Of Venting and Realisations

Mohammed thinks that young people are waisting their lives! So much potential, resources, abilities..... But no will to do anything productive or positive for society!

Nazir Mamoojee at 2:46am February 22 via Facebook Mobile
I hear that bro.. Its sad hey.. Wat to do? Need to think of an effective way of getting kids involved

Natasha Sass at 2:46am February 22
Damn true Dude!!! So what are we going to do about it???

Mohammed Ziyaad Hassen at 2:55am February 22 via Facebook Mobile
Not talking about children only. Talking about those in mid-to-late 20's. Especially middle class suburban kids. Wasting there fucking lives. Capable of giving and doing so much.....yet they give nothing and live pointless lives.

Mohammed Ziyaad Hassen at 2:56am February 22 via Facebook Mobile
And in arrogant enough at this point to be judgemental....... Its about fucking time i say.

Nazir Mamoojee at 2:57am February 22 via Facebook Mobile
I think most of us are dude.. We al in it for money and material possessions.. But fail to c the bigger picture.. I make duaa everyday to be a better person.. I always wanted to be more than i am.. But this world consumes us by the second! Allah give us strength..

Mohammed Ziyaad Hassen at 2:58am February 22 via Facebook Mobile
We should start ridiculing people for the frivolous lives that they live. We should start judging people on there character rather than possessions.

Nazir Mamoojee at 3:00am February 22 via Facebook Mobile
Character.. Now thats the thing.. If ppl start taking a good look at themselves before they look and judge others, things mite be different.. But every1s egos are too big unfortunately.. Lol.. This is getting way to deep for this time of the morning.. But ya.. I cant agree with u more.. We should point it out.. Cos they al full of shit

Natasha Sass at 6:04am February 22
Rather aggressive this morning Mr Hassen?? That's not the way to go about it Dude. Who are we to preside in judgement over others, and ridicule them for their (very true) frivolous lifestyles?? We'd be no better than the very people you mention if that was the cause of action. That's not our way of life? This has been an ongoing saga for ages. The big question is, HOW to make them see their errors? True, Nazir, one should start with oneself, and, btw, this world consumes us only if we ALLOW it to. We are the Masters of our destinies in that we have choices - making the right choice is the issue.
Character - Aqhlaaq - interesting point Nazir. But will we get anywhere unless we practice what we preach - to coin the phrase? There's still no solution here guys - and I'm the only bloody female commenting on this issue...The queation still remains...What and how?? C'mon guys - we're going in circles with this one?? What is to be done and HOW is it going to be done?? Constructively, that is?

Adila Tayob at 8:20am February 22 via Facebook Mobile
Ned i hear to you. Youth have no sense of initiative or proactiveness! I teach high schl and these kids 4get that there is a world besides the bubble in whch they live. I however believe that the people over the age of 25 have already developed the responsible side of tey brain even if tey dnt show tey know whats rite n wrng, so its the younger ones. I recently ran a palestine drive in louis tri but other than that we are lackng in terms of inspiration. Please let me know of ny projects that we can mayb collect mney etc for it!

Adila Tayob at 8:23am February 22 via Facebook Mobile
And Natasha (even though i dnt kno u) just want to say totally agree wit u. Allah is the judge and thats it.. I thnk we shud nt try to fix the world we shud fix the world inside of us and go around n NOT preach instead live your life so that u touch other lives n infect them wit ur giving sense.. Be contagious :)

Natasha Parbhoo at 9:08am February 22 via Facebook Mobile
nice thought provoking chat this morning.. ned, was thinking the same just the other day...

Haroon Wadee at 9:41am February 22
what a way to start the day!! hit the nail on the head boet......but have the kids lost the plot or are they lost in the plot scriptedd by the cultural homogenising forces of western cultural, economicad political imperialism? haven't had my morning caffeine and nicotine boost, but inclind to think it's the latter.....we therefore need to use our intellect and action to deconstruct this blinding force.....i NEED a smoke!!!!

Natasha Sass at 10:07am February 22
Damn - at least SOME women joined me in this one....Iactually debated with myself for two solid hours before finally posting that comment Adila. Ned had a point, I agree, an issue that's been nagging at me for ages. By the way Haroon, I had the caffeine and nicotine boost for you;) And Adila, we don't have to know each other to agree on an issue girlfriend. Our youth have been influenced by a westernised society, spiritual and cultural poverty, but remember that the first lesson is learnt at home?? Every home should be a Madressah and somehow I feel that we as parents have failed in our duty, or our youth have forgotten (deliberately) what we have taught them and have been drawn further into the westernised web created by their peers. I'm proud of my teenager who remembers how to dress, contributes to community services voluntarily, comments on the fact that the Zone has become a "Fashion Parade" with half naked young MUSLIM women parading around and flirting with the guys -

Natasha Sass at 10:17am February 22
"Attention Seekers" as she calls them. On the other hand, this doesn't mean that other parents have not lived and practised their beliefs in order to set an example for todays' youth - for this reason I pray my daughter remains true to herself, as I've taught her. I'd hate to see her with neither morals, ethics nor religious values at 25 - I'd highly likely kick her butt good and solid. True we need to live and practice our beliefs, but where is the solution in getting the message out there to those youngsters who are wasting their lives - and valuable time - on insignificant, self-indulgent activities instead of making a meaningful contribution to society?? We're going in circles again guys. Ned does have a valid point - the time has come, but HOW?? What exactly are we going to do to constructively get their attention?? Constructively move them into action?? Any Ideas Ned, besides being judgemental and ridiculing??

Adila Tayob at 10:23am February 22 via Facebook Mobile
Lol:) i read ur cmment natasha n cudnt resist. I agree that if every parent were to do their job nd if teachers wud take a second or two to actually listen to our kids we mite b suprised.. I believe that we shud have a little faith and NEVER stop trying!! Becoz if everybdy were to give up ten we wud b left with very little.. We shud neva gv up..

Natasha Sass at 10:25am February 22
P.S. Aziza has just given her input..."Sluts" she says. Is that what the Muslim society has become? I'm disappointed, but it does remain our duty to lead them away from their errant paths, correct their conduct. The issue that bloody bugs is HOW???

Natasha Sass at 10:45am February 22
Hey Adila - I agree with you - probably why my girls can come to me with any problem. Perhaps we should start with the adults?? The listening is so damn important - take yourself to their level and retain what these kids are saying - yet is that really done all the time?? And yes, we should never give up - who the hell will give a damn if we don't. Persistence, persistence, persistence...name of the game right?? But HOW girl?? I'm at a loss for ideas here??

Haroon Wadee at 11:02am February 22
and enuff cigarettes and cappucino to fuel da mind!!!! Amandla Intifada!!! Alutua Continua!!!!

Natasha Sass at 11:38am February 22
Haroon - I told you I had that dose - scratch that - caffeine and nicotine OVERDOSE for you already!!!

Mohammed Ziyaad Hassen at 12:17pm February 22 via Facebook Mobile
I have always believed thats its vitally important to articulate and vent frustrations to others in order to reach some sort of understanding from another perspective. My rantings, justified or not, in the early hours of the morning has resulted in an interesting discussion which shows that the issues raised by one crazy person is a concern for many others. As society, we dont tend to raise these issues, or discuss them..... Which results in complacency! To some extent, i feel like we are the ones failing the youth. On the other hand, i feel like that they are a wasted generation...... but we should NEVER loose faith or hope!

Adila Tayob at 12:19pm February 22 via Facebook Mobile
I just typed out a whole essay n for sum reasn it resuses to get postd. In the car, batt flat. Natasha want to share my ideas wit u. Wil post tem in the evening k.

Atiya Mosam at 12:22pm February 22 via Facebook Mobile
Hey everyone. I tried to read the whole convo properly but my tired brain gets the basics of the convo and I think we're all on the same page. I think this sense of superficial materialism is present in all of us regardless of age or gender or culture. Its human nature to want. And its not necessarily a bad thing if its in moderation because its what drives us. The important thing and what we need to learn and hopefully impart to others is there need to be a balance in wanting and giving. I think there might be a way to change things - though it might be a long process - but it will require dedication from all.

Haroon Wadee at 1:04pm February 22
thanx Natasha!!! so that's where my ciggies disappeared to...anyway...i agree it will be a long process....but in the words of Chris Martin (coldplay) "if you never try you'll never know...".....i'm switching to decaf.....

Natasha Sass at 3:40pm February 22
Mr Hassen - you call your "OUTBURST" rantings?? Good one Dude, but I agree with you. It took one person to raise the voices of many. Adila, I'm looking forward to the essay...probably the reason why it wouldn't post??? Seriously though - I'd love to trade ideas and get this long process on the move. Ned, I feel like we have failed them too - to some extent, but so have they failed us, Dude. Atiya is right too, moderation is important. But thanks for that emotional outburst - seems if we pull together, persevere and not lose hope, we might just make the future generations better?? WE are raising the adults of tomorrow - there's one point to begin with Adila?? Losing Faith and Hope would be the greatest injustice we could do to ourselves and the future generations. Perhaps majority of the today's youngsters are lost to us, but there's nothing to lose in trying to win them back?? And, we have the future "Adults" in our care at present - we can't afford to lose hope there, Dude.

Natasha Sass at 3:51pm February 22
These are OUR CHILDREN who will become tomorrow's adults, and we'd be failing ourselves and them by losing hope and faith in ALL...Atiya's "moderation" taken into consideration too. A long process it will be, but we will surely win this battle. "The greatest battles fought, and won, are those fought in the face of adversity"? (William Churchil, WW2) Haroon. And yes, I stole your ciggies and smoked them all, so I'm on a caffeine high, oops and a nicotine one too. I'm chucking the smokes and quitting caffeine - there's one example to MY kids?? So, you'll get more than your fair share of ciggies back Haroon? I'll mail them to you ;)
Long process I agree Atiya, but I'm willing to give my dedication - how about the rest of the crew here?? Let's at least get started on something, no matter how small Ned?
Adila, I'm really looking forward to juggling some thoughts?? Think Ned got my Adrenaline pumping too damn early this morning. Perserverence....Faith, and Hope. How can we lose??

Natasha Sass at 3:56pm February 22
P.S. Atiya - brilliant girl - we need to strike that balance. We will never achieve what needs to be achieved unless we are ready to learn, impart that knowledge, and ACT upon what we have learnt. Let's hear some more?? You've got my mind racing now...

Atiya Mosam at 4:13pm February 22 via Facebook Mobile
@ Natasha - I've been pondering this a long time now. I have an idea which I'm slowly trying to implement. I've realised that we need to engage youth on their level- get them active by using stuff they consider fun.

Natasha Sass at 5:19pm February 22
Atiya - I hear where you're coming from - but what about our 20 year olds - and older? Think Ned did mention that this morning if I'm not mistaken?? That's our largely clubbing, drugging crowd...What can we do to target that age group as well?? I've been thinking about a few things, but will keep in contact - I'd love to hear your ideas??

Mr Hassen - your early morning tantrum has started a storm....you ready for the downpour?? Arduous task ahead, but looks like we're all game?? Thanks for starting this though - who knows where we would've been at if you hadn't. Congrats Dude!!

Haroon Wadee at 8:38pm February 22
yeah congrats.....also working on some ideas to mobilise the youth and to reverse da colonisation of the mind....long process but one worth striving towards....keep this and many more debates flowing...apart from the jibes abt coffee and ciggies i might be able to contribute as well.....mine is through music but i hope that we can win hearts and minds to issues of pressing importance that extend beyonds cars & girls: "look at us now..some things hurt more much more than cars and girls. look at us now (start counting) what adds up the way it did when we were young?" - sorry cellular memory trigggered off - great song by Prefab Sprout...later....

Natasha Sass at 8:58pm February 22
Any which way you can right?? BTW, You started the ciggies and coffee thing Dude....(",)

Mohammed Ziyaad Hassen at 10:10pm February 22 via Facebook Mobile
Its been a long and crazy weekend! Attending a wedding and walima. At some point this weekend i realised the pointless nature of 'our' (middle class indian muslims) lives. The frivolity of our interaction, and our occasions. I was never a fan. But i realised that the sector of society capable of driving change are the one's thats the most worst off....those engulfed in consumerism and materialism. Its a societal problem. How then do we expect any difference in thinking from the youth. Its critically important to identify the problems that exist is society....the causes and the effects.

Mohammed Ziyaad Hassen at 10:19pm February 22 via Facebook Mobile
Thanks for the brilliant thoughts and responses. I will respond adequately tomorro once i have slept and recovered from spending time with my family, the broader community.... Which in essence is society...! Its great knowing that others share the same thoughts and ideas. And it has a tremendous impact on my sanity. It proves that i do have some left......... pun not intended, batteries not include, each sold seperatetaly. (Shucks i need sleep)

Natasha Sass at 10:47pm February 22
Insomniac!!

Atiya Mosam at 11:22pm February 22 via Facebook Mobile
@ Natasha - I have so many ideas swimming around my head that I have discussed with many others much in the same way as this conversation began - from one persons courage to speak their mind. There are more people than you would guess who would be willing to be involved in a project as such. As a result I am currently laying down plans to form an organisation to deal with these and other issues. I welcome anyone who is willing to come on board with me.

Natasha Sass at 11:44pm February 22
Girl count me in. Together we can make a difference...

Haroon Wadee at 9:10am February 23
excellent stuff.....please send info abt the budding organisation. will be glad to contribute mental and intellectual energy - that is, if I have any...but sure i can come up with something...