COMMON TREE

Yes/no?

It’s completely nonsensical, and besides, it IS dealing with the consequences.

I have a quick question; while most religious people who came to their religion call themselves “converts”, Muslims call themselves “reverts”. Why is this?

The things going on in Libya are unspeakable. I feel sad that, not only are people being massacred, but this is also going pretty much unspoken among most Americans, who are safe and warm behind our political stability and in our homes. Even though this is not our struggle, if we do not pay attention and support the people, how could we possibly say we support freedom?

However, for some things like this, it is very hard to find out how everything began and why it is going on. So, I intend to explain what all is happening.

On December 17th, 2010, a young man in Tunisia (a small African country with a largely Arab and Muslim population) set himself on fire. His name was Mohamed Bouazizi and he was twenty-six years old, and his family’s provider. He was a university graduate. Like most of the young people in Tunisia, Bouazini did not have a stable job, and like some of them, he was a university graduate. The recent price of food had been rising steadily for some time, and the people looked to their leader with anger and frustration.

The price of food was very important factor for the revolutions. In the midst of the Egyptian Revolution, many Egyptians spoke in anger about how much they paid for food. Let’s put it in perspective: in America, the average amount spent on food is 7% of our income. In the United Kingdom, it is 9%. In Tunisia, the average person spends 36% of their income on food alone. Imagine getting your pay check, and instead of bemoaning spending it on this or that, you have more than a third of it whisked away so that you might live before you even consider what other bills you pay. It is insane. To continue this number game, here’s food for thought: seven out of ten young Arabs (under the age of thirty) are very concerned about the rising cost of food.

Poverty also played a huge role; in Tunisia, the average income is $7,900 a year. And do not forget the average amount spend on food in Tunisia: 36%. After spending that much on food, the number dwindles to only $5,056 a year. Many Americans make that much in a month. The situation in Egypt was even more dire; with the average income at $5,400 a year, after buying food, the average Egyptian family is left to house, clothe, and survive on about $3,600 a year.

Another factor in the revolutions is the amount of the population which the youth makes up. Why would the age make any difference, someone might ask. Think of the Baby Boomer generation; what were they known for as a generation? Woodstock, Vietnam protests, second wave feminism…When you have a population which is overwhelmed by the young, you have social change. In Tunisia, 52% of the population is under the age of thirty. Over all in the Middle East, more than 60% of the population is under the age of thirty. The highest percentage of youth in the Middle East is found in Iraq, with 68% of the population under thirty.

Couple the spirit of youth with new technology, and you have the recipe for something outstanding. The way which people in Tunisia (and Egypt) connected was through Facebook and Twitter. In the West, we take these things for granted, but these websites provide for amazing connectivity, and it played a key role in these grass root riots. 56% of young Arabs use the internet daily. This does not seem like a lot to us, in a place where we can waltz into almost any building and seeing people updating their status on Facebook with their iPhone, but imagine for a moment. If you lived in a place which suppresses your ability to vote and speak your mind, imagine what reading the news and seeing how things are in another country, daily, would be like! This is why it was such a big deal when Egypt shut off the internet for five days - it was the revolutionaries’ way of planning.

All these factors, and many more, lead to (rightfully) angry people; a group of young people who are tired of being silenced and who have never seen but one leader in charge of their lives. A group of people who have windows to a world vastly different from what is in theirs, and yearn for change. And they riot.

Not long after, the government of Tunisia falls. But, this is not the end of the conflict - not by a long shot. The desire for democracy spreads, and it spreads fast. Most notably and most well known, it spreads to Egypt. But, it also goes to Algeria, Jordan, Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, and a little country called Bahrain. Everywhere, these young Arab people are coming together and fighting for their rights. They are fighting tooth and nail for something better than the only thing they have known, and, in many cases, they are winning.

Egypt is the best known of these revolutions. We saw hundreds of images of Egypt for the weeks they revolted; Christians protecting Muslims, Muslims being hosed down by police, people waving the flag, thousands upon thousands in Tahrir Square…It was very inspiring and made thousands weep and cheer; all over the world, people shook their fists in anger when Mubarak gave his speech saying he wasn’t going to step step down, and even more celebrated when he did.

Now, about Libya…

More than two hundred died in Egypt, and people mourn this. It is something incredibly sad. But, Libya is a different story all together. In the past two days, reports as high as four hundred have been reported for the dead. The government has hired mercenaries and given them permission to rape the women. Funeral marches have been gunned down. Hospitals are running out of supplies to help the fallen. “Massacre” has been aptly applied to the situation. What was inspiring and gave everyone great hope has turned into something which strikes fear and worry within the hearts of people paying attention.

To us, there are videos of innocents being shot in the head and buildings burning to the ground. The people, who simply want the ability to choose their leader and to be sovereign people, are being gunned down at every moment.

If anyone cares about human rights or freedom, certainly their hearts go out to those in Libya. It is important that they get support, to encourage them to stay strong. Do what you feel is appropriate, whether it be letting your friends on Facebook know of the slaughter, or praying, keep your eyes peeled. We are looking at the future.

bitshare:

In the past two months the world has watched as Tunisia and Egypt have now successfully had protests to oust their dictator presidents in efforts for a better life.  As the world has watched, so have been other countries under a dictatorship such as Libya.

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Please spread the word. Even if we can’t be involved physically, we can at least say we shared it with the world.

But be careful when you watch the videos. They are hard to watch.

I have been lamenting over how bad my English teacher is and how much I hate her class.

And then I come home and read the news, and realize that the people in the Middle East are still fighting for basic human rights. Trying to tear it from the cold hands of their governments.

I feel really selfish and ashamed over my petty anger, when there are real things to be angry out in the world.

:(

Post more? Post different stuff? (But I like Nerdfighters… D; )

newtojew:

feelstrange:

I SCREAMED WHEN I SAW THIS AT NEWSPAPER

OH MY GOD

OH MY GOD

OH MY GOD

Can I pre order it NOW?!

I changed my URL! And icon! And theme!

But I am still me. I wanted to be “noctivigant”, but it said it was taken? Oh well.

Oh my god! So exciting! I love Al Jazeera.

I hope Mubarak steps down and Omar Suleiman does NOT take over. Democracy for Egypt!

We are witnessing history right here, right now!

http://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish?feature=ticker

So, this was something that popped into my mind, and I think it’s kind of a growing trend that many non-Muslim girls are considering wearing the hijab. I think there could be a couple reasons for this, whether it is the faster growth of Islam in historically non-Muslim nations, or the internet giving us access to cultures we otherwise wouldn’t have had or some mixture of both. Either way, there are non-Muslims interested in the hijab now.

What do you all think of this? On this vein as well, do you have thoughts about Muslim girls who do not wear the hijab? Or, are all these things dependent on the situation?

I’m so happy. :’D

Thank y’all.

DFTBA!

-Tuition

-Books

-Dorm room

-Meal plan

-enrollment fees

what else are mandatory things that I must pay?

afghanipoppy:

SOURCE, I’ll link to the AJE when it comes up