A Non Muslim Woman Experiments with Hijab I walked down the street in my long white dress and inch-long, black hair one afternoon, and truck drivers whistled and shouted obscenities at me. I felt defeated. I had just stepped out of a hair salon. I had cut my hair short, telling the hairdresser to trim it as she would a guy's. I sat numbly as my hairdresser skillfully sheared into my shoulder-length hair with her scissors, asking me with every inch she cut off if I was freaking out yet. I wasn't freaking out, but I felt self-mutilated. I WAS OBLITERATING MY FEMININITY It wasn't just another haircut. It meant so much more. I was trying to appear androgynous by cutting my hair. I wanted to obliterate by femininity. Yet that did not prevent some men from treating me as a sex object. I was mistaken. It was not my femininity that was problematic, but my sexuality, or rather the sexuality that some men had ascribed to me based on my biological sex. They reacted to me as they saw me and not as I truly am. Why should it even matter how they see me, as long as I know who I am? But it does. I believe that men who see women as only sexual beings often commit violence against them, such as rape and battery. Sexual abuse and assault are not only my fears, but my reality. I was molested and raped. My experiences with men who violated me have made me angry and frustrated. How do I stop the violence? How do I prevent men from seeing me as an object rather than a female? How do I stop them from equating the two? How do I proceed with life after experiencing what others only dread? The experiences have left me with questions about my identity. Am I just another Chinese-American female? I used to think that I have to arrive at a conclusion about who I am, but now I realize that my identity is constantly evolving. MY EXPERIENCE OF BEING “HIJABED†One experience that was particularly educational was when I “dressed up†as a Muslim woman for a drive along Crenshaw Boulevard with three Muslim men as part of a newsmagazine project. I wore a white, long-sleeved cotton shirt, jeans, tennis shoes, and a flowery silk scarf that covered my head, which I borrowed from a Muslim woman. Not only did I look the part, I believed I felt the part. Of course, I wouldn't really know what it feels like to be Hijabed-I coined this word for the lack of a better term-everyday, because I was not raised with Islamic teachings. However, people perceived me as a Muslim woman and did not treat me as a sexual being by making cruel remarks. I noticed that men's eyes did not glide over my body as has happened when I wasn't Hijabed. I was fully clothed, exposing only my face. I remembered walking into an Islamic center and an African-American gentleman inside addressed me as “sisterâ€, and asked where I came from. I told him I was originally from China. That didn't seem to matter. There was a sense of closeness between us because he assumed I was Muslim. I didn't know how to break the news to him because I wasn't sure if I was or not. I walked into the store that sold African jewelry and furniture and another gentleman asked me as I was walking out if I was Muslim. I looked at him and smiled, not knowing how to respond. I chose not to answer. BEING HIJABED CHANGED OTHERS' PERCEPTION OF ME Outside the store, I asked one of the Muslim men I was with, “Am I Muslim?†He explained that everything that breathes and submits is. I have concluded that I may be and just don't know it. I haven't labeled myself as such yet. I don't know enough about Islam to assert that I am Muslim. Though I don't pray five times a day, go to a mosque, fast, nor cover my head with a scarf daily, this does not mean that I am not Muslim. These seem to be the natural manifestations of what is within. How I am inside does not directly change whether I am Hijabed or not. It is others' perception of me that was changed. Repeated experiences with others in turn creates a self-image. HIJAB AS OPPRESSION: A SUPERFICIAL AND MISGUIDED VIEW I consciously chose to be Hijabed because I was searching for respect from men. Initially, as both a Women's Studies major and a thinking female, I bought into the Western view that the wearing of a scarf is oppressive. After this experience and much reflection, I have arrived at the conclusion that such a view is superficial and misguided: It is not if the act is motivated by conviction and understanding. THE MOST LIBERATING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE I covered up that day out of choice, and it was the most liberating experience of my life. I now see alternatives to being a woman. I discovered that the way I dress dictated others' reaction towards me. It saddens me that this is a reality. It is a reality that I have accepted, and chose to conquer rather than be conquered by it. It was my sexuality that I covered, not my femininity. The covering of the former allowed the liberation of the latter. This article was originally published in Al-Talib, the newsmagazine of the Muslim Students' Association of the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) in October 1994. At the time of its publication, Kathy Chin was a senior at UCLA majoring in Psychobiology and Women's Studies. http://www.isgm.net http://www.cair-net.org/

THE SIGNS OF JUDGEMENT DAY (I) THE MINOR SIGNS Prelude As Muslims, we know that this world, created by Allah, will also be brought to an end by Him, and that it will be followed by a new world in which all people will be resurrected and brought to account for their beliefs, words and deeds. The precise timing of the end of the world is known only to Allah; not even any of the prophets sent by Allah, nor any of the angels closest to Him, know when it is to occur. "They ask you about the Hour, when will its coming be? Say : its knowledge is only with my Lord. None will reveal it at its time save Him. [its knowledge] is weighty upon the [inhabitants of the] heavens and the earth. It will not come to you except suddenly. They ask you as if you are well-informed about it. Say : Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most of mankind do not know."[Qur’an, 7:187] Although we do not know when exactly the world is going to end, Allah and the Prophet (may Allah bless him and his Household and grant them peace)have told us of some of the signs which indicate that the Hour is approaching, drawing nearer. In the Gabriel Hadith, wherein the angel Gabriel took on the form of a man with extremely dark hair and extremely white clothing, and then came and asked the Prophet (may Allah bless him and his Household and grant them peace) about the levels of the religion (Islam, Iman and Ihsan), he asked after that, "Tell me about the Hour." The Prophet (may Allah bless him and his Household and grant them peace)replied, "The questioned one is not more knowledgeable about it than the questioner," whereupon Gabriel (peace be upon him) said, "Then tell me about its signs." He replied, "That the slave girl shall give birth to her mistress, and that you see barefoot, naked, poor shepherds building tall buildings." [Muslim] So, there are certain events and signs which will occur on the earth prior to it. These signs are categorized into minor and major signs. The minor signs are those which start occurring well before the Day of Judgement, and which in themselves are not strikingly extraordinary. The major signs are those which will occur closer to the Day of Judgement, and they are bizarre and remarkable. It is important for us to acquaint ourselves with these signs, so that: 1) We can strengthen our conviction of the truth of the Messenger by seeing his prophecies fulfilled. "[Allah is] the Knower of the Unseen, such that He does not acquaint anyone with His Unseen. Except he of whom He approves of messengers . . . that one may know that [the Messengers of Allah] have conveyed the message of their Lord, and He encompasses that which is with them, and has enumerated all things." [Qur’an, 72:27-28. See in particular Mujahid’s interpretation : Mukhtasar Tafsir Ibn Kathir, (3/561).] 2) We can be aware of the details of these matters, especially the trials and tribulations amongst them, so that we are better equipped to deal with them if they occur during our lifetimes. "Fore-warned is fore-armed." "And the True Promise draws near, whereupon the eyes of the unbelievers will be fixed [and they will say], ‘Alas for us! We were heedless of this! Nay, we were wrongoders!’" [Qur’an, 21:97] 3) We can heighten our realization of the approach of the Hereafter, and thereby apply ourselves, with increased vigor, to prepare for it. for once the major signs have started to occur, one may fail to do good deeds, or even lose the opportunity to believe and repent if one had not done that by then "Do they then await only the Hour, that it come to them suddenly? For indeed, it signs have [already started to] come! Then, how can they have their reminder when [the Hour] comes to them?! " [Qur’an, 47:18] "On the day that some of the signs of your Lord will come (to pass), faith will not benefit a soul which had not believed before or earned good in its faith." [Qur’an, 6:158] "Hasten to do [good] deeds before tribulations like pieces of the darkened night, wherein a man will awaken a believer but be an unbeliever by night, or will be a believer by night and awaken an unbeliever, [and in which] people will sell their religion for some (paltry) worldly provisions." [Various narrations to this meaning are recorded by : Tirmidhi (gharib), Muslim, Ahmad] "A time will come upon people wherein the one steadfast to his religion will be like one holding a burning coal." [Tirmidhi (gharib)] It is certainly not intended, nor desired, to become complacent with and fatalistic regarding with these tribulations and signs, claiming that one cannot turn back destiny, and that one should therefore sit back, complacently, not attempting to combat the predicted spread of evil and merely awaiting Imam Mahdi or Prophet Jesus (peace be upon them) to bring victory to the truth! By no means! We have been ordered to take certain precautions, and to adopt certain means, to uphold the truth and to combat evil, and even if we fail in the course of that in spite of our utmost effort, we would still have discharged our obligation. On the other hand, if we sit back complacently, then we are accountable for our inaction, and we cannot blame the consequences on destiny. So, we must counter adverse destiny with favorable destiny, and flee from one destiny to another. Shaykh `Abdul-Qadir al-Jaylani said, "I counter the destinies of truth with truth, for [the sake of] truth. The [true] man is he who combats [adverse] destiny, not he who is abandons himself with destiny." Some Minor Signs The minor signs are scattered through the hadith literature, and depending on the method of counting and other criteria, they can number from fifty to over hundred. A couple are mentioned in the Gabriel Hadith. Let us proceed now to mention some more of them. Hadith 1 w On the authority of Anas : the Prophet (may Allah bless him and his Household and grant them peace)said, "Among the portents of the Hour is that people will compete with one another in [building and decorating] mosques." [Nasa'i] Hadith 2 w On the authority of Anas ibn Malik : He said : I heard the Messenger of Allah D say, "Indeed, among the portents of the Hour are that knowledge will decrease, ignorance will abound, adultery will become widespread, wine will be drunk, and men will be few and women will be many, to the extent that there will be a single provider for fifty women." [bukhari and Muslim] Those fifty women need not necessarily all be his wives (which is not allowed in Islam, of course). Although some people may come to falsely legitimize it (as was done by a ruler during the time of al-Qurtubi), it seems probable that among the fifty will be not only wives, but also mother, daughters, sisters, aunts, and the like. Hadith 3 w "Time will contract (i.e. it will appear to be shorter, and its blessings will vanish, such that people will accomplish less in more time), knowledge will be lifted up, stinginess will be cast [into people’s hearts], tribulations will appear, and killing will be much." [Ahmad, Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawud] Hadith 4 w "Make haste to do [good] deeds before six [things] : [1] the leadership of fools, [2] the proliferation of police / government agents, [3] the selling of judgement, [4] blood being taken lightly, [5] severance of [ties of] kinship, [6] people who will take the Qur’an as music, sending ahead one of them to sing for them, even though he may be least of them in knowledge/understanding [of the religion]." [Ahmad, Tabarani] We can extract from this hadith several general phenomena, each of which we discuss at greater length http://www.isgm.net http://www.cair-net.org

Prease mista minista ...this must be a gikuyu joke..after all this...nowadays I don't talk like that..but used to be..

Did you realize that even the real nigerians don't fly with their own airline.. Ask any nigerian freind which airline he uses for his flight, he will tell you Emirates, Ethipian airlines or Britsih airways.. Is there a reason for this..

Virgin, This is just too nice.You must have used a great time of yours. One thing, it has been translated to lot of languages...Can anyone of us please help in translating the same for our somali Brothers/Sisters...It will surely be very useful. Spread the word..

Great and worth reading piece of research Keep on Under..

Warrior of Light...May Allah give you courage on that..Inaa Lillah Wa inaa Illeyhi Raajiccun..This is life and we all going back to Allah who created us.. I have also lost one family member this week.We pray all muslims Brothers/Sisters Commemorate their Time In Seeking To reach for Allah's Grace and mercy.. Insha-llah..

This is a real master piece we surely ignore.. JAzakallah Kheiran sis..You need some merit.

I think Christopher got them from you...... if this ain't part time piracy..it is a full time research piece.. http://www.christoph-grandt.com/reaalbums/kenya/

Originally posted by Lakkad: Waraada filinkaas naga dhaafa them not soms! Funny thing my Grand Pops was in BURMA in 1900 was part of the royal afrikan rifles!-his # was 'Ayt nayn fay fay'(8955~-lol-thas how he says it) shatown and Malis-yo al-capone coudave used em niggas-huh?- we need reparations-lol ....eh eh eh...Maybe that is why we see many black indians..Are they Somali descendants..

Those pictures are Cute.. Who else has some more..

Australia.. Religion change Australia is to review the cases of a group of 30 asylum seekers after some of them converted to Christianity. The migrants, from Iran and Iraq, all from muslim countries are being held in detention centres after their original applications for refugee status were earlier rejected. Mr Howard said there were concerns that if detainees were sent back to their homelands they could suffer persecution because they had embraced a different religion. But the main opposition Labor party, however, has warned other detainees could be encouraged to adopt Christianity simply to stay in Australia.

Christian Ministries Teams are like a track-and-field team, in which members are serving in ways best suited to them, not necessarily together. We meet regularly for encouragement, support, and prayer. Team leader invests the majority of his/her time in leading an ESL ministry at his/her local church, which involves teaching classes and coordinating and leading volunteer tutors. In addition, he/she spends time with refugees regularly, sharing Christ in the context of relationships. As the others serving with the team are relatively new to the area, they are exploring how to best be involved locally. Some of the ways volunteers are serving include befriending refugees tutoring English mentoring refugees in job skills and sharing ministry opportunities with local churches Expectations of New Arrivals New teammates or christian volunteers are expected to: meet regularly with the team for encouragement, support, prayer, and learning/growing together take advantage of opportunities to learn about local refugees and about effective cross-cultural ministry take initiative in getting involved with local refugees (the team leader and teammates can help with this) pursue helping other local believers to reach out effectively to refugees.. Where are we...

VISION OF CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES FOR ALL MUSLIM REFUGEES ACROSS THE GLOBE.. http://talbinson.tripod.com/msp.htm http://www.2001pray.org/Africa.htm http://endor.hsutx.edu/~obiwan/profiles/somalikenya.html To engage in compassionate evangelism and discipleship among immigrants and up-rooted people in all corners of the world. Christian missionaries must seek to lead refugees/migrants to a hope-giving, life-changing and ongoing relationship with Jesus and enable them to effectively reach others, while facilitating churches & other believers to do the same. In the past 2-3 years, many churches in Minnesota and environs have begun to recognize their need to reach out to these new arrivals and are asking for help. Team priorities is to help these churches develop effective cross cultural ministries. Please don't forget to also read the following websites and the way they are doing to convert so many SOMALIS to christianity.. http://talbinson.tripod.com/msp.htm http://www.2001pray.org/Africa.htm http://endor.hsutx.edu/~obiwan/profiles/somalikenya.html Where are we now..and How many have gone with the wind of Going to Europe and America... ... SOMALI PROFILE QUESTIONNAIRE 1. HAVE THEY HEARD THE GOSPEL? Ratio of pastors/evangelists to population: 0 pastor/evangelist for every ??? persons total pastor/evangelists - 0 Ratio of missionaries to population: 1 missionary for every 25,000 persons total missionaries - 20 (In Kenya) Who is Jesus Christ to them? 0.5% Believe Jesus is the Son of God and name themselves Christian. 0.01% Believe he is the Son of God and see him as their savior 99.49% Believe Jesus is a prophet, teacher, a good man, but not God's Son 0 % Believe in local, traditional religion rather than in Jesus 0% Have not heard who Jesus really is 2. HAVE THEY RESPONDED TO THE GOSPEL? Christian witness to the Somali is very difficult and response to the Gospel has been very limited. The number of Somali Christians in Kenya are very few (30-40 maximum). 3. DO THEY HAVE A CHURCH? Ratio of churches to population: There is one fellowship in Kenya, but not an institutional church.. There are Somali expatriate churches in Canada. Total number of communities (cities, towns, villages): Unknown 4 THEY HAVE THE BIBLE TRANSLATED INTO THEIR MOTHER TONGUE? The Somali New Testament was first printed in 1968 and more than 40,000 copies have been printed, but only about 3,000 distributed throughout the Horn of Africa. Most are still in storage. The entire Somali Bible was printed, about 2,000 copies in 1979, and 4200 copies in 1992. Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah, Psalms, Proverbs, Luke, John and Acts are also produced individually. SIM now handles orders for a Somali-language Bible correspondence course printed by the Eastern Mennonite Mission. Portable Recording Ministries provides the New Testament, Genesis and Exodus on audio cassette. The Jesus film is available and Language Recordings has produced a cassette and poster series. 5. ANY HINDRANCES TO USE OF THE SCRIPTURE? Literacy Rate: ?% Ministry to the devout Muslim Somali of North Eastern Province is a very difficult task. Any attempt at open Christian witness is either ignored or met with violence, thus forcing Christian ministries among the Somali to concentrate on service as a means of building good will so that Christian dialogue may take place. Banditry and insecurity are the major hindrances living among them. Most Somali raised and educated in Kenya do not read or write in Somali without instruction. However, refugees or residents who lived in Somalia often are literate in Somali. 6. WHAT OTHER FORMS OF GOSPEL PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE Recordings: Yes Literature: Yes Audio-Visual: Yes Radio Yes Films/Video: Yes (Jesus Film) 7. ARE THEY RECEPTIVE TO CHANGE AND CHRISTIANITY? The Somali are very restrictively Muslim. They are very proud and self-sufficient people and somewhat warlike. Christianity will be strongly opposed by Muslim leaders. 8. IS OUTSIDE (CROSS-CULTURAL) ASSISTANCE REQUIRED FROM MISSIONARIES? Yes, anyone working among the Somali should be well versed in Islam and be sensitive to their Muslim culture and religion. Acceptance by the Somali will be difficult to earn but important in reaching them with the Gospel. The Somali language will be indispensable to effective work. ==================================== Special Prayer Requests To Somalis in Kenya. 1. Pray for the Kenyan Somalis to accept Christ and carry the message to the Somalis in Somalia and Ethiopia. 2. As cultural change challenges the Somalis' traditional way of life, pray they will embrace the truth of Jesus. 3. Pray that Somali refugees would see God's true hope in affliction through repentance and salvation. ==================================== My research and with this Bibliographies.. Ahmed, Ali Jimale, ed. The Invention of Somalia. New Jersey: The Red Sea Press, Inc., 1995. Cassanelli, Lee V. The Shaping of Somali Society: Reconstructing the History of a Pastoral People, 1600-1900. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1992. Hanley, G. Warriors and Strangers. London: Hamish Hamilton, 1971. Kjaerland, Gunnar. Culture Change Among the Nomadic Borana of South Ethiopia. California: Fuller Theological Seminary (unpublished dissertation), June 1977. Lawrence, M. New Wind in a Dry Land (Prophet's Camel Bell). NY: A. A. Knopf, 1964. Lewis, I. M. Peoples of the Horn of Africa. London: Int'l African Institute, 1969 (reprinted, Haan Press, 1995). Menkhaus, Kenneth J. Rural Transformation and the Roots of Under Development in Somalia's Lower Jubba Valley. Columbia: University of South Carolina (unpublished dissertation), 1989. Schlee, Günther. Identities on the Move: Clanship and Pastoralism in Northern Kenya. Nairobi, Kenya: Gideon S. Were Press, 1994.

Originally posted by xiinfaniin: Originally posted by Amethyst: [qb] ]Falxado, this thinking of yours compelled me to come back to this topic and cause this festivity to halt! This time though I owe no apologies! Perhaps you need to know that embracing non-Islamic values is a world different than taking advantage of useful administrative and technical innovations! Those type of innovations, western or not, have no boundaries. We ‘re encouraged to seek knowledge and cease it regardless of its origin. In that sense, your Gregorian analogy has no legs as it has (besides it historical significance) no cultural value. On the other hand, there’re countless Prophetic sayings that instruct Muslims not to imitate and accept alien values. Needless to say your citation of that Hadith can’t obstruct the fact that the Prophet had never celebrated his birth date. Granted, it’s not my right to fault you. But neither do you have a right to scoff the argument against embracing Gaalo values. Once and for all, call it for what it is. And don’t forget, dear Falxado , when you precede to putout those candles and sing that unholy song, that you’re indeed partaking in an ancient Germanic custom that’s quite foreign to yours. [/b] XIIN.............xiinnn!!!!.....we call this Bleeep...Qasam Billah..Thank you.. You have really said What I wanted Said..But then, please Give me permission to keep my Back in Total Oblivion..

Raula you are funny salaaala...Where do u normally fetch this nice articles and jokes.Mazee you can make someone be laughing a whole day.. Q: "You say the stairs went down to the basement?" A: "Yes. " Q: "And these stairs, did they go up also?" (Kanyi Advocates)

How many Happy Birthdays does someone have in life?...and I thought the whites had the guts to keep quite and not celebrate incase one missed Happy Birthday.. So what is the opposite of Happy Birthday.. :confused: :confused: :confused:

Thank GD and jazakallah kheir..for your good comments.. Insha-allah the motive is ok and we will succeed.

BUBLIC OBINION.... MsWord Happy Birthday to u ...billion times

Some of us know actually know Somalis as Malis..and to make our points clear so that most of our peers understand what we are talking about... we try to refer to the names that ain't actual to mean actual so that we push our ideas on. Changing my nickname from The Rendezvous to Faarax Will not alter my points neither will it make us preserve Generation X.

.................De 2 dozen Victoria's Secret panties dat Mama is wearing should be distributed among my nieces and cousins... You must be a joker... Typical Nigerian...

Originally posted by Bishaaro: quote: My family celebrated birthdays in back home. Perhaps we lost our Culture while we were still living there. :confused: ................................................ Bishaaro, maybe that is why you are encouraging MsWoRd & her family to be like yours...By toasting cakes infront of all non-Mahrims(Yacni Those with A-rated eyes for her)..and pretending HAPPY BIRTHDAY...is a muslim Like celeb..Acudhu Billah.. The Moderator(Alias Ameyst)..for once Please assume that we ain't here to argue on simple things just to make sure you Win in saying..HAPPY BIRTHDAY'..to MsWOrd..The main aim of SOL's survival is to discuss issues affecting our Somali Society be it Spiritually, education and Social issue. We are not here to Win..nor to measure the strength of IDD or IDD-ul adhaa..(Or some other great Islamic celebrations) to mere valentines or 'Dhalasho wacan'..This is not the case...& adjusting Somalis Like mSwOrD to treat it Islamically merely coz they stay away from Islamic countries..doesn't argur well with some caring Nomads like Rendezvous.. It was prudent to establish some form of understanding here about this kind of 'TRENDS'..going on in our Islamic societies.. Contrary to all this..am feeling happy for MsWoRd..coz she is growing mature and insha-allah will contribute more as a muslim.. nOtE ..We ain't better when we feel as if we are going westernized..like we are 'REER BALAD'..by toasting cakes to celebrate HAPPY BIRTHDAY..By the way..How many saw the few wedding done with some expensive western outfits that depicts a somali muslim couple getting married with the parts of her body showing with all those non-mahrims invited..(even whites who are non-muslims)..clapping and in the event asking ALLAH s.w DUAA..asking for Nice and happy prosperous Life..is this really a win situation Ameyst is courting for ..or do we need to control the TREND..This is a completely 'copy and paste' story.. This will never take US anywhere.. AnywayZ...Let us hope our Sister Nomad(MsWoRd) will enjoy her life prosperously and insha-allah everything will be fine with her.. Take care.. namtakia Kheir..

Asalam aleykum, Originally posted by Amethyst: [QB] Haye, Stubborn Faaraaxyo against all things western. ........................................... amn't against anything pro-western..I am from the OldSchool and I do understand the situation we guyz in..I was just touched and hoped to create some kind of notion/a discussion about this And Other 'TREND' going on in our ISLAMIC societies..while we are ululating 'happy birthday to our beloved Microsoft Word.. But what we are saying is that this trend..'dhalasho Wacan'..or Happy Birthday in English..is real and growing and we need to control..It shouldn't be seen as part of our Culture(somali).. (If you ain't a somali..that is a different case altogether..) I have had a case in my mind when posting the Thread..and you guys must say..Thank you for once..There was this family(Somali) close to us who used to sing..Happy birthday to u...To their one 5year old daughter..imagine.. Now tell me how that KID..a muslim and a somali for that matter will be in 40yrs time..maybe with less ISLAMIC education..She may think it is part and parcel of our religion and culture..unless explained otherwise for that matter. What will be the experience with her kid..the next..and the next..do u guyz really understand my point.. This is my bone of contention..Otherwise If you guyz aren't happy or don't understand.., let me wish(MsWord) The best in her life always.. Wasalam..

First and foremost, let me say asalam aleykum to all of you. I have revisisted this issue of Preserving Our Generations from time to time without the forum giving it due consideration. In preserving our generations, we are infact preserving ourselves, our children, our grandchildren and so forth who will in turn be preserving their other other children. For most of the people who are in States/Canada and other Western countries, the topic is of paramount importance, lest you take it for granted. You feel Nice when you generation talks in your own mother tongue as a language, follow Islam as your religion, Treat your old mums and dads with respect, at the same time, respect themselves..we have seen instances where mamas and dads can't talk to their children even for cautioning...and the kids get away with it...for instance, your Son/daughter goes against the wishes of her mutual respect for her parents and her religion, the boy become homo...and so forth and forth. If infact there is a total decay in a society, the best way is to make sure you are in control of your children.There is nothing like Western ways, or western culture or even european life...nothing...infact you will be the loser in the end...If your kids/generation can't speak your own language, can't practise their own religion, can't respect their family members or parents and other relatives. all this specification for preserving generations are detailed in the Holy quraan and Hadeeth. we are told to practise our religion, respect our parents, get education for all..boys and girls alike which is a must and touching on all issues for both male and female relationships.there is nothing like male pray..women don't...and on top of all that..everybody is gonna be answerable to his GOD alone one day...you will never be alive all your time in this world. We are told all that and guyz say we are this and that..we are westerners...the US guyz..so forth...that will never take you anywhere..you will lose yourself, your peer, you will of no use to your own society, you generation will be lost and so forth...i think you guyz are following up to this point. I am not saying am a counsellor, but the trend is just disgusting especially for us Malis... even Pakistanis..who have stayed in the UK for close to 100years...have never changed..Why us.. If you can't obey what your parents wants or what ISLAM wants...you may be the loser or whatever..... wasalam aleykum.. Ibraheem's