Oh, no you did NOT...

Like many people before me, I sometimes say things that leave me wishing I could slow down time and retract the words before they reach anyone's ears. Sometimes, though, you need to say whatever it is.

Recently a couple of people in our department were discussing the right to plead insanity in criminal cases, and one of them was of the opinion that the whole notion of pleading insanity is invalid and should be abolished. Fair point, where exactly do you draw the line? Is everyone who commits atrocities insane, and therefore excusable? 


But then this person went on to say that people with mental illnesses and those prone to fits of rage should be excluded from society and locked up, not even allowed for a walk in the park. This immediately made me think of Nazi Germany, where people were locked up and used in horrific experiments just because they were ill, twins, of a certain ethnicity, basically just not 'normal'. Of course I pointed out to this person that what they were saying was beginning to sound like said Nazi Germany policies, to which the person in question snapped.

I should point out that this person is in fact Jewish and very defensive - which is fine, whatever. But I think they thought I was suggesting they were Nazis or something? Another point of interest would be that not long ago the issue of national identity came up and the conversation came around to being rejected as an Australian because of religion (I'm Muslim), and this person was like, 'Yeah but that's just for the minority of people, it's not like all Muslims are terrorists, 90% are normal, only a minority have anything wrong with them, like only 2% of Muslims.'

Oh. Snap. 

Anyway the point is this person was offended that I pointed out that their suggestions for dealing with ill people is reminiscent of Nazi policy and maybe they should be careful of what they say. And of course this person did the easiest thing and discussed their problem. Not. The whole thing seems a lot worse because I'm Muslim and this person is Jewish. I don't understand why I can't say something and be judged because of what I've said, not because I'm Muslim and I've said it. And which part of what I said was wrong? Is it wrong to disagree with someone because they've said something tactless?

Fact of the matter is, I am not equipped to deal with headstrong people, given that I'm very opinionated myself. A nicer person could have dealt with it better, but again, I'm not quite there yet. Wonder how long it'll take to blow over?

Peace and love,

S.

So are we talking about race or religion?

How exactly are Islam and democracy incompatible? The only way you can deal with oppression and ignorance is through education, not fear-mongering and threats on both sides. The Qur'an specifically states "made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other" (Quran 49:13).

Kudos to Samah Hadid!! Why isn't her story getting more attention?

http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8225812

Is it because I'm ethnic?

Yes, yes it is.

Take, for example, issues of grammar or vocabulary in the English language. Anything I suggest is made redundant because I'm clearly not of anglo-celtic origin. Not that people every actually SAY as much. But you know when native English speakers think they know more than you because that's where they've always put the comma and it wouldn't make sense any other way? As lovely as these people are, I know the fact that English was the fourth language I learned (not that I remember most of language 2 or any at all of language 3) must mean I don't quite understand it.


It makes one want to bring in my IB scores and shove it in their face. Languages are my thing, and they should be ashamed of themselves for not knowing simple rules of grammar, not ignoring what I say just because I have a piece of cloth on my head. And the whole 'well MS Word spell-check is so unreliable, it picks up things that aren't wrong' thing? JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND DOESN'T MEAN IT'S WRONG.


Ugh, when they try to give advice on how to structure a sentence or the meaning of that one word you haven't come across before...Never mind that they're vocab is limited to the range of an 11 year old, or that they got through high school not knowing how to reference an article.


And then there are people who are like 'Oh, I don't care for this political correctness business, I wouldn't be offended if you said something like that to me' but then roar when you do. Let me hasten to point out that these people are not all anglo-celtic themselves, which should detract from the annoyance, but somehow doesn't. Probably because they are just very irritating and self-righteous in all of the wrong ways. In general I like to stay silent and not say anything at all, but sometimes the temptation to snap is too alluring. God give me patience, now that I'm out in the real world and don't have a choice as to whom I am around all day. 


Peace and love,


S.

One, two, WHALE!!

I don't really know what I want from life.

Well, I do, but there are so many things. Then again, I don't know what. Part of me just wants to be left alone so I can read the paper, but can you do this forever, without getting lonely or bored?


I spent a good portion of my single-digit years in tears due to boredom. Then I discovered books - like, PROPERLY discovered them, and that kept me happy for a while. I can't sit still long enough to read now, plus I get through books and then I'm left wondering what to do next. 


Being bored also depresses me. I stumble instead of bounce when I walk. I know it's not normal to bounce when you walk, but I can't help it when I'm happy. Today was not one of these days - not because anything happened, more that NOTHING happened and I'm bored and a bit lonely and heaps tired and massively BORED and a bit stressed. Having conclusively convinced everyone of my incapacity to function as an intelligent person, I don't really know what else to do with myself all day. Sitting around reading and summarising articles for hours on end is doing my head in.


POSITIVE THINKING, I have found, does help if you can get into the right frame of mind, but not if you just keep telling yourself to think positive but can't think at all, let alone about positive things.

Still, nothing to be done but to think happy thoughts. 

Peace and love,

S.

A day in the life of...

So I've been back at uni (Honours) for nearly a month, now. I'm not convinced I've made any great leaps and bounds, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. I have successfully proven to my supervisors and peers that I am a total idiot, so at least there's no pressure to perform well, now.

I have come up with a new Olympic sport. I call it Synchronised Sitting, and it is very much like synchronised diving, except you aim to sit on a chair/stool/futon/sofa/floor in time with your teammate(s). I think it will catch on. I was inspired whilst watching an episode of Mock the Week on youtube, whereby the camera showed the three members of one team getting back into their seats after a stand-up round. Quite the entertaining show, I must say. As are the Frank Skinner group on Absolute podcasts. I can only listen to these in bed, in case I burst out laughing. I'm not keen on convincing my workmates that I'm insane as well as slow.

I have decided that I need to be more proactive. Actually I've been thinking this for a while now, just haven't had the time to post it. It feels more real when it's written/typed, like it's a record of what has to happen now.

Finding something to wear every day has been a hassle, I must say. It's been okay so far, I guess because I don't have to get up really early or stay really late. But I know that in a few weeks time I'm going to be back at my routine involving a few sets of clothes that I just wear in a cyclical fashion. I hope you understand that by this I mean that I forget I have any other clothes apart from a couple of hoodies, two pairs of jeans, and runners. And a black scarf. Maybe red it I don't have time to iron the black ones.

I recently finished reading 'Lord Sunday' by Garth Nix, last in the series. Had a sort of sad poignant ending I didn't really like. It's a children's book, it needs to be HAPPY! It also ended a little to abruptly, not a lot of explaining. But still, Nix is an awesome writer.

I think I need a desk. Once I sit down on the floor, I really can't be bothered getting for anything. I'm not really sure as to how I should deal with this lethargy. It's almost like I'm tired of being alive. I am convinced I reached middle age when I was 14, at which point I had the ensuing mid-life crisis - I still haven't dealt with this existential crisis-like dilemma. This can't be good. And now I feel like I'm weary in my bones.

Ah, well. Tomorrow is a new day.

Peace and love,

S.