I love finding interesting things on the net. And this one is so perfect for what is going on right now in this election. Yes we are back to it but only briefly today. It is Saturday and my day for sleeping in; if you consider 8:30 sleeping in.  But for me, the one who gets up at 6:30 am or earlier every day so that I can post by 8:00, sleeping in till 8:30  is a luxury.  

It is very rare that I write my article the day before I post it because so many of you comment later on in the evening or in the very early morning and I like to be able to address all of you if I can. I realize, writing the day before does not always allow me to go with the flow of the comments. Example: Yesterday’s article was somewhat drafted Thursday afternoon because I work in the late afternoon that day and I don’t get home till mid evening. And then I need to be at work at 8:00 am Friday morning.

So, I decided to at least start a draft of the article about the ‘scammers’ only to discover the next morning that I had a  lot to respond to from comments from the day before that went into the morning. Hence a very long article…oh well.

I’ll tell you something about me that maybe you don’t know.  I have a life outside of my blog or at least I try to. :) After I post an article I check for comments in the afternoon and then once in the early evening.  Then I try to ‘let it go’ and do other things that I really need to do. So when I wake up in the morning to write my article I usually see some comments for the very first time. Therefore as much as I like to plan ahead for what I write, (things are always on my mind and I am continually perusing my resources) I also like to be as up to the minute in what’s happening as much as possible.  

So why am I telling you this? I have no idea. I totally digressed. For some reason the words are just spilling out of my mind and onto the page. 

So….did you like the little didley above?  Was Bobby right on or what?!  A true visionary – Now, lets follow Bobby’s profound words and not accept the ‘status quo’  - It’s up to us to make it happen.  

See ya tomorrow…

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle ?

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

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Hey…good morning everyone! I hope that all of you enjoyed Labor Day! I certainly did and I am paying for it today in the form of a slight summer cold. -bummer.  It’s really not that bad but I am skipping school and going back to bed so that it doesn’t get worse.  

Hello Anon(s): Wow- I couldn’t help but notice the 27 comments from you yesterday!? Well really 25, minus the 2 from ‘Health info” – I think that is the most comments from one single person (?) I have ever had – congrats on breaking the daily record!  We’re you bored yesterday? Or just wanting to banter with yourself? :) Hahaha!! However I think, it may be from several different anons…

Anyway, I have yet to read them all – will do so later when I wake up so that I can focus on all that  was written. Seems from my quick scan this morning, that much of what was written was about Sarah Palin. Whoa. Yeah, she is getting quite the coverage and even more so now with her pregnant 17 year old daughter.  

Readers:  Feel free to chat amongst yourselves and I’ll chime in tomorrow.  Have a good one. 

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle ?

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008

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Women are strongly on my mind this week. Can you tell? Unfortunately, I have even more disturbing news when it comes to the women of this world.  And I must blog it. As much as I like to talk about the good happening, this is a part of life too. Lately it seems that abuse has gotten worse, escalated…but maybe I am just more informed.  Actually I am more informed. I am reading more and there is no excuse not be with the power of the internet. 

I wish that I had something more cheerful to report but like everything there is usually a rainbow somewhere even if we can’t see it immediately….there is always hope….a dream of something better. 

So…women and girls of Darfur….I wonder about you. I wonder how you live on a daily basis in the refugee camps. I wonder how many of you have lost your men while they try to collect firewood only to be captured or killed leaving you to fend for yourselves and your children. I wonder how often during the day when you go out to collect the firewood yourselves, you get raped by the Sudanese militia.  I wonder what you do in the middle of nowhere and how you deal with boredom.  I wonder how you live with the constant fear. I wonder what your thoughts are. I wonder how I would survive if I were you. 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6JVKk0DpLs&hl=en&fs=1]

The Janjaweed, government sponsored militia, are on a campaign of slaughter, rape, starvation and displacement in Darfur.  Since February 2003:  ’200,000 people have died due to violence, starvation and disease. More than 2.5 million people have been displaced from their homes and over 200,000 have fled across the border to Chad.’ 

Sexual Violence in Darfur is not just a series of random acts. Just as in the ‘honor killings’ that take place, they are not just domestic violence acts, they are something more. In Darfur, these rapes are a weapon of genocide. These women need protection. They live in constant fear. The Peacekeepers that are there are failing because there isn’t enough resources and they are being stretched too thin to really protect these women. 

While China hosts the Olympic Games touting peace, harmony and brotherhood, they blindly back the Sudanese Government and allow the brutality of these women to continue. And while the Chinese Government relishes  in the delight of the Olympics, they continue to sell Sudan weapons that enable these horrific acts of violence. 

These women could probably care less about the Olympics.  But the one thing that they may dream about…something that gives them hope…is the Darfur Olympics.  What? Yeah that is what I asked. I wish that I had heard about this earlier but better late than never. 

Since August 8, the Save Darfur Coalition held their own Olympics, ‘dream for Darfur’,  and each day showed a different part of life in Darfur, from ‘How the refugees live’ to ‘Women in Darfur’, my topic for today.  Although the ‘Darfur Olympics’ ended yesterday with their ‘Closing Ceremony’, a video showing juxtaposing images revealing the anguish underwritten by China – with images from the promo materials for the Olympics….the atrocities are far from over. 

How can you help? Go to the website, read and learn.  Write to our Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and ask her to help deploy peacekeepers for Darfur.  Help the women in Darfur to be able to protect themselves so they can go back home with their families and return to their lives. We can not sit back while sexual violence rages the women of this world. We need to demand protection. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello Affah:  I agree with you about Moslem women and I even extend that to all of the women of this world. We do need to be heard and it is venues like this that we can talk and release the stories that need to be told. Thank you for telling yours. 

I am sorry about your sister – how devastating for you. I can not imagine having to put a smile on your face in celebration of ‘saving honor’. The warnings are not to be alone with men and yet it is the woman’s fault when she is raped?! How backwards is that? It is disgusting. The women have no choice.

Hi Al Zhahra:  Thank you for sharing your thoughts, your life. You are correct. I can not imagine what it is like to be a prisoner and to live as you do. What we see on TV and what your life is actually like are far different. 

ZL:  Hey – Thanks for chiming in.  Good to hear from you. I feel the same way that you do….I have no answers….and it is very frustrating. I feel helpless. And I imagine that the women of Islam and many other parts of the world such as Darfur and Chad feel the same way… 

Islamic Woman of Saudi Arabia:  Hello.  Evidently you feel the same way too.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts.  I hear you loud and clear. My heart goes out to you, to all of the women that have written in to me, and to all of the women that are unable to but still suffer daily.  I hope that the reach that I have through my blog will help…that people will do something.  

Readers: What will you do today to protect the women of this world? What will you do to say ‘no’ to the violence against women?

Peace out….

Gratefully your blog host, 

michelle  ?

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

For archives dated before January 17, 2008  click on my Blogroll:  

or click here: “A Day in the life of…” 

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008

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Hey Doug:  I don’t know how a family can reach this point.  The Koran does not authorize honor killings however, It is legal to beat your wife: Quran 4:34 :‘Instructs men to beat disobedient wives and send them to sleep in separate beds.’  If beating is acceptable,  ‘beating’ someone to death is not far behind, and obviously is acceptable in the minds of the perpetrators.  The apologists try to convince us that these acts are simple domestic violence acts similar to those that take place in all communities. Not so; they are specific to the Muslim religion and culture…it is said, ‘A man’s ‘shame’ at the prospect of a woman’s sullied ‘honor’ must be avoided at all costs.’ 

Hi Taras:  Hmm…I really don’t think so. My article about the Democratic State of Georgia was not pronouncing Russians as barbarians. I felt that I was just giving the facts and more than anything asking a ton of questions.  Earthlings in general are very barbaric, it is not a term that is saved for the Russians, nor did I imply that they were. War is barbaric and those fighting become so too. 

As far as McCain’s adviser being a paid lobbyist: It is something I will have to research. But my question is, ‘If you know so much about this why don’t you blog it and enlighten us?’ I would appreciate hearing your take from a Russians viewpoint.  I am curious too…Do you live in America or Russia?  I welcome and look forward to your response. 

Hello Aswaq:  I am sorry that your friends have been trying to write in and have had no success. I do not have control over whose comments get in and whose do not.  However I am please that you were able to. 

From your comment I can see that there are many sides to the way that the women of Islam see themselves. How could you not? You have many pressures pulling you in many directions as well as your own desires.  Just in the example that you gave between your mother and your brothers, it is obvious that everyone has expectations that may or may not be what you want. Your mother accepts; sees nothing wrong with the way women are viewed or treated and obviously your brothers are not complaining. Why would they? Your brothers could and will never know what it is like to live in your skin. They get to do as they please. You on the other hand are handed a card that you may not want to play.  

I can’t imagine one wanting to live one way and having the pressures to adhere to what society, tradition, or religion is asking of you.  Yes, we American women have pressures like all women worldwide,  but none that would end in a fatal beating by our families.   

It reminds me of the pressure that I went through in my family; really only with my mother, to become pregnant….to give her a grandchild.  The pressure was by no means even close to what Muslim women go through but it was a very difficult time for me.  It weighed on me heavily and I felt that if I didn’t have a baby I was going to be a big disappointment to my mother and to my family.  It got to the point where it had an effect on me so much that I dreaded seeing my mother knowing that the ‘baby’ subject would arise. It definitely put distance between us even if she never felt it, I knew it was there. The things that came out of her mouth left me driving home in tears many times. This went on for years before she finally accepted that a child was not in the plan.  I know that it is still a disappointment for her but it is my life. 

And it is your life too. You should be able to live how you please just as your brothers do.  I don’t believe that Allah intended for his female children to be abused in any manner.  Any abuse by any male or otherwise is unacceptable.   

You are very welcome. As much as I am appalled myself about these ‘murders’, I am grateful that I have a captive audience to get the word out on such important issues.

Hi Baseema:  I was just about to post when I decided to check one last time for any more comments, and of course I saw yours. 

Your comment is so disturbing, I really don’t know what to say. The life of what so many Muslim women live on a daily basis is so drastically different from my own, it is far beyond what my mind can comprehend. And I know that what you write is probably tame compared to what you go through every day. 

To put it mildly, because I can’t articulate how I am feeling presently, ‘the men want to have their cake and eat it too’ and they do.  They can rape continuously and then expect to marry a virgin, and if you aren’t one then what? You are killed because of their own needs in the first place?  To them women are just objects to control, to use, and abuse.  

I don’t know how to answer your question and I am frustrated because I can’t. Again I am grateful that I am able to give attention to those that need to be heard. Thanks to you and Aswaq for being a voice for milllions.

Readers: Well it happened again…more comments just came in as I was about to post. I’m going to leave it up  to you readers to discuss amongst yourselves and I will address those that I missed this morning, tomorrow.  

Gratefully your blog host, 

michelle  ?

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

For archives dated before January 17, 2008  click on my Blogroll:  

or click here: “A Day in the life of…” 

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008

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Good morning…I hope. :) I am sleepy, It is early, and almost too early to write about a subject that I am about to write on.  Hopefully I can give it the attention and coherency that is needed through the words that I write….

We are aware of it happening in the Muslim world but it is also happening throughout Canada, Europe and yes, the United States too.  Young Muslim women are being targeted for violence. But why – what have they done?  Really nothing in my mind,  but in the minds of the Muslims, these women have humiliated their families, and when humiliation occurs, death is the punishment. These killings are known as ‘honor killings’ and they are happening worldwide including right here. 

If a Muslim woman refuses to wear a hijab, has a non-Muslim boyfriend or male friends of any origin….if she is sexually active, or rejects an arranged marriage…if she aggressively seeks employment and education, and more than anything else, if she attempts to assimilate into Western culture…sorry, you have disgraced the family and the sentence is death. Is there anything else to add to this list? What are these women allowed to do? If you ask me, these women can’t do much or their life is on the line. This is just so barbaric.  I know that this happens but I still can’t believe that it does.  The video tells it all.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWbk_0TOX5Y&hl=en&fs=1]

Isn’t this just horrific?! And it happens more than we think.  Although it is estimated that around 5000 of these killings happen every year worldwide, it is more likely that there are many more and that they just don’t get reported, due to the private nature of these crimes.  The families are the perpetrators. 

Yes, you heard me correctly…their own family members are the perpetrators, ’killing In the name of honor’. Yes, they would rather have a dead daughter than be disgraced by the horrible things that she does. It is usually the father or the male siblings that does the killing however, it is reported that even extended family members get involved; and surprisingly yes, some  females too.  

So, it is no surprise that many of these ‘honor killings’ go unreported. Why would a family report anything about their daughters when they are the perpetrators? You might as well admit the crime and we know that isn’t going to happen. No, don’t bring attention to the matter….it is easier to say she just left with no forwarding address, or she’s off in school, or she just disappeared….and hope that no one asks questions. Meanwhile, she’s been kidnapped, tortured, raped, strangled, and stuffed in a suitcase all in the name of ‘honor’.  ’Thanks dad.’ 

So what does a young Muslim woman do when she is stuck between two incompatible cultures?  She is living in the west trying to balance between the demands of a modern western world and the demands of her family to honor their religious and tribal traditions. It is a struggle for these young Muslim women to say the least, and sadly, too often they pay the ultimate price: Death. Can you imagine? Where does one turn? Your family are supposedly the people that you rely on; the ones that you can count on to always be there in time of need. In the cases of these young women, they don’t have that family support.

It is a growing problem that needs to be addressed and brought to the forefront of people’s minds. In october of 2007 the feminist group National Organization for Women (NOW) announced a press release stating their support of legislation that denounces ‘honor killings’ and violence against women. The initiative H. Res. 32 ‘denounces the practices of female genital mutilation, domestic violence, ‘honor’ killings, acid burning, dowry deaths, sexual slavery and other gender-based persecutions.’  

NOW has made a commitment to help in the global effort to rid of this oppression against women. It is a step in the right direction as it is only the precious few who speak out and tell it like it is when it comes to the oppression of women in Muslim culture. Be a voice for these young women. We need to open our eyes instead of turning a blind one just because we may not understand.  One doesn’t have to understand – what is there to understand? ‘Honor killing’ is not okay. Their lives are at stake and it is up to us to support these women by speaking out when human rights are in question. They are in question and this is me speaking out. If you want more information on how you can help, go to the NOW website….Thank you!  

Gratefully your blog host, 

michelle  ?

Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor

For archives dated before January 17, 2008  click on my Blogroll:  

or click here: “A Day in the life of…” 

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008

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