The DaVinci Code

Someone please tell me what's all the hype about? I mean it was marketed extensively on all the documentary channels and thru all other means of advertising possible. It was an okay movie. Ending was kinda too fictitious but overall, I would rate it a B+. I caught the very first show and when I came back that night, I witnessed chaos in news about this particular movie. Churches protesting it, tons of religious groups boycotting it, people appealing not to watch it since it 'mocks' Christ's prophethood. Many Islamic groups also boycotting it because Muslims consider Jesus as a Prophet also.

Ahem, how about we try to understand the definition of 'fiction'. It is a fictitious novel with twisted historical facts and presents a factual theory thru logical means for pure entertainment. Is that too hard to understand? Again in other words, it is merely based on assumptions and speculations and it is nothing factual. Yes, there are elements of truth but that doesn't make the whole theory factual from any angle.

For boycotting Christian groups: I can fully understand the anger by Christians about this book/movie. If a similar book is written about Islam and our Prophet, I have no doubt it will create a huge fuss with fatwas of murder and mayhem flying all across the globe being passed on from one 'religious' nation to another. Response by Roman church is noticeably mild, and for a reason. Excesses of Roman churches in the past had resulted in the vigor displayed to protect freedom of speech. And this book is an example of freedom of speech and opinion. Moreover, it is widely agreed that it is a piece of imagination and forwards a theory based on assumptions, which are most likely to be absurd. Please keep that in mind before throwing such trash on a movie.

For boycotting Muslims: First and foremost, since the story is sold as fiction; trying to find parallels from Islamic rulings seem kinda insane. However, from a Muslim stand point, to the best of my knowledge, Quran is silent on whether Jesus ever married or had kids. And one way or the other, it does not impact his Prophetic teachings or status. I, for one, never heard that Jesus was married so I assumed that he never was. Whether he was or not, it does not affect his status at all and when this theory is said to be totally factual by the theorist himself, it stands baseless to be argued upon, in my humble opinion.

For those who are Muslims and still pro-boycotts: Why should Muslims be outraged by this book, other than the blanket reason that no book should be written about any religious figure, which frankly is an absurd argument, IMO. The book does not mock Christ as a Prophet of God, however, it does present an alternative theory that contradicts some of the beliefs added by the Church about Christ. Jesus Christ's prophethood is not questioned in the book, at all.

Whatever it was, the movie opened with second highest hit ever during its first weekend in box office. From a marketer's point of view, hats off to the publicists. They did an amazing job in advertising it and growing the curiosity grow among the audience until the last minute. "It brought in over $77 million domestically and over $230 million worldwide. It is the second biggest worldwide opening of all time, trailing only Star Wars: Episode III from last year which took in over $250 million" even when so many people are claiming to boycott it. Isn't it spectacular?

Sanity anyone?

We thought that King Abdullah will bring some sanity around but apparently not. It's still the same more or less. Personally, I don't even wanna blame the King for this but the little we-will-do-what-we-wanna-do "religious" groups who keep on enforcing narrow-minded and unislamic - yes, i said unislamic - ideas to the monarchy.

Whatever happens to all that desperateness people have for letting Saudi women drive, these "religious conservatives" thought that they will slap once more to kill any hopes there are.

"There are photographs published in some newspapers ... and one needs to think
if he would want his daughter, sister or wife to appear like that. Of course, no
one would," the king was quoted as saying at a meeting with newspaper editors
late on Monday. "Young people are driven by emotion and the spirit, but the
spirit can go astray. So I ask you to go easy on these things."

When the King asks the (presumably) men if they would want our dear ones to "appear like that", at the most, it would be a headshot with a headscarf by the way. Go figure.

Right now, I won't really blame the King as I think that he is truly inspired by the pressure from certain Wahhabi groups. Let's hope that King Abdullah brings some sanity to this part of the world before he himself loses it all.

Blogging Personality!

Your Blogging Type is Social and Responsible

You enjoy blogging and do all you can to advance the blogging community. From helping friends set up blogs to getting rid of spam - you take a leadership role. A super blogger, you tend to blog regularly. You'd hate to disappoint your audience. And always appropriate, there's no way you'd blog something too personal!

I'm a bitch, I'm a lover, I'm a child, I'm a mother...

I just stumbled upon this classic song last night. One of the songs that just gets stuck in your head and you can't get it out.

However, that's not what I'm pointing out. According to my observations, just trust me on this one, it seems like the word "bitch" is being used as one of the ultra cool new items among the shabab culture's lexicon in the Magical Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Follwing are a few excerpts heard at any random mall over the past year and what I can remember. (context: random people screaming on their cell phones).

First one:
"Dude, she dumped you?"
"Yeah her parents caught her, whatever, she was a bitch aslan" (aslan is really)

Second one:
"What do you mean we have to break up and it was a big mistake? You feel bad about your parents? YOU BITCH! You're just a pure bitch who enjoys dumping people. I bet you did this to thousands of boys before me"

Third:
"Check out the bitch (and/or slut/ whore) next to the escalator, isn't she checking you out?Man, I bet you could get her to go out in a day!"
"No kidding, kam ta3teeny ya sheikh...Tsadeg, from the looks of it, hal G***A isn't going to take me more than an hour!" (I do not feel the need to translate).

Anyways, yeah so you get my point? It's amazing how such words appeal so much to the shabab culture and nothing else for that matter. If they ever trip to think over these "bitches" who actually turn out to be mothers later on, they just might think twice before judging.

Oh well, happy Mother's Day you all!

Changing America

As it was on CNN yesterday, according to Mr.President, "the privacy of ordinary Americans is fiercely protected in all our activities...our efforts are focused on links to al Qaeda and their known affiliates."

I wonder what defines 'Al Qaeda suspects'? Perhaps, anyone who is ethnically an Arab or is it targeting someone who has any relation to Arabs (that can possibly include almost everyone). Also, this NSA stuff came up at a really wrong time, I guess. Especially for Bush and Republicans.

Oh, and on the other hand, I was listening to the radio just like that yesterday morning. There was a report that almost 50% of children under 5 years are non-white. Now if one calculates, after 13-15 years, these are the people who are gonna be voting. Do we see a change in politics in the future and thus the marketing and products changing the corporate US? Perhaps yes. What do you guys think?

back back back again!

Weather report:

Not the exactitude of ideal circumstances, I am still being chained inside with the perfect breeze blowing about the perfect weather in the city. Tomorrow starts the new semester, and well, different classes. It's still foggy out there as I'm not sure how busy I will be but forecast is quite clear for the whole semester in terms of being determined. Other than that, things are a little shady and my forced-unannounced-vacation just got over and I'll be posting more frequently from now on.