Cordoba in The Muslim Era

For those interested this is my review of the “Cordoba in the Muslim Era” lecture with Dr. Farhat Hussein.

Overall it was very interesting except for two things that really bugged me:

First was that the speaker arrived half an hour late, his excuse being that, and I’m paraphrasing here, “It’s my experience in this region when you say 7 o’clock people usually arrive 7:30″… hmmm… did I ever mention how I am annoyingly-obsessively conscious of my time?

Second was a teeny tiny line in the welcoming speech. Something about “…soldiers of Islam against the infidels…”  Huh? Did they just offend the non-Muslims in the audience? I thought DICID stands for Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue? I’m confused.

What’s Wrong With Beige?

Inspired by The Giver, a beloved book of mine, and Color Lovers.

 By: Bint Khalid

Jonas lives in the world of Sameness. A community where members express no emotion, everyone is unfailingly polite and there are no attachments. They all look the same, they all think the same, they all feel the same. Individuality does not exist and if one is not adjusted appropriately then they are shamefully let go and ‘released’. It is a machine of a society devoid of color. Except for Jonas, who begins to see flashes of color, especially the color red, and gradually starts to experience real emotions, upon whence he decides to outcast himself in order to enjoy a truer and colorful life, where otherwise Sameness would not allow.

You cannot help but draw a parallel between Lois Lowry’s fictional society in The Giver and the real deal. The general blandness of today becomes distinct in one’s mind as you flip through the pages. Ask me how.

Kura

Dedicated to a teen who absolutely loves the game… and to someone who demands shorter posts to read…

By: Bint Khalid

Kurat al qadam, mostly known as Kura, which is ‘ball’ in Arabic, or  sokker, or futbol, or voetbal, or soccer, or football… despite the slightly different words and alphabets used to describe a sport, everyone knows this abbreviation: FIFA.

It’s a Date

Dedicated to someone who gave me true advice, and to those who appreciate.

By: Bint Khalid

There is a brown table, with beautiful wood, a textured surface and worn-splintered edges. Atop is a round woven matt of palm khoos, delicately braided, with light and colorful circular patterns in a dusty orange and a warm soft yellow. Atop this woven matt sits an old looking golden bowl engraved with tight arabesque designs, slightly dented on one side. Within this delightful bowl lay a mysterious entity. An oval shaped capsule that can be held between a thumb and a finger, slightly squishy and filled with an intriguing force. It is a centuries old exploit. It’s a date.