The Access Union Business Opportunity

In today’s current financial atmosphere it’s easy to see that times are hard. The US labor market is still losing jobs which only adds to the nervousness everyone feels thanks to the problems facing the banking industry and big businesses. The anxiety is so palpable that I think everyone who can wants to do his or her part to help get us out of this hole and back on track.

With that in mind, I’d like to share with you information I’ve acquired about a new business/work opportunity with The Access Union.

The Access Union is an international union of Independent Contractors whose principles are grounded on the economic right to independence in the work force. They organize, educate, and empower individuals in order to assist in their securing themselves financially.

You can spend $10 USD once to become a Standard Access Agent and gain access to multiple income streams where you can earn a minimum annual salary of $34,000 USD.

They have two groups available for interested individuals to sign up and receive email updates and notifications about new products and services; one at Yahoo Groups and another at Workspace. They also have a blog for you to follow for business tips and industry insights available at The Access Union Blog.

You can listen to a recording about the program anytime at:
(605)475-6950
Pin Number: 100401 followed by the pound sign then message code 4000
also followed by a pound sign

Or hear their live weekly conference every Tuesday night 9pm Eastern/8pm Central Standard Time, it's absolutely free and incredibly informative! The phone number is:
(605)475-6900, Pin Number: 100401 followed by the pound sign

To find out more and/or to register visit the website at:
http://theaccessunion.webs.com/

Networks at the Access Union:
The Access Union Blog
Yahoo Groups: The Access Union
WorkSpace: The Access Union

Barack Obama – A New Hope

I almost didn’t want to write this post before the actual inauguration ceremony out of fear that somehow I might jinx the process or not get to see Barack Obama becoming the next president of the United States actualized – that’s how almost unbelievable it is that we now have an African American President Elect in the United States of America.

I almost expected to wake up from a beautiful dream, so I rationalized how important it is to be extra careful in my musings and excitement so as not to jolt myself back into reality. So sad, but so true.

But in following my heart I began to re-think my reasoning and said to myself, Hey, where’s your hope, lady? I too must have the audacity to hope and to believe that the best is yet to come, don’t I? And so here it is: my celebratory post congratulating Barack Obama on his success and thanking God for the potential mercy extended in his victory.

I’m a little embarrassed to admit that this was the first presidential campaign that I really paid attention to, but on the other hand so glad that this was the election that my political consciousness has awakened to. I’ve been able to witness a political figure that can inspire people and make them smile; that can use words like hope and change in ways that resonate with truth and sincerity. It’s hard to see him in action and not believe that he can make a positive difference in how things work in America and then by extension in the world, no matter how naïve this may sound.

And in spite of the obstacles and major challenges that our new president will face (the economy is still struggling to survive, Israel has recently begun it’s horrible offensive, India and Pakistan are at odds, etc., etc., etc.) the great potential for peace-making instead of warmongering, for generosity of spirit instead of avarice, for honest and open-minded diplomacy and debate instead of tyranny and pseudo fascism should not be underestimated. And as goes the new anthem of my generation, Yes We Can!

My son is 11 years old now, soon to be 12 and I am so glad that he will come of age in a world where one of the most powerful countries on the planet has elected an African American as President. It is encouraging in ways that are difficult to articulate because of the emotions involved but I will try and explain.

For example, as he begins to learn about slavery and the Civil Rights movement in school with a better understanding of what actually occurred, now that he is older, he need not feel trapped or boxed into a legacy of discrimination and brutality. He can discover his own potential, dreams and purpose as he enters adolescence with a living example demonstrating that the sky’s the limit. He can create meaningful friendships and relationships with his peers without as much of the nagging suspicion that he may not be fully accepted for all that he is as an African American man in the country and I am so filled with joy and gladness about this I can hardly contain myself. When I see Barack Obama on the television a find myself smiling and giddy! I only pray that he can live up to the very high expectations that so many of us have concerning him and that God’s grace abounds in these days ahead.

Obama is our New Hope, much like Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars legacy. May he have the strength and wisdom to conquer the dark side and to assist in making this world a better place to live.

May you have a very blessed 2009!

The Mindworks Family

Polygamy: A Perspective

In a 2005 study of the effects of polygamy upon Arab women, an Egyptian psychiatrist arrived at the conclusion that there should be a clinical classification for symptoms attributed to the practice of polygamy. Lotfy A.M. Al-Sherbiny, Ph.D., author of The Case of the First Wife in Polygamy, has found that many women fall victim to identical somatic and psychological symptoms when exposed to the practice of polygamy and proposes that there be a classification called “first wife syndrome” as a way of diagnosing and treating such women. Although her study was based on Arab women and the findings are thus Arab culture specific, one cannot ignore the ramifications of such findings and how they can in effect impact practices within Western civilization and the Muslim world.

Personally, upon encountering Al-Sherbiny’s report, I was filled with relief, hope and a growing excitement. The fact that another woman would care enough to delve into such an area for study was touching and liberating – inspiring because of the doors such a study can open for the psychological health of women, especially Muslim women.

Women have undeniably lived with mental health ailments throughout the twentieth century, most of them suffering silently through the effects of bad marriages, economic injustices and physical/mental abuse. And although the West, particularly the Women’s Rights movement of the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s in the U.S. can be credited as having been a leader in terms of seeking that women be liberated from the pain and shame of mental illness and abuse, fewer gains have been made in the behalf of the female populations of poorer nations, if modern western media is to be believed. Whether what the news reports is true or not, a study such as this has emerged and to discover such a find and not share it would be a blunder on my part.

I first need to point out that in terms of polygamy, I have unfortunately found that most women when asked about it react with disdain, disrespect or outright anger, rarely taking the time to try and understand why a woman may choose to practice polygamy or to see any good that may be inherent within it.

I can certainly attest that unless one has embarked upon a journey as a polygamous wife it can be very difficult to put oneself into the shoes of another that has made such choices. From my own perspective, I can imagine the pain it may cause a woman to visualize living in a polygamous household, especially in the West because of the images that we are constantly bombarded with professing to define womanhood for us; but the fact nevertheless remains that a significant percentage of women, whether by choice or circumstance, is familiar with aspects of sharing a spouse or significant other.

For instance, there has been a new development in recent years within popular American culture, particularly urban pop culture with the advent of the “baby daddy” and “baby mama;” terms that refer to estranged or absent parents that do not participate as an official spouse but that function within the family unit nonetheless. Cultural norms have now emerged where it becomes necessary for individuals to identify and interact with one another in a new way due to the increasing numbers of children within society that are born out of wedlock or subject to divorce and re-marriage.

These circumstances often require individuals to interact in ways that are similar to the ways in which polygamous households function for the sake of the children involved. We even have spin offs such as “baby mama/daddy drama, ” that alludes to the stress and anxiety involved in interacting with the mother/father of the children of one’s former spouse or significant other.
If we were to analyze the prevalent social norms in modern American society we would not be able to ignore the fact that we do indeed deal more directly with aspects of polygamy and bigamy than we would expect from within the constructs of a “monogamous Christian society.” The Bible after all contains several narratives of polygamous marriages within the Old Testament, and the Judeo-Christian tradition is not without it’s own history of polygamous marriages throughout the ages.

All this to say that regardless of one’s opinion concerning whether polygamy is right or wrong, it cannot be denied that analyzing the effect that polygamy has on women’s minds and their psychological health is an important and commendable accomplishment. Whether I believe polygamy is good or bad becomes insignificant in light of what women are going through psychologically because of a lack of understanding and support from the medical profession.

Al-Sherbiny documents that, at least within the confines of Arab culture, women of a certain demographic and social status tend to practice polygamy more than others. This alone provides an excellent opportunity to endorse literacy and education throughout the Muslim world, especially quality religious education so that women can be cognizant of their rights in polygamy according to Islam. This can not only alleviate the symptoms that women tend to experience but also to elevate her social status.

The study states, “following Islamic principles and adhering to the rules surrounding polygamy can minimize or eliminate side effects.” So while providing treatment to prevalent symptoms, education in the form of literacy and religious teaching can also treat the greater social condition of women and thus assist the family structure as a whole.

I am obviously extremely excited about this study and much respect goes out to Dr. Al-Sherbiny. I pray that women around the globe continue to emerge as leaders and advocates for one another in the struggles for justice and the establishment of human rights. We are all trustees upon this earth and it is our duty to do our best to be worthy of such a trust.

With peace and blessings for you and yours!


Relevant Reading:
Scriptures: Listed by Chapter and Verse

Wives in the Qur’an:
2:187, 2:223, 4:3, 4:19-21, 4:129, 13:38, 23:6, 24:6-9, 33:37, 37:22, 40:8, 43:70, 60:10-11, 64:14, 66:10-11, 70:30

Wife in the Bible:
Gen.2:24, Prov.18:22, 19:14, Hos.1:2, Mark 10:11, Luke 14:20, 17:32, Eph.5:33, Titus 1:6, Rev.21:9

Wives in the Bible:
Eph.5:25, 1Tim 3:11



Matriarchs in Polygamous Structures:

Qur’an: Sarah, 11:71, Hajar 14:37;

Bible: Sarah, Gen.11:29, 18:15, 21:12, 23:1+2, 19, 49:31, Heb.11:11, 1Pet.3:5+6, Hagar Gen.16:1-16, Keturah Gen.25:1, 4, 1Chr. 1:32, 33, Leah Gen.29:16-32, 30:9-20, 31:4, 31:14, 33:1-7, Rachel Gen.29:6-31, 31:34, 35:16-24, Matt.2:18, Zilpah Gen.30:9, Bilah Gen.29:29, 30:7, 35:22, 35:25, Zipporah Ex.2:21, 4:25, 18:2, The Ethiopian Woman (Moses’ Wife) Num.12:1, Hannah 1Sam.1:2, 1Sam.2:1-11, 2:31, Peninnah 1Sam.1:2, Michal 1Sam.14:49, 18:17-28, 19:11-17, 2Sam.3:13, 3:14, 6:1-23, Abigail 1Sam. 25:39-41, Ahinoam 1Sam.25:43-44, David’s wives 2Sam.3:2-5, 2Sam.5:13-16, Bathsheba 2Sam.11:3, 12:24, 1King.1:11, 2:13, 2:18-19, Pharoah’s Daughter (Solomon’s Wife) 1King.7:8, Solomon’s Wives 1King.11:3


Polygamy and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh):

Wives of the Prophet:
1)Khadija bin Khuailid, 2)Sawda bint Zam’a, 3)Aisha bint Abu Bakr, 4)Hafsa bint ‘Umar, 5)Zainab bint Khuzaimah, 6)Umm Salama, 7)Umm Habiba, 8)Zaynab bint Jahsh, 9)Safiyya bint Huyay, 10)Juayriya bint al-Harith, Maymuna

Polygamy: The Qur’an Restricts the Number to Four
Abu Dawud: al-Harith ibn Qays said, “I embraced Islam while I had eight wives. When I mentioned that to the Prophet (pbuh), he said, “choose only four of them.”

Tirmidhi: Abdullah ibn ‘Umar said, “Abu Ghaylan ibn Salama ath-Thaqafi embraced Islam and he had ten wives whom he had married during the pre-Islamic period. His wives also embraced Islam with him. Thereupon, the Prophet (pbuh) commanded him to choose only four of them.”

Marriage:
Sahih Sunan Abi Dawud: vol.1, pg.358: “Fear Allah concerning women, for you have them under Allah’s security, and you have the right to sexual intercourse with them by Allah’s word. You have the right to expect from them that they do not bring into your houses anyone whom you dislike. But if they do that, then strike them lightly, without violence. They, on the other hand, have the right to expect from you that you feed and clothe them reasonably.”

Tirmidhi: “What kind of wealth should be sought?” He replied: “Each one of you should seek a thankful heart, a mindful tongue, and a believing wife who will help each of you in the matter of the Hereafter.”