Reality or dream?
There is no set definition of ‘dreams’. The more I try to understand the role of dreams and why we see what we see, I get all the more confused. Modern science – the little that I have read of it – is far from convincing in explaining the reality of dreams. Islam seems to answer this mystery the most convincingly and for brevity’s sake I won’t try to explain it here.
These days I have a major disagreement with my parents over a future decision. I have found my parents very stubborn and unwilling to listen to me. Of all the people, I would have least expected my parents to be so rigid and uncompromising. So much so that my relationship with them is being affected and things have reached such an impasse that at times I really don’t know where life will lead me from hereon.
Last night I was on the internet reading random stuff when I fell asleep at round about 10:00pm. My eyes opened after a couple of hours and this waking up was triggered by something I saw in a dream that felt like reality. The experience was so real that I don’t even know if this was a dream or if there really is a parallel world (in Islamic terminology referred to as “barzakh”) that I had just been to!
In this dream, I saw myself sitting on a bench in a big park. I had my head in my hands thinking about this disagreement with my parents and thinking who, what or how can I convince them to understand my position. I feel my mother is the key player and if somehow I could convince her everything would automatically set in place. I sat there thinking with tears in my eyes thinking who in this world would help me out? Just then someone came beside me and held my shoulders and exclaimed, “Naati!” It was my late maternal grandfather (whom we used to call “Nana Abbu”). He used to call me and my brother “Naati”. I couldn’t believe he was standing in front of me and I was confused out of my skin because he had expired about 2 years ago!
Nana Abbu calmed me down and took me on a walk around the park. He seemingly knew that it had something to do with my mother and I started giving him the entire background as we walked around the massive park. Just when we had covered the distance of the entire park, we came back to the same bench where we had started from. The end of my story, which I was narrating to Nana Abbu, coincided with us reaching this same bench. During the entire walk he mostly kept quiet at times showing his displeasure at what my mom was doing. I looked at him and asked him, “But Nana Abbu, how can you help me when you are not in this World anymore?” He looked at me with an expression that seemed to say, “I can talk to your mother just like I am talking to you”. With that look he told me, “Don’t worry, Naati, I will talk to her and try my best.” With that he hugged me and just left.
Right about then I woke up from my sleep and noticed the time on my laptop: 12:28 a.m. The next thing I saw was directly related to something I was discussing with my Nana in my dream! I am still trying to make sense of this all, but the experience felt very, very real. Did my Nana Abbu go and meet my mother after this? I don’t know, but I am hoping he did.
These days I have a major disagreement with my parents over a future decision. I have found my parents very stubborn and unwilling to listen to me. Of all the people, I would have least expected my parents to be so rigid and uncompromising. So much so that my relationship with them is being affected and things have reached such an impasse that at times I really don’t know where life will lead me from hereon.
Last night I was on the internet reading random stuff when I fell asleep at round about 10:00pm. My eyes opened after a couple of hours and this waking up was triggered by something I saw in a dream that felt like reality. The experience was so real that I don’t even know if this was a dream or if there really is a parallel world (in Islamic terminology referred to as “barzakh”) that I had just been to!
In this dream, I saw myself sitting on a bench in a big park. I had my head in my hands thinking about this disagreement with my parents and thinking who, what or how can I convince them to understand my position. I feel my mother is the key player and if somehow I could convince her everything would automatically set in place. I sat there thinking with tears in my eyes thinking who in this world would help me out? Just then someone came beside me and held my shoulders and exclaimed, “Naati!” It was my late maternal grandfather (whom we used to call “Nana Abbu”). He used to call me and my brother “Naati”. I couldn’t believe he was standing in front of me and I was confused out of my skin because he had expired about 2 years ago!
Nana Abbu calmed me down and took me on a walk around the park. He seemingly knew that it had something to do with my mother and I started giving him the entire background as we walked around the massive park. Just when we had covered the distance of the entire park, we came back to the same bench where we had started from. The end of my story, which I was narrating to Nana Abbu, coincided with us reaching this same bench. During the entire walk he mostly kept quiet at times showing his displeasure at what my mom was doing. I looked at him and asked him, “But Nana Abbu, how can you help me when you are not in this World anymore?” He looked at me with an expression that seemed to say, “I can talk to your mother just like I am talking to you”. With that look he told me, “Don’t worry, Naati, I will talk to her and try my best.” With that he hugged me and just left.
Right about then I woke up from my sleep and noticed the time on my laptop: 12:28 a.m. The next thing I saw was directly related to something I was discussing with my Nana in my dream! I am still trying to make sense of this all, but the experience felt very, very real. Did my Nana Abbu go and meet my mother after this? I don’t know, but I am hoping he did.
posted by al-republican at 1:53 AM
62 Comments:
May the Most Merciful ease your affairs..
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IYM:
I was expecting you to tell me something about Deepak Chopra, hehe.
It's 6:55 pm here and no sign of my mother's call. She is very rigid about this and I don't know if she will ever change her mind. I continue having hope though.
Yes, I do believe in transcendance, too. But, I try not to barge into other peoples' houses. That, too, non-mahram residences :P
Let's hope the CD isn't into this kind of transcendance :P
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I guess most amongst us, at some point, have had similar "dreams". I've had quite a few - and true, they feel very real. Often, the effect/aftermath stays with me the entire day.
Hope things work out for you, Al. Something I often, remind myself - everything happens for the better. Hence, don't give into despair or disappointment for too long. The good guy up there, and your grandpa shall make sure life continues to bring what's best for you.
What's non-mahram?
lol Al - IYM didn't barrage into my house, infact I've never met her :)
She has this insane (in a positive way) 6th sense. Whilst chatting with me on gmail chat, she practically guessed my apartment number, the colour of the couch in my apartment, the carpet in my apartment, the colour of my tooth brush, the coffee table, flowers on the coffee table. That my bed has metallic frames.
The freakiest - there were 3 CD's in the CD drive and the 3rd one was Celine Dion! Even bigger, she guessed the colour of the new pj's i got bought from banana republic!!!
I was freaking out, that whole evening! Locked my doors, clutched the bible, said a prayer and left the apartment window open - for a quick escape, just in case :)
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What's maska-pleasing (am assuming this means, just playing along?) If nope, did not maskaplease - you'd get a few of those correct, the freakiest ones being my apt number, celine dion and the colour of those pj's.
And nope, don't want another round of that IYM. It's unsettling you know - especially for someone living in not the sanest of places :)
the big problems with interpretations of dreams is that people tend to label them according to their likes. EG: if your mom doesnt like your dream she can say it is from shaitan and shaitan is trying to incite you against your parents. Even if your mom had this dream she can dismiss it from Satan.
What you need to do is become like Samurai Jack.
You should have woken up and gained INSPIRATION and then run around to Canada and just married her.
AD
Dear Shahab
Do you ever dream about me?
Hahaha Debbie! Stop stalking me!
Rosh, I hope and pray things turn out in your favor. What I can advise you is that you need to be a little sly about what you want. I have learned a big lesson from what I have been through the past 3 years with my parents. The crux of this lesson is: Don't hesitate to LIE if it is for the utilitarian good :P And I am damn serious here!
IYM:
You freaky doctor! I should paste Ayatul Kursi on the main page to keep spirits like you away :P
And a "mahram" are your blood relatives or someone who is not prohibited to you. So to a man, his wife, sisters, mother, aunts etc are his mahram. Ya'ni he can talk to them and there is no binding screening in such relationships. A non-mahram, it follows, is someone you shouldn't hangout with because he/she is prohibited on you. So, IYM, your brother is a mahram, but Rosh is a non-mahram.
AD:
I love Samurai Jack! And perhaps you are right, but thanks for bringing in the open what I tried very hard not to blurt out :P
OK, I think I got it the other way round. The advice was for IYM not Rosh and the explanation of "mahram" was for Rosh and not IYM.
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IYM:
I have a "firewall" against jinn! Don't even try :P 82 kgs!!! Uff no way! I weigh around 72 kilograms, half of that around my waist haha! I stand 5 feet 10 almost, which is a pretty OK BMI. I am targetting 70kg though.
Btw, it's OK to lie to your parents if it is for a good cause, but please do not lie to yourself. Be aware of the limitations Allah (SWT) has set for us and as long as you are doing everything by the book you should be OK in your stance.
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IYM:
I think you took me wrongly - I wasn't singling you out per se. I gave you an advice and before doing so, I forgot to mention a few things that I have myself gone wrong in. Which is why I find myself in this imbroglio that I am in today.
I never meant to be judgemental - far from it! Astaghfirullah Al-Adheem, but I have done way more haram than everybody here put together. What I said was just general reminders for myself and you and it had nothing to do with "weaknesses" in fact. Rather it was about making wrong decisions and lying to yourself that (despite contrary facts) somehow things will be OK further down the road.
I said this because sometimes parents are right in their objections, but we cloud or reasoning due to our own biases. THAT is where we start lying to ourselves, IYM. And this is what I was refering to about limitations. If your parents object at something and you know what they are saying makes sense (ask your heart of hearts, it won't lie to you) then it is better you listen to them.
I hope this clarifies my position.
Al - IYM is doing the right thing. Her decision is for the betterment of where things stand in her country. Her mom's disapproval, perhaps has more to do with the heart, yearning for her to be home.
Stay your course IYM, few will do what you've done so far.
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IYM:
By the look of things, it seems your parents want you back home with them. Their reasons can be many and you may have many reasons to stay away. I can only put the pieces together of this puzzle and still not be sure what the situation is like.
If you are 33, single, living far off alone then I can only guess with some sort of preponderant probability (hopefully) what your parents are thinking. I feel they may have a point. Perhaps you have already made your decision and there might be other extrinsic reasons why you choose to stay away and give your career first preference.
However, just to speak from your parents perspective, is your career really worth whatever your parents want for you? Or are you afraid they will force something on you that you wouldn't want for yourself if you go back to them? I dont think they can force you into anything.
Think hard about your dear parents who did so much for you and perhaps give their suggestion a chance.
Again, whatever I say is complete guesswork, shooting from the hips, in the dark all at the same time, hehe.
Best of luck!
BTW, IYM, whatever you decide, I hope you go back to your country one day. I am sure your people could use your skills.
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Hi everyone,
I profoundly enjoyed those profiler ambitions of i*maginate (that was simply ingenious! :- ) - great job for amusing the UAE blogosphere) and I just wonder how on earth could she envision you Al without a beard??? A special thanks to BuJ for saving the “male reputation” with a cool response! :- ))))
All this easy going chat revealed so much ABOUT PERCEPTIONS and cultural differences, that it was honestly an entertaining read and certainly must have added to further cross-cultural understanding. I learned entirely new vocab, such as “Wheatish” – help!!!! :-(, well for us Germans all of you (Arabs, Pakistanis, Indians) are “White” without any further discussion unless you have a black African slave background (which again would not exactly be considered “politically correct”) Maybe we could attribute a nice tan to you in comparisons with some of us Nordic Vikings!
Well I had a few smiles on my face here and there, especially when it came to reference to height (you are all really, really short from a Northern European point of view and I thought that Al would be way above 6 feet – ok Emiratis are generally short, but most Pakistanis I met (male and female) can compare in height with an average European) and for Gods sake, it really does not matter at all what “a man” looks like. Rosh made some serious points there! Anyhow, I hope that you guys/girls/ladies are aware that now we all know those intimate private details about you. Not a big deal, because I highly appreciate honesty, but am simply shocked at this remark:
The crux of this lesson is: Don't hesitate to LIE if it is for the utilitarian good :P
You cannot be damn serious about that? The truth is always the better option and besides - unless I completely misinterpreted Islam -“lying” is as much considered a sin as it is in Christianity?
We all had our differences with those that we love the most – our parents! It is completely normal I suppose and being a little older, I can surely summarize that sooner or later every crisis of this sort (with a little effort) will be solved. Dishonesty can NEVER be an option and in the end, it will always reflect on you in some way or another. This goes for trouble with parents, in a partnership or even dealing with friends! This concept is something that I never understood in your region, the tendency to “pretend”. Everyone is being dishonest to everyone else and therefore establishing some type of false illusion – like a soap bubble that will vanish into thin air. Lady IYM is breaking the norm by living abroad to advance her career and will certainly gain the respect from everyone for being so courageous. And Al, I read somewhere that acquiring knowledge and going abroad for that gets first preference? Prophetic wisdom????
On the other hand she is not honest with herself (and Umrah will not solve this one), because saying that “the most important thing (to me) is not to be judgmental to others” sounds just like a joke to me, because please IYM read your own comments! Nobody that I have seen in this entire blogosphere is as judgmental as you are over others (persons, ethnic groups, ideological groups, etc.). When our profiling girly (which certainly got sensitive and emotional correct and on top of that seems quite honest in her approach to me!) is trying to be nasty, everyone knows that it is a joke, but with you it seems to be something that for a well learned lady over 30 is a little OTT.
Al Rep, sadly I hardly ever dream (at least not those that can be remembered), but my advice for you would be to follow your heart and always be sincere and honest with what you will do (and you are, because I remember you saying that you were not a good Muslim, which makes you very sympathetic, because in reality you might be a better Muslim than all of those claiming to be) On the other hand, honesty will make you a lousy politician and after all we are all waiting for i*maginate’s dream to come true.:-) "Interview with Al Rep" - I am still laughing about this one! Hilarious!
Cheers
7S - I would suppose, you, of all people should know to never judge a book by it's cover. It's quite unfortunate you are unable to see beyond first few experiences & perceptions. To get to know most of us, you need to understand the tone & sentiments in our words, and where we are coming from - and not take it all at face value. I reckon that's not easy, given ways & tone of communication differ from our cultures.
Understanding one another is quite easy, if we step out of our own boundaries and self inflicted perceptions.
I am not defending fellow bloggers, however, if you do have a chance to meet someone like IYM, you might want to keep what I've said above, at the back of your mind.
Oh one more thing - you have a long way to go to understand the true soul of young UAE.
I mean all of the above quite respectfully, just in case you couldn't catch the drift of my tone.
Must get back to my tennis lessons now - peace people.
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i like Debbie...i like debbie...Al i bet you ve seen debbie in ur dreams..shes hot..and i can tell everybody that debbie is Al's secret admirer..she knows that Al's a good muslim and is out to explore the intricacies that enables a man to resist the fascination of human emotions (wooofff)..she knows Al dreams of eating the forbidden fruit..which he so dearly desires...Hats off to you Al..you have the ocean and u dont want to swim...but sit on the corniche or ride the abraa..i always thought that morality was lack of opportunity...but in ur case opporunity is a plenty...but morality preceeds....hurraaay..ur emotions win and u r strong...IYM and Rosh admire u..n ur advice ( speakng of which i just noticed ur advice to IYM-concerning her parents-- sweet irony Al- u know what i mean) as debbie would say...again and again..daling Daling...take two...!! ( years off )..and u wil know.
luv guru...
tu hi hai mera guru!
shhhhhhhhhh
mmhmhmhmh
Wanna meet up
?
Rosh, did you actually read my response this time? :-) After agreeing with you that a book should never be judged by its cover, I merely referred to what was actually said in this blog. I know that you certainly do not believe in racism or the defamation of someone’s character – so why do you approve of it, when others do it?
It is actually quite amusing that IYM is emphasizing exactly those points, that I was mentioning in reference to the “vast majority – certainly meaning not all!” to Emirati women. Just to point out only a few of them, without trying to say that these are applicable to all UAE females!!!: “strong tendency for an emotional reaction to any form criticism”, “an extreme form of self-promotion” (that is a real classic!), “argumentation, in the absence of any cognitive skills“ (a little reading would honestly help, before making some embarrassing statements about another ethnic group), “the usual strong anti-Western sentiments”, “a general disrespect for knowledge” (a member of the if you don’t like it leave brigade – damn she forgot to mention this accomplishment!) and “a tendency for insidiousness”. Moreover, we can add a predisposition for segregation, by calling anyone that has an opposing view an intruder! These are just a few Rosh and if I were you, I would not be blinded by a bunch of sweet talking compliments. However I could not currently apply any of these to i*maginate and certainly these do not apply to the “vast majority” of Emirati males.
In fact, I would rather get a straightforward bashing from EMIRATI over my head, than to deal with an attention seeking female!
IYM, there is no need to provoke you, because anything that would come from “my type of mentality” would actually provoke someone like you and I am fully aware of this fact. If I would make an attempt to analyze you on this blog (including to disguise you anonymity, because you are not clever enough to hide those traces that you leave behind), this would be seriously embarrassing for you and I would never do something of this sort. Just like Al- Rep I respect all women!!!, and especially since your are an Arab lady, I would in respect to your cultural norms never cross that red line. I already mentioned the positive points about you several times and if you keep on trying to respond with rude comments – you are extremely welcome. I will not intrude your blog – you have my promise – but maybe you should leave a note for everyone else: “Don’t comment, if you do not agree with me and find my character irresistible. “ Maybe taking a little advice, would get you even further with your ambitions, but sadly you seem to react badly to some straightforward honesty.
What I find even more appalling is the fact that you have now lowered yourself to a somewhat “Jihadists” (damn, we are not meant to use that word for political correctness) type of approach. Ouch – and you are asking people “if they have any self respect?” (also a classic statement, don’t I just love it!)
By labeling me as a “Fattan”, you are not only trying to imply that I am an intruder (in a public blog, in comparison to a closed blog!), but condemning my current work as divisive and harmful. Now that one is going round to my colleagues as a joke and Rosh you really approve of this behavior?
I maybe referring to “Al Rep” as my “favorite fundamentalist” but I am sure that he is fully aware that this title is meant as a joke. My analysis of him is extremely positive, even thou I do not agree with everything he says (but that is what a debate is meant for)
And somehow I have a clear picture of “his personal princess” in front of my eyes as well and certainly she will be among other characteristics one thing – “modest”!!!!!!! (Am I completly wrong Al Rep? :- ) )
Debbie,
you "Shaitana" are trying to get "between them" - be careful :- ))))
LOL :-)
Debbie and luv guru - nice try! I know who you two are! :P
And what's with all the deleted comments on this post? Yahan itnay senti log kyon hotay hain? :P Barray phadday shadday horahay hain!
OK let's please just calm down. I did read your earlier posts.
Understanding one another is quite easy, if we step out of our own boundaries and self inflicted perceptions, but we got to give mutual conversation a chance. When you stepped into Emirati's blog and said - ""Surprising is the fact that Emirati says that we are talking about a minority of pampered Emirati women???, because to me the vast majority is socialized in this fashion and will never add to the human capital of society." - you came across quite offensive, especially for someone with higher standards.
Re: IYM - I wouldn't think she'd say anything to intentionally offend. I think she extends as much respect, as those extended to her. It's unfortunate, you think so horribly of her (atleast that's what is coming across from the "tone" and verbiage of the posts?). Infact, she is one person who is exactly the opposite of stereotypes you've got for Emiratis. I say so, simply because I know so from multiple debates with her. As a scholar/scientist , it's a shame, because you'd really have had an opportunity to know the exception.
Respectfully - you need to understand, the UAE and the tiny population is being exposed to so much attention. Almost everyone has something to say, and different people take tones differently i.e. ways & tone of communication differ from our cultures. What you intended is not what may have come across.
These are nice folks, they are not bad as you make them out to be. I hope you realize that.
Let's just close this unrelated debate, I don't think anyone wants to take this further.
Al - sorry for being totally off topic.
Let's start with Luv Guru:
Mani, opportunities aplenty?? Or as you say, "you have the ocean and u dont want to swim"... it's more like I dont KNOW how to swim haha :)
But, yes, I did note the irony in my advice to IYM. Allah knows best, Mani, but I think my parents will come around in sha Allah. It's all about being patient I think.
Sevensummits:
First of all, you have to tell me if you are male or female? I have been assuming you to be a woman all this while?
As for the lying bit, I agree with you; honest is the best policy as they say. However, in some cases one has to lie to parents. For example, in our part of the World, parents don't grasp the concept of having met someone online first. So it's better to just fake or omit this little detail. To our parents' generation, online is all about "fittan" hehe :) I hope we can agree on this much?
You probably thought I was way over 6 feet because you think of bin laden when you read my posts haha! :)
Rosh:
I don't mind you guys going off topic here. This section is entirely for my readers and I will censor comments that are:
1- Abusive or derogatory in nature to Rasulullah (SAW) or Islam (although, if someone wants to disprove something about Islam observing full civility, they are more than welcome).
2- Ad hominem attacks on each other that might hurt someone elses feeling.
Other than this, I am pretty tolerant with my moderation. Whoever deleted their comments, I dont think you should have. In any case, I guess it was their call if they wanted to keep their comments on or not. Where the heck is i*maginate? Now if she were around, this fight would really become no-holds barred! Reminds me of my WWF days hehe.
Espoir:
YOU are talking about others being SENTI!?! :P
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BTW, I have NO IDEA what the heck is going on here.
I just got back home and saw all of this and it makes no sense to me as to how all of this started?
Al Rep,
it does make sense to you because your mind has drifted away to Luv Gurus post. Ha, Ha :P
Me thinking of our cave dweller when reading your posts???? Didn’t even know that he is over six feet, anyhow would love to chat with him and hear his version – seriously! Finally a real eye to eye confrontation – now that would be a delightful change!
Rosh, I really have this urge to argue, but ok …. Agreed, maybe I came along a bit like a rough Viking and my cold, pragmatic approach was misunderstood: (damn and I already made an effort to be nice, that always happens to me – grrrr!)
My apologies and peace!
Anyhow logic tells me, better to sign a peace treaty before i*maginate comes in, ‘ cause I missed my WWF days.
Maybe we should all group up and establish a profile of the “perfect princess” for Al [making sure that we do not loose him as a blogger] - now that could be entertaining! …. but we would need i*maginate for that.
Anyhow I agree with Al about this Internet issue {maybe I missed something there that everyone else knows?] and that his parent’s generation would not understand – that is not really dishonest. On the other hand maybe mum can be introduced to this indirectly somehow – hmmmm I think I have the best PPP for that one: I will send it to both of you – one for Al’s mum and one for IYM via Rosh.
Cheers
PS: I am getting all these from the Arab world, since no normal German would ever have something like this on their PC
So finally Al agrees that he does dream about Debbie..but he does not know how to swim..have no fear luv guru is here...( who the hell is mani btw)..espoir u have no idea who i am (atleast)...Rosh...IYM..please dont get too sentimental..we appreciate ur feelings and i am sure sevensummits...does not want to hurt anyone..actually sevensummits..what u did here..is Luv Guru's FORMULA NUMBER 34: "Be popular with women..through a negative attitude..".too bad rosh and IYM fell for it...( women always do ) and now u can be best friends..IYM will invite u to her 'restricted access---blog' n u will be special :( ...Debbie---where art thou..ma lady!!!Al has confessed he wants to swim but doesnt know how...can u teach him..meri CHAMAK CHALOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Hmmmmmm, no need to worry – we can apply one of those cruel SevenSummits methods. Take him out on a speed boat, find a somewhat deeper spot, throw him into the water and give him the option to either swim or drown. :- ) Always worked in the past! [Don’t worry AL, I am a certified US Red Cross Lifeguard and will make sure that the girls won’t be drowning in tears after this field experiment]
Luv Guru's FORMULA NUMBER 34??? :- )))))) Yeeeaah, generally it works, doesn’t it! [Please elaborate on LGF 1-33] Damn, I was absolutely sure, until I encountered the smooth infiltration of GCC dudes. They absolutely proofed my hypothesis wrong, with all those sweet talking methods, which seem to work even better. (don’t know about sustainability thou) But in the end, it is always about the same objective anyhow! Accept for Rosh, being our boy scout here and pleading innocence, while earning lots of brownie points :- ) from the female opposition [What exactly were those phone numbers for again?] Mmmmh, maybe I should declare myself neutral as a new strategy?
Yeah, Debbie, come back please and cheer up this blog :-)
OK, first and final call:
No more wise cracks or talking about others. Sevensummits, I think whatever the problem it is between you and IYM, let's not make this a place for taking out all the frustration. I have no idea what is going on and frankly I dont even want to know.
You guys are allowed to bash only Al-Republican on his blog :P No need to go at each other.
Luv guru, yaar mazaaq na kar yeh log kaafi serious hain :P
You are lagging behind in the chain of events, Al Rep :P :-)
I already apologized and we will bash you in the future – BTW, you never answered IBNs question (what the secret behind this name choice?) :-)
Check your emails!
Edit:
Check your emails, please! :-)
Sevensummits:
I checked my email. Thanks for the PPT slides. So I guess you are a male. I have been thinking otherwise all this time!
Al-Republican is a reflection of who the real terrorists are. We hear "Al-Quaida" so much that people have started losing focus of the other end of the extremist spectrum. "Al-Republican" is supposed to label the dirty, evangelical, neo-con bigots of the US (and even the West).
In my view THEY are the real terrorists.
Thanks, Al Rep! :-) - very interesting analogy. Your linguistic skills are simply amazing, wish I could borrow a few of those :- ( I am glad that Ibn didn’t figure it out either, because my purely mathematical brain just could not find a logical explanation for it. In all pragmatism I deducted when I first saw it that you are a GCC national – (hence the symbolic AL-) that happens to be a fan of economical priorities (Republican) – ok, it take me that long to figure that this was wrong, but therafter the pen name was a big unsolved mystery.
Ahh, I can see that you wouldn’t have voted for G.W., so how about a cross breed between Obama and Giuliani? Ha, Ha, - be careful what you ask for – you might just can a “woman on top”. (may God help us!) :P
I respect your point of view, but please always remember that it is really the West (not only the US) you can point a finger at. Germany is just as guilty as our big brother across the Atlantic, we only did a better job at being dishonest! (while making lots of cash out of the misery – it simply sucks!)
You seem to be really worried about my profle – hmmmmm – hey, work on yours first, dude! :P – Saying “Male” and that is it??? – no more information???? Making the rest of us pick up the pieces from your posts to put the final puzzle together? Grrrr …. Does make it interesting thou. Will lift the “classified info” about me sooner or later and will even put a “scare the hell out of everyone” photo, got nothing to hide, no dead bodies in my cellar or “do not cross the line” issues.
Cheers :- )))))
Obviously my multi-tasking skills are not good either – sorry for lots of spelling mistakes and the absence of any grammar. Was typing this, while having a tax discussion with a colleague :- (
hahaha. Sevensummits, I am OK with giving out my picture, but I don't do so simply because I find it "cheap". It's like I would be hoping against hope that some girl would look at me and like me and then I could start an online affair :P
Bottom line, I don't trust my hormones!
Mmmmh, I wouldn't trust in those either, because they will let you down!!!!! :- )
I actually thought it was cheap as well and in the past I got infuriated with everyone that dared to put an image of me on the web (plus used some of my – upps illegal? – skills to remove them again), but ….
I was recently told, that I am “old fashioned” and “totally backward” and that it is today’s norm to put your smirk next to your presentation / symposium / “official” blog, etc. to induce a friendly, familiar atmosphere????? OK, [insert Nick’s special vocab]here!
First, I thought about simply putting a "baby picture" just for the heck of it), but after all that would be a nudist approach and certainly would not coincide with “moral values”. So forget it and better think of something else ….
On the other hand, check out for instance b.d.s profile – it is sort of nice to see who you are communicating with and in all honesty aren’t we all mature enough not to search for someone’s pic on the web and start stalking?
Moreover, in my humble “Al Rep profile”, you would not necessarily go for a girl that is following that type of behavior pattern. After all, you would be clever enough to know that she would be searching for other guys as well – no’ be so?
7S what is there to know about me? I am male - that's about the most exciting thing about me hehe :P
What else can I tell you? 29 years old? I believe you would know my BMI and height too from some comments here and there.
Ha, ha, ha ... yes, did notice the BMI calculation and a few other details from your comments here and there. :- ))) For folks like you – thinking that your gender is the most important characteristic about you - E-Blogger has designed a user friendly profile to be filled out :- ))))) (just joking with you – no offence at all!)
Actually, what baffles me, is those “hoping against hope” hints that are being spread here in abundance. What is all this about????? [Ok, remember I am seeing this from a European point of view!] First of all, as a result of my work (told you before in SDs blog) I had the opportunity to adopt a special sense for someone’s character and that has basically kept me alive so far. (and God’s protection of course!) When you have a tendency to crawl around in hostile areas, it is better not make the wrong judgment :- ( - after all it could be a fatal mistake or even worse – endanger those with you. (not saying that I never made a mistake in my life and have not misjudged someone to be my friend, that turned out to be something else in the end – sh** happens!) Ok, when it comes to you (apart from being quite emotional :- )), I must say that you certainly managed to impress me. (and that is not easy to achieve) BTW, I did read your comments on Wahabism and would kindly request for that special paper as well. :- ) Mmmm, I just wish both Ibn and you would have been at an international symposium on Islam, I organized last year – this would have really contributed to the discussion. (Which was precarious as it was, because we had a “worse than Nick” attitude in the crowd, in form of a Swedish or Danish professor :-( - can’t remember, but almost lost my temper!)
So how will you try to REASON WITH SOME LOGIC that you have the ability to impress a German scientist across a few miles, but not a simple girl?????? And what is this about the looks? You are way too old to join the Mr. Pakistan contest, so there is some paradox in this one as well – from separate points of view:
Religious (from my “Fattan” liberal interpretation :- ) )
This “modest” princess that you are waiting for, will hopefully be selected according to her morality/character or maybe in your interpretation according to her beliefs and convictions on the Quranic laws. (Al-Bukhari, 62:27) [You already know that I will not agree with you on this, because the appropriate morality and character can be found in non Muslims as well] And since my liberal interpretation sees equal rights in all this – grr- don’t dare to argue! - she will choose you for the same reasons and not for your looks. That would be a direct contradiction to being “good and pure”! Here is a German reminder as a revenge for the above Urdu usage:
"Schlechte Frauen sind für schlechte Männer, und schlechte Männer sind für schlechte Frauen! Und gute Frauen sind für gute Männer, und gute Männer sind für gute Frauen! Diese sind frei von dem, was sie ihnen nachsagen. Vergebung und eine ehrenhafte Versorgung (für sie)!" (Quran, 24:26)
Conclusion: So it would be totally irrelevant in this case, what you look like!
Pragmatic 7S interpretation:
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” – so how can you even attempt to judge yourself?
We all have our different perceptions of who or what is meant to be beautiful and thank God for that!
[Remember that I have seen some really odd things with my own eyes and they “felt beautiful” :- ) )
How do you know if for instance IBN, Joy or me will not find your face attractive???? You would not, because maybe our perception is completely different. Many times I heard in the UAE that a certain leader is handsome ??????????? ……… ???????? Maybe I didn’t look at the correct one (they have so many, which confuses the h’’’’ out of the normal Westerner), but couldn’t detect any especially handsome contemporary male anywhere. Now Evander Holyfield – yeah – pure male! And more interesting the debate about chicas! MMMhhh – opinions will differ just so much in this field. – take for instance Claudia Schiffer (trash for me – don’t like her face), Gisele Bündchen (beautiful body, but also do not like her face that much), Julia Stegner (yes please), Heidi Klum (super yummy) – yeah, I am being patriotic – ahh, my all time personal favorite Sharon Stone!!! However I have also seen really beautiful women in Africa and of course most of those R&B girls are really, really cute!
I will go and dream now …. :- ) – good night!
sevensummits:
According to the comments on the "Tragic Romances" post, it seems as though al-republican has already found his "modest" princess and I am absolutely sure she loves him for who he is and not what he looks like :)
Al-,
I left a comment on Roshy's blog if you wanna have a look since I really don't have time to repeat myself twice.
Thanks for being a tolerant host.
IYM
wow so many posts?
Espoir,
Sorry, speed reading deficiencies :-) How did I miss that? Was looking for striking key words like “cannibalism”, etc. :O !
Since we already know about a “cyber romance” + from across the Atlantic + mum does not approve of = maybe it is even you???? Ha, ha, now prove “not guilty”, please! LOL :- )
Did really enjoy your “Category of Hijab” jpeg, great! However, as a Westerner I am always a bit scared that any humor in regards to Islam might and up in the burning of a German flag. (And we need that one tonight! Ole, Ole, Ole)
Cheers from Germany ….. :-)
Damn, and my approach to English spelling and grammar is quite liberal today .... make that "proof your innocence" and a few other misadventures :(
Al republican, talking about WWF, my prize will be a night thrashing Hulk Hogan for reading through these 55 comments! But you can revoke that prize because I'm so late! Too much time splurging on Golden Fork!
OK: my new policy: comment on the post before joining the "debate":
Al-republican, interesting post. I enjoyed reading your thoughts, they were moving, and I'm "sorry" (if I can say so) to hear of the difficulties you're facing. What I would like to say on your post is that everyone has their own interpretation of what dreams are. I do believe they have a meaning: something only an individual can understand in his own head. Seems like an interesting dream, though. Not going to say anymore, that's your business! I just hope everything ends up well with your parents. How about you tell your mum about this dream? Do you think it will strike a soft spot in her heart because it involved your grandfather (her father?).
Now hey hey, we got sevensummits on board. And here I go, a direct comment to sevensummits in response:
Or...is it the nature of the universe to type out a lengthy correspondence to satisfy the satisfaction of correspondence between the two characterisations of the universal blogosphere? :)
sevensummits:
a)If you find the posts on my "uncensored" blog offensive, I will remove them, and I apologise if you're offended; the intention was fun, and I never expressedly used your nickname: I trust you'd take them in humour
b)I love Germany more than you can imagine. There are certain stereotypes about "Germans being boring". I believe this to be very inaccurate, from experience. The way you write only reinforces that unfortunate stereotype. You have to appreciate you're the only "German" contributor to the UAE Comm blog, and several other UAE blogs, and undoubtedly, since you always mention your nationality, it's going to make an impression. Firstly, your words/comments are very long, and 2ndly, I believe your English to be good enough to speak like an Englishman rather than a (Very advanced) foreign language student (you yourself have admitted your shortcomings in the language). In all your professional experience, I would have expected your English to be completely fluent by now, not Germanic-English, habitually using long words in English, when in real English, long words are seldom used. This is said as an encouragement, and out of interest that this stereotype of the "boringness" of Germans being outcast. I hope you take that as a tip. Another tip: saying "cheers" at the end of the post dimishes any importance the content might have, when you make some interesting points. Speaking from linguistical experience, "do as the Romans do" especially in their own tongue, and it will be more effective. Listen, I don't like giving lectures, please take these as "linguistic" tips. I'm also biased in terms of Germans speaking English like Englishmen rather than Germanic English!
Further to the above point, please feel free to add me on msn chat (if you have it) and I would be honoured to "chat" with you with a view to talking in "proper English" - I mean it from the heart - it's the least I can do for someone from a country I love - if you feel like taking me up on the offer. I will keep all conversations private!
c)Yes, you "can't judge a book by the cover" but you can interpret words well (or so I think). My interpretation is that you have been surveying blogworld for a while, as you said, and decided to jump in. Your comments are all over the place, and *such long* comments that it makes anyone wonder what your objective is. Additionally, by reading your comments, you clearly do not side with the UAE: you've said so yourself.
Now can you understand why so many might resent your opinions, and the way you state them?
P.S. I really like the way you've worded your comments in this thread, they make easy reading, are not as biased as usual, and show you have a sense of humour.
"Claudia Schiffer (trash for me – don’t like her face), Gisele Bündchen (beautiful body, but also do not like her face that much), Julia Stegner (yes please), Heidi Klum (super yummy) – yeah, I am being patriotic"
And no Steffi Graf - gasp, shock & horror!
hail Steffi
signed,
huge, non obsessive fan
:)
Ole, Ole, Oleeeeeeeee – we won!!!!!
[Talking about soccer – just in case anyone was wondering!]
2:1 in Wembley in front of app. 86000 fans against England – yeeeeeeeah!
Currently I love everyone! :-)
Rosh, you tennis fanatic! :- )))
Steffi? After a serious nose job … – hmmmmm no! (but her character is great and her smile sweet!!), Jennifer Aniston (don’t like her long face either), but Elle McPherson is really sexy! Not that Claudia does not have a beautiful face (and body), but she is just missing that special something – plain simple “boring” (most likely complete absence of IQ), just like Nicole Kidman – beautiful, no doubt, but just so plastic! But take Halle Berry for instance, that smile just kills you, doesn’t it?
i*maginate, thanks and LOL :-)
SV (short version) answers:
(1) damn, did I miss something? Have to confess, I didn’t read your uncensored “blog”! A serious bashing against me? And all that after writing a lengthy petition in regards to your previous ban – I am deeply hurt! The link pls for my amusement! :-)
(2) Ha, careful – I am not the only German lurking around this blogosphere – Joy, for instance is from Cologne!
(3) Germans can be dead boring – really! It is not a stereotype, but sadly quiet true – however we are slowly improving. (so there is hope yet!)
However, what can be even more boring are scientists!!! The way we write and communicate can make every “normal minded person” fall asleep, that is why unfortunately nobody is ever listening to us – snoooore!
(4) My lengthy comments had a strategic purpose – top secret (just trust me that there is some logic behind the procedure and I honestly did not expect a lot of fellow bloggers to actually read them.
(5) “Cheers from Germany” was only there to make sure that nobody would bash a “If you don’t like it - leave” at me and I am truly amazed that those close minded fools actually got the msg.
(6) I already made a serious effort (really!) to get away from a scientific jargon (long words and sentences), but obviously did not do that well – working on it! I could use a military slang instead, but than you guys would have no clue what the heck I am blathering about. Belay that thought to treat you like EPWs, better get another joe and adopt to the real world, before you will attempt to take a SWAG at this. Hint: If you meet someone with even less linguistic skills than me that only talks in abbreviations or will ask for a POC (Point Of Contact) instead of a date – be careful, you may have encountered a S-FUS and made friends with a YMRASU (app. female usage: soldier)! :- ) The good point about this would be, if you receive an SMS from this dude, you don’t need to even bother trying to figure out its meaning – no chance on this earth!
(7) You got me wrong completely wrong in regards to the UAE :- ), but this is a very difficult topic. Just a quote that I already send to ROSH:
“It is one of the severest tests of friendship to tell your friend his faults. So to love a man that you cannot bear to see a stain upon him, and to speak painful truth through loving words, that is friendship.” (Ok, maybe I substituted the loving words, with scientific jargon, but still ….)
I have nothing against UAE citizens or its government and I am not some type of activist (not a member of AI, HRW, Greenpeace or similar institutions) - would tie myself to a tree thou, if you came with a chainsaw – grrr - absolutely not, only a pure, neutral and independent scientist with no hidden agenda. Boring, isn’t it!
(8) This lengthy response is all your fault …. :- )
Finally your profiling attempt was correct: My verbal communication skills in English are good enough to make it highly unlikely that anyone will detect that I am German. :- ) However, I get to hear that I must be Dutch or Swedish quite a lot, ‘cause of my physical appearance. Sense of humor – most definitely – after all I grew of in the only country fighting with Pakistan for the first place in being the “most corrupt place” on earth – any guesses? Hell, we ARE the most corrupt place!!! (Pakistan should take some lessons!), but with the greatest sense of humor and the happiest people. [confuses the h*** out of Germans]
Yez 7S, am a tennis fanatic and tennis with Steffi on a tennis court is the ultimate fantasy!
I am working on having Andre "removed" from the picture, the kids can stay.
signed,
not an obsessive fan
rosh
:)
Gosh darn it! Those Andy’s can be mighty “troublesome”. :- ) How to get rid of them?
But once, that dude is out of the pic, all you want to do is play tennis with her? Hey Rosh, I hate to break it to you, but your boy scout rep is crumbling! :P
i*maginate,
I actually found it!
Ha, ha,, ha, ha, ha – ROFL – ten min later - still ROFL :- )
Oh dear, you dedicated so much time and effort to me – that is so sweet and since you could be my daughter, I will simply take it as a compliment! Thanks, I wish my post docs would do that instead …. got to find a way to kick them in the b*** or send them to you for instructions.
Disturbing only the response of one fellow blogger, that in the absence of any knowledge about TOR or JAP seems to be so OBSESSED with me that his logical deduction was that out of roughly 100 Mio potential German speaking (Germany plus a few neighboring countries) ISP users, it must have been me that spend – what was it - 13 m on his website (wow - also counting the secs as well) Girls careful, this guy obviously has an imagination next to zero and never heard of hotels or overseas travel before. :- ( Reminds me that I will have to put my FULL ADRESS and UAE MOB number on my profile, so that such cowards will take it up with me directly and not use a “young lady” (alias girlie :P) as an indirect mediator. Can be added just to the death threat I received from a fellow blogger – yeah, it made my day! Still ROFL
I have actually been to his blog and spend quite a considerable period of time there, because I found out that he likes Kuwait as much as I do and was interested in his opinion. (the rest was not relevant for me)
Got there from Mahmood’s Den (one of my absolute favorites) maybe?, or from a Kuwaiti blog, don’t really remember, but was actually in Kuwait at the time. So if he is so interested in this “Fattan German”, he should just give the Le Méridien, Kuwait a call and ask for that misbehaving blond German scientist for KISR – I believe; I made a lasting negative impression. :- ))))
OK cool sevensummits, thanks for the response. I thought you might like the "bullet point" list - it makes communication easier, doesn't it? :P
I still think it's a stereotype that Germans are boring. Perhaps they're not known for spontaneity but I prefer "order" over spontaneity! It's a good trait!
Ref to your comment above, are those your words in Italic? What is it, a response to Moryarti? I don't get it.
As for the person going on his website for ages, I've experienced the same thing, but I can conclude 99.9% it wasn't you. Interestingly, this "German visitor" hit my blog nearly as many times as UAE visitors do. Very worrying indeed, but I hope they've disappeared for good now.
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