Sure there isn't much difference between the 11.59 31 Dec/00.00 1 Jan, but the passing of one day to the next heralds the opportunity to do things differently. Hope drives me and for what it's worth, I wish you all a brilliant new year. As the year draws to a close, I share a few images that have made this blog over the past year.
One of the things that comes up in class when I am working with children is the numerical patterns around dates such as Palindromes or those have some significant attachment. Yesterday's date was such a talking point since it was the winter solstice for those living in the northern hemisphere. However, this event was overshadowed by Mayan doom theories of the impending expiration of the Long Calendar, and with it the end of life, time and the Earth.
Hype
I have mentioned hype before and how I often feel that being swept up in popular hype goes against rational balanced thinking. This is just one of those stories and the apocalypse theories have been stirred in part by those who have taken the Long Calendar as some kind of prophesy. Even the ancient Mayans astronomers and mathematicians using their own Base 18/20 counting system did not make that claim.
One day, scientifically and/or theologically speaking the Earth will end, so this is a subject that isn't about to go away and that I may come back to explore at some further point InshAllah. As it is ... here's a video by NASA with their view on yesterday's doomsday scenario and how Al Hamdulilah, the Earth is still here one day later.
There is something about Christmas that I don't like.
There, I've said it. Actually, there is a lot about Christmas that I don't like, but there are a lot of things about a lot of other things that I don't like too, so I will not escalate my views up to any level that may cause fractious disharmony. If I make an apology,
it is for beginning my blog posting with that rather hard line (though I do have my reasons - see here for example).
Since readjusting to a society that is largely irreverent/hostile towards religion, I see an increasing tendency towards conformism. That doesn't always sit comfortably with me and I guess if I was to scrutinise my opinions, then some of these could be described as defined by my position as a Muslim. But there are other positions that are come simply from common sense. My view on Christmas is such and hasn't changed much over the years.
Yesterday, I was at a 'Christmas meal'. It was a social event organised by colleagues and one that I tried to keep an open mind about. I went along to it because in my current job, I am the newbie. I have encountered situations like this previously and I've generally remained polite and kept my opinions to myself. However, the 'celebration' reaffirmed what I already believed about conformism and if I was a Christian then I would be offended at what is done in the name of the Christ. It isn't up to me as a Muslim to save Christmas from depravity, commercialism and mindless destruction. That is the role of those who allow have allowed Christmas to become what it now is. Shame.
For a while Mariam Jaan had a presence on the blogosphere and today one of her poems gets a mention. This posting in fact is an 'archive' posting that sat in my drafts tray and never got published. It's about 2 years late as it goes as is the introductory paragraph here. Still, I think it is relevant:
I had a conversation a couple of days ago with someone who said that the descent into chaos in the Pashtun lands was firmly attributed to the Pashtuns themselves. Typically people like him propose that Pashtun suffering is somehow deserved. The issues that plague us are complex, and there are manipulators on the outside, so that assertion is not entirely true in my opinion.We have our faults, but we have such untapped potential. We are not known for bowing our heads before others; and this is surely one of the reasons that manipulation by others continues to blight us.
"My People" At times I feel I am writing to those who can't read. Some of you say that God is punishing us for some sin but how do we win a battle we have yet to even begin? It is said that God helps those that help themselves. What have we Pashtuns done to heal our nation's pain? I see us doing nothing but blame "fate" and just complain. As far as sinful people there are many than us far worse yet do they suffer as we do with what we call our curse? No, they rise up and for freedom they give a brave fight God will always be on the side of his people who are right Wishing doesn't make things happen, only our actions do! My people, you act as if this simple fact is something new! Mariam Jaan
