#that supporting charities that feed children is considered political

[statementlou]

Louis might not be chucking bricks at No. 10, but people are responding like he’s never displayed leftist politics or challenged a government position on anything. He supported demands to the government about a fix for UK touring musician post Brexit and Marcus Rashford’s petition about food insecurity. He fought the police about their social media use in 2018 and criticised the UK government position/support for factory workers in the pandemic. The things he speaks about are usually UK issues and meaningful to him or his family and friends. He’s also most likely to speak when he isn’t working. Also that specific anarchy has a punk anti authoritarian message as well. That statement fits Louis pretty well. He has been a poster boy for not sitting down and shutting up and doing what you’re told since 2012. If he was he probably wouldn’t have a solo career and he definitely wouldn’t have sold out the O2.

I like this point about him speaking out more when he's not working, I think that's a really great and useful observation and makes so much sense. I feel like it makes sense in two ways right now: like first, I don't blame him for not wanting to do things that would jeopardize how beautifully everything is going for him right now after the number of setbacks and troubles he's had to get here, it must feel so precarious. And knowing for a fact that any political statement you make will spawn a dozen tabloid stories and all kinds of outrage is bad enough, but add to that the fact that it's simply impossible to predict which thing will turn into a huge viral mess- it's a lot. And second, he's not just working, he's been on TOUR! I've been around musicians my whole life and one constant is that tour is time outside of normal time and life, it's a bubble, it's only paying attention to right where you are and what's in front of you and the people there with you and everything else is put off and neglected, is for when you get home (and have massive post tour letdown depression and fatigue). I'm not saying he can disconnect with the outside world entirely... but putting everything on pause? I would be surprised if it were any other way, and I would be surprised if he's been following the news and counter news and so forth closely enough to feel comfortable speaking out publicly about anything when it will be so scrutinized and picked apart. I would add to your list supporting the rail strike (something we wouldn't even know about if it hadn't been tossed in as an aside by an interviewer in the print only version of a piece, he didn't post about it or anything) and attending and posting about the BLM protests (not to mention telling people to pirate his stuff come on how punk is that), and I agree he is much more likely to speak out about UK issues which makes sense: most people are most moved by issues that are close to their lives in some way, and it's his brand. And I agree that even though as an anarchist I love talking about what anarchism as a political ideology actually is, the symbol does also have a common meaning in the world as just basically standing for anti-authoritarianism, and Louis as a guy who rejects authority and the status quo is nothing new at all and one of the reasons we love him, and in the last few years I feel like he's been going further in that direction both aesthetically and politically, and we love to see it! Plus he has pretty much always sported this slightly punky aesthetic to some degree, even when he was being dressed up like a little ken doll he snuck in skater looks and indie band tees and so forth (something something it's part of why his fanbase was so primed to love his new sound and it wasn't the risk he feared it was because people were always drawn to him who were already into that aesthetic even when his sound wasn't that yet) it's not like it's just a brand new out of nowhere side of him or something.

[phoenixyfriend]

VP Kamala Harris is calling for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

I was alerted to this by the BBC Global News podcast. AP News has a full article on the speech itself, which was not held about Israel and Palestine, but was rather focused on domestic issues of race equality, as the speech was given in Selma, Alabama, on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday (a 1965 Civil Rights march that ended in police violence). There is also a Reuters article if you prefer those.

Despite VP Harris's incredible dedication to the topic of combating anti-black racism in the US and position as a figurehead and spokeswoman for many in that regard, she did find time in her speech for the following:

THINGS OF NOTE:

Harris is still, technically, holding to the party line on the topic of 'Israel has a right to defend itself.' At this point, I'm sure we've all seen enough arguments on whether or not that right is something Israel actually has, given its violations of the international laws of occupation, but it does read to me as more lip service than actual sincerity at this point.

Harris puts the onus of agreeing to a ceasefire on Hamas, rather than Israel. Given Netanyahu's months of explicit refusal to consider a ceasefire unless Hamas is completely and utterly destroyed (and with them, Gaza), this is... not great. Not great. She said, "Hamas claims it wants a ceasefire. Well, there is a deal on the table. And as we have said, Hamas needs to agree to that deal. Let’s get a ceasefire. Let’s reunite the hostages with their families. And let’s provide immediate relief to the people of Gaza."

The 'immediate ceasefire' is still just the 6-week pause that Biden has been talking about, rather than a permanent one.

The speech included "The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses." This statement is interesting to look at in light of the US recently hitting a watershed moment and beginning airdrops of relief aid, something so inefficient that they were reluctant to engage with it until given no other choice. The preference was trucks, which are more efficient in terms of quantity, fuel usage, risk of damage from wind blowing things off course, etc. The 'no other choice' is in regards to whether or not the trucks could still get in, not in regards to international or domestic pressure, though that was likely a factor as well.

We got what I believe are some of the harshest and most direct criticisms of Israel's actions so far: "What we are seeing every day in Gaza is devastating. We have seen reports of families eating leaves or animal feed. Women giving birth to malnourished babies with little or no medical care, and children dying from malnutrition and dehydration. Our hearts break for the victims of that horrific tragedy and for all the innocent people in Gaza who are suffering from what is clearly a humanitarian catastrophe. People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane."

These comments are receiving international coverage, though I'm a bit concerned by how... blase and unconcerned Israeli media seems to be, though since this particular journal (Times of Israel) claims to be non-partisan, maybe that's why? That said, Al Jazeera is also calling it a 'rare rebuke,' which I would guess is a good sign for the shifting of DC's position on the subject when combined with the recent aid drops.

As usual, I am not a political expert, I just like to gather and share information; please go to actual experts when trying to understand what politicians' actions mean. I do, however, want you to call your reps. Here's a guide on how to do it.

To support my blogging so I can move out of my parents' house, I do have a ko-fi. Alternately, you can donate to one of the charities I list in this post.

[hero-israel]

The "Left" has been braying about fascism for years and yet, and YET, I know none of them have even skimmed a single sentence of Ur-Fascism by Umberto Eco. If you've read it, you'll immediately start saying "Oh that's Hamas!" at basically every point he made.

Hamas has used some of the most conservative and harsh readings of Islamic theology to create a cult of tradition, they fundamentally reject modernity as an evil plague of the West, they call on Palestinians to "resist" and "struggle" and plan grandiose attacks like 10/7 with no real concrete long term tenable goals that can be gleaned- action for action's sake.

Disagreement is treason, that much is obvious. Children in preschool are taught to fear and hate Jews (fear of difference), and at the same time teach the "middle" classes that Jews are responsible for their economic hardship as if they aren't embezzling tens of millions of dollars from a global charity scam, that Jews are ever seeking to take more land and resources.

Hamas is obsessed with a Plot, that plot being every antisemitic conspiracy theory under the sun. They and their supporters believe all of them, or prime their own brains to stumble down those pipelines at a later date. My personal favorites include the Ben Gurion Canal Project, but they're all sub-plots of the Main Plot; Jews are seeking to supplant us.

Hamas frames themselves and Palestinian society as a whole as both too strong to consider humble negotiated peace, and to justify endless warfare, but also too weak to be responsible for their crimes, too pathetic for Israel to ever be justified in taking military action. It's a constant cycle of hyping themselves up as a group of badass radical warriors and then squealing "no fair" when Israel uses modern weaponry to swat them away.

I'm sure there's also contempt for the weak in Gazan society, but it doesn't immediately jump out at me from Hamas' propaganda machine (this is usually shunted onto Jews anyway, who are seen as effeminate and metropolitan, feeding into that simultaneous strength and weakness thing- Israel is weak and unworthy of life, but too powerful they're the bullies actually).

Hamas literally educates everyone to become a hero, they literally groom young boys into becoming radicalized child soldiers who do not have the frontal cortex development to resist such blatant brainwashing. It's literal child abuse. Palestinian women are pretty obviously seen as chattel who must breed the future army that will finally overwhelm Al-Yahood. There is no aspect of Gazan society that can exist for itself, it must all be part of the Struggle against Israel. And everyone, down to the tiniest baby, must play their part.

The Machismo is so blatant it should be comical. But you don't gang rape Jewish women and humiliate and torture kids if you're secure in your masculinity. I mean, there is something emasculating about being constantly beaten and seeming to have no hope for your political goals... while also constantly telling yourself that you're a proud virile warrior and you and the People have the strength of will to accomplish anything... but then these people you see as subhuman and like kind of queer if you think about it... well they utterly crush you every time. And that is all to say nothing about how Hamas relates to feminism and gay rights. And also how Eco describes the Macho Fascist as using weapons as an ersatz phallic symbol and we see so many teenage boys in Gaza being handed guns and it's like oh... this one section of the essay could take years to unpack when it comes to Hamas.

And Hamas definitely treats the people of Gaza (if not all of Palestine) as having one will and one voice, individuality is not considered. We've seen them and their spineless NGO simps refuse to acknowledge that many many Gazans criticize them, protest against them, hold them equally responsible for their current suffering as Israel. There is no One Singular Leader who claims to represent Gazans/Palestinians but that could change at any moment honestly.

And I don't see any evidence of Newspeak, but I don't know Arabic so I don't know. I do see the Western Leftist allies of Hamas engage in Newspeak like behaviors though. But that brings me to my ultimate point of this long ass ask. The Western Hamas girlies are literally, not only legitimizing a fascist organization even though they purport to hate fascism more than anything. They're starting to reproduce fascist talking points, fascist ways of thinking, in their own activism and their own lives! They're starting to think, talk, and act like fascists when it comes to Israel and Palestine, and to Jews more broadly. They're entirely unaware of this because to recognize Hamas as fascists would be to add a LOT of gray into their black and white worldview. When they appropriate the Palestinian national struggle for their own narcissistic delusions of popular revolution in the West, they're taking actual fascist propaganda produced by a fascist organization and applying it to their own lives.

tl;dr, by every metric laid out by Eco, Hamas are fascists, the people who support them and make apologetics for them are (maybe unknowingly) becoming more like fascists themselves, the next few years and decades are going to thoroughly suck but Am Yisrael Chai.

.

[angelesca]

˚☽˚.⋆˚₊‧꒰ა ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚☽˚.⋆ ˚..⋆ ˚☽˚.⋆ ˚☽˚.⋆˚₊‧꒰ა ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚☽˚.⋆

𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙝 𝙙𝙪𝙢𝙥¬!

˚☽˚.⋆˚₊‧꒰ა ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚☽˚.⋆ ˚..⋆ ˚☽˚.⋆ ˚☽˚.⋆˚₊‧꒰ა ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚☽˚.⋆

(worst introduction ever)

currently, i am mostly posting fanfics of my fav stuff, plus some sprinkles of (fan)art here and there. basically i'm just sharing my love for fictional characters with everyone hihihi this masterlist will update as i write more, so stay tuned! ˚☽˚.⋆ come along with me! ˚☽˚.⋆

˚☽˚.⋆ 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭! ˚☽˚.⋆

˚☽˚.⋆ i have decided to only post sfw versions/fics of my works here on tumblr ˚☽˚.⋆ explicit nsfw versions/fics +everything else will be on my ao3 (find me @ sweetangelique) so readers can choose whichever works best for them! ˚☽˚.⋆ for my x reader fics, i aim to only write a gender-neutral reader!

˚☽˚.⋆˚₊‧꒰ა ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚☽˚.⋆ ˚..⋆ ˚☽˚.⋆ ˚☽˚.⋆˚₊‧꒰ა ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚☽˚.⋆

𝙡𝙚𝙩'𝙨 𝙜𝙤 𝙙𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜~!

˚☽˚.⋆˚₊‧꒰ა ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚☽˚.⋆ ˚..⋆ ˚☽˚.⋆ ˚☽˚.⋆˚₊‧꒰ა ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚☽˚.⋆

𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌, 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒌𝒂𝒊 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒍! ˚☽˚.⋆

˚☽˚.⋆ various • the great encounters of xianzhou luofu's haunted house ••• extras for haunted house ˚☽˚.⋆ sunday • sunday is incapable of washing his hands pt. 1 // pt. 2 • for who did the sinner turn to for solace? • vows are not meant to be exchanged with the devil ˚☽˚.⋆ aventurine • come make a fun bet with aventurine (come, come)

𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭! ˚☽˚.⋆

˚☽˚.⋆ childe • childe is kinda obsessed with you

˚☽˚.⋆˚₊‧꒰ა ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚☽˚.⋆ ˚..⋆ ˚☽˚.⋆ ˚☽˚.⋆˚₊‧꒰ა ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚☽˚.⋆

while you're here, why not take a few seconds to support these causes?

˚☽˚.⋆˚₊‧꒰ა ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚☽˚.⋆ ˚..⋆ ˚☽˚.⋆ ˚☽˚.⋆˚₊‧꒰ა ₍ᐢ. ̫.ᐢ₎ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ˚☽˚.⋆

arab.org - help support Palestinians, including education and security for women and children, poverty, and more!

it was estimated that there are about 41,000 fatalities as of now (Farge & Al-Mughrabi, 2024). yet, there are inevitably victims who were not found. this alludes to the count being higher, which is horrifying to imagine. every bit will help save many futures from this unjust ending.

plus, it's free! every click is converted to one lebanese lira (very cool!):

Women for Women - help support women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is currently in a violent political crisis, whose wars date back to 1996 and is still in an unfortunate state of conflict after 30 years (War Child UK, 2024).

other causes include supporting women following the devastation of the Iraq War, which Iraq has been recovering from since 2003 (Instability in Iraq | Global Conflict Tracker, 2024).

and many more! go check out the website! donations go towards feeding, clothing, shelters and ensuring security for women in need!!:

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) - help support hospitals, nurses and doctors on the frontline of conflicts, including Gaza, Sudan, and Lebanon.

they are 100% reliant on donations as they are independent, so donations are crucial considering the hard work and expenses needed for medical aid! and are especially critical to tackling rising casualties!:

Save the Children - help support children in over 100 countries, including Ukraine (who are still at war against Russia), Lebanon, Gaza, and many, many more!!

children are the most vulnerable, yet many are forced to grow up quickly and abandon their dreams. your donations can rekindle these opportunities for children, investing in education, food, and aiding mothers in childbirth!:

spread the word!!! awareness is important for acknowledging the existence of these issues so that the victims and civilians are not forgotten or ignored.

thanks for reading all the way here! just by doing this, you are helping to raise awareness!

sources: - Farge, E., & Al-Mughrabi, N. (2024, October 1). Gaza death toll: how many Palestinians has Israel’s campaign killed? Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-death-toll-how-many-palestinians-has-israels-campaign-killed-2024-07-25/ - Instability in Iraq | Global Conflict Tracker. (2024, Feb 13). Global Conflict Tracker. https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/political-instability-iraq - War Child UK - A safe future for every child living through war. (2024, August 28). War Child. https://www.warchild.org.uk/

[philabundance]

Changing the World, One Meal at a Time: Why Hunger Charities Are So Important

Imagine going to bed on an empty stomach.

For millions around the world, this isn’t merely a thought experiment – it’s a crippling daily reality. Hunger is a global crisis that affects every corner of the planet, from bustling cities to remote towns.

Fortunately, there’s hope. Hunger charities play a crucial role in combating this important issue, striving to ensure that everyone has access to the basic necessity of food. Read on below for a brief exploration into why these organizations are so vital and how they’re making a difference, one meal at a time.

The Magnitude of Hunger

Hunger is a complex issue: one that intersects with poverty, economic instability, and political conflict.

According to the World Food Programme, about 783 million people go to bed hungry every night. This staggering number highlights the importance of hunger charities, which work tirelessly to reduce this figure.

What happens when people don’t have enough to eat? It affects entire communities. Children struggle to concentrate in school, adults find it hard to work and support their families, and health issues become rampant. Viewed this way, you see that hunger isn’t just an individual problem – it’s a community crisis that hinders growth and development.

Hunger charities address these issues by providing food and resources to those in need.

The Role of Hunger Charities

Immediate Relief

Hunger charities are often the first responders in times of crisis. Whether it's a natural disaster, war, or economic downturn, these organizations provide immediate relief by distributing food, water, and other essentials. Their quick response can mean the difference between life and death for those affected.

Long-Term Solutions

Hunger charities don’t just focus on immediate needs. Many of the top hunger charities in the country, and the world, work on long-term solutions to tackle the root causes of hunger.

This can include initiatives like agricultural training, sustainable farming practices, and economic empowerment programs. By providing communities with the tools they need to become self-sufficient, these charities help ensure a future where hunger is no longer a daily threat.

Empowering Women and Children

One of the most impactful ways hunger charities make a difference is by empowering women and children. Women often bear the brunt of food insecurity, and their well-being is crucial to the health of the entire family. Some hunger charities provide women with livestock and agricultural training, enabling them to generate income and feed their families. 

Philabundance: One of the Top Hunger Charities in Philadelphia

Hunger and food insecurity are pervasive issues. In Philadelphia alone, over 30% of children reported experiencing this issue, according to Feeding America.

Philabundance is one of the top hunger charities in the region. Founded in 1984, their belief is that no one should go hungry while healthy food goes to waste. Their initiatives include:

Retail Rescue - Philabundance rescues perfectly good food by partnering with grocers, farmers, and others with the intention of providing it to those in need.

Hunger Relief - Philabundance provides immediate hunger relief to those who need it most, while also working towards creating long-term solutions to address food insecurity.

Workforce Development - Philabundance offers a 16-week culinary training and life skills program, the Philabundance Community Kitchen (PCK), which provides employment opportunities to no- to low-income adults.

How You Can Help

Volunteering Your Time

Hunger charities like Philabundance rely heavily on volunteers. There are countless ways to get involved: you can volunteer to pack food, serve meals at a shelter, or help with fundraising events.

Donating Resources

If you can’t volunteer, consider donating. Monetary donations go a long way, allowing charities to purchase food and supplies in bulk. Even a small amount can make a big difference.

Raising Awareness

Sometimes, the best way to help is by spreading the word. Use your social media platforms to raise awareness about hunger issues and the work hunger charities are doing. The more people know, the more support these organizations can garner.

For more information on Philabundance and their mission, visit their donation website. There, you’ll find links on how to donate, volunteer, raise funds, or use your voice to stamp out hunger in the greater Philadelphia area.

For more information about Local Food Bank and Food Rescue Us please visit:-Philabundance

[yemen-charity123]

Charities Dedicated to Combating Malnutrition: An Overview

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen has led to widespread malnutrition, affecting millions of people, particularly children. As the world grapples with the urgency of the situation, numerous charities are at the forefront, working tirelessly to combat malnutrition and provide essential aid to those in need. In this article, we delve into the critical role of charities dedicated to addressing malnutrition in Yemen, exploring avenues such as Yemen crisis donation, Yemen zakat, and the best charities to donate to in Yemen.

The Yemen Crisis: A Malnutrition Emergency:

Yemen has been grappling with a multifaceted crisis, exacerbated by conflict, economic instability, and political turmoil. One of the most dire consequences of this crisis is the widespread malnutrition affecting the population, especially children. The United Nations has repeatedly highlighted Yemen's plight, categorizing it as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Impact on Children: Malnutrition poses a severe threat to the health and well-being of children in Yemen. Lack of access to proper nutrition, clean water, and medical care has led to a staggering number of children facing acute malnutrition, with many at risk of life-threatening conditions.

Economic Challenges: The economic challenges faced by Yemeni families further compound the malnutrition crisis. Skyrocketing food prices, disrupted supply chains, and a collapsing economy have made it increasingly difficult for families to afford and access essential nutritional resources.

Humanitarian Response: Humanitarian organizations and charities have played a crucial role in addressing the malnutrition emergency in Yemen. Their efforts encompass providing food aid, medical assistance, and implementing long-term solutions to build resilience within communities.

Yemen Zakat: A Form of Charitable Giving:

Zakat, a fundamental tenet of Islam, emphasizes the obligation to give to those in need, particularly during times of crisis. Yemen zakat has become a significant avenue through which individuals can contribute to alleviating malnutrition and supporting humanitarian efforts in the country.

Islamic Philanthropy: Zakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, emphasizing the importance of charitable giving as a means of fulfilling one's religious duties. Many charitable organizations operating in Yemen actively engage in zakat initiatives to garner support for their malnutrition-focused programs.

Targeted Assistance: Yemen zakat is often directed toward specific programs addressing malnutrition, including providing nutritious food, medical treatment, and support for affected families. This targeted approach ensures that zakat funds contribute directly to combating the crisis at its core.

Collaboration with Charities: Charities dedicated to malnutrition relief in Yemen often collaborate with Islamic institutions and communities to facilitate zakat collection and distribution. This collaboration amplifies the impact of zakat contributions, reaching a broader audience in need.

Best Charities to Donate to in Yemen: Making an Impact:

Numerous charities have emerged as beacons of hope in the face of Yemen's malnutrition crisis. When considering a Yemen crisis donation, choosing the right charity is pivotal to ensuring that contributions are effectively utilized to make a meaningful impact.

World Food Programme (WFP): As one of the largest humanitarian organizations globally, WFP operates in Yemen, providing food assistance to those affected by the crisis. Donations to WFP contribute to vital programs aimed at combating malnutrition and hunger.

UNICEF: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) plays a crucial role in addressing the needs of children in Yemen. Donations to UNICEF support initiatives such as therapeutic feeding, vaccination campaigns, and the provision of clean water to combat malnutrition.

Save the Children: Save the Children operates extensively in Yemen, focusing on child protection, healthcare, and nutrition. Contributions to Save the Children aid in providing essential nutrition support to vulnerable children and families affected by malnutrition.

Islamic Relief: Islamic Relief is actively involved in Yemen, implementing projects that target malnutrition, healthcare, and livelihood support. Donations to Islamic Relief contribute to comprehensive programs that address the immediate needs of affected communities.

Yemen Aid: A charity specifically dedicated to addressing the crisis in Yemen, Yemen Aid focuses on providing humanitarian assistance, including nutrition programs, healthcare, and emergency relief. Donations directly support initiatives aimed at combating malnutrition.

How Yemen Charities Combat Malnutrition:

Charities dedicated to combating malnutrition in Yemen employ a multi-faceted approach to address the root causes of the crisis and provide immediate relief to those in need.

Food Distribution Programs: Charities organize food distribution programs to ensure that families have access to nutritious meals. These programs often include staples such as rice, beans, and fortified products to address malnutrition.

Nutritional Support for Children: Recognizing the vulnerability of children to malnutrition, charities implement specialized programs providing nutritional support, including therapeutic feeding for severely malnourished children.

Healthcare Services: Malnutrition is often accompanied by health complications. Charities provide healthcare services, including medical treatment, vaccinations, and access to clean water, contributing to overall well-being.

Community Empowerment: Long-term solutions involve empowering communities to become resilient to future crises. Charities engage in projects that focus on sustainable agriculture, livelihood support, and community development to address the root causes of malnutrition.

Call to Action: Making a Difference:

The urgency of the malnutrition crisis in Yemen necessitates collective action. Individuals around the world can make a difference by actively contributing to Yemen crisis donations, supporting zakat initiatives, and choosing reputable charities to best charity to donate to yemen ..

Stay Informed: Keeping abreast of the latest developments in Yemen and understanding the specific needs of affected communities is crucial. Information empowers individuals to make informed decisions about where their contributions can have the most significant impact.

Donate Responsibly: When making a Yemen crisis donation, it's essential to donate to reputable and transparent charities. Research the organizations, verify their credentials, and ensure that your contributions directly benefit those affected by malnutrition.

Spread Awareness: Amplifying awareness about the malnutrition crisis in Yemen and the ongoing humanitarian efforts is a powerful way to mobilize support. Utilize social media, community networks, and conversations to raise awareness and encourage others to contribute.

Advocate for Change: Beyond donations, advocating for policies and international efforts to address the root causes of the crisis is essential. Encourage governments and policymakers to prioritize humanitarian aid, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution in Yemen.

Conclusion: A Collective Effort to Combat Malnutrition:

Charities dedicated to combating malnutrition in Yemen serve as lifelines for communities grappling with the devastating consequences of the crisis. Through Yemen crisis donations, zakat contributions, and support for reputable charities, individuals can contribute to a collective effort aimed at alleviating suffering, providing hope, and building a foundation for a more resilient future in Yemen.

[mariacallous]

As the winter chill hits and the energy crisis starts to become very real, it is hard to shake off the feeling that not only is suffering becoming normalised in this country, but those in power have an ever-decreasing interest in easing it.

Few examples are starker than the news that the NHS is trialling “heating prescriptions” to give to people who can’t pay their soaring energy bills. Some patients need electricity for disability equipment, such as ventilators, wheelchairs and feeding tube pumps. Others need to put the heating on to ward off stiff arthritic joints or to ease breathing. Warmth and electricity used to be human rights – now they’re medicine.

In his autumn statement earlier this month, the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, pledged to target cost of living support to “the most vulnerable”. “British compassion”, he said, would be at the heart of government policy during these difficult times. Reality is turning out to be quite different. Those who rely on the state pension or benefits may have been given a reprieve with their payments being uprated with inflation, but they must get through a cold winter before the 10.1% rise kicks in next April. Even when it does arrive, thanks to historically low benefit rates, the increase won’t come close to covering the essentials.

Meanwhile, the government has promised additional energy help next year in the form of a cost of living payment of £900 for households on means-tested benefits, but only £150 for people on disability benefits. According to the money saving expert Martin Lewis, these unequal rules mean that thousands of disabled people and carers on particular benefits will miss out on £650.

That the government has chosen to tighten eligibility for the warm home discount, so that half a million households – many of which will include disabled people – could lose this support, just as energy costs spiral, is an insight into how much their pledge to protect “the vulnerable” is worth.

Talk to community groups and charities, and the impact of mounting bills is already showing. Over a third of families with seriously ill and disabled children have cut back or stopped using life-saving disability equipment because of rising energy costs, according to the charity Contact. Of those, 40% say this is making their child’s health worse.

Meanwhile, the Royal National Institute of Blind People reports that blind and partially sighted people are not turning on their specialist lighting, despite needing it to move around the home safely. The disability charity Scope tells me it has heard from disabled people who are considering turning off the personal alarms that are meant to trigger help if they fall, as they can no longer afford to run them. Many are already cutting back on showers; their disability means it takes longer for them to wash and each minute costs more money. Others have been forced to give up their personal assistants who help them get dressed and go out, as they had to choose between electricity and independence. Some admit they are feeling suicidal.

If this is ministers protecting “the most vulnerable”, we can only imagine what hurting them would look like. Just like when George Osborne utilised the term during the 2010 era of austerity, the “most vulnerable” narrative has never been about the government helping people in need – but excusing the fact that they aren’t. The myth is perpetuated that some people in life are inevitably vulnerable, a stagnant group created by nature rather than a government’s political choices. It conveniently shifts responsibility away from ministers, suggesting that, say, a wheelchair user is unable to live a full life because of their disability, not because the government is withholding necessary support.

Away from Westminister, the truth is that millions of people in the UK don’t know how they are going to make it through winter. The news that the poorest people will end up shelling out nearly a third of their income by next spring just to pay fuel bills shows how unsustainable all of this is. A GP’s prescription pad will not patch up the holes in the welfare state.

It is not fearmongering to suggest that without sufficient support this winter, people are going to die. Even without energy bills rising, nearly 10,000 people in the UK perish every year from living in a cold home; human beings frozen in their own front rooms.

An upcoming Christmas campaign to encourage the public to switch off their energy to save cash will help some families be more energy efficient, but it is little use for disabled families. If you use a ventilator 24/7, “cutting back on energy” is not an option.

It is only real action from ministers that will make a difference. There are solutions, such as an energy social tariff that provides a discounted rate for disabled and low-income customers, or bringing forward the one-off energy payments to this winter, and increasing the support given to those on disability benefits. The recent story of Kate Winslet donating £17,000 to pay for the electricity for a little girl’s life-support equipment reveals the alternative: energy companies collecting bloated profits, while desperate families beg for help.

Every disabled child should be able to keep their oxygen running through Christmas. No one should have to skip dinner to keep their wheelchair charged. These are hardly radical claims, nor ambitious ideals. They are the bare minimum that any wealthy society should be striving for, and a threshold Britain is bleakly failing to meet. This is the truth no minister will admit: if anyone is “vulnerable” this winter, it will be because this government has failed to help them.

[encounterthepast]

If you enjoy this please follow @RussInCheshire on twitter for his regular threads on UK politics.

As it’s the weekend, let’s start #TheWeekInTory with a frivolous and jolly story about our own govt deliberately starving hundreds of thousands of children...

1. In May, Boris Johnson promised “nobody will go hungry as a result of Coronavirus”

2. He then denied school meals to the 600,000 poorest children

3. So Marcus Rashford ran a campaign to get the govt to feed children, which - just think about that: he had to *campaign* for it

4. Then Boris Johnson congratulated Rashford on his campaign to overturn the cruel policies of, erm, Boris Johnson

5. And then 3 days later, Boris Johnson refused to feed those kids during school holidays

6. So this week Labour organised a parliamentary vote about it

7. And 322 Tories voted against feeding hungry children

8. Vicky Ford, the Children’s Minister (who you’ll be surprised to hear neither looks nor sounds like a ludicrous Dickensian villain) went ahead and voted against feeding children

9. Tory MP Jo Gideon voted against feeding children. Jo Gideon, in case you didn't think things could get any more unbelievable, is also the chair of "Feeding Britain", a charity that campaigns to end food poverty and hunger in the UK.

10. Tory MP Paul Scully waved away the grumbling parents of kids with grumbling tummies, and said “children have been going hungry under Labour for years”, seemingly forgetting Tories have been in power for a decade

11. Tory MP Ben Bradley, who once had to apologise for suggesting sterilising the poor, said feeding children will simply “increase their dependency”. On food. Yeah, wean the little bastards off it. It’ll do them good in the end, which will be around 3 agonising weeks.

12. At this point, pause to consider that MPs get their food and drink subsidised. A £31 meal in a parliamentary restaurant costs MPs £3.45. In 2018 this subsidy cost the taxpayer £4.4m. I can’t find any record of Tories like Ben Bradley voting against this.

13. Pressing on: Ben Bradley also said “Some parents prioritise other things ahead of their kids. Small minority, yes... but some do”. Yes, and a small minority of Tory MPs have been arrested for rape. Should we send them all to prison?

14. Also, Mark Francois voted (by proxy) to keep kids hungry. Not related to the previous item. Why would you think that?

15. Tory MP Nicky Morgan said the govt voted to starve 600,000 children cos a Labour MP called a Tory MP scum. And that’s not a scummy thing to do at all.

16. Tory MP David Simmonds said Marcus Rashford’s experience of poverty in secondary school “took place entirely under a Labour government”. Rashford was 11 when Tories came into power, making David Simmonds are rare example of an ad hominem attack on yourself

17. Simmonds then said Labour’s parliamentary vote was “all about currying favour with wealth and power and celebrity status”. He might be right – the govt managed to unify Gary Linaker and Nigel Farage in condemnation of their denial of food to kids

18. Brandan Clark-Smith (who voted to starve kids) demanded “more action to tackle the real causes of child poverty”

19. So at once, the govt cut minimum wage for furloughed people. They now get 2/3 of the money the govt says is the absolute minimum it is possible to survive on

20. And then it was revealed that low-paid workers who have to isolate due to Covid can claim £500. Yay!

21. But if they’re told to isolate by the govt’s contact tracing app, they can’t claim anything. Un-yay.

22. Long story short: the govt cannot spend £120m feeding children. But it can spend £522 on the Eat Out Scheme, which its own report said contributed “negligible amounts” to the hospitality economy, and Boris Johnson admitted drove up infection rates – especially in the North

23. Those infection rates caused the govt to move Manchester into Tier 3

24. So the Mayor of Manchester asked for a £90m support package (1/6th of the money the govt spent causing the problem in the first place)

25. The govt said no, £60m

26. The Mayor said, how about £65m?

27. The govt said no, £60m

28. The Mayor said ok, fine, we’ll take the £60m

29. And then govt offered Manchester £22m, and then went to the press and said the Mayor was "being unreasonable"

30. The negotiations were led by Robert Jenrick, who recently set up a fund for the poorest 101 towns, then awarded his town £25m even though it is the 270th poorest, and therefore not even eligible

31. £25m is £237 per person

32. Manchester gets £7.85 per person

33. Robert Jenrick gave Manchester (2.8 million people) £22m

34. Robert Jenrick gave Richard Desmond (1 person) £45m

35. The talks broke down when the govt wouldn’t spend an extra £5m

36. The govt plans to spend £7m vitally rebranding "Highways England" to "National Highways"

37. Manchester Young Conservatives tweeted “Boris has lied about helping us in the North. It’s time for him to go". Don't look - they deleted it. Suspect somebody had a word.

38. Meanwhile the govt said Manchester will get the £60m after all, and chaos continue to reign supreme

39. But that £60m is brief reprieve for the Tories of Manchester, as a govt report said Tory seats in the North of England (the so-called "Red Wall" seats) can expect to lose at least 4000 jobs *each* as a result of Brexit, even if we do get a deal. More if we don't.

40. The govt rushed to begin its first airport Coronavirus testing, a mere 211 days after mandatory airport testing was begun in South Korea

41. South Korea has had 8 deaths per million

42. The UK has had 665 deaths per million

43. More airport news, as the govt finally accepted Brexit will cause “up to 8-hour delays at passport checks” and asked the EU to allow UK citizens to queue at EU-only lanes. Like we did when we were in the EU. But we aren’t now. So tough.

44. A senior diplomat said, “Having grown up in Brussels, Boris Johnson values the ability to travel freely to the continent”. You’d think Boris Johnson would foresee this problem when he led the campaign to stop that freedom.

45. The independent reviewer of Terrorism Legislation said the UK “will be increasingly unable to cope” after Brexit, as we lose access to EU data-sharing agreements

46. And a No-Deal end to UK/EU scientific collaboration will leave London with a £3bn annual deficit

47. In the space of 38 days, the govt announced the £100bn "Operation Moonshot" to solve Covid; then cancelled it; and then re-launched it again after it was found they’d accidentally continued to pay over 200 private consultants up to £7000 a day to work on it.

48. So this week, Boris Johnson said Moonshot would continue, but it’s goals “would take time”, which is the literal opposite of what he said it would do when it first announced it, and makes the entire thing absolutely pointless

49. And now it’s been admitted that Operation Moonshot would be quietly folded into the existing £12bn Test and Trace programme, and the £100bn has vanished. Apart from the bits the Serco consultants took for doing… nothing.

50. But Boris Johnson said the Test and Trace programme was “helping a bit”, and “a bit” is the least you’d expect if you’d spent £12bn

51. And then the £12bn Test and Trace programme fell to its lowest success rate so far, identifying only 60% of at-risk people

52. Local councils, with no additional funding, are tracing 98% of cases

53. A quick sweep though other epic successes you may have missed (or deliberately blocked out): Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch declared that it should be illegal to teach about inequality

54. The Cabinet Secretary said the report into “vicious and orchestrated” bullying by Home Secretary and Dementor Priti Patel “may never see the light of day”, cos if you have a report that vindicates you, you definitely sit on it as long as possible

55. And the appeals court unanimously overturned Priti Patel’s policy of removing people from the UK without giving them access to legal process or justice because – and I’m paraphrasing the judges here – what the fuck, Patel? What the actual fuck?

56. Undeterred, she announced plans to make rough-sleeping “grounds for removal of permission to be in the UK” and "denial of legal aid". So if you’re too poor to have a home, you must pay for a lawyer or she’ll shove you in the sea

57. After an unnamed Tory MP said it “looks bad to be handing top jobs to your friend and old boss”, Charles Moore, Boris Johnson’s friend and old boss, withdrew as next BBC chair.

58. The new favourite is Richard Sharp, the - yep - friend and old boss of Rishi Sunak

59. You’ll be amazed to hear this: Richard Sharp is a major donor to the Tory party. These little coincidences keep on happening

60. The govt decided to prevent EU citizens from having physical proof of their right to live in their own home

61. Grant Shapps threatened to “seize control of Transport for London” to save it from financial ruin at the hands of Sadiq Khan, who – the bastard - achieved a mere 71% reduction in the debts caused by his noble predecessor, Boris Johnson

62. Matt Hancock, facts at his fingertips, told MPs from Yorkshire their constituents could go on holiday abroad

63. But not in the UK

64. And then that they CAN go on holiday in the UK

65. But can't leave Yorkshire

66. He then said “I'll get back to you” about the details

67. A cross-party report found “the UK’s foreign policy is adrift”, that it lacks “clarity, confidence and vision” and that Britain is “absent from the world stage”. All of which is very soothing, as we move into the govt's proclaimed goal of a post-Brexit Global Britain.

68. And we can all relax: the govt is finally supporting culture in the UK, specifically the Nevill Holt Opera, which performs private operas, and is owned by Boris Johnson’s friend (and - jaw on floor! - Tory donor) David Ross, who is worth £700m so really needs the money.

69. The Nevill Holt Opera only functions in the summer, so thank god it has been prioritised with £85,000 to “maintain operations” in October.

And now, in honour of the opera, the fat lady can sing, cos I’m off to drink myself into oblivion. Join me.

We live in interesting times.

[basicsofislam]

ISLAM 101: Muslim Culture and Character: Morals And Manners: Buildinf Good Character

The topic of this book, “adab in practice,” is part of the larger concept of akhlaq, that is, morality. In fact, from one perspective, adab in practice is fundamentally practical morality and ethics. Therefore, the essence of these concepts will be explained first, beginning with a short introduction to akhlaq, and only after this will adab in practice be returned to.

Akhlaq, the plural of khuluq in Arabic, means the character and temperament of a person. The temperament of a person brings either good or harmful things. In the broadest aspect morality means that there is a moral character, that is, morality becomes deeply ingrained in the soul and as a consequence right actions and behavior come naturally and easily from within; then, the per- son with such a character no longer has to struggle intellectually to know what ethical choices to make.

Human characteristics can generally be divided into those that society approves of and those that we disapprove of. Decency, hu- mility, and kindness are traits that are seen in a positive light, while arrogance, deceit, and miserliness are generally perceived as negative human characteristics. To recognize these characteristics and their attendant traits is to understand what is meant here by the phrase “moral character.” Nawwas ibn Saman once asked the Prophet how to recognize the difference between goodness and sin. The Prophet answered, “Goodness is good moral character. Sin is anything that pricks one’s conscience, and which one does not want others to know about.”1 Another narration from Jabir re- ports that the Messenger said, “The most beloved to me among you and the ones who will be closest to me on the Day of Judgment are the best in moral character. And they who are most loathsome to me and will be farthest from me on the Day of Judgment are those who gossip, those with unbridled tongues, and those who condescend.” When they asked him, “O Messenger of God! Who are those who condescend?” he replied, “They are those who are arrogant.”2

Ethics, which is the study or science of morals, can be divided into the theoretical and the practical. While theoretical morality is concerned with those concepts that constitute the principles and rules of morality, practical morality is concerned with the duties that constitute the basis of a moral life. As reported by the Prophet, “God looks not at your outward appearances, nor at your wealth or belongings. God looks only at your hearts and your deeds.”3 For this reason, here we will be mainly concerned with the practical side of morality, and as mentioned above, the pur- pose of this book is to explore adab in practice. At this point, with a view to clarifying the meaning of human responsibility, let us take a closer look at the concept of duty, which is pivotal to devel- oping a good character with adab.

THE NATURE AND TYPES OF DUTY

Duty is the moral responsibility of a person who has reached pu- berty when they have been asked to do something good or help- ful. Accordingly, Islamically there are two types of duty. One is the obligatory (fard) group of duties, that is, those the perfor- mance of which is binding and the abandonment of which is for- bidden. For example, performing daily prayers, fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, and offering prescribed purifying alms fall into this category. The other type of duty is that which, al- though not obligatory, is encouraged or desirable; it is these du- ties that religion presents as being inherent parts of a good moral character. To observe these duties on top of the obligatory ones shows greater spiritual maturity and is worthy of Divine reward; the observation of them pleases God. To neglect such duties would be a shortcoming. An example of this type of duty would be the giving of money or goods to those in need (sadaqa), over and above the prescribed purifying alms (zakat), and generally being kind and polite to everyone.

Duties can further be classified as those fulfilled in the cause of God, or for the benefit of the individual, family, or even soci- ety. From this perspective, duties can be divided into different sorts—divine, familial, and social duties. Let us more closely ex- amine these categories.

Divinely-Ordained Duties

It is incumbent upon every person who has come of age and who is in possession of all their mental faculties that they recognize and worship God. For a human there can be no greater blessing or honor than this servitude to God. One worships God by willingly and gratefully performing acts of worship, such as daily prayers, fasting, charity, and such other commitments that require both physical and financial abilities, like the pilgrimage to Mecca. In ad- dition to these duties that pertain to the personal practice of Islam, safeguarding and defending one’s homeland is also a sacred duty.

Another very important divine duty is to struggle against one’s own evil-commanding soul. Those who cannot discipline their ego or self through moral education will not be able to help themselves, let alone society. Believers, both as individuals and members of soci- ety, need to exert themselves to strive in the way of God in all their actions at all moments of life. This is what Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, meant when he said, “We are re- turning from the lesser jihad (struggle) to the greater,” while he was returning to Medina from the Campaign of Tabuk.4 Emphasizing that they were returning from “the lesser struggle to the greater,” the Prophet directed his Community to this “greater struggle” that is waged against one’s carnal self at all moments of life.

Being this comprehensive in nature, jihad includes every ac- tion, from the simplest act of speaking to remaining silent or per- forming supererogatory acts of worship, such as extra prayers, worship and fasting to attain the good pleasure of God. Likewise, to enlighten our hearts we can read the Qur’an, or to increase the light of our faith we can continually remember and reflect on the Divine Attributes of our Almighty Creator that are manifest all around us.

Individual Duties

Each person has some duties toward their own self as well. Some of these pertain to the body, and some to the spirit. The following are the main duties that fall into this category:

Training the body: For everyone it is crucial that the body be kept strong and clean. Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A strong and vigorous be- liever is better than a frail and weak one.”5

Caring for one’s health: Health is a great blessing; there- fore, it is vital to avoid things that may damage one’s health and to seek treatment when one is ill.

Refraining from dangerous practices of abstinence or self- denial practiced in the name of spiritual discipline.

Guarding against things that wear down and age the body.

Strengthening willpower: A person needs to develop healthy self-control. This involves learning what is good for the body and partaking of it, as well as finding out what is harmful and avoiding it.

Duties relating to the mind and intellect, such as pursuing learning and enlightenment, awakening higher emotions and positive feelings in the heart, and honing one’s talents and skills.

Family Duties

The family is the very foundation of a healthy society. Each mem- ber of the family must accept some responsibility for the others in the family. Some of the primary duties of a husband, for instance, are to behave kindly toward his wife, to meet her basic needs, and to be loyal to her. A narration of the Prophet says, “The best of you is he who is the best to his wife.”6 A wife who is happy with her spouse will support her husband’s decisions, as long as they do not conflict with religious directives and contribute to protecting the family honor and property. All these are pivotal to happiness in marital relations and to a happy family.

Parents in such an atmosphere commit themselves to nurtur- ing, educating and training their children to the best of their ability, setting them on the path to success in life. Fathers and mothers should treat their children equally, holding them in equal regard and affection. They should be gentle towards their offspring, and raise them in such a way that they will not be inclined to rebel. Parents also have the duty to be models of virtue for their children.

Respect and obedience are, in turn, some of the basic duties of children towards parents who have brought them up according to the principles set out above and with love and compassion, feeding and caring for them. This is why children should not show displeasure or impatience with their parents. A son or daughter who ignores the wishes of their parents and does not heed them nor come to their assistance if they are in need is not a source of blessing for the parents. Such a person not only is not a useful member of society, but will also stand before God as one who is guilty of shirking their duty.

Likewise, siblings have duties toward one another, such as showing affection and compassion for each other, as well as help- ing and respecting each other. There is a very strong bond be- tween brothers and sisters and this should be maintained at all times. Brothers and sisters who cut their ties with one another over finances or property disagreements cannot be considered to be blessed or benevolent. Finally, if a household has hired help, this helper also must be treated as part of the family. They deserve kindness and gentle treatment and should never be overloaded with work that is too difficult for them to carry out.

Social Duties

Human beings have been created as social beings, and as such they live in social groups and have formed civilizations. Socializing is one of our basic needs, and social life involves certain expectations between people. When these are disregarded, society breaks down and people can no longer coexist peacefully or work together. The main responsibilities in this category are the preservation of the following inalienable rights:

Protecting the life of every individual: Every person has the right to life. No one has the right to take another person’s life. According to Islam, one who wrongfully kills a per- son is as guilty as if they have murdered all of humanity; likewise, one who saves one person’s life is as blessed as if they have saved all of humanity.

Safeguarding the freedom of all people: God Almighty cre- ated every human being free and equal. At the same time, it is certain that this freedom has boundaries. We do not have the prerogative to do anything we want; if we had such freedom this would violate the freedoms of others.

The consideration of conscience: When a person has a well- functioning conscience, this allows them to differentiate between good and bad. The value of such a conscience can be better understood if one observes outward consequenc- es. A person who engages in incorrect behavior cannot be said to have a functioning conscience. Islam assigns great importance to having a conscience that helps one to be concerned for the happiness and guidance of all humanity.

To this end, it encourages pity towards those who have a faulty conscience, and tries to bring them to the right way. One can never try to control or rule another person’s con- science; this is the province of God alone. Each person will be rewarded or punished for what is in their con- science. However, this does not mean it is wrong to ad- monish or advise a person who has a bad conscience, if the idea is to help the person.

Protecting freedom of mind: Any thought or opinion, right or wrong, must be approached in a scholarly man- ner. This is the only way for a truth to be discovered, and it is also the only way for society to prove the harmfulness of false ideas.

Protecting the honor and reputation of individuals: In Islam, everyone has the right to maintain their honor and dignity. Any attack against honor or dignity, we have been taught, will be gravely punished. It is for this reason that gossip, slander, ridicule, the cursing of others and saying negative things about others are absolutely forbidden in Islam.

The preservation of other people’s property: It is also for- bidden to usurp the property or possessions of any other person. What is earned by a person belongs strictly to that person. This is essential for the development of a civilized society. It is reasonable and necessary that the individuals who make up a society will have different degrees of wealth, according to their profession and training. In a fair and equitable society all should be grateful for and sat- isfied with their own portion.

[simplyhasanah]

THE MESS WE ARE IN & THE ROLE OF PREACHERS

By Shaykh Hamdi Ben Aissa

Among those I hold responsible for the miserable state our Ummah is in today are Muslim preachers. Many of them are responsible for pushing ordinary people - our neighbors and fellow citizens - to actions that destroy them and others.

Whenever there is a report of a Muslim experiencing Islamophobia or an act of violence, some preachers jump with great glee on the occasion to make political declarations, cite the smallest incidents as proof of our collective victimhood, and stir up anger in those prone to such reactions - all without even knowing the names of the victims or expressing condolences to their families.

One must ask: are the victims actually only incidental, secondary to the advancement of other goals these preachers have? Are the actual humans nothing more than pawns? 

These preachers are constantly stirring the pot with Muslim youth, stoking fires of discontent based on a narrative of victimization, and a seemingly relentless tide of Islamophobia. Such a narrative fits perfectly with their agenda of religion as identity politics.

Yet it is these same Muslim preachers who have caused major divisions within the Muslim community, pitting youth against their elders as they encourage children to see parents and grandparents as lesser Muslims or even outside the fold of true Islam. They have alienated an entire generation from centuries-old traditions by making spirituality appear irrelevant and out of date, unmooring people from their foundations and leaving them grasping for some form of culture that might express their spirits - yet finding none. And they have fed and continue to feed an anxiety in people based on the idea that most people are misguided, and only a lucky few are guided, and it is easy to fall out of the lucky group into the unlucky one, so be afraid! All of this has left people gasping for some kind of meaning, and thus susceptible to propaganda. 

These preachers scoff at anything to do with love and peace, cutting down that kind of teaching with mockery and sarcasm, thus shutting the door on those two concepts for Muslim youth. They even mock the expression of spiritual experience as being too new-agey and not solid enough for the real world. Their focus is not on religion as an attachment to God and an interaction with the Unseen world of Angels, Prophets, goodness and hope, but rather on this world. They feed off the youthful energy and easily-evoked anger of our young people, manipulate these precious souls for their own nihilistic aims. They are parasites, not preachers. 

These preachers insist on spreading unfriendly information, sharing articles and videos that highlight hate, and in general, muddying the waters so that youth don't know where to find true guidance and are forced to hang onto the preachers' definition of guidance, i.e: righteous anger at world events. We have tried to dialogue with these preachers, asking them to ease up on their isolationist rhetoric, but they ignore our messages and continue to divide people from each other. 

It is time we seriously address the danger of these irresponsible Muslim preachers.

The Prophet of God peace be upon him taught us that on the Day of Judgment, the first three people who will be brought before God are a preacher, a rich man who gave much charity, and a man who fought for justice by giving up his very life.

God will ask the speaker/preacher: do you acknowledge the gifts I gave you: your brilliance, your intelligence, your ability to reach people, your influence, the fact that people accepted and trusted you? Do you recognize these gifts?

The person will say: yes, I acknowledge all this. God will say: What did you do with these gifts? The preacher will say: I was calling people to You, I was preaching. God will say: You were not doing that for Me. 

You were not preaching out of concern and care for the people. That is to say: the fuel of your words was not a feeling of duty towards the people, a genuine desire for their well-being and benefit, but something else. The fuel that moved your words was your desire to gain and maintain popularity, win a following, make a name, or earn a buck. Or, to further an ideology that you wanted to spread at any price, to promote an idea that you wanted to become famous for, no matter the moral consequences. Or your motivation was nationalism, or some other cause of this world - not the Hereafter. You were not addressing people in order to help them become better people for their Creator. Likewise, the second and third man will be questioned by God, and again they will be found lacking in genuine concern for supporting the well-being of others.

These three categories of people are called the kindling of the fire of hell, that which is used to start up the fire of the Hereafter. The realities of the Hereafter are reflections of the spiritual realities of the here and now. Those who start the fire of hell in the hereafter are those who start the fires of hellishness in this life. Since such people serve only their own interests, they say and do things that make people into enemies of one another, and they ignite an internal state of hell in those who listen to them. For what is worse than looking for guidance, and being given only anger to work with? That is exactly what is happening to so many of our youth. And it is a crime beyond measure to do that to them. For, eventually, the fire of anger will burn itself out, and all that will be left are ashes, and no light. Is this something you can stand by and accept to watch happen to youth after youth? What follows their zealous anger at politics? does humble faith ever come to grow in their hearts? or do they eventually turn away from religion altogether!

Behind every problem we face today are a crooked preacher, a crooked placement of money, and someone fighting the wrong fight in the wrong way. Behind every problem are those who speak in the wrong way and for the wrong reasons; those who put their money towards the wrong causes, with the wrong intentions; and those who go out and fight the wrong fight, for the wrong reasons. We need to think deeply about this and ponder the everlasting truth of the words of our Messenger peace be upon him, as well as the warning they contain. It is time to heed the warning.

God has blessed some of us with eloquence, in order for our words to become means to help others understand things, to help others grow. Facebook is a tongue, and we must learn to restrain our tongues from saying that which does not benefit. Consider how you write and share posts. Make sure you are doing so truly for the benefit of others. Ask yourself a simple question every time you share a post: does my sharing this bring benefit to others?

My brothers and sisters, today everyone is a victim in some way. We are all victims, living in a world in which practically no one - not governments, not businesses, not even parents at times - do things for the sake of our well-being - where most people serve only their own interests. We need to be here for each other, to support and help one other grow and mature, in a world that is not helping us to do so. We must demystify the image we have been given of one another, by false preachers, false promoters, false fighters. Let us come together in the light of the Real.

[wp-yahoo-style-1042-yahoopa-blog]

This is what Donald and Melania Trump are sending Meghan and Harry as a wedding gift

President and Melania Trump have revealed their wedding gift to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: a cash donation.

Despite not receiving an invitation to the royal wedding on Saturday at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, the first couple is following wedding etiquette and sending a gift. “President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be making a contribution to one of the seven charities the royal couple has designated in lieu of gifts,” White House spokesperson Lindsay Walters said in a statement Friday to Us Weekly.

Donald and Melania Trump aren’t attending the royal wedding — but they are sending Meghan Markle and Prince Harry a gift. (Photo: Getty Images)

In April, Markle and Harry, whose family has a reported net worth of $88 billion, requested in a palace statement that in lieu of wedding gifts, fans should make a charitable donation. 

“Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle are incredibly grateful for the goodwill shown to them since the announcement of their engagement and are keen that as many people as possible benefit from this generosity of spirit,” read the statement. “The couple have therefore asked that anyone who might wish to mark the occasion considers making a donation to charity, rather than sending a wedding gift.”

The couple handpicked seven different U.K.-based organizations: CHIVA (Children’s HIV Association); Crisis, which aims to end homelessness; the Myna Mahila Foundation, which provides professional support for aspiring businesswomen; Scotty’s Little Soldiers, for bereaved armed forces children; StreetGames, a sports charity for low-income communities, Surfers Against Sewage, a national marine conservation; and the Wilderness Foundation U.K., a nature program for at-risk youth.

Meghan and Harry aren’t slighting the first couple by not inviting them — they’re simply following protocol. In April, a palace spokesperson said in a statement: “It has been decided that an official list of political leaders — both U.K. and international — is not required for Prince Harry and Ms. Markle’s wedding. Her Majesty’s Government was consulted on this decision, which was taken by The Royal Household.”

In September, the prince met Melania at the Invictus Games (a Paralympic event he created in 2014) in Toronto, Canada, and their meeting provoked controversy for a photo showing Harry making a hand sign that people called the “signal of the devil.” However, according to the Hill, the two exchanged pleasantries, with Harry remarking to FLOTUS “You’ve been very busy,” and she congratulating him on “doing a fantastic job.”  

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to say “I do” on Saturday, May 19, at Windsor Castle. Yahoo will cover the historic event live from London from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. BST (British Summer Time), 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. ET. Bookmark this link to follow along live.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Meghan Markle’s father will skip the royal wedding to have a heart operation — here’s what’s going on

Here’s your first look at the royal wedding cake

Royal Wedding: Watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get married LIVE

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.

[28northgroup]

10 Ways to Give Back to Our Local Community This Holiday Season

This year has demonstrated, perhaps more than ever, the importance of our family, friends, neighbors, and community. It truly “takes a village” to keep a community functioning effectively, whether that’s by keeping our waterways clean, feeding the hungry, teaching our kids, or supporting small businesses.

With the holidays right around the corner, December offers the perfect opportunity to give back to the place we call home. You might want to focus your efforts near home, expand to our larger community, or even help support the people closest to you. Whether you’re passionate about a particular cause or just want to get more involved in general, let these 10 ways, both big and small, inspire you to do good in your town.

  GIVE BACK NEAR HOME

1. Attract local wildlife. By making your neighborhood more wildlife friendly, you’re helping to  create a balanced and healthy ecosystem. Plus, many of the animals you can attract help with pest control and pollination.1

 Ideas:

●     Add a birdbath to your backyard or create a rain garden to attract wildlife (and filter out local pollutants).

●     Place bird feeders on your property to feed birds all year long.

●     Tie corncobs to tree branches to feed squirrels.

●     Hang birdhouses on your property to provide shelter.

●     Use native plants in your landscaping to provide food and shelter for birds, bees, butterflies, and other critters.

 Take action: While you might not be able to “break ground” until spring, start researching native plants now to design a landscaping plan that provides food, shelter, and water for local wildlife.

 2. Clean up our community. Besides beautifying the area, picking up trash keeps it out of our local waterways, which means a cleaner water supply for all of us.

Ideas:

●     Whether you make this a solo effort or join in an organized group event, pick up trash in your neighborhood, at a local park, or elsewhere in our community.

●     Depending on your community’s regulations, you can recycle many home items such as paper, glass, and aluminum.

●     And don’t forget to clean the exterior of your home, where water runoff (such as on your driveway and sidewalks) can carry debris into the local sewer system.2

Take action: Check with your local municipality to learn about environmental clean-up efforts in our community, as well as recycling and composting.  

 3. Organize or join a neighborhood watch. According to a recent report, neighborhoods with Neighborhood Crime Watch programs experience roughly 16 percent less crime.3 Keeping an eye out for each other instills a sense of safety and security in your neighborhood by increasing surveillance, reducing opportunities, and enhancing information sharing among residents. Even if your neighborhood doesn’t have an official program, you can still share crime information via a neighborhood Facebook group or apps like NextDoor.

Ideas:

●     Make a point of looking out for each other and being observant of what’s going on.

●     You can even make it official by joining a neighborhood watch program.

●     Don’t have one? Consider launching a neighborhood watch program with the help of other interested neighbors.

Take action: Some police forces use online mapping tools that provide crime alerts to people in neighborhoods where recent criminal activity occurred.3 Share this information with your neighbors.

 HELP OUT LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

4. Boost your civic engagement. Regardless of your politics, you can get more involved as a citizen to make a positive difference in our community.

Ideas:

●     Sign a petition to make a needed change in our community.

●     Join a peaceful march, protest, or rally to support a cause dear to your heart.

●     Attend local school board meetings, town halls, or city council meetings to understand (and have a voice in) local issues.4

●     Watch (and read) a variety of local news sources to get balanced reporting on what’s happening in our community.

●     If you don’t know your neighbors very well, introduce yourself.

●     Then make a commitment to check in on those who might need help, such as an elderly neighbor.

●     Get plugged into the resources and events in our town by visiting local museums, taking historical tours, borrowing materials from our local library, and attending community festivals.

Take action: Do you know who our local leaders are, such as our mayor or city councilwoman? Get to know their names, their policies, and their stand on issues that affect our community. Subscribe to their newsletter and follow them on social media.

 5. Support local businesses. Our community has been impacted by the pandemic, with many businesses being forced to limit capacity, instill social distancing efforts, and even shutter entirely in some cases. Help keep money in our local economy by shopping local instead of relying on online shopping from national chains.

Ideas:

●     From handcrafted soaps and one-of-a-kind apparel to locally produced chocolate and small-batch wines, you’ll find plenty of unique gifts at the small businesses that dot our community.

●     Consider purchasing tickets to attend live-streamed holiday concerts and shows.

●     Buy cookies and other baked goods from our local bakery.

●     Get takeout from our local restaurants.

●     Support local farmers by purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables at community farmer’s markets.

Take action: If you’re concerned about shopping in person right now, many of these businesses, though small, offer online shopping, with options for in-store pick-up, curbside delivery, and/or mail options.

 6. Donate to local charities. Nonprofits could always use your financial support, so consider making a monetary donation to help them carry out their mission in our community. But if money is tight (or you want to support in other ways), think beyond just donating dollars.

Ideas:

●     Consider donating to a charity in someone else’s name as an altruistic gift on behalf of a friend or relative.

●     Give blood to our local blood bank.

●     Donate new or used books to our community library.

●     Send school supplies to our neighborhood elementary school.

●     Help struggling neighbors by donating blankets to the homeless.

●     Pick out toys to give to a charity that caters to families. 5

Take action: Many collection efforts run by charitable organizations and businesses take place during the holidays. Look to see what’s already taking place in our community and choose one or more to give to this season.

 CARE FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS

7. Organize a holiday food drive. This year, in particular, people are struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table. The pandemic has caused many businesses to close or reduce their staff size, putting many people out of work.

Ideas:

●     If you personally know someone who needs help buying groceries, reach out and offer to help that one family.

●     If not, partner with a local food bank, soup kitchen, nonprofit or community organization that feeds people in need.

●     Round up a few friends, family, co-workers, or neighbors to collect food for a few weeks. Then deliver the bounty in time for the holidays.

Take action: Take advantage of your grocery store coupons and buy-one-get-one offers to inexpensively stock up on nonperishable goods.

 8. Adopt a family or an individual. The holidays can be a struggle, especially financially, for some families. They might not be able to buy a Christmas tree or presents for their children. Maybe their holiday meal consists of boxed macaroni and cheese because they can’t afford a turkey and fresh vegetables. You can make a difference by “adopting” a particular family (or even just a child) to help make their holiday special.

Ideas:

●     If you know a needy family, help them directly.

●     If not, ask a community group for the name of a family or individual in need.

●     Some businesses even sponsor toy drives or “angel trees” where you can pick the name of a needy family off the tree and buy from their wish lists.

Take action: This works great as a family project. Get the kids in your life involved to help make holiday cards and pick out toys to give to the children in the adopted family.

 9. Volunteer. Depending on your schedule and your preferences, you might be able to volunteer in-person or from home, whether it’s a one-time effort or ongoing project. It’s a great way to meet like-minded people in your community as you make a positive impact together for a shared cause.

Ideas:

●     Give your time to a cause or organization that really matters to you, such as your local school, animal rescue organization, mental health awareness group, or environmental nonprofit.6

●     Tap into a skill you already have, like creating videos, and offer your services.

●     Or learn a new skill (like fundraising) to benefit your cause of choice.

Take action: Start with your local community to see where its needs are the greatest. Make a point to help this holiday season, perhaps extending your commitment throughout 2021.

 10. Perform random acts of kindness. Don’t think you need to “go big or go home” in your give-back efforts. You can make a big difference one small act at a time.

Ideas:

●     Give a generous tip to a waitress.

●     Pay for the coffee of the car behind you in the drive-through.

●     Take care of a neighbor’s pet while they’re out of town.

●     Send holiday cards to deployed military personnel.

●     Deliver a plate of homemade holiday cookies to our local fire or police station.

●     Smile at a stranger.

●     Rake leaves for an elderly neighbor.

●     Thank your child’s teacher for all their hard work this year.

●     Send an uplifting text to a friend.

●     Compliment someone.

●     Help a coworker with an unpleasant task.  

Take action: Need more ideas? Visit randomactsofkindness.org for hundreds of inspiring ways to make someone’s day a little brighter.

 HOW WE CAN HELP YOU?

As real estate experts in our local community, we’re tuned into the unique needs of the place we all call home. Reach out to us today to discuss more ways to make a positive impact in our community—this holiday season and beyond. And we want to make sure you’re taken care of, too. If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home now or in the near future, let us help you!

  Sources:

1.     Redfin - https://www.redfin.com/blog/attract-wildlife-to-your-backyard/#:~:text=Sow%20plants%20that%20provide%20essentials,these%20alternate%20natural%20food%20sources

2.     The Groundwater Foundation - https://www.groundwater.org/action/home/raingardens.html

3.     The Globe and Mail - https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-garden/how-neighbours-and-online-maps-can-help-deter-break-ins/article34886427/

4.     Parade - https://parade.com/1083640/stephanieosmanski/what-is-civic-engagement/

5.     MentalFloss - https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/88663/15-ways-give-back-holiday-season

6.     Together We Rise - https://www.togetherwerise.org/blog/7-ways-give-back-community/

[lillyfate]

I Miss...

When I was a child, things were simple. Barbie had a house, Ken was faithful, and Malibu was a dream. McDonalds and Burger King were five star, restaurants, getting to the last swing on the playground was a goal, and being chosen for kickball was the ultimate test of friendship.

I now fully appreciate the protection innocents and ignorance gave me. My worries we’re not having enough mud pies for the cats, who never ate them, and finding my shoes so I could meet my friends to wade in the water we were forbidden to play in. I miss playing with friends, sharing juice and crackers and not wondering what they really thought of me. I miss a time when no one bothered to lie to me, because truth wasnt the enemy of the people, and it solved more problems than it caused.

I miss watching the news and wondering what the fuss was about. I miss the days when honor wasnt for suckers and truth wasnt an alternative. I miss going to sleep at night and waking up and the world hasnt slid further into the abbys. I miss the time when people gave their word and it meant something. I miss the days when people were separated by city or village limits not blue states or red states. I miss the days when we were the United States of America, and treated as one country.

I miss the days when feeding the poor wasnt charity and taxing the corporations was the fair thing to do. I miss the days when race wasnt front and center and the answer to all problems in the United States was to punish those different. I miss the days I wasnt weary of all police, and I only thought of them as community helpers, and I could trust them. I miss the days when I didn’t hesitate to call the police because I didnt know if they would help or make the situation worse.

I miss the days when we had a President who considered all people, his people, and made decisions and policies based on facts not whims or people who voted for him.

I miss the days loyalty was to an institution, not an undeserving man. I miss the days rules, laws, traditions, meant the same to everyone, and truth wasnt provisional.

I miss the days when the armed services was honorable, and the men and women to be respected, not considered suckers and losers. I miss the days when a man who didnt serve, would be ridiculed for insulting and belittling a man who did, because he didn’t support his warped views. I miss the days when sacrifice was something we all did, not just the poor and minorities.

I miss the days when right was right and wrong was wrong no matter who said or did it. I miss the days when a lie was called a lie, and truth tellers were not called fake. I miss the days when children murdered by a gun welding maniac was enough make changes to laws to prevent it happening again. I miss the days when money and power were not more important then human life, and political affiliations didnt influences life saving choices.

I miss honor, decency, respect, accountability, we once looked for in our President. I miss who we were, and grieve for who we will never be again.

[rotationalsymmetry]

About activism and effective action. There’s basically two types of Doing Something. Let’s call them Big and Little.

Big is: your sister asks if you can take care of her children if something happens to her, and you say yes. Big is, choosing your career, or choosing how to spend a massive chunk of your free time. Big is sitting down and looking through your finances and figuring out how much can go to good causes and figuring out which good causes you’re going to support. Big takes effort and thought and evaluating your core values and inventorying your skills/time/money — what you have to offer.

Little is: someone asks you to sign a petition. You’re buying groceries and the cashier asks if you’ll donate a dollar to a children’s hospital. Showing up for your sister’s kids’ birthday parties.

Little — relatively little — is signing up when a coworker is doing a union drive; Big is deciding to be the organizer.

A social media implication of this is: little is deciding to reblog a post. Big is deciding who you’re going to follow, or making a blanket decisions about what kinds of things you reblog or what kind of blog you want to have.

Little is there’s a post going around telling you to call your representative, and you do. (Which, tbf, is still really hard for a lot of us and worth celebrating. Maybe it’s not Little/Big so much as One Time vs Ongoing.) Big is signing up to get action alerts in your email or via an app, so you’ll keep doing it even of people on your feed stop talking about it.

One is a split second decision. The other takes deliberate thought.

And: a whole lot of organizing (or charity) is about getting people to take Little actions. Because if you’re asking people to do Little things, you’ll get a lot more people doing them than if you ask for Big things. And a lot of people doing Little things adds up.

I’m definitely not saying “only do Big actions, not Little ones.”

And some people only ever do Little things, when it comes to political or social justice issues — because of how their priorities shake out, because of limitations around free time or energy or resources or whatever.

I feel like I should end this on a strong conclusion, but I don’t really have one. Should it be, consider whether you should spend less time on Little stuff and more on Big stuff? Maybe. Should it be, spend some of your Big stuff energy budget on setting things up so that you get a lot of the Little calls to action that you think are the most constructive? Should it be, don’t feel bad if what you’re doing is Little stuff right now?

I don’t know.

Except this started with me thinking about this thing where I think sometimes people (including but not just me) reblog posts more based on the need to Feel Like I’m Doing Something than the actual helpfulness of actually hitting reblog? It is maybe a thing to watch out for. (Especially today, when the need to Do A Thing is strong, and if you’ve already done the Main Thing it’s not always clear where that Do A Thing energy should go.)

I do think, in my experience, that Little Things tend to feel more like doing something than Big Things, even if you’re actually doing way, way more with your Big Things.

[bespectacledbellman]

Food, Inglorious Food

The fire and furore of free food - an opinion

This week I have seen a lot of posts about free school meals and why the government has refused to continue provision during the school holidays. What I haven’t seen is any ‘defence’ of this decision, or any kind of explanation as to why the motion was refused. I find this bizarre as usually there’s always decent coverage of reasons. The best I can find is that ‘it’s not the government role to provide food during school holidays’. 

So I’m going to try and provide a general analysis of the furore.

What are free school meals?

Free school meals are provided to children whose parents/guardians claim a select number of benefits. All infants in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are entitled to free school meals.

Why do free school meals exist?

Although most people might think it’s government altruism that provides free school meals to disadvantaged children, it would appear that there’s an enlightened self-interest at stake. School meals are provided so that children are not hungry at school, allowing them to concentrate better and not disrupt other pupils in the classroom. Free school meals have also been shown by studies to help lower obesity and increase academic achievement. Therefore if there were no free school meals, pupils would be disruptive, reducing the chance of other children to succeed - feed the poor kids so that the better-off ones can get on with it? 

Possibly. However, feeding the child allows them to focus on their studies too, and if they do lower childhood obesity, this helps the child develop an understanding of healthy, nutritious food. We know that obesity leads to higher risk of heart disease, diabetes and, appropriately for the time, coronavirus complications. Does the cost of free school meals outweigh the later costs to the health service?

So what are the reasons against free school meals?

There are actually quite a few reasons. Firstly, is it government’s role to feed children? Parents/guardians already receive financial support for their children. There are also other benefits available to struggling parents/guardians. If these benefits aren’t enough to feed children on the fewer weeks they’re at home this poses two scenarios: the money is being spent correctly, or the money isn’t enough.

If we go with the former, that parents/guardians are spending on other things rather than food for their children: why then should government spend more money on them? It’s a good question. On the other hand, if benefits aren’t enough, the solution needs to be about providing more support for parents and guardians all year round, not just giving them little support for a few weeks in the year. Before we can debate the solution, we need to figure out what the actual problem is.

The other issue is that subsidising children is becoming an increasingly contentious issue in society with the increase of childless adults. Many, including this author, believe that having a child is, in the vast majority of scenarios, a choice, in the same way that having a pet is a choice. Why then should childless taxpayers pay to feed other people’s children - especially if those parents and guardians aren’t being responsible with the support they already receive? Why should people who choose to have a pet (receiving no financial support) pay for those who instead choose to have a child?

Again, there is an element of enlightened self-interest here. Taxpayers pay for children to go to school, receive medical treatment, etc., so that they will, as adults, help the taxpayer in their advanced age, as doctors and nurses, working as tradesmen and in utilities, and generally keeping society going. These adults will similarly pay for the next generation and so on. Meanwhile a pet, even an intelligent one, will likely not grow up to become a surgeon. Does that mean, however, that the choice is not a valid one?

A third argument is that central government doesn’t have to do this when there are other parties that can step in. We’ve seen this recently, with businesses, charities and local authorities offering to provide free school meals. This seems to vindicate the government’s decision - they don’t have to do anything and the problem is still solved. Society blinked first. There are lots of fields where government doesn’t get involved and the gap is filled by others. It’s an ideology that sets limits on government intervention. It should come as little surprised that the party of privatisation doesn’t want to get involved.

The politics

Labour has cashed in politically on the notion that a million children will go hungry over the holidays. I mean, if this is true, it’s is a systemic failing in society where parents and guardians are not feeding their children. In fact, it simply means that a million children are eligible for free school meals. Three of these year groups are automatically entitled regardless of income, so that lowers the real number of disadvantaged children somewhat. Indeed, I would happily stake my reputation (what’s left of it) that most of these children won’t go hungry, and that they will be fed appropriately by loving, caring parents and guardians.

And those that don’t? That’s where other agencies need to be involved to ensure that the child’s welfare is taken care of. This, perhaps, is the government’s view: most children will be fed, and those that don’t are already receiving support for children and not using it appropriately (returning to the point above). There are already laws and frameworks to be used against parents and guardians neglecting their children - such as not feeding them.

What is strange, however, from a political viewpoint, is why the government would choose to vote against this. Even if you make the ideological point that it’s not the role of government to pay for children’s food during the holidays, it’s a political winner. When you’re spending £12billion on a shoddy test and trace system, and countless more billions on furlough and job support schemes during various lockdowns (a socialist utopia hardly in keeping with Conservative ideology in itself!), the amount of money spent to support children during the holidays is relatively minimal by comparison, especially when you consider that this money is also buying political capital for the next election: “The Conservatives kept your children fed” is a much better sounding lie than “The Conservatives starved your children”.

What is the solution?

This author doesn’t feel that free school meals should be continued through the holidays - simply because it doesn’t solve the problem it claims to. Let’s consider:

If the benefits of school meals are correct, that they help lower obesity, increase academic achievement and help children concentrate at school, I believe that every child should have free school meals and nutritious food vouchers all year round, regardless of their parents’/guardians’ income.

If parents and guardians are not receiving enough support for their families, the welfare system should be revolutionised so that they are.

If parents and guardians are not spending their current child support appropriately, this should be replaced with non-financial vouchers (like the free school meals during the summer holidays) to ensure that children are fed and parents and guardians cannot use it on themselves.

However, I believe in abolishing the welfare state and replacing it with a universal basic income. Give every adult a set amount each month independent of the income they receive from work. No strings attached; no signing on; spend it on what you want. I can get a dog, you can have a child - but it’s the only money you’ll get from government. A guaranteed income that isn’t affected by how much or how little someone may work from one week to the next ensures the essentials are covered whilst still encouraging (in fact, requiring) income from work. With the current welfare budget you could pay every adult £400 a month and still have plenty left over.

Frankly, I believe that the free school meals furore has been a cheap political manoeuvre by Labour, when what is really required is a whole new way of thinking about welfare. I’m more than happy for my taxes to be spent on ensuring that all children are nutritiously fed at school and at home all year round. Yet society also needs to enforce responsibilities: if you decide to have a child, it’s your responsibility to take care of them. It’s nobody else’s. And as much as society has a general interest in the welfare of your child so that they grow up to be a useful, independent and law-abiding citizen, the responsibility is on the parent and guardian first and foremost.

I would love to be part of a society where the greater good was the priority, but we don’t. Our society is about individualism - about individual rights, individual freedoms, individual opportunity. Fair enough. But with those rights come responsibilities. And too often this means that we focus on the wrong things. Instead of padding the seats in the lifeboats, we should be ensuring that the hull is watertight.

We’ve been dragged into yet another left-right political storm that has fundamentally missed the point again. Until we come together to find what the real problems are and devise real solutions that will actually fix the issues, we’ll just keep shouting at each other whilst the iceberg approaches.

[basicsofislam]

ISLAM 101: Muslim Culture and Character: Morals And Manners: Part 2

BUILDING GOOD CHARACTER

The topic of this book, “adab in practice,” is part of the larger concept of akhlaq, that is, morality. In fact,  from one perspective, adab in practice is fundamentally practical morality and ethics. Therefore, the essence of these concepts will be explained first, beginning with a short introduction to akhlaq, and only after this will adab in practice be returned to.

Akhlaq, the plural of khuluq in Arabic, means the character and temperament of a person. The temperament of a person brings either good or harmful things. In the broadest aspect morality means that there is a moral character, that is, morality becomes deeply ingrained in the soul and as a consequence right actions and behavior come naturally and easily from within; then, the person with such a character no longer has to struggle intellectually to know what ethical choices to make.

Human characteristics can generally be divided into those that society approves of and those that we disapprove of. Decency, humility, and kindness are traits that are seen in a positive light, while arrogance, deceit, and miserliness are generally perceived as negative human characteristics. To recognize these  characteristics and their attendant traits is  to  understand  what  is  meant  here  by the phrase “moral character.” Nawwas ibn Saman once asked the Prophet how to recognize the difference between goodness and sin. The Prophet answered, “Goodness is a good moral character. Sin is anything that pricks one’s conscience, and which one does not want others to know about.  Another narration from Jabir reports that the Messenger said, “The most beloved to me among you and the ones who will be closest to me on the Day of Judgment are the best in moral character. And they who are most loathsome to me and will be farthest from me on the Day of Judgment are those who gossip, those  with  unbridled  tongues, and those who condescend.” When they asked him, “O Messenger of God! Who are those who condescend?” he replied, “They are those who are arrogant.”

Ethics, which is the study or science of morals, can be divided into the theoretical and the practical. While theoretical morality is concerned with those concepts that constitute the principles and rules of morality, practical morality is concerned with the duties that constitute the basis of moral life. As reported by the Prophet, “God looks not at your outward appearances, nor at your wealth or belongings. God looks only at your hearts and your deeds.” For this reason, here we will be mainly concerned with the practical side of morality, and as mentioned above, the purpose of this book is to explore adab in practice. At this point, with a view to clarifying the meaning of human responsibility, let us take a closer look at the concept of duty, which is pivotal to developing a good character with adab.

THE NATURE AND TYPES OF DUTY

Duty is the moral responsibility of a person who has reached pu- berty when they have been asked to do something good or help- ful. Accordingly, Islamically there are two types of duty. One is the obligatory (fard) group of duties, that is, those the perfor- mance of which is binding and the abandonment of which is for- bidden. For example, performing daily prayers, fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, and offer prescribed purifying alms fall into this category. The other type of duty is that which, al- though not obligatory, is encouraged or desirable; it is these du- ties that religion presents as being inherent parts of a good moral character. To observe these duties on top of the obligatory ones shows greater spiritual maturity and is worthy of Divine reward; the observation of them pleases God. To neglect such duties would be a shortcoming. An example of this type of duty would be the giving of money or goods to those in need (sadaqa), over and above the prescribed purifying alms (zakat), and generally being kind and polite to everyone.

Duties can further be classified as those fulfilled in the cause of God, or for the benefit of the individual, family, or even society. From this perspective, duties can be divided into different sorts—divine, familial, and social duties. Let us more closely examine these categories.

Divinely-Ordained Duties

It is incumbent upon every person who has come of age and who is in possession of all their mental faculties that they recognize and worship God. For a human, there can be no greater blessing or honor than this servitude to God. One worships God by willingly and gratefully performing acts of worship, such as daily prayers, fasting, charity, and such other commitments that require both physical and financial abilities, like the pilgrimage to Mecca. In addition to these duties that pertain to the personal practice of Islam, safeguarding and defending one’s homeland is also a sacred duty.

Another very important divine duty is to struggle against one’s own evil-commanding soul. Those who cannot discipline their ego or self through moral education will not be able to help themselves, let alone society. Believers, both as individuals and members of society, need to exert themselves to strive in the way of God in all their actions at all moments of life. This is what Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, meant when he said, “We are returning from the lesser jihad (struggle) to the greater,” while he was

returning to Medina from the Campaign of Tabuk. Emphasizing that they were returning from “the lesser struggle to the greater,” the Prophet directed his Community to this “greater struggle” that is waged against one’s carnal self at all moments of life.

Being this comprehensive in nature, jihad includes every action, from the simplest act of speaking to remaining silent or performing supererogatory acts of worship, such as extra prayers, worship and fasting to attain the good pleasure of God. Likewise, to enlighten our hearts we can read the Qur’an, or to increase the light of our faith we can continually remember and reflect on the Divine Attributes of our Almighty Creator that are manifest all around us.

Individual Duties

Each person has some duties toward their own self as well. Some of these pertain to the body and some to the spirit. The following are the main duties that fall into this category:

Training the body: For everyone, it is crucial that the body is kept strong and clean. Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings are upon him, said, “A strong and vigorous believer is better than a frail and weak one.”5

Caring for one’s health: Health is a great blessing; therefore, it is vital to avoid things that may damage one’s health and to seek treatment when one is ill.

Refraining from dangerous practices of abstinence or self- denial practiced in the name of spiritual discipline.

Guarding against things that wear down and age the body.

Strengthening

willpower:  A person needs to develop

healthy self-control. This involves learning what is good for the body and partaking of it, as well as finding out what is harmful and avoiding it.

Duties relating to the mind and intellect, such as pursuing learning and enlightenment, awakening higher emotions and positive feelings in the heart, and honing one’s talents and skills.

Family Duties

The family is the very foundation of a healthy society. Each member of the family must accept some responsibility for the others in the family. Some of the primary duties of a husband, for instance, are to behave kindly toward his wife, to meet her basic needs, and to be loyal to her. A narration of the Prophet says, “The best of you is he who is the best to his wife.” A wife who is happy with her spouse will support her husband’s decisions, as long as they do not conflict with religious directives and contribute to protecting the family honor and property. All these are pivotal to happiness in marital relations and to a happy family.

Parents in such an atmosphere commit themselves to nurture, educating and training their children to the best of their ability, setting them on the path to success in life. Fathers and mothers should treat their children equally, holding them in equal regard and affection. They should be gentle towards their offspring and raise them in such a way that they will not be inclined to rebel. Parents also have the duty to be models of virtue for their children.

Respect and obedience are, in turn, some of the basic duties of children towards parents who have brought them up according to the principles set out above and with love and compassion, feeding and caring for them. This is why children should not show displeasure or impatience with their parents. A son or daughter who ignores the wishes of their parents and does not heed them nor come to their assistance if they are in need is not a source of blessing for the parents. Such a person not only is not a useful member of society but will also stand before God as one who is guilty of shirking their duty.

Likewise, siblings have duties toward one another, such as showing affection and compassion for each other, as well as helping and respecting each other. There is a very strong bond between brothers and sisters and this should be maintained at all times. Brothers and sisters who cut their ties with one another over finances or property disagreements cannot be considered to be blessed or benevolent. Finally, if a household has hired help, this helper also must be treated as part of the family. They deserve kindness and gentle treatment and should never be overloaded with work that is too difficult for them to carry out.

Social Duties

Human beings have been created as social beings, and as such, they live in social groups and have formed civilizations. Socializing is one of our basic needs, and social life involves certain expectations between people. When these are disregarded, society breaks down and people can no longer coexist peacefully or work together. The main responsibilities in this category are the preservation of the following inalienable rights:

Protecting the life of every individual: Every person has the right to life. No one has the right to take another person’s life. According to Islam, one who wrongfully kills a person is as guilty as if they have murdered all of humanity; likewise, one who saves one person’s life is as blessed as if they have saved all of humanity.

Safeguarding the freedom of all people: God Almighty created every human being free and equal. At the same time, it is certain that this freedom has boundaries. We do not have the prerogative to do anything we want; if we had such freedom this would violate the freedoms of others.

The consideration of conscience: When a person has a well- functioning conscience, this allows them to differentiate between good and bad. The value of such a conscience can be better understood if one observes outward consequences. A person who engages in incorrect behavior cannot be said to have a functioning conscience. Islam assigns great importance to have a conscience that helps one to be concerned for the happiness and guidance of all humanity.

To this end, it encourages pity towards those who have a faulty conscience and tries to bring them in the right way. One can never try to control or rule another person’s conscience; this is the province of  God alone.  Each person will be rewarded or punished for what is in their conscience. However, this does not mean it is wrong to admonish or advise a person who has a bad conscience if the idea is to help the person.

Protecting freedom of mind: Any thought or opinion, right or wrong, must be approached in a scholarly manner. This is the only way for a truth to be discovered, and it is also the only way for society to prove the harmfulness of false ideas.

Protecting the honor and reputation of individuals: In Islam, everyone has the right to maintain their honor and dignity. Any attack against honor or dignity, we have been taught, will be gravely punished. It is, for this reason, that gossip, slander, ridicule, the cursing of others and saying negative things about others are absolutely forbidden in Islam.

The preservation of other people’s property: It is also forbidden to usurp the property or possessions of any other person. What is earned by a person belongs strictly to that person? This is essential for the development of a civilized society. It is reasonable and necessary that the individuals who make up society will have different degrees of wealth, according to their profession and training.  In a fair and equitable society, all should be grateful for and satisfied with their own portion.