THE BALLOT AND THE BULLET

 So ... here I am standing in front of my ballot and thinking ... I never heard any Plans or details throughout the whole campaign. I still don't know what Hillary's plans are for our involvement in the Middle East, economic and fiscal issues with China, Great Britain, Israel, Cuba, the Congo and other military spots involved within Africa, the re-structuring of education, tax cuts and or increases, she stated she wasn't for ObamaCare, then she was for it and then she is all about re-structuring it ... still don't know the details. I haven't heard anything about Wall Street's role in giving back the rest of the funds (all the ill gained interest) from the bailout, I haven't heard anything about the continued investigations and lawsuits from the people/banks that orchestrated the crash, we already know how she feels about Land Rights and Treaties broken and thus dishonored the Native Peoples but what about Puerto Rico? What about Haiti? " I heard the "apology" for her role in Mass Incarceration but what about her plan to undo the damage? I already know that reparations will never be on the table for discussion.

What about those Drones where over 80% of the people killed are innocent civilians; men, women, children and the sick and elderly that couldn't and can't move? What is her jobs plan besides piggybacking on Obama's plan (obstructed for years) which is to create MORE Government Jobs? Didn't we see how disastrous that was during the 1990's. What was her Private Sector Plan? I am not even going to ask about Trump because he has no Plan just that it will be a "Great Plan" and Publicly

stated he is going to "wing the Presidency" with statements like "What do you have to loose?". Now that we have seen all the hate seeded and nurtured during this campaign, I heard no statement on how to deal with it outside platitudes. Is there even Plan?

Throughout this whole campaign, the only two people whom addressed NATIONAL PLANS and DOCTRINES where Bernie Sanders and Jill Stein. Not one candidate GOP or DEM even made a statement or a plan on what they want to accomplish in detail for the United States. Not one New Deal or an Old Deal. Even Trump has fallen flat and he is suppose to be the "DEAL MAKER". They all spoke in generalities and cliche but none had PLANS. Am I to assume that we are to do "more of the same", because the same is what and how we got here. I am not feeling it. I am not comfortable. Maybe, as Malcolm X stated, "We are chumps". And while I am on the subject ..... WHO THE F@&#$ ARE THESE OTHER MOFO's ON THE BALLOT !!! I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THIS BEGGIN' CONGRESSMAN, SENATOR, JUDGE, LOCAL BOARD, NONE OF THESE @#%$-ASS MOFO'S ARE. THEY DIDN'T CAMPAIGN, WALK MY STREET, NO FLYERS, MAIL BOX STUFFING, NO SNAGGLE-TOOTH T-SHIRT WEARING POLLSTER TRYING TO GET ME TO LOOK AT THEM SERIOUSLY OR A CHEAP ASS POLITICAL AD ..... AND YOU ALL PROPPED YOUR POLITICALLY RATCHET ASS RIGHT UNDER HILLARY CLINTON .... ??? WHERE IS MY #@&%'n WRITE-IN BALLOT ?!?!?!?! "

INFORMATION FOR NON-MUSLIMS TO KNOW

Questions & Answers on Islam and Arab-Americans


Q: What is Islam?

A: Muslims believe in one God and in the Day of Judgment and Individual accountability for actions. Muslims believe in a chain of prophets beginning with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob Joseph, Job, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus.

God’s message was reaffirmed and finalized by the Prophet Muhammad. Islam is a religion of peace, mercy and forgiveness. Muslims pray in a mosque in the same way that Christians pray in a church.

Q: What is the Koran?

A: The Koran, or Quran, is the Muslim holy book, like the Bible is to Christianity. It is the record of the exact words revealed by God to the Prophet Muhammad. It was memorized by Muhammad and then dictated to his companions.

Q: What does "Islam" mean?

A: The Arabic word "Islam" means "submission," and it derives from a word meaning "peace." In a religious context it means complete submission to the will of God. "Allah" is the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians alike.

Q: What are the "Five Pillars" of Islam?

This is the framework for Muslim life:

1. The declaration of faith: "There is no deity but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God."
   
2. Prayer: Muslims perform five obligatory prayers each day. Islamic prayers are a direct link between the worshiper and God. Islam has no hierarchical authority or priesthood.
   
3. Zakat: One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God and that wealth is held in trust by human beings. Zakat, or charitable giving, "purifies" wealth by setting aside a portion for those in need.
   
4. Fasting: Every year in the Islamic lunar month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. The fast is another method of self-purification.
   
5. Pilgrimage: A pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, or Hajj as it is called in Arabic, is an obligation for those who are physically and financially able to make the journey.
   

Q: Who are the Muslims?

A: People who follow the Islamic faith come from all over the world. No more than 20% of Muslims live in the Arabic-speaking world. The country with the largest Muslim population is Indonesia.

Q: What about the American Muslim community?

A: An estimated 7 million Muslims live in the USA. They are made up of people from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds and national origins. Islam is one of the fastest-growing religions in the United States and around the world.

Q: What is the role of women in Islam?

A: Under Islamic law, women have always had the right to own property, receive an education and otherwise take part in community life. Men and women are to be respected equally. The Islamic rules for modest dress apply to women and men equally.

Q: Why do Muslim women cover their hair?

A: Islam teaches modesty for women and men. Women are required to cover their bodies so that their figure is not revealed and only their faces and hands are shown. The head scarf is called a hijab or chador. The long, robelike garment is called an abayah, jilbab or chador. This requirement is designed to protect women and give them respect. The dress of Muslim women is similar to that of Christian nuns, who also cover their bodies and hair. Muslim women are not required to cover their faces as is done in some Middle-Eastern countries.

Q: Some Arab men wear a checked garment on their heads. What is that?

A: It is called a kafiyyeh, and it is traditional, not religious. Wearing the kafiyyeh is similar to an African-American wearing traditional African attire or an Indian wearing a sari. The kafiyyeh shows identity and pride in one’s culture.

Q: What is Jihad?

A: Jihad does not mean "holy war." Literally, jihad in Arabic means to strive, struggle and exert effort. It is a central and broad Islamic concept that includes struggle against evil inclinations within one’s self, struggle to improve the quality of life in society, struggle in the battlefield for self-defense or fighting against tyranny or oppression.

Q: What does Islam say about Christianity?

A: Islam teaches that Christians and Muslims are both "people of the book." By that it means that the two religions share the same basic beliefs articulated through the Bible and the Koran. The main difference between Christians and Muslims is that Muslims do not believe that Jesus was the son of God. Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet who was granted special powers by God to show people the power of God.

What I Learn By Being Silent

THIS IS A RE-POST FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR

NEW YORK, Manhattan On Broadway, after Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's lecture/debate at Columbia University I walked around outside to observe the chaos. Jewish and Christian anti-support on one side, community supporters, Middle-Eastern and students on the other. The line was clearly defined. Mixed in were the curious and the event chasers; those whom wanted to be part of the energy of the moment. They were all there playing out a script written by a Power no one truly understood, considered or even wanted to acknowledge. They were the seeds that will grow the madness that will effect the world around them. An infectious passion that will ripple in waves around the world with voices, radio and microwaves, print and paper, it will be the true Monster unleashed on an empty consciousness.

The amount of police security was typical for an event of this caliber. New York is very good with this type of circus. Not long ago I attended a rally against Police Brutality in Midtown just outside of Madison Square Garden and the riot police stood on the sides as if they represented the "defenders of truth" in war gear and bullet proof jackets. As a protester against Police Brutality, I felt very safe.

Streets were cut off and blocked, Secret Service (not so secret when you can clearly see who they are) were floating through the crowds like linebackers through pre-schoolers. Helicopters beat blades camping sky-side keeping watch as media deities should. Billboards and handwritten signs, fliers and invitations littered the grounds. Words in bold, words in bright, words that proclaimed we all should. "Free Iran", "Christians United for Israel", "Hitler Lives", "Stop War", "Stop Iran From Going Nuclear", "Honk If Bush Is A Terrorist", "Judaism Rejects Zionist" and so many more. My digital camera ate up the captured moments for long term storage and I constantly flipped through the assorted images burning the reality of passion meeting chaos head on and hard in my mind.

I watched the yelling and screaming of Jews vs Non-Jews as the term "Anti-Semite" rang throughout the air. Reporters dancing throughout the crowds hurrying for quotes like bees buzzing through barren fields for pollen near the end of summer. The "Boos" and jeers of people when debates were won and the losers caught with their passions in their throats. Then there were the ones who only wanted knowledge. Eyes like saucers they searched from speaker to speaker for a morsel of truth, a faint piece of "between the line" evidence lost by editors. They hurried from one group to the next, eyes and minds stretching thin to absorb whatever they can to build an opinion in a sea of ignorance, hate and fear.

There were the Jews vs. Jews, or in this case, Jews against Zionist and Christians for Jews, Patriots against Liberals, Yeshiva University against Columbia University and then there were Jews and Muslims side by side against Jew and Christians in mass. People laughed and people cried and some I feared would have heart attacks for hearts were attacked, beaten and broken. By dusk, more helicopter blades cut into air above us as they danced perfect circles in a clear sky. And it was loud.

An American Muslim from Harlem gathered a small group of on watchers as he preached the history of Prussia; politically referred to today as Iran and Iraq. An Orthodox Jew from Brooklyn read from the Torah and people sat on the pavement and listened. I watched several off-side debates between several Columbia Professors and a single pro-Bush Patriot from the Upper Westside; he lost the debate and stomped off into the distance cursing, "Liberals are destroying this Country!"

Fox, CNN, C-Span, BBC, The Associated Press, MTV, MSNBC, NY1, Bloggers and student reporters claimed their spots to tell Americans their perspectives on "The Monster" that came to America and then the police came afterwards to keep us "more" safe, they made sure the onlookers kept it moving. And they did move.

Fathers brought their Sons, Mothers brought their Daughters and I thought what will their experiences bring to their dreams tonight. What images will burn indelibly on the mind. What passions will they inherit and what logic will be lost after all is said and done. I know as a child seeing Black people demonstrating in the streets, police beating back protesters, fires and shattered store windows all painted clear and brightly on my conscious as men in uniform carried off my family who were simple standing on the sidelines for my protection.

I kept my mouth closed and my mind open.

When it was over, I came home, ate dinner, and thanked God that I am a Man of logic and not a man of passion -- at least for that today.