Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Lessons from Mama Jan #1: Holla We Want Pre-Nup

Although I've yet to read Barack Obama's Dreams from My Father, I've been inspired to offer my own tales of race, inheritance, culture, and assimilation.

Like the proper Middle Eastern child, I revere and endlessly adore my feisty immigrant mother. Perhaps atypically, we have a simultaneously intense and irreverent relationship, and she is among my closest friends. She advises me on matters of the heart, education, finances, beauty, relationships, and countless other things (except sex, of course!). We are bluntly honest with one another, and this honesty mixed in with some linguistic fun leads to mighty fine advice and even louder laughter.

A few weeks ago, California's State Supreme Court ruled that prohibiting same-sex marriage is illegal. On her evening commute home, stuck in traffic in the San Fernando Valley, my mom calls me. Below is an approximate, but accurate, transcript.

Mama Jan: "I have heard the news today! Congratulations, Bianco! I am happy for my children and that this godforsaken country finally did something right."
Me: "Yeah, Mom, tell me about it. Now we have to beat the amendment on the ballot coming up in November."
Mama Jan: "What? What kind of stupid jahkesh would do such a thing?"
Me: "Republicans...Jesus freaks...the usual! So you'll have to get out and vote."
Mama Jan: "Oh, I will. I will force anyone who will listen to me, to go and beat this."
Me: "Good! Should you really be driv-"
Mama Jan: "Wait! So, when you get married someday, how will you do your taxes?"
Me: "It's quite complicated. You have to each file federal as single, but state as married filing jointly, and then a fourth ghost return."
Mama Jan: "This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. What kind of freedom is this?"
Me: "I agree! Accountants will be rich!"
Mama Jan: "So...what happens if you get a divorce? Do you have to pay alimony, and child support?"
Me: "I assume so, yeah."
*pause*
Mama Jan: "OK, Bianca Jan. Just make sure, sign a pre-nup. Someday, you will have a lot of money. Love is important, but be smart! Protect yourself!"

Please stay tuned for more wise advice, as I intend to make "Lessons from Mama Jan" an ongoing feature here at Wayward Middle Eastern Girls.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Victimized? A Fashion Controversy

As if it wasn't bad enough that the keffiyeh has been warranting so much debate thanks to its inappropriate adoption by those who think Urban Outfitters invented the thing, Palestine is again making news in the fashion world due to the production of a this tee shirt (as featured on the Fashionista website) displaying the image of a Palestinian youth holding a gun with the word "Victimized" written below him. While Fashionista appears to dislike the shirt, as well as totally misunderstand its purpose (there's no explanation of "why it was intended to be funny or ironic" because it WASN'T, geniuses), Freshjive-- the company that created it-- has offered an eloquent, intelligent, and perfectly acceptable defense of the shirt and rationale for its production.

While I am very critical of Urban Outfitters (namely because their clothes are way overpriced and often way ugly, plus the keffiyeh issue of course), I am not surprised they sold the shirt, given their apparent habit of wrongly using Palestinian images and culture for capitalist purposes. I am also not surprised they pulled the shirt, as they obviously weren't selling it for political reasons (and clearly have no backbone). So of course, that fact is a source of annoyance. But the reason I have Freshjive's back on this issue is because this is not a matter of simple misappropriation. The company knew exactly what they were doing by making the shirt; it wasn't (only) a money thing. Rather, the shirt was created as a political statement, a part of the company's "The World's Got Problems" line in which true political issues facing the world today are brought into the open. As Rick, the owner of Freshjive, states in his defense, "is it not simply true that some Palestinian kids have become child soldiers due to the ongoing battle between Palestine and Israel?... Is it not simply true that some Palestinians and especially Palestinian children are victims of this terrible conflict?" Can't deny that.

Even more so, I have their back because of the criticism they have received for the shirt-- not just aesthetic (that people think it is ugly or in poor taste because it features an unfortunate truth) but political. People have actually complained that the shirt is, among other things, a "brutal, bloody, Jew-hating tee shirt." I am pretty sure, just by looking at the shirt, that there is no mention of Jews (or people of any religion or ethnicity other than Palestinian) on it, and that it claims no political opinion thereof; it simply states that Palestinian children have often been victimized as a result of the conflict in Palestine, as stated above. There's nothing else to it, and if you have to make that kind of leap to support your case, you don't have much of one-- and if you are so quick to label things as hateful or bigoted when they really aren't, you should probably examine why you need to be that defensive to begin with.

Personally, I like what the shirt is saying and the creator's reason for making it. I think anyone who wears it-- unlike the ubiquitous keffiyeh-usurpers-- knows what it means and knows why they are wearing it, which I support. While I do have to think that it might serve to objectify Palestinians even more so than they already are, I also appreciate the fact that a company is taking these risks to speak their opinions and speak the truth about what goes on in the world-- the things that people don't like to think about or admit.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Al-Nakba Event in SF!

Bay Area people (or should I say, beble?), you MUST come to this event on Saturday May 10 in SF, recognizing 60 years of al-Nakba (the Disaster) in Palestine-- the destruction of homes, seizure of land, denial of existence, and, yes, apartheid state, for Palestinians. It is being organized in part by our very own hardworking Miss al-FallaHa, among others, and is going to be excellent. The entertainment features the amazing local soul-funk-hiphop band the Scribe Project, the lovely and talented DJ Emancipacion, NaR, Dam, and other hotness.

Here's the scoop from the organizers, plus the flyer. Remember, the event is FREE and close to BART and Muni. Yalla, come out!

The Local Nakba Committee

and the Palestine Right to Return Coalition Present

Nakba-60, Palestine Peace and Solidarity Festival

MAY 10TH 2008, 12-6pm

CIVIC CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO

We invite you to commemorate 60 years of struggle and resistance on the anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, Arabic for "catastrophe" and marks the expulsion, dispossession and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.

Bring the family, and join us for a special day of resistance music, cultural and youth programs, Nakba tent/art, Dabka, local solidarity groups and more! Meet survivors from 1948, and learn about the tragedy, while listening to Palestinian and Native American elders recount their experiences. Childcare assistance will be provided on-site.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Artists:
Dam, featuring Abeer – see: www.dampalestine.com
Shadia Mansour: http://profile.myspace.c
om/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=66013030
Fred Wreck
Ras Ceylon
Arab Summit: Narcicyst, Excentrik, Omar O
ffendum, Ragtop
Scribe Project
Rebel Diaz

Special performances by: Boots Riley, NaR, Mamaz, Kiwi, Polikal Heat, Rithmatik, Patriarch, and DJ Emancipacion - with MC's: Noura Erakat and Maysoon Ziyad.

We need your support!

Please donate what you can! Make your tax-deductible donation payable to 'Palestine Right to Return Coalition' or "PRRC/Palestine Solidarity" and mail to:

Local Nakba Committee (LNC)
PO Box #668
2425 Channing Way
Berkeley, CA 94704

To donate online: go to: www.al-awda.org, and please make sure to include 'Nakba-60, Palestine Solidarity Festival in the notes, or to the Facebook cause titled "Nakba-60, FREE Palestine Peace & Solidarity Festival".

A special thank you to event partners: Al-Awda, Arab Resource & Organizing Center, Middle East Children's Alliance, American Indian Movement, International Jewish Solidarity Network