Eid Sa3eed!

Alhamdulilah if finishing off 4 midterms and 2 papers isn't the best Eid gift, then I don't know what is!

So in one of my self imposed study breaks which lasted longer than my study session I got into a discussion with an old friend. We ended up discussing political candidates and they brought up Ron Paul--this up and coming Republican Presidential candidate. Initially when they, we'll refer to them as Y, brought him up, in the back of my head I was half expecting another Islam bashing, super conservative candidate and to my complete and utter surprise, got a completely different picture. To start with Y showed me a speech he delivered on War to the House of Reps.

"Changing our policy of meddling in the affairs of others won’t come quickly or easily. But a few signals to indicate a change in our attitude would go a long way to bringing peace to a troubled land.
1. We must soon, and Congress can do this through the budget process, stop the construction of all permanent bases in Iraq and any other Muslim country in the region. Think of how we would react if the Chinese had the military edge on us and laid claims to the Gulf of Mexico, building bases within the U.S. in order to promote their superior way of life. Isn’t it ironic that we close down bases here at home while building new ones overseas? Domestic bases might well promote security, while bases in Muslim nations only elicit more hatred toward us.
2. The plans for the biggest U.S. embassy in the world, costing nearly 1 billion dollars, must be canceled. This structure in Baghdad sends a message, like the military bases being built, that we expect to be in Iraq and running Iraq for a long time to come.
3. All military forces, especially on the Arabian Peninsula, must be moved offshore at the earliest time possible. All responsibility for security and control of the oil must be transferred to the Iraqis from the United States as soon as possible, within months not years." --2005

Ok fine, a lot of people might think like this but, once they get into the race and the pressure is on, surely they will succumb to the dirtiness of the race and change their platform.

Upon further discussion with Y, I found out that Y actually had sent a letter to him and received a response. One of the questions posed in his letter was what sparked his interest in politics and to be in Congress. I found his response quite interesting so I'll share:

"Thank you also for asking how I made the decision to run for Congress. I ran for Congress because of my concern that the federal government has so grossly expanded into areas where it has no legitimate role and is thereby threatening our constitutional liberties. After careful reflection, I decided the most effective way I could impact national policy was to run for Congress. It is my belief that participation in the legislative process is crucial to the preservation of liberty so highly esteemed by our nation's founders as well as myself."

So I started liking him even more. And then I found this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjQYg5RoH2s

Granted there is probably still plenty of more research on this guy and I think I post this a) because I'm ashamed I didn't even know who he was b) because I'm sure there are plenty others who don't and might be interested in knowing who he is and c) any presidential candidate that is willing to take the time to write out a personal letter to a random person is worthy of noting.

On a completely different note, little things make the biggest difference in the world. The other night admist my trying to study for 4 midterms and take as much advantage as possible of the last days of Ramadan a friend of mine randomly came up to me and just gave me the most spontaneous hug ever. Taken aback I turned to her and questioned "what was thatttt for?!" Her response was, sometimes, people just need hugs and your week seems crazy. She doesn't know how much that small gesture meant but all I could think was wow, subhanAllah smiles or something that small really can be charity. To top it all off when I got home I found a cup of iced coffee made by my cousin for me! Alhamdulilah for the people I'm blessed to be around and Eid Mubarak!! :)

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“Verily after every hardship there comes ease.” (Chapter 94,Verse 4--Quran)