Are images more than just memories?By capturing images of us and things around us, are we attempting to defy death and become immortal? Or are we simply accepting defeat and welcoming our fate that death will ultimately claim us and therefore the intention is to leave something behind with which others may remember us by?
- A thought inspired by Pamuk.
more...Recently, I found a copy of ‘The Trouble with Islam’ by Irshad Manji at a used book shop in Toronto. I have read some chapters over the past few days and so far I find this book to be somewhat elementary and lacking in depth. I seriously dislike Manji’s prose as the whole book reads like a one-way conversation between Manji and the reader. The words flip flop all over the place. The vocabulary is unimpressive. The sentence structure is irritating. I think that she purposely wrote it in this manner as she wanted to connect with more people and perhaps she wanted write in a casual prose to make frank arguments. I find Manji to be a very good and articulate speaker but I just can’t get used to the written prose of this book as it seems like I am reading an opinion piece in the Toronto Sun.
Besides this, I have had a couple of other issues with this book. The book is mostly about Manji’s experiences with Islam but often she uses here experiences to claim that all Muslims have had the same experiences as her. In one section of her book, she claims that while growing up as a Muslim she never heard the name of Abraham even though Abraham was the ancestor of Jewish prophets who laid the groundwork for Christianity and Islam. I don’t know which mosque or Islamic school Manji attended but Abraham is often discussed in the Quran and often talked about in mosques and Muslim schools around the world. Abraham’s position is extremely important and central in the Islamic belief system. The prophet Mohammed claimed to be descended from Ishamel. Muslim’s believe that Abraham rebuilt the Kaaba in Mecca. Muslim’s also remember Abraham’s attempted sacrifice of his son on a yearly basis by celebrating Eid-al-Adha after the Hajj pilgrimage. I don’t understand how as a Muslim who claims to have attended Islamic school in Richmond BC and been a regular at mosque, Manji could not have heard of Abraham. This must be a really stupid school or Manji wasn’t paying attention.
The other thing that irritated me was a passing reference to Edward Said and Orientalism. Manji claims that Said portrayed the ‘West’ in a negatie light while the truth is that he was able to write and publish his book because of the freedoms provided to him by the same ‘West’. But I wonder what is wrong with criticizing the ‘West’ for the wrongs done to others? Said never said that the ‘West’, which in his case was the US, wasn’t democratic or didn’t provide its own citizens with various freedoms including the freedom of speech and expression. Should the ‘West’ be absolved of everything and history be forgotten because Western countries are democratic and provide freedom for their citizens. I don’t think Manji should be tackling or criticizing Said as he was an academic of much higher calibre while Manji is just another journalist who has gained popularity because of jumping on the reform Islam bandwagon.
I do have respect for Manji’s ideas and I believe that she is asking questions and pointing out issues that are important but taboo in the Islamic world. I enjoy listening to her and support her criticism of organized religion and misogynistic tendencies of Islam. However, so far I haven’t found anything new or groundbreaking in this book and some of Manji’s criticism’s lack depth and aren’t very well thought out. I am still reading and hope the book gets better and start to become accustomed to the prose. Wish me luck 
It’s past 6 in the evening and I just woke up from a much needed nap. This morning we were picked up at 3:15 am by our tour company and driven 2 hours away to Gaansbaai. We then sailed out to the sea and dived with Great White sharks! It was one the most thrilling adventures of my life. After spending much of the day on a boat in shark infested waters of the Atlantic, I was exhausted. I haven’t had much sleep in the last couple of days, partly due to jet lag and partly due to travelling. Nothing much to do on Christmas eve but I have found a nice steakhouse for dinner and I am planning to go clubbing for a Jewish themed party.
There is a christmas street market on the street outside. I can hear hawkers selling various cheap goods. It reminds me of Mary street in Dublin.
more...I am sitting at the Toronto Pearson airport waiting for a flight to London Heathrow. Tomorrow I will spend a few hours in London city centre before flying to Cape Town, South Africa. A few days in Cape Town will be followed by a few more days in Kruger National Park after which I will go to Istanbul for new years eve and a few more days.
As I contemplate the year that is just about to end, I am also thinking that it has has been a while since I went on a real vacation. I was in New York city for New Years last year and I had a chance to go to Houston for a week in February. I also made two wild trips to Las Vegas but a true all out vacation hasn’t happened since I went to Thailand in July of 2010. I am finding it hard to contain my excitement at the moment. I love London and can’t wait to go back again even if it is just for a few hours. I have never stepped on the continent of Africa and Istanbul ofcourse is one of my favourite places regardless of a few naive mishaps that occurred during my last trip there in 2007.
This year has been full of momentous changes in my life. I started working for a new employer after working for one company for almost 8 years. The new job has been quite exciting and has been providing me with far more challenges compared to the previous one. I also bought my first residential property. It’s a beautiful loft condo in a historic building that used to be a garment factory and dates from 1935. I moved into Toronto after living in the suburbs for almost a year. I learnt a lot of things relating to my career. And now I am on my way to visit three different continents in two weeks.
Life is good and I have much to be thankful for. I still miss Europe though.
The most interesting and controversial book that I have time to read while juggling a move, starting a new job, and countless other activities this year is “Why I am not a Muslim” by Ibn Warraq.
more...“Art is the perpetual motion of illusion. The highest purpose of art is to inspire. What else can you do? What else can you do for anyone but inspire them?”
- Bob Dylan
more...This morning I woke up to a CNN news alert on my iPhone telling me of Christopher Hitchens’s death. I was quite saddened by this news. I have admired Hitchens for his intelligence, his amazing ability with words, and his views on religion. Even though I didn’t even remotely agree with his views on the Middle East and Islamic world, I found it peculiar and interesting that he didn’t fit into a mold of “right” or “left”. May he rest in peace. He has been an inspiration to me and countless others.
This seems like the year of deaths..so many familiar and famous individuals have passed away. To name a few who were famous although some were arguably not very nice individuals include Hitchens, Steve Jobs, Jack Layton, Gaddafi, Amy Winehouse, Jack Kevorkian, and Osama Bin Laden.
more...“How excellent is reason as a pilot and companion in good fortunes and evil,
As a judge who can pass judgement over the invisible as if he saw it with his own eyes.
… one of its actions is that it distinguishes good and evil,
Through a possessor of powers whom God has singled out with utter sanctification and purity.”
- Bishr ibn al-Mu’tamir of Baghdad, a Mu’tazilite.
more...I’ve been listening to Zeb and Haniya quite a bit lately. It’s so relaxing. The music sounds like Pakistani version of Jazz or Soul.
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