How I was introduced to human rights and social justice issues

From a very young age, I was always interested in learning about helping others. I also loved to learn about different cultures from all around the world. I remember watching middle eastern news such as Al-Jazeera and Press TV with my parents and pestering them with questions to the point where they would sigh in exhaustion and send me to my room to read a book or do something more elementary school girl-like. Not that my parents forced their political beliefs down my throat or brainwashed me into believing certain things, because they definitely didn't. I just often overheard their political conversations and watched the news with them, only half paying attention because I honestly couldn't keep up with the dense issues they often talked about. 

My interest in social justice didn't come until later around 8th grade and freshmen year when I joined a social blogging platform called Tumblr. Tumblr and I became inseperable. I spent almost every day on Tumblr reading about others' lives, reblogging pleasing pictures, and liking hilarious posts. Naturally, I also came to learn a lot about the world especially many oppressed people in the America, including women, LGBTQ+ advocates, and other minorities. I at first thought that these people were making a big deal out of it and complained about very minuscule things. But after a while, I came to realize that when thought about, these issues are actually very significant in affecting the bigger picture. I slowly became introduced into the world of progressivism, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights. 

Learning about the flaws of the world often made me angry, sad, and upset that changes in the world aren't happening fast enough. I will admit that I still sometimes get angry and upset about the realities of the world. But it is important to know that change comes very slowly, and that it also comes with many people making the effort, instead of sitting around waiting for others to do it. If you are just being introduced to social justice issues and human rights, you should be reminded that you should always stick up for what you believe in, and fight for it too. While we may think we are just one average human in the world of billions of humans, it is also important to remember this quote by Libba Bray, "And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time."

Islam means peace

Shocking I know.
But really, something needs to be said over the growing ignorance over 23% of the world's population, aka Muslims. If you've been watching national news within the past two decades, you probably know what I mean.
In the news, Islam, terrorism, and extremism have many times been said in the same sentence. Let's take this for example, when you hear the word "jihadist," you probably picture a terrorist in a turban with a gun in his hand. Which is fair to assume considering that's what the media calls them. But in reality, "jihad" in Arabic simply means the "struggle." When westerners use the word jihadist to describe a terrorist, they're giving a negative connotation to a very common word in Arabic.
Being a Muslim in the west is no doubt a jihad. (Do you see what I did there?) Especially after the unfortunate events of 9/11, where terrorist groups hijacked four planes and flew them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and killed 2,977 victims in the attacks.
Personally, I believe no group of people have been affected more by 9/11 than Muslims. Before 9/11, hate crimes against Muslims went from the second least reported to after 9/11 when it became the second most and went up by almost 1600%. Not to mention the approx. 145,000 Iraqi civillians killed due to military occupation by the west from 2003 till now, but we'll save that topic for another post.

Being a Muslim female, especially a hijabi Muslim female is a struggle, or as I said before, jihad. Many love to ask "are you bald under there?" or "what are you hiding under your hijab?" and the favorite "do you shower with it on?" I personally don't wear the hijab, but witnessing what many of my relatives and friends go through is definitely one that gives me some insight on being a hijabi. Many see wearing the hijab as a sign of oppression and restriction, when in reality, it is freedom, choice, and becoming stronger with your faith. Don't get me wrong-- becoming a hijabi is definitely a long process and a jihad, which is why I know I'm not quite ready for it just yet, but for many, it is a long process well worth it.

There are very many misconceptions about Islam, mostly brought on by the media, however it is my, and many other Muslims goal to shed a light on the reality of Islam and how it is a peaceful, non-violent religion that endorses feminism and women's rights. Muslims are just like any other kind of people, and the incredibly minute minority that call themselves Muslims do not represent us.

A very brief history of Palestine and the conflicts with Israel

Palestine is a country located in the Middle East. It borders Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. Well known and religious cities in Palestine include Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

The Palestine vs. Israel issue is definitely considered a complicated and controversial subject. People who support Israel are considered "Zionists." The definition of Zionism is the movement for the protection of a Jewish state currently known as Israel. It was a political organization began by Theodore Herzl in 1857.

The United Nations imposed the Partition Plan of Palestine that decided it would break Palestine and Israel in half. 

The Arabs nor the Israelis were very happy with this, and so went many wars and conflicts the Arab-Israeli War of 1948, where Palestinians rejected the partition plan because they felt that they deserved the right to all of their land, and not just half. After the war, the 1949 Armistice Agreements established separation lines between the two. Israel controlled areas originally designated for Palestine, Transjordan controlled the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, and Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip. The Six-Day War was fought between June 5th-10th in 1967, with Israel being victorious and seizing control of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. The U.N. Security Council called for Israel's withdrawal from territories occupied, based on Resolution 242, the "land for peace" formula. 

In 1974, the Palestine Liberation Organization was recognized as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. The intifada was another resistance organization and uprising that was sparked by more than 20 years of military occupation, oppression, and confiscation of land. Between 1987 and 1983, over a thousand Palestinians were killed and more thousands injured, detained, or imprisoned in Israel or deported from Palestinian territories. 

Peace negotiations started in 1993, with the Oslo Accords. It was the first direct, face to face agreement between Israel and the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization) and was signed and intended to provide a process for relations and affairs between the two parties. However, in 1995 when Prime minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. Since then, many peace proposals, including the Camp David Summit (2000), Taba Summit (2001), the Road Map for Peace (2002), and the Arab Peace Initiative (2002 and 2007) have made no success. 

Many issues remain to be settled between Israelis and Palestinians before an independent state of Palestine is formed, but negotiations are ongoing. 

My first experience at a human rights protest

On July 24th, 2014, I attended my first pro-Palestine protest. The recent events in Palestine that summer ignited reactions from all over the world, whether in Japan, London, Chicago, or even Israel, people came together to demand an end to Israeli apartheid and the inhumane bombings in Gaza. One protest took place in Iowa City which was the one I was fortunate enough to go to.
It started with a friend who texted me about the information a day earlier. Because I wasn't able to go to a protest in Chicago I was originally planning on going to, going to the one in Iowa City instead seemed like a perfect opportunity. I told my parents and a few friends in Cedar Rapids about it who I felt would be interested. A friend contacted me back and we decided we would both drive to Iowa City to participate in this protest. I bought a poster and wrote "END ISRAELI AGGRESSION. Free Palestine." As pictured below. We took the 40 minute drive from Cedar Rapids to downtown Iowa City.

When my friend and I finally reached the Pentacrest, where the protest was held, we were surprised by the amount of people showing their support. There were a good 40-50 people which definitely wasn't as much as the thousands that showed up in Chicago or the hundreds of thousands in London, but it was definitely a strong group who made their voices heard. 

We chanted things such as "Free Free Palestine!" and "End the Siege on Gaza Now!" I was even interviewed on KCRG, and the protest was featured on the evening news. Despite our permit not specifically saying we could do this, we marched through the streets and continued assertively shouting slogans. Many people honked in support, raised their thumbs up, and shouted encouragement. Some also insulted, called us terrorists supporters, and threw things at us. 

Despite the little hate we got, coming together with people of all backgrounds and ages to unite for an important cause was a good experience. I met many people who were from Palestine, went to Palestine, or just merely wanted to show their support --like me-- and had very interesting stories and experiences there. I also met a few Veterans for Peace who shared their poems and experiences in the military and the Middle East. By the end of the event, my throat was scratchy and my legs were tired. 

Being at this protest made me feel proud to show my support. It was also a good experience to meet new people who shared my ideas. I would definitely like to attend more of these protests and maybe even organize a few of my own. 

I encourage you to join protests about causes you feel passionate for. Whether it's about exercising your freedom of speech, or standing up for a good cause, your support truly matters. 

Police Brutality in America

To be a police officer, you are meant to protect and serve the citizens. However, in modern day America, this may not be the case. An increasing amount of police brutality has been going on in America, including the  case with Michael Brown, a post I wrote about earlier this weekend.

Wikepedia defines police brutality as "the wanton use of excessive force, usually physical, but potentially in the form of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by a police officer." Police brutality is no longer a few policemen making making wrong decisions or going crazy, but rather a systemic issue. Police brutality happens for a number of reasons.
First off, Police are expected to use force because their superiors and the citizens expect them to, so gradually and over time they develop a sense of superiority and authority over others. Because of this higher feeling, they typically feel as though they can do anything, including misconduct of violence. Another, more pressing issue is racism. It it no coincidence that minorities, including Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Jessica Klyzek, Darrin Manning, Neykeyia Parker, William Pryer, and most recently Daniele Watts are unfairly targeted more than white people, due to systematic and institutionalized racism and the increasing violence towards minorities especially African Americans. 

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If you don't believe me, listen to these statistics: 89% of the people who died in NYPD custody between the years 1990 and 1994 were African American or Hispanic (Elisha, Joshua, & Zenobia). In 2012, at least 313 African Americans were killed. Which means that every 28 hours, another African American was killed due to brutality by security officers or police men. (found here) Not to mention that while African Americans make up 13.1% of our nation's population, nearly 40% are in prison. Still don't believe me? Watch this video of a man maced and arrested by a security guard merely because he was passing by a white man aggravating a group of pro-Palestine protesters.
So how do we solve this problem? Well ending police brutality isn't as simple as signing a petition or going out on the streets to protest, while that does certainly help shed a light and raise awareness on the current injustices, as well as show your support, ending police brutality means all of us, but specifically police, must put an end to racial profiling and violence. Laws must be put in place to give police the adequate training they need to deal with situations where violence is unneeded, as well as to only use violence as a very last resort. Police officers need mental and psychological training as well as complete a test to make sure they're the right kind of people to maintain and protect justice and the law.
So, take to the streets, vote out politicians who condone police brutality, join organizations and movements in your town, and if you don't have them, start them. Ending police brutality is definitely something that requires many people, no matter how big or small, to support.

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Remembering Michael Brown and the Aftermath

Michael Brown was born on May 20th, 1996 and was the son of Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr. He attended Normandy High School and graduated 8 days before his death. Teachers though of him as a "gentle giant" and "a student who loomed large and didn't cause trouble." Brown had no previous criminal record or serious felony convictions.

Michael Brown was an amateur rapper and posted his tracks online under the name of "Big Mike." He planned to attend Vatterott College and become a heating and cooling engineer. While most of his friends wanted to be sports players, he wanted to own his own business. (Source)

Then suddenly, on August 9th, 2014, Michael Brown, unarmed, walking home with a friend, was shot by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.

Your first question must probably be: "Why? Why did he shoot Michael Brown? Surely something else must have happened."

Now, it is said that prior to the incident Brown and his friend went to a convenience store and stole cigars, however, police clarified that at the time of the shooting, Wilson was unaware of this, and stopped Michael Brown for jaywalking and not the robbery.

Video tape of Brown allegedly robbing store

The simple, yet controversial answer is this: it's because of the ongoing police brutality among minorities and lower-class citizens. Racism and ignorance unfortunately played a big role in Michael Brown's death.

Wilson never faced serious consequences for his actions and is currently on paid leave.

The reaction of the Ferguson citizens was what you'd expect. Peaceful yet assertive protests demanding justice for Brown and his family. Slogans such as "Hands Up Don't Shoot" and "Black Lives Matter" were chanted and written on posters.

 A few protesters began to loot shops during protests, so police came in and began to throw teargases at the entirety of protesters, use violence, and shoot rubber bullets. The media reported the protests as "riots," which led to let most people assume that these protests were violent and the police were coming in to keep it calm, when in fact it was the other way around.

Ferguson protests continue, and so does the demand for the justice of Mike Brown. The question is, how do we prevent this from going on? Well many argue that we must improve the counselling for police officers and force them to go through psychology and mental health classes, and make sure they're not only physically, but also mentally prepared for becoming an officer. However, another solution is even more difficult to get rid of, and that is the rampant racism our country has been built on. Even though we may feel like racism is long gone in America, we still have a long way to go, and Michael Brown's murder is a clear example.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Donate to Michael Brown's family
Help the citizens and city of Ferguson
Demand an end to police brutality

Humanity, Human Rights and Social Justice: An Introduction and Why We Should Care

Webster's dictionary defines "humanity" as "the quality or state of being human." But what exactly is being human? Well walking on 2 legs, having opposable thumbs, and a greater IQ than the rest of the mammals on earth are definitely important qualities to being human, but what about deep inside? What, emotionally, mentally, and physically makes us humans, humans?

Human rights are the basic and moral rights humans are entitled to have such as security, freedom, the pursuit of happiness, and liberties. Human rights movements emphasize the importance of these rights and why we should care about one another. Human rights groups from Amnesty International to the UNRWA stress the importance of supporting and helping the well-being of others who are denied their human rights from current issues in the Middle East and Eastern Europe to human trafficking, ethnic genocide, female infanticide and gendercide, and many other pressing issues. Human rights activists are known for exposing the injustices and crimes of the world, taking to the streets in protest, signing petitions, and sending aid to various places that need it.

Social justice is a smaller but still a very important part of human rights and is defined as promoting a just and equal society where everyone can contribute. Well known social justice advocates such as feminists and LGBTQ+ supporters emphasize the importance of equality and challenge societal norms.

To be a human rights advocate, the first step you need to take is to care. In my own opinion, as humans, many of us undermine the concept of humanity, but when you take a step back and look at the whole picture, helping and caring for the well-being of others is a very important part of it.

The second step to being a human rights advocate is to rethink and challenge the culture around us. Our society has been built by oppression, superiority over others, racial and sexual inequality, and war and genocide. It is time to take down those building blocks and start from the beginning again, this time the right way.

The third and most important step is to stand up for what you believe in. If justice is your message, never let others, whether they're family, friends, teachers, co-workers, or classmates, bring you down. Whether it's spreading and promoting your message through art, protests, blogging, or even Twitter, you will always have people disagreeing with you. The important thing to do is to not let them bring you down and continue fighting for your message to be heard.

So, back on humanity. Humans can be incredible, wicked, evil, yet generous, kind, and thoughtful people. Throughout the year, both crimes against humanity and acts of humanity will be written on this blog. It is up to you and I as readers and humans to find out why people do this, how we can help people who are suffering, and how we can prevent history from repeating itself like it has so many times in the past.