Check out my first (and hopefully one of many to come) article in my “Mind’s Eye” column in Sail Magazine.

I write about the role of women in our lives, and the importance of each role they play.

Check it out here http://sailemagazine.com/?p=1218

Don’t let yourself complain

Don’t acknowledge those feelings

Don’t let yourself be caught kneeling

Don’t scream out in pain

Don’t let your tears leave a stain

Don’t put your hand out

Don’t let them see you with a pout

Don’t respond to their helping hand

Don’t ever believe that they’ll understand

Don’t get sucked into their affection

Don’t let them forget your rejection

Don’t think twice about pulling the trigger

Don’t wonder if there’ll ever be anything bigger

Don’t worry about your loved one

Don’t anticipate the birth of your unborn son

Don’t believe that you were ever a gem

… All you were was everything to them

Like hearing a song on the radio that I haven’t heard in a decade

Like running to the car as a child to get into the front passenger seat

You make me feel

Like the fresh scent of laundry

Like having breakfast in bed

You make me feel

Like finding money in my pocket that I completely forgot about

Like catching a scent of a perfume while walking down the street

You make me feel

Like having a public holiday meet with a weekend to make it a long vacation

Like coming home to find my house chores were already done

You make me feel

Like slipping into my jeans to find they’re getting loose around the waist

Like finding the right pen that makes my handwriting look awesome

You make me feel

Like finding my favorite ice cream in the fridge

Like catching a cool breeze on a hot summer day

You make me feel

Like getting a phone call from an old friend

Like collecting shells on the beach

You make me feel

Like waking up in the morning like I’ve slept for a decade

Like the smooth aroma of coffee

You make me feel

Like cuddling up in a warm blanket in a cold room

Like dressing up for a formal event

You make me feel

Like there’s no feeling but you

A quick look into our past paints a picture that few would believe existed, given the current state of mentalities and the attitudes of the inhabitants residing in the region. We come from a past filled with hardship, be it the climate, or the provision of shelter and food, or any other harsh element of living in the Arabian peninsula. I always remember a story that was told to us as children of my grandfather, who during Ramadan would ask for his drinking water to be lowered down to the bottom of the well, so that by the time Maghreb (sunset) comes, his water is at a few degrees lower in temperature than it would have been if it was kept outside. The hardships, and the isolation from the rest of the world, plus the need to survive created a society that was largely collectivist, a society that protected its values and ways of life very strongly, and of course, a society that resisted change. And yet, the current working class, the people currently taking charge, seem to be acting in a manner just the opposite of what conformity would have dictated. Perhaps its the influx of cultures that has blessed us with new ideas, perhaps its the calls of the 21st century that has forced the generation to acclimate to the new environment or otherwise perish, and certainly its due to the influences of our leadership that have led the way in breaking down barriers. Whatever the reasons, the fundamental changes in our society have made sure that old ways can hardly stay the same.

There exists a small, yet notable contingent of our Emarati society that has literally put up a wall against these changes, rejecting all that is considered ‘cultural reform’, and criticizing all that is new. I recall an incident once, where I was having a discussion with an acquaintance of mine, and I went on to praise one of his employees on their notable high-performance and productivity, stating that the person in question has a bright future ahead in Dubai – the response I received was “foreigners come here to receive a salary for the responsibilities their jobs require – we don’t need to give them anything more than they already have, one day they’ll take our money and go back to their country”. After much thought, I realize that this attitude is one type of ‘wall’ that people put up, one that simply states “I am Emarati, and you a foreigner”. A stance that I believe is at the root of the social and cultural divide visibly apparent in our community. On a compassionate level, one can understand why this sort of attitude is assumed by some; it is, after all, very difficult to change the ways of our ancestors, to live in a way other than what has been taught, and a common reaction to something that threatens those teachings is to reject it. What is apparently sad though, is that the wall put up is made of emotions, rather than logic; unfortunately, more often than not, no form of logic or reasoning can break that wall down or penetrate it to find a middle ground of understanding.

The stars, the beacons of light, the hope for progress are those that have taken all these forces of change as an opportunity to flourish, to learn from the experiences of the diverse population, whatever their background, whatever their ethnicity, or social class, or religious affiliation. A group that believes in the equality of human beings rather than the borders that separate them. A group that has taken the positives from other cultures and stayed true to the positives of their own. A group that adopts dynamism over stagnation. A group that recognizes the opportunities at hand – opportunities that very few in the world have had the pleasure of seizing. There are varying degrees within this group, some that have become their own society, with newly found values and principles, and some with a mix of both the old and the new in what can be best described as a “take the good, rid of the bad” process. It is within this group of people, that the future of the Emirates depends on – those that have modeled themselves against what the entire idea of the massive development stands for: multiculturalism, ease of integration, world-class, and deep guiding principles.

It is an interesting process, from what a city (or a collection of cities, for that matter) stands for, and how that affects its people; add to that the speed of progress, and you find yourself in quite a jeopardy. They say that in every rapid urban development, the infrastructure and the society suffers, I think in our case the outcome has -more or less- followed that route. No one can argue about the infrastructure after peering down at Sheikh Zayed Road at 6pm, but I feel there is a valid argument for the social aspect. It is true that the society has changed, but I wouldn’t consider it suffering, some have been disadvantaged, and others have prospered. As for the two outcomes of the development of the Emirates, it’s plain to see that if we follow the rule of natural selection, only one outcome can persist.

Music is a never-ending flow of joy, sorrow, drama, happiness, love, sensuality and any other emotionally-centered choice of word.

This mix of instruments, blended with vocal abilities has guided me through the major part of my life, through thick and thin, through the good and the bad, just by being there, just by relating to how I feel – either through lyrics or musical abilities. It translated my feelings into sound, into voice. I feel it running through my body, touching every extremity, twitching every muscle to its rhythmic tone.

I always get into debates and arguments regarding what ‘real’ music is. Ultimately, and I say this upfront and with no excuse, anything that achieves that joy for you is fine by me – in any case, who am I to judge that? Perhaps due to my experiences with Music and how it has affected me, I have a different opinion on what ‘real’ Music is.

I don’t find repetitive nonrhythmic musical sounds (or electronic for that matter) to be ‘real’ music – because I can’t seem to connect to it, there’s no irrational connection that I have with other forms of music; i.e. Soul/Neo-Soul, Jazz, Acoustic, and sometimes Hip Hop. I can’t stand what can be referred to as ‘commercial’ music – not because popularity is a measurement tool for the quality of music, but what is coming out as commercial music isn’t about music whatsoever, its more about serving basic human instincts – invigorating sexuality, propelling rebellious emotions. It isn’t about talent, it isn’t about blending musical instruments, it isn’t about vocal hymns. That to me is not just anti-Music, but its also devious – the somewhat preying nature of mainstream Music to rid of what is truly a remarkable form of art for something so cheap, so mundane – *sigh* its painful just thinking about it; the constant drone of Rihanna’s ELA ELA AIH AIH haunts my dreams. I’ll keep it at that before I start going on a rant about other forms of Music.

Music is driving down a long strip of road jamming to D’Angelo’s ‘Cruisin’: “Baby let’s cruise, away, from here. Don’t be confused baby, the way is clear.”

Music is Raheem DeVaughn describing the word love “It’s that old four letter word, that i feel when I touch you yeah. Its that old four letter word, that I taste when I kiss you yeah. Its that old four letter word, that I recognize, so familiar.”

Music is being in a doomed relationship and singing along with John Mayer’s “It’s not a silly little moment, It’s not the storm before the calm. This is the deep and dying breath of this love that we’ve been working on….. We’re going down, And you can see it too. We’re going down, And you know that we’re doomed. My dear, We’re slow dancing in a burning room.”

Music is seeing the bigger picture through Lauryn Hill’s (& D’Angelo’s) “Now the skies could fall. Not even if my boss should call. The world it seems so very small. ‘Cause nothing even matters at all”

Music is seeing the pain in the world through Lupe Fiasco’s flow “So through the Grim Reaper sickle sharpening, Macintosh marketing, Oil field augering, Brazilian adolescent disarmament, Israeli occupation, Islamic martyrdom, precise, Yeah, laser guided targeting, Oil for food, water, and terrorist organization harborin, Sand camouflage army men, CCF sponsorin, world conquerin, telephone monitorin, Louis Vuitton modelin, pornographic actress honorin, String theory ponderin, bullimic vomitin, Catholic priest fondlin, pre-emptive bombin and Osama and no bombin them, They breakin in my car again, deforestation and overloggin and , Hennessy and Hypnotic swallowin, hydroponic coughin and, All the world’s ills, sittin on chrome 24-inch wheels”

Music is getting excited and bumping to the beat of Jeezy’s “Everyday we hustlin, everyday we hustlin, everyday we hustlin’”

Music is slow dancing to Michael Buble’s “She may be weary, women do get weary, wearing the same shabby dress – and when she’s weary, try a little tenderness”

Music is getting in touching distance with your childhood when the beat drops and you hear “Here comes the hotstepper, murderer. I’m the lyrical gangster, murderer. Excuse me mister officer, murderer. Still love you like that, murderer”

Music is Maxwell relating completely to your situation “I was reborn, when I was broken. I wouldn’t believe, I couldn’t believe. Been through a storm, no use in hoping, that you would come rescue me, somehow your love set me free….. And I, I can let my life pass me by. Or I can get down and try. Work it out this lifetime. Work it on out this time.”

Music is hearing Prince ask “If I was your girlfriend?” – be confused, then understand it so clearly.

Music is India Arie breaking down racial boundaries by singing “I am not my hair. I am not this skin. I am the soul that lives within”

Music is Jill Scott inviting her lover for a long walk “You’re here, I’m pleased
I really dig your company, your style, your smile, your peace mentality, lord, have mercy on me, I was blind, now I can see, what a king’s supposed to be, baby I feel free, come on and go with me… Let’s take a long walk around the park after dark, find a spot for us to spark conversation, verbal elation, stimulation, share our situations, temptations, education, relaxations
elevations”

…. Music is what emotions sound like.

Words that speak little but whisper much

Words that encapsulate consciousness

Words that bring it all together

Yet divide it all

There are words I want to express

For every emotion felt

For every thought transcended

There are words

That express existence

That answer the questions

That heal all wounds

That quench all thirsts

There are words

So diverse

Yet so focused

So comprehensive

Yet so limited

There are words

That explain it all

These are words

I feel

I hear

I see

But to express them

Is a lifelong journey

I think, and I stress think, that it comes from the idea that saying something so meaningful with relatively few words gives it a sort of magical feel, i.e. saying so much by saying so little.

I also think there’s a fascination with the past, maybe it comes from human arrogance to think that we’re just always so much better than our past, and those in the past; but the thought -even if it isn’t easily confessed- is something like “how did they know that back then?”. I find this type of thought is more common the further back you go in history: Socrates said it in 420BC! And it still relates to present day situations…. Wow!

This topic isn’t very helpful, I’ll admit, but I’m keeping true to the category: Philosophical Ramblings. I’ll end with an example that should showcase my fascination with this phenomenon:

One person says “It doesn’t matter what people say about me, or what they think about me, I believe what I believe because its right and that’s how it’s going to be”

And Ghandi says “Even in a minority of one; the truth is still the truth”

—-

Sigh… Maybe its just the poetic value

To start things off, I think it’s quite safe to say that most Arabs come in contact with xenophobia, the fear of foreigners (or anything foreign), on a nearly constant basis, from family members, friends, peers, and often strangers; on its many levels, and with different intensities. I’m willing to bet that 99% of the readers will admit that they’ve heard the term “those foreigners”, “those expats”, or my more hated one, “damn foreigners”.

Its quite easy to explain why xenophobic feelings rise to the surface, and they usually manifest through common feelings of fear, uncertainty, and defensiveness; maybe the individuals are afraid afraid they might lose their traditions, something that was passed on to them by their parents and forefathers, something they hold dear to their hearts; maybe they feel financially threatened because someone, not of their own kind, has come to take up a job that they -for one reason or the other- feel entitled to. Whatever the reason, most xenophobic feelings can be attributed to ‘Uncertainty Avoidance’ and “Reluctance to Change’.

Now, I’m from Dubai, a hotbed of cultures, I am from the recently reported 13.3% indigenous minority – in my circles, the topic of the influx of expatriates always sparks up an interesting debate, and I can always see the different degrees and the different levels that people are thinking on when it comes to this topic.

One thing that I’d like to start off by pointing to is this very common tendency to label things, and in this case, to label people: Those foreigners, those westerners, those Asians (and believe me, it has nothing to do with the race, its about anything that isn’t “us”); here’s a newsflash, the expatriates coming into your country aren’t a malicious, manipulating, calculating group, all they are are people, like you and me, trying to have a good life, trying to do what they can to feed themselves, feed their children (where applicable), have a few smiles, and try a few new things. The only reason they are seen as a group is because fear of the unknown, and the feeling of being threatened makes it easy to label things, to draw lines between “us” and “them”.

I’m not going to be here and paint a beautiful, idealistic picture of how this influx should be treated, but I would like to point to a lesson that we were all probably taught as children: take the good, and leave out the bad – in anything, and in everything.

Now let’s imagine we lived in a small village with a handful of people, from similar pasts, similar traditions, similar values, similar, similar, and similar; how many lessons can you possibly derive from a, more or less, stagnant environment? Now compare that with living in a place that is home to more than 180 nationalities, how many things can you learn now? All the different cultures, backgrounds, customs, etc. Sometimes I feel like a kid in a candy store, with so much to choose, not knowing where to start, and what to pick, I start weighing out my options based on my likes and dislikes, what should I choose first? What should I end my candy-eating with? Now don’t get me wrong, I did have quite a good array of candy to start with, my culture has provided me with invaluable lessons, some of which I feel stands out against most other cultures, making me happy to call them my own; but do I think that my culture is perfect? that there’s no real need for me to learn from others? Absolutely not!

In my opinion, being in a hotbed of cultures that is characterized by stability, opportunity, and positivity is the single most powerful stepping stone for any person to elevate oneself. And here’s the beautiful part of, you don’t have to sacrifice your own culture to do it, not at all actually. Things aren’t black and white, its not your culture or their culture, there actually lies a combination in between. Take what you feel is right, what can benefit you and your surroundings, and weed out what you feel is detrimental.

Change is inevitable, but change doesn’t need to be negative. Cultures, traditions, values, and principles are created and adopted in different eras to suit the times, to help cope with the environment and the surroundings – and much like everything else, they evolve.

————————–

I have learned that whatever it is, it will eventually fade away.
And struggles will hurt but will strengthen weaknesses

I have learned that no acquaintances are reliable
But those who are, are implanted in my mind

I have learned that everything is a matter of time
And time waits for no one but grows wisdom

I have learned that by eliminating expectations, I face no disappointments
But if I face disappointments,it opens up a sense of awareness

I have learned to spread kindness but put myself first
And only spread kindness to ones who deserve it

I have learned to slowly trust but be cautious
Depend on my senses and listen to my own voice

I have learned to step away from the ones who take me for granted
But never forget that everyone deserves that one & only last chance

I have learned to stop underestimating my abilities
& appreciate my art even though I am never satisfied

I have learned to go through whatever it is that I’m going through
Feel the pain, cry the tears, and sweat the hard work
because when I laugh & smile I truly embrace it
And when I have an hour on my own I truly cherish it

I have learned that I must block whoever that tries to discourage me
Because no one can bring me up again but myself

I have learned that if they can do it then so can I
And the negative outcome won’t upset me
because I have tried.

I have learned that some people are more fortunate than I am
But some are worse off, so I will rest
Until I reach my final minute in life
I have learned keep going and fighting
I have learned to never stop.

———–

My journey continues

Into the unknown we venture, my unknown

A plethora of experiences occur at once

How can man comprehend this

How can he make sense of it

———–

They speak of a war

One which divided all that is known

A side that bleeds prejudice, and the other endowed with freedom

Bless the fortunes that aided the latter

It would be a much different existence otherwise

———–

That war, the images, the tales, the stories

Petrifying…

An explosion the size of a city wipes life in an instant

What monster finds it withing himself

To exterminate not only humans, but an existence

———–

Medicine, though, has come a long way

Curing terminal illnesses

Life-long struggles are blessed with hope

And yet, some oppose it, for claims of the sanctity of life

Is the current not more important than the potential?

Is it not a necessary evil?

———–

This journey is driving me mad

Why do I find myself here? What have the Gods willed?

It is too much to take in

So much has changed

My companion comforts me, promises to help me ease the new in

She speaks eloquently, for a shabby dressed lady

———–

We carry on to a shore

I have never seen the seas, only heard tales

My men had conquered overseas, our fleets swarmed distant lands

Like ants finding a feast, they devoured enemies

Or so I’m told..

———–

My journey continues, on the path of discovery I march..