Like much of what we see on the news these days, the burqini issue was all consuming when it trended but ephemeral in its media shelf life. Media outlets would rather repeat what Donald Trump has to say over and over again. Given he repeats himself often, the double repetition serves as a hypnotic trance... Continue Reading →
My Burkini and I
Tell me do I look opressed, unhygenic or like a terrorist in these pictures to you? If you said yes to any of them above then please click here and check yourself! Kudos to the creator of the Burkini - Ahiida designs.
The role of the Other in the economics of fear
The ‘Other’ is not a new concept. As a society we have marginalised minorities and those that we disagree with or misunderstand for hundreds of years. It is a social construct by which we develop not only our own identity but shape the identity of others. And it is the group or groups with greater... Continue Reading →
Great Expectations
A friend of mine messaged me yesterday and asked me something along the lines of, '..how was it that I wanted to go out to parties with my friends and you didn't Shaf..I would love to know the secret if there is any of how you passed those years without getting into severe trouble!!' I... Continue Reading →
Response to: ‘Is music making men malicious?’
Some of you may have read my post "Is music making men malicious?" One of my friends, Siam Syed read it and wrote the below which makes some very interesting points and I wanted to share with you. * * * * * * I don’t disagree with what you’re saying, he does use vulgarity, violence... Continue Reading →
Bangladesh unmasked – December 2012
December 2012 saw me travel around Bangladesh doing all sorts of stuff! This post is going to be quite long and eclectic in its collection of topics but I hope you enjoy it. This holiday was kind of disappointing in that it wasn’t what a typical holiday used to be. All my cousins were either... Continue Reading →
Family Values
I opened up the SMH website this morning and was immediately faced with several articles that made me wonder at the deplorable state of our social and familial values in this day and age. Five years ago I do not recall opening up the paper and reading things like, Lane dumped baby in bushland: taxi... Continue Reading →
The Arab Spring
I came across this term whilst reading the news recently. The Arab Spring – It sounded quaint and placid till I read what it meant – it is used to describe the revolt and armed intervention that is sweeping the Arab world. The term is meant to imply that akin to a caterpillar bursting out... Continue Reading →
Category: Disaster. Year: 2011
Disaster. The word is defined by merriam-webster as “a sudden calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, or destruction; broadly: a sudden or great misfortune or failure.” Somehow, in light of everything that has happened in the last three months, this is a major understatement. Disaster cannot even begin to encompass the tragedy, devastation and crushing... Continue Reading →
Valentines day Lamentines day
Yes. As you may have gleaned from the title, I am not a big fan of Valentines day. Now before you dismiss this as another rant from another disgruntled and envious single person let me tell you that this ‘rant’ is more a discussion of what Valentines Day is, was, and has become rather than... Continue Reading →