http://rebelfellaha.wordpress.com/

The Internet is filled with aspiring writers. And I’m…one…of them…? Is that as depressing for all of you (two) people to hear as it is for me to write?

I am indeed ASPIRING. I’m not published, never have been, nor am I legit by any means. Cracked won’t return my calls, I’ve tweeted empty thoughts that have only led to walks of shame. Even tumblr now only responds to my heart felt texts with “k”. These words I write now have only been assembled after each individual letter has fallen from my eyes and nose while broken heartedly I scream, “where is my magnum opus?! Will I write the next great (Arab) American novel?!” My writing hasn’t experienced love yet, committed or casual and it’s scared of taking a chance. Like a person with an orange phobia playing Monopoly.

But that’s what I’m doing!! Like skydiving karaoke with George Michael : I’m ready to take a leap of faith. Also, I will get better with the metaphors. I mean, I’ll try.

Stephen King suggested aspiring writers write AT LEAST 1000 words a day and that’s what I’m gonna do: the absolute bare minimum. And I will not slack off. This is my commitment to the interwebs, and I am making it, for better or worse, in sickness (like computer viruses, because it’s funny) and in health, even if I wake up at 12 and all I wanna do is watch Breaking Bad. This is my promise to you!!

…okay. So how many words is that? Is that 1000? 123…124.

Again my commitment, that I will start tomorrow.

Muslim women won’t have made complete strides till a hijabi is on tv telling dick jokes.

Blessed daughter who can dance.
The girl standing behind her shadow.
Arms folded not outstretched.
Child who won’t speak first,
But once words abound
theres no mistaking what’s there.
Still waters run deep.
In lawless anger she shakes her head in rebellion and not for troubles sake.
Only after she’s been on knee in prayer.
Blessed daughter who can dance.
Learned about the meta and the punk.
Kissing the hand of her father in contrition,
she finds love in disobedience.
Nicotine stained fingers and a face marked with kohl.
Under god and of the derelict.
Blessed daughter who can dance.

Hussein in Arabic means “good” or “beautiful”, and in Islamic theology Hussein was the grandson of the prophet Mohammed (PBUH). It is obviously an important name within Arab and Muslim culture alike. And the American Muslim and Arab community put a lot of faith in the hands of the man who carried it…but why?
I voted for Obama in 2008. I was excited by his progressive attitudes towards healthcare reform, closing down Guantanamo, ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, establishing better relations with Iran and stabilizing peace abroad, and other promises I’m still waiting to be answered. I voted for a progressive, one I thought would incorporate those policies that would be good for the Muslim and Arab world and global community as a whole.
The president in office now is not the progressive I and other Hoper/Changers were asking for. Waging drone warfare in Somalia, Yemen, and Pakistan, refusing to acknowledge Israel’s war crimes against Palestinians or standing up against the Gaza blockade, not only signing off on, but overseeing targeted killings, sometimes against American citizens (ones that take civilians down with them), authorizing kill lists which also include Americans, not closing Gitmo…this should be getting exhausting to read. It’s exhausting to think about. Who the fuck is this person I voted for? The Muslim American people are thinking the same thing. Other American communities and subcultures are thinking the same thing, no less, but the majority of the Muslim and Arab thinkers I’ve spoken to and communicated with over the internets have lost all faith in Obama. His policies have been no better for the Muslim and Arab world than the policies of Bush-Cheney. Did the previous administration commit more war crimes? Is the current one not responsible for the murder of innocent civilians?
Can we put our name behind this administration? There’s obviously not a better alternative in Romney, and the new GOP of today, and will be continually forced to choose the lesser of two evils? As Americans, this bullshit is still being done out in our names regardless of who we vote for, but why further involve yourself in an already corrupt system?
Barrack Hussein Obama was who I voted for but also not the same person at all. Did his name deceive? Not because it’s Arab and Muslim origin implied friendliness to that region, but because his policies have been far from “good” or “beautiful” for the world abroad.

I keep hearing this movie is going to be the biggest, boldest film of the year, but after watching the trailer for The Dictator, as an Arab/Muslim/thinker/ person, I had to ask…is this movie racist?

Sacha Baron Cohen is known for his shock humor brand, delivering a similar style in Borat and Bruno.
Borat too was filled with stereotypes about Muslims with the title character being from Kazakstan (majority Muslim country) who hated Jews, had incestuous relationships, treated women like objects, etc. But what Borat seemed to illustrate in its commentary on the ugliness in our country/culture brought a certain insight to the film, even within the thinly veiled racist subtext.
It was also very funny for the most part.

From watching the trailer for The Dictator and the promotional cameos Cohen has done (last night on SNL, walking the Oscar red carpet as the dictator) on the other hand, the film seems like an all out Arab bashing. The character is the ruler of the fictional North African country Wadiya, and he is the Arab stereotype. All Arabs are terrorists, hate women, hate Jews, and overall are sucky people. Why are Arabs always profiled as assholes? I understand for the most part the film is mocking Arab dictators like Qaddafi and Hussein, and their corrupt regimes, and I will scream as loud as anyone, “Fuck all those bastards!” But doesn’t the film seem like an attack on Arabs and Muslims in general and just another example at how Arabs and Muslims are only ever portrayed negatively in the media?

Have we become too sensitive? I question that too. But I also question why Arabs and Muslims are the only groups of people that can be blatantly mocked with little to no outcry. More so, why is Cohen consistently given license to do so while no one recognizes this constant pattern in his schtick? Now it’s The Dictator, before that Borat, and before that Ali G. All of them stereotypes against Muslim/Arabs, neither of which Cohen belongs to. Would a Muslim/Arab or anyone else for that matter get not only the same permission, but also the same recognition making light of black, Hispanic, or Asian stereotypes?

What about Jewish ones?

Again, maybe I’m being too sensitive.