This is our first ever date harvest in our new home! I noticed the mynah birds going at the ripe dates early this morning and thought if I want to taste any, I’ve got to harvest them!
The dates are sweet, although I don’t have recipes to help dispose of the 5 full clumps I cut, I can assure you that I’ll be distributing them to friends and family in the coming few days.
We’ve got 3 more palms heavy with dates which are not ripe enough to harvest yet, but those fruits will go to good homes and stomachs soon enough.
Comments
First Harvest
do you accept fedex requests to america?
i want dates (no pun intended)
nomadicarab
Re: First Harvest
hey that’s a business idea! unfortunately all courier companies now seem to have a rule not to ship foodstuffs to North America. Otherwise, it would be my pleasure.
First Harvest
Mynah birds Mahmood? Why how marvellous. They are brilliant mimics.
You could teach them some good old fashioned English profanities. Train them to shout “You ugly bugger” at passers by, and see what happens…..
Meggie
Re: First Harvest
Small world. I dont know how they ended up here in Hawai’i but there are mynah birds and mongoose all over the place even a few date palms although the ones Ive seen didnt seem nearly as prolific.
billT
Re(1): First Harvest
That’s odd. I wonder if North American governments are afraid of insect pests. However, processed and sealed food should be able to be shipped anywhere.
Aliandra
Re(1): First Harvest
Bill,
Aren’t 80% of the plant species there non-native? I thought that’s what I heard when I was over there. What island are you on?
Aliandra
First Harvest
or even better… u can brew then for some home-made bubbly… ok.. just a silly idea.. forget about it.. i cant believe that i have uttered such obscenties tonight. forgive me god for i have blogged.. ok.. now what’s been said cannot be unsaid..
Re(2): First Harvest
Aliandra Probably more like 90%, know there are like only 7 native animals. I wonder how many of the plants in Bahrain are non native. I live at the southern tip of the big island of Hawai’i. Nothing but water south of me.
billT
First Harvest
S’pose you can’t send Mynah birds to England either can you?
Sheesh.
So much to teach, so little time….
Oh wait…
Are you allowed to send them to Australia?
I hear they specialize in “Go stick yer head up a dead dingo’s bum…” I reckon a clever little Mynah bird could cope with that.
Dates, however, have never been known to utter a solitary word….
Meggie
Re: First Harvest
be careful what you wish for… fuckin’ ramadhan, the month where the whole of the muslim world discharges its collective brain and turn into unproductive bats is very much around the corner… a month and a half away? it was only yesterday we got rid of yet, but like a bad penny it comes around far too quickly.
Re(1): First Harvest
excuse me?
Re(1): First Harvest
[quote]be careful what you wish for… f****’ ramadhan, the month where the whole of the muslim world discharges its collective brain and turn into unproductive bats is very much around the corner… a month and a half away? it was only yesterday we got rid of yet, but like a bad penny it comes around far too quickly.[/quote]
Seems like the Islamists dont have a strangle hold on brain farts after all.
First Harvest
a witty comment from malik!!!!
i am impressed. and inspired.
Re: First Harvest
Well JJ after all Malik does know a thing or two about brain farts. He seems to have several a day on this blog alone.
Re(1): First Harvest
[quote]Well JJ after all Malik does know a thing or two about brain farts. He seems to have several a day on this blog alone.[/quote]
Pot, meet kettle.
Re(1): First Harvest
A dying palm is one of the most painful scenes ever. We have many contrasting images in Bahrain, some are killing our green places and others are growing them. My father owns a piece of land in Shakhora, it was a barren and rocky plot, after moving from our old house he decided to start growing few trees and palms in it for which he cannot accomodate his love of gardening in our new house. And after some time he fenced it and planted more plants. Now, after seven years, the place is a small green heaven.
On the way to that land there was a lush green palm grove, the view of the palms with the vivid green alpha alpha below them was a source of joy to my eyes and soul. Three years ago I was in a short visit to Bahrain and my father asked me to visit his garden. On the way I passed by what used to be that rich palm grove and I was horrified for what I have seen. No palms, no alpha alpha, just a barren piece of land and a cardboard sign stuck cheaply on a short stick with the owner’s phone number!!
This is happening all over Bahrain, after all most of our urban growth is taking place either on those green areas or on the intertidal zones which we are reclaiming so fast as if there is no tomorrow.
Fuad
Re(1): First Harvest
The article of Riverbend is so nice, thank you Mahmood
Fuad
First Harvest
Avian Profanity Update
(You couldn’t make this up….)
“A foul-mouthed parrot previously owned by a lorry driver has been banished from public areas in a British animal sanctuary after repeatedly embarrassing his keepers, they said.
Barney, a five-year-old Macaw, is now kept indoors at Warwickshire Animal Sanctuary in Nuneaton, central England, when outsiders visit after abusing dignitaries with swearword-littered insults.
“He’s told a lady mayoress to f..(expletive) off and he told a lady vicar: ‘And you can f… off as well’,” sanctuary worker Stacey Clark said.
Nor did the forces of law and order escape, she added.
“Two policemen came to have a look at the centre. He told them: ‘And you can f… off you two wankers’.”
Clark said sanctuary workers believed Barney either picked up the phrases from television or was taught them by his previous owner, a lorry driver who emigrated to Spain.”
Meggie
Re: First Harvest
The power of the internet! Thanks very much Louisa, some of these recipes look very very tasty.
Re: First Harvest
They’re also noisy buggers naturally! We have a pair nesting in the eaves I think, though not too sure, but every morning they start their screaming from around 4am and go through with that till evening. I don’t mind them really, they add to the beauty of the setting.
I have a mind of building an aviary in the garden. But I am almost convinced that I would be thrown out of the house if I did!
Re(1): Ramadhan thoughts
It’s blunt, but it’s absolutely true.
Re: First Harvest
I recall a news story some years ago about an escaped parakeet. Someone else found the bird and took it in. The bird chirped out its owner’s name and phone number and was able to be returned.
That’s like teaching your kids in case they get lost!
Aliandra
First Harvest
Mahmood, you have dates. This guy has blueberries. Two different countries, but so much in common.
http://www.kudzustudios.com/blogs/blog36.wmv
Laura
Re(2): Ramadhan thoughts
[quote]It’s blunt, but it’s absolutely true.[/quote]
What are you trying to say exactly? Do you dislike Ramadan or just the way it is handled in some places? If it is the later, I will agree 100%! I think it is a joke that people sleep the whole day just to waken right before evening prayers, do their wudu, pray, and then feast until dawn only to sleep the day away again. They are missing the entire point of Ramadan. I had to shake my head last year when I realised how many Muslim females there are in the office when I saw dozens of Hijabs suddenly appear on the first day of Ramadan, as if your duties as a Muslim only begin and end during this one month? Why the hypocrisy? Either you feel you need to wear the Hijab or you don’t, by wearing it only during this month who are you fooling? If you don’t wear it normally, that is fine, but don’t put it on during Ramadan either.
It is sad that people stop or slow down their work during this month. It is a month given to us as a mercy, not as an excuse to slack off. When one wears the “face of the fasting” during this month they have already received their reward in this dunya, and will get nothing else. Those who fast and keep their lives as normal, working and living as normal, not with downtrodden faces as some like to do, but with cheer on their faces, those are the people who are doing it right, these are the winners.
Then we have the rich in the Gulf states who like to spend Ramadan in Europe to avoid the ban on eating of food during the day, or the drinking of liquor. More hypocrisy from those who love to shower us with the pious words “Insha’Allah, Alhamdulillah.” Its Ramadan? Time to head to the beaches of France to eat drink and be merry.
Ramadan is a time to reflect on what God has given you, to make you realise that no matter how much you have there are others that have less. It is supposed to be a time of deprivation, of suffering, of understanding. Those that sleep all day, resting off their large and sumptuous meals miss the meaning entirely.
Don’t hate the holiday because of the way that some people celebrate it. Don’t attack the holiday, take issue with the way people celebrate and honour the holiday. Judaism and Christianity all have holidays that call for fasting, to some extent or another. From an Ethiopian lady whom I work with I learned that the Eastern Orthodox there fast Lent in a way that would put even the most extremist Muslim to shame.
Instead of calling Ramadan a “bad penny” why not deal with the people who have distorted its message, who have destroyed its meaning? Ramadan is a blessing from God, no less, and to denigrate the holiday based on the actions of people is nonsense. Ramadan is about bringing us face to face with what is really important in life. Understanding and helping the suffering of others. Charity to the poor and needy and remembrance of God, that is what Ramadan is all about. Those who feast and sleep away the month need to remember that it is said that no one is truly a believer when their stomachs are full and their neighbors are empty. Here at our mosque, instead of sleeping the day away and eating all night, we break the fast with a small meal and head to a local church in DC to work together with Christians and Jews to feed to the homeless for the whole month. That is the spirit of Ramadan, not filling yourself so full that you couldnt get out of bed after sunrise if you wanted to.
Lets not slam Ramadan, lets get back to its true meaning. The same could be said of Christmas as well. It was never meant to be a time of gifts and living large, it was meant to be a time to remember God. The denigration of Ramadan and Christmas is a sad thing to watch. It has gone from being a community affair remembering others and God into materialistic excuses to spend money, eat, and become lazy.
Re(3): Ramadhan thoughts
The above is mine. Sorry.
First Harvest
Looks good Mahmood!
Did you bring them down old style (having a guy run up the tree) or did you find some high-faluting contraption at Manazel?
Come to think of it, you’re looking a bit trimmer and tanner than in the picture of your tuna concoction, so I’m almost tempted to imagine YOU hoisting yourself up that palm tree!
Re: First Harvest
Nah, I came back from the gym, put the ladder against the tree and went up with garden sheers and did the job… that was in late afternoon and the person who took the picture (the stupid maid) thought that the harder she pressed the shutter the better the picture, hence the jitter and shake which had to be photoshopped a bit to get it a bit clearer (contrast, brightness, unsharp mask are the combintations which can save almost any picture!)
Trimmer? A little, just 1/2kg less between the two pictures. I’m glad to say however that’s gone down another 1/2-inch since the last time I weighed in! me happy 🙂
Re(3): Ramadhan thoughts
Whoa there tiger!
The latter… and some of the former.
I don’t see the point of changing the way of life for a whole month which invariably changes people’s behavior, but not their habits. They just switch night into day and vice versa to accommodate their “normal” way of life, unfortunately however the whole world doesn’t subscribe to their idea and we get to be fully isolated for a whole month of the year, and a further 10 days “detox” after that.
Malik, I DON’T want to go into the Ramadhan (how good it is and it’s a gift from Allah) bit just now. PLEASE. Let’s leave these topics until Ramadhan actually comes around because I can tell you for free that we will have PLENTY of free time on our hands.
And when we come to that, I would rather you or anyone else for that matter, NOT enter into “preach mode”. As you have done in your response to the comment above.
Shall we get back to palms, dates and harvests for now?
First Harvest
Mahmood / anyone
I am surrounded by palm trees – there’s one with huge bunches of red dates – how do i know when they are ready and what do I then do with them?? Any recipes for date wine??
First Harvest
Sorry – last post was me
The Johnster
Re(4): Ramadhan thoughts
[quote]And when we come to that, I would rather you or anyone else for that matter, NOT enter into “preach mode”. As you have done in your response to the comment above.[/quote]
That is all nice and fine Mahmood. But I wonder, why did you not address these comments to the person making negative and pretty insulting comments that are bound to offend many people, moderate or not? It would seem that at least one poster afterwards had issue with this person’s post, so it isnt just me. It would seem that anti-Islamic comments seem to get a level of respect and acceptance that pro-Islamic statements do not.
How about a bit of a level playing field? Unlike the previous poster I did not curse, I did not seek to offend anyone, yet you level your comments at me. I am not trying to instigate an argument here, simply pointing out the facts the way I see it.
If I had made a similiar statement(taking the opposite side of course) I would have been told that I was “in danger of having posts removed”, that this “isnt the time” or to “take it elsewhere”. I just think you too often let people flame Islam and Muslims and crack down on those who either defend Islam or offer similiar view points but in the opposite direction. It doesnt do much to promote a diverse opinion here.
Time and time again I have seen people who post pro-Muslim or anti-American statements here get flammed, attacked, cursed and insulted and they never post again. Is that what you really want for your forum? I have no issue with that if you applied the same standards in both directions, but you do not. You have a different set of standards depending on who you are dealing with.
You have prided yourself in the past saying “those type of people want to stay way away from my website” yet if that is true, then you are not really giving a good insight into Bahraini society or even Muslim or Middle Eastern society. It must be open and free to people of all opinions and ideas. If one read this forum, in its currrent state, they might think that the entire Bahraini society is completely pro-American, completely secular in nature, accept for the “fringe loony” you know the “beareded or turbaned ones” always slammed here.
Diversity of opinion and ideas is a great thing, not something to fight against.
Again, do not take this as a personal attack, it is not meant as such. I just think this forum, like any forum, would benefit, not be hurt, by including more people from ALL belief systems, not just groomed to a certain section. If you do not mean this forum to be a bridge between peoples, that is fine. At the moment is a bridge between pro-western people and the west with no time for people who offer differing view points. If that is how you mean this forum to be, that is fine, it is yours. If you really mean this forum to be a bridge between societies and peoples you must accept that peoples have different ideas, different views, and they all deserve to be treated the same. You must make room for them, hold them to the same standard as others. I can guarantee you if some Muslim came here talking about “f***ing Christmas” and that Christmas came too often, they would have been attacked by yourself, several regular posters, and sent on their way. Rightly so, I might add. But why not afford our religion, our familes, the same respect and consideration? I am not asking for Islam and Muslims to be treated any different, I am asking for equal treatment. By all means attack Muslims who display intolerance and hatred, but when someone comes and talks about “f***ing Ramadan” give them the same treatment.
I know you have given me room to voice my opinion, and I appreciate it. You dont have to, I know this. But when it comes to the religion itself, not me, please afford it the same level of respect and attention that you would others. Please rise to slam down those who would attack Islam the same way you rise to attack those who slam the west and Christianity. Criticism is one thing, cursing and outright insults is another. You would accept such a post from someone attacking Christianity, dont accept it attacking Islam.
Just ask yourself one question, what would you had done if someone has replied to your posts about putting up the Christmas tree with comments like “f***ing Christmas?” Would you have responded with “blunt, but you agree”? I dont think so.
Again, not meaning to fight or cause a major disruption here, just pointing out what I see as inconsistancies.
Re(5): Ramadhan thoughts
My post again, sorry.
Re: First Harvest
TJ I *think* you cut them when they go “half and half” ie, the individual date changes to the ripe brown squishy bottom and still the hard red or yellow on top. Or if enough of the dates on the bunch have turned completely brown. You could always pluck a few and taste, if you like the taste, cut the sucker down!
Apart from the amateurish way of doing things, you’d better get a “nakhkhal”, a person whose job it is to look after palms, he will give you really good advice, and believe me he’d do a better job at cutting them than you would, as he might also take the opportunity to clean up the palm from old fronds etc and prepare it for the next season. I try to get someone to come to the house to take care of our palms once every 6 weeks or so.
Re(6): Ramadhan thoughts
Mahmood;
There is one (or more) poster that leaves insulting comments here and there and never contributes anything else to the discussion. I usually ignore the cursing, but it is bringing down the dialogue.
Aliandra
Re(5): Ramadhan thoughts
For the love of Allah Malik, can’t you let things go and take them at face value? I’m too tired at the moment to go into a full-blown discussion right now, and I might never do as I don’t think that this subject really warrants it. I see you getting on top of your very high horse of the Defence of Islam again and I don’t want to be a part of your parade here.
Regardless of how I hold views, and who I decide to ban/include, and regardless of the religion/secularity I choose to defend/denegrate, it is not up to you or anyone else for that matter to hold a sword above my head. I am at peace with myself, and if you’re not happy with that, then that is YOUR problem, not mine.
You are very welcome to discuss this or any other issue that irks you on your blog. We’re talking about plants and food on this post, but somehow you chose to divert it yet again to religious attacks/discussion.
What the guy said IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE. Take it from a 43-year-old MUSLIM who has the privilege of being one continuously for those 43 years: Ramadhan SUCKS and will continue to do so for eternity. It was designed as such. We don’t like it and don’t have to like it, but as good Muslims we must abide by its laws. It is also a completely UNNATURAL state of mind, body and soul, and yes, it was DESIGNED as such. It is an INCONVENIENCE. And yes, it was designed as such. Deal with it. Don’t wrap it in petals, and don’t drench it with perfume, this is what it is and this is how it was meant to be. End of story.
If you want to surround it with peachy smells and floral tributes, then by all means do. Just do that on your own blog where you can tell people how happy you are with it etc etc etc ad infinitum.
And, before I go to bed, once again, don’t judge me. You’re not Allah’s messenger nor are you close to that distinction to pass judgments on what I may or may not think and do. You’re just a recent convert who should use his time and energy trying to understand a very deep and diverse religion, a religion that takes some over 60 years to come to terms with and even then they profess that they don’t know enough about it and give everything the benefit of the doubt and say “Allah A’alam” (Allah knows more) rather than what you are doing, after a mere 7 or 8 years and profess to know all, and have put it upon yourself to “defend” a religion that doesn’t need to be defended by you or anyone else. Didn’t Allah Himself say that Islam will be looked after by Him Himself for eternity?
So what are you worried about? Chill, man. Life is short.
Good night.
Re(7): Ramadhan thoughts
I agree Aliandra, but I can’t (and won’t) act as the policeman of etiquette here.
If profanity is the only way a person can get him/herself expressed, then so be it. If I do notice that post however and I judge that it is beyond good taste PURELY on my own PERSONAL barometer, then I might delete or edit that post. If I do edit rather than delete I post, I shall always – as I have always done – make a note that I did in fact edit the post.
What you’re doing is using your own personal judgement call on what to respond to and what to ignore… this is the adult way of doing things and everyone is highly encouraged to take your advice to heart and do likewise.
First Harvest
Salaam Mahmood
All the talk about the dates and the palms brings back some nice memories to me. It also makes my mouth waters when I think of all the deserts which my mother used to do with dates. At the moment I would love to have a juicy dates and nuts cake along with a cup of a strong dark coffee.
When we moved from our old house we couldn’t move our palm tree with us. It was planted in the courtyard and the house was big old style house. The palm tree was about 6 meters high so you can imagine the cost of moving that. The whole family was so sad, we have always thought of that Palm as a member of the family but we had to leave it behind us.
We were so unlucky in the new house, despite all the efforts of my father, all the money and time which he spent in planting new palms we did not have a single good harvest. I guess living in the marshy area of Sanad does not help.
Anyway, enjoy the good harvest Mahmood, may it bring you all the joy and health
Fuad
Re: First Harvest
I completely understand how you feel about your palm. There is a very strong link and affinity between the Arab and palm trees. Riverbend of Iraq has written a very nice article in October 2003 which I think sums up this love we have as Arabs of our palm trees. I am sure that having 4 good palms in our house was one of the deciding factors of us buying this house. We have gutted the garden, completely removed EVERYTHING, even over a hundred tonnes of sand, but left the palms exactly where they are. We told the landscapers that if they so much as touch my palms in a wrong way I’ll have their balls stuffed down their throats!
Thankfully they did a very good job and one of the first things they did is put a proper drip system around each palm.
I feel really sad every time I pass a palm grove and find that most of their palms are dead, sometimes the land-owners purposefully kill off the palms to make way for development, as removing the palms and killing them is illegal in Bahrain. What they do is pay off some culprits to go around and pour used engine oil around palms, which of course suffocates them and they die. Once dead, there is nothing stopping them from clearing the grove and building villas etc.
First Harvest
There is a good halal/cafe here owned by Lebanese Christians called “An-Nakhel”. Anyway, dates are one of the reasons I look forward to Ramadan every year. There is nothing better than my mother in laws Mamool with dates.
First Harvest
What a crop Mahmood. I found some huge fresh dates from Turkey in the local supermarket last week and put them in a salad and that was something different. Go to http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/ and type in ‘dates’: they have 98 relevant recipes so you should find something there.
Here in the Top End of Australia the mangoes are just starting. We lose over half the crop to night-time marauders, mostly huge fruit bats and magpie geese which is the only member of the goose family with only a half-webbed foot enabling them to roost in trees.
Louisa
Re: First Harvest
Louisa your not kidding, just the first date recipe alone has my mouth watering. [url]http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/231151[/url]
billT
Re(8): Ramadhan thoughts
[quote]Malik, my friend and brother in Islam, tell me after following the chronological events details above, and click any of the links to see the original comments, who exactly is at fault for escalating the situation here, and tell me if I indeed have victimised you at any point in this exchange? I agree that I am only a human being, and at times I can be unfair, but can you please explain to me how I was unfair in this particular situation?
I am completely at a loss here.
# [/quote]
It would seem we are just going to have to agree to disagree. I made a completely harmless comment. It was responded to in a rude and insulting way. I responded in a “witty” manner as even Jedi pointed out. My point is, and you dont seem to get it or agree, that you allow a certain level of discourse here when people are critical of Islam that you do not allow when people are critical of the west. Do you not see that? It is your blog, feel free to do as you wish, but why not just say what is clear? You allow a level of criticism of Islam that you do not afford for critics of the West and America. Again, if I had made a comment of a similar nature about Christmas, Easter or whatever, you would have pulled the post, maybe banned me from the forum, or attacked me. Why the inconsistancy? Do you see where I am coming from? All viewpoints and ideas should be afford the same respect and treatment.
You tell me how you would have dealt with me, or anyone else saying “f***king Christmas” so on and so forth? I dont think you would have agreed. I do not think you would have let the comment go without attacking the person in one manner or another, maybe even pulling the post.
It is interesting to read the blogs of some other regular posters here. They often display scathing critiques of the West, America, the war in Iraq, you name it. Yet they do not usually offer such comments and ideas here. This cannot be blammed on me as I noticed this before I started posting here, when I just read the blog. Why do they not post here what they say openly and often post on their own blogs, and even other blogs where they post, I cannot say. Read into it what you will.
If you want to truly be a bridge between the communities you must afford the same level of respect and care for all opinions. I do think there is a clear bias here towards the west and against Islam and I think that people who do not really share this view completely do not feel comfortable posting here what they post elsewhere. That is not the way to build a forum for growth between peoples, communities and ideas. When people are made to feel welcome “as long as you keep your viewpoints at the door” there can be no real meeting of minds and people.
I know you will say you dont do this, but when you allow anti-Muslim and anti-Arab posters to make comments and act in a way you will not allow people critical of America and the west to do, then it doesnt have to be said, it is clearly implied.
I like you Mahmood, you are an intelligent guy and have a great site here. I just wish you would be more even handed in the way you handle people. These are nothing more than my opinions and may certainly be wrong, that is just how I view it.
I am sorry you feel insulted by some of what I previously said, and probably in this post as well. It wasnt meant as such.
[quote]6. I took offence at the implication, however I tried to calm the situation and invited you to close the subject.[/quote]
Interesting that you took offense at the implication, but then affirmed my comment with your own statement. You said it was a bit of both, making my statement to be correct. What about stating what is correct, as admitted by yourself, is offensive? It would seem that you didnt like me pointing out what you then turned around and confirmed yourself.
[quote]7. Then, rather than closing the subject, you responded with another accusation which I took once again as offensive:[/quote]
Sorry stating my opinions in a fair and diplomatic way is offensive? Interesting you find that offensive but not “f***king Ramadan”. See where I am coming from? I try to state my opinion in a open and unprofane way, yet I am being “offensive” when “f***cking Ramadan” is not offensive.
[quote]9. The subject as far as you’re concerned is still not closed, and you once again feel that you are the victim, or at least been victimised because I didn’t take your side and thought that I was not being fair at all[/quote]
It has nothing to do with “taking my side” Mahmood. I handle myself in arguments just fine, and although I find myself way out numbered here, I enjoy the debate. I have always done best when put in a corner. I just do not think that you afford the opposing view points the same rules. This is very easy to do. As you support one side over the other it is very easy to give more space for those holding your viewpoints and to not notice it when you are tilting the playing field towards your side. That is all I was pointing out.
As far as I am considered this subject is over. It would seem that you are not seeing where I am coming from and are looking at it as a personal attack, which it is not meant as so. There are just some things that one must accept. I have no problems talking and debating without making it into a personal issue. Time and time again you point out the fact that I have only been a convert for a short period of time and imply that somehow this means I know less, that my opinions are less valid, you name it. Like a comment you recently made something to the effect that I only see things through a converts zeal therefor I cannot be expected to see what is really going on. I would suggest that these things are much more of a personal attack against me than anything that I have said to you since I came back to this forum.
Accept my apologies for any slight that you feel I have given you and accept my best wishes and my Salaams. Khalas.
First Harvest
There are several date palms in my neighborhood that are a great favorite of the local crows and not-so-local parrots. Given the fact that we (So. Calif) have not had a rash of multiple days over 100 degrees (thank God, I was complaining at 96 last week), the dates aren’t sweet or plump enough to be eaten by people…
But the nice folks out in Indio and Palm Springs have started to harvest and some nice fresh dates are at the local Trader Joe’s…
My fave date recipe (two alternates):
A) Get nice plump ones, slice along one side, take out pit. Stuff a piece of manchengo cheese or hard parmesan in the date, wrap with bacon, bake until bacon is crispy and cheese is melted. Eat. Be Happy.
B) Same as first sentence in A. Take some goat cheese, squeeze in a little lemon juice, add a bit of olive oil, some chopped fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme or basil), mix it all up, add salt & pepper as needed. Use a small spoon to stuff dates with goat cheese mixture. Eat. Be Happy.
Date shakes are also very tasty, but bad for folks with blood sugar regulation problems (if diabetic or hypoglycemia, just say no) – put vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt in blender, add pitted dates, whirl until happy, pour in glass or eat out of blender. Or keep the pits in and make the blender work and possilbly break a blade or two…
Re(9): Ramadhan thoughts
[ mahmood shakes his head and says لا ØÂÂول ولا قوة الا بالله ]
First Harvest
[Malik nods his head in agreement “لا ØÂÂول ولا قوة الا بالله”]
Something we can agree on.
Re(9): Ramadhan thoughts
Isn’t it amazingly ironic to find an Arab moslim doing his best and by all accounts succeeding in bridging the cultural gap between east and west, whilst at the same instant finding a white recent islamic convert and an American at that sowing the seeds of hatrid, dissent, and religious idiocy and zeolotry that burns that bridge almost completely? From what I’ve seen over the past few months is that Mr. Malik is nothing but a stalker who has nothing new to say other than confirm his hatred for everything western. Why not take that hate a plant it where it belongs – your blog, and leave us alone? We’re sure that you will find fame and fortune courtesy of your Wahabi sponsors.
Re(10): Ramadhan thoughts
[Malik nods his head in agreement “لا ØÂÂول ولا قوة الا بالله”]
Something we can agree on.
Re: First Harvest
Boy, you folks sure get bitchy about Ramadan.
I know you’re all dying for my opinion, so I don’t want to deprive you any longer. Speaking as a Christian, … well, not a very good Christian, well, not much of a Christian at all, really … anyway my point is that this whole Ramadan thing has lurched the wrong way. You’re starving yourself all day, depriving yourself, just in general making yourselves crazy. You should make Ramadan more like Christmas, a time when you stuff yourself silly all day and then only rest for an hour or two to stuff some more punkin pie down. Then you get gifts. How’s that for a religious holiday, sport? Let me tell ya, its FAN-TAS-TIC!
I have studied this religious question in great detail and have identified the problem: Islam has no cartoon characters to recommend it. I mean, look at Christmas: We’ve got Santa Claus. Everyone loves Santa. He’s BIGGER than Elvis. What do the Muslims got to show for Ramadan? Nothing. Zip. Zilch. Not even a Ramadan Claus. This is a problem.
Now I’m not saying Santa doesn’t have his problems. I don’t much care for him dressing in red, the color of revolution. Why does he maintain a secret base on the North Pole, far from prying eyes? Why are all his workers deformed? What about the working conditions there lead to that. That makes a pretty good case for more transparency. And it’s very disturbing that he can enter any house in the world at will. And just where do all these toys come from? It’s pretty obvious that Santa is a socialist revolutionary bent on dominating the world by bribing the children and bring the adults in on the whole conspiracy.
Nevertheless, Santa remains a joyful figure and a powerful advocate for Christianity. Maybe if you got your own Islamic Santa Claus, you would brighten up Ramadan. Maybe follow it with some feasting and gifts. Spread the joy around instead of wallowing in deprivation. Maybe then you wouldn’t have so many Muslims wandering around mad at the world.
Stay tuned for further important ideas.
You’re Welcome,
Steve the Religious Scholar
Re(1): First Harvest
[quote]Nevertheless, Santa remains a joyful figure and a powerful advocate for Christianity. Maybe if you got your own Islamic Santa Claus, you would brighten up Ramadan. Maybe follow it with some feasting and gifts. Spread the joy around instead of wallowing in deprivation.[/quote]
We do follow Ramadan with gifts and feasting. That is what the Eid is for. Christians fast as well, before Lent.
But your post was funny. Maybe a cartoon character is in order. Problem is the extremists (I know you think I am one, but I am not) think that any artistic representation of humans is haraam. Forbidden. I should get my son to draw one up, he fancies himself an artist.
Nice way to lighten up the subject Steve.
First Harvest
Not forgetting that old trad. favourite Sticky Date Pudding. Recipe found almost anywhere in the English-speaking world.
Ms Jen you have a way with words. Ground steel in your date smoothie sounds delicious.
What kind of soil-type do the date palms around Palm Springs and ‘Indio’ (what/where is that?)
grow in. I cherish my date palm but it’s still only 1 metre tall after 5 years of love and affection, and it’s 32 C every day of the year here.
Louisa
First Harvest
Dear malik,
I’m sorry for the way people on this forum speak to you. Your posts are the only ones I like to read. PLus Steve’s (sometimes). You see there are two kinds of people in tiny Bahrain. there are those who are either extremely Islamic (or pretend to be) and there are those who want to be cool by rejecting Islam. So you have fallen into the second trap. where u are uncool and you are “riding your high horse in Defense of Islam”. You see anyone who defends Islam will be categorized into the first kind, and so the backlash you recieved. You see they prefer to talk about food and palms, rather than try to show some respect for people who voice their opinions politely and in a cvilized way.
you have inspired me and I love the way you respond. I wish I could be as good as you when cornered. Unfortunately I’m not. and believe me, being a convert u probably know more than any one in bahrain, who claims to be muslim.
Amal
Re(6): Ramadhan thoughts
Well said Mahmood, thank you so much mate…you are the man!
Fuad
First Harvest
dear amal …
forgive me habibti … but, why is talking abou food and palms percieved by you as being anti Islam?????
and, since when did God make you the judge and jury of who ‘claims’ to be a mislim and wo doesn’t??!!!
a moslem JJ
Re(6): Ramadhan thoughts
[quote]You are very welcome to discuss this or any other issue that irks you on your blog. We’re talking about plants and food on this post, but somehow you chose to divert it yet again to religious attacks/discussion.[/quote]
You make my point for me Mahmood. Again you FAIL to realise that I was not the one who made the issue, the OTHER poster initiated an attack, not myself. The fact you YOU chose to chastise me for responding and not the person who made the initial comments speaks volumes. I made a simple comment relating to the subject at hand.
Why not have a go at the person who cursed and changed the topic? I didnt change the topic Mahmood, cant you just admit that? Instead you choose to have a go at me when I responded in a polite manner, not the poster who cursed.
Dont you see my point? That is what I am trying to say here Mahmood, you seem ever so willing to ignore flames and such like this, yet are all too willing to attack me for responding even when I do so in a way that is far more polite and not insulting like the original post.
Even playing ground Mahmood, that is all I am asking for.
Re(7): Ramadhan thoughts
Malik, my dear friend, let’s trace what’s happened here. I am calm now, so let’s analyse the situation:
1. you said that you look forward to Ramadhan because you love the food, dates in particular, which is fair enough as I share that thought with you completely. I love the Ramadhan food as well.
2. Someone interpreted that as you are wishing for the speedy onset of the Holy Month, and they expressed their opinion that they didn’t care much for Ramadhan, due to the inefficiencies it brings on aplenty in the Arab/Muslim worlds. He used a profanity to describe Ramadhan, which is fine because it describes the depths of dislike s/he holds for that month.
3. (and this is the start of the war of words if you like) you classified that opinion as a brain fart. Which you are well within your right to think that.
4. I came into the conversation here and simply stated that the original comment actually tallies with my own view of Ramadhan, even though the original comment is blunt.
5. You responded, or rather immediately and forcefully jumped down my throught with a long reply the very first sentance of which is completely accusatory and uncalled for, the way I read it is that you are (once again but maybe unintentionally) questioning the “level” of my Islam. To refresh your memory and save you clicking the link, you said:
6. I took offence at the implication, however I tried to calm the situation and invited you to close the subject.
7. Then, rather than closing the subject, you responded with another accusation which I took once again as offensive:
8. Which brought me to my last comment once again inviting you to close the subject and move on, at the same time I showed you WHY I agreed with the original poster’s view of Ramadhan.
9. The subject as far as you’re concerned is still not closed, and you once again feel that you are the victim, or at least been victimised because I didn’t take your side and thought that I was not being fair at all:
Malik, my friend and brother in Islam, tell me after following the chronological events details above, and click any of the links to see the original comments, who exactly is at fault for escalating the situation here, and tell me if I indeed have victimised you at any point in this exchange? I agree that I am only a human being, and at times I can be unfair, but can you please explain to me how I was unfair in this particular situation?
I am completely at a loss here.
First Harvest
Dear Mahmood,
This is my first post, and hope not the last!
May I ask you a simple question (in my Arabic/English language)?
Would you accept your blog to be used to offend any holy thing/person regardless you believe in it or not?
Would a Hindo accepts it if someone say the F word to a cow?
Would a true Christian accepts it if someone say the F word to the Pop or any other symbol of his/her religious?
Would you allow anyone to say F*** King Hamad Al-Khalifa in your blog?
To us all Muslims, Ramadhan is a holy month as stated in Quran. Now, like it or not, this is a solid fact in Islam. Would you accept it if someone say F*** Ramadhan? You might not accept Ramadan nor teachings of Islam but as a blog moderator you are expected to edit such offensive words (at least to millions of humans called Muslims). What happened was that in addition to your full acceptance to the idea that Ramadan sucks (and that’s your right), you did not even bother to edit the F word that really heart millions of muslims, and that’s the bottom of the issue.
Be fair Mahmood!
Note: to those who might not understand my Arabic/English, Sorry 🙁
Re: First Harvest
[quote]Dear malik,
I’m sorry for the way people on this forum speak to you. Your posts are the only ones I like to read. PLus Steve’s (sometimes). You see there are two kinds of people in tiny Bahrain. there are those who are either extremely Islamic (or pretend to be) and there are those who want to be cool by rejecting Islam. So you have fallen into the second trap. where u are uncool and you are “riding your high horse in Defense of Islam”. You see anyone who defends Islam will be categorized into the first kind, and so the backlash you recieved. You see they prefer to talk about food and palms, rather than try to show some respect for people who voice their opinions politely and in a cvilized way.
you have inspired me and I love the way you respond. I wish I could be as good as you when cornered. Unfortunately I’m not. and believe me, being a convert u probably know more than any one in bahrain, who claims to be muslim.
Amal [/quote]
Thanks Amal. It is a very hard place to be, in the middle. But it is required of us by our Prophet(SAW). He said that a day would come when holding onto your deen(religion) would be like holding onto lit charcoal. He knew that people would be pressured and hated on all sides. Extremism is rejected in the Sunnah, as is being too lax in the religion. You hit the nail on the head, so to speak. If you do not reject Islam, then you are an extremist to the secularists and the Muslims who seek to completely water down their religion. To the extremists you are a Kafir because you do not seek to take the extreme road. To either side you are in the wrong, so you get attacked by both sides.
Those who are in the right, who abode in the truth, will make many enemies on both sides. That is fine. When the people who dislike me are the extremists on both sides, the extreme secularists and the extremist religionists, then you know you are traveling the right path, right in the middle. I do not reject the west, but I am able to be critical of it. I do not completely accept the orient because I know well its cultural failures, yet these failures do not cause me to reject it either.
Those who feel they have to pidgeon hole themselves into one corner are those who are suspect. Those who can only attack Islam and Arabs, or those who can only attack the west without realising their own faults. I am critical of both areas, and have been so here. But it would seem the tone of this forum is almost entirely anti Islamic and anti Arab. So I am constantly trying to rebutt the hatred and misconceptions passed about Islam here.
As I have been reminded, I am not the saviour or defender of Islam. But when I see injustice done, lies told, I feel I have to speak out. Odd that those who scream here the loudest about Muslims not speaking out are the ones who would try to silence me? They brand me an extremists, but a quick glance at my blog, abusinan.blogspot.com will make it clear that I am anything but an extremist. My posts are VERY critical of Arab regimes and hardliners within Islam. At the same time, I feel free to be just as critical of my own country. That is the fault of so many so called “liberal” Muslims, they only feel free to attack Islam and Middle Eastern countries, yet refuse to apply the same critical eye to the west and their governments. I think they do it because they fear to be label as an extremist. Those real moderates who do try to speak out are slandered, lied about, and greatly feared, ie Tariq Ramadan. For these pro-western extremists the only “moderate” Muslim are those who reject their religion. Their proof of being a “moderate” muslim means drinking, not following their religious holidays, eating pork, chasing women. The only way, for these people to accept that you are “moderate” is to basically reject your religion. Just try once to speak up for Muslims, defend your religion or its practices, and instantly you become an extremist.
Alhamdulillah, I have not fallen into this trap. The attacks and the verbal broadsides from those on both sides only let me know that I am doing things right. I have already received death threats in my e-mail because of my blog, from both sides, and had to deal with attacks on my newborn son. But that is fine. If I wasnt being attacked, then I would really be worried.
Re(1): First Harvest
Malik the Defender of Islam, please peddle your wares elsewhere. It is “clear” that everyone here, including myself, are completely against you and can’t see eye-to-eye on anything. So please do NOT feel the constant need to rebutt the hatred and misconceptions passed about islam here. Do it on your own blog. I have suffered enough from your vitriol and wish to carry on with my life and get my blog back from being hijacked by you particularly. So please, do us all a favour and dissapear. Bye!
Re: First Harvest
Ah, hello Amal. So what does the “S” stand for? As in “AS” or is that another personality. Still both seem to be just for stirring up the shit here…. I (and this blog) seem to be gathering more stalkers and trolls than a mangy dog gathers fleas!
Re(2): First Harvest
Apparently you did not read the above post. Not everyone here dislikes my posts, even other bloggers have told me they will not come onto this blog and address the issue because they are well aware of the treatment they will get. I am not THE defender of Islam, but as Muslim I feel I need to stand up for my religion. I have no problem dealing with the issues we as an ummah face, but I also realise that there are many people out there that are NOT interested in the reformation of Islam, only in its destruction. No Muslim will be a party to this.
It is a sad state of affairs when other bloggers, who even you recently here have called close friends, will talk behind you about your back because they do not feel able to be critical on your forum. It you are truly interested in freedom of speech and opinions you will do a bit of self criticism and wonder why people who you claim to be close friends do not feel free to voice their opinions on your forum.
Block me if you want, all that will do is prove my point and make these “close friends” less likely to give you their real opinons on your forum. Ever wonder why these “close friends” do not post the same materials and opinions on your board as they do on their own? Ask yourself that question. Take a look at the opinions posted on other bloggers boards and compare them to their statements here. You’ll find there is a rather large difference. Now you can block me, as I am sure you will, but that will not change the facts. Ignore them if you will, but everytime you visit their sites and see the critical posts of the West, America, the war in Iraq, then look at their posts here, or lack of them, you’ll have to wonder why.
As you are digging your hole in the sand to insert your head, please wear gloves, I’d hate to see you injure your fingers.
Re(3): First Harvest
ok, now that you have customarily have had your say once again, now will you be gone? you’re like an annoying fly. For goodness’ sake, bugger off and leave us alone! Have at least a little bit of ego and DON”T come back.
wait for it, he’ll come back with a pithy retort, or at least he will think it’s “witty”!
Re(1): First Harvest
[quote]Ah, hello Amal. So what does the “S” stand for? As in “AS” or is that another personality. Still both seem to be just for stirring up the shit here…. I (and this blog) seem to be gathering more stalkers and trolls than a mangy dog gathers fleas![/quote]
LOL! Yeah, another “personality” or a troll, anything but a person who might have a valid opinion that differs from yours. That just doesnt fit into the Mahmood cult of personality. Like the e-mail you sent me once, God I wished I had saved it. I havent heard such a trantrum about “me, me, me” since the last time my young daughter had a fit.
Care to enlighten us about how if Steve and I dont stop arguing and taking the limelight from yourself you are just going to pack it up and walk away? I couldnt even believe that when I read it.
Anyway, have fun, I will leave you to your Mahmood cult of personality. It would seem that your personality and viewpoint of yourself relies on it so.
Masalama.
Re(2): First Harvest
Allah yisalmich. Man, two in one day! This is shaping up like a very good Friday indeed! 🙂
Re: First Harvest
Thank you very much for taking the time to comment my friend, I too hope that your contributions to our little varied community will increase, and you will keep an open mind. You are most welcome here.
I completely agree with your premise, taken from a Muslim’s point of view. However, your premise also includes a “blackmail clause” which assumes that as I am a Muslim, I must automatically remove any offending material to my own personal way of thinking and my religion, but think with me a little please: one of the main premises of this blog is that of rapprochement, to bring communities, particularly our East to their West. So what effect would that have if I went in and heavy-handedly edited every post entered that could conceivably be interpreted as offensive to us Muslims? There will be no discussion, and not bringing people closer together! My own way of thinking is that Allah is inviolate. He will not be degraded no matter what people throw at Him. We will still hold Him in very high regard. Would throwing stones at His name affect our view of Him or His religion? Of course not! So what really is the problem of anyone expressing their opinion the best way they can – yes even with profanity – so that an honest discussion ensues? Unfortunately in this case, the discussion was taken completely at a tangent by some people with an agenda, rather than completely ignoring that particular use of profanity and carrying on with an honest discussion.
As a Muslim, do you honestly regard Ramadhan as a productive month? Be honest, please be completely honest: WHY was Ramadhan invented? Was it not invented in order for people to feel how the poor and destitute feel? Was it not invented so that they can experience the life and tribulations of the less fortunate? Was it not invented so that people are humbled? Was it not invented so that people can learn and remember that there is a being much bigger than themselves? Was it not invented so that they can feel what sacrifice is like? How can you begin to feel these traits without completely changing your complete way of life? How can you feel all of these things that Allah wants us to feel without dedicating most of your time to reflection and other-worldly endeavors?
Tell me: how is one to achieve all of these while conducting his business as normal? And if one practically cannot conduct business as normal, isn’t that an inefficiency that must be recognised as such without any floral tributes?
In this present day and age, how do we, as Muslims and Muslim nations deal with Ramadhan? Does not all governments reduce working hours? If you reduce working hours, can you produce the same amount of work in those reduced number of hours? In the private sector, do we not change day into night by working at night sometimes till dawn prayers in order to compensate for the day most people spend either asleep or at the limit of their efficiency?
Taking all of that into consideration, and again please, without any floral garlands, does that not imply complete and utter inefficiency? Yes, it IS a sacrifice, but no matter how you describe it, Ramadhan in this day and age is an inefficient month if you also accept, as you must, that we are part of the global village that carries on with its work, duties and worries as it does throughout the remainder of the year. We just adapt because we make this sacrifice due to our convictions and religious teachings and our love of Allah.
So please, do not ask me to censor posts based on my own prejudices or yours. I would rather that you and I have open minds, and allow people to speak theirs in the hope that we would at least question and learn from each other, even if we do not accept their mode of speech or their thoughts. I am not God to judge them. I am just a simple human being who believes that there are many ways that you can express yourself, and that some people because of the depth of their convictions feel that their only way of expressing themselves – probably in the absence of the depth of their vocabulary – is to use profanity.
First Harvest
You’re missing the whole point, Mahmood!
I am not talking about the nowadays wrong practice of Ramadhan nor rejecting other people’s views. I am simply trying to highlight that everyone has the right to voice their opinion without flaming an argument by using offensive words such as F***. Now, you wouldn’t accept me saying “… F* king of Bahrain” to a true believer in HH the king, or “… F* cows of India” to a Hindo person, would you? I bet you’d even block me if I “insult” a westerner, let alone his religious or its practices, and that’s fine. All what I’m asking is, let anyone criticize the nowadays people practice of Ramadhan but they should bare in mind that Ramadhan itself (not the people’s wrong practice), Ramadhan is a holy thing to millions of peoples, and should be respected. Ramadhan, like it or not, is one of the five pillars in Islam therefore it is a very sacred thing to the followers of Islam. Wrong practicing, however, is subject to discussion. Even if you open the wrong practice for discussion you should remember that neither all Muslims practice Ramadhan the way we do here in the Gulf nor the Gulf people represent the majority of Muslims in the whole world.
My whole point is, “F*** Ramadan” statement is very offensive, not the criticism of Gulf people wrong practice of the HOLY month of Ramadhan.
Note: I thought my last post was the post but I was wrong!
Your ex-neighbour who’s still waiting for his share of dates!
That’s it! THIS F**** TOPIC IS ABOUT DATES! Hell, why are we talking about Ramadhan?! 😉
Re: First Harvest
He actually didn’t. He explained quite clearly that sometimes a profanity can be quite necessarily be used as a legitimate adjective in the English language. I would hazard in any language, to make known the depth of feeling one wants to associate to the subject in discussion. What Mahmood is saying (if he would permit me that is) is that the person who started this discussion didn’t mean offense as you and others have interpreted, but in fact has used that profanity to display the depth of disbelief he holds for the rites of this religious occasion.
Shall we now give him and Mahmood a break and get on with other matters more important? Like Dates for instance?
First Harvest
I am done with this blog. I used to think that this blog was THE one I always want to visit. I thought the comments were clever, level, and if Mahmood you prefer to use the profanities that u have against me and Malik and anyone who dares to stand in your way, then keep your blog to yourself. Do you think we are obliged to join your petty conversations!
And yes my name is Amal and you don’t need to know the rest, for your blog is not worth it. I was proud of finding a Bahraini Blog which seemed informative and fun, I guess I was wrong.
To Malik,
I guess we shouldn’t ever come back to this blog, let this lot talk about their palms, and their fronds, and their tuna dishes, I have had it with Mahmood’s stuck-up-attitude… who needs you?
Amal
I have seen this movie before, and I know how it ends
Malik, the only thing you’re ever in the MIDDLE of is CONTROVERSY! And it comes mind-bogglingly easy to you! Quit playing the suffering martyr card.
Seriously, you behave like you are the Center of the Universe and THAT IS what annoys most people. It’s actually rather sad that commenters who really believe that Mahmood has offended (or FAILED to defend, as the case may be) Islam do not speak up, perhaps because you beat them to the post button
Re: First Harvest
Man it is rather hot out there!
Ok, Amal/AS/Anonymous on several occasions: I don’t give a damn whether you choose to stay or go. No one forced you to come here, and no one will be forcing you to stay. That decision is completely up to you, as an adult I assume?
So as an adult, let me explain something to you, once again, please listen: Mahmood’s Den is a personal web diary concerning the life and times of Mahmood Al-Yousif. In which I CHOOSE to share some parts of my life and thoughts with the world at large. The essential thing to recognise is that it is MY personal diary in which I discuss anything that takes my fancy. I don’t care one way or the other if you or anyone else agrees with me. If you do, then that’s fine, if you don’t then that is no skin off my nose. But if you disagree intelligently and non-dogmatically and attempt to make me understand your point of view, then there is every chance that I will change my mind to your way of thinking, and shall thank you for expanding my horisons and for allowing me to see things differently.
But, if you hide behind an alias, if you are anonymous and all you care about is trolling like you personally have done on at least 2 occasions, then don’t expect any sympathy nor respect from me or anyone else for that matter.
If you find me stuck-up, offensive, or any of the other traits you threw at me, please be my guest to bang your head against ANY wall.
Good bye Amal, I hope you have a happy and fruitful life.
Re: First Harvest
Its a Wonderfull world we live in JJ. Everyone wants to tell you how to run your life or how to worship god or who to vote for. They want to call you names like liberal or conservative or say your un-muslim or un-american if you dont follow their golden path to salvation or freedom. What Fu**ing we gets me mad is that they condone or turn their head to the evil done in their path to what ever it is they are seeking and then comdemn you when you speak out. They refuse to ask what else you think once you have made a statment they disagree with. Sad thing is that you might agree with 80% of what they say but they will never find that out.
billT
80% right 80% left
First Harvest
As long as they are f**king Dates ….. 😉
As for Ramadhan and Moslems …. well, let me ask another rhetorical question .. just for fun . I am an Arab Moslem Women. For better or for worse, Sharia is not really very women friendly. So, if I am ciritcal of Sharia, does that mean that I am a bad moslem? And, conversely, does this mean that I am a good woman?
Why does any questioning, whether in jest, or in seriousness, about anything to do with Islam mean automatically that one isnt a good moslem?
AS- Malik – and ANYone else out there … there are lots of issues here that are discussed and valid and have different persepctives. The easiest argument to make when not discussing something is to say that it is offensive religiously. Well, we have all to get over it. Because, not discussing something for fear of being sacriligious means that we have been living and perpetuating living in Denial for a very long time. And, look at where that has got us?
For the record, F**king Ramadhan or holy Ramadhan is irrelevant. What counts is whether people make use of ramadhan spiritually, as originally intended. And with all due respect to the way most Arabs have dealt with Ramadhan, it is a travesty. There aint nothing spiritual about it at all. Not the way we deal with it. But – thats OK. Its for different people to experience it the way that they want.
And, yes, I do say B***dy Christmas as well. As well as F**gging New Year.
Jasra Jedi
Re: First Harvest
heh.. getting back to the dates, you’re most welcome to pass by and collect your portion! though note that not many are left!! 🙂
Re: First Harvest
I thought you would bring some f*(&)(^ing sense back to this discussion!
First Harvest
Seems like the dark side is getting stronger and stronger .. and stupider and stupider!!! F**ggin Jedi Council aint doing its job very well …. maybe its time for drastic measures…
Mahmood – where did peaceful muslimah go? She was always able to present the Islamic point of view in a manner than respected both the religion and other people’s opinions …
JJ
Re: First Harvest
She got married and disappeared on us. Hope she’s enjoying her married life and life in Kuwait too!