Woo, I’m only getting a ‘Partly Cloudy‘ at best in the next 10 days. And here’s me thinking it’s summer already. I predict that after this summer downpour is over, it’s going to heat up like hell on earth. Oh well, this is what you get for fucking with mother nature.
Last night something occurred to me, and it
changed my perspective on religion. And no if you think the change was for the
better; you are wrong. It made me want to be free of my religion, or ANY
religion for that matter.
I’ve always been a Muslim for all my life.
Granted, I never actually practice it, but when people asked I’ve always said
"I’m a Muslim." And I always try to defend it if people talk about it
in a negative light in front of me. As wretched and far-off from my religion as
I am, I still have that sense of pride and belonging to it.
However, after a random Muslim dude just waved a
kitchen knife in front of me last night - it just killed almost every ounce of
respect I have for my religion. I feel so ashamed. I had to defend myself from
my religion, and I think I only scraped through unscratched because I told him
I was a Muslim as well. Where is the logic in that?
He told me about Theo van Gogh. And how van Gogh was shot 4 times, because he made a documentary about his fucking religion. And he told me how the man who killed van Gogh is
a fucking hero. And that he, like the man who shot van Gogh, is also a
fighter, a fucking soldier. A hero, a soldier, a fighter for his fucking
religion. MY fucking religion.
He also asked me whether or not I know what his religion
is. And he asked me about mine. I told him I know what his religion is, I know
the name of his God, and I told him that it is the same as mine. He was not
convinced. He asked me to say the Shahadah, and I did. He was still not that
convinced. I told him I went to Mecca once.
Thank God (OR LACK THEREOF) he believed me, and the conversation turned
somewhat a bit friendlier.
But all this happened with him having a kitchen
knife tucked on his pants’ waist. At one point he flashed it to me, but I was
on my I-am-not-looking-for-trouble, I-just-want-to-get-home mode and
just looked down while walking so I didn’t see it.
A few minutes later, I think he noticed I didn’t
see it, so he decided to waved it around. The knife was never pointed at me,
and it was never really near me, but seriously: How comfortable would
you be if a random, drunk stranger is talking to you about how he thinks a murderer is a
hero while holding a knife, at 1 am???? As far as I am concerned, had I been much more camp and not a Muslim, he could’ve slit my throat. Who knows?
And with that, I am now ready to fully abandon
the teachings of Islam. Don’t get me wrong here, I still do believe there is a
God. But that is all there is to it.
I just do not think I want to follow ANY religion
teaching that hatches crazy lunatics. And I do not think I want to follow ANY
religion based on violence, punishment and threat.
I KNOW, I am being completely ignorant, and I
also know how it is the people who practice are to blame, not the religion. But
you don’t reap if you don’t sow, if you know what I mean. I mean, there
has to be a source, a glimmer, or a just a hint of twisted teaching for all
this to be happening.
I seriously think that life would be much easier;
the world would be a much peaceful place if no (organized) religions exist.
Heck, I think the world would be a much better place if we are all hippies, and
just gather around a fire and sing songs.
So from now on, if anyone asks me this: "What’s
your religion?", I will answer with this: "That depends, are
you wielding a knife?"
I know it’s only halfway through the year, but I am almost certain
that this particular song will be on my top 3 songs of 2007, if not the
actual chart-topper. One of the reason for this is that upon the first
few times I heard this song, it gave me serious chills. And the song also contains my favorite line of the moment:
"All of my friends who think that I’m blessed - they don’t know my head is a mess"
Seriously, give her a listen. I’ve been enjoying her songs since her
last album, but this new song from the new album just blows me away.
And apparently it’s not just me, this track was featured quite heavily
in Grey’s Anatomy as well.
But enough talking, all quiet now:
Please give a warm round of applause to Miss Brandi Carlile!
I’m pretty sure I have said this before, but just to be sure, here’s a public service announcement for you:
Daily Friendster Horoscope Is The Bomb.
Be warned: when it becomes suspiciously specific in its explanation, there is a big chance that all that is not bullshit. Furthermore, due to its God-like accuracy, it needs to be worshiped.
Case in point: On Sunday, June 10, (today), the friendly Friendster astrologers from the heavens above sent me this:
"All those ambiguous conversations you’ve been having with someone will end today. It’s time for you to say ’so long’ to those ambiguous and
flirtatious conversations you’ve been having with that certain someone.
They’ve been quite enjoyable, but they have also been a bit of a waste
of time, haven’t they? For better or for worse, today you two are going
to get to the heart of the matter and clarify what you can (or cannot)
be to each other. Resist the urge to say only what you think this
person wants to hear. Be true to yourself and to what you want."
Needless to say, it was true accross the board. In fact, it is so precise that it is utterly scary.
Anyhow, speaking of the outcome of it; even if I saw it coming, it still hurts.
