The Problem of Being a Maggie

Science and Faith Questions

Fruits and vegetables:

Tomatoes and pumpkins are technically, fruits. They have seeds like other fruits; but most ppl would say they are vegetables, and we generally cook them like that, e..g pumpkins for pies, like sweet potatoes are sweet and ooze caramel when cooked.

But will a tomato ever evolve into a vegetable (having no seeds) on its own, without the intervention of man’s genetic modification of the organism? E.g. GMO.

OR will potatoes ever evolve into fruits containing seeds for plant reproduction?

Human Beings

There is one glaring fact which supposes that natural selection isn’t all it’s cracked up to be as far as theories go. There are many very successful, intelligent, compassionate and kind people who never have children, and there are as many (or more, if you look around, it seems to be the case) examples of people who make lousy parents, who are unsuccessful, or at best mediocre or average, who might not be very intelligent or who are not even kind or compassionate and shouldn’t really be parents.

Some examples of famous people, who didn’t pass on their genes, are….

This means that despite n natural selection, there are people who would make great parents who never have any children. And there are lousy parents , or stupid, sick, extremely allergic, lactose intolerant, high school dropouts, mentally retarded, physically handicapped and others who for good or bad are able to pass on their genes (and have had children).

Does it seem unfair? Not really. This is just what some might call, “the luck of the draw” in some cases, or perhaps it is destiny…

And we have to also consider nurture as well, there are people who can have children, but for some reason or other make bad parents; it isn’t always their fault, or their lack of trying, but they do not get credit for trying, they are not moms or dads of the year, and that’s also why natural selection isn’t perfect. There are always other influences or factors besides natural selection (or the nature part of the equation) which affect the outcome of families with children, and the lives of children in general.

A child could be totally ‘awesome’ but end up an adult who never accomplishes anything and dies without the great successes or name of many others (less worthy people.) Having the best genetic makeup doesn’t guarantee success in life. If someone is born into extreme poverty, there is a likelihood he will never have the same opportunities as kids somewhere else in the world, who are fortunate to be living in the first world.

On the other side of the coin, there are children who are fortunate to be born in the first world, who have all the things they need, and if they are smart and properly nurtured and cared for, guided and encouraged, then they can do great things in the future. Look at the biography of Steve Jobs, for example. While he was adopted, his parents gave him the advantage of a good genetic makeup and then his upbringing helped that along in tremendous ways, so he was able to grow up to be extremely successful.

The theory of natural selection doesn’t seem to adequately account for the likelihood of other life events, or even in the case of the dinosaurs, many questions remain. Of course, it is much easier to study the present than the past. Therefore, it m makes more sense to at least study modern mammals, if we want to understand anything about who we are and where we came from. This is why neuro science for example, can help us answer why we believe in God, even though it can’t answer whether or not God exists. Also, if we know why we believe in God (according to recent science, it is the “god spot”), then it seems that there is less reason for atheists to hate others, or promote a secular or humanistic approach than any others, because, if we are actually “programmed” to believe in God - it is easier from an intellectual perspective, to accept that all humans share this much in common, e.g. the ability to believe. From a purely chemical-neurological standpoint religious faith is something that is present and possible in all humans.

Is it right for ethologists, biologists or others, considering the wealth of knowledge on the effects of brain chemistry on the rest of the person , to then ignore this? Why hate others for something that is really a part of human nature or even biology? Rather, it is imperative that scientists and the science community begins to explore new ways to implement their research other than the push for “evolution” in schools to the extent that communities and children are negatively impacted, or that a grave and destructive precedent is set either way, which seems reminiscent of the past, e.g. church and state fighting for supremacy, such as what happened when the Catholic church used to have the money to have its way in the life of all people under its dominion. The government didn’t tell the Church what to do, but the Church told the government what to do. A quick example is the need for an entire people to convert to the religion which most served the King of England at the time, so he could marry who he wanted to. This was because a Catholic could not have a divorce in those days.

I believe scientists must embrace the natural diversity of human belief, just as they embrace the diversity in all else in nature.

I will point out here before anyone comments that religions spread hate or that Islam is not a religion of peace, that there is plenty of history that proves that Islam and Muslims love peace.

The other thing is, there are more modern examples of science indirectly, causing harm on a large scale to humans as well as the environment, and the less modern, but still unforgettable suffering the Nazis and others like them caused in Europe not only to Jews but to their own citizens, e.g. the orphanages or mental wards which mistreated thousands of children or mental patients, or prisoners, all over the Christian world, as well as modern day China, just to give some examples, and often in the name of science. The Nazis tortured the sick with experiments, and also studied twins in the name of science.

Just the other day someone told me about the practice of feeding sugar or forcing children and the elderly to keep sugar in their mouths, so that the science of tooth decay and ‘cures’ or remedies for that could be found. I can’t say I know if this is true or an urban myth, but it supposedly happened in Sweden.

Readers might like to see the film, The Forgotten Maggies, in relation to this post, about the abuses by both the Church and State in Ireland.

http://www.merdb.cn/watch-2725543-The-Forgotten-Maggies.html 

You can see the synopsis at this link.

Don't Be Alarmed..

I wanted to share a bunch of stuff, but I must have done something wrong tonite, anyway, this means I will be putting many of my posts into draft and repost at a later date, soon however, because some of them are quite popular. I don't know if I'll have to edit them too.. This is depressing :(

I will do more writing today anyway, to include new material, which I have or haven't worked on previously, but which haven't hit the blog yet.

With regrets, Jane

Flickr Is Worth Browsing More Often

It's been a very long time since I have been to my Flikr account. Well, this morning I finally took the opportunity to see some amazing photos on Flikr. In particular, the first photostream I happened across was by Kijal. My favorites are some taken at the Masjid Al Haram, as well as many pretty photos of flowers. I'm not done browsing yet, but thought to do a quick write up on why I think browsing is a worthwhile activity. Browsing on Flikr is enjoyable and one is bound to come across many photos of interest and artistic value.

Browsing is something we can only do online. To make it a good experience and not something stressful, which it shouldn't be or you are not doing it right, you should have accounts in the best places for browsing which are of course, Flickr, for photos, Pinterest, I suppose (which I don't have) and places for videos, which might mean YouTube, but also might mean other online sharing, such as your email account/s and the useful and popular apps like SkyDrive or the Cloud apps. People complain that browsing videos takes a lot of time, which is true. Watching videos can take a lot more time than one anticipates as well (particularly if the internet connection is very slow). Every cloud has a silver lining, or in this case every action on the internet has it's good and bad. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kijal/

Many people prefer not to share their photos on Facebook, Twitter or the other usual places. They allow you to grab a link though (copy/pasted as above) and while you can't display the photo on your own site, you can still share it with others, which is an easy way of "sharing the love". You might be inspired to take more of your own photos, and publicly display those, which will showcase your own particular interests and any special talent you might have in photography. I haven't found many photos of my own which deserve special mention, the few I have shared from several different accounts (emails, Google+, Flickr) are noteworthy; on Flickr, perhaps the most memorable (possibly the ONLY photo I've ever posted there (a milenia ago) is of a pigeon. It was taken out our apartment's balcony and shows a pigeon, probably migratory, roosting on the corragated tin (or aluminum) roof above our parking space (at the time, we lived in East Riffa, in a third floor "flat" (Bahrainis say flat, not apartment). It fills me with nostalgia still, because around the same time it was taken, I started my first blog (My IslamFeed) which ended (and was removed).

For me putting myself out there (especially writing) is kind of like pulling off a bandaid. It has to be done, because I continue to want to write publicly, but also it isn't something I would describe as pleasant. I often feel ill at ease or trepiditious when posting something new; I suppose it comes from the desire to please others, and not disappoint, plus the fear of a public flogging (or readers scorn).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kijal/

[Revising: I couldn't find the pigeon, maybe I had two accounts and one is now obsolete, rather I forgot about it and created a second account, which is still there. (But that means no more pigeon photo, I will have to dig into my old digital photos to find it, which could take some doing!)]

To Be Or Not To Be

Not "He"

I had written recently, because I am not the eye that sees everything, or know the unseen, that I thought someone who commented as "Libyan" was my husband. Later, I think the next day, when he called me, he told me that wasn't him - because he doesn't comment on my blog, actually, but he does get emails whenever I publish something. I should have been forewarned by some "premonition" which women get, that he would bring it up, which he did immediately, "I'm not 'Libyan'". "Oh", I said. And for a moment something "awkward" happens. I feel an invisible process,  like a force field suddenly erected by a gigantic spaceship to capture the Earth or the pull between two planets, or the gravity of a bigger planet drawing in a smaller planet, maybe. I am like a satellite, an object with no resitance and feel the need for some air. Then the feeling is gone - we start to discuss our plans for the coming week.

Stay Tuned

Something exciting is happening, which I won't discuss right now. It is kind of a top secret matter around here, I was told the other night when I had dinner with someone. I am good at keeping secrets, so I am bound by an oath. Or I wouldn't have been trusted with this in the first place. Also, being a blogger, I suppose I should always look at the bigger picture - I will report on this again later.

Last night, I talked to K again trying to smooth over the logistical problems for him to come home in time for the "big day", but it is touch and go right now. I am keeping my legs crossed, lol. That means of course (not what you might think) that I am at my desk today again, typing away. I am not ashamed to admit the detox program I mentioned last week on Twitter has me jumping to the bathroom quite a lot - so in more ways than one, time is of the essence this week. Does he think he can make it, or is he trying not to let me worry about it? I tell him I don't completely believe that things will "magically" or otherwise, work out. It is like booking a ride to the moon, unless you are stinking rich, it ain't happenin'. I have a nervous feeling; butterflies which soon will be a large pit in my stomach, if I don't know we can manage to solve the timing problem.

A Man on a Mission

When I went to Juffair the other night, my husband sent five or six SMS checking up on my progress; did I take my son as well? Don't forget to close the car door? Take one of the girls with you! What???

He was worried; I said I will be fine, why would he worry so? I then wondered if he'd had a bad dream, which made me worry - but I pushed that thought out of my head.

K

 If I know him, already the thought crossed his mind to ask other people to call to find out where I am. If I knew how to use one of the applications to pinpoint my whereabouts on a map, I would, just so he could be sure; In fact I think that’s a good idea for all couples. What’s wrong with being able to find one’s spouse on Google Maps™ or Wat’sApp™? And parents should do the same thing with their kids. But there should be agreement that we are going to share our locations anytime, anyplace, because we care – it’s the same as asking your teenager to “call [you] when [she] get[s] there”.

 

He was in stealth mode - probably his own sense of well being depends on my physical well being. As internet service would have it, I couldn't connect for a few minutes, and had to leave - in the car there was no chance of messaging him again. I was relieved, I have to say, because I was afraid he might tell me to stay home, which I would have to do then. To other people, non-Muslims and also many Muslims, this sounds archaic and ludicrous. But I don't care what anyone thinks.

A Room of One's Own

Being on the same page with my husband is paramount. And, though my life isn't perfect, Islam is one of the constants that makes my life worth living, without which I think I would rather be just another form of creature, like a bug; bugs have no worries, I mean, how big are their brains? I don't think something that small knows much about anything, not even what it looks like. They don't have feelings or problems - certainly not the drama human beings experience almost all the time. It's nothing less than biology (but proof of the irrelevance of theories about human evolution) that we don't all have an instinctive urge to jump like lemmings do, considering some of our's deep seated neroses, volatile relationships, jobs that don't pay enough, or careers that don't make sense - what does a stock broker really do? Our lives are always careening towards some danger, or we are always trying to cope, trying to make sense, or trying to forget. That is one side of the story, then there is the good stuff, which would take another five minutes to think about; and I don't have the time.  

I can't blame K for his overpowering need to know where I am and what I am doing - and occasionally refusing me permission to do something even if I am set on it. I understand it better now, after the events of this past summer; I was the one who "needed to know" - where he was, what he was doing, who he was with, who he was talking to on the phone. So I do understand - needing to know can be very unsettling and is much harder to ignore than needing to pee (this is something I know women understand more than men, so the metaphor is an apt one, lol) But he can also be unpredictable, which makes it harder on me, when I have thought something through, decided on a course of action and then find that he is putting up resistance.

Making things public

I timed the start of my blog well, he didn't have anything to say about it at first. Sometimes he tells me to be careful.  Now, he even gives me advice or comments. He liked the last post, though I felt he wasn't being completely honest about his thoughts. "Too personal?" I asked. But he said on his phone the paragraphs were mixed up - I said, no it IS mixed up, because I couldn't edit it; I might edit the post later (should but probably will not do it today), which will mean deleting it,  editing my copy on the pc, posting a new draft, and republishing; I can edit the labels then as well, if I think its necessary. I can't do anything about making the subtitles stand out, block lettering isn't an option. I am frustrated about this, but haven't found any solution to the problem yet. This one, is being written on the fly. I hope it meets peoples expectations, as per the title.

I don't like getting too personal, this is one of the times where I am hesitant, but also figure, WTH, it's only a blog afterall. Blogs are supposed to be journals. I write to tell people what I believe, and this maybe is just one of those attempts to explain a Muslim's perspective on a personal matter of little significance to others, but which impacts my life perhaps weekly or less than that. I hope other people who have struggles or their own little problems have a way to cope that is as simple as mine - the purpose of a journal is to let one's feelings and ideas flow, emerge, and maybe solutions will show themselves.



The Widget Is Gone

Where did it go wrong? And where is my goo-gaa? The "Amazon Cloud" widget just took the goo-gaa and left me! I'm distraught about it; actually, I removed it because I had the idea that on November 11th (maybe I read this?) blogs with any advertising would not be allowed to publish anymore (at least not ones that are doing it the way I do, which is too vague to make sense...) I'm not making sense of this becase I am not able to put into words what I know happened.

When I first started blogging there were no issues about me having advertising popping up; I didn't have any widgets on the blog then. Then I added some widgets, videos and the last thing I added probably was the nice cloud widget. I hope I still have a bitmap of it in my files, so I can add it; I really liked the way it brightened up the page. Finally, some weeks or months ago, I read that (around this time) I couldn't have advertsising on my site, and I thought, the Amazon Cloud widget qualified as that because I noticed when I scrolled all the way down on it, there was something about a dollar figure (e.g. $2500/year). I thought it is better to be safe than sorry, so I removed it; but I am sad to see it go.

Screen shots





Stats after my event.

   You were always on my mind. You were always on my mind.Where did it go wrong? And, where is my goo-gaa?