Jason — I am bad.. but mentally!

I doubt this will be your last post because like you are stating that you care enough to write this, and I can see that you will write more.. I was wondering why you decided to write now and not last week.

On the other hand, I appreciate your sincerity, but please, just email it to me next time.. you keep wanting to write!! Why don’t you have a blog? You seem to be a person filled with many thoughts and ideals.. why not share them with the world? Even refute my responses in your own blog!

And yes I am very arrogant at times.. it is a natural human characteristic in each of us that spurs at any moment..

thank you

-Mona

Nor would my post be of any use to you most importantly nor to anyone who sees your put down of a culture on your site be exposed to an ongoing conversation, trying to explane this phenomenon of ’self-hate’ be it young people’s self-hate, Arab self-hate, American self-hate, Muslim self-hate, Christian self-hate and so many other flavors.

“Seriously, do you think the rage within me is because I am an Arab?” then you please tell us what is really your rage about. From your posts and put downs and your tags, it is mostly Arab-flavored. If I am issing something, please direct me.

“I may not be perfect” No one was saying you are not or are or should be. You admit you have some conflicting feelings, don
t you? Am I missing something? Isn’t this blog reflecting a little discomfort you have or am I making it up? My post was meant as another modest light so we can limit this needless self hate and deal with it and make it less painful. Please spare me the PC and syrupy garbage about being judgemental. Almost all of your posts are just that. When an echo is coming back the other way, then we flip the “judgemental” card. viewpoints are very relative to where one is standing.

“Naturally, why would I even discuss or insult other cultures? What will I benefit from that if I have nothing to do with them.” You miss the point. once again: IF you used the same put downs you use describing your heritage and its people on ANOTHER heritage, people would be on your back for being needlessly racist and insensitive. ie you don’t realize how harsh and needless your comment is for a large swath of mostly good people. I wish you had no discomfort, but even if you do, I am not sure it is an excuse to bash others. Does that make you feel better?

“That people who come here and post stupid comments did not have a positive intention when they came to my site to begin with. ” If you choose to be on the boundless internet, good luck trying to get into people’s mind and figure out who is wholesome in their intent or not. One can’t even do it with people in front of them. All you can go by is what they actually say while abiding by rules and etiquette. Getting down the gutter to their level is not necessary and you can defend yourself really well without such lists. You can drive your point without it. (Maybe they were drawn to the Arab Dating Services ads on the bottom of the page – that certainly is a contradiction…that pays)

” I feel that you spent too much time trying to preach to the choir.” Maybe I took the time because I do wish you well and do care. This isn’t about me or a rebuttal on behalf of ANY culture. All I am trying to tell you is try to look at the positive, focus less on the dreary and don’t bring a whole culture down because of foul moof. A lot of other Arabs and Muslims are in the same boat as you and we are all trying to figure out how to fit a lot fo things in to make it work, to make it fit the times and to live peacefully next to other friendly cultures while still being proud of ours. Nothing worng with that.

“This journal site is mine. I write whatever I like, I discuss and accept any comment I like. I have full power because I can. It is the only thing I have that makes me superior as an individual and to others.” This was uncalled for and uncharacteristic of you Mona. It smells arrogant and desperate. This isn’t a power struggle hand reach. It is a friendly well-meaning one. No need for the defensive, passive aggressive stuff.

“Only thing I have and ever will.” No it isn’t and I hope it isn’t. The bar is a lot higher, Mona. Have faith.

“So respect that please and realize that most bloggers out there are only blogging to prove one point. THEIR OWN!” You watch too many soaps and syrupy stuff, now. No the world doesn’t revolve around me nor you nor the next gal or guy or group of people. This self-centered, entitlement thinking is ruining relationships. When you open a public forum and go on about ANy group of issue, your own or other’s, it has consequence, ie people are either gratified or hurt and they will respond and you have to articulate your reason for saying such hurtful things. If you didn’t want your views challenged or disliked, then it is better to confine them to a written paper journal. On the web, it husrts others a lot more easily and please don’t make light of that ‘attack’ as if you are entitled to do anything. No one is. I am not entitiled to do 120 mph on the highway just because I like to. I can’t throw garbage on the road. I can’t take my neighbors stuff. I can’t just slam the door on my boss and not fear retribution or firing. The world does not revolve around me. My actions have consequence. Expecially public actions.

I bet you feel because you feel crabby, you can look grumpy around your family and mope if they say something you don’t like or disappear into your room to avoid thei contact, you think thatis going to solve anything. It isn’t. You’re missing the chance to make yourself heard and be part of a family, not just roomates. It is not my kids’ right to mope all the time like a carpicious teenager who didn’t get the toy or clothing or car they wanted.

If one is an adult, you don’t give up on your family. You keep trying to make them listen and be part of them and not shut them out, no matter how backwards they sound. Turn them arond your way slowly and they’ll open their eyes. The more grumpy and isolated you seem, the mosre stubborn they remain.

People are not all of a sudden gong to wake up and be exactly the way you want them. Those epiphanies just don’t happen by themsleves. You have to give them a reason to WANT to include you and change their ways to please you.

You staying at work to avoid them just delays that problem solving day. You’d be amazed how very much ready they’d be to be less of a pain if you met them with a smaile, a hug and a civil talk, while staying strong and resolute. Ultimately they love you more than you imagine.

And you have alot more friends than you’d care to know.

I am not posting a long message to tell you what you want to hear. I’ll leave that to others who want to kiss up to you with vacuous one liners that do NOTHING to help you, just pander. Nor do I write to judge or lecture or bore you or criticize you like some adverse comments do. I simply throw suggestions at you and shed some light on how to deal with these ’stern’ parents of yours and these sad feelings of yours. It could be ANY young misunderstood young person out there of any bacground or religion or part of the world. These generational frustrations are unversal.

I write this because I do wish you the best.

Most Sincerely