Holy Prophet is as protected as the lamp in the glass. Verses 77 to 79 of al Waqi-ah clearly state that the Quran is a protected book; and no one can touch it save the thoroughly purified, the Ahl ul Bayt, according to the verse 33 of Ahzab. Therefore the true interpretation of "light upon light" is the Holy Prophet and his Ahl ul Bayt. It is further made clear in the next verse.

For "Allah guides whom He wills to His light" see the commentary of al Baqarah: 256 and 257-he who believes in Allah, indeed, has taken hold of the firmest handhold (or rope) which will not break off. Allah brings them out of the darkness into light-It is obvious that those who are guided unto His light are the thoroughly purified ones. They alone are the manifestations of the real light. Those who follow these reflection of the divine light receive guidance from the grace of Allah to the extend or degree of their sincere attachment to them. Salman was the only companion of the Holy Prophet who achieved the distinction of becoming one of the Ahl ul Bayt.

The Holy Prophet said:

"My Ahl ul Bayt are like the ark of Nuh. Whosoever sails on it is safe, and whosoever holds back shall perish."

Nubuwwah and imamah, jointly or separately, are the most perfect guidance unto the light of Allah. Allah Himself chooses and appoints the guide, but His choice is not arbitrary. There are conditions which have to be fulfilled. Refer to the commentary of al Baqarah: 124. When Allah appointed Ibrahim as an Imam after testing his faith and awareness, for the whole mankind, he requested Allah to continue this august office in his progeny. Allah agreed to do so, but "it is a covenant which shall not reach the unjust (zalim)" was added. According to verse 13 of Luqman polytheism is the greatest injustice (zulm), therefore as explained in detail in the commentary of al Baqarah: 124 the Ahl ul Bayt of the Holy Prophet was the only group which never worshipped any ghayrallah. Those who had worshipped idols at any time in their lives could not be chosen as Imams at all, but after becoming Muslims if they had accepted the Imams of the Ahl ul Bayt as their guides, and followed them, then, according to the degree of their sincerity and awareness, they are entitled to occupy suitable position in the journey towards the enlightenment available from the light of Allah. Mere verbal profession of faith in Allah without attachment to the Ahl ul Bayt is as bad as hypocrisy.

The existence of the supreme being has been compared to light in order to make human intellect understand a great attribute of Allah, otherwise He is the inconceivable absolute who has created the light. Light is His manifestation. It is not His being.

Aqa Mahdi Puya says:

To know the proper application of ayah al Nur the following points should be kept in view:

(i) It is a parable.

(ii) A parable implies several applications corresponding to various aspects.

(iii) The light should be understood in its widest sense, as a self-evident being which is evident by itself, and through which other beings become evident.

(iv) The light emanating from a source may pass through transparent or opaque mediums. Generally it is not serviceable when it passes through an opaque medium but is profitable when it goes through a transparent medium.

Transparent mediums have different degrees of transparency. Better conductivity depends on the degree of refinement and purification of the medium.

There may be a source or cause which produces the light. It may also be self-illuminating .

(vii) Usually light proceeding from a source illuminates a particular area, leaving other areas unlighted.

(viii) The source of the light, in this verse, is not localised. It is neither of the east nor the west-not any particular area or direction. See my note in Maryam: 16 to 40.

(ix) The parable is applicable to the process of creation as well as to guidance and also to legislation in order to regulate human behaviour both as an individual and as a member of society.

(x) Light as a symbol of guidance is one of the attributes of Allah. It is manifested in both the realms of creation and legislation.

Allah is the light through which every created being comes into evidence, and every being is guided toward the destination where it should reach. To reach to the destination of salvation, bliss and satisfaction it has to do that which guidance points out.

In every realm and sphere there is a point in which the light of creation or guidance manifests itself originally, and then illuminates the surroundings. Niche {mishtat) refers to this "point" as the exalted holy place chosen for the manifestation of Allah's name and attributes. There should be an entity whose cognitive self becomes the focus of light. Such entities have been pointed out clearly in Ahzab: 33 and Ali Imran: 61 as the first and the foremost in receiving the light of existence in the arc of descent and the-last in the arc of ascent. In the realm of creation they are the best entities or "points" in which the light of creation manifested itself originally. In the realm of legislation and guidance too they are the best models.

If applied to any individual the niche is the power of expression and the "house" (in which the niche is situated) is the body.

If applied to the group of the Ahl ul Bayt and the prophets, the niche in the house is the Holy Prophet.

The divine light passed through the purest transparent chain of prophets, without any detour, and manifested itself in its full glory in the Holy Prophet, to illuminate the human society for ever.

All the mediums-lamp, glass etcetera-which are the various stages between the original source and the final spreading of the light should be of the highest transparency so as not to affect the purity of light passing through them. It implies that the minds, hearts, loins and wombs of the ancestors of the Holy Prophet were free from the dirt of polytheism.

The house in which the niche always remained is described in verse 36. There always exists a group of persons whose hearts and minds are fully occupied with the remembrance of Allah.

The niche is the source of light, and the oil of the blessed tree is a pure "light above light". There is not a slightest trace of darkness. Darkness or evil exists outside the sphere of the houses in which the niche is located and cannot enter into it.

Weight Watchers

2011-01-16T18:21:00.002-07:00

Okay, I'll come out and say it. I joined Weight Watchers in late December. I've been to two weigh-ins and lost 11 pounds and I think when I weigh-in Tuesday I'll have lost again. So it definitely works for me, so far. I want to get out of that BMI overweight category into the normal range. Right now I'm thinking in the 130's would be nice. It's been pretty easy - I've never tried anything like this before but based on my experience so far I'd recommend it to others who are thinking about it.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - Christmas Bells

2010-12-24T17:46:00.002-07:00

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Lunar Eclipse 12/20-21 2010

2010-12-21T01:24:00.003-07:00

This is with my new camera - a Kodak Z981.

"I Spy" or "Find It" Jar

2010-12-06T18:16:00.004-07:00

When I was Christmas shopping, I saw this game at Target called "Find it." It looked pretty neat, but definitely expensive at nearly $20. The idea is to find the objects hidden in the container (without opening it, of course). So, I decided to make my own.

I used bird seed and mason jars and various little things inside the jars. When I was looking for things to put in the jars, I found some wood beads that had letters on them and put the whole alphabet in each jar so the jars could also be used for spelling practice and word-finding.

I've gotten good feedback on the few I made so far - kids and adults both enjoy them. I think I may leave one in my classroom as well.

Awesome!

2010-12-03T19:34:00.006-07:00

Click to make it big!

Stupid Things You Did as a Kid

2010-11-24T13:30:00.003-07:00

(I had the Weeble Wobble tree house - one of the best toys ever!)

Memes seem to be making a comeback. Here's a few Stupid Kid Things I did that I can think of - maybe if you share yours I'll think of some more.

1. mixed bleach and ammonia while cleaning house - thought since both cleaned well, they'd go well together (5th grade I think) (definitely don't do this)

2. played with my dad's pound of pure mercury because of its neat surface tension properties

3. used my dad's bullets as writing utensils

4. my friends and I used to play this game that we'd have to get to/from school or each other's houses only going through people's back yards (dogs or not, of course without permission)

5. we used to play the choking game, too (don't do that, it can kill you, but we didn't know that!)

6. fed live grasshoppers to my friend's cat

7. tried to pass tic-tacs off to the junior high assistant principal as drugs

8. stole political yard signs of people we didn't like, put them in the trunk of my car, and then went around telling people, "So and so is in my trunk!"

9. Took the city bus downtown to the Fashion Bar with my friend and spent the afternoon pulling the ugliest clothes we could find for the other to wear, much to the annoyance of the sales staff.

10. Put KILO stickers all over downtown and then came back a week later to see which ones were still there.

11. went into the tallest buildings we could find downtown, went into the stair wells and entertained ourselves for hours by dropping pennies to see how many flights down we could get them to go.

12. spied on halves of cordless phone and CB radio conversations using the UHF dial of my old black and white TV.

13. Drive like an idiot (turning lights on and off, swerving, etc.) on seeing my friend's car on an otherwise deserted road at night, only to discover that it wasn't him - it was his police officer dad.

14. looked up names of people in the phone book like James Bond or Jack Daniels to prank call, or call parents of friends pretending to be pollsters asking embarrassing questions

15. took lots of things apart - phones, radios, etc. - not always able to get them back together, but usually

16. I had this recurring dream about going into the heating vent in my room late at night, crawling through the ducts, and ending up in a secret 'room' behind my closet. I thought it was real for years until one day I suddenly realized there was no way a person could fit into the tiny heating duct. I could still draw you a map of the tunnels/ducts in my dream, though.

17. I had a huge doll house my dad made. My favorite way to play with it were to use my brother's GI Joe's to 'break' into the house and tie up the house people and hide them behind the stairs or fireplace, etc. Then the Avengers would come, sliding in on sewing thread through the windows and a big war would break out.

18. Go and put things on the railroad track then watch the train crush them - especially coins

19. Ride our bikes and sleds down "Dead Man's Bluff" - I once saw a kid slice his hand open to the bone when he flew off his sled and the metal runner crashed down on it

20. leave early for school to be the first kid on the streets walking to school so I could break all the ice in the gutters before anyone else

21. throw fireworks down the manholes, blow anthills up with firecrackers, shoot each other with pop bottle rockets and other various firework miscellany.

22. pour gasoline into pop/beer bottles, stuff rags in and light them and then use those as torches while we went and crawled through the sewers under the streets, exploring (with my cousin)

23. Tried for hours and hours and hours to make weeble wobbles fall down.

24. smoked oregano rolled up in post-it notes - strangely reminiscent of burnt spaghetti

25. pencil fights were all the rage in elementary school

26. spent hours trying to make Rube Goldberg machines with Legos, dominoes, marbles, and my brother's racing tracks and Matchbox cars.

27. ate crayons, coins, Legos and marbles and just about everything that grew in the yard including dandelion (nasty!) (some flowers taste good, fyi) - but my friend ate glue and that's just gross. Thank goodness I didn't encounter the hemlock that can grow down in the park

28. hid in the dryer and took turns riding in it (don't do that)

29. tried to hang ourselves with belts in the closet - not suicidal, just really stupid

30. spent hours and hours recording rock and metal records onto cassette tape, then unscrewed the tapes, flipped over the reels, and replayed them (now backwards) listening for hidden satanic messages. Found a few (not satanic, though).

31. Burning like 144 pencils because I discovered through experimentation that that particular brand the yellow paint boiled and sizzled, which I thought was really cool.

Veteran's Day 2010

2010-11-11T14:50:00.003-07:00

Visiting my veteran grandparents (WWII Navy) at their VA home in Walsenburg, CO.

I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud - William Wordsworth

2010-11-06T09:52:00.003-06:00

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Outdid the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company;
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

I'm looking forward to a late first snow of the winter season, but this poem reminds me of the thrill of excitement upon seeing the early spring flowers. Natural beauty is surely one of the greatest medicines for the soul.

10 10 10 Greg Beatty

2010-10-10T20:27:00.009-06:00

I have my grandparents' photo albums and thought to post some photos Greg - there are probably many more so if anyone wants to me look for something, just let me know. Greg passed away today after a long struggle with throat cancer. He is survived by his parents, brothers, wife and step-children. Also, today is my dad's 60th birthday.

Greg and grandma's birthdays were close to each other so they often celebrated together.

This is Greg and my brother mid-1970's.

Grandpa, Uncle Jack, Dad, Uncle Greg, and my brother Jeff, 1970's.

Both of these are the Beatty family - Grandma Gladys, Grandpa Park, Dad (Lynn), Jack, and Greg - early 1970's or so.

Greg and his wife Ann, 1990's.

Thirty-six

2010-09-29T06:00:00.001-06:00

Lots of cool math stuff about the number 36.

I used some information linked there to write a message for you in base 36 ASCII:

2C 2W 2P 32 2Z 37 W 2U 33 36 W 36 2T 2P 2S 2X 32 2V W 31 3D W 2Q 30 33 2V W 34 33 37 38 1A

Born within a month of me were Xzibit, Jimmy Fallon, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Joaquin Phoenix. Oskar Schindler and Ed Sullivan died a few days after I was born. According to Wikipedia, I share the same birthday as Rumi on the Gregorian calendar. I was supposed to be born on Pearl Harbor day, but I came quite a bit early.

When my parents were thirty-six, my brother was entering high-school (which started at 10th grade) and I was transitioning from elementary school to junior high. My father was working as an electrician, as he had pretty much since getting married at 17. My mother was approaching 5 years in the work force, first in laundry then secretarial and eventually (probably after 36) paralegal work.

When my grandparents were thirty-six:
My dad's parents had a toddler and two more boys in double-digit ages. Grandpa worked in various sales jobs, and grandma was busy raising boys.
My mom's parents had five kids including my mom, the youngest baby. Grandma was busy raising the kids while grandpa taught science.
My grandparents were all in Colorado Springs.

When my great-grandparents were thirty-six:
Walter and Vera had four girls and my grandpa who came quite a bit later and was still an infant. Walter worked in Zion country in Utah as a cowboy or wrangler.
Ernie and Viola had one daughter. Ernie had learned to be a shoe cobbler from his step-father George Snurr. They were in Colorado Springs.
Albert and Rachel were probably divorced, but had three children. According to his WWI draft card filled just a few years earlier, Albert worked as an Iron molder in Minneapolis, but had immigrated earlier from Sweden.
Joe and Nancy were in Colorado Springs with two daughters. Joe worked as a coal miner. Joe had immigrated more than two decades earlier from Austria.

I had a lot of nice messages from friends for my birthday. I got a card from a coworker's 4-year old daughter, and I had more than 50 nice messages on Facebook, as well as a phone call from my parents and from my brother. Very nice.

Where Were you on 9/11 and how has your Life Changed Since?

2010-09-11T12:06:00.003-06:00

On 9/11, I was teaching middle school. One boy came in and commented that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, and honestly I thought he was making it up - I didn't believe him. Soon we heard another one had crashed. My memory of the day starts to fuzzy, but at some point the staff was informed by the principal that indeed this had happened and we were to avoid talking about it with students at all over the next days. After work, I went home and saw the images on TV. It was really surreal - I felt so shocked, I really had a hard time believing what I was seeing, and I had the fear that it would turn out to be Muslims. I prayed it wouldn't be, but that is where the speculation turned almost immediately. I felt so much pain and grief over 9/11 because it was a horrible event for this country, but also on top of that because I am a Muslim.

Immediately after 9/11, my parents ordered and begged me to take off hijab because they were worried I would be attacked. A lady in my place of work that 9/11 got a phone call from her brother - from the towers, above the plane crash, and he was saying good-bye because he knew he was minutes from death. He did die that day. I did nothing but go to work and come home, I would not go to the grocery store for food even though I was almost out. In my car, I wore a brimmed stocking cap with a scarf draped about my neck to cover my neck and chin so that my hijab would be a little less obviously what would be associated with a Muslim but still covering - the hateful stares from people were enough to think some guy sitting in the pickup next to you at the intersection might get out and pull you out of your car and start beating you to a pulp. When I parked my car at work, I pulled the scarf up and pinned it and pulled the hat out from under - transitioning to "normal" hijab. People at work offered to walk me to my car and often asked to make sure I was safe. It was a nice gesture and I really appreciated that at least to my face they did not lump me with the terrorists. Only strangers did so, people who didn't know me. And I realized that in that sense I was lucky. Many people had friends, coworkers, and family turn against them after 9/11.

For Muslims in particular, things have never been the same after that day. Ever since, Muslims have been profiled and vilified and now again it seems at a fever point again, and for those who want to do that, truth and facts don't matter.

How has my life changed since? In many ways, the day-to-day actions are the same, but some things are different. Every day I read something attacking my faith or people of my faith for something the faith doesn't condone and none of us had anything to do with. We are now monsters rather than human beings. 9/11 and what has happened after kicks us in the butt over and over again every day. There is a general change of perception where one becomes more alert and sensitive to the possibility of violence against you or someone you know. It is always there, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And you know no amount of reasoning would matter. Going somewhere by plane can feel like going through a gauntlet.

I remain hopeful that reality will prevail over insanity in the long run and that we just have to keep getting through this, just keep true to ourselves and our beliefs as much as possible while the storm blows all around us. But I'm also a realist and prepare myself that things might get much worse before they get better. I know that could happen because I am not ignorant to history or suffering of others in this world. I have been fortunate in life and thank God for that. There is always hope, always, always, always, until it is done.

more info

2010-09-10T06:17:00.001-06:00

I don't expect American Muslims to do anything dumb anyway, but I felt something could happen overseas....

The Office of The Supreme Jurist

Denounces Burning of The Holy Quran
In the Name of God, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful

Media outlets have exposed an American preacher who is insisting on burning copies of the Holy Quran as an expression of his hatred towards the divine religion of Islam.

This abhorred act is not in-line with the role of the religious and spiritual leadership, whose role is to enroot the values of love and peaceful coexistence amongst followers of diverse faith-traditions and ideologies, all based upon mutual respect of one another's rights.

The authorities in the United States of America are urged to prevent such a heinous act from proceeding. If such an act were permitted, the repercussions would be unfavorable and may even be dangerous. Using freedom of expression as an excuse does not justify such shameful behavior. This act represents a blatant attack upon the beliefs of others and what they sanctify, and will lead to the creation of an environment conducive to more tension, struggle and violence.

The Office of the Supreme Religious Jurist [Grand Ayatullah Sayed Ali al-Seestani] strongly condemns such an assault on the Holy Quran and stresses the urgency of preventing such a violation from occurring. Furthermore, it strongly urges Muslims, wherever they may reside, to maintain the highest levels of self-control and that they do not commit any act of wrongdoing towards any Christians, always reminding themselves of the words of The Almighty God:

"O you who believe! Be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice, and let not hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably;
act equitably, that is nearer to piety, and be careful of (your duty to) Allah; surely Allah is Aware of what you do."

Holy Quran 5:8

The Office of Sayyid al-Sistani
The Holy City of Najaf

Burning the Qur'an

2010-09-07T18:34:00.003-06:00

I know that most Christians and people in general do not support the planned Qur'an burning at a Florida "church" this Saturday September 11. I think most American Muslims are aware of that, although I am not sure of what news Muslims overseas might be getting. The trouble with extremism is that it is fuel for more extremism, eagerly consumed by extremists.

The Qur'an contains the name of God and Jesus and all the prophets and so from a Muslim perspective it is desecration to burn the Qur'an, just as it would be to do so to the Bible. That is why you probably have never heard of Muslims burning the Bible or Torah. I do not believe that God or Jesus is hurt by the burning, nor is Islam hurt by it, but I do think burning a book hurts those who choose to do it. I also think that if one questions the motives of this "church" choosing to do this on September 11, logic leads one to find negative motives and/or ignorance. It makes me feel sad, and one may also feel that people who are Muslim are being attacked or threatened indirectly.

Many people who object to the burning do so on the grounds that it might incite violence. What a sad state of affairs that we fear each other instead of knowing each other and talking to each other. Fear of violence should not be the primary reason to object to this - fear is rarely a good reason for anything. Rather, one should object to it on principle. I believe the vast majority of Muslims understand that a violent response would just be giving this man what he wants. We are ending the month of Ramadan right now - we have been fasting from all food and drink for nearly 16 hours a day for a month and engaging in extra prayer and reform. In this month and at all times to respond to hatred and anger with more of the same is anathema to our ideology. This is a month of forgiveness. If these people burn the Qur'an this weekend, their affront is against God since it is His Word they are burning, as I see it, and it would be up to God to forgive them or not, but I hope that someday they will learn a better way to draw attention to themselves and that they might someday genuinely try to serve God. From my perspective, even in misguidance one would be hard-pressed to believe that this serves God, but rather it seems obvious that it is service to themselves only.

Finally, to anyone who does support burning a Qur'an, I ask you to read it first so that you know what you are burning and taking a stand against. If you burn a Qur'an, you are burning words from Jesus' mouth contained within it, some of which are also in the Bible. If you burn a Qur'an, then you must think it is okay to burn a Bible, too, because the texts have much in common and contain some of the same words of God, prophets, and Jesus. For those who don't believe in God, I feel they should object to book burning of all kinds for the reasons of the disgrace of destroying knowledge as well as the futility and inanity of such an act.

I'm Dreaming of Snow

2010-08-25T19:53:00.001-06:00

Keith Olbermann Special Comment: There Is No 'Ground Zero Mosque' - 08/16/10

2010-08-18T06:09:00.001-06:00

The Best Example

2010-08-15T09:24:00.000-06:00

Many people in America are expressing concern that this year the Eid is likely to fall on or near 9/11. Many non-Muslims may take 'Eid celebrations and prayers as being celebrations of the 9/11/01 Al-Qaeda terrorist attacks, despite many announcements as to their real purposes. We know that some "Christian" groups are planning Burn a Qur'an Day on 9/12. There is a possibility of violence against observers attending 'Eid events, so please be careful as always and pray for the safety of all of us the world over.

In the meantime and after, we can continue to try to live the example of real Islam.

The video nasheed below (The Chosen One) is inspired by Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Quoting from the makers, "Maher Zain and Awakening Records felt they had to respond after the recent attacks on prophet Muhammad through cartoons and Facebook. It's a small token in portraying the true character of our beloved Prophet Muhammad." The album can be purchased from iTunes and other sources.

Note: There are instruments in this track, it is not purely a cappella.

Aunt Nancy's Burial

2010-08-10T10:26:00.008-06:00

My Aunt Nancy died last September 2nd. My Aunt Susie was executor of the estate and now things finally got to the point where Nancy's ashes could be put in the ground with her parents (my grandparents) according to her wishes. Aunt Susie, my cousin Frankie Sue, me and my mom buried her this morning with the cemetery staff.

Many many more people are opting for cremation these days - it is less expensive for the family by a long shot, and many communities are encouraging it due to burial space and sanitation issues as well. But some religions have very specific burial instructions which don't include cremation. Why is that? Is it traumatic for the soul or does the soul even care, or are there other reasons? How do you want to be buried and why?

LOVE

2010-08-09T18:54:00.000-06:00

Castlewood Canyon State Park

2010-08-05T19:36:00.015-06:00

Today I met my friend Carol at Castlewood Canyon State Park just south of Franktown, Colorado. We were there from 9am until after 3pm and saw the majority of the park. It was green and we saw lots of great wildlife - baby toads, an adult toad, two kinds of lizard, lots of butterflies, lots of grasshoppers, crayfish, minnows, a green hummingbird, and a Rainbow Trout on an adventure from Cherry Creek Reservoir - I wonder what that trout was thinking - where is he/she off to and why?

Lots of pretty flowers and choke cherries, apples at an old homestead site, and lots of poison ivy, too.

Each trail was different from the others - different terrain and views - which made them all great. Some of them you were looking on neighboring hay fields, some of them you were following the creek, and some of them were like mountain hikes in pines. Lots of rocks, stairs and bridges to make the trails interesting!

I highly recommend this park, just don't pick a really hot day!

Here are some more pictures I took.

Spring of Quran

2010-08-04T13:57:00.001-06:00

(Originally written last year for IslamicInsights.com)

In the month of Ramadan, Muslims the world over devote more time to reciting Qur'an. The Prophet (peace be upon him and his progeny) said, "Everything has a springtime, and the springtime of the Qur'an is the month of Ramadan," and "Whoever recites a verse from the Qur'an (in the month of Ramadan) will receive a similar reward as the one who recites the entire Qur'an in other months." Perhaps in zealousness for reward, or from misunderstanding of the saying about reciting the Qur'an, often during this month and even at all times, many Muslims have sadly adopted a practice of hastened recitation without understanding.

One example is the form of Taraweeh prayers in many Sunni communities today – the community is so focused on achieving a certain quantity of recitation in their prayers, one-thirtieth each evening, that they may be tempted to rush through the recitation without any reflection or understanding. The origins of dividing the Qur'an into 30 parts and reciting one part each night in the month of Ramadan is in some writings attributed to Uthman for the purpose of use in the taraweeh prayers. The goal of reciting the whole Qur'an in the month of Ramadan is admirable, but not at the expense of quality over quantity.

The purposes of Qur'an might be described as to remove rust from our hearts, to guide us, to purify us, and to educate us. While there is reward in reciting the Qur'an even without understanding, the true benefit of such a recitation is extremely limited and completely leaves aside the benefits of the Holy Book as a reformer and guider for one's soul.

"A book We have sent down to you, blessed, that men possessed of mind may ponder its signs and so remember." (38:29)

"What, do they not ponder the Qur'an? Or is it that there are locks upon their hearts?" (47:24)

Qur'an recitation should really be slow, contemplative, and reflective. A person hearing, reading, or reciting the Qur'an should be engaged with the text: they should have an emotional response and a rational response to its words, not just a response to the voice of the reciter. The Fourth Imam (peace be upon him), "The Qur'anic verses are treasures of knowledge, and whenever a treasure is opened, you have to see what lies therein. Ponder over the verses of the Qur'an, and learn from them, for they are the best of lessons."

The aim of the many deeds we perform in the month of Ramadan is not reward as much as it is reform or purification. In the springtime of the Qur'an, it should be flowering in our hearts, in order to bear fruit. This cannot be accomplished if the meanings of the words never enter our hearts and minds in the first place, nor if the meanings are not allowed to linger with us, occupying our attention beyond a few passing moments. Understanding the Qur'an can be achieved by reading through translation if needed, reading slowly, and in as small a quantity as necessary to allow the time for processing, responding, and applying what one has read. One verse of Qur'an in translation that is understood and taken to heart and used to reform a person may be of more value than a lifetime of chanting the sacred Arabic text but knowing it only as sound.

Most mosque functions rightly begin with recitation of Qur'an, but sadly, we often find that for many of the reciters and listeners, it is only a beautiful noise and an honored ritual. It is a shell of Qur'an that falls like dried leaves rather than taking root in the hearts. Perhaps if there are people in the audience who do not understand the Qur'anic Arabic, a recitation of Qur'an should never be concluded without a translation, so that understanding might bless the hearts of the congregants. Indeed, perhaps the aforementioned saying of the Prophet – "Whoever recites a verse from the Qur'an (in the month of Ramadan) will receive a similar reward as the one who recites the entire Qur'an in other months." – was really meant to make us focus on each verse more slowly and more contemplatively in this month, not to recite more for more's sake. If that means that fewer verses are recited as a result, then so be it. If that means that the whole Qur'an is not read in the month of Ramadan, but only a portion, there is no sin in that. Is it not better for a community of believers to come together and reflect on the Qur'an than to merely parrot it?

I'm not an expert when it comes to Qur'an reciters, but here is my favorite Surah Yaseen recitation - with transliteration and translation.

Fast Friends

2010-08-03T11:46:00.004-06:00

Working on a group blog for the month of Ramadan - you're welcome to join.

Ramadan Fast Friends

Capacity of Hearts

2010-07-30T07:11:00.002-06:00

"Tell them that God's Mercy is on those who direct peoples' love toward us, on those who teach the people that which their hearts can accept to their capacity, and on those who put aside that which is too heavy for the peoples' hearts to bear." Imam Sadiq (as)

History Detectives -The Barton Letter - recommended viewing

2010-07-13T11:27:00.005-06:00

History Detectives is one of my favorite television shows.
In this week's episode, one story really moved me - entitled "The Barton Letter". Clara Barton was a true heroine who made valiant efforts to help people discover the fate of missing soldiers in the Civil War as well as to get soldiers basic supplies they were lacking like socks and food. She later went on to found the American chapter of The Red Cross. Despite her huge efforts, 60% of the war dead in the Civil War were never identified and their families and friends never learned their fates. "The Barton Letter" is about one man's efforts to enlist the aid of Clara Barton in finding out what happened to his missing neighbor. A very sad chapter in American history.

The Passing of Sayyed Fadlullah

2010-07-04T15:58:00.003-06:00

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (انّا للہ و انّا الیه راجعون)

Sayyed Fadlullah influenced me in a few profound ways; of all the maraje', I felt a human connection with him. He is the only marja' that I'd ever seen in person; when I went for hajj in 1999 he was also there and I saw him in a meeting room near where our group was staying. He made arrangements to meet with people from the group to answer questions, etc., - he made efforts to be accessible to all. Also, a few of his writings touched me personally. He wrote a short biography of Fatima (as) called The Infallible Fatima (as) - A Role Model for Men and Women that remains the best work about her I've ever seen in English. I also have his World of Our Youth which contains questions and answers in a wonderful readable, mild, informative style. He was a true champion among the elite for the causes of women in particular, and his rulings were found by many women to be easier on a practical level and liberating from traditions that may be more cultural than religious in nature. What I liked about his fatawa is that he explained his reasoning in many cases - very simply and clearly, especially when he differed from the more traditional views, such as on moon sighting for the start of an Islamic month, or rulings about following a marja, and so on - and those explanations always meant a lot to me because they gave me room to reflect, ponder, absorb, and understand. I think those explanations helped to provide the human connection and addressed the need for appealing to reason. Through his website he and his appointees answered questions in a timely manner compared to many others. His Friday khutbas were regularly sent out in e-mail and on his website and he always had good messages and did a lot for the cause of unity worldwide, not only among Muslims but also particularly between Christians and Muslims. He often took strong political stances compared to some other scholars, perhaps due to his position in Lebanon instead of certain other locations where he might have been more restricted - but he also was far removed from hard line absolutist us-them world views, in the true moderate Shia tradition. His death is a great loss.

Obituary of His Eminence, the Religious Authority, Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
"To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return"

"And among men is he who sells himself to seek the pleasure of Allah; and Allah is Affectionate to the servants." (02:207).

"If a 'alim dies, there will be a rift in Islam that nothing, whatsoever, could fill."

At a time we are in most need for him, this great man has died, leaving in the hearts of those who love him a grief that has incorporated all the tragedies of history.

The leader, father, Religious Authority, renovator, guide and human being has left us.

He left with the prayers and the remembrance of Allah on his lips and the nation's causes in his heart.

Finally, his heart has stopped after 75 years that were spent in the struggle for the cause of Allah, as well as in jurisprudence, renewal, opening up on and committing to the cause of the nation and confronting all the powers of arrogance and tyranny…

He left, after a lifetime of embracing the cause of Islam, as a thought a movement, a methodology and a commitment in all the fields of life. He left saying, as he has frequently expressed: "These are my only wishes. I have never had any personal wishes. I lived all my life and strived to be a servant of Allah, His Messenger (p.) and his Household (a.s.), as well as Islam and Muslims."

His most essential advice for the Muslims before his demise was to preserve Islam the Islamic nation and its unity, for he believed that the arrogance would not be defeated unless the Muslim unite and support one another.

He was, with his illuminating mind and radiant soul, a reference, a guide and an advisor to all the aware Islamic movements in the Arab and Islamic worlds that were inspired by his thought and methodology.

His Islamic integrity and originality lead him to institute a school of dialogue with the other on the basis that truth is the child of dialogue.

He opened up on all people and he embodied dialogue in his movement, thought and entire life away from any slogans that lack any realistic content.

He experienced Islam in complete awareness of the responsibility that ought to be shouldered and the line of justice that ought to be followed. He was the mastermind who launched the resistance movements, which inspired from his thought the spirit of confrontation, opposition and steadfastness and were able to achieve big accomplishments and victories in Lebanon and Palestine and any position of Jihad [struggle]…

His main concerns and top priorities were always the big issues of the Arabs and Muslims, knowing that Palestine was his biggest concern since his early age and until his last breath, for he has always said: "I shall not rest until the Zionist entity falls."

His Eminence was a distinguished mark in the movement of the religious authority institution towards being concerned with the nation's pains and ambitions… Actually, this institution guided the people to the light away from backwardness, and shouldered the responsibility, side by side with the people, of building the future and confronted all forms of exaggeration, myth, and Takfir, guided by the path of the Messenger of Allah (p.) and his pure Household (a.s.).

Armed with piety and righteousness, Sayyed Fadlullah stood against the strifes amongst Muslims, for he rejected that they undermine their existence as a result of narrow sectarian fanatic acts. He also called on the nation's aware religious scholars and people to fear Allah when dealing with issues pertaining to people's lives, considering that whosoever knits seditions amongst Muslims aiming to rip apart the unity of Muslims and their word is a traitor to Allah and His Messenger, even if he fasts and prays…

He always strived to make sure that the relations between Muslims and Christians be based on "common terms" and understanding over the mutual issues, and he called for developing the relations between them on the basis of moral and humanitarian conceptions that take part in elevating man's status at all levels, and the value of justice in the face of all forms of oppression.

Actually, he adopted the Quran as a basis for his activist and missionary methodology and jurisprudential and activist movement, for he regarded the Quran as the book of life that could only be really understood by the activist and innovative people…

The Sayyed was known for his modesty, humanitarianism, and supreme missionary morals. His heart encompassed those who loved him and those who did not love him as well, and he used to advise all people to: "Love each other, for love is what authenticates and enables one to be creative and productive… Join us in love away from personal, regional, partisan and sectarian considerations… Let us all meet and gather under Allah's shadow instead of disagreeing in His name…" This can only mean that his pure heart held no grudges or spites towards anyone, for it is he who always repeated: "Life cannot bear spite, for spite is death and love is life…"

Moreover, he believed in the role of the institutions which he considered to be the primary and most essential civilized pillar for the rise of every nation and society… Thus, he established minarets and buildings for knowledge and care, which represented a sanctuary and shelter for the orphan and the needy, and an oasis of ambitions and high hopes for the physically-disabled, and a lighthouse for the learned towards the wide and open horizons, and a haven of security and safety for the sick and the elderly…

O Sayyed, you true master! Your house was and will remain the destination of the seekers of knowledge and whosoever is in need, for the call of "love" towards people, all the people, was your everlasting call.

The poor and the downtrodden were the closest to your heart, and you saw in the youth an aspiring hope, provided that they arm themselves with culture and knowledge…

The heart that filled the entire world with activist Islam, and missionary awareness and humanity that endlessly poured love and good until the last breath… this heart has rested in peace…

O Dear Sayyed, your pure body has rested whilst aspiring to achieve all hopes and ambitions at the level of constructing the present and future of the nation…

You left us having undermined all the conspiracies, threats, distortion campaigns and assassination attempts, be they physical or moral… you left after you surpassed all that and preserved the all-purity of your mind, heart and soul…

O Abu Ali, you left, yet your blessed name will remain curved in the conscience, heart and mind of the nation. O Sayyed, you left, yet you will remain present and vibrant by your thought and methodology in the life of our present and the future generations…

The Sayyed's body has gone, but his soul thought and line will stay with us. The nation whom he loved and made every effort to serve, will continue the march of awareness that he has set out its line throughout his life.

Dear brothers! As we offer our condolences to the entire nation upon the death of this great academic and religious scholar and this great missionary pioneer and struggler. We vow and promise Allah, and we vow and promise you, your Eminence, that we shall proceed with the march that you established its foundations and that we will execute your will that calls us to defend the nation, uphold its unity and maintain the humanitarianism of the Message.

"O soul that art at rest!Return to your Lord, well-pleased (with him), well-pleasing (Him),so enter among My servants,and enter into My garden." (89-27:30).
04/07/2010 A.D 22/07/1431 H

Visiting Grandma and Grandpa Beatty

2010-06-28T16:54:00.003-06:00

Today my cousin Dawn and I drove down to Walsenburg to visit our grandparents. Dawn and I reconnected at the 2010 Beatty reunion in Utah earlier this month - before that we'd only seen each other I think once since high school, even though for a fair chunk of that time we'd lived in the same city. I think we're both pretty excited about making that connection together.

This was one of the nicest visits I've had with grandma and grandpa (Gladys Marie Allison Beatty and Park Forsythe Beatty). We looked at photos and chatted for a good two hours. Dawn showed them pictures from the Utah trip and I brought a few of their photo albums from their Navy days and high school days (I'm holding onto their albums for them because they don't have room in their place) and they looked through the albums and talked about a few things they remembered. One story that comes to mind right now is that Grandma told us about how they got married - they'd met while stationed in San Diego in the Navy, but grandpa got out before grandma and was back in Cedar City, Utah. When grandma got out of the Navy, she stopped in Cedar City on her way home to Fairplay, Colorado. She stayed over at the Escalante for a few days and told grandpa, as she put it, "to either sh** or get off the pot", or rather, told him to marry her or she was going home to find someone else. Well, they just had their 64th anniversary earlier this month. They started out in a basement apartment in Cedar City, but Ernie, grandma's dad, thought no daughter of his should live in a basement, so he set them up at his house in the 500 block (513?) of E.Del Norte, near the Patty Jewett golf course in Colorado Springs. I want to go find that home.

Grandpa claims that he was such a fast runner in his high school days in track that he was actually faster than the current world record but they didn't keep records back then. :) Grandpa also got a kick out of pictures of grandma in her Hawaiian grass skirt and beachwear.

Another story grandma told that was new for me was about how her dad Ernie (Millard Ernest Allison) became a shoe cobbler. He was raised as a farmer/rancher, but his stepdad Ned Lenari trained him to be a shoe cobbler and that's how he made his living in later years. Grandma showed me a picture of her and a Navy girlfriend wearing cowboy boots that Ernie made for them.

I also learned Grandma had a few nicknames in the Navy - she was called "Al" - short for Allison, her last name. Even grandpa called her that. Grandpa said she was also known as Happy Butt because of her first name, Gladys - I'll see if you can figure that one out. :)

They both seemed to be in good spirits. Grandpa has some holes in his memory - he almost completely forgot that he lived in New Mexico for years and had occasional confusion about who we were, but it comes back to him with some time and some prompts to jog the memory now and then. Grandma has a few holes in her memory, too - I've never noticed it before - but she's still very sharp over all. They also seem to be getting more involved in activities available to them where they live. They've been playing Bingo and going to a weekly movie and Sunday church, etc.

Beatty Family Reunion 2010 Trip

2010-06-15T14:21:00.004-06:00

I uploaded lots of pictures on Facebook as well as here, please have a look.

Logan, Sam and I left around 5 a.m. Friday morning heading for Hurricane, Utah and the nearby town of Toquerville, where my great-grandfather Walter Beatty lived and a large amount of family that I'd never met still resides. The kids were asleep and missed the antelope and bison in South Park. We made our first stop in Grand Junction for an early lunch. It had to be Subway, that's what we all wanted. And then the rest of the trip we enjoyed a little game of reading the road signs and seeing all other towns that had Subways - almost all of them did! We stopped at the Colorado/Utah border for pictures, and stopped at one rest stop on I-70, but did not need to stop again for gas. We took pictures of beautiful scenery all the way. We got to our hotel around 5 p.m. and ordered pizza for dinner and went swimming in the hotel pool. We watched America's Funniest Home Videos on the hotel TV until we fell asleep.

The next morning, we enjoyed making our own waffles at the hotel continental breakfast, but we had to wait in line for the machine, testing the kids' patience just a bit. Then we drove the few miles to Toquerville's LDS church for the reunion. We all got shirts representing that we are descended from Walter Beatty; people descended from his siblings had different colored shirts. There were introductions at the reunion, then a tour of my great-grandpa's house two doors down from the church, followed by lunch and entertainment put on by various cousins and family at the reunion. Sammy was inspired by one young girl's recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and decided to recite the Preamble of the Constitution for everyone. Another older girl sang the National Anthem very well - so there was plenty of patriotic sentiment at the reunion. The children were excited by a candy bomb - black powder being used to launch candy across the parking lot for fun. One story that Samantha learned from relatives is about my great-grandmother's wedding ring. Walter was a horse wrangler and guide in Zion National Park and was hired by a famous rich lady to take her to the top of Angel's Landing. When they got there, she was about to throw off her ring, but Walter asked her if he could have it instead to give to his wife Vera, who had a gold wedding band but no diamond. She gave it to him and he of course gave it to Vera. Great-Grandma Vera passed it on to my dad's cousin Vera because she was named after her. Vera has passed it on to her son Ryan's bride, Shay, but the stone is now in a different setting. At the end of the reunion we posed for a group picture, then Logan, Sam and I and some other folks headed over to my dad's cousins Paula and Vera's house to chat. My great-grandpa's saddle was there and Logan and Sam posed for pictures on it. It had hailed during the reunion and the yards looked almost like they were covered in snow. That evening, we went to the movie theater in Hurricane and saw The Karate Kid - which we thoroughly enjoyed. The kids feel asleep to The Toy Story playing on the hotel TV.

Sunday morning we had waffles again and then drove into Springdale to the beautiful place that my Uncle Jack was staying with his daughter Dawn and her family called Cliff Rose Palace, if I recall correctly. Then we followed them in Zion National Park, the entrance being a very short distance away. We explored the Emerald Pools trail, had lunch at Zion Lodge and then walked the Temple of Sinawava trail. Logan and Sam had the opportunity to meet and play with their second cousin Duncan, Dawn's son. We took lots of pictures. I hadn't seen Dawn since her mom's funeral and before that we were probably children, so it was nice to connect with her as well. Jack hospitably took care of us all and planned our route since he was the only one who had been there before and was kind of acting as our patriarch that day. We stopped at the museum to see the large picture of great-grandpa Walter there and then we headed back toward Hurricane. We stopped at a very touristy gift-shop in the town of Virgin where Logan was incredibly excited to find and buy a samurai sword set and Sammy got gifts to take home. We were invited to my second-cousin Richard and his wife Sara's house for dinner, and that was a wonderful highlight and end to the trip. Richard showed everyone how to ride a horse and everyone took a turn. The children showed Logan and Sam the other animals and they played together very well. I think everyone was sad to leave when it was time to go.

Monday morning we were on the road by 4:45 a.m. As on the way out, the kids fell back asleep quickly and it was a beautiful quiet drive through Utah. Finally in Colorado they started keeping me company again. We met a little snow up in the mountains before the Eisenhower tunnel, and some rain we got back to I-25 and home, but we made great time and I dropped the kids off at my brother's house at 3:15 p.m. The car did well and averaged about 43 mpg - yay for that! Thanks to all the family and friends we met, we had a wonderful time. I am so happy to connect with family - what a blessing!

Favorite Poems

2010-06-10T20:34:00.004-06:00

These were some of my favorite poems as a kid, and still are, really:

The Jabberwocky and 'The Walrus and the Carpenter' by Lewis Carroll.

The Giving Tree or Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein.

O Captain my Captain and When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer by Walt Whitman.

The Raven and The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe.

maggie and milly and molly and may and 'since feeling is first' by e e cummings.

Because I Could Not Stop for Death by Emily Dickinson.

Let America be America Again and A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes.

Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night by Dylan Thomas.

Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The Three Little Kittens by Eliza Lee Follen.

Dutch Lullaby (Winken, Blinken and Nod) by Eugene Field.

Anything by Ogden Nash ( such as: The trouble with a kitten
is that eventually
it becomes a cat.)

The Purple Cow by Gelett Burgess.

Godfrey Gordon Gustavus Gore by William Brighty Rands.

My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson.

The Tyger by William Blake.

Thanksgiving Day (Over the River and Through the Wood) by Lydia Maria Child.

Casey at the Bat by Ernest Lawrence Thayer.

Fog by Carl Sandburg.

The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams.

The Unknown Citizen by W. H. Auden.

Robert Frost's Road Not Taken and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.

Shakespeare's Sonnett 18 (Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day).

For whom the bell tolls by John Donne.

If and Hiawatha by Rudyard Kipling.

How Do I Love Thee by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

What are your favorites?

Fort Logan

2010-06-03T23:50:00.008-06:00

This afternoon I drove up to Fort Logan National Cemetery and found the graves of my great-grandfather (dad's mom's dad) and his wife Blanche. Blanche was his second wife, and the poor lady killed herself about a week after Ernie died, so she joined him shortly - at least that's the story I was told; this all happened before I was born. I don't know anything else about her. However, I've often had the distinct feeling that I've met Ernie somehow, sometime. I have a feeling my dad is a lot like him, but I don't know. I'd never been up there before, but although bad traffic made the trip long, it wasn't too hard to find his grave because they were all numbered right on the stones - very helpful - especially because I went after the office closed. The grass was totally dead in the area where my great-grandfather is buried - it looks like they laid down new sod awhile ago and then didn't water it at all, or something.

Then I went to the center up in Denver for Thursday night prayer, etc. It was hard to find - I got a little lost and had to wander around in the middle of nowhere a bit to eventually find it. So, I saw some people I hadn't seen in probably almost a year, which was nice. Got home around 11:30pm - there's a reason I just can't make it up there very often!

I think two of my brother's kids are up for the Beatty reunion, so insha'allah next weekend I'll be driving to Toquerville, UT. Long drive - I hope we'll be safe and have a good time, and meet plenty of cousins we've never met.

One Day of Summer

2010-05-29T13:01:00.003-06:00

Thursday I felt kind of melancholy to leave work - some people you might never see again, and then you have a big wide open in front of you to fill. Last summer I was busy doing curriculum writing. I am still working at Sylvan this summer, but I haven't signed up for classes or district work.

Yesterday, I went back to bed after fajr prayers, then was just kind of laying around when I got a call from my always-busy brother - he is always doing something, he never rests - unlike me! He wanted a ride to the hospital because his wife had gone there from work not feeling well, and he was helping a friend move and his car was already packed with stuff. So, I got dressed and went up to Memorial and sat with my brother and his wife in the ER for a few hours chatting while she waited for a room. (She's okay, don't worry.) My brother and I are not much alike, and we hadn't talked in awhile, so that was good - we do have some things in common - teaching, family history, certain aspects of politics, but our personalities are quite different.

Then, I drove to the cemetery where mom and I planted flowers at her parents', aunt's and grandparents' graves last week and checked on the flowers - they're doing well. I have some flags to put at the graves for my dad's side of the family and other of mom's family sometime this week, insha'allah. Mainly the point is just to visit the graves.

Then I stopped at a new one of those discount grocery stores that sell overstock etc., that is in my neighborhood and found a few things and ran a few other errands. Then I came home and got on the roof and hooked up my swamp cooler because it is starting to get hot. At first, the line leaked where it connects in the house but I managed to get that to stop and managed to set the level weight inside the cooler trays so that it would fill high enough to wet the mats but not overflow - basically everything worked this time, alhumdooleluh, so I could do it myself.

I went to my mom's house and got her to cut my hair shorter for summer, then we saw Robin Hood. Today I am finishing reading a book I have to write an article for later today, and I am baking a concoction to use whatever I had from Door to Door Organics - this is a made-up casserole with eggplant, potato, tomato, zucchini, with salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning and swiss cheese. I had some sweet potato, too, but that just didn't seem to fit with the theme. I'm not a cook, so we'll see if it ends up being any good. I think it will at least be edible, most likely. Got some dishes washing, and contemplating painting a room in my house this month - something I've never done before so I'll have to figure out how to do it.

Make a t-shirt bag - world's easiest sewing project

2010-05-17T21:18:00.009-06:00

I think I found the world's easiest sewing project online that actually makes something practical. And it recycles - no need to buy fabric. It should take only a few minutes - say 15 minutes or less. A child as young as kindergarten age can do this with supervision and will have fun and avoid frustration that often comes with trying to learn to sew. It requires only one straight stitch and a few cuts, and two more straight stitches are optional. Adult beginning sewers will also enjoy being able to make something with ease. Some youth groups make these and sell them for charity projects.

Materials needed: a t-shirt, scissors or rotary cutter, thread & needle or sewing machine ready to sew a straight stitch.

Step 1. Find an old t-shirt and turn it inside out. It must be jersey material (standard t-shirt material).

Step 2. Set up your sewing machine (or you can hand-stitch if you prefer.)

Step 3. Turn the shirt inside out.

Step 4. Sew the bottom of the shirt closed right above the existing hem using a standard straight stitch or any other stitch you prefer. If you want to be careful, you can pin the two sides together first. If you use a straight stitch, go back and forth at the very beginning of your line and at the end of you line to help lock the stitch in place. Jersey stretches so you may accidentally pull your fabric and end up with a stitch that is not completely straight - sewing slower can help that, but for this project it really doesn't matter - your bag will still look great even with a wandering stitch like mine shown below. You can repeat/go-over this stitch to make it stronger if you like.

Step 5. This step is optional. Reach inside the t-shirt and open it a little, then pull the two sides apart down near the bottom of your inside-out bag, so that you can create a bit of an opening. Lay the fabric that you just sewed together so that you have a triangle on the end as the picture below shows. Sew straight across a few inches in (as in the picture) and this creates some depth to the bag so that it sort of has a bottom instead of just closing to a line. This is called a gusset, I think. The further you sew this in from the end, the greater depth you give the bag, but that triangle above where you sew will be inside your finished bag just kind of hanging out in there, and you probably don't want it to be really really big.

Repeat this stitch making the triangle corner on the other side of the bag bottom about the same distance in. You can measure if you want to, but it really isn't necessary - eyeballing it will work just fine. If the two stitches are very different distances in from the end or are very crooked, it could be a little noticeable in the final product, but your bag will still function just fine.

Step 6. Using scissors or a rotary cutter, cut off the sleeves by following along inside the seam that attaches the sleeve to the shirt, so that the seam is no longer on the shirt body. Cut off the collar the same way. After cutting off the collar, cut the neck a little wider or deeper if you want to, but be careful not to cut into any cool design/pattern that might be on the shirt front, unless you don't care.

Step 7. Turn it right-side out. You now have a flexible and surprisingly sturdy tote bag that can be used for grocery shopping or anything else. An adult t-shirt makes a huge bag. The one pictured was an adult large, I think. Child shirts will make smaller bags.

Irises and Spanish Broom blooming

2010-05-17T21:16:00.002-06:00

Sewing Today

2010-05-16T18:18:00.006-06:00

First time I've sewed in like a year - made two oversize pillowcases and a bag today.

Western Tanager

2010-05-14T16:05:00.003-06:00

Saw this beautiful bird on the corner of Uintah and Chestnut on the way home from work.

And Jupiter lost its southern equatorial red belt - it disappeared in the past few weeks - fascinating!

State of the Yard

2010-05-09T10:48:00.001-06:00

Photos posted here.

Mystery

2010-05-03T05:25:00.000-06:00

I think my favorite type of novel is a serial mystery. Serial because I have to care about the characters, and mystery because the possibilities are endless, they're a little bit dark, and there is something to be solved. I've read every Sherlock Holmes mystery, every Leaphorn/Chee mystery, and am well on my way through the Inspector Lynley mysteries. I've read a few of the Wind River mysteries, but I'm not as impressed with them - I don't like the characters as well - they're not as deep - and something rings false about Margaret Coel writing those books anyway, an "expert" on the reservation and tribes, yet she being white and living in Boulder - in a way that didn't ring false with Hillerman. It seems like making a dollar on their backs to me, somehow. I don't know how they see it, though. Let me know if you can recommend any good mystery series.

I decided to whittle my scarf drawer down to about 20 main scarves (not counting things like underscarves) and I did that this weekend along with general cleaning of the closets. It doesn't look like many now, but 20 is still enough to wear a different one to work every day for 4 weeks - which is definitely enough! I now have managed to get almost all of my clothes into one closet, only a few non-hangable items like socks are not in there.

I also planted some seed this weekend, but it may have been too early - still freezing at night here sometimes. I put some watermelon seed and marigold seed and some miscellaneous Colorado wildflower seed my mom gave me down. I doubt the Colorado wildflowers will bloom - they tend to be very picky about soil, light, etc., and the seeds were from late last season, meant to be planted last year.

I might be getting a new roof - an inspector said he thinks I need a new one - we'll see if the insurance adjustor agrees. On a note that is related in my mind, but probably not to anyone else, I might be changing trash companies. The one I have is one of the cheapest, but there are other companies that offer a whole second 64 gallon bin for recycling, and you don't have to sort. I think I might be much more successful recycling that way. We'll see.

Yesterday I saw an awesome episode of Nature - it was about Kilauea. You can watch the whole thing here - it's worth it!

Abraham Lincoln

2010-04-23T22:47:00.008-06:00

I was working on the genealogy of Bessie Maud Hanks, my grandma's grandmother. I had made a mistake in identifying her parents and found a new connection.

Bessie's fourth-great grandfather Robert Shipley born in 1713 is the great-grandfather of Abraham Lincoln, and her other fourth-great grandfather Luke Hanks is another great-grandfather of Abraham Lincoln. My 7th great-grandparents who were married to each other, Joseph Hanks (son of Luke) and Ann Lee Shipley (daughter of Robert), had siblings married to each other named James Hanks and Lucy Shipley. James and Lucy are the parents of Nancy Hanks (Lincoln), mother of Abraham Lincoln. So, technically I think that makes Abraham Lincoln my second cousin, 7 generations removed.

Bessie's husband Milton Ooley was related to Davy Crockett , and Bessie was a witness to the Dalton Gang shootout as a girl. I wish I could talk to her!

Blooming Bush

2010-04-15T20:34:00.002-06:00

Two bushes are blooming in my yard right now - here's a picture of one of them.

I got two hilarious books from Paperbackswap.com lately -

1. America - The Book This is a "textbook" associated with The Daily Show.

2. Geek Logik - 50 Foolproof Equations for Everyday Life Made up equations based on some sort of logic to help you evaluate such things as if you should call in sick, should you get a tattoo, or should you join a gym.

Easter

2010-04-04T02:25:00.006-06:00

Jesus Saves! About this, Muslims and Christians agree.

Today, many Christians and non-Christians observe Easter. To Christians, Easter is a remembrance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ (as) after his execution by crucifixion. The most commonly held date for the execution is Friday, April 7, 30 CE, which would put the date associated with his resurrection as April 9. But, even the four gospels in the New Testament do not agree entirely on the events of the crucifixion and resurrection and their timings, with the Gospel of John account differing significantly from the other three in many respects.

The date of Easter observance was set by the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE as the first Sunday after the first Paschal full moon after March 20. March 20 was the date of the Spring Equinox in 325 CE. Orthodox Christians modify this rule slightly compared to other Christians by using the Julian instead of the Gregorian calendar, and using the Nicaea calculation only if the date comes after Passover (14 Nisan on the Jewish calendar). The date of the execution is believed to have occurred after Passover, which Christians consider as a symbol of the blood sacrifice of Jesus. Passover is the observance of an event mentioned in Exodus, when God visited plagues on Egypt, including the killing of firstborn sons. Hebrew followers of Moses (as) who marked their doorsteps with lamb's blood were passed-over for this plague.

There are a few opinions about the origin of the term "Easter", most of which address ancient pagan religious observances. Easter is said to come from the name of the goddess of fertility Ishtar/Eostre/Austron. Many modern Easter practices - both secular and religious - such as eating hot cross buns, the symbols of rabbits and eggs, Easter lilies, sunrise services, and Easter candles, all have origins in the worship of Ishtar in the season of the Spring Equinox. Ishtar is said to be the Queen Semiramis, the wife of Nimrud, great-grandson of Prophet Noah (as).

Nimrud - whose name means "the rebel", according to the Bible and legend from many other sources, was a disbelieving powerful tyrant, head of an occult mystery religion, and founder of many great but corrupt cities like Babel and Nineveh. When he died, his wife deified him as the Sun-God later known by such names as Baal and Molech. She later had an illegitimate son, Tammuz, whom she claimed was the resurrected Nimrud supernaturally conceived.

Since pagans associated this resurrection story with the Ishtar festivals around the Spring Equinox, and Spring is the season in which the execution and resurrection of Jesus (as) are believed to have occurred, the two resurrection observances became the modern Easter.

Easter is largely considered the most important observance on the Christian calendar today, because it is associated with the belief in Jesus's (as) role as savior. Generally speaking, Christians believe that no human being can live a good enough life to warrant entry into God's presence in heaven. Further, God is Just, so every sin must be paid for or punished. In order that humans have access to Heaven and aren't all doomed to Hell by their sinful natures, through His Mercy, God wills and accepts the death of Jesus, the only sinless person ever to live (a proof of his divine nature), as payment for the sins of all those, and ONLY those, who believe and acknowledge this "Gospel Truth." Therefore, they celebrate his (as) rising as the completion and acceptance by God of this sacrifice, and thus as the guarantee of their after-lives in Heaven rather than Hell.

While Christians generally cite the divinity of Jesus (as) as key to the way he saves, Muslims consider deification of Jesus (as) as an obstacle to knowing God and His true salvation good news. Muslims, like Christians, regard Jesus (as) as savior, but not through a redemptive sacrifice. Islam rejects a few essential notions in the Christian salvation concept:

1. In Islamic canon, all prophets (as), and not just Jesus (as), lived sinless lives, and this trait is an indication of a messenger or guide of God, but not of divinity. The purpose of all these messengers and guides is to demonstrate and teach how to live a good life via example and delivery of God's guidance.

2. God can forgive sins by simply doing so, and has not chosen to constrict His forgiveness to the method of a blood sacrifice of a sinless or divine person. Salvation is in essence a meeting between a human's approaching God by trying to live a sinless and ideal life according to God's guidance, and the Love and Mercy of God turning to His Creation with forgiveness. No one is guaranteed salvation by claiming a certain set of beliefs, but people's actions, beliefs and intentions will all be weighed with both Justice and Mercy.

3. According to Qur'an and other Islamic sources, Jesus (as) was not crucified, and did not die for anyone's sins. He has not died yet, and was raised alive and will return.

On these latter points of being raised alive and returning, as well as many other awesome aspects of Jesus' (as) nature, such as virgin birth and performance of miracles, Muslims and Christians tend to agree. Thus, the primary differences between Muslims and Christians about the historical Jesus (as) are only his divinity and his death - but these differences contribute to considerably different conclusions about salvation.

Christians claim Jesus (as) as their savior, and Muslims do, too. In that sense, Muslims are Christians. But in the same sense, Muslims could also be called Ibrahimians, Musaians, Nuhians, and even the politically incorrect Muhammadans. Muslims claim all the sinless prophets and guides as saviors, through their deliverance of God's message to mankind, as well as perhaps through intercession. Therefore, applying the name of any one of them alone is incomplete as a reference to Muslims. The universal message that all the prophets delivered and which instructs mankind about knowing and approaching God, distinguishing truth from falsehood, and distinguishing right from wrong actions, is what Muslims consider as the "Gospel" that Jesus (as) delivered and that saves.

The Qur'an makes examples of Jesus (as) and other prophets extensively. We learn and apply the teachings from all of them and not Mohamed (saw) alone. We are not limited to the Bible or Qur'an for knowing and following Jesus (as). Shia hadith collections are another source on Jesus (as) worthy of study for Muslims and Christians alike. Some of the sayings in Shia sources attributed to or about Jesus (as) are also contained in the Gospels of the Christians, while others may be only from Ahlul-bayt (as). Al-Hajj Muhammad Legenhausen translated the most comprehensive collection available in English, Jesus (as) Through the Qur'an and Shi'ite Narrations. In the Easter season, Muslims and Christians can expand their understandings of Jesus(as) and better apply his universal message by delving into more than just the Qur'an or the New Testament for his teachings.