Saleema Campaign

Female genital cutting is a deep social and religious tradition. One, that has been practiced since ancient times. Genital cutting was created based on the belief that the foreskin was the feminine part of the male and the clitoris the masculine part of the woman. The removal of extra tissue thereby circumvented sexual ambiguity. It is a practice that represents the extreme inequality women and girls face everyday all around the world. The Arab world places the stigma of shame upon girls who are uncut.


Justification of this practice continues until this day. It is hard to believe that as I type this, girls are faced with this horrific reality. Supporters of the practice justify in terms of preserving their cultural identity, controlling women’s sexuality by reducing their sexual fulfillment; and as a religious duty and doctrine, among other things. Therefore, communities that practice genital mutilation have a sense of responsibility to carry on the tradition and it remains a requirement for social acceptance.

In Sudan, UNICEF and the EU are working to end genital cutting. The‘Saleema’ programme celebrates girls who are not cut. The program aims to educate Sudanese families and encourage them to discuss taboo subjects like genital cutting. By doing so, they ask Sudanese to consider the implications of the practice and how it relates to human rights.

Each of us has a responsibility to support organizations like UNICEF and their efforts to bring an end to practices that oppress anyone, especially children.

I ask the same questions over and over...

So, with all the news of bullying lately I wanted to dedicate some time to having a discussion on what's been going on.

15 year old Billy Lucas, because of years of torment and being called a fag, hung himself and was found by his mother. Tyler Clementi, a freshman at Rutgers University, jumped off the George Washington Bridge the day after a video showing him and another man having a sexual encounter was posted on the Internet, initially left me at a loss of words. I am disgusted at what some people feel to be a joke. I sat in front of my computer and started to see more and more names of young children taking their lives because of the torment and harrasment they faced. The pain they felt must have been enormous. So enormous that they felt they had nothing to live for. And all of this pain visited upon these young lives because of one thing they had in common: they were not heterosexual.

 

What kind of society have we become when children are taking their lives because of who they are? What are we teaching our children when they go to school and bully others? It is obviously not easy living as a homosexual in this world. What an enormous weight they must carry on their shoulders every waking moment. Can we not have compassion? Must we act in an "ungodly" manner?

Who is responsible, I would argue that we are each responsible for these deaths as long as we allow them to happen. Society's incomprehensible actions are what have created this climate towards gay and lesbians. We are told by religious leaders that this is evil, some would say homosexuals will go to hell. Facists seek out to push these young kids to exactly what happened to Tyler and Billy. REALLY!?!? I'm disgusted!! My sadness has turned into disgust. Every human being deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. We as a society cannot stand in judgement of anyone, we cannot impose our beleifs on others.

We need to be teaching our children that these actions are wrong, no matter what our beleifs are. Every campus should have an open forum, not only so people can vent their frustrations, but also to educate people about homosexuality and the plight face by this population. The more society tries to hide and sweep this issue under the rug, the more things like this will happen. What are we afraid of? Lets address those fears so that we can become an enlightened society. Our youth are being held hostage by a religious and political rhetoric that strives to maintain the status quo of anti-gay heterosexist normativity. The messages sent out by organizations like Focus on the Family and others, continually strive to leave the most vulnerable among us exposed to continuous attack. What do we do? We just need quality education on sexuality and gender identity in our schools and more faithful and courageous preaching and teaching in our churches.

My heart aches for the children that face bullying, for the children that have taken their lives, and for the families who have lost a child due to this malice. I can't imagine walking into my childs room and finding she has taken her life. Let's treat each other with dignity, respect, and compassion. We all deserve it!!  The longer we wait the more young people will die.  





Travels 2010

Travel is truly my addiction. Each year I venture on a new excursion with hopes of topping the previous one. This year, I thought I would surely engage in a mission to see as many sights as I could in 22 days. I was in for a big surprise. So here goes;
Wow, what a trip!! We experienced so much of Europe. There were moments of frustration, (mostly from exhaustion) but those were just small moments in time.
The highlight, for me anyway, was Tuscany. Being there exceeded all possible hopes of what it would be like. The landscape, filled with Tuscan villas, was breathtaking!! Venice, Rome, and Firenze (Florence) were amazing as well. Firenze, especially, showered me with a nostalgic feeling of Italy. With its small cobblestone streets and old romantic structures, this city left an unforgettable impression. Truly Italia!!

Spain was of course, beautiful. A place close to my heart! Barcelona was as vibrant as it has ever been, it never lets me down. The southern cities of Sevilla and especially Granada were true pictures of what is Gitano. We enjoyed an unforgettable Danza Zambra at the Cueva de Rocío in the barrio de Albaicín en. This was a spectacular show of what some may call flamenco.

Madrid was a whole new city from the last time I visited, alive with tremendous energy. I have made true memories that will forever tuck at my sleeve, moments in time that will never be forgotten.

The more I travel, the more I learn how truly blessed I am to be an American. Although our trip was filled with amazing experiences, I also saw a side of Europe I had never quite seen before. I had a idealistic image of what life was like in some of my favorite places in the world, this trip challenged those ideas.
Poverty and a growing element of different cultures mixed into those of the home culture is what really grasped my attention. America is not the only melting pot, each country I visited had its own essence of this. I felt a sense of oppression towards those not from the home country. My blind fold was removed during this trip and I feel the countries I visited have a lot to learn from the US. Some would say that this is a way of preserving the true culture of the country, yet I must argue that these countries might need to re-think their immigration policies rather than exploit minorities for cheap labor. (I know, we do it as well but not to the extent of what I saw in Europe) They may attempt to embrace these immigrants and try to learn and immerse themselves into their customs. We can all learn something from one another.
Aww, I cannot forget Paris, a true city of love! Romance seeps from everything and everyone. Strolls in the park, sipping tea while watching the rain fall, and a picnic under the Eiffel Tower, what else can a girl ask for? Paris is a dream, filled with art, amazing architecture, the Seine, and parks to stroll in, this city I will never get tired of.

What I missed most from home were the simple things, like the ability to get in my car and run to the store, or the easiness of grabbing an excellent bite to eat at a reasonable cost. My family and friends is what I missed most.

Stay tuned, Latin America 2011

The Stoning of Soraya M

Soraya Manutchehri, a 35-year-old mother of seven who, paid the ultimate price for, in her own prophetic words, became "an inconvenient wife." Soraya is the face of thousands of woman who face the same plight. She was falsely accused of adultery and stoned to death two decades ago, but her story resonates in the minds of all who have heard it.

Rock throwing as means of death is not only horrific, but an act so barbaric it's unfathomable that it still happens today, yet it does. "Honor killings" are part of a system that rejects modernity, justice, equality and rationality. A system that treats female sexuality as a vice.  These practices continue today in Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, or anyplace where sharia is the law of the land. Oh, but wait, the sharia has been done away with, or has it?

For women and girls around the world, this is their fate. A life in fear and oppression. A life without joy and happiness. A life filled with sorrow and sadness. Is this any way to live? When will the global community demand a stop of these practices.

The verdict against Soraya was carried out in a village called Kupayeh, in Iran. Soraya was not present at her trial, she did not have the right to testify in her own defence, she did not have the right to counsel, and she did not have the right to appeal to a higher court.

This film depicting the life of Soraya elicits emotions that brings the viewer out of their comfort zone. Although the film is a year old, I'm sure most have not seen it. Are we too afraid to confront the reality of the world we live in? Most likely!! We would rather remain in our comfort zone than have to face that reality.

So, what remains, is the question of what actions will bring about awareness and change. The answer is distinct for each individual. My daughters and I are safe and sound in our home, but not all mothers and daughters find themselves in this same situation tonight. May they be given strength, but most of all hope, hope for a future without violence and despair.

It has been a week and a half since graduation. I am so blessed to have been able to celebrate with amazing friends and family. Walking was a surreal experience, one that I will never forget. Kevin, my mom, dad, and my girls were there to cheer me on. The sound of my name over the sound system filled me with so much joy. My eyes welled up with tears when I heard my girls cheering me on. They have made many sacrifices throughout this journey and I respect   

them tremendously for their patience and maturity. 

The love of my life, Kevin, no words can describe the gratitude I have for his support. 

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My mom and dad, for all the life lessons and encouraging words, I am so grateful.

 

What does this degree mean?

A legacy of future generations of college graduates. I am the first in my family to graduate from college, but not the last. 

An example of what each one of us can accomplish.

We can overcome any adversity or challenge.

What's next?

Well, travel of course. I'll definitely keep everyone updated on my next destination.

Beyond that, a career that will allow me to travel the world and continue to touch the lives of those in need.

Stay tuned...

Another chapter coming to an end

As I reflect on the last 5 years of my life, I realize how blessed I am. This is not to say that it hasen't been challeging, because it has, but the accomplishment overshadows any challenge I may have faced. This journey is over, and another is soon to start. I have grown and learned so much. The capacity to understand the world in ways I never imagined, the opportunity to travel to places I never dreamed of, and the ability to expand my knowledge, are only a few of the gifts I have received through my education. I have a much greater appreciation for education than I had when I was young. I have truly been divinly guided to this place and time in my life and I wouldn't trade my journey for the world. UCI Class of 2010!!!! YES!!!