Subzero Blue

Harvard Gives Muslim Women Gym Hours

Interesting bit of news from Harvard…

In a test of Harvard’s famed open-mindedness, the university has banned men from one of its gyms for a few hours a week to accommodate Muslim women who say it offends their sense of modesty to exercise in front of the opposite sex. The policy is already unpopular with many on campus, including some women who consider it sexist.[…]

No men are allowed in the gym between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Mondays, and between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Even the staff during those times is all women.

The special hours allow the Muslim women, who adhere to traditional dress codes by covering their hair and most of their skin while in public, to dress more appropriately for exercising, said Susan Marine, director of the women’s center.

[Source: Yahoo News]

I understand how some people might find it a bit inconvenient at first, but I think it’s an interesting and good move towards mutual respect and trying to find a compromise so that everyone can use the campus facilities comfortably.

Paris Book Fair Controversy

Came across this bit of news on BBC News today.

A book fair in Paris has become the subject of controversy with several Muslim countries announcing boycotts because the guest of honour is Israel.

Saudi Arabia has become the latest to withdraw, following Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria.

The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Isesco) has also urged its 50 members to pull out from the fair, which starts on 14 March.

[…]

The organisers of the book fair have said their aim is to honour literature and promote dialogue between cultures.

… the Paris book fair is honouring 39 writers from Israel including well-known figures like David Grossman and Amos Oz.

What do you think?

Personally, I think boundaries and conflicts don’t apply to literature or art in general, they transcend origin, nationality, race, conflicts and everything to another level where we connect and appreciate each other and our works on the human level.

Still, I understand how it is viewed in another way especially when the organizers themselves add the origin factor into it all, and that the origin is Israel, in a time such as this, with tensions and problems at their highest, and peace at its farthest.

If it were up to me, I think it’s a time to be present rather than a time to boycott; in every situation: you can’t present your side of the story and defend it if you’re not there in the first place.
The problem is that we Muslims and Arabs are passive in the exact times we should be more present and proactive.

Barack Obama And The US Relationship With The Muslim World

In response to written questions by the Washington Post, Barack Obama talks about a major speech, within his first 100 days of office, at a major Islamic forum, in which he’d redefine the US struggle and their relationship with the Muslim world:

“As president of the United States, I will directly address the people of the Muslim world to make it clear that the United States is not at war with Islam, that our enemy is al-Qaeda and its tactical and ideological affiliates, and that our struggle is shared. In this speech, I will make it clear that the United States rejects torture — without equivocation, and will close Guantanamo. I will make it clear that the United States stands ready to support those who reject violence with closer security cooperation; an agenda of hope — backed by increased foreign assistance — to support justice, development and democracy in the Muslim world; and a new program of outreach to strengthen ties between the American people and people in Muslim countries.”

[Source: Washington Post]

Arab World To Fight Software Piracy

Just came across this bit of news from the Arab world:

The Arab League is to step up the fight against intellectual property (IP) theft, piracy and counterfeiting, which costs the Arab world up to $50 billion each year.[…]

In many countries across the region, over half of all software in use is believed to be counterfeit, and local attitudes to the concept of IP are said to contribute to the growing problem, with piracy still viewed by some as a harmless crime.

‘Arab World Protect 2008: The First Arab Consumer and Brand Protection Forum’, to be held in Jeddah in October, hopes to raise awareness of the economic ramifications, social costs and health and safety risks posed by piracy, and develop strategies to combat the problem.

[…]

According to the Business Software Alliance, software piracy rates in 2006 reached 84% in Algeria, 79% in Tunisia, 73% in Lebanon, 66% in Morocco, 63% in Egypt and 61% in Jordan.

In GCC countries, the rates stood at 64% for Kuwait, 62% for Oman, 60% for Bahrain, 58% for Qatar, and 52% for Saudi Arabia.

The UAE at 35% is the only country in the region at the average global piracy rate, and the only Arab country in a world list of 20 countries for the lowest piracy rates for 2006.

[Source: ArabianBusiness]

It’s true software piracy is a big problem in the Arab world, with many people viewing it as normal, mostly not even qualifying it as a crime, and even those who do think it’s a harmless one.

Still, words and condemnation are not enough, not even laws are enough, you can’t tell people not to buy pirated software and that they’ll be punished for it when they have no other way to get the software at an accessible price, especially if their jobs depend on it.

Governments in developing countries should negotiate lower software prices for businesses and individuals, free student licenses, and maybe encourage more use of free and open source software.

In short, people should be given reasonable options, and then if they leave them and keep going to piracy and breaking the law, they can be punished for it.

93% of Muslims Worldwide Condemn 9/11 Attacks

Interesting Gallup Poll results from Islamic World:

– 93% of Muslims Worldwide Condemn 9/11 Attacks; and most said the biggest obstacle to better relations with the West was the latter’s lack of respect for Islam.

– 0% Approve of Attacks on Religious Grounds. Among the seven percent who viewed the Sep 11 attacks as justified, not one gave religious justification for their views, instead expressing their fear of US plans for occupation and domination of the Muslim world.

– Substantial majorities in all Muslim countries said they supported bringing democratic principles to their own countries and admired the US primarily for its technological innovation and liberal democracy, but less than 50 percent believed the US was serious about bringing that democracy to the Islamic world.

Politics, not piety, differentiate moderates from radicals. Terrorism sympathisers don’t hate our freedom, they want our freedom.

— Dalia Mogahed, executive director of the Gallup Center for Muslim studies

[Via: Pensito Review, Two Circles]

What Defines A Person?

What defines a person?

A person is what he thinks? Not necessarily, a lot of people think things they don’t apply in real life. Plus you don’t always know what they really think.

A person is what he believes? Even more than the previous point, a lot of people don’t really live by what they believe.

A person is his religion? Nobody follows their religion with 100% accuracy, and even if they think they do, they more or less follow their own understanding of it, which makes it pretty undefinable.

A person is what he says? Ever heard of lying, diplomacy, plain old hypocrisy…etc? All that tells us we can’t use what a person says to accurately define them.

A person is what he does? I know a lot of people will disagree with me, but I personally think this is the closest to the truth of what a person really is: what he actually does.

Of course, nobody should judge people solely on what they do, everything has to be taken into consideration, and context is very important always, but in the end: what a person does, given what you know about him (thinking, beliefs, religion, what they say about theirself) is what really defines that person.

So if we look at it using numbers, I’d say what a person does accounts for 60-70% of what they are, with the other elements taking up 30-40%

Oil, Food, Control And The Arab World

Just came across this interesting quote by Henry Kissinger in the mid 1970’s:

“Control the oil and you control entire nations; control the food and you control the people.”

~ Henry Kissinger

Rings very true, even if in a conspiracy theory kind of way, but yet if we look at the Arab world; we control most of the oil in the world, and we produce a lot of the food in the world, and have the potential to produce even more, yet there isn’t an area of the world that has less control, even over its own future.
What does that tell us?

Hypocrisy: The Vice Of Vices

The hypocrite’s crime is that he bears false witness against himself. What makes it so plausible to assume that hypocrisy is the vice of vices is that integrity can indeed exist under the cover of all other vices except this one. Only crime and the criminal, it is true, confront us with the perplexity of radical evil; but only the hypocrite is really rotten to the core.

~ Hannah Arendt, On Revolution, 1963

Fidel Castro Resigns; US Sanctions Fail

I posted on Twitter this morning about Fidel Castro’s resignation as president of Cuba and commander-in-chief of Cuba’s military.

I heard the news in the morning, and thought about posting it on the blog, but I didn’t really have much to say about it. It’s hard to really judge a person like Fidel Castro who is seen as a hero by so many people and a hated dictator by so many others; it’s obvious both sides have credible and real points; in the end, all I hope for is for things to get better for the Cuban people, whether it be from the sanctions or from his rule.

Anyway, what made me change my mind and write about it is this entry by Jon Swift, titled: Castro Resigns! Sanctions Work!

I just couldn’t believe the logic behind it; this person and several commenters on his blog actually think the US sanctions worked and that they were behind Fidel Castro finally giving up and resigning.

Just a few facts: The U.S. has been trying to get rid of Fidel Castro for 50 years now, 10 U.S. administrations have tried to topple him, there have been 638 assassination attempts against him, strict sanctions have been imposed on the country; and nothing worked.

To even suggest that the sanctions are what made Fidel Castro take this decision is unrealistic, laughable, and naive.

Plus, what about his decision is a victory for the U.S.?
I don’t think they were against Fidel as a person, but rather against his regime; will it make any difference under his brother Raul’s rule?

The man is only leaving because he’s a step away from the grave; he’s been seriously ill for a few years now; and everyone has been expecting to hear about him passing away anytime now.

Sanctions don’t work! Period!
All they do is ruin the lives of millions of citizens, while helping the rulers/dictators strengthen their grip on the country and make things even worse.
Sanctions haven’t worked in Cuba, they haven’t worked in Iraq, they didn’t work in Libya, they’re not working in Iran, nor are they working in Zimbabwe, …etc.

The US sanctions were/are a failure; Fidel Castro finally left of his own free will; after all he could have chosen to rule until his death.

One Person, Different Profiles

A thought that has been on my mind these past few days and that I thought I’d finally try to put down in writing, maybe in an attempt to sort out my ideas, and save them for future reference.

The thing is that on most of these web services where you have to setup your profile; whether it be a social networking site, a job site, or any other kind of service; and even offline; whether it be a CV, a business card or presentation; you always end up with a one dimensional profile of yourself, just one way of presenting yourself from just one point of view.

But is that enough?
Are we as humans really that simple, straightforward or even that dull?
I don’t really think so.

We exist in different contexts and move around in different circles in our everyday lives, and it’s impossible to believe that one profile totally covers us and describes us best everywhere, every time, with everyone.

Personally, at my current job, in professional meetings, IT discussions, and generally in that IT related context, I’m the product development manager who has years of experience in the field.

When I’m with a certain group of my friends, I’m a passionate photographer, who’s always trying out new techniques, playing around with new perspectives and building up a portfolio of interesting shots.

With others in different contexts like meetups, some conferences, some interviews; I’m known as a blogger, Subzero Blue, one of the first Tunisian bloggers, who has been blogging for years now and in some way or another helped spread blogging in Tunisia.

These are all different points of view that show a different side to the same person; and there are still more now; there were others before and there’ll be others to come.

So are the simple profile systems we have in place today truly representative of who we are as human beings?
Of course, if you’re already in a specialized context, then that’s no problem, you’re going to choose the profile that fits the most; but when it comes to more general services, it’s just not enough.

Simply put, the same person can answer the same question “Who are you?” with a range of different answers depending on the situation, the context, the where, and the when.
Profiling systems just have to take all those different answers into consideration.