Divine Wind!

Is another name for Kamikaze or the suicide planes used by the Japanese at around the end of WWII. In this case I use it because Bahrain, and most of the Gulf areas, has been hit by a sandstorm. What amazes me is not how big it is, or how troublesome it is to people with asthma, but by the timing of it. I think it came at such a troubled time that it just added to the ammunition used by those looking for any ammunition to use against each other. In this I mean that this sandstorm was used by people in Bahrain from both opposition and loyalists as proof that God is on their side. How short sighted some people are.

If anyone should ask me if this was the work of God, I would immediately say yes. I believe it is a sign from God that we have sinned and we have wronged each other so much that this needs to stop. Alas, as everything else, there will always be people who use the work of God to further their own agendas, and to claim that God is on their side. This dust storm has shown us that it will get into a Shiite's socks as much as it will get into a Sunni's, with equal irritation, so why the claim that it was meant to help you? I guess this is not the right question to ask, as the right question would be to those who actually listened to this nonsense.

This is of course not the first time that people claimed that any natural event to be proof that God is blessing or punishing people. I also do not dare claim that God does not bless or punish people by acts of nature, but my only issue is with those that abuse religion and people's beliefs to political benefits, or even monetary benefits. I have no problems with religious people, nor do I have a problem with atheists, as long as they keep out of my way and keep my relationship with God a private matter. But to use my beliefs and my moral values just so those can get better lifestyle as successful politicians is something not acceptable to me. So before laughing and pointing fingers at the other, look into yourself and ask if you have wronged God in any way, and be honest about it. We have all wronged God in a way these past few days; we have separated families, friendships and poisoned the minds of children in the name of God. I say to them, God is much more powerful than to need you stupid people fighting instead of him. God is much wiser than people claiming to be living in conspiracy theories. God is much more merciful than you bloodthirsty dummies, operated by people behind the scenes.

Rise up, for the sky is clear, and no one died because of a little dust. Clean your houses and all of this will be forgotten in the dustbin. Take a shower and all the sand will wash away with the cleansing water. Hold our breaths for a moment until you can breathe fresh new air. For it is just a reminder from God that our hearts have grown dusty from lack of use.

*picture : Kanji Writing on sand says "Divine Wind"

Our Real Heroes, Our Mothers

In times of peace, in times of war, in times of strife and in times of prosperity a mother's love is a cure to an ailing heart and a wounded soul. I wish I can translate what my beating heart says to my mother on this special day. The problem is that words written are no justice, for you need to be an artist or a poet to touch upon what a mother's love is. And so I quote this little poem that will hopefully relate to you what I feel about my mother.

A Rose for Mother

by Cleo M. Shoffstall 

Another Mother's Day is here, Bringing joy and pleasures new, On this special day, Mother dear, I want to remember you. I cannot give you costly gifts, And I've told you this before, No matter what I give to you, You give back much, much more. I'm giving you a pure, sweet rose, Gathered in the early morn, This rose you planted in my heart, The day that I was born. In kindly, loving thoughts of you, And with the faith you still impart, The rose I give to you today, Is the love that's in my heart.

Very cheesy I know, but c'mon we have to be cheesy to appreciate our mothers.Happy mothers day you sweet thing, I wish you love.

Speak Softly, and Carry A Big Stick

This is an African proverb that goes by "speak softly and carry a big stick, you will go far". Need I say more in this post? I hope I can "speak softly'" in this post. No guarantee included. In this post I will refer mostly to what I consider what comes first and what comes second. Many people here in Bahrain still live in fear when the night descends on us. Certain broadcasts warn you of hundreds coming to an area near you, wanting your blood, your family's blood and while they are at it, they will attempt to steal your cat or dog to do some devious experimenting on. I say it has gone too far.

I do agree that we need to have security. I just can't understand why the government doesn’t provide it for all of Bahrain. We got children and elderly people who do not deserve to live in such a way. So security is a must, as it is in any peaceful society. What about reconciliation? Isn’t that a priority as important as security? Isn’t it potentially a provider of peace, as in when you reconcile there will be no need for armed gangs in every neighborhood. Sp what do you think should come first? Security is highly important I do agree, I think it should come first, but wait, reconciliation is a priority in such situations to heal a nation and would take up time to achieve so I think it should come first. This is a dilemma, if you need to have one before the other. But what if we could do both at the same time? That is the right answer. On one hand we have a country hounded by lack of security and its acting upon itself, and on the other hand we got a crack the size of the Grand Canyon running in the middle of Bahrain that will need to be healed. These tasks fall squarely on the shoulders of the government, and then the public leaders who have shamefully kept quiet or hiding under their bed sheets while the country is shouting for the voice of reason. These public figures that we have come to cheer and stand behind in thousands and thousands. These public leaders who have stepped forward claiming to be the saviors but have turned out to be the vultures who would prey on the carcass of a dying Bahrain. I'm speaking to both sects in Bahrain when I say this, because both have trusted figures that are not worth their trust and look where we are now. I love music like the next person, but I wouldn’t follow a musician in politics just because he has a sweet voice. This also goes out to the minority of religious leaders who speak well but are empty from inside. Beware of them, for they use religion as a substitute for their failures in politics.

I do carry a big stick (very ugly too), and that is a fact, but I carry it inside my house, patrolling at night so that my mom can sleep that much easier. And I wouldn’t hesitate to use it on whoever would dare pose a threat to my household, be he a Sunni, a Shiite or an extraterrestrial Martian that wants to abduct one of my mom's goats. They would all get to taste my weapon of choice. But that is the point, I am within my rights to defend my home but where is the right for me to run around playing policeman while people increasingly get frustrated? On the other hand I am more than happy to hand over my identification to a policeman or an army soldier who guards my area. I call upon the government to act swiftly to discourage the use of armed gangs and start introducing police and soldiers on every corner if need be. We shouldn’t also forget about reconciliation, we need to have events, seminars, and sermons talking about reconciliation in Bahrain. You all have to understand that you will be working, studying and dealing daily with members of the other sects. We cannot keep on staying at home and deal only with members of our own sect just to feel safe. We cannot divide Bahrain into sectarian areas; actually I don’t think the government can afford that even if it wanted to. I firmly believe that nothing will change in Bahrain politically, but that socially it will be scarred for tens of years if no serious steps take place.

So finally to recap I demand two things for the time being and they should be simultaneous. Security and reconciliation. These can be both initiated by the government and with the help of those wise Bahraini figures from both sects. And to the general public I say do your job in reconciliation and in security but securing your homes, not by intimidating people on the streets. And remember, reconciliation starts within yourself before reconciling with others.

Today I nap (finally).

Epic Nosebleed

I would like to apologize to all my readers and followers for not posting anything during these difficult days, but I guess I'm in the right mind frame now to attempt to write something that have touched me. It seems that anything going on these days in Bahrain is about the recent events, this post is no difference. I assure you all that this post will not appeal to a lot of readers, frankly I care not.

During the past few days we have seen some drastic measures take place in the country. We have seen things that we only witness in news bulletins taking place thousands of miles away. We certainly thought we were invulnerable, silly as that sounds. Now its a lot quieter than the week before, deadly silent that is. The government had to move, public pressure was mounting by the day for more security, Manama was no longer the capital it seemed. All of this was bound to take place one way or another; that did not concern me much as long as it didn’t affect me or my family's security directly. What does concern me is on the day of the military's move to clear up the protesters from the GCC roundabout. During that day I had witnessed one of my saddest days as a living human being. My blackberry and twitter account was filled to the brim with calls for violent action, and I mean VIOLENT. People were actually calling for blood to be spilled in the streets. All of this can be described as "mass bloodlust". There were even more calls for laughter and making jokes of death. Frankly I was sickened.

I have to draw a line as to where I stand. In one word I stand with justice. I have always stood with justice, but "mob justice" is not justice, its chaos. A society that calls itself civil would immediately call for justice in any given situation, regardless of the circumstances. So what if people protested? So what if people tried to march to Riffa? If the state thinks that they are wrong then it's within its rights to persecute those implicated within the established justice system that was set up by their peers. In Bahrain it was the other way around. The police were left shackled and with that the only arm of justice was cut off before justice can even look into the situation. As a result to the mess, we now have little or no civil justice and instead we have military justice. I'm not a lawyer, nor do I have much knowledge of how to operate within the confines of the law, but I do realize the concept of law, and the call for blood is not justice. When did we turn into savages? This question goes to both spectrums of the mess. I guess the answer would be when the government, religious, and public leaders kept quiet. That was the biggest fault or crack in the wall. Our government and public figures did not have the experience to realize that, if left to themselves, people will act faster than they can contain, and in most cases its violent action. It was extremely sad how people were happy at the thought of witnessing dead people; do those people realize that this is not a zombie movie? Do they realize that all of those who died are human being, not invading aliens? Do they realize that those who got hurt did actually get hurt both physically and mentally and not just had a nosebleed? Do they realize that those who died had families of their own or were at some point someone's baby boy (since all of those who died were men)? More importantly do they realize that this was certainly not a barbeque?

I have to admit that writing this post is proving to be more difficult than I realized, but I have to conclude somewhere. I guess that first I have to send my condolences to the families of those who fell victim to the recent sad events. Blood spilled for politics is wasted blood indeed. Secondly I would like for my readers to look back at what they have felt during those past few days and think, key word is think individually not within the mob. Last but not least, I have to remind people that this is far from a simple nosebleed; this is a scar that can only heal with reconciliation.

Dear Calliope

I write to you in forgiveness to the recent events. I understand your concern and fear for what is happening or what is about to happen to this small island.  The events that are taking place have shaken up everyone recently, but lately a sense of frustration is creeping into everyone's minds. As a generation we have never seen anything like it before, only read about it in the history books and for it to have been forced upon us in this way is something that took us all by surprise.  Do not fear, for we will rise stronger, smarter and taller than before. Just like the phoenix of legend we will spread our wings and grow bold from the ashes that we have become.

I write this letter in hope that you do not abandon me. I have missed your inspiration and your eloquence. You have been the river from which I have irrigated my crop, yet now that you have gone these crops have gave up life in hopelessness and fear of the unknown; this fear of the undiscovered night that have driven every person on this island mad. With every passing day we lose hope of having our lives back, we lose a smile with every passing moment. Yet there is hope in adversity as there is life in the deepest caves, and with this idea I beseech you to reconsider and come back, not for me, not for any one person here, but for the nation as a whole. Our wells have run dry.

We, as a nation are writing our history together. We are writing our epic for the next generations to read and learn from, and as you have helped Homer write his epic, please help us write our own. Help us fill the pages of our history with your wondrous words and eloquent poetry and tell our story, the story of a small island that have closed its eyes for so long that it does not remember how to the light looks like again. Help us paint the picture of a people who have rejected the voices of madness and bloodlust and who have embraced enlightenment and justice. Help us remember how to smile.

I haven’t had a good nap in God knows when thanks to all the mess we are going through. I haven’t had the mindset to write a new post because my mind is constantly worrying about what might happen tomorrow and what the next broadcast message in my blackberry would be. I haven’t been having a good time with my friends because I try not to listen to another conversation about the events in Bahrain. I rarely look at my twitter timeline, facebook news feed and the TV anymore. I pray for Calliope (my muse) to come back.

*Simon Vouet, The Muses Urania and Calliope, c. 1634