Fatah Gets The Boot!

Hamas has recently secured what the United States would like to refer to as a "shocking" victory in the recent Palestinian elections. Preliminary results give Hamas 76 of the 132 seats in the chamber, with the ruling Fatah party trailing on 43.
What does this bode for the future of Palestine? Is the decision to appoint a political group infamous for its terrorist activities really a good thing for Palestine?

I think it is...

Firstly we can rejoice that Palestinians have finally shown that they are unhappy with the rule of Fatah and the corruption that was rife within it.
Secondly we can be happy that Hamas will no longer have to resort to terrorism and violent means for its message to get though. Hamas recently announced that the unilateral truce between Israel and them would continue if Israel honours the truce. I sincerely hope that they do because fighting the pre-election Hamas was a totally different ball game than trying to undermine the only Palestinian government that has managed to capture not just the minds but also the hearts of Palestinians.

Hamas will now have a legitimate avenue from which to voice out it's policies and to negotiate a viable future for Palestine. I'm optimistic that Hamas will want to take this opportunity to bargain from a position of power and maintain the trust of the people of Palestine by continuing their clean up operations within the party. The Palestinian people too will have a stronger voice championing their cause in the form of Hamas as opposed to Fatah whose neck was leashed by an Israeli rope.
However, the win poses problems for efforts to restart peace talks with Israel, which insists it will not deal with an authority including Hamas. This I fear will be their greatest mistake. Israel has to realise that it is dealing with a Palestine that is increasingly desperate and outraged with the constant Israeli occupation and violence. The first signs of change was the change in Palestinian confidence in Fatah and the rise of Hamas.
But what I find funny is the reaction of the United States to the election. The United States and Israel seem to not want to negotiate with a "terrorist organisation" despite the fact that they were democratically voted into power by the people of Palestine. I find that especially disturbing because the U.S. has always been vocal about protecting democracy and the right to choose but is now choosing to ignore a democratically elected government and cut it out from the peace process. When does a terrorist become a minister?
Strange foreign policy you got there Mr. Bush...

Any predictions on the future of Palestine? Anyone?

Freedom of Press Or Freedom To Oppress?

Regardless of the actions of Muslims that degraded their own religion, (previous posts)
I find it absolutely appalling that the so called "free" press of Denmark is practicing such obvious double standards.
This brought me to an even bigger question...Is there such a thing as a free and liberal press? Or is the term so much self serving tripe that is dished out to us by...Hey, The press themselves!
That quintessential symbol of worlwide evil, Adolph Hitler, in his book Mein Kampf states that one of the tactics that leaders should use when in control of a nation is to perpetuate what he likes to call "The Great Lie" where a leader makes up a 'lie' and them repeats it 'eternally' with the correct support from public information dispensers to a point when the general populace actually believes in the 'lie' and accepts it as 'truth'. Have we been fed 'lies' all this time?
I admit, being a debater and a soon to be lawyer, my ideas about what is a lie is flexible at best but there is a difference between portraying your case in the best light and outright bullshit. (Though some may argue otherwise)
I was recently discussing a rather famous Malaysian issue with a fellow Muslimah who is a member of a Malaysian Muslim NGO and I heard something rather disturbing. (WARNING: Hearsay only, NOT to be construed as 'truth')
It seems that a certain Malaysian Daily refused to publish or accept documented evidence and an interview that pointed to the fact that our Muslim brother Moorthy was actually a Muslim at the time of death. These documents and the interview would have served to prove beyond a doubt that he was a Muslim and dispel much of the rumours that have been going around about the Syariah Courts but they were refused publication. Why?
Press hypocrisy functions in many ways. The most recent example of this was revealed by the British newspaper The Guardian in its article THE FILM U.S. TV NETWORKS DARE NOT SHOW (May 12, 2005). This article discusses the resistance filmmaker Adam Curtis encountered during his attempts to locate a major American media outlet willing to show his documentary film, THE POWER OF NIGHTMARES.
Although this documentary examines the historical events that ultimately led to one of the most catastrophic events in American history - the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon - the cowardice of the American media apparently resides not in the film's analysis of these events, but in its depiction of the "neo-conservative's" exploitation of September 11th for political and personal gain.
Ever wonder why the faulty intelligence, Halliburton contracts, mass killings in Fallujah, and outright lies about Iraq never received much press coverage as opposed to Osama's latest videotape?
Don't you find it funny that if the Pope is shown with a bomb for a hat, the whole world would be up in arms in denouncing the caricature, but if the Prophet is drawn similarly, it falls under freedom of speech and is not offensive.
Makes you look at your daily newspaper in a different light doesn't it?

Interesting Blogs

From time to time I come across blogs that give me a whole new experience and open up windows to the world I've never seen before. This is one such blog http://indiauncut.blogspot.com/ below is an excerpt from it

Jaziya

I'm sure you know how Islam is. You can do one of three things in the tribal agencies. One, you pay jaziya. Two, you embrace Islam. Three, you prepare to die.

We pay jaziya.

That's Taranjit Singh, a Sikh from Peshawar telling me about how the Sikhs of Peshawar get by. Jaziya is a religious tax that some Muslim kings, most infamously the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb used to levy on Non-Muslim subject. I'd always thought the practice had died out a couple of centuries ago, but large parts of the North-West Frontier Province, where I am right now, are stuck in an old time warp. Although it falls in Pakistan, Pakistan's government has no formal control over much of it, especially in the Khyber Agencies, where different tribes (or agencies) control different areas.

Just wanted to share a great read with you guys.

What Next?

What next? The Islamic world (I will not say that it's a "civilization" and I am still a bit skeptical about using the word "Islamic") was rocked, shaken and angry due to our Prophet being depicted in a cartoon and made fun of the world over. Muslims retaliated in the usual way...Burning, rioting, and damaging property...Old news now.
The next question the "Islamic world" should ask what do do next? It is an offence in Malaysia to deal with the images and I'm certain other countries have taken similar action. What's the next move? What should we do so that nothing of the sort will ever happen again?
I was sincerely disappointed at our Prime Minister's reaction to the crisis at hand. He adopted an ostrich approach to the problem and seemed to want to ignore the affront to the Prophet. (This is my interpretation of the speech and it may differ from person to person) To me both ways of dealing with the problem are wrong, Badawi's and the rioting.
A strong approach to the problem needs to be taken, but an approach that is also grounded in reality, economics, and politics I've been playing around with this idea in my head for a few days and it may sound a little idealistic but here goes:
The majority of Muslim countries are countries which are mostly import markets, where a lot of foreign goods cater to a domestic market. A concerted effort from ALL Muslim countries across the world to boycott goods from Denmark may just result in a lot of irate Danish businessmen pressuring their government to take action. The best part is, Muslim countries need only to shift their buying power to other competitors. (I may need more indepth research on this, I admit)
The second could be a direct letter from the Malaysian Agung to the Queen of Denmark demanding an apology from the State. Denmark is also a constitutional monarchy and thus the Queen holds sway as Chief Of State. The silence of the Agung on this matter is rather disturbing too. The next could be the deportation of all citizens of Denmark from Muslim countries and the revocation of their business licenses. Simple enough...So long as we have the political and economic will. Saudi Arabia need only halt its supply of petroleum for a day for the prices of fuel to skyrocket in the world market. Chaos...I know, but chaos that MUSLIMS can control.
What's the point of all this? At the very least it will demonstrate to the rest of the world that we mean business...And start to shake off the image that we are a barbarian horde, good only for wholesale destruction. At its greatest we will demonstrate to the world that Muslims are not to be trifled with anymore and we are done being the laughing stock of the world's population.

Blasphemy! Kill the Infidels!

I'm sure that most of you have read about the recent issue surrounding the freedom of press and the sanctity of religion. The Posten newspaper cartoon was considered to be a rape of Islamic principles and a slap on the face of all Muslims the world over, and rightly so...
But before we rant and rave about disrespect and blasphemy, let us ask ourselves, how many times have we laughed at and even ridiculed Buddha? How many times have we ridiculed Lord Vishnu, Siva, Murugan? How many times have we called Christians misguided? How many times have we condemned other religions in our "Muslim" publications?
We righteous Muslims are always right, how can we be wrong? How can we be wrong to point fingers at others? We are, after all the chosen of Allah S.W.T. How can we do anything which is not His Will? Why do we need to respect others when we are clearly the people of Heaven?
If this is what being a Muslim means, I'd rather be a heathen and burn in Hell. At least there I will not be a HYPOCRITE!
You know what I find disgusting? Its the rape Muslims have committed on their own civilization. Its the downright murder that we have done on the principles given to us by the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. Its the degrading filth we have immersed ourselves into since the death of the Prophet and the ascension of Muawiyah and all his bastard children.
Yes I said his bastard children...Any of you have a problem with that, this is my number 013 6048135. Please feel free to confirm your ignorance and stupidity.
Don't you find it ironic that the cartoon was made to depict Muslims as being violent and uncivilized, but what really confirmed the opinions expressed by the cartoon was the reaction by Muslims themselves? We have only confirmed the world's belief in our lack of education.
By all means burn down embassies, torch cars, riot in the streets...That's your right...But don't beat your chest or tear your hair out when your child's brains are splattered all over your street by a machine gun because he was mistaken for a terrorist. We ask why there is injustice but we don't realize that we have brought this upon ourselves by being scum ourselves.

Our Prophet himself had filth thrown at him when he approached unbelievers, he did not respond with degrading violence and uncivilized behavior, he responded with kindness and compassion. Is it because we love Our Prophet so much that we respond with mindless violence? I don't think so. I think its because we have allowed ourselves to become animals with no functioning or apparent thought process, that's why. And we wonder why we are hunted down in Palestine and Iraq and shot down like beasts. We should be ashamed of ourselves. I certainly am.

Addicted!

I am officially addicted to action figures...yes for those of you who think that i coundn't get any geekier...i have just reached new heights! I just can't seem to get enough of those plastic and metal sculptures. I don't just collect any action figure, i collect the sculpted figures that are very detail oriented. Halian and Arik will remember them from my room but for those of you who haven't had the rather dubious honour of being a guest at Casa Fareez, the pictures explain everything.
I need help don't i? Afdlin Shauki, a man of many talents once said that this hobby is only for individuals with serious mental issues. He of course, has thousands of action figures all over his house ;-)
Another empty self indulgent posting by Fareez

Fareez in Disguise!

Heloo everyone...its been awhile hasn't it? the break was absolutely phenomenal. Met A LOT of new friends and old ones as well. Have to thank Haroon for that. This has proved to be a great start to the new year for me. Scriptwriting a little, translations here and there, a totally rad Transformer Decepticon toy (side picture) and a few other collectibles later and i can safely say that i am a happy man!
Sorry for the rather short post...just wanted to show off.. Muahahahahaha...Did i mention that it is made out of die cast metal? :-)