Something that caught my attention.

Muslim woman's appointment as Obama advisor draws cautious optimism Los Angeles Times
Analyst and author Dalia Mogahed will advise Obama on problems Muslims face in the U.S.

Dalia Mogahed, a veiled Egyptian American, will advise President Obama on prejudices and problems faced by Muslims. Many Arabs hope it's a step toward reversing stereotyping.

By Noha El-Hennawy
April 22, 2009

Reporting from Cairo -- Egyptians are cautiously rejoicing over the recent appointment of a veiled Egyptian American Muslim woman as an advisor to President Obama.

Dalia Mogahed, senior analyst and executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, was appointed this month to Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
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Arabs are closely watching for signs that the new leadership in Washington is making efforts to improve relations with Islam, which many Muslims believe were severely damaged during the eight years of the Bush administration. The selection of Mogahed is viewed by many in the Middle East as a step by Obama to move beyond the stereotypes and prejudices that Muslims believe they have encountered since the attacks Sept. 11, 2001.

"Dalia Mogahed is the best example of a successful Muslim woman. She proves that the Muslim should be successful in all fields, at least in [her] area of specialization," a commentator wrote on the website of the independent daily Al Masry al Youm.

The Egyptian-born Mogahed moved with her family to the United States almost 30 years ago. Recently, she co-wrote the book "Who Speaks for Islam?" with John Esposito, an American political science professor who has been criticized by some as an Islamic apologist. Mogahed and Esposito published an opinion piece this month in The Times on American ignorance of Islam and the Muslim world.

"My work focuses on studying Muslims, the way they think and their views," Mogahed was quoted as saying on the website of the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya satellite news channel. "Then I should tell the president about their problems and needs, especially that lately Muslims have been perceived as a source of problems and as incapable of taking part in solving international problems and that they should work on themselves. Now we want to say that Muslims are capable of providing solutions."

Yet, Mogahed's declaration that her loyalty goes first to the United States , published Monday in an interview with Al Masry al Youm, disappointed some people.

"I wish your loyalty was to your Islam first, Egypt second and your Arabism third and then to anything else," wrote a reader identifying himself as the Tiger of Arabs. "I am afraid that they might make a fool out of you and use you as a cover for policies that don't serve Egypt and the Arab and Muslim world."

El-Hennawy is in The Times' Cairo Bureau.

Trip to the East Coast.

Rain and cold followed me to the East coast but later on it became so pleasant and sunny that it became hard for me to leave. But really, when the interviews were done and the fun time was over, I secretly wished to go home. I began missing my family. All in all it was a very good trip. My daughter and I went through the medical school tours together, made some friends, saw interesting patients and above all got acquainted with the relatives and their children.
We stayed up into the wee hours of the night, sang songs and laughed until our voices went hoarse. It was just like going home. We loved every moment of it. The best part is the love for each other, the unity in our family, kindness and soft corners in their hearts.
Family is such a blessing. Parents, siblings, grandparents, the extended family members, and the cherry on the top..cousins. I saw my daughter bloom among them, they loved her and she loved them back. The aunts and uncles hung at her every word, praised her when she sang and prayed for her success in the interviews. She made new friends in her cousins and enjoyed every moment with them.
I also noticed one very important relationship--between grandparents and their toddler grand children. At a time when a person becomes old, week, fragile, stubborn, dependent with a bad breath and not so good looking; it is always these toddlers who find them strong, attractive, funny, communicative, attentive and dependable. In Urdu there is a proverb that a child and an old person are alike...so true, they are and they love each other. They find love, comfort and solace in one another. I love both faces of our childhood, the young and old.
Cold front met me in Wisconsin on our return but a warm welcome from my family made it comfortable. Life is beautiful with its ups and downs...
Live it, Loving it.

Such an Honor.

By God when I read my email today at the Face book and my nephew,Arsalan, whom by the way I had last seen when he was maybe two years old, said that he would rather call me a friend and a role model than an aunt, I was speechless. All that I could say was, "Wow". So many hours later I am still feeling overwhelmed with these emotions that I can not put into words. He is an extremely smart and intelligent young fellow, who is gifted with the art of writing, rational and critical thinking. Like him I found many of my nieces and nephews on Face book that I didn't know ever existed. We share our thoughts, concerns and so many conversations with each other.
Some of my friends, cousins, and relatives live in United States while others are scattered all across the globe. I enjoy learning from these young fellows, share and absorb their intelligent thoughts; it amazes me that they are all such productive, and vibrant elements of the society. But it is their patriotism which shines through them in all their attempts to do something positive for their country that makes me really proud of them.
Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, always praised the youth and encouraged them to come forward and take the reigns of the country in their hands, he called them the nation builders....
Today I am humbled and honored to be called a friend and a role model of one such brilliant nation builder.
Arsalan thank you so much for bestowing me this honor, I now have a huge responsibility on my shoulders to live up to.
God Bless you and may you become a role model for someone.

Mr. President, Do not disappoint Muslims, Please!

President Obama, it was disappointing to know that Israel is being supplied with smart weapons to desecrate the Palestinians. Mr. President, you are the beacon of hope for all the people of the world and we all look up to you for peaceful and acceptable resolution of Palestine--A homeland for the Palestinians. If you fail, this issue will be shoved under the rug again and the blood bath in the Middle East will continue. You owe it to the children in Gaza and West Bank. You owe it to us. You owe it to the people of the world.

An open secret. How America lost trust in the world.

No wonder so many nations blame America for such events in their countries. Only the American people are kept in dark, whereas, the places where such crimes are committed, people of those countries shout out in protests over the violent intervention and total disregard of their judicial and intelligent system.