•Sherbini killed in courtroom as she prepared to give testimony against man
•The man was convicted of calling Sherbini a "terrorist," "bitch" and "Islamist"
•Many Egyptians shout hostile slogans against Germany during her funeralJuly 7, 2009 -- Updated 0502 GMT (1302 HKT)Next Article in World »
(CNN) -- Hundreds of Egyptians took part Monday in the funeral of Marwa Sherbini, an Egyptian woman who was stabbed to death last week in the German city of Dresden in a crime believed to be racially motivated.
Egyptians take part in the funeral of Marwa Sherbini, who was murdered in Germany last week.
Sherbini, 33, was stabbed to death Wednesday in a courtroom as she prepared to give testimony against a German man of Russian descent whom she had sued for insult and abuse.
The man, identified in German media as Alex A., 28, was convicted of calling Sherbini, who wore a headscarf, "terrorist," "bitch" and "Islamist" when she asked him him to leave a swing for her 3-year-old son Mustafa during an August 2008 visit to a children's park.
He was fined and appealed the ruling. The two were in court Wednesday for that appeal when Alex A. attacked, pulling out a knife and stabbing Sherbini 18 times. He also stabbed her husband three times and attacked another person.
According to Arab media, police officers tried to intervene to end the fight, and a number of shots were fired. One hit the husband, who fell unconscious and is currently in intensive care in the hospital of Dresden University.
Sherbini was three months pregnant at the time of her death.
Hundreds attended Sherbini's funeral in Alexandria, Egypt, her hometown, among them government officials, including Egyptian Manpower Minister Aisha Abdel Hadi and Telecommunications Minister Tariq Kamel, Egyptian media reported.
Many shouted hostile slogans against Germany and called for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to take a firm stand on the incident. Egypt's grand mufti, Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi, demanded the severest punishment to be issued against Alex A.
Berlin witnessed angry protests on Saturday, when hundreds of Arabs and Muslims demonstrated after a funeral prayer that called her killing an outrageous racist murder against Muslims.
In a phone call with Al Arabiya, Marwa's brother, Tariq Sherbini, said, "Extremism has no religion. My sister was killed simply because she wore the veil. This incident clearly shows that extremism is not limited to one religion or another and it is not exclusively carried out by Muslims."
"We are only asking for a fair punishment," he said, adding that his sister was not a radical. "She was a religious woman who prayed and wore her headscarf, but she was killed because of her belief."
Anger about Sherbini's death smoldered online, as Twitterers and bloggers pushed the cause.
"She is a victim of hatred and racism," tweeted Ghada Essawy, among many other Arab twitters and bloggers. Essawy called Sherbini "the martyr of the veil."
Various videos circulated on YouTube calling on Egypt to take action and urging Germany to address what their makers saw as a new wave of hatred against Arabs and Muslims in its community.
One video showed various pictures of a young happy Marwa saying that "The woman stood up for her rights and she was killed. May God bless her." The English font in the video presentation asked "when will Egypt cares for its citizens' rights inside Egypt and abroad."
Sherbini and her husband moved to Dresden in 2003, after the husband received a grant to study genetic engineering in the renowned Max Planck Institute. He was scheduled to present his Ph.D. thesis in the coming day
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Merwa Sherbibi 'headscarf martyr'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8136500.stm
Egypt mourns 'headscarf martyr'
Marwa Sherbini is being hailed as the shahida, or martyr, of the Hijab
The body of a Muslim woman, killed in a German courtroom by a man convicted of insulting her religion, has been taken back to her native Egypt for burial.
Marwa Sherbini, 31, was stabbed 18 times by Axel W, who is now under arrest in Dresden for suspected murder.
Husband Elwi Okaz is also in a critical condition in hospital, after being injured as he tried to save his wife.
Ms Sherbini had sued her killer after he called her a "terrorist" because of her headscarf.
The case has attracted much attention in Egypt and the Muslim world.
German prosecutors have said the 28-year-old attacker, identified only as Axel W, was driven by a deep hatred of foreigners and Muslims.
'Martyr'
Medics were unable to save Ms Sherbini who was three months pregnant with her second child. Her three-year-old son was with the family in court when she was killed.
Axel W and Ms Sherbini and family were in court for his appeal against a fine of 750 euros ($1,050) for insulting her in 2008, apparently because she was wearing the Muslim headscarf or Hijab.
Newspapers in Egypt have expressed outrage at the case, asking how it was allowed to happen and dubbing Ms Sherbini "the martyr of the Hijab".
Senior Egyptian officials and German diplomatic staff attended the funeral in Alexandria along with hundreds of mourners.
Media reports say Mr Okaz was injured both by the attacker and when a policeman opened fire in the courtroom.
Egypt mourns 'headscarf martyr'
Marwa Sherbini is being hailed as the shahida, or martyr, of the Hijab
The body of a Muslim woman, killed in a German courtroom by a man convicted of insulting her religion, has been taken back to her native Egypt for burial.
Marwa Sherbini, 31, was stabbed 18 times by Axel W, who is now under arrest in Dresden for suspected murder.
Husband Elwi Okaz is also in a critical condition in hospital, after being injured as he tried to save his wife.
Ms Sherbini had sued her killer after he called her a "terrorist" because of her headscarf.
The case has attracted much attention in Egypt and the Muslim world.
German prosecutors have said the 28-year-old attacker, identified only as Axel W, was driven by a deep hatred of foreigners and Muslims.
'Martyr'
Medics were unable to save Ms Sherbini who was three months pregnant with her second child. Her three-year-old son was with the family in court when she was killed.
Axel W and Ms Sherbini and family were in court for his appeal against a fine of 750 euros ($1,050) for insulting her in 2008, apparently because she was wearing the Muslim headscarf or Hijab.
Newspapers in Egypt have expressed outrage at the case, asking how it was allowed to happen and dubbing Ms Sherbini "the martyr of the Hijab".
Senior Egyptian officials and German diplomatic staff attended the funeral in Alexandria along with hundreds of mourners.
Media reports say Mr Okaz was injured both by the attacker and when a policeman opened fire in the courtroom.
Monday, June 29, 2009
How to Start a Revolution
by JONATHAN on May 21st, 2009
I’ve found the secret to being excited about waking up every day; and I’ll tell you what it is right now. It’s starting a Revolution. I didn’t always think in these terms though…
I used to ask: What can I gain? How can I turn this into a business that will support me?
I focused on helping others by sharing my perspective, but that was the extent of it. When I did that, working on this blog would be exciting sometimes, and at other times it would feel like just a chore.
Now, I can’t even contain my energy for the work I’m doing. I feel like there’s electricity in the air. I’ve changed my mindset and made the decision to do something epic. Now I’m focused on creating a social movement of people living on their own terms. Because of this, I’ve moved from ego-centric to collective-centric.
It’s bigger than me now.
Guess what happens when you make something bigger than you? You get plugged in. You become connected to this amazing source of energy that was never previously available to you.
Now I ask: How can I take action that will support this vision? How can I create momentum to further ignite this revolution?
Waking up excited
The biggest benefit to working on a revolution is that it gives you an insane amount of energy. Working on a revolution will make you want to wake up. You might even have a hard time falling asleep at night, because you’re so motivated to take action on your vision. This is how I feel when I’m laying in bed thinking about all of the awesome stuff I’m doing with this blog and with Project Mojave, and my plans to expand this project into something even bigger.
So if creating something worth remembering is likely to make you a thousand times more productive, why isn’t everyone working on something like this? I think more people would devote themselves to something greater, if they just knew how to do it.
I often spend a lot of time talking about perspective and cultivating an authentic state. While that’s all good, I want to switch gears here to practical and logistics of the application of these perspectives.
First, we need to define what it takes to create a Revolution…
It has to be something you care deeply about and would be willing to devote your life to.
It should be something that will help other people.
It should have a long term impact.
It has to be remarkable; it has to be worth sharing and bigger than you.
Working toward a revolution often involves the pursuit of being an ordinary radical.
Your revolution must have a distinctive quality to it that is caused by you working in it. It wouldn’t be the same if someone else did it. But it is definitely a collective movement created by similar values.
Secondly, how do you discover what Revolution you’ll start?
This is probably the most difficult question to answer and where 99% of people get stuck. It’s impossible for me to completely guide you in this pursuit, because you’ll have to do a lot of exploring.
You’ll probably start some projects and have to let them go, because they didn’t work or they weren’t a good fit for you. This can be difficult to do when you’ve invested a large amount of time in them, but ultimately it’s necessary to throw away a lot of good ideas, if you really want to find what bigger purpose you want to devote yourself to. Mediocrity must be sacrificed in the wake of greatness.
Creating a meaningful revolution demands the habit of quitting a lot of things.
I currently have 30 drafts in my blog admin area. At least 28 of those won’t see the light of day.
I’ve gotten really good at throwing away ideas, because I care about producing only things of remarkable value. I feel that if I’m not supporting something compelling, all I’m doing is contributing to the noise. I would rather not water down my content or pollute the already congested content sphere.
So the best advice I can give in this area is to fearlessly walk your path. Generate lots of ideas and be willing to throw most of them away. Practice. The more you practice the more you’ll be able to refine and shape your vision. This might sound odd, but it’s only really through the constant movement in the direction of what you might think your vision is, that you’ll find what your true vision is.
It might start out with something that you’re kind of, sort of passionate about. You like it enough to work hard at it. Then a few months later, you’ve gained enough experience working on it to have explored other possibilities. Now you decide that part of what you originally set out to do still applies, but it looks different than it did at first. Then another few months of work go by and your vision is refined even more.
It’s only this kind of walking the path that brings clarity. Don’t wait for clarity or your “one true purpose” before you start. Please, please, don’t do that. It will never happen. Epiphanies are found in the dirty, messy circuitous routes of practice.
Other than practice, there is an awesome, invaluable tool to help you figure out what your revolution will consist of. And that’s asking questions.
I think asking ourselves questions is one of the most powerful, overlooked things you can do. If you can develop the habit of initiating these kinds of conversations with yourself on a daily basis, you will achieve greater things you could have otherwise envisioned.
Here are some potent questions to get you started:
What do you teach others simply by being you?
What would you spend your time on, even if you didn’t get paid to do it?
What do you find yourself researching and can’t stop yourself from learning more about?
Is there anything you would consider yourself an expert in? If not, is there anything you’d like to be an expert in?
What gifts do you have that you’d like to make available to the world?
What do you want to change?
What lessons do you often find yourself repeating in life?
How does your purpose impact your local community? How does it impact your family? Your friends? The world?
What does your tribe (the people you most connect with) look like? What do you identify with on a collective level?
What legacy do you want to leave behind when you’re gone?
All of these questions aren’t meant to come up with the one-true-answer; they’re simply an impetus for getting your mind moving. Try combining asking these questions with mind-mapping. Have conversations with people, get their feedback. Connect with like-minded people and use them as a sounding board to explore your ideas. Just remember to stay true to yourself.
The most important thing is not holding back. Allow yourself to be ridiculous and completely authentic.
Now it’s time to start creating.
Moving from thought to action.
Once you’ve figured out what your project will look like, it’s time to start taking action. It’s time to stop thinking about it and start cultivating.
Just like discovering what to work on, a lot of people get stuck on how to start. It seems daunting when you’re staring up at a mammoth of a project from ground zero. There are so many things to do, so many approaches you could take, so many options.
But there is a reach, I promise you. And there is even that elusive grasp. But it only comes from starting. It only comes from not caring about what step you’ll take next, but just caring about the fact that you are taking a step.
The necessary ingredients to every revolution:
A revolution can be big or small. Whether you’re trying to change the education system or change the way people look at folding underwear, what matters is that you are passionate about it.
Rally your tribe. No revolution is a revolution without a group of people that share similar values. If you get really clear about your cause, you will easily be able to spot these people and make connections with them. Before long, you will likely not even need to seek them out. They will come to you.
Tap into your outrage. Most revolutions involve some kind of outrage or anger. This is a good thing. Your anger can be a gift if you use it wisely and don’t let it consume you. Use your outrage and your passion to fuel your action for change.
The cause rules. Movement and direction of your revolution should be dictated by the demands of the cause. Guru worship or leader exaltation results in the cause becoming obscured. Avoid these things so the movement is centered on the mission, and not a single individual.
Break down actionable steps. What change needs to be made and how will those changes best be accomplished? If the status quo needs to be interrupted, how will you deal with the resistance? Are you willing to stay true to your cause despite the protesters you will be faced with?
Keep the end in mind. It’s easy to get side-tracked with things that might seem to benefit your mission, but are really just distractions. In order to be effective, you must learn to cultivate an unshakable focus on your ultimate aim. Triage ruthlessly. Anything that does directly or indirectly benefit your cause, is a weed suffocating and diluting your objective, and it must be pulled.
Once in a while you’ll question whether or not you’re up to the task.
But something else is even scarier: what you left behind.
The ordinary, conventional, safe, secure, default life that you could have chosen instead. That’s what’s really scary. Remember that and you’ll be okay.
Everyone’s project will be vastly different, all I can offer are the necessary ingredients I’ve found. So instead of offering more practical advice, I’ll tell you about…
My Revolution
Since I wrote this article about work being sacred, I’ve given a lot of thought to creating something bigger than me. (Chris Guillebeau’s post Creating a Legacy Project and Charlie Gilkey’s Do Epic Shit, also spurred me to think more deeply about this.)
I’ve always aimed to be remarkable with my writing and this blog. Actually, there’s never been a time in my life where I’ve really pursued something in the hopes of being just okay.
So reaching to be uncommon and exceptional wasn’t a challenge for me, but the idea of creating some bigger than me was. Being unconventional and providing value is one thing. Creating an entire social movement, now that’s nothing to shake a stick at.
That is my reason for waking up. That is something I live for. That is something that gets me excited about being alive.
Thinking in terms of leading, or at least stimulating a collective revolution, really made me rethink what I’m doing with this blog. It made me think about something bigger than just me and my ambitions.
Thinking about this forced me to crystallize how all of the stuff I do fits into a universal picture. I still have the same plan, I still have the same style, that’s not changing. What is changing is a deepening of community and purpose.
So this is my revolution:
To create a movement based on authentic action. A social revolution of people liberating themselves through living on their own terms.”
That’s it. That’s my reason for waking up.
How this revolution will take form is something I’ve been giving a lot of thought to.
The plan
As you can probably guess, the medium for my revolution is mainly, this blog. But it’s also the ebook, the liberation manifesto, my work with Project Mojave, and the other products that I’ll later release (that are currently in development). I plan to develop a collection of products (some free and some for sale) aimed toward creating personal freedom that will outlast me when I’m gone. Some of my ideas may seem dissimilar, but they are all related to stimulating a social movement of living on your own terms.
Some of this collection of resources will come in different forms. Obviously there will be blog posts, but there will also be ebooks, physical books (later down the line, when I become famous, of course), and possibly some audio and video courses.
The best part about this is I now have a crystallization of one underlying intention behind everything I do. The way my action manifests might be different, but the purpose is unified.
All of the stuff I’m creating revolves around a similar theme: unconventional methods for improving your life and living more authentically. I want to help promote this revolution in an unconventional way. My aim is to create a wealth of resources for people that are easily bored with the same approach and crave something different. I want to appeal not just to the typical self-help typecast, but to punk rock kids, iconoclasts, recovering lawyers and cubicle-dwellers, people living off the grid, and people that aren’t satisfied with the status quo. I want to connect with those that question supposedly unquestionable belief-systems, and those that want live on their own terms.
My message is personal and collective liberation, my style or medium is an unconventional, renegade kind of approach. The message is my core passion and purpose, the medium is the style that I most resonate with.
My project isn’t about prostrating myself as a guru and saying “follow this one true way.” I simply aim to say “Hey, this seems like an interesting idea, and it’s worked well for me. Plus it’s a pretty interesting and uncommon way to live.” Not a lot of people are killing their goals, giving up caring and embracing ADD.
My project is to create an abundant wealth of information and resources for people interested in non-traditional modes of living. That’s it. That’s my legacy. And I think it absolutely kicks ass. It keeps me up at night, and makes me excited to wake up the next morning.
Others may think that this project is totally lame or downright silly. And that’s okay. It’s my legacy, not theirs.
I’ve found a meaningful pilgrimage to devote my life to, in the service of this cause and the service of others. Knowing that, I’m no longer perpetually searching. My actions are guided by a coherent mission.
Keeping perspective
Creating a revolution to me is something worth living for. But it’s also important to remember that the little things in life are what really makes a difference. You can be fighting AIDS in Somalia, but if you’re an asshole to your sister, it kind of negates the rest of it.
Remember that even if you’re thinking big, it’s the small things you do every day that make a difference.
Massive change and working toward social change is awesome, but it’s also how you live your life on a daily basis that matters most. It’s how you interact with people you meet on the sidewalk waiting for a bus, or in line at a cafe. It’s how you treat your loved ones and family that makes a difference. It’s the small things that create the possibility for huge change.
In short, it’s not just having your eyes on the future and how things will be when your aim is realized.
Because it’s right here, right now. That change is possible. It’s this moment that we must live in.
That’s where transformation culminates.
It’s in this moment that the revolution takes place.
I’ve found the secret to being excited about waking up every day; and I’ll tell you what it is right now. It’s starting a Revolution. I didn’t always think in these terms though…
I used to ask: What can I gain? How can I turn this into a business that will support me?
I focused on helping others by sharing my perspective, but that was the extent of it. When I did that, working on this blog would be exciting sometimes, and at other times it would feel like just a chore.
Now, I can’t even contain my energy for the work I’m doing. I feel like there’s electricity in the air. I’ve changed my mindset and made the decision to do something epic. Now I’m focused on creating a social movement of people living on their own terms. Because of this, I’ve moved from ego-centric to collective-centric.
It’s bigger than me now.
Guess what happens when you make something bigger than you? You get plugged in. You become connected to this amazing source of energy that was never previously available to you.
Now I ask: How can I take action that will support this vision? How can I create momentum to further ignite this revolution?
Waking up excited
The biggest benefit to working on a revolution is that it gives you an insane amount of energy. Working on a revolution will make you want to wake up. You might even have a hard time falling asleep at night, because you’re so motivated to take action on your vision. This is how I feel when I’m laying in bed thinking about all of the awesome stuff I’m doing with this blog and with Project Mojave, and my plans to expand this project into something even bigger.
So if creating something worth remembering is likely to make you a thousand times more productive, why isn’t everyone working on something like this? I think more people would devote themselves to something greater, if they just knew how to do it.
I often spend a lot of time talking about perspective and cultivating an authentic state. While that’s all good, I want to switch gears here to practical and logistics of the application of these perspectives.
First, we need to define what it takes to create a Revolution…
It has to be something you care deeply about and would be willing to devote your life to.
It should be something that will help other people.
It should have a long term impact.
It has to be remarkable; it has to be worth sharing and bigger than you.
Working toward a revolution often involves the pursuit of being an ordinary radical.
Your revolution must have a distinctive quality to it that is caused by you working in it. It wouldn’t be the same if someone else did it. But it is definitely a collective movement created by similar values.
Secondly, how do you discover what Revolution you’ll start?
This is probably the most difficult question to answer and where 99% of people get stuck. It’s impossible for me to completely guide you in this pursuit, because you’ll have to do a lot of exploring.
You’ll probably start some projects and have to let them go, because they didn’t work or they weren’t a good fit for you. This can be difficult to do when you’ve invested a large amount of time in them, but ultimately it’s necessary to throw away a lot of good ideas, if you really want to find what bigger purpose you want to devote yourself to. Mediocrity must be sacrificed in the wake of greatness.
Creating a meaningful revolution demands the habit of quitting a lot of things.
I currently have 30 drafts in my blog admin area. At least 28 of those won’t see the light of day.
I’ve gotten really good at throwing away ideas, because I care about producing only things of remarkable value. I feel that if I’m not supporting something compelling, all I’m doing is contributing to the noise. I would rather not water down my content or pollute the already congested content sphere.
So the best advice I can give in this area is to fearlessly walk your path. Generate lots of ideas and be willing to throw most of them away. Practice. The more you practice the more you’ll be able to refine and shape your vision. This might sound odd, but it’s only really through the constant movement in the direction of what you might think your vision is, that you’ll find what your true vision is.
It might start out with something that you’re kind of, sort of passionate about. You like it enough to work hard at it. Then a few months later, you’ve gained enough experience working on it to have explored other possibilities. Now you decide that part of what you originally set out to do still applies, but it looks different than it did at first. Then another few months of work go by and your vision is refined even more.
It’s only this kind of walking the path that brings clarity. Don’t wait for clarity or your “one true purpose” before you start. Please, please, don’t do that. It will never happen. Epiphanies are found in the dirty, messy circuitous routes of practice.
Other than practice, there is an awesome, invaluable tool to help you figure out what your revolution will consist of. And that’s asking questions.
I think asking ourselves questions is one of the most powerful, overlooked things you can do. If you can develop the habit of initiating these kinds of conversations with yourself on a daily basis, you will achieve greater things you could have otherwise envisioned.
Here are some potent questions to get you started:
What do you teach others simply by being you?
What would you spend your time on, even if you didn’t get paid to do it?
What do you find yourself researching and can’t stop yourself from learning more about?
Is there anything you would consider yourself an expert in? If not, is there anything you’d like to be an expert in?
What gifts do you have that you’d like to make available to the world?
What do you want to change?
What lessons do you often find yourself repeating in life?
How does your purpose impact your local community? How does it impact your family? Your friends? The world?
What does your tribe (the people you most connect with) look like? What do you identify with on a collective level?
What legacy do you want to leave behind when you’re gone?
All of these questions aren’t meant to come up with the one-true-answer; they’re simply an impetus for getting your mind moving. Try combining asking these questions with mind-mapping. Have conversations with people, get their feedback. Connect with like-minded people and use them as a sounding board to explore your ideas. Just remember to stay true to yourself.
The most important thing is not holding back. Allow yourself to be ridiculous and completely authentic.
Now it’s time to start creating.
Moving from thought to action.
Once you’ve figured out what your project will look like, it’s time to start taking action. It’s time to stop thinking about it and start cultivating.
Just like discovering what to work on, a lot of people get stuck on how to start. It seems daunting when you’re staring up at a mammoth of a project from ground zero. There are so many things to do, so many approaches you could take, so many options.
But there is a reach, I promise you. And there is even that elusive grasp. But it only comes from starting. It only comes from not caring about what step you’ll take next, but just caring about the fact that you are taking a step.
The necessary ingredients to every revolution:
A revolution can be big or small. Whether you’re trying to change the education system or change the way people look at folding underwear, what matters is that you are passionate about it.
Rally your tribe. No revolution is a revolution without a group of people that share similar values. If you get really clear about your cause, you will easily be able to spot these people and make connections with them. Before long, you will likely not even need to seek them out. They will come to you.
Tap into your outrage. Most revolutions involve some kind of outrage or anger. This is a good thing. Your anger can be a gift if you use it wisely and don’t let it consume you. Use your outrage and your passion to fuel your action for change.
The cause rules. Movement and direction of your revolution should be dictated by the demands of the cause. Guru worship or leader exaltation results in the cause becoming obscured. Avoid these things so the movement is centered on the mission, and not a single individual.
Break down actionable steps. What change needs to be made and how will those changes best be accomplished? If the status quo needs to be interrupted, how will you deal with the resistance? Are you willing to stay true to your cause despite the protesters you will be faced with?
Keep the end in mind. It’s easy to get side-tracked with things that might seem to benefit your mission, but are really just distractions. In order to be effective, you must learn to cultivate an unshakable focus on your ultimate aim. Triage ruthlessly. Anything that does directly or indirectly benefit your cause, is a weed suffocating and diluting your objective, and it must be pulled.
Once in a while you’ll question whether or not you’re up to the task.
But something else is even scarier: what you left behind.
The ordinary, conventional, safe, secure, default life that you could have chosen instead. That’s what’s really scary. Remember that and you’ll be okay.
Everyone’s project will be vastly different, all I can offer are the necessary ingredients I’ve found. So instead of offering more practical advice, I’ll tell you about…
My Revolution
Since I wrote this article about work being sacred, I’ve given a lot of thought to creating something bigger than me. (Chris Guillebeau’s post Creating a Legacy Project and Charlie Gilkey’s Do Epic Shit, also spurred me to think more deeply about this.)
I’ve always aimed to be remarkable with my writing and this blog. Actually, there’s never been a time in my life where I’ve really pursued something in the hopes of being just okay.
So reaching to be uncommon and exceptional wasn’t a challenge for me, but the idea of creating some bigger than me was. Being unconventional and providing value is one thing. Creating an entire social movement, now that’s nothing to shake a stick at.
That is my reason for waking up. That is something I live for. That is something that gets me excited about being alive.
Thinking in terms of leading, or at least stimulating a collective revolution, really made me rethink what I’m doing with this blog. It made me think about something bigger than just me and my ambitions.
Thinking about this forced me to crystallize how all of the stuff I do fits into a universal picture. I still have the same plan, I still have the same style, that’s not changing. What is changing is a deepening of community and purpose.
So this is my revolution:
To create a movement based on authentic action. A social revolution of people liberating themselves through living on their own terms.”
That’s it. That’s my reason for waking up.
How this revolution will take form is something I’ve been giving a lot of thought to.
The plan
As you can probably guess, the medium for my revolution is mainly, this blog. But it’s also the ebook, the liberation manifesto, my work with Project Mojave, and the other products that I’ll later release (that are currently in development). I plan to develop a collection of products (some free and some for sale) aimed toward creating personal freedom that will outlast me when I’m gone. Some of my ideas may seem dissimilar, but they are all related to stimulating a social movement of living on your own terms.
Some of this collection of resources will come in different forms. Obviously there will be blog posts, but there will also be ebooks, physical books (later down the line, when I become famous, of course), and possibly some audio and video courses.
The best part about this is I now have a crystallization of one underlying intention behind everything I do. The way my action manifests might be different, but the purpose is unified.
All of the stuff I’m creating revolves around a similar theme: unconventional methods for improving your life and living more authentically. I want to help promote this revolution in an unconventional way. My aim is to create a wealth of resources for people that are easily bored with the same approach and crave something different. I want to appeal not just to the typical self-help typecast, but to punk rock kids, iconoclasts, recovering lawyers and cubicle-dwellers, people living off the grid, and people that aren’t satisfied with the status quo. I want to connect with those that question supposedly unquestionable belief-systems, and those that want live on their own terms.
My message is personal and collective liberation, my style or medium is an unconventional, renegade kind of approach. The message is my core passion and purpose, the medium is the style that I most resonate with.
My project isn’t about prostrating myself as a guru and saying “follow this one true way.” I simply aim to say “Hey, this seems like an interesting idea, and it’s worked well for me. Plus it’s a pretty interesting and uncommon way to live.” Not a lot of people are killing their goals, giving up caring and embracing ADD.
My project is to create an abundant wealth of information and resources for people interested in non-traditional modes of living. That’s it. That’s my legacy. And I think it absolutely kicks ass. It keeps me up at night, and makes me excited to wake up the next morning.
Others may think that this project is totally lame or downright silly. And that’s okay. It’s my legacy, not theirs.
I’ve found a meaningful pilgrimage to devote my life to, in the service of this cause and the service of others. Knowing that, I’m no longer perpetually searching. My actions are guided by a coherent mission.
Keeping perspective
Creating a revolution to me is something worth living for. But it’s also important to remember that the little things in life are what really makes a difference. You can be fighting AIDS in Somalia, but if you’re an asshole to your sister, it kind of negates the rest of it.
Remember that even if you’re thinking big, it’s the small things you do every day that make a difference.
Massive change and working toward social change is awesome, but it’s also how you live your life on a daily basis that matters most. It’s how you interact with people you meet on the sidewalk waiting for a bus, or in line at a cafe. It’s how you treat your loved ones and family that makes a difference. It’s the small things that create the possibility for huge change.
In short, it’s not just having your eyes on the future and how things will be when your aim is realized.
Because it’s right here, right now. That change is possible. It’s this moment that we must live in.
That’s where transformation culminates.
It’s in this moment that the revolution takes place.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Pop Culture in the Name of Islam
| | Print | |
| Written by Yvonne Ridley | |
| Monday, 24 April 2006 | |
I FEEL very uncomfortable about the pop culture which is growing around some so-called Nasheed artists. Of course I use the term ‘Nasheed artists' very lightly. Islamic ‘boy bands' and Muslim ‘popsters' would probably be more appropriate. Eminent scholars throughout history have often opined that music is haram, and I don't recall reading anything about the Sahaba whooping it up to the sound of music. Don't get me wrong. I'm all for people letting off steam, but in a dignified manner and one which is appropriate to their surroundings.The reason I am expressing concern is that just a few days ago at a venue in Central London, sisters went wild in the aisles as some form of pop-mania swept through the concert venue. And I'm not just talking about silly, little girls who don't know any better; I am talking about sisters in their 20's, 30's and 40's, who squealed, shouted, swayed and danced. Even the security guys who looked more like pipe cleaners than bulldozers were left looking dazed and confused as they tried to stop hijabi sisters from standing on their chairs. Of course the stage groupies did not help at all as they waved and encouraged the largely female Muslim crowd to "get up and sing along." (They're called ‘Fluffers' in lap-dancing circles!) The source of all this adulation was British-born Sami Yusuf, who is so proud of his claret-colored passport that he wants us all to wave the Union Jacks. I'm amazed he didn't encourage his fans to sing "Land of Hope and Glory." Brother Sami asked his audience to cheer if they were proud to be British ,and when they responded loudly, he said he couldn't hear them and asked them to cheer again. How can anyone be proud to be British? Britain is the third most hated country in the world. The Union Jack is drenched in the blood of our brothers and sisters across Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine. Our history is steeped in the blood of colonialism, rooted in slavery, brutality, torture, and oppression. And we haven't had a decent game of soccer since we lifted the World Cup in 1966. Apparently Sami also said one of the selling points of Brand UK was having Muslims in the Metropolitan Police Force! Astafur'Allah! Dude, these are the same cops who have a shoot-to-kill policy and would have gunned down a Muslim last year if they could tell the difference between a Bangladeshi and a Brazilian. This is the same police force that has raided more than 3000 Muslim homes in Britain since 9/11. What sort of life is there on Planet Sami, I wonder? If he is so proud to be British, why is he living in the great Middle Eastern democracy of Egypt? Apparently the sort of hysteria Sami helped encourage is also in America, and if it is happening on both sides of the Atlantic, then it must be creeping around the globe and poisoning the masses. Islamic boy bands like 786 and Mecca 2 Medina are also the subject of the sort of female adulation you expect to see on American Pop Idol or the X-Factor. Surely Islamic events should be promoting restrained and more sedate behavior. Do we blame the out-of-control sisters? Or do we blame the organizers for allowing this sort of excessive behavior which demeans Islam? Or do we blame the artists themselves? Abu Ali and Abu Abdul Malik, struggling for their Deen, would certainly not try to whip up this sort of hysteria. Neither would the anonymous heroic Nasheed artists who sing for freedom; check out Idhrib Ya Asad Fallujah, and you will know exactly what I mean. Fallujah is now synonymous with the sort of heroic resistance that elevated the Palestinians of Jenin to the ranks of the resistance written about in the Paris Communeand the Siege of Leningrad. The US military has banned the playing of any Nasheeds about Fallujah because of the power and the passion it evokes. If those Nasheeds had sisters running in the streets whooping and dancing, however, the Nasheeds may be encouraged because of haram activity surrounding them. Quite frankly, I really don't know how anyone in the Ummah can really let go and scream and shout with joy at pleasure domes when there is so much brutality and suffering going on in the world today. The rivers of blood flow freely from the veins of our brothers and sisters from across the Muslim world. Screaming and shouting the names of musical heroes drown out the screams coming from the dungeons of Uzbekistan where brothers and sisters are boiled alive in vats of water. How many will jump up and down and wave their arms in the air, shouting wildly for justice for our kin in Kashmir, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Palestine, and Iraq? There are many more killing fields as well across the Asian and Arab world. Will you climb on theater chairs and express your rage over Guantanamo Bay and other gulags where our brothers and sisters are being tortured, raped, sodomized, beaten, and burned? Or will you just switch off this concerned sister and switch on to the likes of Sami Yusuf because he can sell you a pipe dream with his soothing words and melodic voice? Oh, Muslims, wake up! The Ummah is not bleeding; it is hemorrhaging. Listen not to what is haram. Listen to the pain of your global family. |
Sunday, May 17, 2009
USMLE STEP 1 schedule
1st Week:
BIOCHEMISTRY
June 8-13
Monday Chat:
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Nucleic Acid Structure and Organization
DNA Replication and Repair; Transcription and RNA Processing
Tuesday Chat:
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (cont)
The genetic Code, Mutations, and Translation
Genetic regulation; Recombinant DNA; Genetic testing
Wednesday Chat:
MEDICAL GENETICS
Single-Gene Disorders
Population genetics
Cytogenetics
Gene Mapping and Cloning
Genetics of Common Diseases
Genetic Diagnosis and Gene Therapy
Thursday Chat:
METABOLISM
Hormones
Vitamins
Overview of Energy Metabolism
Glycolysis and Pyruvate Dehydrogenase
Citric Acid Cycle and Oxydative Phosphorylation
Glycogen, Gluconeogenesis and the Hexose Monophosphate Shunt
Friday Chat:
METABOLISM
Lipid synthesis and storage
Lipid mobilization and catabolism
Amino Acids, proteins, and Enzymes
Amino Acid Metabolism
Purine and Pyrimidine Metabolism
2nd Week:
ANATOMY
BIOCHEMISTRY
June 8-13
Monday Chat:
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Nucleic Acid Structure and Organization
DNA Replication and Repair; Transcription and RNA Processing
Tuesday Chat:
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (cont)
The genetic Code, Mutations, and Translation
Genetic regulation; Recombinant DNA; Genetic testing
Wednesday Chat:
MEDICAL GENETICS
Single-Gene Disorders
Population genetics
Cytogenetics
Gene Mapping and Cloning
Genetics of Common Diseases
Genetic Diagnosis and Gene Therapy
Thursday Chat:
METABOLISM
Hormones
Vitamins
Overview of Energy Metabolism
Glycolysis and Pyruvate Dehydrogenase
Citric Acid Cycle and Oxydative Phosphorylation
Glycogen, Gluconeogenesis and the Hexose Monophosphate Shunt
Friday Chat:
METABOLISM
Lipid synthesis and storage
Lipid mobilization and catabolism
Amino Acids, proteins, and Enzymes
Amino Acid Metabolism
Purine and Pyrimidine Metabolism
2nd Week:
ANATOMY
June 15-20
Monday Chat:
EMBRYOLOGY:
Gonad Development; Week 1; Week 2; Weeks 3–8, Embryonic period
Tuesday Chat:
HISTOLOGY AND CYTOLOGY
Cell components
Nervous Tissue; Muscle tissue
Lymphoid Organs; Integument
Respiratory System; Gastrointestinal System
Renal/Urinary System; Male/Reproductive System
Female/Reproductive System
Wednesday Chat:
GROSS ANATOMY AND ORGANOGENESIS
Back and nervous System
Thorax; Abdomen, Pelvis and perineum
Upper Limb; Lower Limb; Head and Neck
Thursday Chat:
NEUROSCIENCE:
Peripheral Nervous System
Central Nervous System
The Ventricular System
The Spinal Cord
The Brain Stem
The Cerebellum
Visual Pathways
Diencephalon
Basal Ganglia
Cerebral Cortex
The Limbic System
Friday Chat:
(Begin Physiology because short week for Thanksgiving)
GENERAL TOPICS
Membrane Transport
Body Compartments
EXCITABLE TISSUE
Ionic Equilibrium and Resting Membrane Potential
The Neuron Action potential
Synaptic Transmission
3rd Week:
PHYSIOLOGY (cont)
June 22-27
Monday Chat:
PERIPHERAL CIRCULATION
General Aspects of the Cardiovascular System
Regulation of Blood flow
SKELETAL MUSCLE
Excitation-Contraction Coupling
Skeletal Muscle Mechanics
CARDIAC MUSCLE
Electrical activity of the heart
Heart muscle mechanics
Tuesday Chat:
RESPIRATION
Lung Mechanics
Alveolar-Blood Gas Exchange
Transport of O2 and CO2 and the regulation of respiration
Four causes of Hypoxemia
RENAL PHYSIOLOGY
Renal processes
Clearance
Regional transport
ACID BASE DISTURBANCE
Wednesday Chat:
ENDOCRINOLOGY
Mechanisms of Hormone action
The Hypothalamic anterior Pituitary system
Adrenal hormones
ADH and regulation of Osmolarity and ECF
The Endocrine pancreas
Growth Hormone
Adrenal Medulla
Hormonal Control of Calcium and Phosphate
Thyroid Hormones
Male reproductive system
Female reproductive system
GASTROINTESTINAL PHYSIOLOGY
Thursday Chat:
Off for Thanksgiving
Friday Chat:
Off for Thanksgiving, or review of Physio
4th Week:
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE
June 29-July 4
Monday Chat:
Epidemiology,Statistics
Social Life in the US
Substance Abuse
Tuesday Chat:
Human Sexuality
Learning and Behavior Modification
Defense mechanisms
Wednesday Chat:
Psychologic health and Testing
Child Development
Sleep and sleep disorders
Thursday Chat:
Organic Disorders
Psychopharmacology
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (DSM IV)
Friday Chat:
Ethical and legal Issues
Physician-patient relationships
5th Week:
PATHOLOGY by Goljan
July 6-11
Monday Chat:
1. Cell Injury
2. Inflammation
Tuesday Chat:
3. Fluids/hemodynamics
4. Neoplasia
Wednesday Chat:
5. RBC and WBC
6. Lymphoproliferatives
Thursday Chat:
7. Coagulation
8. Blood Bank
Friday Chat:
9. Cardiovascular
10. Respiratory
6th Week:
PATHOLOGY by Goljan (cont)
Monday Chat:
EMBRYOLOGY:
Gonad Development; Week 1; Week 2; Weeks 3–8, Embryonic period
Tuesday Chat:
HISTOLOGY AND CYTOLOGY
Cell components
Nervous Tissue; Muscle tissue
Lymphoid Organs; Integument
Respiratory System; Gastrointestinal System
Renal/Urinary System; Male/Reproductive System
Female/Reproductive System
Wednesday Chat:
GROSS ANATOMY AND ORGANOGENESIS
Back and nervous System
Thorax; Abdomen, Pelvis and perineum
Upper Limb; Lower Limb; Head and Neck
Thursday Chat:
NEUROSCIENCE:
Peripheral Nervous System
Central Nervous System
The Ventricular System
The Spinal Cord
The Brain Stem
The Cerebellum
Visual Pathways
Diencephalon
Basal Ganglia
Cerebral Cortex
The Limbic System
Friday Chat:
(Begin Physiology because short week for Thanksgiving)
GENERAL TOPICS
Membrane Transport
Body Compartments
EXCITABLE TISSUE
Ionic Equilibrium and Resting Membrane Potential
The Neuron Action potential
Synaptic Transmission
3rd Week:
PHYSIOLOGY (cont)
June 22-27
Monday Chat:
PERIPHERAL CIRCULATION
General Aspects of the Cardiovascular System
Regulation of Blood flow
SKELETAL MUSCLE
Excitation-Contraction Coupling
Skeletal Muscle Mechanics
CARDIAC MUSCLE
Electrical activity of the heart
Heart muscle mechanics
Tuesday Chat:
RESPIRATION
Lung Mechanics
Alveolar-Blood Gas Exchange
Transport of O2 and CO2 and the regulation of respiration
Four causes of Hypoxemia
RENAL PHYSIOLOGY
Renal processes
Clearance
Regional transport
ACID BASE DISTURBANCE
Wednesday Chat:
ENDOCRINOLOGY
Mechanisms of Hormone action
The Hypothalamic anterior Pituitary system
Adrenal hormones
ADH and regulation of Osmolarity and ECF
The Endocrine pancreas
Growth Hormone
Adrenal Medulla
Hormonal Control of Calcium and Phosphate
Thyroid Hormones
Male reproductive system
Female reproductive system
GASTROINTESTINAL PHYSIOLOGY
Thursday Chat:
Off for Thanksgiving
Friday Chat:
Off for Thanksgiving, or review of Physio
4th Week:
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE
June 29-July 4
Monday Chat:
Epidemiology,Statistics
Social Life in the US
Substance Abuse
Tuesday Chat:
Human Sexuality
Learning and Behavior Modification
Defense mechanisms
Wednesday Chat:
Psychologic health and Testing
Child Development
Sleep and sleep disorders
Thursday Chat:
Organic Disorders
Psychopharmacology
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV (DSM IV)
Friday Chat:
Ethical and legal Issues
Physician-patient relationships
5th Week:
PATHOLOGY by Goljan
July 6-11
Monday Chat:
1. Cell Injury
2. Inflammation
Tuesday Chat:
3. Fluids/hemodynamics
4. Neoplasia
Wednesday Chat:
5. RBC and WBC
6. Lymphoproliferatives
Thursday Chat:
7. Coagulation
8. Blood Bank
Friday Chat:
9. Cardiovascular
10. Respiratory
6th Week:
PATHOLOGY by Goljan (cont)
July 13-18
Monday Chat:
11. Gastrointestinal
12. Hepatobiliar / Pancreas
Tuesday Chat:
13. Renal/ Lower Urinary
14. STD / Gynecology
Wednesday Chat:
15. Endocrine
16. Musculoskeletal
Thursday Chat:
17. Skin
18. CNS/Special senses
Friday Chat:
Overall Goljan review
7th Week:
IMMUNOLOGY
July 20-25
Monday Chat:
INTRODUCTION
Innate Immunity
Acquired (Adaptative) Immunity
Immunoglobulins and T-cell Receptors
Immunoglobulins and T-cell Receptor (TCR) Genes
Tuesday Chat:
Antigens and Immunogens
Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)
The Lymphoid System
The Immune Response
T cell subsets and Interleukins
Cell-mediated Immunity
Complement
Wednesday Chat:
Failures of the Immune System: Hypersensitivity
Failures of the Immune System: Immunodeficiency
Failures of the Immune System: Autoimmunity
Regulation and Tolerance
Transplantation Immunology
Immunology Laboratory Procedures
Thursday Chat:
Off
Friday Chat:
Off
8th Week:
MICROBIOLOGY
July 27-August 1
Monday Chat:
General Microbiology
Medically Important bacteria
Tuesday Chat:
Medically Important Fungi
Medical Parasitology
Wednesday Chat:
Medically Important Viruses
Thursday Chat:
Microbial Genetics/Drug Resistance
Clinical Infectious Disease
Comparative Microbiology
Flow Charts/Clue Sheets
Friday Chat:
Off
9th Week:
PHARMACOLOGY***
AUgust 3- 8
Monday Chat:
GENERAL PRINCIPLES**:
Pharmacokinetics;
Pharmacodynamics
AUTONOMIC PHARMACOLOGY**:
The Autonomic nervous System;
Cholinergic Pharmacology;
Adrenergic Neuroeffector Junctions;
Autonomic Drugs: The Eye and Cardiovascular System;
Autonomic Drug Summary
Tuesday Chat:
CARDIAC AND RENAL PHARMACOLOGY***:
Fundamental Concepts;
Antiarrythmics Drugs;
Antihypertensive Drugs;
Drugs for heart Failure;
Antianginal Drugs;
Diuretics;
Antihyperlipidemics
Wednesday Chat:
- CNS PHARMACOLOGY***
Thursday Chat:
- ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS**:
Antibacterial Agents;
Antifungal Agents;
Antiviral* Agents;
Antiprotozoal Agents and the Antimicrobial Drug List
- DRUGS FOR INFLAMMATORY AND RELATED DISORDERS
Friday Chat:
- DRUGS USED IN BLOOD AND ENDOCRINE DISORDERS:
Blood Pharmacology; Endocrine Pharmacology
- ANTICANCER DRUGS*
- IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
- TOXICOLOGY: Anticancer drugs; Immunopharmacology; Toxicology
___________________
once we have a destiny we have acquired the reason of life, but life can press us to keep ourselves away from it. a strange force comes to keep ourselves limited. It is determination which keeps limitations away and turn the table around. it is imagination which makes us infinite.
Monday Chat:
11. Gastrointestinal
12. Hepatobiliar / Pancreas
Tuesday Chat:
13. Renal/ Lower Urinary
14. STD / Gynecology
Wednesday Chat:
15. Endocrine
16. Musculoskeletal
Thursday Chat:
17. Skin
18. CNS/Special senses
Friday Chat:
Overall Goljan review
7th Week:
IMMUNOLOGY
July 20-25
Monday Chat:
INTRODUCTION
Innate Immunity
Acquired (Adaptative) Immunity
Immunoglobulins and T-cell Receptors
Immunoglobulins and T-cell Receptor (TCR) Genes
Tuesday Chat:
Antigens and Immunogens
Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)
The Lymphoid System
The Immune Response
T cell subsets and Interleukins
Cell-mediated Immunity
Complement
Wednesday Chat:
Failures of the Immune System: Hypersensitivity
Failures of the Immune System: Immunodeficiency
Failures of the Immune System: Autoimmunity
Regulation and Tolerance
Transplantation Immunology
Immunology Laboratory Procedures
Thursday Chat:
Off
Friday Chat:
Off
8th Week:
MICROBIOLOGY
July 27-August 1
Monday Chat:
General Microbiology
Medically Important bacteria
Tuesday Chat:
Medically Important Fungi
Medical Parasitology
Wednesday Chat:
Medically Important Viruses
Thursday Chat:
Microbial Genetics/Drug Resistance
Clinical Infectious Disease
Comparative Microbiology
Flow Charts/Clue Sheets
Friday Chat:
Off
9th Week:
PHARMACOLOGY***
AUgust 3- 8
Monday Chat:
GENERAL PRINCIPLES**:
Pharmacokinetics;
Pharmacodynamics
AUTONOMIC PHARMACOLOGY**:
The Autonomic nervous System;
Cholinergic Pharmacology;
Adrenergic Neuroeffector Junctions;
Autonomic Drugs: The Eye and Cardiovascular System;
Autonomic Drug Summary
Tuesday Chat:
CARDIAC AND RENAL PHARMACOLOGY***:
Fundamental Concepts;
Antiarrythmics Drugs;
Antihypertensive Drugs;
Drugs for heart Failure;
Antianginal Drugs;
Diuretics;
Antihyperlipidemics
Wednesday Chat:
- CNS PHARMACOLOGY***
Thursday Chat:
- ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS**:
Antibacterial Agents;
Antifungal Agents;
Antiviral* Agents;
Antiprotozoal Agents and the Antimicrobial Drug List
- DRUGS FOR INFLAMMATORY AND RELATED DISORDERS
Friday Chat:
- DRUGS USED IN BLOOD AND ENDOCRINE DISORDERS:
Blood Pharmacology; Endocrine Pharmacology
- ANTICANCER DRUGS*
- IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
- TOXICOLOGY: Anticancer drugs; Immunopharmacology; Toxicology
___________________
once we have a destiny we have acquired the reason of life, but life can press us to keep ourselves away from it. a strange force comes to keep ourselves limited. It is determination which keeps limitations away and turn the table around. it is imagination which makes us infinite.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
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