My Nightlight

via ffffound

I can't wait...

...for John to take me out on Saturday for Christmas tree decorations. :)

Young Arab Americans Talk About the Real Problems

Young Arab Americans Talk About the Real Problems

By Yasmine Farhang

While Sept. 11 gave long time prejudices a power that was unprecedented, it is important that we not forget that Muslims and Arabs were already struggling with racism.

Those of us who are not white Americans know what it is to have ourselves defined by a popular imagination that does not ask for our approval. For Muslims and Middle Easterners in the U.S., Sept. 11 meant an onslaught of external definition by politicians, the media, academics, and even our neighbors and friends. I was a high school junior in Manhattan when Sept. 11 happened. The candlelight vigils I attended continually at Union Square, while healing, kept me distracted from what was happening to so many Muslims and Arabs around me. Meanwhile, I brushed off as trivial the ignorant questions about Islam (to which I had no answers—my Iranian American family is devoutly agnostic), the terrorist jokes told in jest and the apparent need by white friends to analyze my appropriate racial category as though I were a jigsaw puzzle. It was tiring at best, and infuriating at worst. In his new book, How Does it Feel to be a Problem? Being Young and Arab in America, Moustafa Bayoumi, an English professor at Brooklyn College, introduces readers to seven young people in Brooklyn who are all too familiar with being defined by others.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

Fun Gift Ideas

I've started looking for fun, unconventional gifts to give to people for Christmas. I think this first selection of gifts are great! This post is geared more towards the men in my life (Dad, brothers, John), but these gifts can work for anyone!

From bottom up (because I like it that way):

The Keepsake USB Turntable ($149)- perfect for your little brother who dreams of being a DJ

Retroblock iPod Speaker ($25)- works with all iPods!

80's Rubix Cube Clock ($22)- twist the top row to switch between the date, time, temperature

Teach: Better Handwriting ($13.95)- no more chicken scratch to decipher!

Lomo Fisheye 2 Camera ($75)- I think these take really cool pictures

USB VHS Tape Converter ($249)- My Dad would love that he could convert our old home videos

iPod Ghetto Blaster ($249)- Oh hey, it's a giant boombox! If only I had a Kangol Hat and some
Adidas gear (preferably a sweatsuit)...

All pictures and gifts ideas are from Fred Flare.

Gift Guides

I have promised myself that I would do a few things before December 24th:

1) LSAT
2) Law school applications
3) Volunteer
4) Decorate my apartment
5) Buy awesome gifts!

I'm close to finishing the first four; LSAT on December 6th; law school apps...sometime soon; volunteering at Tufts for the Foster Children's Holiday Party; decorating the apartment-- well-- the tree's up!

However, I'm looking for really cool, unique gift ideas (not too expensive) for the people I love in my life. Therefore, for the next few weeks, I've decided to compile a comprehensive list of gifts for the holiday season. I would love to hear your ideas and suggestions as well, so please send them along!

Late Night

Oh, it's going to be a late one tonight...I wouldn't worry, except that the LSATs are on Saturday, and I would like some last minute study time. Trying not to panic, but the worry buttons are going off!

I need a blankie, some fuzzy socks, and some sushi right now.

Terrorism That's Personal

About 4 or 5 years ago, I performed a piece from the Vagina Monologues called "Memory of Her Face". I told the story of a young Pakistani woman who was burned with acid for going against her society's ingrained ideas about women. This is less of a story than an ignored reality. Thousands of women from Asia to Afghanistan are subject to acid attacks- attacks that leave women's faces hideously deformed.

I'm glad that the New York Times has decided to write an article about this. It's another injustice that should not be ignored.

Read the article here.

Picture is from the New York Times.