An Excerpt from I Am Malala

"Would it have been better if we had not become independent but stayed part of India?" I asked my father. It seemed to me that before Pakistan there was endless fighting between Hindus and Muslims. Then even when we got our own country there was still fighting, but this time it was between mohajirs and Pashtuns and between Sunnis and Shias. Instead of celebrating each other, our four provinces struggle to get along... Did all this fighting mean we needed to divide our country yet again?

There seemed to be so many things about which people were fighting. If Christians, Hindus or Jews are really our enemies, as so many say, why are we Muslims fighting with each other? Our people have become misguided. They think that their greatest concern is defending Islam and are being led astray by those like the Taliban who deliberately misinterpret the Qur'an. We should focus on practical issues. We have so many people in our country who are illiterate. And many women who have no education at all. We live in a place where schools are blown up. We have no reliable electricity supply. Not a single day passes without the killing of at least one Pakistani. 

This girl is superb at such young age! I was watching youtube clips of her speeches and interviews and I can't help but get astounded by her unique train of thoughts for an EIGHTEEN year-old! What was I doing when I was eighteen? Did I even think of having an advocacy? Perhaps, when one is in a horrendous situation like that, it makes one's maturity shoot up a thousand folds.

The Taliban rule makes me think of the MILF ruling over us. I have nothing against them nor am I against the good intention of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, but somehow, it didn't push through for a reason. Maybe that is better for us. Maybe we are not ready yet. With everything that is going on in the ARMM, the crimes, the political clashes, the usurpation of power, how can we say we are ready to govern ourselves? I personally do not depend my freedom on the BBL nor on any political figure. Like Malala and from the experience of my own father, only education can give us freedom. Acquisition of quality education, no matter where it come either from the West or East because all knowledge and wisdom are from Allah alone, can free us from the dark abyss of ignorance and oppression.

You can watch her Nobel Peace Prize Speech HERE,  and the documentary by the New York Times when she was only 10 is HERE.   This NYT documentary opened her and her father's voice to the world. Since then, she and her father, a staunch critic of the Taliban and an advocate of women's education, were frequently invited to speaking engagements and interviews by the media. This made them a target of the Taliban. But nobody knew that the Taliban would dare shoot a child right on her face for her love of education. To their dismay, she lived to continue her advocacy and to represent the 66 million girls all over the world who are deprived of education for several reasons, the main reason is by being a girl. :( 

Abe's Letter

My heart is bleeding as I read  I am Malala, a biography of the youngest Nobel-prize laureate Malala Yousafzai. She is a Pakistani young activist who fought for women's education in her region and was shot by Taliban in the face. She survived the attack which caught the attention of the international media and was given a chance to be heard. It breaks my heart how some fundamentalists could think so backwardly and act so outrageously in the name of a religion that has nothing to do with what they claim to stand for. They oppress women by ripping away their basic rights including education. The women in Malala's region is not far from the story of Laila and Mariam in the fictional (but based on facts) novel of Khaled Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns. Sadly, these fundamentalists on Malala's side of the earth blemish the beautiful name of Islam. Their closed and narrow way of interpreting Islam is what the rest of the world sees. 

Knowing about the status of women in those regions (Pakistan, Afghanistan and some Arab countries) makes me grateful that I was born and raised in a place where I am free to dream and choose who I want to be the way I want it. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The seeking of knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim." (Al-Tirmidhi). He didn't say only men can seek knowledge. As far as I know, Islam is the most gender-sensitive religion and it never teaches, neither in the Holy Qur'an or in the Hadith, the oppression of women. In fact, men are commanded to treat women fairly and lovingly. 

Anyway, without steering away further from the title of this entry, some lines from Abraham Lincoln's letter to his son's teacher were mentioned in the book. I searched for it and here it goes: 

This afternoon at a quite corner with my Amina love. 

“My son starts school today. It is all going to be strange and new to him for a while and I wish you would treat him gently. It is an adventure that might take him across continents. All adventures that probably include wars, tragedy and sorrow. To live this life will require faith, love and courage.

So dear Teacher, will you please take him by his hand and teach him things he will have to know, teaching him – but gently, if you can, Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend. He will have to know that all men are not just, that all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero, that for every crooked politician, there is a dedicated leader.

Teach him if you can that 10 cents earned is of far more value than a dollar found. In school, teacher, it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to learn how to gracefully lose, and enjoy winning when he does win.

Teach him to be gentle with people, tough with tough people. Steer him away from envy if you can and teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Teach him if you can – how to laugh when he is sad, teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him there can be glory in failure and despair in success. Teach him to scoff at cynics.

Teach him if you can the wonders of books, but also give time to ponder the extreme mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hill. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if every one tell him they are wrong.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is doing it. Teach him to listen to every one, but teach him also to filter all that he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him to sell his talents and brains to the highest bidder but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Let him have the courage to be impatient, let him have the patient to be brave. Teach him to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind, in God.

This is the order, teacher but see what best you can do. He is such a nice little boy and he is my son.”

It is a beautiful letter full of wisdom. I am miles away yet from parenting issues that involve instilling values, discipline and morality, but I take this letter as a prayer where God is the Teacher who provides us with knowledge that can help us through in this worldly life. 

Every parent wants the best for their children; however, we do not want exaggerations that might throw them to self-destruction. We want to strike a balance. Personally, I want to raise my daughter (and her future siblings) the way I was raised. But I need to adapt to their generation as well. Who knows what kind of technology and environment they have fifteen to twenty years from now? Well, we can only take things slowly, gracefully, and with a lot of prayers. :)

                 

What I like about buying books at Kinokuniya is that they cover it with a plastic before handing it to you. The nerd in me is sooo excited for this one! And super glad that I got the last copy on stock! 

Hooked With Books

It's been six month since I've been here in Bangkok spending most of my weekdays time alone while my husband is working his butt off in the office. Aside from growing another human being inside me, I look for alternative activities to make my days productive. I've finished multiple seasons of my favorite American and British TV shows continuously and read books to my heart's content. 

One of my favorite Tyrion quotes. Googled photo. 

Before I left, my father worried that I may succumb to idleness by being a stay-at-home wife. Being the greatest influence on my love for reading, he closely instructed me to never waste a single day without reading. "Read good books everyday", he told me. Now, he frequently keeps track on what book I am reading whenever we go on Facetime! Haha! Pressure si Papa! In this entry, I'll wrap-up all the books I read (one is a re-read) for the past six months. 

1. Eat, Pray, Love (Elizabeth Gilbert) 

    This one's a re-read from four years ago. I wanted to refresh in my memory the author's journey to three countries (Italy, India and Indonesia) in her quest to finding happiness, balance and a profound meaning to her life. I was re-reading this while I was in a yoga class before I got pregnant, so it made me understand more of the concepts of yoga and meditation. I love how she stringed together all her experiences throwing out the dirty ones brought about by her divorce, exploring new places, learning a new language, embracing new ideas and concepts and meeting awesome people. All of those were major influences in her realization that her happiness resides within the the balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence. 

2.) The Winner Stands Alone (Paulo Coelho)

    From one of my favorite authors, this book tackles about passion, materialism, power and fame. Set in the backdrop of the Cannes Film Festival in France, it's a psychological thriller about supermodels, fashion designers, film producers and capitalists grappling for the sweetness of  money, reputation and world dominion. It reminds us of the reality wherein the so-called Superclass reign one side of the world while creating wars on another.

"People are never satisfied. If they have a little, they want more. If they have a lot, they still want more. Once they have more, they wish they could be happy with little, but are incapable of making the slightest effort in that direction." -The Winner Stands Alone

3.) The True Secret (Amira Ayad) 

     As Muslims, we perceive Islam as not merely a religion but our complete way of life. This book by an Egyptian author is a guide to evaluating one's self and changing actions or beliefs that may have been a hindrance to achieving eternal happiness, meaning in this world and in the hereafter. It is like the Islamic counterpart of Rhonda Byrnes The Secret which I wrote about here, with citations from the Holy Qur'an and the Hadith (traditions of the Prophet Mohammad peace be upon him) as the main foundation of how Muslims are supposed to lead a balanced and happy life.

4.) Sunset Oasis (Bahaa Taher)

    Written by a winner for International Prize for Arabic Fiction, Sunset Oasis depicts the story of a 19th-century Egyptian government official who was dispatched by the British colonizers to govern a remote oasis occupied by Berber settlements in the deep desert. It gives us a glimpse to the ancient history of Egypt down to the British colonization and its impact to the culture and beliefs of the desert bedouins. It also emphasizes the courage of the women fighting for their rights during those days largely dominated by machismo.

5.) Haroun and The Sea of Stories (Salman Rushdie)

     It's a classic children's novel! Hahaha! I know. I guess, we don't easily outgrow Alice in Wonderland in us. Haha! Well, I grabbed the book from the rack because it's Salman Rushdie without flipping through it first so I was quite surprised when upon reading, it brought me back to my favorite cartoon shows about exotic landscapes, magicians and talking animals! But hey, I did enjoy it the same way I would enjoy it if I read it 20 years back. Hehe. Nevertheless, I think it is an allegory to the present day society afflicted with power greed leading to imperialism. The most important thing that the author wamts to convey is the strength of literature or journalism (as symbolized by "story-telling" in the book) in shaping the minds of the masses.

6.) A Song of Ice and Fire: Game of Thrones (George R.R. Martin)

7.) A Song of Ice and Fire: A Clash of Kings (George R.R. Martin)

       Who doesn't know Game of Thrones? The TV series on HBO based on the epic fantasy novels A Song of Ice and Fire is a huge hit. I heard people talk about it but I previously had no spare time to read or watch the shows until now. I gave it a try and finished the first two books. I initially liked it as the story unfolds and the twists are very interesting. However, while I was nearing the end of the second book, the loathsome harshness of some characters compelled me to take a pause until I recover from the emotional pain it caused me. Hahahaha! I fell in love with some characters who died off and since I was on my first trimester when I was reading the books, I had a strong emotional attachment to them I felt the need to let go. Lol!

 8.) Diplomatic Baggage: The Adventures of a Trailing Spouse (Brigid Keenan)

      This book was given to me by my husband's embassy colleague as she thought I might relate. It's a hilarious account of a British diplomat's wife (the author) trailing her husband in posts, she also happens to be a London journalist. She talks about her funny experiences in the mountains of Kathmandu, the dramas and traumas in Ethiopia, giving birth in Brussels, their family's first Christmas in Trinidad, the children's struggle of adjusting in their new school in Barbados, the colorful and rich culture of New Delhi, her adventures in Gambia and later on in Damascus, and living on the steppes of Kazakhstan. She opens up about what a wife has to go through, leaving her profession behind and raising a family, while undergoing several adjustments whenever the husband is posted in a new country. In return, she met a lot of important people in history which makes her experiences priceless. I laughed at almost every page as she tells about her story!

9.) Love, Rosie (Cecelia Ahern)

     This is a story about two best friends who are supposed to be together but are not courageous enough to confess their love because they just can't seem to get it right, each eventually ending up in failed marriages. Being a married woman, here are my thoughts: a.) marry your best friend; or rather, make your spouse your best friend. b.) when you have issues in life, pour it all out to your spouse before anyone else, make him/her your first priority. The moment you open it up to someone else, that's when your marriage starts going downhill. c.) I don't think it is safe to open a communication with someone you have had romantic feelings with in the past, unless it is work/business related. Finally, d.) what's meant to be will always happen. :) The book reminds me of One Day by David Nicholls, they have a similar theme except that Love, Rosie is much more fun to read and it leaves you guessing until the end of the book.

10.) The Book Thief (Markus Zusak)

     One of the best books I have read this year, I must say. It talks about the struggle of a nine-year old girl in Nazi Germany to become literate by reading books other than what the dictatorial regime limits them to read. It is a beautiful story about family, love, friendship and the German struggle during the time of Fuhrer Adolf Hitler. The author also portrayed all the different kinds of Germans at that time, from the truly committed Nazis to the likes of the girl's adoptive father, Hans, who is indebted to a Jew, therefore resists the anti-Semitic propaganda. It is a thought-provoking and wonderful page-turner which I highly recommend.

11.) Have a Little Faith (Mitch Albom)

      From one of my favorite authors, this book is a true account of two men from two different backgrounds of two different faiths. It inspires the reader to reflect on his own faith and find purpose in life by creating that divine spark inside all of us. This book does not preach nor does it talks about the technical aspects of any religion, it simply illustrates the spiritual journey of the two main characters: a Jewish rabbi and a Christian pastor. Being a Muslim, I love reading books that tackles other religions. It made me find the convergence and the commonalities of these controversial religions that create division in the world since time immemorial. The truth is, all major religions have a lot more in common than differences. We all believe in one God, in the hereafter, and we all encourage doing good that will benefit our community, and at the same time, we all abhor evil.

12.) Act Like Success, Think Like Success (Steve Harvey) 

      The first book I read from the same author was Think Like a Lady, Act Like A Man which was lent  to me by my medschool classmate and friend. That book inspired me so much that it made me value myself more as a woman. So when I saw this, I didn't think twice about buying and reading it. The author Steve Harvey, a famous American comedian and host, talked about his ladder to success, the setbacks that he encountered along the way and how he dealt with those. He basically talked about recognizing our individual God-given gifts, pursuing our dreams, preparing for failures, and acquiring the character of not giving up easily for our unlimited dreams.

13.) Life Without Limits (Nick Vujicic)

       Have you heard about that limbless man who tour around the world to spread motivational and inspiring words? Yeah, he's Nick Vujicic.  In this book, he laid down his life growing up without limbs and how he lead an extraordinarily independent and fulfilling life. He is inspiring and at the same time challenging the reader that he, a man born without limbs, can pursue a happy life, then why can't a normal man with complete appendages and senses like the rest of us? He is a proof that no adversity, physical or economic, can hinder a man from living his dreams. I was really amazed and impressed by Nick, he can do so much better than a normal guy with complete limbs. What amazes me more is the kind of mindset and character that he has, and how he can just laugh at his condition like it doesn't bother him at all..

14.) Oracle Bones: A Journey Through Time in China (Peter Hessler)

     This is a narrative non-fiction of the twenty-first century China as it opens its doors to the outside world. The author illustrated the modern-day China through the lives of the ordinary people he met while living in the country as a journalist. I learned a lot about China's past history, its impact on its present people and how the ordinary Chinese view the government's efforts to become the world's superpower. In here, I also encountered the story of the Muslim ethnic minority in Xinjiang and how they are subtly oppressed in the past and even in the present. Their story is quite similar with that of my own Bangsamoro, both are accidentally included in the colonized territories and are now seeking for self-determination and independence. I love how this book has transported me across the vast land mass of China, its relationship with its neighboring countries, its ancient past and its modern-day aspirations.


There you go, fourteen books in six months!! Haha! Considering that my time is not occupied by anything super relevant right now, fourteen books are way too few. I know I can do better. I initially aimed for one book a week, but sometimes the TV and the internet gets the better of me. Hehe. I have one book in hand right now which I hope to finish this week, and hopefully, I will be able to read MORE before I pop out this little munchkin inside and before I go back to the loving arms of my medical books. :)

Alhamdulillah. 

Protons

              When everything seems perfect in my life, I plummeted into the darkest pit called Negativity. I became spiteful, irritable and reproachful. I became a monster I never figured out I would be in my dire attempt to keep everything around me in order. I had a constant feeling of disappointment, frustrations and hopelessness. I was full of doubts and mistrust. It certainly had a tremendous effect on my relationship with my loved ones. They are the ones who suffered for my twisted negative thinking. Until I came across a book called The Secret. It holds the greatest secret of all prominent men in history---POSITIVITY. It talks about the power of positive thinking and how you can convert your negative thoughts into positive ones. Life is very simple, we should always keep in mind that "what we give, we receive". Human beings are likened to transmission towers of powerful energy manifested by our thoughts and feelings. 

(Googled photo)

                Like a powerful transmission tower, what we give out into the Universe through our thoughts and feelings about the different aspects of our lives -- relationships, health, dreams, and finances--- will bounce back to us in equal or even more intensified. If we practice positivity in our daily lives, we will exercise patience, compassion and gratitude. We will have an open heart and mind, we feel like our life works harmoniously with the Universe. Everything flows smoothly, even if we are faced with difficult obstacles, we can easily get off the hook and proceed spontaneously as we wish it to be. The main ingredient of this book, the superstar of them all is gratitude. Sometimes, when we wake up on the wrong side of the bed in the morning, the rest of our day is ruined. That is because we didn't find around us anything to be grateful for, we were not being grateful for the life given to us by Him.

                   I know this would be no easy feat but I am trying to live the proton life every single day. The most amazing thing about it is that I have understood the very essence why we, Muslims, are required to pray five times a day. We do not pray to merely ask but we pray in order to be grateful, to speak the two powerful words "Thank You", at least five times a day to nonetheless but the Creator. We thank Him for every single minute miracles in our lives, from the air we breathe, our circulating blood, our family and friends and every single source of happiness and joy in this world. 

                    I encourage you to look around you and find something to be grateful for. Also, when you pray, do not ask for anything without expressing your gratitude first. Feel it and you will receive, in shaa Allah. Join me in sprinkling protons in this world! Let's start by sharing a HUGE smile to the people we meet and everyone around us. Smile, it's sadaqah (charity). :)

Rich Or Poor ? Which One Are You?

I only get to read this book one year after I purchased it. I lost sight of it after my brother borrowed it AND benefited from it. Now's my turn. Aha!

It basically talked about HOW TO GET RICH. Interesting? Haha! Mind you, it doesn't come easy. OF COURSE. The author who is a multi-millionaire business mogul described his educated dad (the poor one) and the one who did not finish schooling (he called the rich dad) and their view on money and their difference in terms of financial literacy. He offered a solution on how to avoid a trap in life (where most of us are caught and can't seem to get out of it) called Rat Race. It is the pattern of getting up, working and paying bills. Especially among us government employees, you work hard and then the government cut their share from your salary through taxes before you even receive it, and then pay your bills, and the cycle goes on until your retirement. The government offer us promotion and a consequent salary raise and then we also increase our spending. According to him, many people do not realize that in life, IT'S NOT HOW MUCH MONEY WE MAKE BUT HOW MUCH MONEY WE KEEP. He also emphasized the importance of FINANCIAL LITERACY, because money without financial intelligence is money soon gone. He also put a difference on how the poor and the rich people spend their money. Poor and the middle-class buy luxury first while rich people buy luxury last. Ahem. Ring any bell? Haha! He also cited a lot of success and failure stories of rich people. 

After learning about the Rat Race, I know now why my family is not rich. First, because my parents are both government employees and the government cut taxes more than we can actually spend. And second, we don't have a business or any investment. We don't have investment because we barely have money left at the end of the month to invest. Or perhaps, my parents are financially illiterate. That's the blunt truth. Mr. Kiyosaki talked about highly educated people who struggle financially because of financial illiteracy. My parents and many people I know who works for the government are no different. 

Hence, for 2014, it is on my checklist to be financially literate and to "mind my own business". 

Any business idea? :)