I reject the two-party system of our current fantasy world
One conviction I’ve had pretty much from the onset of my adulthood is rejection of the two-party system. I’m registered “democrat” but that doesn’t mean I am one. I even reject the label “independent” because it espouses in our culture an “anti-something” stance. In other words— shouldn’t independent thought be all of our default states? […]
Podcast July 2, 2018 – State of the Union a la Yasmina Reality & How to Stay Sane
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Father’s Day Musings
I haven’t been blogging much since I started a full-time job. Those who have ever followed my blog and published works know that writing is my passion. But a girl has to bring home the paycheck too — and take care of her kids — and there are only so many hours in a day. […]
Sad Week
It’s time to stop pretending we don’t have a serious problem in the United States. Our politicians are purchased by NRA- and children are orphaned this week due to yet another mass shooting. When will the next one be? No one is safe. We are living in terror thanks to our reckless gun culture and […]
I Take a Knee
I know I am overly passionate and argumentative- but racism (xenophobia- all its forms) has always been a huge trigger for me. As far back as I can remember. When I was a child even. I remember grilling my husband about it when we dated- because racism in a partner is an absolute deal […]
3 Heroes in Portland
The climate of Trumpistan (aka America) is one where the most dreadful things like hate speech and incitement of violence are dying to become normalized. So much so- people are dying. Trump’s America is killing people. When a white, extremist terrorist who will not be named on my blog- no notoriety here- walked on a […]
Turkish Airlines Business Class Is All about Pampering
Photos by Sadaf Syed, Author of ICover: A Day in the Life of a Muslim-American COVERed Girl (This story was translated into Turkish and published in the AirportHaber Magazine. http://www.airporthaber.com/thy-haberleri/abdli-gazeteci-thyye-hayran-kaldi.html ) I had the privilege, along with my Photojournalist colleague, Sadaf Syed, of attending Turkey’s DS Centre of Policy Studies’ Spring 2016 Journalism Academy. This Think […]
I Joined Faith Leaders in Discussing Faith and Our Duties as Voters
RELIGION Why All Spiritual People Should Vote, According To These Faith Leaders Think, pray, vote. 11/07/2016 07:06 pm ET Antonia Blumberg Associate Religion Editor, The Huffington Post This election cycle has been divisive and draining. It’s forced Americans across the spectrum to interrogate their own beliefs, make compromises and reflect on how much further we […]
First Black American Girl Doll Of The Year. Could A Muslim Doll Be Next?
This article was originally published on the Huffington Post. American Girl Doll Company (owned by Mattel) finally took customer feedback to heart and introduced their first black doll of the year, Gabriella McBride. Each January for more than a decade, they have unveiled the doll of the year and accessories that coincide with her story. […]
Good Bye, 2016
I’m not one of those people that would lump an entire year into a negative label and dramatically welcome in the coming year. You know what I’m talking about– when people are all, “This year sucked! The new year can’t get here soon enough!” No- I don’t talk like that. Every day that I wake […]