The Eye: The Accidental Theologist

Finding this woman made me feel normal at last!I have been trying to categories my self among types of women that exist today and I admit I felt quite alone.



But suddenly I saw a video of Leslie Hazleton speaking her mind and her thoughts about the difference between rigid interpretations and the actual flexibility of the divine text.


Views I'm generally scorned for and a mind that encompasses otherness that I very much admire.



Finding her blog is really a treasure to me, It means I finally found something worthy of a read another free soul searching for the truth regardless of prevalent notions.






need I say an amazing voice and charisma :)

The blog is called The Accidental Theologist

The Eye: Wael Ghonaim at Time100

I just saw this on facebook, I wasn't aware that Wael Ghonaim has been chosen one of Time's 100 most influential people. I like his simple words I too don't understand politics but I believe in justice and the right to enjoy humanity and that's why I choose this for my post:)

The Eye: Correcting Misconceptions

It's always astonishing to me how racial concepts get deeply rooted to the extent that it becomes illogically accepted & nonnegotiable. Ben Affleck touches on this with a smart argument about the negative connotations now associated with being "Arab." Speaking of the way such remarks fuel intolerance, Affleck's speaks a simple word of logic and truth.

Put an end to stigmatizing any given race or ethnicity, become one with humanity at large, these are the values I embrace & respect. -L.

The Eye: New Pop Culture Morality

Marriage, Abstinence and good girl vs. hot girl are current subjects for some of the most acclaimed pop culture songs, literature and movies in the US. I must admit that I've always observed since I was a child how the entertainment business has shaped most of our moral concepts, particularly the relationship between men and women. In a conscious or a subconscious attempt to fill our free time with some fun and our free brains with some BS, excuse my french:), many moral lines have been crossed, distorted and even became the accepted norm. However, lately I've noticed a distinct change in some forms of pop culture songs, clips, literature and film!

These are the lyrics for All The Single Ladies by Beyonce Knowels; the song is a bold statement for men who reject marriage. These are some lines:

Single Ladies Lyrics

All the single ladies (7x)

Now put your hands up
Up in the club, we just broke up
I’m doing my own little thing
you Decided to dip but now you wanna trip
cuz i cried my tears, GAVE three good years
Ya can’t be mad at me

[Chorus]
Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
*************

Don’t treat me to the things of this world
I’m not that kind of girl
Your love is what I prefer, what I deserve
Is a man that makes me,
And delivers me to a destiny, to infinity and beyond
Pull me into your arms
Say I’m the one you want
If you don’t, you’ll be alone
And like a ghost I’ll be gone

All the single ladies
Now put your hands up
woo oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh ooh
oh oh oh

Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it

Is that a call for marriage or what?!

Abstinence and resisting temptation is the main theme for the Twilight Saga a deeply Romantic teen story, written by a Mormon mom, that hits the roof with sales and popularity among the junior and adult women. Stephenie Meyer's portrayal of Edward Cullen has brought women all over the world out of their mind because he is everything that men aren't today. As an angelically beautiful 108 year old vampire who looks eternally 17, Edward doesn't yield to his natural desires to kill and quench his thirst for human blood. He must resist the urge to be with his beloved human Bella out of fear for her safety. These are concepts that revolutionize the moral beliefs and boundaries of today's young generation common beliefs regarding the intersection between sexuality and romance.


I've also watched Taylor Swift's music video where she plays two different characters the hottie and the serious. Taylor is an adorable 19 year-old country music singer loved by the young generation. The song (You belong with me) sends a message supporting smart, polite moderately dressed girls. These values are shaping concepts which redefine male/female relationships and call for new moral values. (this video is displayed on my i pod on the right)

Corruption might still dominate, but some artists are trying to make a luminous difference that the world definitely needs. -L.

The Eye: Toni Morrison a gorgeous woman/author

If there is some one that I owe the knowledge and a deep understanding of the complexity of life other than my beloved grandma, it would be Toni Morrison. Morrison's first five novels where literally my companions for five years I've spent away from home as an expat in sister middle eastern countries. Studying her novels for my MA thesis was not merely an academic research, it shaped a lot of my views, judgment, how I perceive difference in a world full of injustice, discrimination, assumptions and oppression. The richness of the human concepts and unique experiences of the African American woman that Morrison tackles are still applicable and universal. I've researched the problem of beauty standards and how physical attributes of Africans have acquired negative moral connotations due to racial discrimination. This is one of zillion issues that you can explore through reading works by a Noble Prize awarded African American woman author.
Review Morrison's biography here.

The Eye: Michel Jakson dies a Muslim

With the mysterious death of Michel Jackson, dies the truth about his conversion to Islam. The King of Pop has moved to Bahrain with his Muslim big brother Jermaine after his infamous accusations of child molestation. Jermaine is supposedly the reason behind Michel's conversion; he says: "I wanted him to get out of America and just go somewhere peaceful and quiet, where people pray five times a day. It's a beautiful thing," source . Michel is said to have changed his name to Mikaeel (the Arabic name for Michel the angel of God). Among other things, prayer beads were found on MJ's death bed; this rosary or chain of beads is generally used by Muslims for praising Allah, source. When I listen to Heal the World, Earth Song, They Don't Care about Us and Black or White, I see them as remarkable good deeds that would send any human straight to heaven. R.I.P Mikaeel.
-L.

The Eye: Mark D. Siljanders Bridges the Divid

"I believed that Islam and Christianity were contradictory at their core, that the Eastern Islamic and Western Judeo-Christian cultures were irretrievably opposed to one another, and that the only possible solution to this conflict was the conversion of “them” so they would come to think like “us.” My worldview could not have been clearer or simpler—or more myopic."
"In the years that followed I was led to question the truth of these axioms. In time, I learned that every one of them was utterly, categorically false. I learned that when we stop buying into our cultures’ prejudices, assumptions, and prevailing habits of thought and begin to investigate the texts of our different holy books in their original languages, conflicts between crucial terms and entire passages that have traditionally been viewed as irreconcilable begin to evaporate."

"I learned that the deadly misunderstanding dividing our world today need not do so tomorrow." Mark D. Siljanders

A Deadly Misunderstanding

to read more or order the book click here.

-L.

The Eye

I've always been fascinated by the all knowing eye of the Pharaohs. I like to call my self the eye sometimes:) because I'm always putting too much into things I see. The Eye will be the title for any phenomena that I choose to post to discuss and critique.
-L.