Whats wrong with being a Porn Star?

Are you looking for pornography on a Muslim site? Well you won't find that here. You won't find something that is distasteful either.

This is a Muslim blog. Its a blog created by activists to tackle real issues being debated, swept under the rug, or urgently in need of discussion.

Real life issues mean dealing with things that are not pleasant, that make you un-easy and challenge the very things that you stand for.

I hear a lot about censorship, what's synonymous with this word is the term "salafi police" in the Muslim community. I am not a fan of labels, nor do I care for censorship. So, in no way do I see me taking this post down as a win for censorship.

Naseeha, giving advise, is critical in Islam, especially when it comes to endeavors such as a community blog with wide array of perspectives and beliefs. In taking down this post I have come to realize that there is a fashion an way in which things could and should be posted and the sensitive nature of the topic being discussed here requires that finesse.

I am a community blogger, what makes me happy is when I have a community that I am part of and belong to. It also makes me angry, disappointed and frustrated. Because the same community is often times not the best. However, no matter how angry, disappointed and frustrated the community gets me, the one lesson I have learned is that to be positive change, you can not run miles ahead of the group of people I wish to be part of, to work on behalf of, to represent.

That means re-evaluating my own sensibilities. Which is a challenge and a internal discussion for myself.

Living in America, heck in the "modern, post-modern, internet age" world is not an easy task. With access to so much information its often easier to just not care. To be indulgent in things that are superficial and fantasy centered.

As Muslims, our work is to make Islam not just a thought, a passing phase in one's life, but relevant and truely a "way of life." I am not here to just make a statement, make people's mouths drop and stand in disgust. Nor am I here to be a militant issue person.

I have blogged about pornography in the past, as well as sex slaves, and Muslim Gay issues. I have blogged about marriage issues in the Muslim community, and race. I have blogged about the Moon Wars, pummeled leftist Muslims for their idiotic apologist's mantra that undermines the community. I have gone after right wing nut cases as well.

For the most part, you read this blog because you find something here that is worth reading. I value that. However, the armchair activism that the majority of our readers participate in is not helping anyone. Sure we get the hits, however, we always need feed back. Public comments tell me, us, where to go and how to go.

To be honest, I have gotten no more comments on this post then any other controversial post. However, I have gotten stopped or IM'ed more often then other posts. I love that people respect me enough to help me understand what they think. I however, also would love it if you are honest and leave your comments here. Because if school is a lesson to learn from, then we know if you have an opinion then most likely five other people also share that opinion or question.

Expect the post to be reposted. Until then, I look forward to hearing back from you on whether the video should or shouldnt be posted.

Hypocrisy of US and Canadian University Presidents Condemning Academic Boycott

In the last few weeks, university presidents across the US and Canada have rushed to issue statements about the proposed boycott of Israeli academic institutions by the British University and College Union. They view this boycott as a serious violation of academic freedom. Yet, given the general failure of these leaders to comment on any number of infringements of academic freedom that have occurred in recent years, including those close to home in the form of the politically-motivated denial of tenure to Norman Finkelstein and the colleague, Mehrene Larudee, who very publicly supported him, the harassment of Columbia University professors Joseph Massad and Rashid Khalidi, and the intimidation of faculty by Campuswatch, one might be excused for concluding that university presidents prefer to remain above the political fray and reserve their office for grave and important but non-controversial pronouncements on tsunamis. But now, even in the midst of the hot and hazy summer recess, university presidents have mobilized their most imposing academic rhetoric in expressing solidarity with Israeli academics and upholding the rights of all to engage in "an open exchange of ideas" and "freedom of association."

What is perhaps most perplexing about this trend is its entirely virtual nature, for in fact no one's freedom has been violated by the boycott yet under discussion. Nevertheless, university presidents are preparing in advance for what could be an "attack ... [on] all universities at their core mission" (Gilles Patry, University of Ottawa) and a "threat ... [to] the moral foundation of each and every university" (Amy Guttman, University of Pennsylvania). [1] University of Virginia President John Casteen compares the proposed boycott to "the conduct of the most vicious political movements and governments of the 20th century." Yet, surely they must realize that Palestinians have for many decades suffered a multitude of assaults on their universities and schools by the Israeli occupying forces. Surely if university presidents are up in arms over a proposed boycott of Israeli academics, they must have something to say about the shutting down of universities, jailing and shooting of students and faculty, daily impeding of students and faculty from getting to classes, denial of student permits to attend universities, and revoking of visas to visiting scholars and researchers that characterizes academic life in Palestine. If a boycott of academic institutions is considered unfair, what does one call the methodical destruction of an educational system?

Read on at Electronic Intifada

Here for my reply to Chancellor Drake's message condemning the academic boycott (jazaks 'Nabulsi' for posting). I emailed it to the Chancellor last month but never got a reply.