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Sunday 10-25-2009 | Just Another Open Thread
Bismillah-irRahman-irRaheem. As salamu alaykum wa Rahmat Allahi wa Barakatuhu.
posted by abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed
I’m curious, so I hope you’ll indulge me. What are you reading? I mean in the way of books, newspapers, magazines — electronic or print. And how do you choose what to read? For example, is what you read driven by work needs? Or by recommendations, and if so, from whom?
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A few interesting topics from the New York Times:
1) For Some Parents, Shouting Is the New Spanking
2) Money Talks to Have Before Marriage
Alhamdolillah, I’m taking Fiqh of Love in Houston this November. My fiancee will be there, too, inshaAllah, with her children, alhamdolillah. Clearly both of these articles were interesting to me personally. Alhamdolillah, she’s done an amazing job with her children, and she credits the parenting courses of Drs. Ekram and M. Rida Beshir. Their book, Blissful Marriage, is pretty impressive, too, alhamdolillah.
3) A Fast-Track Alternative to a Teaching Job
With the economy still in flux, many people have decided to answer the need of schools around the country — and take up teaching. The article discusses alternatives to the traditional route of getting a degree in education/teaching.
Maybe you wonder why most of my links are from the NY Times. I think I started reading the Times over other newspapers back during the Bush Administration. Any paper that President Bush and his minions hated had to have some redeeming qualities.
So far Obama’s just another US President waging wars that kill innocent Muslims. Does that mean I should follow the same logic and start getting my news from the people he does not like? From Glenn Beck, Bill O’, and the other good folks at Fox Views? Well, no. I can still diss Fox because President Bush loved them so much. Plus, dude, Fox is the North Korea of journalism. Armed and annoying.
So if you want a source that asks tough questions without an overload of bias, where do you get your news? The Daily Show?
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aysam
October 25, 2009 at 6:45 AM
I don’t think why’d you think that the NYT was such a critic of the Bush government; the NYT is actually a very conservative newspaper when it comes to politics; just notice the pro-Israel, pro-war, pro-globalization, and often anti-Muslim sentiments expressed in the paper. Robert Fisk and Noam Chomsky have criticized it extensively. Also, many of the “scientific studies” they report are laughable.
BintKhalil
October 25, 2009 at 8:10 AM
I suppose it’s like Obama being awarded the Nobel for not being Bush – the NYTimes is to be commended for not being Fox News. The standards are just that low.
abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed
October 25, 2009 at 12:39 PM
:) “some redeeming qualities” was meant to suggest I am aware that the New York Times has its failings.
Speaking of failings, maybe Bush should have liked the New York Times. That was irrelevant to my point, though. That President Bush and his cronies hated the NY Times was widely understood. Read, for example, this article from the Guardian.
I think BintKhalil’s comment may also shed light on Bush’s feelings. Remember, “if you’re not with us, you’re against us.” Bush loved his lapdogs at Fox News, and loyalty to “us” meant loyalty to him, not loyalty to the USA. So any perceived criticism of him was treacherous if not downright treasonous.
BintKhalil
October 25, 2009 at 3:22 PM
An excellent piece in the NYtimes about the state of the media and what people will do for fame. As Muslims, we need to be able to glean the wheat from the chaff and not throw everything out altogether.
abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed
October 26, 2009 at 7:51 AM
That is a well-written editorial, jazak Allah khayr.
BintKhalil
October 25, 2009 at 8:02 AM
Assalamu alaikum
Al Jazeera English
MentalMuslim
October 25, 2009 at 9:08 AM
2nd that — AlJazeera English is very good (I have access to it on TV through IslamBox)!
aysam
October 25, 2009 at 9:26 AM
Al Jazeera is much better but not without its flaws either. The brother is right; it’s all a relative game. I personally like The Independent in the UK. Also, a lot of the independent left-learning media projects are much better than the mainstream news media organizations. Democracy Now is very good for example.
abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed
October 25, 2009 at 12:49 PM
When AlJazeera English became available, I really looked forward to the opportunity to watch. But, somehow, it was a letdown. Couldn’t live up to expectations, maybe. We used to get them via satellite, but have switched networks since then. I still follow their posts on twitter, but boiled down to 140 characters, they have become even less appealing.
On the other hand, some of their documentary segments have been well-produced, and a few of those I have seen on youtube.
Maybe it’s time to give their website a chance. http://english.aljazeera.net/
BrownS
October 26, 2009 at 1:29 AM
It’s sad that they’re running out of funding, and that Israeli media mogul Haim Saban is angling to buy half of it.
abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed
October 26, 2009 at 7:54 AM
That would be an awful fate for AlJazeera — in any language.
Not likely that we would see any more stories like this one about Israel striving to get the international Law of War changed to legitimize its behavior in Gaza.
abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed
October 26, 2009 at 8:09 AM
And would you trust an Israeli-owned AlJazeera to report on Al Aqsa?
alima
October 25, 2009 at 11:00 AM
I’m currently reading: Work Hard. Be Nice.: How Two Inspired Teachers Created the Most Promising Schools in America – by Jay Mathews
It’s about the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) charter schools that have become a huge phenomenon in educating low-income kids across the United States.
Why am I reading it: I’m currently in teachers’ college and trying to look in to alternative schools (not a fan of public schools). Also I am trying to wrap my head around the insane amount of problem that the Islamic schools in my area seem to have. Ultimately: I want to change things in the education of low-income kids, and find a way to help Islamic schools become a more viable option for parents to send their children to, Bi ithnillahi ta’ala.
What guides my reading choices: I have a tough time with “leisure reading”, I always feel like I’m wasting my time :) so I try to make my reading both fun and beneficial. “Work Hard. Be Nice” is an amazing and fun read. I also love anything by Malcolm Gladwell. I can justify stuff like this as creativity and idea development ;)
Cultural literacy is also super important to me so I try to read some “touch stone” social/cultural books. If you haven’t read The Autobiography of Malcolm X do it…now! To kill a mocking bird is on my ‘to read’ list for this reason (I missed it in high school)
What is everyone else reading?
abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed
October 25, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Agreed, especially for any Muslim who lives in America. Another slice of American history that I think Muslims here should know is in Dee Brown’s Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.
I loved Gregory Peck’s To Kill a Mockingbird more than the book.
Jazak Allah khayr for the Work Hard, Be Nice recommendation!
Holly Garza
October 28, 2009 at 8:36 AM
MashaAllah Great reads! I agree with you on the schooling problem :(
Ibn Masood
October 25, 2009 at 5:48 PM
The Daily Show is the greatest news program in history. Period.
Abû Mûsâ Al-Ḥabashî
October 25, 2009 at 8:16 PM
Miracle Baby?
http://abcnews.go.com/WN/miracle-baby-koran-verses-infants-body/Story?id=8889257&page=1
coolred38
October 26, 2009 at 2:28 AM
Im currently reading The Complete Infidels Guide to the Koran…by Robert Spencer…always interesting to read both sides of the issue…gives me a better understanding of those who I disagree with (maybe not completely)…and sometimes…just sometimes…I learn something I didnt know before. Neat how that happens sometimes.
Supporter of Tariq
October 26, 2009 at 7:16 AM
This is the official Facebook Group for those who believe that Tariq Mehanna is innocent, and who hope that truth and justice prevail, inshaAllah: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=159128188381&v=wall
abu abdAllah Tariq Ahmed
October 26, 2009 at 9:07 AM
Whoa! CAIR accused by lawmakers of being an effective force on Capitol Hill… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg8_IkNpUx0&feature=player_profilepage
Brother
October 26, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Its rather ironic how we are trying to find “credible” and “trustworthy” sources, when this website (MuslimMatters) clearly displayed it is neither….Maybe the authors of MM can take a look at this piece http://www.opednews.com/articles/Tariq-Mehanna-Obama-s-Lat-by-Stephen-Lendman-091026-208.html and reflect upon it for a bit…. just a suggestion…
Holly Garza
October 28, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Asalaamu Alaikum I don’t feel MuslimMatters is unreliable and neither do other readers. AllahuAlim
ahmed
October 27, 2009 at 7:24 AM
Shame on you for depending on god-dangit kuffaar for your information?? How do we trust him? he is part of media concipiracy, isn’t he??
oh wait a minute… this is good for us. So, we can trust “kuffaar” journalist only when it suit our cause? got it.
Supporter of Tariq
October 27, 2009 at 7:45 AM
Sign the petition for Tariq: http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?Tarekm
Holly Garza
October 28, 2009 at 8:33 AM
Asalaamu Alaikum The “kuffar” are our Brothers and sisters in humanity. Maybe the media is not reliable but to hate is not the Islamic way either. InshaAllah we can all remember that.
Brother
October 28, 2009 at 11:19 AM
What are you talking about?….I don’t understand what “kuffaar” has anything to do with? I was just comparing one piece on the brother to another piece on the brother from this website?….(responding to brother ahmed)
Supporter of Tariq
October 27, 2009 at 7:25 AM
This is the official Facebook Group for those who believe that Tariq Mehanna is innocent, and who hope that truth and justice prevail, inshaAllah: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=159128188381&v=wall
I’m waiting to see a post on supporting Tariq and his family. God bless you.
Holly Garza
October 28, 2009 at 8:30 AM
Asalaamu Alaikum I actually watched the news last night on channel eleven they had a piece called “Chicago matters” featuring Inner city Muslims and the Program. I was intrigued there was actually a positive and a Muslim…Unfortunately I fell asleep with it on Chanel 2 woke up for Fajr and managed to actually fall back asleep only to wake up to terrible terrorism news as the first thing I heard :( May Allah be with the innocent and terrorized
Supporter of Tariq
October 28, 2009 at 5:08 PM
Let’s continue the support guys – join the FB group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=159128188381&v=wall
Sign the petition for Tariq: http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?Tarekm
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