10.14.2011

BOOK: Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali



On a quest too better understand my place in this world as a conscientious human I have had to delve into what it means to be a woman on this planet. To better help understand who I am and what my place is in this gigantic mass of humanity I have been searching for the voice of women, not just in Western World but the voice of women all over the glob. One book that really stood out too me is Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali.  Ayaan hails from Somalia and has overcome arranged marriage, female genital circumcision, clan mentality and Sharia law. Her book deals with her place as a woman in an Islamic society and her journey too the Netherlands and finally the United States. She writes clearly and soberly about a woman's hurtles in a totally male run society, something that I have read about but have never had too personally deal with being born in the United States.

This book seems hugely important on many levels. Sometimes in a westerner's quest for freedom and human rights we forget about women's freedom. We may even forgo women's rights for the betterment of other groups. This is unacceptable. Ayaan Hirsi Ali vividly explains this in her book Infidel. She is a strong clear voice is a sea of turmoil. An artist, a writer, a revolutionary. Please check it out.

You can read and donate too her cause at the AHA Foundation here http://theahafoundation.org/



10.10.2011

Moroccan Wedding Blanket.

The Traditional Moroccan Wedding Blanket!

Known as Moroccan wedding blankets, handira are woven out of sheep's wool, cotton and linen (with silver sequins) by Berber women in the Middle Atlas mountains of Northern Morocco.

They are woven before a wedding by the brides female relatives. After the ceremony the bride wears the blanket around her shoulders too her new marital home. This special blanket is used for warmth, decoration, too ward off evil and as a symbol of good luck and fertility for the newlyweds.