How do you tell someone...

I just had a harrowing three weeks. If I had to share with you the details of the three weeks, I wouldnt begin to know where to start sharing those thoughts.

The thing is, how do you tell someone in a not so "in your face way" that I was not on vacation, "vacationing", but rather with some critically ill, who then passed away and I was no longer being with but rather mourning and burying that person?

I realized that as Americans, we really shy away from "harrowing" topics. Things that abuse our sense of life are things that should remain publically taboo. When i got back, all my friends, associates who I work with asked how my vacation went. On the record, it was considered a vacation, but I was not relaxing on some Indonesian Beach sipping on virgin Margaritas, no, rather, I was doing something quite the opposite and not so quite self absorbed.

In my one day being back, I realized that people when told what I did on my "vacation" are a bit dumbfounded, even disturbed and leave in reverent silence at the fact that I vacationed with death for three weeks. But then again, what do you want me to say about the emmotional process I as a human went through, "oh, yeh, Indonesia a great place to go surf, you should go next time on your vacation, I suggest you stay at the Hilton in Bali."

"He felt dizzy, and next moment he stopped breathing"

A brother in South Orange County passed away. It seems that it was unexpected. I do not even know his name, but I pray for his forgiveness, ask Allah to make his soul at rest in the grave to provide for his family and replace their grief with stronger iman and the knowledge that one day they will once again be reunited.

Since 2000, Innocent Children have died , and children have known nothing but violence

The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs put together this thought provoking project called "Remember these Children and countless others". They present that since 2000, 118 Israeli children have died from the violent conflict that is the Israeli-Palestinian "peace process"- or maybe the lack of peace or process. They also point out that 934 Palestinian children have been killed in the conflict since 2000.

I want to take the time and remember those children killed since 2000 during the month of May. Its my way of allowing them live on and teach us in the west a lesson of what a blessing Peace is.


May 2007

We are at a precarious place. The reports have not compiled the names of the children who have passed away this month. But its time to take action and make change, children should not die and growing up with so much death only perpetuates hatred and anger and feeds the cycle of pain.

Please contact your local political leader and tell them enough is enough!

Soccer player killed during game

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كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ
Every soul shall taste death
(Qur'an 3:185)