Task 12: Meeting inhumanity with Humanity

I am inspired to work on this piece because of some personal events that exploded into my world and because of this course I am taking in school that is about inclusion. For this course we read the book, Freedom Writers and in it, it states that too often cruelty is met with cruelty and hate is matched with hate. When fire is fought with fire there is only a larger fire to contend with. The only way to combat inhumane acts of violence is to meet this violence with kindness. I intend to do this in the future as a teacher and for this piece I will be doing it by marking acts of inhumanity I witness with my 'pieces of humanity'. Each instance I encounter where I sense hurt, I will document on this blog or in my journal. I will let these acts of shameful cruelty accumulate. I will then create a chain made of a translucent, delicate paper marked with the words I write in my journal. Each link in the chain will be a mark of injustices, tied together these words will resound anew as what I hope to be voices for change. I will commence this project today August 3, 2010.

Injustices:

A boy at camp called another camper gay as a derogatory term.
My dad is suffering.
My friend is suffering and in pain for things she did not ask for nor does she deserve.
A girl at camp called another boy a retard.

Updates on Task 12: Some Movements Forward

So, I recently spoke to my mom and she told me she was speaking at a muslim youth conference about the generational divide between parents and children. I asked her more about this youth conference and who was involved and found out that some community youth were also speaking. I asked her who these youth were and they are all boys or I suppose I should call them men, but I think boys might be more appropriate. Normally, in such instances, I just avoid my anger and annoyance at the lack of female representation, especially when dealing with issues that women have access to. I decided that this might be an opportunity for me to say all this, to a large audience. So, I volunteered to speak. I realize now that I have no clue what my big mouth has just gotten me into.

Task 12: Homosexuality and Islam

This is not going to be a task I can just do, like say putting on a dress. I really think in order to make this successful and useful, I am going to need some time. But here is the situation as it stands: (I will speak specifically about my community simply because I have no experience with anything else.)Homosexuality is not permitted in any shape or fashion in Islam. It is a deviation from the norm. Here is a little sample of what Islam thinks of homosexuality:

There is at least one mention of lesbian behavior mentioned in the Hadith: "Sihaq (lesbian sexual activity) of women is zina (illegitimate sexual intercourse) among them."
There is a consensus among Islamic scholars that all humans are naturally heterosexual. Homosexuality is seen by scholars to be a sinful and perverted deviation from the norm. All Islamic schools of thought and jurisprudence consider gay acts unlawful. They differ in terms of penalty:
The Hanafite school (currently seen mainly in South and Eastern Asia) teaches that no physical punishment is warranted.
The Hanabalites, (widely followed in the Arab world) teach that severe punishment is warranted.
Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi of the ISNA said: "Homosexuality is a moral disorder. It is a moral disease, a sin and corruption... No person is born homosexual, just as if no one is born a thief, a liar or murderer. People acquire these evil habits due to a lack of proper guidance and education.""
"There are many reasons why it is forbidden in Islam. Homosexuality is dangerous for the health of the individuals and for the society. It is a main cause of one of the most harmful and fatal diseases. It is disgraceful for both men and women. It degrades a person. Islam teaches that men should be men and women should be women. Homosexuality deprives a man of his manhood and a woman of her womanhood. It is the most un-natural way of life. Homosexuality leads to the destruction of family life."
Allah Most High says: "Do you approach the males of humanity, leaving the wives that Allah has created for you? But you are a people who transgress" Koran (26:165-66)
(1) The Prophet (saws) said: (1) "Kill the one who sodomizes and the one who lets if be done to him." (Tirmidhi, a sahih (authentic) hadith)
(2) "May Allah curse him who does that Lot's people did." (Ibn Hibban, sahih (authentic))
(3) "Lesbianism by women is adultery between them." (Tabarani, sahih)"
If you were ever involved in sexual homosexual acts in the past, you should truly and sincerely repent to Allah, The Merciful, The Gracious, and pledge to Him never to get involved in any homosexual acts anymore. Please note that there is a difference to actually being involved in a homosexual act -which is a sin - from having sexual feelings that you try to control, that you don't express in public, which is not sinful if you try to control them. If medical or psychological counseling helps, then get it, but know that Allah is The Curer, and the Qur'an is your best companion. Give charity, pray, make dua', and Allah will not leave you alone. You have got to believe in the infinite amount of Mercy Allah provides to His servants, and you should also realize that He forgives, if He wishes, all types of sins, except the sin of disbelieving in Him.
What is sinful in homosexuality is the actual sexual act between the couple of a similar sex. If you transform your desires into a struggle and a challenge to overcome it and not physically commit it, then insha'Allah, you will get the reward for it.
Don't lose hope! Fear Allah (S.W.T), ask Him for help earnestly, never give up, and do something to get rid of even the idea of homosexuality. Try to avoid all of the circumstances that trigger your homosexual feelings: don't get alone with an attractive man/woman, always be in the company of others, don't get involved in deep / personal discussions with any person that you may think will trigger your homosexual feeling. Stay away from any other people who have similar feelings. Don't even think in such an idea of this subject; keep yourself busy in different useful thing, and stay away of anything that remind you of homosexuality. Keep a POSITIVE thinking in your mind and keep saying to yourself that you can do something about it. Don't ever say I can't. Remember with every step you are taking toward getting rid of this habit you are getting help and reward from Allah (S.W.T) and you are annoying the shaytan.
Also for many Homosexual Muslims, the concept of getting married is unappealing. Having this feeling should not prevent you from considering to get married in the future. You will discover that marriage is more than simply fulfilling your sexual needs... Your wife/husband will insha'Allah bring you peace, tranquility, joy, security, and many other feelings that every human being needs, irrelevant of their "sexual partners".

Now, this is only just a small, light, sampling of what people truly believe. I want to make this change. Yes, I realize this is a lofty and impossible sounding goal. But it truly will be impossible if no one even tries. What I want to do, is show the adolescents in my Islamic community that believing such things is a way of hating, or how hatred begins, and how we begin to marginalize those that are different from what we have been taught to believe is the 'norm'. I know Islam, which when defined means peace no less, does not teach this. I want to provide a forum where they can freely ask questions and understand themselves in ways I do not feel they currently do. I'm not sure how to do this yet. One, because this is extremely tenuous subject matter which in my experience,more often than not leads to tears. I do not want this. Two, I do not want to challenge anyone's faith. I want to respect beliefs. How do I do this?

Updates on Task 9: Wear a Dress

I wore the dress and it was good.

Updates on Task 9: Wear a Dress

After so much resistance and the hope that perhaps people would forget about this particular task, I have decided that even if people forget, I will remember. This afternoon I went shopping with my friend Nicole and we purchased what I would say is a dress that I can live with wearing. I came home and it got the Lee stamp of approval so, I'm guessing its probably good. (For those unfamiliar with the 'lee stamp of approval', I will elaborate: most of my outfits, especially those that include vests are examples of types of clothing that would not be approved under her guidelines, but outfits that flatter one's figure, are colorful, appropriately sized, and what she will label 'classy', and which I will label 'boring', do more often than not get the stamp of approval. For a more thorough list it is probably best to consult her directly.)

I plan on wearing it to graduation. I am trying to be nonchalant, "Oh yes, I don dresses everyday. In fact, I even wear them when I'm out to fetch the milk or throw the trash down the chute, or when I am baking pies to cool on the windowsill."

Also, apparently, I live an entirely different life in a dress, one which includes a trash chute, milk that is delivered to my door, and pies.

Can't wait. May 16 2010, I don't know if you are ready.

Streamlining

So, yes, I am shamefully going to admit, this project seems to have fallen to the wayside, landing somewhere in between my desire to read more interesting books and working out in a more regimented manner. Another way to say this would be: I simply have not done anything for a while. This does not mean that I have lost faith in this project or in what I am doing here. Far from. I have learned many things, some of which I am unable to share in this public way but which will I am sure, continue to shape me as I move through life. Some things have not been very positive, but even those things have set in motion events which have proven necessary for my own personal growth. I plan on continuing this blog for however long it seems appropriate. I have decided to streamline it a little bit more upon receiving some very nice suggestions. Instead of trying to accomplish a task a week, I am going to instead, design a series of tasks and set a time period to accomplish them in. I will re-catalog the tasks I have already had the pleasure of completing alongside the ameliorated version of this project.

On a slightly unrelated and facetious note, Overcoming the Terrifying abbreviated is OTT, which to me sounds like the word 'ought' which makes me think that these are the things I ought to be doing. I find that connection important.

Updates on Task 5

I am floored by what has happened and how this relationship has progressed. I am still standing dumbstruck at the luck I have found. The fact that 'Person Y' (which seems now to be too sterile of a term to use) has remained in my life and is fast becoming someone very dear to me is constant cause for wonder. I am amazed, AMAZED, that she did not take one look at me and run away. What she sees in me, I will not know. Recently, she looked at the entry concerning her and said it bothered her a little that she was 'just a project.' And so, I write this now to assure you dearest butterfly, that you were never just a project. And to assure you that my projects do not stem from anything other than myself. I have always been true to you. You very well may not read this. I sense that you don't. But perhaps, if you ever come across it, you will smile.

I will respect her privacy, and mine and say more than anything else she has flown into my life and I have become a girl enchanted. This is for you sunshine.