I've been observing some "taboos" that need to be addressed.  I'm going to call them tired taboos so that we can retire them and potentially be able to address real issues. 

Relationship Disagreements: The first tired taboo is husband/wife disagreement.  I remember when I was younger, when there was masjid board election, my father would mandate that my mother vote for the person he favored.  She had no choice but to oblige: any disagreement demonstrated an end to the marriage.  Javaid is amazing and brilliant, but I don't always share his opinions. That's okay! He's okay with it, I'm ok with it.  The world seems to think it's a sign that we're drifting apart or out of love or want divorce.  If I even indicate sadness or tiredness, my family members will call Javaid and make sure we're alright. This makes me concerned.  Are we supposed to cease being humans upon marriage? Emotions, who needs those when you have a spouse? lol. In all seriousness, expecting uniformity in thinking and feeling is sending the message that marriage trumps independent thought and emotion.  If we can get past this taboo, we'd realize that the union of two different personalities and wealths of knowledge could spark some out-of-this-world discourses. 

Arts majors: This tired taboo stems from conversations I've recently had on campus.  When X girl says she's a "Global Health major," she's sure to add "Premed."  There's actually no major called Premed, and Global Health is a noble pursuit in and of its self.  Doctors can save lives.  Engineers can build nations.  In a country with an already built infrastructure, and relatively accessible medicine, it's okay to venture into the realms of humanity.  I understand the ideology for immigrants from war-torn countries.  The dream of becoming a doctor or engineer is not accessible to everyone, and the nations are actually in dire need of them. But when I hear these careers presented as the only option in America, all I hear is money.  If we're able to get past our fixation on medicine and engineering we'd be able to learn more about both those fields, our world, and ourselves.  What greater knowledge can one seek?

Stuck Student Groups: The group Students for Justice in Palestine does some really amazing things on campus: flash mobs, Finkelstein, Jeff Halper, etc.  However, they have a very bitter relationship with the group Sun Devils for Israel to the point that they attend and record each others events for their records. I understand that in Palestine and Israel conversations are difficult, but why is it taboo to even recommend a roundtable with both groups in a university?  This stalemate just demonstrates that even in an academic environment Israelis and Palestinians will not tolerate one another. Also, the MSA here puts on nice halaqas, Usama Canon, free tutoring, etc. But if anyone talks about Sunni/Shia discussions it's quickly shot down.  That's not even going outside the faith! Let alone if anyone wants to have a roundtable with Hillel, or YoungLife. The students come into these conversations pre-programmed, repeating everything their parents told them and acting on that information. So much student passion combined with the resources and information of a university could be channelled into innovative solutions to Palestine/Israel, or an unprecedented community service event from a pan-religious group.  

Poverty: Muslim Americans can be poor too. There I said it! Poor Muslims in America are invisible to Muslims and to Americans.  The masjids always want to show the American communities that they have doctors and wealthy business men that give back to the community, so they glorify them.  I guess it's a part of the minority complex, always trying to put on a show. But even when the masajid have fundraisers it's always for Palestine, Chechnya, Somalia, Pakistan, etc. These are all worthy causes! But what about your neighbor? The kids who live in your city, and whose parents struggle to keep the lights on or get school supplies for their children. The only time they're acknowledged is Eid time, when everyone is feeling generous, but they're there year round.  Helping people in our own communities succeed helps us all, as Muslims and as Americans. 

There are quite a few more, but I think that suffices for now... I guess the overlying message to myself is to keep thinking and challenging things that are amiss.  "The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." -Nietzsche.  

*Sigh* Now I can study for my exams. ^_^

When enough started to be enough: The way Obama bowed to Netanyahu for Palestinian statehood at the UN bid was disgusting.  Why did it go down? Because he was worried about the Jewish vote.  Perry (aka Bush squared)'s come under fire because his comment about educating immigrant children that could be construed as him getting the Hispanic vote.  Hunstman and Romney's faiths are always being talked about in the news constantly because they're mormon; so reporters ask if this will jeopardize their getting the Protestant vote. The political conversation is about how to acquire the votes of various populations. What stands out to me is that I never hear anyone vie for the Muslim vote.  Who don't politicians ever vie for the Muslim vote I ask? It's certainly not because Muslims don't have opinions on various matters. Everywhere I go Muslims are talking about politics because politics are happening to us. 

It's simply because most Muslims don't vote.  

The majority of the 2% of us are immigrants, so either don't know about, or can't vote.  Or they are first generation Americans who are not informed about how to vote or why it's important.  At first, I was thinking of starting a lobby. But it's too late in the conversation for that to be relevant in 2012.  That's not say that we don't need a nonpartisan or conservative Muslim lobby.  Why do ISNA, MAS, CAIR and MPAC always push democratic agendas?  Whether I agree with them or not, it gives no incentive for conservative candidates to appeal to Muslims- when, in fact, lots of their ideologies are in sync with Muslim beliefs.  Nonetheless I want to see Muslims change their attitudes and begin mattering in this election.  So instead, my plan is to start a campaign to register as many Muslims to vote as possible.  I'm going to register all the Muslims I know to vote.  I'm going to make a facebook page and send it to everyone I know and have them forward it to everyone they know.  And it'll be professional (or as professional as fb allows) with a proper logo, and details on why it's important and statistics.  I don't have any idea what to call it. So far the ideas thus are "We're American Too" but that sounds defensive. And "Muslims Rock the Vote" but that sounds a bit immature.  

So I'll be developing that idea, figuring out where to get voter registration forms, and reaching out to the masajid, politicians, etc for the next few days.  

And finally,to end on some good news: my paper on Perceptions of Muslim Women post 9/11 was accepted for presenting in the ACJS Conference in NY in 2012.  What an exciting time to do things that matter! Duahs galore please!!

Alhamdulilah, I'm so blessed with a loving husband.  After a surprise bday dinner, a cheesecake, a new bike- I was so overwhelmed I could hardly sleep.  The most beautiful gift he could give me, he did just now: I couldn't sleep so I rolled away from him at night to get a drink from the kitchen.  But I found I couldn't. In his sleep he held my hand and didn't want to let me go. That's the definition of love.  Gah! I love this man so much!! In the morning, we're going horseback riding, all I've wanted to do for months now. Ya Allah, please protect him from any danger, keep him healthy, help him reach all his dreams. Let me be the wife he needs to make his deen, his future, his life perfect. Ameen.