Tolerance.. A double entendre?
(picture: Jananne El-Ani)
Are we living a universal Nazi regime all over again?
Nazism is pathological aberration of German romance. The romantics opposed to the idea of the universal man and they favored not the abstract human being but the tradition and the race. As a result to that, man has become labeled by his culture and his origin and background became like a second skin that could be a prison. The map of the world became a mosaic that kept people separated as opposed to the melting pot that it should be and human interactions through out the world now consist of North-South leaving out the East-West.

Multiculturalism is about the inter-cultural relationships. It is about learning from each other and it becomes a challenge when there is no understanding of what the culture is. It is similar to the fanatic modesty of the French population that leaves immigrants clueless as to what constitutes being French. Nowadays the Western intellectuals are posing an atheist monoculture which could be the reason behind the persecution of Muslims in Europe. In the United States, Islam is not considered a threat to multiculturalism and that could be a reason why Muslims are left to their practices in the US more than Europe. Berlin is considered the 3rd largest Turkish city for example since 25% of the population is Muslim. The population of Muslims is France is larger than the population of Libya.

It seems that the solution posed today to the Islamic presence in Europe is to encourage secularism, or modern Islam. Nilufer Gole in her book "Interpretations: Islam and Europe" explains the effect of the transition between old and new Europe on the integration of Islam in European countries. The debate about Muslim immigration, Islamic headwear in public schools, the terrorist attacks in European cities, and Turkey’s membership in the European Union all indicated the ways in which Islam was entering the public sphere of Europe. The term secular Islam is just a term to describe non-practicing Muslims by birth who have adopted the ‘western way’. I find it hypocritical to expect those Muslim immigrants to leave their culture behind in order to integrate in the European culture. I also think this contradicts with the term multiculturalism and defeats the nature of the argument.

I attended one of the lectures at the New York Public Library as part of the PEN organized New York Festival of International Literature presiding Salman Rushdie (whom I had the chance to meet). The discussion entitled “The limits of tolerance: Multiculturalism now”. During which and on the subject of Islamic culture in Germany, Necla Kelek said “Turkish men made a journey 40 years ago to Germany and despite the years, the Turkish Muslims are not integrated in the German culture. They kept their Islamic traditional beliefs. They live in a world where they are supported by a bigger Islam. The way women wear the veil reflects the level of fundamentalism and the black chador for example is a sign of organized religion. The women only exist in the shadow of their husbands and that is the basis of the religion”.

I disagree almost entirely with the previously stated view on Islam in general and Islamic women in particular. The scarf that Muslim women wear, which is not mandatory in Islam, is in no way an indication of weakness or being subjected to the man.

I came across a very nice view on the Islamic veil in a piece done by Jananne El-Ani, who is a Palestinian artist whose work is currently shown at the museum of modern arts as part of the "without boundary: seventeen ways of looking" exhibition of Islamic arts (a term invented in Europe in the 19th century, to describe the art of a vast region stretching from Indonesia to Morocco). In her photograph, she depicted 5 women in various stages of veiling giving the room to the viewer to interrupt the process and disrupt a very private journey. The faces are very confrontational despite the normal cliché of the veil subjecting the women. The cover could be very powerful. Her portrayal of women contradicts expectations rejecting conformity to any dress code.

I do not understand why the head scarf is even an issue. Maybe the declaration of one’s religion makes people more uncomfortable. I have said it before and I will say it again. The head scarf is not obligatory in the Islamic religion. Islam does not give an inferior position to women but men give an inferior position to women given the chance in any religion. This is strongly manifested in some Islamic countries nowadays for the fact that these are impoverished countries due to wars which leads to ignorance and misinterpretation and misuse of religion in the name of power.

The European countries that Muslims migrate to should practice what they preach and be, themselves, tolerant to the manifestation of the Islamic religion and open to other cultures. Westernizing Islam through the creation of the secular European hidden and shy Islam is not the answer.

I have to say that I personally hate the veil. I do not hate what it represents though and I can not judge people who wear it or try to impose my sense of culture or fashion on others. Freedom includes the freedom of speech, writing, thinking, wearing what you want and practicing your religion in any shape or form it entails.

The time of causes is long gone..


I was dining with some friends at a Lebanese restaurant in Manhattan. I stepped out to smoke a cigarette with Mike, a Palestinian guy who has been living in the US most of his life. He was a very frail boy with a lot of determination and a lot of dignity. He had a trait that you can never miss in young Palestinian men. The children of the silent revolution and the brothers of the Intifada kids all had the same look. They all had this silent sadness about them. This feeling of never belonging and never complaining but revolting on the inside that strikes you as you spot one of them. They are the children of heroic fathers, never afraid of death. They are the children of heroic strong mothers, Jean Genet characters for mothers, women fighting next to men, feeding their children the love of the earth with every drop of milk. We had stepped out for me to calm down. I had just realized what Carl, the Lebanese guy who was at our dinner table, does for a living. I almost couldn’t look at him anymore when he told me that he worked as an informant for the army. Charlie joined us. Charlie was also a Lebanese man who is residing in the country for the lack of something he could do back home. He agreed when I told him that he is only hiding here and that there was nothing holding him from going back. I do not know what happened to Charlie after that. He was a chunky little man wearing a cheap suit that night. He gave fake smiles left and right and stroked his sweaty palms waiting for tip from the gentlemen at my table. Right then and there you could sum him up as the opportunistic money-loving man he was. They told me to calm down about Carl. I could not understand how I could. I was never an advocate of war or killing or being a tool of taking any life. When you grow up in a time of war though and you see massacres being committed in the name of occupation towards you and your race, you become an advocate of retaliation.
- I think our men are heroes and they fight with what they have. I think the men fighting in our south and in Palestine are no different than those kids throwing stones, a man with no power is like a kid with all the passion and drive and innocence, the difference though is that they know their cause and they know their logic and they protect their land. It is only considered terrorism, when we are defending ourselves with our bodies, because it is not organized crime like what they commit against us.

I let out some of my feelings that night and I was called naïve and idealistic. Charlie only cared about money and he would sell his mother for some bucks. I was hoping Mike would support me on this. To my surprise he took the same position as Charlie.

- What land he said and what cause? People are in despair and they are hungry. People died and struggled and got humiliated and stranded for life for the name of a cause that was an illusion, a gold mine for the politicians and the so-called leaders. People are just poor and hungry. I guarantee you it would be a much better solution for all these families in the camps in Lebanon and in Palestine to be compensated and they would sell the cause to live. People just want to live.

- To live persecuted? To live without dignity?
- We are so egoistic in our idealistic views and we sit back here and expect those families not to give up when all they care about by now is to have some of what you have.
- We all live the burden of hypocrisy I guess. I would not go as far as Carl did and be a traitor.
- But what is being done right now is that they are trying to put an end to those extremists who are executing operations throughout the world, killing innocent people and having nothing to do with the Palestinian situation.

- What about the war in Iraq? Some of these Arabic men are working against the situation is Iraq. I had a roommate who came up to me one day asking me to teach him Arabic. I said I might and when I asked what he needs to learn it for, he told me that he will enroll in the army and will go to fight in Iraq. I explained to him that he was asking me to arm him against my people. He did not see what I meant. He came back one day saying that he only needed some clarifications about a couple of sentences. I thought he would never learn Arabic and there was no harm in helping him with a sentence or two. He had downloaded pages from the internet that translate war lingo into Arabic. I was disgusted as I was reading it. Sentences like, oksof l3adow, kill the enemy. Who is the enemy? It is us. Then I thought who did this? Who wrote this and could not look at it for a minute. Your friend there, sir, is doing exactly that. How can I forgive him for that?
- I am telling you, you are naïve
- I surely hope the world still has enough naïve people.

The time of causes might be gone but can you forgive?
What is the extent of our involvement or lack of it?
And if we are not helping, how could we help the offender?

A quarter century of AIDS.

In the 25th year since the first confirmed appearance of the HIV virus, this meeting attempted to tackle issues concerning the immense unanswered challenges posed by the scope of the AIDS calamity, particularly in the developing world. The CNN Primetime Special, "The End of AIDS: A Global Summit with President Clinton” was held on April 28. “Through providing the world citizenry with a platform for a new global dialogue, the next 25 years will mark the anniversary of the last cases of AIDS”The meeting was hosted by Dr. Sanjay Gupta and attended by special panelists including President Bill Clinton of the Clinton Global Initiative and activist and actor Richard Gere. The program assembled the leading voices and stakeholders confronting the global AIDS crisis today. From the worlds of business, government, the media, international relief agencies, activists and the religious community, the intention was to marshal the efforts and ideas of all parties who are truly equipped to make a difference and find workable, practical answers to this modern scourge. If you are interested in taking a part in this global fight to eradicate AIDS, join the AIDS Walk NY is Sunday May 21st at 10:00am. There is nomandatory donation but GHMC is a great organization and any fundraisingyou're able to do will be greatly appreciated!

http://www.aidswalk.net/newyork/

Damn Hippies ?

I was sitting with my friend at a café in the east village having some cappuccino on what turned out to be a really cold night. The most wonderful thing about New York would have to be the street traffic and being able to talk to people randomly. Earlier in the day, I had the most stimulating talk with this old gentlemen waiting in line for the museum door to open. A German Jew who came up to my friend and I as he peaked into her booklet where she kept her Arabic phrases. He wanted to discuss Paradise Now when he knew I was an Arab and then he started telling me about the big war and the inflation and how he came to this country. I watched as his daughter showed up and he gave her the tenderest kiss and I felt so close to this man. It is amazing that hate creates hate and retaliation but people like me and him just want to live in peace. While shivering in the café, this woman who was passing by invited herself to our conversation and started preaching about the little organization that she leads with a group of her artist friends (this is the link she gave me http://www.zendik.org/index.html). It turns out that their organization is a bunch of people who live together independently of the “system”. They do not condone the consumption-based society that we live in that could only lead to more hate and exploitation of people. Those people live up from their art and try to communicate and reach out to as much people as possible.
- This all sounds good but you still go to the store though and use merchandise and you’re wearing designer earrings.
- Yes of course, we cannot live entirely without the society
- Fair enough, you are part of the community. It is always good to spread the love and communication message you’re talking about even when it’s a bit idealistic, don’t you think. Having said that, you still see love everywhere. I saw many couples in love at the park today. The manifestation of affection could be more hidden nowadays because it is becoming harder to people to find and live love on a daily basis in this racy life we lead.
- Exactly, and that’s why we’re here to try to remind people who are tired of wars and cheating and exploitation that they could live away from all that.
- And do what? What is your solution? What sort of economical plan have you people devised? You lead this sort of life, well good for you to have this privilege but you guys are artists. What can people with jobs that require being at corporations do? Do you suggest we all quit the jobs that lead to more exploitation? All jobs do and all corporations are rotten but what is the solution and where do you start? Should we all leave our jobs and sit and love each other? Start what revolution exactly.
- People are miserable though
- Who said everybody is supposed to be happy?
- Do you want to buy the Tshirt?
- No, that's another form of consumption and I should be against that.

Feast for the i
We are particularly proud of our resident scientist Jeff Wyckoff for being acclaimed for his recent show. Jeff is a living example of how art and science are more related than we think. He understands that, through looking within our selves and our bodies, we should be able to observe a beauty similar to that of the beauty of nature and to project it through art. Jeff is able to embody the life that most of us dream of. He acquired the privilege to surf the knowledge and to have a message and a true belief and understanding of both worlds. “Jeffrey Wyckoff uses his own scientific findings as a medium to make works of art. Science to him is a tool. It is the smallest common denominator out of which grows an extremely varied artistic production. When he employs traditional artistic media such as those of drawing, painting, sculpture and photography, science is used as their subject matter. Reversely, when Wyckoff works with scientific materials like microslides and petri dishes, the images that are transferred onto them contain references to the history of photography and of art in general”(http://www.paperveins.org/biennial/2000/catalog/wyckoff.html)
"The particular richness of Wyckoff's work comes forth out of this permanent oscillation and interchange between two very different systems in our society: science and art. Fascinated by the chaotic beauty of the microscopic, he translates these impressions to macroscopic images. On this ordered level, the blown-up scientific elements operate as aesthetic works of art, and have become part of a different system of meaning".
His recent piece of work, which was acclaimed in the LA times (http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-ca-ipodart23apr23,1,7027388.story?ctrack=1&cset=true) was a time lapse movie showing his blood cells in motion. The movie was made on one of our inverted microscopes, which i call the solitude (as opposed to other microscopes called the darkness and patience).
The movie, along with others from other artists played on an ipod. As opposed to his other shows, this movie was not accompanied by any sound and no pseudocolor added to the cells which made it even the more real and striking. He said to me, it's just simple that way. And it was true, away from the scientific atmosphere, you felt like you were looking at your cells in the most intimate way and it was brilliant.
If you have interest in science or art, learn his name and follow up on him, he's very good at both

As per the wonderful Anessa
Invisible children













"Facts:
Northern Uganda called the worst humanitarian crisis in the world today because of the lack of attention.
1- 1.7 million people forcefully displaced.
2- An estimated 20-50,000 children abducted to fight as soldiers.
3- Tens of thousands of children commuting nightly (to escape)
4- 130 people dies per day in Northern Uganda due to violence

On April 29th in over 130 cities across the country are lying down to demand:
1-End the conflict and protect the civilians of Northern Uganda
2-Ensure adequate humanitarian assistance to the invisible children (in internally displaced camps and beyond)

The overnight march will take place in the following cities:
San Francisco
D.C.
Florida (multiple cities)
Chicago
St. Louis
Atlanta
Phili
NYC
Montreal"

check the link in the title for more information

Meeting don Juan Diego Florez








Sudden delight
Valses, criollos, marineras, boleros, rancheras
And tango… sentimiento latino...

" Let me tell you, man of lima
let me tell you of the glory
of the dreams that comes from memories
of the old bridge, the river and the promenade.

Let me tell you about it,
now while the memory still has its perfume,
while my dream still shimmer
the old bridge, the river and the promenade.

Jasmine blossom in her hair and roses in her cheeks,
the cinnamon flower would walk by, graceful
and alluring, and leaving in her wake
the aroma of the perfume she wore on her breast.

From the bridge to the promenade,
her slender feet take her along the path
that trembles to the rythm of her hips,
she would pick up the laugh of the river breeze
and cast it to the wind, from the bridge to the promenade.

Let me tell you,
ah, let me tell you, dark-haired man, my thoughts,
and see if they wake you from your dream,
the dream, dark-haired man, ruled over by your heart.

Breathe in the charms
of the cinnamon flower,
cover her with jasmine blossom,
adding to her loveliness,
strew the bridge
and garland the promenade
for the river will flow in time with
her steps along the path.

And remember...
jasmine blossom in her hair and roses in her
cheeks...
From the bridge to the promenade..."

Remembering princesa alameda..The faint lights.. our promenade.. The soft whispers.. San Juan..

Who pays the price?









(painting: Susan dorothea white)

Faced with the demands of the modern life, we have transcended above our bodily sins and human-bound inclinations only to embrace a new set of sins. Life on the fast track has made it difficult for us to maintain our romantic nature that allows us to be more in contact with our emotions. This phenomenon is deeply rooted in the nature of our urban existence and its impact is directly implemented and reflected in the contemporary artistic and literary work. Instead of ‘anger’, we now react with indifference and we have lost our lust for a more practical celibacy. Lust that could include our lust for life and our thrive to love and to react and be angry and happy. Our emotions are dampened since we have a very narrow window for emotions and human interactions. Workaholism has taken the place of sloth. In case we considered workaholism as a synonym for restlessness defined as one the five hindrances holding from enlightenment in Buddhism, then we have not adopted a new sin. Our workaholism is feeding our indifference and has replaced those intermittent instances of sloth that could very well be a window to self-meditate as well as reach out for moments of clarity and spirituality. Instead of pride that has created immortal pieces of work and ballades chanting with the glory of humanity, we now dwell in self-effacement and self-doubt and ego phobias that will portray our generation as cowardice and voiceless. Along with self-denial we have adopted all forms of sins of the memory (as defined by Daniel Schacter). And while the sin of bias results from forgetfulness that is a healthy part of our cognitive nature, it gets aggravated in our modern times due to workaholism and indifference. The lack of empathy with the human race comes from our indifference to issues that do not directly affect us fueled with self-doubt and the necessity to excel in order to survive the economical demands of our modern societies.
In short we’re in trouble but we don’t care because we’re too busy.
The question that remains though is who suffers from our indifference?
Who suffers from our biases and misjudgments? who are we working so hard for?
Are we sucking up to the system that is killing us?
Who is paying the price?

What a Freak!!!!














He will drown himself this Monday. He will live under water in a specially built human aquarium (an eight-foot acrylic sphere) for a week. The event will be in full public view in front of the Lincoln center. Afterwards, he will attempt to hold his breath under water longer than any other human being (8 min and 58 sec). During the 7 days, you will have the chance to watch him closely and communicate with him. I truly think David is one of the best illusionists of our days. His levitation technique still bewilders the masses and his high physical and mental endurance is to be acknowledged. Come by. It'll be fun!
My heart still belongs to the mindfreak though..

Alive for the lack of death?

Numb...

I am bored…
I have always had a higher tendency to get bored. I feel unchallenged and unstimulated faced with many instances and many directions in my every day life. Lately I have reached a new level where I think I am bored with life in general and this is not, in any way, acute. This feeling has been creeping into my life for quite sometime now and throughout the years I have eliminated many involvements, even emotional ones, which I ceased to react to.

I eat half a meal; listen to bits of songs, read half books, and I get tired in the middle of an experiment, in the middle of a sentence, in the middle of a kiss. I want the practical end of a relationship and the short version of a life. I look tired and I feel tired. I am bored and done with conceptual solutions to keep busy and have a meaning of all of this. I am not sad in any way, I am bored with sadness, I am just dried up and numb. I am bored of the same faces, the same places, my keys, my wardrobe, my computer, with love and this country. I am bored of the same voices, the potentials and the lack of, the accumulated papers I have to read, the next step that is long due and I’m bored with you. Now I’m bored with this post

Check out the post
(taken from cafe da's blog)

when love comes to town









Her friend caught her looking at her reflection
- Whatcha doin’?
- What? Nothing..
- You like this guy don’t you?
- I actually think I do
- So what’s the problem?
- Nothing, it just feels strange, could it be real? I feel like I’m in a dream
- He likes you a lot
- How would you know that?
- I think everybody at that table pretty much knew.
she smiles….



Only when she thought he couldn’t be the perfect man
he talked…
And he spoke the language dear to her heart
He told her she danced like heaven
she thought that he looked like heaven
In his eyes she saw her stories
They talked the night away
He whispered in her ears, and she laughed like a child
He knew her and she knew him…



Girl, where have you been all my life?
Where have you been all mine?
He could read her mind
I’m leaving tomorrow but I’ll be back for good
I’ll be here
You won’t forget about me?
How could i?
So this is for real?
I’m pretty sure…

Are you kidding me? (check the link)

Do I tell my wrist to forgive the pain
Do I undo your cigarette burn
Do I wipe my eyes to forgetness
You have created the gap
With your indifference
Jealousy, screams…madness
and you leave me to this?
the end is this?

Happiness is a thought frozen in time
Hidden in the future
tucked in the hope
of one day forgetting
How dare you leave?
Who gave you the right to do so?
And you ask me to pick up and go
And my coat is in your closet
And my bags are always packed
They have been sealed for 10 years
and where to go,
hell! Where?
And how do you think this is fair

You stayed?
Have I not made you love me
Have I not washed your feet with tears
Have I not wiped the steps before you
You think I’m your consolation plan
You get lost and lose me on your way
And you feel threatened and lonely
If I ever find my way
Now we both are lost and hurting
And I’m never taking you back
Are you happy now?

you've always liked the taste of those tears
well fear not
plenty will come
you damned man...

Rain...











Dark night
Bell rings
Phone abstains

Tea cup
Leaves succumb
In the mist of my pain

Fog on the walls
Hidden Ponds
Electric rain

Clouds floating
Blood smudging
Under the train

Nose
Frosted
Bursting veins

Wet lilies
Behold the beast
Master of disdain

Sliding road
Unwanted child
wrong lane

Strokes of wind
Wet shoulder
How vain

Lost umbrella
Who knows where
keep it sane

Bubbles in her mouth
She calls it art
she calls it art

And Since we're on Haiku..

The jerk
at the soda fountain
leaks in her hand

nailed on the door
MEN
OUT OF ORDER

her body
curved on a couch
a smile

ZIPPED UP
IN HER JEANS
HIS GENES

SPRING RAIN
YOUR BODY
IN ME

SCARED STIFF
PAYING FOR CONDOMS
WITH A RUBBER CHECK

NUDE BEACH
NOTHING NEW
UNDER THE SUN

ORAL SEX
THE POLITICIAN
SPEECHLESS

MAKING LOVE
THE JACK-O-LANTERN
ALSO GRINS IN THE DARK

SHADOWS MOVING
ON THE BEDROOM WALL
A PUMPKIN'S EYES

MY NAME
DROWNED
ON HER TONGUE

SMELL OF RED SNAPPER
THE SHEET'S WHITENESS
A HANDFUL OF LOVE

HER HIPS
SWING AHEAD
OF HIS TASTE

PREGNANCY
GUESSING THE TECHNIQUE
RELATIVES SMILE

HER CRY
MOUTH AND TEETH
SOPRANO IN LOVE

*Anonymous*

"Le secret d'ennuyer est celui de tout dire."
--Voltaire

El primero beso...

will keep you posted :)

Just for kicks!

Bigger than life ...

- Do you love me still?
- Is my name still the same?
- You never say it these days
- Darling you make my days
- A woman needs to hear
- You know to me you’re dear
- Dear? What happened to your muse
- Your love I did not lose
- Tell me then my love
- You are not, anymore, my dreams
You are not a strike of a brush
You do not make me blush
I do not roam the earth for you
My heart doesn’t stop at the sight of you
I do not get chills when you touch me
I do not die after you kiss me
You are now my past, present and future
You are my compass, my address, my eyeglasses
You drew every wrinkle on my body
You fixed my food, my appointments, my children
You were a mother to them and me
You witnessed my peaks and my falls
and you stayed through it all
You gave me your all and all what to be
You are a melody that eases me to sleep
You are a face I embrace my mornings with
You are the reason I keep living
And without you my heart ceases
For you commend him to keep beating
Till death do us part…

She said
this is your father
this is the man I opened my eyes to
this is my husband
this is the man who loved me all my life
he is my unwritten biography
I’ve written it on his forehead
I’ve written it in his every move
Every little habit,
Every look of respect he gives me
He is my story
And he will be the end of it
it’s better to know
the person you love is dead
than living every life’s detail
without you on his side
so till death do us part...

(pic, central park)

She just wants to play...


In all seasons,
she will play.
From time to time,
she might sing.
She will look up to the sky,
and twirl.
Talk to the birds,
in her heart.
She would run,
in the wild.
Hug the trees,
and hide from bees.
But she lives free,
free as a child...

In all seasons,
she’s a child
she is carefree
and she’s pure
she has a white dress on
and she lets nature
draw on it
the most colorful painting
she kisses flowers
and drinks from the rain
she loves the sun
and loves to run
and she lives the beauty
of being a child...

In all seasons
and through all times
she needs protection
she's born to be loved
she doesn’t care for war
she wants to play
she doesn’t like blood
she is not to be raised on hate
don’t fight for her
she gets scared
she cried for other children
who die for her
she thinks they kill in her name
and she hides her face in shame

What are you going to say to her,
When she grows
and she knows?

(Picture: central park)