Reviving the Islamic Spirit

This weekend was the 10th annual Reviving the Islamic Spirit Conference. It has been great, as always heart warming and a real revival. The speakers are fabulous and they always have new speakers. This year was sold out and over 20 000 people attended. Many travelled from America and abroad. It is an event created by youth made for youth. They have all done a fabulous job creating this event, and expanding it year after year. Yesterday I heard Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens speak, he is such a gentle and humble man. He mentioned a very beautiful quote from a lady that stated "Only when I found God is when I found happiness." He also spoke of what is going on in the middle east and played his song "My People." I will be posting gems later this week.

Democracy Now

Thousands march for democracy in Cairo as we sit comfortably watching on our television screens. In the west much attention is paid to a backwards nature of the Muslim world. The us versus them mentality is alive and well and has been for a long time. We are the civilized elite, the one's who follow true democracy and venture to other areas of the world to preach this philosophy. Yet when it is brought to the limelight in Egypt we sit in shock, wonder what is going on. We judge what is happening as if it is negative. A country rises up to an oppressor, a dictator, a man who has sat in his throne for decades and led his people into turmoil. Egyptians are marching in the thousands to have freedom, to experience democracy, to have basic human rights, and gain justice. They deserve justice just as much as anyone in the world deserves it. As we sit and watch we should think about what justice means to us, and how we would feel in their shoes. We should definitely support people who march for democracy if we value it at all.