tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44771238955598498182024-03-04T20:39:44.383-08:00Just RamblingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-84324374741666677312018-10-25T14:14:00.000-07:002018-10-25T14:14:54.120-07:00Supergirl Season 4 (4.1 American Alien)<b>4.1 - American Alien</b><br />
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There are two main issues I had with this first episode of <i>Supergirl</i>:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Firstly, that she<o:p></o:p></div>
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[spoil]<span style="color: white;">seems to be oblivious to the burgeoning animosity towards aliens</span>[/spoil]<o:p></o:p></div>
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Although it is somewhat understandable (hope etc), it does imply that she has been ignoring things going on around her, or has been dismissive of them. One of the things she seemed to ignore was that [spoil]<span style="color: white;">they took both spikes</span>[/spoil].<o:p></o:p></div>
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The second was that<o:p></o:p></div>
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[spoil]<span style="color: white;">she was slower than a couple of motorcycles</span>[/spoil]<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unlike the first issue, I have no excuses for this one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was good to see Lillian Luthor again, and I grinned at the reveal of Otis and Mercy (like I've said elsewhere, I don't check on previews etc, so I rarely know about these things ahead of viewing).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Otis was certainly more capable than the version of the character made famous by Ned Beatty in <i>Superman</i> but there was still the recognisable clumsy and slightly goofy element to him. The actor playing him also reminded me of The Cowboy from <i>Innerspace</i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Separately: Winn was never J'onn's PA, nor was he ever Alex's, yet, for some reason, Alex seems to treat Brainy as if he is her PA. As Director, Alex would almost certainly have an assistant for the admin side of things. It may be that J'onn was someone who kept things closer to his chest and preferred to handle the paperwork/arrangements himself, but it's highly unlikely. It just doesn't fit with the idea of a government agency, regardless of how secretive it is.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As for the reveal, leading in to the season's initial arc, I think we knew it was only a matter of time before the secret that [spoil]<span style="color: white;">President Marsdin (played by Lynda Carter (<i>Wonder Woman</i>)) is an alien</span>[/spoil] would be uncovered, after we saw a flash of the truth last season.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As with previous seasons, there is a lot within the show that reflects what is currently going on the world, especially the US, and, while many don't like the approach, I think it's a good way of keeping things different to a number of other superhero-shows.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-74720138298160917742018-10-25T13:57:00.000-07:002018-10-25T13:57:58.520-07:00On the box<div class="MsoNormal">
So now that the new seasons of the shows have started, I'm going to try to layer this into the blog. Hopefully, this will mean more posts throughout the week, alongside the ones for comics etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bear in mind - as with comics - I tend to avoid previews as much as I can, so there will likely be instances of surprise on my part which some readers might have a "well, d'uh, they revealed that in an article on such-and-such-a-website". I also don't watch the 'next time on' sections that show up at the ends of episodes. As a result of this, one such surprise, for me, was the reveal of a new actor over on <i>The Flash</i>. I was, literally, on the sofa wondering, "Is that?" and then I checked on a popular online database and found that it was.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, as a heads-up, the main shows I'll be posting about are:</div>
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<span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Supergirl</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -18pt;">The Flash</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Legends of Tomorrow</span></div>
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I'm really behind on <i>Arrow</i> (I only saw the first few episodes of the last season) but will be watching the <i>Elseworlds</i> crossover episode, and will try to catch up at some point.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I've been meaning to check out <i>Gifted</i> but haven't gotten round to it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Titans</i> isn't available in the UK yet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There are a few other shows I watch here and there, but they're usually when time allows rather than something more regular/consistent like the ones above.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Also, Halloween is coming up so there may be some horror reviews, if I get time and depending on what we get around to watching.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-70279097626300454452018-10-18T16:02:00.000-07:002018-10-18T16:02:00.712-07:00Once more into the breach(Full disclosure: this post has been sitting in my drafts for three months. It's a bit of a jumble and I'm going to leave it that way - hopefully, I'll be posting more coherently going forward.)<br />
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With Bendis on board, it's time to stop procrastinating. When I started this blog, I honestly thought that, at the very least, I would do a weekly (or thereabouts) round-up on recent comics. I'm mainly a DC reader, but I do check out other books here and there when time and enjoyment allows - <i>Invincible</i>, for example, was a must-read whenever new issues came out.<br />
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But I didn't do it.<br />
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I kept thinking 'no one is going to read this'. 'No one cares.'<br />
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I used to be a regular on the old DC Boards, both before The Great Crisis and The Final Entropy that forced us to seek refuge in other venues across the interwebs - DCU, CBR etc - and I think I have a reasonably good standing in the sites that I do use, but time and work and life have lessened my availability in sharing my thoughts with other readers on those sites.<br />
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It's the way things end up being, right?<br />
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And the things I did write about - the <i>Man of Steel</i> movie, for example - I may have gotten a little carried away with. I'll try to temper that.<br />
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So now I'm going to try to make more of an effort on this blogging thing - at the very least on the comics-side of it, especially with Superman. It's going to be an escape of sorts, I think.<br />
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Some reading this post may have come here through my Harry Potter fan fiction - <i>What if the Dursleys had been nice</i> - and I think tying these posts to my writing is an important thing for me to do, going forward.<br />
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So, yeah, time to stop procrastinating...<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-19296805547395470662014-06-15T03:58:00.000-07:002014-06-15T03:58:27.698-07:00British Values and Muslim Values<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Born and raised in Britain I do think (believe) that,
overall, I can quite comfortably (and rightly) call myself a ‘British
Muslim’. Now, there are those who would
want me to remove that second descriptor, and there are others who would prefer
it to be placed before the first one, but it is what I am: A British Muslim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Born here, raised here, and able to practice my faith here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As for my values, I’ve <i>always</i>
seen the two (British and Muslim) to be so alike that they’re quite
indistinguishable. Maybe my view of <i>traditional </i>British Values are ‘old
school’ - I grew up in the 80s and 90s and a number of my teachers (God bless
them all) grew up in the 50s and 60s, so perhaps these aspects have had an
effect on me overall?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Traditional)
Muslim Values<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Traditional)
British Values<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Current
British Values?)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honour Your Mother and Father<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honour Your Mother and Father<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honour Your Mother and Father (this is definitely still a part of
being British, despite how individually and separately we live our from our
parents)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be good to your neighbours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be good to your neighbours<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t trust your neighbours…but try to be good ones, ideally<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Help those in need<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Help those in need<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Help those in need (but help yourself first and if you have a bit of
time then maybe help others)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Freedom of religion (I know, this one’s a shocker to Muslims and
non-Muslims ;) )<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Freedom of religion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Freedom of religion<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Obey the laws of the land you are living in [provided they do not
conflict with Islamic law (so, for example, in the unlikely event that a law
was passed that everyone had to eat pork twice a week, Muslims (vegans, vegetarians
etc) would not obey it)]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Obey the laws of the land, but if they look to become oppressive then
step forward and fight for what’s right<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(It’s a long process, but it’s got to be done)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Obey them, but if you can get away with not doing so then good for
you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One (overall) law for all, but the laws of a person’s religion will
take precedent in certain matters (marriage, inheritance, etc)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One (overall) law for all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you’re rich and/or famous then you can get away with certain
things<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(If you’re an MP etc then you might be able to get away with certain
other things)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Education is a basic and fundamental right <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Education is a basic and fundamental right<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Education is a right - if you can afford it, and even then we might
dumb things down a bit (a lot)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Work hard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Work hard<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you can figure out a way to not work then good on you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be of benefit to those around you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be of benefit to those around you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 146.0pt;" valign="top" width="195">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grab whatever you can, and sod other people<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instil discipline in your children<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 157.35pt;" valign="top" width="210">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instil discipline in your children<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 146.0pt;" valign="top" width="195">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let them run free, you’re not the boss of them<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your home is your castle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your home is your castle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your home could be mine if you’re not around and I want in (okay, not
really, but it sometimes seems like it’s going this way…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of what I’ve listed in ‘current’ are likely to be
dismissed by many people - the ‘help those in need’ one, for example (we Brits
are known for opening our hands towards worthy causes, but I think there are
people out there who will agree that it’s become less of a ‘let’s pull together
as a community and society’ and more of a ‘give some money and hopefully the
problem will go away’). There is something of a change in values, but the core ones (the ones in that middle column) are still there and still strong, Alhumdulillah, despite areas of the media putting more emphasis on the 'bad'.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ibn Taymiyyah gave a ruling a long time ago - one which is known more through its <i>mis-</i>transmission rather than its actual ruling. The actual ruling, with regards to Muslims living in a non-Muslim state (nation) is that:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'<span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px;">The Muslims living therein should be treated according to their rights as Muslims, while the non-Muslims living there outside of the authority of Islamic Law should be treated according to their rights.'</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the years, the focus of certain groups has been on the first clause - the rights of Muslims. Alhumdulillah, despite some people's claims to the contrary, this country I have been blessed to have been born and raised in, <i>does</i> allow Muslims to be treated according to our rights as Muslims. The second clause, though, seems to one which these groups tend to dismiss/disregard/ignore.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ibn Taymiyyah's ruling was one that promoted balance and good and peaceful living between Muslims and non-Muslims. It is something that fits in well with British society - a society which has values that mirror and complement Muslim values - and if it is one which Muslims collectively embrace then our relationship with each other and everyone around us will be all the better for it, Insha'Allah.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-59153524669430809392014-05-24T15:13:00.000-07:002014-05-24T15:13:59.111-07:00Halal - just what the heck is it?For weeks (years, really, it's a cyclical thing) there's been talk, misrepresentation, misunderstanding, confusion, accusation, and so on, about what 'Halal' is. There are details on numerous Islamic websites by numerous scholars, but they're either unknown (most likely) or ignored (I don't think this is a wilful thing for the most part, as the quest for answers is, for most people, a genuine one).<br />
<br />
As always, the likelihood of something I post making a difference or bringing understanding to someone is minuscule, but I'm going to give it a shot - can't hurt, right?<br />
<br />
So what is 'Halal' and why has it been kicking up a storm?<br />
<br />
Basically it means 'permitted' or 'allowed' or 'pure' - depending on the context in which it is used (I'll try to detail this more fully as I go on, but if a non-Muslim is reading this (I hope there are a few who are!) then one thing you need to bear in mind is that Islam is 'a way of life', and there are rules, guidance, and suggestion for every aspect.)<br />
<br />
The opposite of 'Halal' is 'Haram' - things that are 'not permitted', 'not allowed', 'impure'.<br />
<br />
Let's start on the food side of things.<br />
<br />
Halal isn't about slaughter - that is Zabihah (the word <i>literally</i> means 'slaughtered') - and animals such as sheep and goats are <i>halal</i> for a Muslim to raise and handle, whereas a pig is not. So before it is slaughtered a chicken, lamb, goat, cow etc is <i>halal - </i>it is a pure animal (we'll ignore the whole 'feeding it things that are contrary to what it should be eating' side of things). Regardless of how a pig is slaughtered it can never be considered <i>halal</i> for a Muslim to eat (the extreme circumstance of there being literally nothing else to eat, is just that: extreme. It's unlikely to happen. The other example of being force-fed does not place responsibility on the one being force-fed, so doesn't count, either).<br />
<br />
So, again, Halal isn't about the method of slaughter. The method used, however, determines whether the slaughtered animal/poultry can still be considered <i>halal</i>.<br />
<br />
Snapping a chicken's neck is not permitted.<br />
<br />
Suffocating a chicken is not permitted (but it's done in some poultry farms in the UK (anyone remember Jamie Oliver's piece on this a few years ago?) and <a href="http://beforeitsnews.com/animals-pets/2013/12/fda-aproves-avi-foamguard-that-can-suffocate-15000-chickens-in-15-minutes-calles-it-humain-2451220.html">has been approved by the FDA in the US</a>).<br />
<br />
Electrocuting a chicken to death is not permitted (but, again, is done (usually inadvertently) in some poultry farms in the UK.<br />
<br />
Suffocating an animal to death is not permitted (and it's not legal in the UK (yet), either (although that's changing/changed with regards to poultry)).<br />
<br />
Electrocuting an animal to death is not permitted (and it's not legal, either, but it is known to happen).<br />
<br />
Shooting an animal with a bolt is not permitted (but is legal)<br />
<br />
Shooting an animal in the head with a gun is not permitted (but is legal) <br />
<br />
The above are the main ways an animal is prepared for slaughter: either rendered unconscious with gas (CO2 or an inert gas), electrocuted unconscious, or shot in the head (and either rendered unconscious or killed).<br />
<br />
In the UK <i>the norm</i> in all slaughter (other than Jewish/Kosher and around 10-15% of Halal slaughter) is to stun the animal unconscious and then proceeding with the slaughter. <br />
<br />
Here's where one of the complaints kicks in: 'we don't want non-stunned animals for our meat'. You have more chance of there being <i>horse meat</i> in your mince than you have of having a non-stunned animal's meat in your mince. Why? Because of the odds of you eating Kosher or non-stunned Halal meat is pretty much zero unless you're frequenting certain places (although, I understand that certain parts of the carcass from Kosher slaughter is often either passed off as Halal or sold off to the regular chains, so if you do end up (inadvertently) eating meat of a non-stunned animal, it's likely from a Kosher source rather a Halal one). Pizza Express, KFC, GBK etc <i>are not one of those places</i>. In each of those places the chicken you would be eating would have been <u>stunned and then slaughtered</u>.<br />
<br />
The other complaint is that of 'I don't want to be eating something that's been blessed for something I don't believe in'. Okay (ignoring the fact you don't believe it, so it shouldn't really harm you), for Christians one of the things you need to keep in mind is that Paul (in his interpretation of Jesus' (as) words) made it clear that it didn't matter what you ate because what goes in isn't what counts, it's what comes out of your mouth you need to pay attention to.<br />
<br />
(For Muslims, we have a 'you are what you eat' thing - eat or drink impure things and they will become part of your body and so render you impure)<br />
<br />
The third issue is: 'we didn't know and it's not right that we didn't know'. Here I totally agree with you, but one thing you need to bear in mind is that <i>most of the Muslims in the UK didn't know, either</i>. Think about it: if Muslims knew (and believed) that the (regular) lamb being sold in Tescos was halal would they bother going to their local halal butcher?<br />
<br />
<br />
Which foods are Halal and Haram (in the UK)?<br />
<br />
Baked Beans are Halal - the delicious tomato sauce, the whole suitable for vegetarians thing...delightfully halal<br />
<br />
Baked Beans and Sausage are Haram<br />
<br />
Cucumbers are Halal<br />
<br />
So are tomatoes, peas, kidney beans, squash, pumpkin, mushrooms, onions - all Halal<br />
<br />
Battered cod is Halal<br />
<br />
Beer battered cod, though, isn't :(<br />
<br />
Fries, chips, onion rings (fried in veggie oil etc) are all Halal<br />
<br />
Fries, chips, onion rings fried in animal fats are not - and they're not suitable for vegetarians, either<br />
<br />
Ketchup is Halal <br />
<br />
Cheese made without using enzymes from animals are Halal (and suitable for vegetarians)<br />
<br />
Cheese made with using enzymes from animals are Haram (and not suitable for vegetarians)<br />
<br />
Veggie quiches are Halal<br />
<br />
Quiche Lorraine is not (and it's not suitable for vegetarians, either)<br />
<br />
Walkers' Cheese and Onion Crisps are suitable for vegetarians (and Halal)<br />
<br />
Pringles Original, Sour Cream etc are either vegan or vegetarian (and Halal)<br />
<br />
<br />
Vinegar is Halal <br />
<br />
Clean water is Halal.<br />
<br />
All those things listed above as Halal <i>were not deliberately made Halal by their manufacturers as some weird way of getting one up on non-Muslims and drawing in Muslims. They're just 'halal' by their very nature. <u>It's not a conspiracy against non-Muslims.</u></i><br />
<br />
Moving on from the food side, there are other aspects:<br />
<br />
Leather - Muslims (and Jews, and Jains (who won't wear any leather derived from any animal)) won't wear leather made from pigskin. (as an aside, apparently a lot of leather-bound Bibles are bound in pigskin leather, but I haven't researched this, hence the 'apparently'). The method of slaughter 'doesn't matter' as the tanning process is considered to change the nature of the skin and render what was impure (if slaughtered in a way not permitted) into something pure.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Other things that are Halal and Haram<br />
<br />
Holding your wife's hand: Halal<br />
Holding someone else's wife's hand: Haram (exception, of course, where you're helping them up etc)<br />
<br />
Buying, drinking, selling alcohol: Haram<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'll leave it there, but I hope this has been of some help to some people. Apologies for some of the rambling parts.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-18225319690592837742014-04-08T20:51:00.001-07:002014-04-08T20:51:55.050-07:00Childhood Inspirations<!--[if !mso]>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I haven’t updated this blog-thing in a long time – kept letting
things get in the way, really – but I figured I should try to do something now
and then, so here’s the first of (Insha’Allah) a series of ‘childhood
inspirations’: things that happened to me when I was a child, and that have
inspired or influenced me positively in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the most part, they were random acts of
kindness – so they will probably come across as ‘same as, same as’...but they
were important (for me, and maybe they will trigger a memory of something
similar in whoever reads this).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles</i> hardcover annual</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I used to go to my local newsagents quite often – once I was
allowed to cross the road by myself and walk the two blocks – in order to buy
sweets and a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Superman</i> (or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Action</i>, or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Adventures</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">of</i>) comic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day, off I rode on my <a href="http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/raleigh/50557">Street Wolf</a> bicycle to the
store and, after resting it against the window of the shop, I went in to get
some sweets for my sibs and a comic for myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I scanned the lower shelves quickly and something red with flashes of green
caught my eye:</div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWqaT7pqobOTm5dYbElOTj_rPeyjLP_GI8GqojRLy9IdxuePSs3yXwHhZScIsW83WGOIDeQhpj9BCiE5c1zFj8V8tISv81ICk8jr6mK0Ictkd-jCCer6QLopXby570XUDXtMMoqqGzOlU/s1600/tmht+annual.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWqaT7pqobOTm5dYbElOTj_rPeyjLP_GI8GqojRLy9IdxuePSs3yXwHhZScIsW83WGOIDeQhpj9BCiE5c1zFj8V8tISv81ICk8jr6mK0Ictkd-jCCer6QLopXby570XUDXtMMoqqGzOlU/s1600/tmht+annual.JPG" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I gasped and picked it up and flicked through it and...saw
the price and put it back, reluctantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was too expensive, and it would take me weeks to put the money together
for it from my pocket money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked up
the new <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Superman</i> comic and the sweets
my sibs had asked for and waited in line to pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I kept looking back at the shelves
and that bit of red poking out...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
...and it was the only copy there...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The shop owners knew me well – that’s the thing with local
stores: somehow a relationship forms without even realising it – and they could
see I wasn’t my usual cheery self (I had a new comic book, I was always cheery
when I had a new comic book), and they asked me what was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I told them the situation (thankfully there
was no one in line behind me) and they suggested that, if I really wanted it,
then they could put it aside for me and I could pay for it in instalments.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was thrilled at the suggestion and readily agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had done the maths and figured it would
take eight weeks to pay it off, and they were okay with that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following week I made my first instalment of 50p –
seriously, it was a big deal for me back then, okay?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I made to leave the store with the goodies
for my sibs (it was ‘skip week’ so no new Superman books) someone called out to
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I turned and saw it was one of my
neighbours – our gardens backed on to each other (well, his was across to the
left of ours, but I ‘knew’ who he was).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He asked me about the annual and why I hadn’t taken it with me – he had
seen the shop owner write my instalment payment in pencil on the inside back
cover of the book (no hissing, I wasn’t ‘collecting’ back then).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘You know what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eid’s
coming up, so how about I buy it for you as an Eid present?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I gaped at him, and then frowned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would he buy me a present?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, I ‘knew’ who he was but I didn’t know
him-know him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would he do this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yup, alarm bells were going off and I began
to back away.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Uncle’ (the shop owner (most adults were ‘uncle’ or ‘aunty’
back then)) approached us and asked me if everything was okay, and my neighbour
then explained his proposal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course ‘Uncle’
knew him better than I did, but he even asked him if it was ‘proper’ and ‘what
would the boy’s parents say?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘It would make the boy happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no harm in that, right?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sure, it would make me happy, but ‘Uncle’ was right: what
would Mum and Dad say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They probably
would have freaked – as much as he was a neighbour he was still pretty much a
stranger...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
...but I so wanted the annual...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yup, you guessed it: I relented and ‘let’ him buy it for
me...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
...and I ran home, clutching it, excited, in my hands...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Dad!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The uncle who lives opposite us bought me
this!’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Who?’ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad was
frowning, and him frowning wasn’t a good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He held out his hand and I handed him the annual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew I should have gone with my instinct
back at the shop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Who bought you this?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘The uncle who lives opposite us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one with the green windows,’ I said,
pointing towards the garden.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Dad’s frown deepened, and then he looked at the open front
door and said: ‘Where’s your bike.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m telling you honestly: if my heart wasn’t so attached to
me it would have rushed out of my chest, dashed back to my bike, and then
ridden it home and said ‘tada, its’ here!’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course, my heart couldn’t do that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I...left it...’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Where?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘...outside the newsagents...’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Let’s go.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dad didn’t run, but he wasn’t walking slowly, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I tried to keep pace with him without
running, I explained how ‘the uncle who lives opposite us’ had said it was for
Eid and it was a present.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then Dad held my hand: ‘and you promise me he didn’t touch
you or anything like that?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He hadn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other than
talking to me, all he had done was buy the book and hand it to me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then, walking towards us, was ‘the uncle who lives opposite
us’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He waved at Dad and I, and Dad held
up the book.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(note, their conversation is an English translation)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘He can’t accept this from you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sorry.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Brother, please.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was nothing meant by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your son likes to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all
see him sitting by his window reading.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘We?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘My parents, my wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We all do.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘This is too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can’t accept this.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Just treat it as an Eid present.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For a few minutes they had this back and forth but,
eventually, Dad relented and ‘the uncle who lives opposite us’ promised that if
he ever wanted to buy me or my sibs anything then he would ask Dad first.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hmm...this post has not turned out the way I expected it
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was supposed to be a small
comment on how ‘the uncle who lives opposite us’ was one of the people to show
me that a random act of kindness (like buying a kid a book) was awesome, but
that sometimes you need permission from a parent first, otherwise it could be
construed as weird or inappropriate...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, and the bike was still there, in case you were
wondering.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dad asked Mum to make a sweet dish and then he went round to
‘the uncle who lived (they’ve since moved) opposite us’s house to give it as a
thank you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Hmm...maybe doing this series is a bad idea...hmm...<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-77858965190643619492013-07-16T13:24:00.002-07:002013-07-16T13:24:27.543-07:00Ramadan in Cayman (part 3)After Fajr, Br Mahmood narrated the second of the 40 Hadith. This one is on the Foundation of the Sunnah and is, roughly, as follows:<br />
<br />
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<br />
<i>'Umar ibn Al-Khattab reported: One day while we were sitting with the
Messenger of Allah there appeared before us a man whose clothes were
exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no signs of journeying
were to be seen on him and none of us knew him. He walked up and sat down by
the prophet. Resting his knees against his and placing the palms of his hands
on his thighs, he said, “O Muhammad, tell me about Islam.” The Messenger of
Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>Islam is to witness that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is
the Messenger of Allah, to establish prayer, to give the alms, the fast the
month of Ramadan, and to perform pilgrimage to the House if he is capable of
travel.</b></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The man said, “You have spoken rightly,” and we were amazed at him asking
him and saying that he had spoken rightly. Then he said, “Tell me about faith.”
The Prophet said:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>Faith is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His
messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in the providence</b> (<u>al-qadr</u></i><i>) (or destiny)<b>
of both good and evil.</b></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The man said, “You have spoken rightly. Then tell me about excellence.” The
Prophet said:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>Excellence </b>(</i><i><u>al-Ihsan</u>)<b> is to worship
Allah as if you see Him, for verily, He sees you</b>.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The man said, “Then tell me about the Hour.” The Prophet said:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>The one who is asked does not know more than the one asking.</b></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The man said, “Then tell me about its signs.” The Prophet said:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>When the slave girl gives birth to her master, when the naked and
barefooted will become chiefs of the people, and when the shepherds of black
camels will exult themselves in constructing tall buildings.</b></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Then he left and I stayed for a time. Then the Prophet said:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>O Umar, do you know who the questioner was?</b></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>I said, “Allah and His messenger know best.” He said:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>He was Gabriel (as), who came to teach the people their religion.'</b></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
After this, we had the opportunity to discuss a range of topics, including aspects of Zakat, clothing, and the instruction to have a will done up.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At Jummah, we welcomed a revert to Islam - Alhumdulillah.<br />
<br />
<br />
The Khutbah had a focus on the Qur'an, its rights over us, and how it will be a witness for or against us on the Day. There are those of us (and I put myself at the top of this poor list) who struggle to read the whole Qur'an at least once in an entire year and, in doing so, are deprived of so many blessings that are attained by reading the Qur'an.<br />
<br />
We heard of those who would read the Qur'an 60 times during Ramadan, and others who would complete the Qur'an every two days through the Blessed Month. We heard of those who had read the Qur'an 18,000 times in one part of their house, and one who would read the entire Qur'an in one rakat of salaat. Subhanallah.<br />
<br />
We heard of how the Qur'an would advocate on behalf of those who were about to be cast into the Fire, that those of us who would otherwise be in Hell would be saved because we had taken the time to read the Words of Allah (swt). <br />
<br />
After the Jummah prayer and greeting the new Brother, we then had to wait patiently for the rain to ease.<br />
<br />
<br />
After Isha, Br Mahmood continued with the description of the Noble Features of the Prophet (saw):<br />
<br />
Anas bin Malik (Radiallhu Anhu) reports, "Rasullullah (Sallallahu alaihe
wasallam) was of a medium stature, he was neither very tall nor very short.
He was very handsome, of medium built and his hair was neither very curly
nor very straight (but was slightly wavy). He had a wheat-coloured complexion.
When he walked, he leaned forward slightly".<br />
<br />
He explained about the wheat-coloured complexion and how, when the Prophet (saw) walked (the word used in the hadith being 'Yata-kaf-fa-oo'), it was at a fast pace, with the leg lifted with force, and leaning forward slightly. The description is that he walked quickly and did not walk with his chest pushed out with pride. He also didn't drag his feet when he walked.<br />
<br />
After this, there were further Q&A sessions on aspects of salaat and other areas.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-46591975190933763382013-07-12T14:48:00.000-07:002013-07-16T15:06:56.616-07:00Ramadan in Cayman (Part 2)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Continuing the series, Insha'Allah</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Last night (10th July) was the second
Taraweeh, after which Br Mahmood gave a talk on Imam Tirmidhi's biography in
preparation for his series of talks on the Imam's famous book, The <b>Shamā'il
Muhammadiyyah</b>, often referred to as <b>Shamā'il al-Tirmidhi</b> or simply <b>Shamā'il</b>.
The book is a collection of hadiths compiled by Imam Tirmidhi regarding
intricate details of the Prophet's (saw) appearance, mannerisms, belongings,
and life. The book contains just under 400 narrations, and is divided
into 56 chapters.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">After the Fajr salaat he began on the 40
Hadith of An-Nawawi. The first Hadith is about 'intention', and an
approximate translation of the hadith is:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">'<b>Verily,
deeds are only with intentions. Indeed, every person will get rewarded only for
what they intended. Therefore, whoever emigrated for worldly reasons or for a
woman, then his emigration is for what he has emigrated to.'</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Tonight (11th July), after the third
Taraweeh, he began on the aforementioned book of Imam Tirmidhi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first chapter is about the Noble Features
of Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe Wasallam), and the first Hadith Br Mahmood
narrated to us is, roughly, as follows:</span></b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">‘</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Anas (Radiallahu Anhu) reports: "Rasulullah
(Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) was neither tall nor was he short (like a
dwarf--He was of medium stature). In complexion, he was he was neither very
white like lime, nor very dark, nor brown which results in darkness (he was
illuminant, more luminous than even the full-moon on the 14th night). <br />
The hair of Rasullullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) was neither very straight
nor very curly (but slightly wavy). When he attained the age of forty, Allah
the Almighty granted him nubuwwah (prophethood).He lived for ten years in
Makkah (commentary) and in Madina for ten years. At that time there were not
more than twenty white hair on his mubarak (blessed) head and beard.’</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Br Mahmood broke down the hadith and explained
various aspects of it, especially the last part which described the Prophethood
as 20 years whereas the general consensus is that it was 23 years</span><i><b><b></b></b></i> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-33121938250589440062013-07-11T13:52:00.001-07:002013-07-11T13:52:30.532-07:00Ramadan in Cayman (part 1)<b>Ramadan Mubarak</b><br />
<br />
The following is something I originally posted on Facebook, but figure I should also post it here and then, throughout Ramadan, I'll post accordingly, Insha'Allah.<br />
<br />
'So, we're well in to our first day of the Blessed Month, Alhumdulillah.<br />
<br />
'For those of you who may be interested in how we're experiencing Ramadan in Cayman, I figured I'd do a few posts throughout the month. As you may know, we're a small and mixed community of Muslims here, but we have no Imam - Alhumdulillah, for the past two years, we have been blessed with the presence of Br Mahmood, a Hafiz and Alim, who has volunteered to spend Ramadan with us. He will be leading the Taraweeh prayers (and the 5 daily prayers), and giving us sermons, teaching Tajweed, commentating on the Qur'an, and doing his best to answer any questions we may have. (I know first hand how grateful the community is to have him here)<br />
<br />
'So, to continue:<br />
<br />
'We had our first Taraweeh last night - somehow, I've been chosen to provide a summary of the recitation for each day, during Br Mahmood's short break. After that, a lecture on the name of Surah Fatiha and then a brief summary of the surah was given by Br Mahmood.<br />
<br />
'Sehri/Suhoor and then Fajr, after which Br Mahmood gave a brief talk about Imam Nawawi in order to give us some background of the great scholar before, over the course of Ramadan, briefly going through and providing some insight into the Forty Hadith of An-Nawawi.<br />
<br />
'Other topics will be covered, Insha'Allah, after Asr and Maghrib throughout the month.'<br />
<br />
So that's the first entry. We're almost at the end of day 2 of the month and I'll try to post a little more about what's been happening soon, Insha'Allah.<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-89492024171944419402013-07-09T15:10:00.000-07:002013-07-10T07:30:40.534-07:00Man of Steel - an 'analysis'<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I waited
years for a fantastic and inspiring Superman movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">almost</i>
got it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Almost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Henry
Cavill was great in the role.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The action
sequences were great.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The ‘ties
that bind’…didn’t quite do so (but here, the problem is probably me – I
sometimes over-think/overanalyse things…).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I admit, I
did have certain expectations going in to this movie and a lot of them were
reasonably well met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The aspects that
weren’t met, however, really made me feel let down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Intertwined
with this, for all their talk of this being ‘a realistic take’, there was a lot
of suspension of disbelief required of the (aware) viewer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The death and destruction that resulted from
this being residing on our planet and only being known of for (pretty much) less
than a day, yet Jenny proclaims ‘he saved us’ while standing in the miles wide
rubble that used to be downtown Metropolis…the ‘realistic take’ would be that
people are scared spitless of what happened.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Unfortunately,
we didn’t get to see that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When Perry
asks Lois, ‘Can you imagine how our world would react if they came face to face
with this…?’ it’s a valid question, but it’s completely ignored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t see the reaction of the world, or
even the reaction of Metropolis. (Yes, we see the ‘standard’ fear of the
unknown common to alien invasion movies, but the range of reactions afterwards
– the grieving, the solidarity, the rejection, the claims that it was an
international government conspiracy, etc – are completely absent)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Anyway,
this ‘analysis’ will be quite mixed and some parts may be repetitive, but I
hope you’ll bear with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to
try to do this in as balanced a way as I can – hope it works…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Issues (some) non-comic book readers/general
viewers had:</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
‘general viewers’ are, overall, the ‘target audience’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Superman is a massive international
pop culture icon, there still have to be certain ‘tweaks’ incorporated into the
portrayal in order to bring more people in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Purists may not like it, but it is the way it is and, from the box
office takings to date (over US$ 580 million), it looks like it worked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There were,
however, a few areas which even these viewers had some issues with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mainly: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Collateral damage –</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> having spoken to people in London,
on the flight from London to Miami,
then from Miami
to Cayman, and, finally, in Cayman, the collapsing buildings were a major area
of discontent among these folk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re
not Superman fans but know what he stands for, generally, and didn’t like the
ruin that Metropolis became.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Snap</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> – the ‘why’ is understood but for many it was
the ‘how’ coupled with the discomfort of Superman killing (again, they
understood the necessity but that didn’t make it easy to accept so readily).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The issue a lot of them had with the ‘how’ is
based on how durable Zod was shown to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>‘Superman was punching him around and knocking him through buildings and
there was not a scratch on him, but then he snaps the guy’s neck like he was
killing a chicken,’ is how one person put it…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Lois – </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">the main complaint about her was that she was
‘everywhere’ and ‘too convenient’ and…‘annoying’ (that latter one may be
because of the…affection some viewers have for Cavill…)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Issues (some) comic book readers had:</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Collateral damage</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> – as with the general viewers, the destruction
of Metropolis was ‘too much’ for some readers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Snap</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> – ‘Superman doesn’t kill’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The costume – </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">this was always going to be an issue for some,
and there’s probably no need to go into it right here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had my own issue with it, which I’ll
discuss later.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Powers</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> – how were they able to match him when he had
been here for so many years more than them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Others, of course, had no issue with their powers, while yet others
were confused about the existence of the powers when they were breathing
‘Kryptonian air’)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">He barely saved anyone</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> – for many ‘purist’ fans, Superman
‘does the impossible’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just the way
he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here, with him allowing buildings
to tumble around him and even taking the fight to Smallville in the first place,
they felt betrayed and that this wasn’t ‘their’ Superman.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘Justifications’ and examinations</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Collateral Damage</span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This movie
showed, to a certain (strong) degree, ‘Superman unleashed’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, there was only one flaming streak as he
burned the air with his speed (no, not the satellite fragments, they don’t
count) (more of that can come in a later movie), but this also wasn’t a ‘we
cannot see Superman punch anything, even though he is fighting’ movie, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the important part for a lot of
audience members – seeing Superman physically engage with his opponents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not as if it had never been seen before
– he tangled with ‘himself’ in the third Reeve movie, and with ‘Nuclear Man’ in
the fourth – rather, it had never been seen this way, in live-action, before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The second Superman movie doesn’t count as,
in that one, we don’t actually see him punch anyone)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we’ve been exposed to movies like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Matrix</i> trilogy, and when we’ve seen
battles in the animated movies and shows (like the ‘Clash’ episode in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Justice League Unlimited</i>, for example),
to have anything less would have been a waste.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But the
collateral damage, and the fact that it caused an issue for many across the
spectrum of viewers, that does warrant considering.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For some,
it was a case of ‘what did you expect when he’s fighting people like that?’;
for others, it was ‘he should have taken the fight to safer ground’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, within the context of the movie,
I’m in the middle of these two ‘extremes’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His lack of experience of such situations allows for him being
relatively unsuccessful with regards to containing the fight, but, frankly,
more should have been done to show him trying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His speed, flight, and heat vision enable him to buy himself time to
shore up buildings and so forth, but he didn’t even try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, he probably would have been overwhelmed
but just him <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">trying</i> to do it would
have made a big difference.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There are a
few ‘blink and you’ll miss them’ moments in the Smallville fight where he tried
to take the fight to safer ground (such as when he grabbed Faora and tried to
fly off with her but was then tackled by Nam-Ek) but, for me, they weren’t
enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He should have kept trying
rather than, for example, knocking Nam-Ek into a train depot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Or shown
him scanning an area.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Just a
couple of seconds of his using his enhanced vision to ascertain that an area
was empty before hitting one of the Kryptonians in that direction, and this
whole analysis would have been a page shorter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They only needed to do it once for the viewer to know that it’s something
he does and, after that, it’s reasonably safe to assume that whatever he’s
hitting his opponents in to is safe to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The aforementioned train depot incident, for example, would have been
completely acceptable then, in my opinion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Superman II</i>, there was a lot of
collateral damage – nothing on the scale depicted in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MoS</i>, sure, but still a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Chunks of concrete fell on and hit people; we saw a woman holding her
shoulder in pain; Non was knocked through a building and there were people
inside…but we also saw Superman pull away from the fight and save people and,
for many, that was the difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
was what was missing in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Man of Steel</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The costume</span></i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As I said
earlier, this was always going to be one of the divisive points of the movie –
and it has been since before the first clear shot of the costume was revealed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When the
image of Superman pushing himself off the dented safe was revealed, some were
very pleased, some were dismayed, some were ecstatic, some were depressed…and
so on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The armoured/chainmail look,
overall, had a mixed reception (much like the movie, overall) – as with the
current costume in the comic books, people wondered why Superman would even
need armour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That ‘criticism’ has always
amused me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ‘purists’ want it to be
his baby blankets turned into a costume – that’s fine, but that completely
ignores the fact that, for a good 40 years of his history, up to the reboot in
1986, Superman’s suit <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was invulnerable</i>
(or, rather, indestructible).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
essence, the guy was almost always wearing ‘armour’ (until Byrne changed the
approach), it just looked like cloth… (I love the mythic imagery of the costume
being woven (not sown, there’s a difference), but I don’t think there’s
anything wrong with different approaches, so long as they make sense)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Yet there
was one area of the image that was argued over quite a bit – was he or wasn’t
he wearing trunks?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That area was in
shadow and there were dozens of analyses of the image, with some folks cleaning
the area or zooming in or using colour filters…all to determine whether or not
the iconic red trunks (they’re not underwear (seriously, who wear’s a belt on
their underwear?)).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When further images
were released, some people put forward the idea that the trunks would be cgi’d
in – and there are still photoshopped images like that around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I don’t
think any other character will have so much debate over their clothing as
Superman has had.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Anyway,
with this costume, there were a number of criticisms tossed around:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">too
dark</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">not
enough of a colour break</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">no
need for the bits on his wrists and around the sides of his torso</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">can’t
hide it under his civilian clothes</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">cape’s
too long</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">no
shield on the cape</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">lack
of trunks made the crotch area more apparent</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Up on the
big screen, though, in the opinion of many, it worked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For me,
there were a number of moments where it looked great, with a vibrant red cape
and Cavill oozing power – sometimes apprehensive and anxious power – and when
Kal and Lois are on the small Kryptonian ship, the suit does stand out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other times, it was ‘meh’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did shake my head a little as he ascended
the stairs of the small Kryptonian ship – the bottom of his cape was dirtied
with dust – but it was only a momentary shake as I also found that image a
little amusing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">He barely saved anyone</span></i></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This was
quite the biggie for a lot of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Superman saves people – it’s just what he does – but here, as far as
many were concerned, he just didn’t.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We
(generally speaking) will ignore the bus full of school children that he saved
as a boy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We’ll
ignore the hints of him saving others as a late teen (it seemed to be a source
of contention in the truck).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We’ll
ignore the rescue of the oil rig workers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We’ll
ignore Lois’ voiceover about how he was a guardian angel to some.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We’ll
ignore the soldier he caught as he fell from the damaged helicopter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We’ll
ignore that, overall, his actions saved billions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We’ll start
with the Smallville battle and the petrol (sorry, ‘gas’) station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a Superman fan, as someone who, generally,
knows how he would behave, that aspect of destruction was a little
disturbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand he was enraged
at Zod threatening his mother and, for once, he was able to lash out on a bully
directly but, as Christopher Reeve shouted it out in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Superman II</i>: ‘the people!’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Over and
over again, that shout played in my head, as that main street in Smallville
became a war zone; as the people in the IHOP cowered in fear; as flames erupted
and engulfed shop fronts; as buildings were punctured; as the military opened
fire and bullets tore through cars and buildings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘The
people!’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But what
was this guy supposed to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s 33 and
inexperienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s not aware enough to
draw the fight away from civilians; to head to the fields that are mere leaps
away…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">He brought
the fight here.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">He left his
mother unprotected.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">He’s in
over his head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But he’s
trying.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">He tells
people to get to safety.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">He notices
Pete in the IHOP.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">He saves a
soldier, and then gets sucker punched.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">He keeps
trying, though, but he’s basically fighting on three fronts – two Kryptonians
and the US
military.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actions speak louder than
words, and his actions speak to Faora (hence what she says) and to the military
(hence them lowering their weapons on him).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Perhaps
some would have found it better if he had evacuated Smallville before engaging
Faora and Nam-Ek?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, I would
have preferred it if he had gotten Martha to safety (maybe after smacking Zod
and a couple of the others away with a speed blitz attack), but at least he
made sure the streets were (relatively) clear before engaging Nam-Ek and Faora.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Still, it’s a shame about that ‘gas’
station…)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But what
about Metropolis?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Most of the
destruction of Metropolis happened before he arrived – while he was dealing
with the world engine on the other side of the planet – so it’s unfair to place
that on his shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some might argue
that he should have taken down Zod’s ship instead of the world engine, but that
ignores that Jor probably advised Lois otherwise, and that the pulses actually
started from the world engine, so disabling Zod’s ship didn’t guarantee the
engine would stop…it may have even made things worse…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">After the
gravity altering beam was disabled (the images of people rising in to the air
and then getting slammed into the ground…well, if you noticed them…) there was
a pause in destruction (hence Jenny being able to be freed), but then there was
further destruction as the Zod-controlled scout ship was taken down by Kal, and
the Zod Crew’s ship began to collapse in on itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scout ship was directed towards ‘ground
zero’, effectively minimising further collateral damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Zod Crew’s ship was at ‘ground zero’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ah, but
what about the fight between Zod and Kal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were people still out in the streets – quite clearly – fleeing as
the fight rumbled around them, as asphalt tore, explosions occurred, windows
shattered, concrete fell…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Zod
spinning Kal around and tossing him through a series of buildings; </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Kal’s the
one who brought the fight down into the station…but Zod’s the one who didn’t
want to stop.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Personally,
a few scenes of Kal trying to directly help those caught in the crossfire would
have been great – but, really, that would only have been possible if the three
Kryptonians he did engage directly weren’t at power levels comparable to his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish there had been a scene of him trying
to help someone but with a few of the citizens of Metropolis telling him to go
stop Zod and they would help the person(s) he was trying to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A ‘Go!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’ve got this’ type of moment, where the leap of faith is
rewarded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(That could even have been before
the final confrontation)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Regardless,
as chaotic as the Metropolis battle is, Kal starts the encounter by drawing Zod
away from those he knows have definitely survived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From that, one can (I hope reasonably)
surmise, that by taking the fight in the direction he initially did, he had
determined it was safe to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
the fight began to be drawn to areas where there were civilians didn’t, I would
argue, happen because of Kal’s choosing but because of Zod’s, and Zod’s
intention to kill as many people as he could.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Unwittingly
(or perhaps not, we don’t know), Zod was going to make Faora’s threat a
reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There’s a
general rule – if you don’t see a body, there wasn’t a death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point in the movie, after seeing a
pilot get vapourised, and after seeing dozens of people get slammed into the
ground, it’s, frankly, reasonable to conclude that if there were people in the
buildings Zod and Kal crashed through, we would have seen them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Yes, there
were people in the streets and, yes, there were people in the station but,
relative to the buildings, those were pretty safe places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not saying the station was a good place
for Kal to have brought the fight, but, overall, it was probably one of the
closest things he had to a ‘controlled environment’ – that that family didn’t
run straight away isn’t his fault…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The powers</span></i></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Even in the
comic books, the rules for the powers Kryptonians possess and how long it takes
for them to manifest varies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a long
time, the general portrayal has been that Clark’s
powers develop slowly as he arrives here as a baby, whereas mature Kryptonians
develop their abilities either immediately or within a matter or hours or days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here, there was a mix, with Zod being around
long enough to show most of the abilities Kal had; Faora sometimes being faster
than Kal; both Faora and Zod’s senses being affected immediately when exposed
to Earth’s atmosphere; and those on the command ship and not exposed to Sol
directly not showing any abilities at all (Lois shot down a couple and was able
to kick one off her, too).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Personally,
I prefer a ‘when Kryptonians arrive they have power levels at the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Action Comics</i> issue 1 level, and then
gradually increase over months and years’ approach rather than they have powers
immediately or within hours (the latter being what they used here).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Lois Lane</span></i></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">One of my
brothers didn’t like her in this movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A lot of people didn’t seem to like her, either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to many, she was too directly
involved, and too conveniently placed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her turning up just before ‘the snap’ was too much for quite a few
people, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making it from the edge of
‘ground zero’ over to that train station…well, it pulled me out of the movie
for a moment, too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There were
other moments – such as her following Clark up
the snow reefs somehow; her making her way along the cliff face; her somehow
not being sliced in two by that drone ;) – so it’s not really as if the
criticisms of her are unwarranted…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But she was
important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was the bridge Clark
needed – the one who showed him the trust and faith he needed (in this regard,
the Kents
don’t count).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Some had
issue with her knowing – personally, I didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s an interesting take on the relationship and partnership, my issue
was in her tracking him down so bloomin’ quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I mention elsewhere, the line about ‘how
do you find someone’ and the way it was incorporated into the movie was
disappointing – I don’t know, I just felt it would have been better at the end
but that would have required her not knowing but recognising when Perry
introduces them (that, basically, she doesn’t track him down to the Kent farm
(no slight on her as an investigator) but does recognise him when she finally
meets Clark Kent at the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daily Planet</i>).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Oh, and
another bit people didn’t like, including myself, her shouting out ‘Clark,
Clark!’ when he’s in the suit and at the Kent farm <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and there’s a police officer right behind her</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I thought about it afterwards and,
well, since the guy’s probably from Smallville…he probably already knew about
‘The Secret of Clark Kent’
;)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Snap</span></i></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When they
landed in the train station and Kal got him in the hold, I kept whispering
‘don’t do it, don’t do it’ along with the s-word repeated rapid-fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty sure I was on the edge of my seat,
before slumping back when the snap occurred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My brothers were shocked, I think I just shook my head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Since that
viewing, I think the three of us have to come to terms with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We understood why he did it, of course, but I
haven’t really discussed it with them since.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘Superman
doesn’t kill’ – a point made quite clear in the old <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lois & Clark</i> series –
but is it that absolute?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some argue that
he killed Zod and Co in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Superman II</i>,
so there’s a precedent for it<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>– the
first version I remember seeing, however, had them being led away by the Arctic
Police.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also point to him killing
the evil version of himself in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Superman
III </i>and the disposal of Nuclear Man in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Superman
IV</i>.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></i>The snap is what Goyer and Snyder wanted, so they created a
situation where it would have to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their reasoning (similar to the trunks, to a small degree) is that
Superman’s ‘no killing’ rule needed to have a basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I, and millions of others, have a ‘no
killing’ rule, but none of us needed to kill someone first in order to know it
wasn’t right.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In the
comics, Byrne had a similar approach to the ‘no killing’ rule…and had Superman
kill an alternate universe (and powerless) Zod Crew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, perhaps the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MoS</i> situation is more like Superman’s encounter with Doomsday –
just as Doomsday was a relentless killing machine that couldn’t be stopped
(ignoring things like teleportation through magic (in the comics)) so, too, was
Zod in this movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zod had lost
everything, and was going to make Kal pay.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Zod, in my
opinion, was looking for a way out, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After 33 years of wandering space and finding only death and desolation,
he now had no people at all; and the one person who was a direct link to his
heritage…was heresy made flesh, and an abomination.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Zod,
basically, committed suicide and used Kal to do it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">He could
have fried that family with ease instead of ‘teasing’ slowly with his heat
vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted Kal to end him, and if
Kal didn’t, well, that family would be first, then another, then another, then
another…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In the
context of the movie, what choice did Kal have?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anything else would have been a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">deus
ex machina</i> situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the film
had been structured slightly differently, Lex could have been brought in as the
saviour of mankind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But it
wasn’t.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If the film
had been structured slightly differently, Kara could have helped.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But it
wasn’t.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If they
hadn’t had Zod be at the same power level as Kal, things could have been
different.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But that’s
not what they chose to do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">They wrote
him in to this situation – I would argue it was, overall, contrived as a result
of him not doing certain things and certain forced events and pieces they
incorporated in to the story, but this is what we were given.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Kal had to
stop a genocidal maniac who had powers and abilities equal to his; who had
absolutely zero consideration for human life; who had nothing to live for; who,
potentially, had no weaknesses (other than, as durable as he was, still had a
vulnerable neck…)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I don’t
like that he did it – I think that’s pretty clear – but, all things considered,
it was the ‘right’ thing to do. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What were my issues?</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">(Note:
there will be a lot of brackets used – yes, more than before :o )</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I’m not
going to do this in any particular order but one thing you’ll have to bear in
mind is that there were, for me, issues as a Superman fan, a viewer, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> issues as a reader of the prequel
comic (and I can separate the three, even with the overlap…I think):</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The chronology and sequence of events.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I know some
will excuse it as ‘non-linear’ storytelling, but, frankly, that just doesn’t
work for me here…:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">After
the oil rig incident, Clark goes off to work
at a truck stop diner (basically).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
works there for a few months (we know this from Lois’ investigation as the
woman who was groped tells her he worked there for a few months) before he overhears
the talk about the Ellesmere situation (it may not be an issue for many, and
it’s likely most viewers didn’t even notice it, but, for me, Clark being so
‘lost’ is something I really cannot get to grips with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frankly, a ‘Littlest Hobo’ approach would
have been better, and would have worked in the context of this movie)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Somehow,
Clark gets clearance to work with ‘Arctic Cargo’ on a restricted site (I’ll
ignore that and chalk it up to him being ‘good’ at falsifying credentials, etc)
within days of the find, and within the period of a quick court battle with
regards to the injunction stopping Lois (in other words, more time has passed)
(apparently, ‘Joe’ was a great worker…guess he made an impression (um…and Lois
starts her investigation again? :s ))</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When
Clark leaves with the scout ship and heads to
the North Pole, Lois makes her way back to Metropolis to file the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Here’s where I ‘read too much into it’)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no ‘tenderness’ on her part so one could
reasonably conclude that she has had time to heal (at least a little) from her
injury (Clark cauterizing the wound will only
do so much), so at least a few days have passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(What kind of reasoning did the Pentagon give
for Lois’ injury, I wonder (self-inflicted, perhaps?)) Perry refuses to print
the story so Lois gets ‘Woodburn’ to do it for her</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Meanwhile,
Clark has a one-to-one with ‘El’ (I prefer
calling it the ‘Jor-conscience’ but I’m just playing with a word here at the
moment).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘El’ tells him about certain
things, and chooses to omit, apparently, certain things (we can come back to
that later). (Also need to ignore that they, for some reason, couldn’t track
the scout ship and ascertain where it was, but could track other ships,
including the two small ships that went to Kansas, with ease)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Lois
begins an investigation into who/what her rescuer is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The line I was quite fond of when I heard it
in the trailers (‘how do you find someone who has spent his lifetime covering
his tracks’) falls apart here when Lois shows how easy it was for her to find
him</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Clark</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> learns to fly and does a quick exploration of
the world (it’s daylight throughout, but that’s by the by)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Lois
tracks Clark to Smallville and visits
Jonathan’s grave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clark
has caught wind of her investigation and confronts her</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Lois
goes back to the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daily Planet</i> where
she finds out, from Perry, that the publishers are after her for having
Woodburn put the aforementioned article online (note, they know it’s her
article (and, according to Lombard, Perry made it known that he knows that she
was the ‘anonymous source’)).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then
tells her she has two weeks unpaid leave as penance (increases it to three when
she so readily accepts, but we’ll leave it at two for now).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has dropped the story and claims her
leads didn’t pan out (so, clearly, some time has passed since the incident in
Ellesmere and her following up the initial leads and further leads and tracking
Clark down).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is this an issue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pacing – it just makes it seem like
everything is happening within days…but knowing it takes weeks at least
actually makes a certain aspect worse…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Clark
goes back to the Kent farm
(the guy can now fly (and made it to the cemetery easily) but he hitches a ride
in (I know, I know, he’s ‘keeping his cover’…)) and Martha tells him a reporter
(Lois) had been by – so Clark, apparently,
didn’t find out about Lois’ investigation from Martha…so who, or how..?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Maybe it was Pete?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps he and Clark have some kind of
communication method (no signal watch ;)) which Clark
hasn’t shared with his Mum…)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
Zod Crew’s ship is discovered in lunar synchronous orbit and, as amateur
footage is released and broadcast, we find Lois at the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daily Planet</i>…which means at least 2 weeks have passed (sure, some
can excuse it with ‘Perry bluffed’ or something, but the publishers were
clearly after ‘blood’ so she had to have done some form of ‘penance’)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Clark</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> hasn’t revealed anything to Martha about what
he found out, apparently, but he is staying on the farm…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Woodburn
reveals that Lois Lane
knows who the alien is because she’s the one who wrote the article (which begs
the question: how did the publishers know it was her article prior to Woodburn
revealing it to be so?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did Perry blag on
her (unlikely…or is it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Maybe one of
the publishers is Lex!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ooooh…))?)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So,
basically, a few weeks have passed since Clark
learned to fly, etc, yet he has done nothing to inspire hope and, as we learn
after the Smallville battle, hasn’t even shown Martha the suit…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Age – I
didn’t like him being 33 (I had similar issues with Bruce being almost 30 when
he starts out as Batman in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Begins</i>).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, the Reeve movie had him at around 30
when he first dons the suit, but even that, to me, is ‘too old’ for his debut
(and him not doing anything heroic until he was 30 was jarring, even when I was
a kid – at least in MoS we know he has been helping people where he can, even
though he’s so ‘lost’).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somewhere from
24 to 27 seems about right, to me, for a debut (and ‘inexperienced’ Superman).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jesus
overtones – I’m tired of them, and there’s no need for them. (For those of you
who missed them, here’s a few: The ‘Spirit’ anointing and guiding the Son;
Kal’s age; sacrificing himself to ‘save’ mankind</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The costume
– generally, I like it, but what annoyed me was the ‘justification’ and
‘reasoning’ behind it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have the
Snyders call the trunks ‘underwear’ and yet what we’re presented with overall <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> underwear – the Kryptonians were
wearing these body suits <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">under</i> their
robes and armour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Geez…(if that
‘reasoning’ can be used for this, then why couldn’t it have been used for the
more traditional outfit (or is that too much like <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Birthright</i> and the Silver Age in general)?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apart from that, though, just what the heck
was that costume doing in a ship that arrived here more than 18,000 years ago?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(If the Jor-conscience put it together as he
talked to Clark, then that needed to be
indicated)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why the colours?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jor’s one had dark colours, so why does Kal’s
one have a red cape and a coloured House of El shield?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Kryptonians
having powers comparable with his within days of being near Sol, whereas it
took him years to get to that level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also, Jax-Ur knowing about the effects of Sol and the presence of
powers: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Clark</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> had done nothing from after getting the
suit to turning himself in to the military that would have given the
Kryptonians any idea that they had strength and speed, etc, that they otherwise
didn’t have on Krypton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
nothing that would have given Faora the idea that she could leap into the barn
or force the chamber on the rocket open; there was nothing that would have
given Zod the idea that he could toss the truck into the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically, despite Jax-Ur’s claim to the
contrary, none of them knew they would have powers and abilities far beyond
those of mortal men.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Lois
telling Perry she’s a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It shouldn’t have come from her; it should
have come from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should have been
him saying something like, ‘I don’t care of you’re a Pulitzer prize-winner, I’m
not running this.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Heck, I would have
liked it if he had called her the youngest winner, but so long as it came from
him and not from her).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, the news
anchor calling her that later in the movie didn’t help, either, especially with
the sarcastic tone he used.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The Key –
why on Earth didn’t Jonathan and Clark try to use the key on the rocket?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not as if it fell out and Jonathan
didn’t know where it was supposed to go?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jor put it there for a reason – and he didn’t know that there was
already a scout ship on the planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(Here, I need to refer to the prequel comic, where it was made clear
that systems like Sol weren’t part of the scouting criteria, and that Dev-Em
had changed the ship’s course)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That Earth
was, basically, randomly chosen and there was an internal retcon to make it out
to be otherwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earth (and Sol) fit
certain criteria Jor was looking for, but he knew nothing of the people of
Earth, yet, 33 years later, the Jor-conscience makes it out to be otherwise.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Why the
heck did that metallurgist never tell anyone that someone had shown him an object
made of something that didn’t even exist on the periodic table?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did Jonathan convince him to keep that
quiet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eek!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The lack of
international travel – it sure would have made it harder for Lois to track him
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overall, he seemed to have only wandered
around parts of North America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was such a waste.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Leaving the
Metropolis events aside, the mess made in Smallville initially started because
of Kal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted, he was raging at Zod
threatening Martha…but what was going to stop any of the others who were there
from just snapping her neck as he’s tangoing with Zod?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Why they
didn’t give a reason as to why they didn’t try to use the world engine on
another planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the planet they
retrieved the world engine from wasn’t suitable, why did those scouting
Kryptonians land there in the first place?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Why didn’t
they retrieve a genesis chamber from one of the outposts?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Here, again, I need to bring in the prequel
comic: in the comic there was no mention of a codex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The genesis chambers were there and ready to
be used, and didn’t need a codex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seriously, if the codex necessary for the embryos to be encoded was on
Krypton, how were the genesis chambers on all the scout ships supposed to be
triggered?)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That we
only had snippets of what Jor told him (‘I have so many questions…how do I
shave?’ ;) ).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Granted, we didn’t need to
be privy to everything (and he didn’t need 12 years of education) but I feel a
lot more, overall, could have been done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Also, some of what we were told was, to me, a cop-out – for example, Jor
doesn’t explain why the expansion programme was abandoned, he just goes on to
say that artificial birth control was initiated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no reasoning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was such a cop-out.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Further to
that, that it seemed to be put forward that harvesting Krypton’s core was a
relatively recent thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jor, according
to Zod, was Krypton’s foremost scientist and, yes, the ‘lawmakers with their
endless debates’ did hamper things, but them not believing him (in time) was a
tad awkward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the thing, though,
the way that scene was played out, it’s likely the coup would have been
unnecessary (however, since Zod wanted to get rid of certain bloodlines, he
probably still would have gone ahead with it).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That Jor
uploaded his conscience but not Lara’s (I figure he did it as he was encoding
the codex into baby Kal’s cellular structure, as otherwise there is no way the
Jor-conscience would know that Zod had attempted a coup).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, it would have been a little too similar
to the Donner-verse, but…ah, the conversations the Lara-conscience could have
had with Martha (‘Mother, I’d like you to meet my Mother’ ;) )(they could have
worked together to design the suit ;) )</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That
Swanwick knew they were from Krypton – are we to assume Kal told them about
Krypton offscreen? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reason I wonder
is because it wasn’t mentioned in Zod’s broadcast, and Kal didn’t mention it
when he was in the interview room, Faora didn’t mention it when she came to
take Kal…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That they
didn’t at least have the ships talk in Kryptonian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, I would have liked all the
Krypton scenes to have been in Kryptonian, but when we had the conversation
between Jor and Lara being shown in the trailers, I knew it wasn’t to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a real shame and, I feel, a lost
opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That, for
some reason, Clark wasn’t affected on the
scout ship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Initially, the environmental
systems were down, but when the ship was up and running it should have
established a Kryptonian environment…but it didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s absolutely no reason for it not to
have (boy, would the movie have gone a different way if they thought that bit
through properly…).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, one could argue
that the Jor-conscience was aware of the effect the Kryptonian environment
would have and had done to the scout ship what it later did on Zod’s ship, but
this is something which, I feel, should have been addressed directly</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That it
turned out to be a land grabbing scheme ;)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Things I liked</span></u></b><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There were
a lot of aspects that I did like about the movie – contrary to any negativity,
questions, and nit-picks you may have gleaned from above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of these catered to the Superman-geek in
me (the broken moon being a nod to Jax-Ur’s activities in the comics, for
example), whereas others just came across well (like the shove).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So, briefly
(and in no particular order):</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jor’s
telling of Kryptonian history (with the standard of the House of El being
planted on another world, setting a basis for the symbol to be recognized on an
intergalactic level!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jor
being able to hold his breath for a long time – a regular Kryptonian on
Krypton…so an enhanced Kryptonian should be able to do more ;) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jonathan,
overall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I didn’t like some of
the dialogue and the ‘sacrifice’/suicide, Jonathan was quite multi-faceted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His fear wasn’t just that Clark
would be taken away and experimented on; it was also a ‘bigger picture’ view:
how would we react if we found out that aliens really do exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an area I had hoped they would at least
open up to somewhat in this movie, but they didn’t, and that’s a real shame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, with the bullying scene, he pretty much
told Clark that he understood Clark wanting to
fight back (who wouldn’t?) and that part of him even wanted him to, but,
really, what would it accomplish?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw
the bent fence, that could easily have been someone’s jaw. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, the distance between them in that scene
– now, I could be reading too much in to it but I felt that Jonathan wanted to
comfort and assure Clark more directly, but was hanging back in order to not
embarrass him in case those bullies were watching.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘What
if a child dreamed of becoming something other than what society had
intended?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if a child aspired to
something greater?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Lois,
overall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with Jonathan, there were
dialogue issues (the flak-jacket comment was unnecessary, as was the Pulitzer one).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As in previous continuities/versions, Lois
got herself into dangerous situations long before she ever came across the Man
from Krypton, so it was good to have that here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her taking down a couple of Kryptonians was an amusing touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her ready acceptance is a little jarring to
some people, but she knows first hand that this alien being means well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could have let her die instead of
cauterising the wound; he could have let so many others die over the years…but
he didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of the world doesn’t
know that yet (apart from those who know they were saved by him), but they
will.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Zod’s
grief, both times he kills Jor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
affection for Jor overrides his ‘programming’ for a few brief moments, both
times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first as he turns away as
Lara rushes to Jor’s body; the second when, haunted for 33 years, he’s
compelled to kill his old friend once again, and he turns his head again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beautifully done by Mr Shannon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Clark
stepping in to help the waitress – here, as I’m sure we can all agree, Clark was doing the right thing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
shove – the look on the groper’s face was classic</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I
liked the imagery of the pierced truck (internally I visualised it as a jab at Bay’s
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Transformers</i>, but that’s my mind
having a little more fun ;) ) but, initially, I didn’t like that it came across
as a lashing out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, considering
the fact that Clark has been working there for a few months, it could be argued
that this was really a case of ‘enough is enough’, and that ties in directly to
him giving up his job there and then, too (in order to head to Ellesmere) (I
don’t know if that was intentional on Mr Goyer’s part, though).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That
Kryptonian tech could hurt Clark (I really
hoped they would carry that forward but, alas…).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the drone’s attack cut him and made him
bleed, well, I was drawn in a little bit more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I really felt that this would be where they could make things a little
more interesting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
irony of Jonathan’s fear of Clark being a lab
rat for humans actually manifesting as him being a lab rat for Kryptonians</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Relatively
interactive hologram Jor (although hearing his steps was a little silly).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scenes with Lois were fun and tense – I
took the initial pause before he began communicating with Lois to indicate that
the Jor-conscience had sifted through some updates and ascertained her identity</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
tease of Clark making handgrips as he made his
way up the support column of the oil rig</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Clark
Kent:
man on fire!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Perhaps ‘hunk of burning
love’ would be more apt – cue Elvis!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Holding
back the collapsing rig long enough for the rescue copter to get away (we
needed this kind of thing when he was in costume, too!!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Clark</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> reassuring Lois as he tended to her injury</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
gulp from the priest who bullied Clark when
they were younger</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Young
Clark and the clothes-pinned cape – yes, within the narrative of the movie
there was no justification for it, no inspiration for it (unlike for us in our
world where Superman is the inspiration for it), but it was a nice image.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(If things were a little different in the
movie, then it could have worked to show how his presence was inspiring others,
but that’s by the by)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
picture of Clark (with Jonathan) winning the
school science prize</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Zod
spinning Kal around a tossing him into a building – a great turnaround of the
famous scene from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Superman II</i> that
involved the Coca Cola sign ;)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Faora
checking Kal out when she first meets him – although it’s a bit creepy since
she’s probably pushing at least 60 at that point…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Speaking
of, Zod looks good for someone who’s probably hitting 80…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Learning
to fly – I grinned as he did the ‘leaping tall buildings’ (even though there
were no buildings)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
prominent display of his durability as he crashed through the top of the
mountain</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Telescopic
vision</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
scene of the Kryptonians sealed and heading up to the awaiting ship…that it
turned out to be from Lara’s view and her tears begin to blur what we see</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
tackle and slide recovery when he stopped Faora from killing Colonel Hardy</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘Welcome
to the Planet’ – I love playing with words, and that one worked well</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Young
Clark knowing he has to do the right thing</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Kal’s
head getting knocked back a little when he was hit by one of the rounds</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Faora
smacking Kal around with ease</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Faora
speedblitzing the soldiers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘You
will not win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For every human you save,
we will kill a million more.’ – and she meant it</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
casual use of x-ray vision and his matter-of-fact description of what they were
doing behind the walls</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Face
to face with General Swanwick, through one-way glass</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That
he was able to track and locate Lois with ease</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">‘Don’t
play games with me, General.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
matter of fact way he says ‘You won’t.’ towards the end of the movie.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
colour shift in the closing scenes – there’s a bluish tint throughout most of
the movie (to my eye) but this is gone (to my eye) at the end of the movie from
when he tells Martha his plan onwards.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
fight scenes were great – the energy, the movement, the choreography….one of
the things I didn’t like about Nolan’s Batman movies were the fights – the
choreography and framing just didn’t work for me – the fights in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">MoS</i>, though, were quite ‘wow’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Taking
on Nam-Ek and Faora at the same time</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Using
Faora as a weapon to knock Nam-Ek back for a moment</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
brief use of slow-mo when Nam-Ek grabbed the van and tossed it at the copters</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Catching
the soldier (although I didn’t like him getting sucker-punched and then not
being able to catch the copter)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
respect Faora had for Colonel Hardy</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
train toss – it was a nice image but I also had an additional (perhaps
unintentional) interpretation: he survived getting squished by the (screaming) locomotive,
ergo ‘more powerful than a…’ ;)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Tying
in to that, a little earlier he dodges some gun fire (heavy duty rounds) but
gets tagged by at least one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Generally,
though, he’s shown to be ‘faster than a speeding bullet’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(He also, really, has no reason at this point
to believe he’s not going to be hurt by that kind of gunfire (these aren’t
bullets for pistols or rifles, they’re on a whole other level), even if he was
able to go through a mountain unscathed)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Faora
relying on speed (and dodging the bullets in the initial military attack)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Nam-Ek
(seemingly) relying on his armour</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Nam-Ek
rolling his shoulders back before doing a hop, skip, and ‘ohmyfraggin’’… Hulk,
who? (I didn’t like that the pilot got vapourised, but it happens so quickly
that odds are most people didn’t notice it)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That
a blast from the small ship’s energy weapon was able to knock Kal down</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That
there’s Kryptonite in another part of the universe (away from Krypton) and,
possibly, within the Sol system</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When
the car landed on him as he was about to punch Zod, and he shrugged it off</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
chase through Metropolis being akin to the one in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Superman II</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That
he tried to catch the (Wayne)
satellite that Zod tossed at him</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Martha’s
sadness at Clark’s discovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, there’s an element of selfishness
there, but it’s also such a motherly thing, I think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s happy he has found the answers he was
looking for, but she’s sad in that she feels it creates distance between them
and that he might not love her the way he used to</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Kal’s
protectiveness of his mother (yes, he was stupid for leaving her with a bunch
of Kryptonians while he tackled Zod (and then Nam-Ek and Faora) but his rage as
he flew in was understandable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
realisation that he almost lost her and that she can’t be ‘replaced’ was a good
part, too</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Clark</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">’s grin at the end.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jonathan’s
faith that Clark will be able to find his
place in the world, when he’s ready</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Alternative suggestions/approaches on my part</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">(Again, no
particular order)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Super-breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although an ability that is often mocked, in
this movie, coupled with his flight, it would have given him a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">huge</i> tactical advantage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certain parts of the fight in Smallville, for
example, would have been quite different:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">he
could have used a quick blast of it to keep the falling copter aloft a little
longer;</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">he
could have frozen Nam-Ek and/or Faora, buying himself some time (yes, they
could have broken free, but all he needed were a few moments here and there,
and neither of them had (active) heat vision at the time, either)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Kryptonian
technology being what evens the battlefield, somewhat, between Kal and the
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw that a Kryptonian drone
could hurt him – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cut him and make him
bleed</i> – so their body armour could easily have been shown to have parallel
enhancements which were able to counter Kal’s physical abilities, rather than
them having comparable power levels to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It would also explain why Faora did the leap and Zod knew he could toss
the truck, especially since, as mentioned earlier, they had no reason (and we
had been shown no reason) for them to believe they had any ‘naturally enhanced’
abilities on Earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(When Lois was
trying to escape in the pod one of the female Kryptonians punched and damaged
the pod, and Lois was able to kick her off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, to me, that indicates that she wasn’t enhanced strength-wise but her
armour gave her a bit of a boost).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In the
weeks from Clark donning the suit to the arrival of the Zod Crew, Clark should have been international and helping people
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rumours of a caped flying man doing
astonishing things – heck, there could even have been an assassination attempt
at an international summit which he then foils, but in such a way that there is
uncertainty as to just what happened – should have been all over the
place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Merely having the ‘Lois Lane knows who
he is’ deflection by Woodburn wasn’t enough, and that only being prompted by
Zod’s announcement, too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A scene of
the Zod Crew seeing Clark in action before
they revealed their presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
shock at what he could do; Jax-Ur stepping up to discover how; and them being
at Action Comics issue 1 level of power.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">More
involvement from the Zod Crew – there were a dozen or so of them…the battles
would have been epic…even if they were all at the power level described (maybe
with some being faster (like Faora) and some being stronger (like Nam-Ek), they
would have been a massive threat and difficult for this inexperienced Superman
to handle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, rather, much more
difficult.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Clark</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">
should have been younger – 27 at most – and Lois’ hunt for him should have
taken her across the world (and as Lois hunted him down, rumours of a caped
‘angel’ begin to spread, muddying the trail and, perhaps, annoying ‘aliens walk
among us is a story I’m not going to print’ (paraphrase) Perry White).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Use of
languages – in those ‘in my fantasy Superman movie’ scenarios of international
escapades, having Superman speaking, even briefly, in the native tongues of the
people he is helping…would have been awesome (in my opinion).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">With
regards to languages (and in addition to what I said earlier about being
disappointed that they didn’t have any Kryptonian being spoken), having Zod try
to talk to Kal in Kryptonian and Kal being unable to reply could have cemented
Zod’s belief that Kal’s existence was an abomination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the flipside, having Kal try to reply in
Kryptonian could have had an influence on the other Kryptonians – that this
person they had been searching for for 33 years could be one of them…and when
Jax-Ur reveals that the codex is in Kal’s cellular structure, it could have
influenced more of them (when they showed Faora as Jax-Ur announced his
discovery, I had hoped that it would have led to her stepping away from Zod –
having a team-up between her and Colonel Hardy would have been classic!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The tornado
incident – although I can appreciate the ‘visual’ of people gathered under the
overpass, that really shouldn’t have been done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not from the Tornado Country but even I know that the overpass is
one of the worst places to seek refuge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Clark and Jonathan (and others) should have been guiding people in to
the ditch (it was right there!) and, rather than Jonathan basically committing
suicide, if he had been ‘lost’ while helping someone, with Clark momentarily distracted
while helping someone else, I think there would have been a lot more there to
work with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, we have Clark
telling Lois how Jonathan had sacrificed himself because he felt the world
wasn’t ready for someone like Clark, yet Clark has, for 16 or so years, been
helping people in various (and sometimes extreme) situations here and
there…putting that sacrifice in the meaningless pile </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">(I have an
image of Clark holding on to and shielding
three kids (and they are clinging on to him for dear life), as he looks up to
see Jonathan help someone in to the ditch…and get pulled away)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Also, with
regards to Jonathan, the ‘maybe’ line needed a little more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps something along the lines of
‘Maybe...no...no...you did the right thing, Clark...but...you
<i>have</i> to be careful...I can't protect you...’ followed by his explaining
or referring to ‘the bigger picture’ and so forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get me wrong, I feel Mr Costner did a
great job in conveying how torn Jonathan was, and how that word wasn’t
‘natural’ for him to say, but just a little more in the dialogue would have
made things that much better overall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
kept thinking he could have made a suggestion as to how Clark could have used
his abilities but made it look ‘normal’ – for example, he could have suggested
that Clark could have led the (drowning) students out through the back of the
bus as it began to submerge, while accepting that Clark had acted in the heat
of the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The key thing being that
he give Clark a little guidance – that, I
feel, would have helped temper the fear he and Clark were going through at that
point.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Kal
revealing himself to the United Nations rather than ‘just’ to part of the
American military – within the story we’re given, what they put forward works
because they have taken Lois into custody but, generally speaking, it should
have been him surrendering himself to the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(As an aside, it’s a shame they didn’t show
spies, etc from other countries trying to make a grab for Lois ;) )</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">A geek
reference, I know, but Perry mentioning George Taylor as he introduces Clark would have been a nice touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could have been mentored by him a few
years ago when Clark was still trying to find
himself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There was
no need for the kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kal should have
landed, perhaps given her a reassuring smile or some words of reassurance, and
then moved to the rubble and started helping people trapped around the
area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were over a dozen people in
that immediate area, including Perry and Steve, and rescue efforts should have
been initiated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zod’s reappearance then
would have worked better, I feel, as an ‘uh oh’ moment, rather than a ‘oh,
there he is’ that it ended up being.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As I said
earlier, at this point, before the final confrontation, as he was rescuing
people and removing layers of rubble, it could have become a scene of a few of
the citizens of Metropolis telling him to go stop Zod (even if Zod had
announced his presence with a cliché shout of ‘Kal-El!’) and they would help
the person(s) he was trying to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
‘Go!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve got this’ type of moment,
where the leap of faith is rewarded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">With
regards to Zod, I still feel that Kal should have grabbed him and tried to toss
him in to the singularity (or, rather, at and into Zod’s ship) as the scout
ship was going down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew the plan
was to get all of the Kryptonians in there, so he should have tried to make
sure Zod was headed in there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Another
approach (playing with the idea I put forward earlier about some of his crew
turning on him), having some of them seek him out (and taking down those siding
with him) and then willingly going in to the singularity would have turned some
of the themes Goyer was going for on their head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jor and Lara had already chosen to act (sort
of) contrary to their ‘genetic programming’, and to have some of the Zod Crew turn
against their ‘programming’ could really have been something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have further cemented Zod’s rage –
that Kal took everything from him – while underscoring what the Jor-conscience
said – that Kal is twice the man Zod is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Jor should
have told him more about why he was being sent to Earth, even if it had been
off screen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the ‘mindscape’
interview was going on and Zod says to Kal that Jor’s intention was always to
have Kryptonians take over Earth, Kal should have been in a position to smile
and tell him that he’s lying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t get
me wrong, I enjoyed the imagery of him being sucked in to the mountain of
skulls, but I think something other, something more directly linked to Kal’s
emotional state/vulnerability, would have been better suited for that part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps tying it in to aspects of guilt over
letting Jonathan die…perhaps a montage of failures over the years, but one he
overcomes when he realises his successes, as anonymous as they have been…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I’ve
rambled a lot (if you’ve made it this far without skipping, thanks </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> ), so should probably sum it up now (even
though, honestly, there’s so much more I could say (and I’m such a quiet
person, really)):</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">After I saw
the movie the first time my brother asked me what I would give it out of
10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him ‘7 and a half’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stand by that and hope the sequel will at
least be an 8.5.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">(With
regards to a sequel (which is apparently green lit), I’m hoping that they will
address the fears of the world, but balance it out with hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If, for example, they open with a review of
the destruction and the reaction of the people – their loss, grief, fears, and
anger – and then move to show what Superman has been doing to counter this –
rescue efforts, rebuilding and so on – then the sequel could be an interesting
one, with some form of grounding.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There is no
pleasing everyone, and even with all the naysayers dismissing the movie it’s
clear that it is popular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who are
saying it won’t make Iron Man 3 or Avengers’ revenues and, therefore, is a
failure, really need a reality check.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Iron Man 3 had two movies preceding it, so the point of comparison here
should be the first Iron Man movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Avengers had two Iron Man movies, a Thor movie, and a Captain America
movie preceding it – so we’ll just have to wait for a Wonder Woman movie, a new
Batman movie, another Superman movie and then, when the JLA movie is out, we’ll
have a point of comparison ;)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So,
overall, I’m ‘okay’ with what we got…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">(Maybe one
day I’ll get that 4 hour Superman movie… ;) )</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-69349041416956335402013-07-08T11:08:00.000-07:002013-07-08T11:08:23.482-07:00Ramadan 2013<div>
<span lang="EN">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">For a third year, I will be experiencing Ramadan
without my family. I have the Brothers and Sisters in Cayman, though,
Alhumdulillah.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Although I won't be able to have any of my Mum's
cooking at sehri or iftar, or my sister's or sister-in-law's, we have
arrangements here, Alhumdulillah. Yet, millions across the world don't have this
comfort.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Millions across the world, whether it's Ramadan or
not, go without. Often beyond the hours between dawn and sunset...often for days
on end.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">As Muslims, we know that Ramadan is about spiritual
growth and awareness, but there are many layers to this, including an awareness
of others and our responsibility to our fellow human beings, whether they are
Muslim or non-Muslim. Often, though, as individuals, we shirk that
responsibility, or, generally, allow others to shoulder it for us.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="475281616-08072013"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">There are, of
course, those of us who are more involved with those around us - those of us
who, even in the other 11 months of the year, shoulder the (shared)
responsibilities of helping those in need (I'm not one of them, unfortunately,
so these words are first for me and then for those who choose to read) - and
they increase their efforts during the Blessed Month.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="475281616-08072013"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">As I've said before,
one of the beautiful gifts bestowed on mankind is the art of cooking - when you
take a moment to think about it...the awareness of which herbs and plants are
edible, which enhance, which mask, and so on, it's truly a wonderous gift. The
variety of food, the intuitive fusion of flavours...they are a blessing many of
us are able to share and indulge in.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="475281616-08072013"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">They are, also, a
blessing many of us are not able to share and indulge in, even in cities like
London. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="475281616-08072013"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">There are those who
survive on scavanged stale bread. Or old and tangy rice.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="475281616-08072013"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Something.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="475281616-08072013"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Anything.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="475281616-08072013"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Just to keep
going.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="475281616-08072013"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">And we have a
responsibility to each and every one of them - even if all one can give them is
some left over roti and a smile...</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="475281616-08072013"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">So, as before,
remember, 'fasting is bestowed on us...that we may attain taqwa', but this
'consciousness' is on multiple levels...so go beyond the
physical.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="475281616-08072013"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Ramadan
Mubarak</span></span><br />
<span class="475281616-08072013"></span> </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-12979665996235202932013-06-01T15:00:00.003-07:002013-06-01T15:09:38.931-07:00So hard to let go...I honestly believed that we had a great relationship, we had been together for so long. Okay, I didn't 'update' things as much as I should have - reading and hearing all those tales of things going wrong, I guess I was paranoid that things would change and that she wouldn't be the same any more. I still treated her well, overall, though...I think.<br /><br /><br />Didn't I?<br /><br /><br />For a while now, things have been different. Mood swings, where she was no longer responsive...no matter how much I pushed her buttons. Suddenly 'blanking' on me in mid conversation, and then taking a long time 'processing' and being silent before allowing me to continue.<br /><br />Randomly not allowing me in.<br /><br />Things between us were breaking down, and although people kept telling me to let her go and move on...I just couldn't do it. It didn't seem right. I was so sure we could work things out.<br /><br />These past 24 hours, however, have shown me otherwise.<br /><br />She wants nothing more to do with me.<br /><br />For brief moments, she teases me...giving me a small glimmer of hope that things are back to the way they were, but then everything turns to ice...frozen in time...and she abandons me again.<br /><br />I've gotten so used to having her by my side that...everything feels wrong now that her companionship is no longer there. She's 'present', but it's just not the same. She's next to me right now as I type this...blinking but blank and frozen at 16:49...<br /><br />...I don't want to let her go... Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-36710280843467994842013-04-18T21:19:00.000-07:002013-04-18T21:24:08.596-07:0075 years of awesome<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As a child, I loved reading and watching
the adventures of Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and
Superman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an adult, I still do –
unfortunately, on the reading side of things, it’s been mainly ‘Superman’ these
days, with Lois and Clark taking a (distant?) back seat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It often surprises me that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">others</i> are surprised that I’m so
passionate about the ‘emancipation’ of women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Granted, I don’t attend protests or anything like that (more fool me?)
but the fact is that I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i> that
girls and women have a right to education, to express themselves, to work, to
lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t have an adverse effect
on their moral character, it doesn’t make men weaker, and it doesn’t make men
‘obsolete’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It often surprises me that others are
surprised that I’m so passionate about the ‘emancipation’ of women, but it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">disturbs</i> me when they justify their
surprise with:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">‘But you’re a guy…’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Or (worse, more often than not):</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">‘But you’re Muslim…’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I’m not going to write about the rights and
status of women in Islam (not this time), what I am going to write about is the
influence, on me, of one of three very, very important characters and how
they’ve shown me, in my formative years (and beyond), the ‘rights and status of
women’ in general.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Clark Kent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Lois Lane</span><span lang="EN-US">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Superman.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">These names are famous across the world and
have formed the ‘template’ for many other characters within fiction over the
past 75 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes people have
been ‘derogatory’ or dismissive in their reference to the characters, other
times the use is an expression of appreciation and admiration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More often than not, though, people are
unaware as to how influential these characters have been, and continue to be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">For now, let’s focus on Lois Lane.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">My first memories of Lois are from the old
Fleischer cartoons – specifically, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mechanical
Monsters</i> episode and, more specifically, her climbing in to one of the
robots.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Those memories are not of someone hiding in
fear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Those memories are not of someone shying
away.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Those memories are of someone trying to
find out what’s going on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span lang="EN-US">Inquisitive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Incisive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Brave.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The next set of memories is from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Superman: The Movie</i> where Lois
deliberately drops her purse to frustrate her would-be mugger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, many would consider it foolish – the guy
was armed with a gun, afterall – but why should she give up what’s hers, even
if it was ‘ten dollars, two credit cards, a hairbrush, and a lipstick’?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Then there’s Lois distracting a French
policeman with a dictionary!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(No offence
to the French but I still grin when I see or remember that scene)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Further down memory lane and it’s the
reprints of Byrne’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Superman</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Action Comics</i> and, again, there’s Lois
staring bad things right in the eye and, pretty much, saying ‘bring it’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Over the years, others have tried to take
Lois’ place as the confident, plucky, witty, no-nonsense woman who can easily
stand shoulder to shoulder with any man – there was April O’Neil, Princess Leia,
Jennifer Hart and dozens of strong mothers in various television shows (I can’t
include the ‘Angels’ from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Charlie’s
Angels</i> since, well, their name ties directly to a guy…) – but (and I know I’m
being biased here) Lois stood shoulder to shoulder with a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">super</i>man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Before there was ‘Clark
Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper’, there was Lois Lane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plucky, confident, witty Lois Lane, with a nose for a good story
and a willingness to face various dangers to get to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is 1938.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Women in America had barely had the right to vote for 20 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of us in the West it may be hard to
imagine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">When you look back at some of the movies
from that period and beyond, more often than not you’ll find women dependent on
men, rushing to the arms of men, protected by men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The naysayers will argue that ‘Lois has
Superman rescuing her all the time’, but this ignores the fact that Lois was in
dangerous situations dozens of times, no matter the continuity used, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">before Superman was Superman</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Before Clark Kent created the persona of
Superman (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Action Comics </i>(vol 1) issue
1); before Superman landed on Earth and was given the suggestion to have a
secret identity and named ‘Clark Kent’ (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Adventures
of Superman</i> radio show); before Clark Kent moved to Metropolis and entered
Perry White’s office through a window (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Adventures
of Superman</i> television show); before Kal-El returned from 12 years of
study, moved to Metropolis and joined the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Daily
Planet</i> (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Superman: The Movie</i>);
before Clark Kent saved the Constitution from a fiery demise (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Man of Steel</i> mini series, issue 1);
before Superman made Glen Glenmorgan confess to his crimes (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Action Comics</i> (vol 2) issue 1)…there was
Lois Lane, fighting for truth, justice and the good in life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel: I salute you
and thank you for creating this awesome woman.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Lois Lane: I’ll see you over the next 75 ;)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-28708365842990569472013-01-03T13:02:00.000-08:002013-01-03T15:40:11.454-08:00Rape: It's every where!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">There was outcry when news spread
of a 23 year old woman who was gang-raped and inflicted with grevious (truly
horrific) injuries, but if I could take a moment to draw your attention to
the following:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- 11 year old girl
gang-raped and inflicted with grevious injuries. She has undergone <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/11-year-old-has-gone-through-14-reconstructive-surgeries-after-gang-rape-312675">14
major reconstructive surgeries</a> (and will have at least 1 more), and her
family is being pressured to drop the case (Jaipur)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- a <a href="http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/three-rapes-in-punjab-sexual-assault-victim-dies-in-hospital-312578">6
year old girl was raped</a> (Moga district)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- a <a href="http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gang-rape-pakistan-hindu-girl-pakistan-peoples-party/1/237936.html">6
year old girl was (allegedly) raped</a> (Sindh,
Pakistan)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- the age of a woman <a href="http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/woman-73-sexually-assaulted-in-central-park/">raped
in Central Park (New York)</a> in September 2012: 73</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- 14 men have been accused
of repeatedly <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/us/09assault.html?_r=0">gang-raping
an 11 year old girl in Texas</a> (they said she 'dressed older than her age')</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- in the US, <a href="http://www.rainn.org/get-information/statistics/sexual-assault-victims">15%
of sexual assault and rape victims are under the age of 12</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/12/48-women-raped-hour-congo">48
women were raped per hour</a> in Congo during the war</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- <a href="http://www.womenundersiegeproject.org/conflicts/profile/bosnia">60,000+
women were raped</a> in the 1990s during the Bosnian conflict</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- a <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288512,00.html">12 year old boy</a>
was forced to participate in the rape of his mother (in the US)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- in <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/afghan-president-pardons-imprisoned-rape-victim-agrees-marry-attacker-article-1.985756">Afghanistan</a>,
women are being imprisoned for being raped</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- <a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/12/04/276060/us-forces-rape-women-in-afghanistan/">US
forces</a> raped several women in rural Afghanistan</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- <a href="http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/03/14/200577.html">in Morocco</a>,
a 16 year old rape victim committed suicide after bring forced to marry her
rapist</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">- an 8 year old, a 14 year
old and a 15 year old were forced to marry a 59 year old at the <a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2010-06-23/living/o.child.brides.stories_1_jeanne-minors-across-state-lines-amy?_s=PM:LIVING">Tony
Alamo Christian Ministry in Arkansas</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">These are just the 'public'
and 'not-so-public' ones. There are
thousands upon thousands that are unheard of.
Thousands upon thousands that are suppressed in order to protect 'honour'
and 'family', and other 'reasons'.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Churches, temples,
madrassas, schools...homes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In some cases, when the
victims speak out they're branded as liars or prostitutes. Others (or their families) are 'convinced' to
quieten up. Others die. Others disappear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">A few get the push their
case needs, a few have the attention given to them. A few may be able to get justice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The rest? With bandaged wounds and suppressed trauma,
they 'live'...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">All</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Across</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">World</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-55336141809819882352013-01-02T13:32:00.001-08:002013-01-02T13:32:18.270-08:00Rape, clothes and the disturbing mindset (of men) that seems to be encouraged...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I read comments like ‘if she’s dressed in a short skirt
she’s asking for attention’, I just think (excuse the profanity) ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bullshit</i>’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ‘excuses’ and ‘justifications’ made by
certain people over why some men behave they way they do, and do the things
they do, are, frankly, ridiculous.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In my (uneducated) opinion, it all, basically, comes down to
‘power play’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as there are men who
do not want women to be educated because they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i> that those women will be <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">better</i>
than them, that those women <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">will</i>
achieve the goals they have set themselves, and those same men will be ‘weak’
(and looked ‘down on’ in comparison), and so will<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>do whatever they can to ‘dissuade’ women from
having access to education that is rightfully theirs, so, too, there are men
who, either through experiencing rejection or fearing it, use manipulation,
force, coercion and so on, in order to ‘have their way’.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Across the world there are rapists – opportunists and ‘escalators’
– and I think one of the approaches we need to take in countering these people
requires us to address the general <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">encouraged</i>
mindset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Note, the following are generalisations)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Wooing’ someone has become ‘aggressively pursuing’ – music videos,
song lyrics, and movies have encouraged this and although, for the most part,
it hasn’t been ‘direct’, the associative imagery is there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Taking advantage’ of a drunk person is ‘okay’ so long as
the person being taken advantage of isn’t absolutely paralytic when the initial
advances are made – over the years we have had the repeated excuse of ‘I didn’t
think she was that drunk’, coupled with ‘I thought she was just teasing and
pretending to be hard-to-get’, and similar claims.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Women like to have attention given to them, and that’s why
they dress ‘provocatively’/smile at you/touch your arm when they laugh etc’’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, touching someone is a strong indicator
of being comfortable with that person, but being comfortable with a person
doesn’t mean ‘I want you, I need you, oh baby, oh baby’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, smiling at someone isn’t a ‘come-on’,
and when nuns and women wearing burqas and niqabs are being raped there is no
way you can say they were ‘dressed <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">provocatively</i>’.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
…but that’s what some people have and do claim…that wearing a
burqa is the lady’s way of saying ‘come and find out what’s underneath’…that it’s
a ‘cock-tease’…and an invitation…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So if a woman wearing a bikini and sarong is ‘asking for it’,
and a woman wearing a burqa is ‘asking for it’, and a woman wearing jeans is ‘asking
for it’, and a woman wearing a baggy tracksuit is ‘asking for it’…what the heck
are women supposed to wear that will make it clear that ‘no, I do not want you
to try and have your way with me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
not interested!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leave me alone!’?!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not going to deny that there have been instances of a
woman consenting, regretting it, and then claiming rape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But those instances are few and far between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guys at the receiving end of such claims
are rightfully confused, but when there’s resistance to advances (and, yes,
women usually are aware enough to say ‘no’ or try to dissuade things from
progressing beyond the kissing and ‘petting’ stage) or no resistance <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">because she’s physically unable to because
she’s either unconscious or close to being so</i>, there is no basis for
confusion or misunderstanding.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
None.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At all.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
…and when it’s a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">child</i>…well,
just be glad I (and many others) will never get our hands on you because,
frankly, you’d wish you were dead or that I/we would kill you.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m keeping this post relatively tame, but in light of the demonic
behaviour of ‘those’ rapists in India, the rape of a 6 year-old in Pakistan,
the revelations that so many vulnerable people were exploited in the UK…and so
on…I really want to rant and rave (impotent as such ranting and raving may be).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Words aren’t enough – the women and children of this world <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">must
be protected!</i></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-87104237604649992822012-12-20T12:24:00.000-08:002012-12-20T12:24:11.838-08:00Another rant<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Okay, so the Hep vaccination
was used as a cover to locate and target OBL, but when you KNOW, tangibly and
irrefutably, that the number of those with polio has gone up, on what frigging
basis are you risking the lives of children because 'it might be a way for
those against us to spy on us'?!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Let them spy on you!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Of course, some will say
something along the lines of 'it's not us, it's the West trying to make us look
bad', but that's just excusing the situation.<span>
</span>Turn it around on its head.<span> </span>Give
the workers the protection they need.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>No, I'm not referring to the
Pakistani government/army giving protection; I'm suggesting the Taliban and
other gangs give the protection.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>I know, a shocking
suggestion.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Embrace the fact that those
being directly affected by polio are a part of the potential Pakistan
holds.<span> </span>Recognise that they need
nurturing and protecting, not used as shields or 'collateral damage'.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>If it's not 'you' (Taliban)
conducting the attacks, then step up and protect those you were supposed to be
protecting.<span> </span>Stop being the self-serving
hypocrites you currently are.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>If
it is 'you' (Taliban) doing this, then wake up to the fact that you (according
to your beliefs) will be brought before your Lord to account for what you did,
what you encouraged, and what you allowed to do.<span> </span>Ponder the consequences your actions and
inaction holds.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Stop tearing things down, blowing things up and preventing
the enhancement of life, and help <i>build</i>!<span> </span>Nurture, learn and develop.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-35954492989565233722012-12-17T09:44:00.000-08:002012-12-17T09:44:19.726-08:00Power of Fear<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Fear is a powerful motivator.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Often it is only considered in an immediate
situation – ‘fight or flight’ – but it’s the prolonged and lasting fear that
can affect long-term responses and initiate lasting change.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">On an individual level, we have people
buying and carrying ‘panic alarms’ in response to an assault in the local area;
we have a heightened awareness of ‘strangers’ in response to the abduction of a
child; people install security systems in their homes in response to a
home-invasion…and so on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Then there are the wider responses, the
community responses – some of which are extensions to the ones outlined
above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These responses sometimes have an
extra ‘energy source’: outrage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
combination of fear and outrage is powerful on an emotional level, but it needs
to be directed in a useful way, otherwise it becomes overwhelming, emotionally
draining and oppressive and, eventually, impotent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The danger is the impotency – when people
strive to change things for the better and it all comes tumbling down when ‘the
system’ blocks them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some, like Susana
Trimarco (who has survived two murder attempts, her house being burnt down, and
countless death threats over the last 10 years as she tried to find her missing
daughter) have this ‘well of determination’, the drive to keep going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An amazing woman whose efforts have led to
the rescue of dozens of women who were being sexually exploited, and hundreds
more after establishing her foundation…but received a blow recently when the
judges in a recent hearing said that ‘we could not establish what really
happened…but it was not a case of people trafficking’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In another part of the world, known for the
deaths of people through bombs and shootings on an almost daily basis, at least
9 girls were killed while collecting firewood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A landmine went off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although organisations
such as <a href="http://www.halotrust.org/">The Halo Trust</a> and <a href="http://www.maginternational.org/">MAG</a> are hard at work, there is
still so much more to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to
researchers at <a href="http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/?id=8539">Manchester University</a>,
‘there are at least 110 million active landmines in place across the world’ and
‘it is estimated it would take $30bn (£19bn) and more than 1,000 years to clear
them using current technologies’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Despite the dangers and oppression where they lived, those girls were
determined to work for the general betterment of all in their region; they had
dreams and aspirations – may their determination inspire others and spark new
dreams.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Across the border we have another country
known for its numerous car bombings and suicide bombings, with a recent bombing
killing at least 17 and injuring at least 70.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The people there are also determined to make things better…they’re just
trying to figure out how.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In the US, now, after repeatedly being put
on the backburner, the bid to bring in stronger gun control has a renewed
momentum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the tragedy on Friday,
and the theft of the lives of 20 children and 6 adults, people are once more
seeking change.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">And, once more, being countered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I hope the fear and outrage can be married
with (dogged) determination and progress is made in making things safer (in the US) overall
– whether it be compulsory psych analysis, increase in waiting time,
registration and tracking…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I hope the determination and efforts of countless others across the world striving to bring about a safer world continues, and continues to succeed...even if it's one small unnoticed step at a time... </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-64168739875997730772012-09-26T14:47:00.001-07:002012-09-26T20:00:15.174-07:00Female Genital Mutilation (and Islam - a non-scholary approach)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The general flexibility in basic Islamic law is that if
something is not directly forbidden (prohibited) then it is allowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As harsh as many people consider Islamic law
to be, this openness of the law allows for a lot of tolerance overall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it can be misconstrued, too, as it
is in the case of female genital mutilation (‘FGM’) and how certain Muslims and non-Muslims consider Islam's stance on it to be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Islamic law states that a woman can divorce her husband if
he does not provide sexual satisfaction (we’ll ignore the fact that the egos of
most men would not be comfortable, let alone accepting, of this being a reason
for divorce, but that’s a matter for another day (maybe)).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means that the sexual satisfaction of a
woman is her right, Islamically. (Does that really surprise some people?)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, going back to the ‘general flexibility’ outlined above,
because there is no direct prohibition within the Qur’an or the Hadith
regarding FGM there are those who would use that ‘silence’ as proof of its
permissiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some will refer to one
hadith where the Prophet (saw) said to a woman who used to perform such circumcisions
in Medina ‘<i>Do
not cut severely as that is better for a woman and more desirable for a
husband</i>’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This hadith, found in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sunan Abu Dawud</i>, is classified as ‘weak’
but it does, of itself, make clear that any FGM done should be minimal and
should <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> have an adverse affect on
the pleasures of either the woman or her husband.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s at this point, as grim as it is, that I think one
should consider (without going into detail (sorry)) the different types of
FGM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/">The World Health
Organization</a> lists <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">four</b> major
types of female genital mutilation:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Clitoridectomy</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Excision</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Infibulation</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Other:
all other harmful procedures to the genitalia for non-medical purposes,
e.g. pricking, piercing (yes, those who have their clitoris pierced ‘for
fun, etc’ here in the West have undergone female genital mutilation),
incising, scraping and cauterizing the genital area</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, in light of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">harm</i>
the types of FGM bring about to the girl/woman (urinary tract infections,
childbirth complications, infertility) they <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cannot</i>
be considered to be permitted Islamically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sure, I’m not a scholar but a key aspect of Islam (contrary to a lot
non-Muslim assertion) is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">common sense</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether people exercise or recognize such sense,
though, is a different matter, unfortunately.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
(As an important aside, it should be noted that there's no record (as far as I'm aware) of any of the Prophet's (saw) wives (ra) or daughters (ra) ever being circumcised.)<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So it’s not endorsed within Islam (even if some Muslims and
non-Muslims think it is), and it’s something being practiced by people of
numerous faiths, which then begs the question: why is it done?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When 3 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">million</i>
girls <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">annually</i> in Africa
alone are at risk, it’s not an issue to be ignored.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of the ‘whys’:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>reduction in female libido which, in turn, keeps her
‘pure’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>a (invasive and gross) form of peer and social pressure
(‘so-and-so had their daughter circumcised and so should we, otherwise the
community will shame us’)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>a much more invasive and painful way of safeguarding
chastity (a ‘chastity belt’ utilizing flesh)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>social control</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, going back to the aforementioned ‘pleasure’ which,
Islamically, is a right of both spouses – since it has been medically
established that the removal of the clitoris, the prepuce (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the</i> most sensitive parts of the human body (thought to have more
than 70,000 nerve endings!), and so forth reduce or eliminate the pleasures a
woman can experience then, other than when it is a medical necessity, it’s
haram.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you think the West is ‘super-advanced’ with regards to
FGM, then you need to take on board the fact that even in the early 80s, in the
United States, there was promotion of female circumcision (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Playgirl</i> had an article called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Circumcision
for Women: The Kindest Cut of All </i>(that was in the late 70s, but still)),
and it was only in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">1997</i> </b>that it became a federal crime to make any non-medically
necessary cutting upon the genitals of a minor girl for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">any</i> reason, whether religious or otherwise, and to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">any</i> degree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s barely 15 years ago!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So how about a different approach – instead of hurling abuse
and accusations and so forth at those who are ‘practicing’ FGM, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">educate</i> them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through education and understanding you’ll
take away the overbearing social conformity aspect, you’ll give women the
courage to step up and stop what they went through from happening to their
daughters, you’ll give men an awareness that what they’ve been allowing to
happen is wrong, you'll give boys the courage to protect their sisters...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Allah (swt) admonishes those who blindly follow and do the
things their forefathers did (2:170, 5:104, for example) and, to a large
degree, that’s the crux of the problem here: the practitioners are continuing
with this because it’s what their forefathers did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Insha’Allah, through education and
understanding, this abuse and debilitating practice can be brought to an end –
but, considering the fact it hasn’t even been two decades since the West
‘ended’ the practice, there’s no real moral high ground for them at this point
in time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is it frustrating and horrifying to those of us who are against the practice? Sure. Patience and perseverance, though, will lead to awareness, change, and better things (Insha'Allah). </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-57881609239278738562012-09-25T14:33:00.000-07:002012-09-25T14:33:54.472-07:00Living Under Drones (Pakistan and her civilians)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<i><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4477123895559849818" name="OLE_LINK1"><span lang="EN-GB">Living Under Drones: Death, Injury and
Trauma to Civilians from US Drone Practices in </span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span lang="EN-GB">Pakistan</span></span></b></i><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"></span><br />
<br />
<span><span lang="EN-GB">(The site ( <a href="http://livingunderdrones.org/">livingunderdrones.org</a>
) keeps hanging at the moment but you can find articles on sites such as the UK’s
Guardian, The Telegraph and Daily Mail, the LA Times, CNN etc)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span><span lang="EN-GB">‘In the United States,
the dominant narrative about the use of drones in Pakistan is of a surgically
precise and effective tool that makes the US safer by enabling 'targeted
killings' of terrorists, with minimal downsides or collateral impacts. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span><span lang="EN-GB">‘This narrative is
false.’</span></span><br />
<br />
<span><span lang="EN-GB">The report says that
the US
government rarely acknowledges civilian casualties, though there is significant
evidence that civilians are being injured and killed. </span></span><br />
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span lang="EN-GB">The report highlights
the impact of drone attacks on civilians in Pakistan's tribal regions. Citing ‘extensive
interviews with the local population’ (more than 130 interviews), the authors
say:</span></span><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span lang="EN-GB">children are being taken out of school out of
fear of a drone-strike or to compensate for income lost from a dead or
wounded relative [which means the knock-on effect is an increase in child
labour and a decrease in child education]</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span lang="EN-GB">there is ‘significant evidence’ of the
practice of ‘double-tap’ strikes in which rescuers arriving at the scene
are targeted in follow-up attacks (which is a key <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">terrorist</i> approach [the US government has previously said it’s
a ‘hallmark’ of Hamas, but, well, it seems to be ‘okay’ if the US is doing
it…hypocrisy much?)]</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span lang="EN-GB">the ‘double-tap’ strikes are estimated to kill
an average of 49 civilians for every one ‘known terrorist’</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span lang="EN-GB">drones flying overhead have led to
"substantial levels of fear and stress... in the civilian
communities" [in other words, they are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">terrified</i> and the drones are an act of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">terrorism</i>]</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span lang="EN-GB">as well as injury or death, the attacks cause
property damage, severe economic hardship and emotional trauma for the
injured and their families</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"><span lang="EN-GB">people are afraid to attend gatherings such as
funerals for fear of attack</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">No doubt there are those who justify all
this, with ‘excuses’ such as ‘well, they’re the ones harbouring the terrorists’
and so forth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, the neighbours and
family of the Aurora
shooter knew what he was going to do, the neighbours and family of Timothy
McVeigh knew he was going to put together and use a truck bomb?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Problem is, that’s exactly the kind of
double-standard which feeds the animosity and frustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s fodder for those who want to incite
others to acts of violence, they use it as form of justification.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I can understand the use of precision
strikes (the general idea is a good one) and if they were working (and
effective) in getting to the higher levels of terrorist organisations <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">without killing civilians</i> then, frankly,
more people would be rooting for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Take, for example, the incident last year when there was a tribal
gathering who were wholly aware that there was to be a drone attack (they had
been notified in advance) and could hear the drones overhead, but considered
themselves safe because they weren’t the target.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>42 people were killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i>
a ‘precision strike’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">When (lower estimates) 140,000 to (higher
estimates) 1,200,000 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">civilians</i> have
been killed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan over the past decade, and the
people on the ground have a constant reminder and a constant <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fear</i> about it, is it really surprising
that there’s animosity towards those who are, with no misinterpretation of the
word, terrorising them?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Although a strange analogy, it’s kind of
like the US is ‘Kanye West’ and Pakistan et al are keep getting interrupted
whenever they ‘voice their protestations’: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Pakistan</span><span lang="EN-GB">:
Innocent people are being killed in order to -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">US: Yo, Pakistan, I think you’re a cool
ally now and then and I’mma let you finish, but [insert ‘justification’ here]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">It’s not as if the higher-ups in the US don’t know
about the civilian loss and the effect it has, overall they just don’t care.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Out of sight, out of mind – not on the
homeland so not of much (if any) concern and any retaliatory response is an act
of aggression and terrorism against the US…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The good old ‘two rule world’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">(Am I coming across too cynical and ‘bitter’?)</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-83579080310478327342012-09-24T10:11:00.000-07:002012-09-24T10:36:49.240-07:00Bat-rant!<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the things which set apart the Bat-clan from most other 'human-heroes' was their intensive training. For example, Batman once said to Dick, with regards to the kind of physical training he would have to do: 'triple it (Dick's acrobatic training in the circus) and then triple it again'.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I remember when I read that years ago, my mouth fell wide open and I just thought 'dang...'.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Those of us who have done gymnastics or (most forms of) martial arts are readily aware of how intense the training is, and to crank it up to what Bruce was outlining...well, it's no wonder the Bat-clan were 'the best of the best of the best'.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Barbara donned the cape and cowl without training from The Bat, but that didn't last long. She, too, underwent the intense physical training the job she was aspiring to do required.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nowadays, though...it seems all one needs is a couple of months (sure, Jason says 6 but that includes the other disciplines the Bat-clan embrace and he was nowhere near Dick's base-level (and neither is Tim, even with his 'Olympic-scout-attracting' level of gymnastics (Teen Titans #0))) and they're 'ready'.</span><br />
<br style="font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is this an attempt to make them 'relatable'?</span><br />
<br style="font-family: inherit;" />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Is this something people feel works?</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Back in <i>Blind Justice</i>, when Bruce used someone else's body while his own healed from various injuries, the 'fit' person was nowhere near Bruce's level, now a f</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">ew Crossfit, P90X and Insanity sessions and 'regular'-folk, too, could do Bat-clan stuff?</span><br />
<br />
oh dear...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
(yes, yes, I'm 'underselling' but so are the current writers...)<br />
<br />
<br />I'm all for having them have a 'base level' and for Tim to have a certain 'just above base level proficiency' in certain things but, personally, when Tim and Jason are shown to be more 'physically able' than Dick there's a part of me that just rejects that portrayal.<br /><br />Their deductive skills are different (Tim, for example, doesn't have Bruce's 'blindspot' (or, rather, reluctance to acknowledge), Dick is more immediately intuitive, Jason's able to mingle with the underbelly) but they're <i>all</i> smart.<br /><br />Personally, I'm hoping for something in the upcoming Bat-arc that showcases these differences - a scene similar to the <i>Robin</i> #0 one, for example, would be great.<br /><br />They are 'the best of the best of the best', but they're different - and there are no Mary Sues!!<br /><br /><br />(rant over) Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-85978776024278316722012-09-24T10:02:00.001-07:002012-09-24T10:02:48.404-07:00Information and Misinformation<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The 'Information Age' has given us almost
immediate access to information and MISinformation - the problem now is that
many don't seem to bother to distinguish one from the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's almost an 'if it's online and on the
first page of the search results then it must be true' situation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Back in the day, research required a person
to actively and decisively sift through a wealth of information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nowadays, it's a few keyboard strokes and
barely any attempt at verification :(</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10.0pt;">We can't forget visual misdirection - when
9/11 happened there was 'footage' of 'celebrations' in the Middle East being
broadcast by some news stations; the footage turned out to be stuff they had
pulled from their archives, but they didn't tell anyone that and, to this day,
more than a decade later, many believe the footage to be 'real'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seeds were sowed and millions were
demonised within moments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Similarly with the riots in Pakistan
– the media showed the chaos (that’s ‘newsworthy’) but no the peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the Pakistani media didn’t put forward
any of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">many</i> peaceful protests, so
how were those outside of the country to know there were peaceful gathers
occurring, too?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Millions demonised again (and I’m a party
to that demonisation because, as much as I searched, I couldn’t find anything
(initially) which showed the peaceful protests).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Information and Misinformation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Now, apparently, Iran wants to put together its own ‘internet’
– as dangerous as the MISinformation that is currently out there, online, is…this
could be even more so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although
countries like China have various firewalls etc set up blocking certain sites
and information sources, that information can still be accessed…but what could
be the position a couple of generations down the line?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happens when information is restricted?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happens when half-truths and lies are
being touted as ‘truth’? (Hello ‘Dark Ages’, it’s been a while)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10.0pt;">‘Knowledge is power’, we know that, but
ignorance and false-knowledge is dangerous (we know this, too, but some people
are still uber-keen in promoting it however they can </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:(</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> )</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-79353113749076929962012-09-18T12:39:00.000-07:002012-09-18T12:39:07.131-07:00Time to step up<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Nothing is heavier in the scales of a believer on the Day
of Judgment than his good behaviour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Allah (swt) detests a person who is obscene and shameless.’ (Tirmidhi)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Across the world we keep being exposed to ‘the two faces of
Islam’:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>death-chanting, aggressive, violent and ‘out of control’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>peaceful, praying and calling for calm</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The ‘second face’ is often ignored, side-lined and quickly
forgotten (it’s not really ‘newsworthy’, especially when you can show images
and footage of rampaging flag-burners), but there’s a problem <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">within</i> that ‘second-face’ – they keep
shying away.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We need that ‘second-face’ to be out there and not back
down.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We need the scholars and speakers to keep preaching and
speaking and teaching.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And praying.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the people of Taif pelted the Prophet (saw) with stones
and chased him out of the city, he didn’t seek their deaths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He prayed for them and their children.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the woman who hurled abuse at him, daily, as he walked
for the morning prayer wasn’t there one morning, he asked about her wellbeing
and, hearing she was ill, went to see her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He even addressed her as ‘mother’.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the woman who ordered the assassination of the Prophet’s
(saw) uncle and later mutilated his body and chewed his liver, was brought
before the Prophet (saw) years later…he forgave her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With regards to the man who assaulted Zainab (ra), the
Prophet’s (saw) daughter, causing her to miscarry…the Prophet (saw) forgave
him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Time and time again, he forgave those who abused and
oppressed him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Time and time again, he forgave those who abused and
oppressed those dear to him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Time and time again, he warned against becoming one of the
oppressors.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those out there seeking ‘violent retribution’ need to take a
few moments to consider what it is that they’re actually doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are they truly and absolutely ‘fighting’ for Allah and His Prophet…or are they giving way to their own frustrations?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On one occasion, when Ali (ra) was fighting
in a jihad, he had his opponent ‘on the ropes’ when his opponent then spat on
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ali (ra), to the astonishment of
the others there <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> his opponent, threw
down his sword walked away, leaving his opponent alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ali (ra) later said that he knew that if he had delivered the killing
blow at that point it would not have been in a fight for God but because of the
anger at being spat on, rendering him a murderer instead of a noble warrior.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, in light of all this, those encouraging violence and
those doing violence in response to the ‘movie’ need to re-assess their actions
and motives.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s easy for me to say these things, ‘hiding’ behind this
platform – but I’m not a scholar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
not the kind of person others will listen to and adhere to and follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those people, noted scholars and speakers, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> out there…but they only seem to come
forward for brief moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They need to
step up and do more.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It doesn’t matter if their words aren’t receiving the ‘right
press’, they just need to keep doing it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Insha’Allah, they will.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-40587080127539390332012-09-13T10:12:00.001-07:002012-09-13T10:12:54.019-07:00Protesting is fine, rioting is wrong.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Allah (swt) warns us against becoming ‘transgressors’, going
‘beyond limits’ but, time and time again, Muslims across the world are shown ‘transgressing’
and ‘going beyond limits’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They keep
crossing the line and, for the most part, are unashamed in doing so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They feel justified.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Their anger over the Prophet (saw) being slandered <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> righteous and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> justified, but their targeting of people who have nothing to do
with any slanderous comments made or the movies, etc, is neither righteous nor
justified.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Frankly, the producers, director etc are lying when they
claim they ‘didn’t expect this kind of reaction’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">exactly</i>
the reaction they were looking; it’s exactly why they were so disappointed when
no one paid any attention to the ‘movie’ months ago; it’s exactly why they ‘anonymously’
dubbed the trailer into Arabic, reposted and directed attention towards it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The riots are exactly what they wanted so they could sit
back and say ‘see?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We told you the
Muslims are a murderous and bloodthirsty lot’.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The initial protest in Egypt was done ‘right’, so to
speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, it was aggressive but there
was also unity – there were Muslims and Christians in attendance, both
protesting the ‘movie’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Libyan one,
though…certain people clearly had ulterior motives – why else would they turn
up with RPGs and other weapons?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s also another thing these so-called ‘Christians’
enjoy ‘lauding’ and (whether wittingly or not) enjoy taking advantage of – the lack
of slander and vitriol on the part of Muslims towards Jesus (as).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, they’re ‘outraged’ when Muslims assert
that Jesus (as) is not God and is not His son, but they take comfort in the
fact that no Muslim will ever claim Jesus (as) was a paedophile or a womanizer or
consorted with women of ill-repute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
not because the texts, narratives, beliefs and so forth regarding Christ across
the spectrum of Christianity are so ‘clean’ or beyond reproach, but that we,
Muslims, love and revere him so much that we cannot and will not say anything
slanderous about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For any one of us
to do so would render us non-Muslim. (so it's best left to their own scholars and writers to sully Jesus' (as) name, but when they do we, Muslims, must protest such things, too!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It’s really that simple.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Going back to the protests: demonstrations commanding
(encouraging) good and forbidding (condemning) evil are right and permissible; willfully
and intentional inciting violence, however, is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, some demonstrations will descend into
conflict, but to go there with the intention of harming others…that is wrong.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The true purpose beyond protests and demonstrations is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">dawah</i> – to bring awareness to others and
to show them the truth through words and actions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The words?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lectures and narrations refuting, for example, allegations made against
the Prophet (saw).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The actions?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Salaat (prayer).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If some of the protestors are ‘antsy’, they should drink
some water and calm down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that’s not
sufficient, they should sit down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
that’s not enough, they should lie down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Throughout it all, though, they should perform dhikr – remembrance of
Allah (swt).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do all this and we would truly provide a slap in the faces
of all those inciting Muslims to violence.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do all this and we would truly be upholding the honour of
our beloved leader, the best of mankind, the mercy from Allah (swt) – our beloved
Prophet (saw).</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-43920456593800010752012-08-30T08:41:00.000-07:002012-08-30T08:41:08.319-07:00Alternative ending to Lincoln March's encounter with Batman<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This should have ended with issue 10 (if not sooner), as
soon as March made his 'reveal' - and long before he put on the suit.<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'If not Lincoln
March, then who am I?'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'You're a traitor,' the netting snaps, 'and a thief.' Batman
pulls the netting off himself as March steps back, readying the snare-gun again
in case he needed to 'buy time'.<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'You were a member of the Court of Owls, but you betrayed
them,' says Batman, stepping forward...smiling. 'You only killed a handful of
them, though, and the others <i>will</i> come after you.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'Let them come. I'm pretty damned hard to kill, now.' Lincoln steps back.<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'The serum doesn't give you much of an advantage, Lincoln, especially not
against those who know how it works.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'Wha-?'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'I did what you dared me to do. I found the truth inside the
lie.' <br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'A truth inside the lie. Exactly, just like with you. Like
when I saw you fight that Talon when we had our meeting in the tower. You were
supposed to die then, and I was going to watch.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'You didn't know the Talon was going to attack you. I
reviewed the footage of the attack. You didn't know.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'They said the Talon attacked me by accident. That he made a
mistake.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'They lied. They lied about a lot of things, Lincoln.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'Stop calling me that! You found the truth, tell me who I
am!' He fires the snare-gun again, and turns to open the storage cabinet behind
him. A batarang pins his left hand to the door of the cabinet and Lincoln roars with anger,
pulling his hand free as he turns to face Batman.<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'You were a patient here during the time my parents were
patrons of the hospital. You were admitted soon after a car accident that
occurred on the junction of Lincoln
and March. The Court lied to you, Lincoln, you're not who you think you are.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lincoln
throws the snare-gun at him and again tries to open the cabinet. Batman catches
the gun and fires it at Lincoln,
pinning him, draped over the cabinet, to the wall.<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'WHO AM I?! Say it, Bruce! Who. Am. I?'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Batman leans in and says, softly, 'You're not my brother.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a rage, Lincoln
roars and tears the net off himself and strikes out at Batman, who parries and
kicks him back into the wall.<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'My brother died as a result of that accident.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'No. I lived.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'Thomas lived for 12 hours after the accident, but his
injuries were too severe.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'I. LIVED!' Lincoln
rushes at Batman, who dodges each blow (moving backwards) with a sad look on
his face.<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'I wish he had lived. I think about him sometimes...how
things might have been. I thought about him a lot when I was younger, joking to
myself that he would be my Kato or Tonto.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'I am...Thomas...Wayne....' exclaims Lincoln as he throws
kicks and punches at Batman, steamy air drifting as they both move around the
room Batman has led him in to.<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lincoln
lunges at Batman in an attempt to grapple him to the ground, but Batman leaps
over him, landing softly.<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'There's a willow tree near my parents' graves. My mother
planted it with my father, in my brother's memory.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'Lies! She visited me every day! I remember!'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'No, you only remember what you think you're supposed to.
What you were told to. I'm sorry, Lincoln.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'THOMAS WAYNE JU-' <i>Enough!</i> Batman's punch knocks
out several of Lincoln's
teeth and breaks his jaw.<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'This sick fantasy is over. Your delusions are just that.'<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lincoln
writhes around trying to get up, steamy breath escaping his clenched mouth.<br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
'I told you, Lincoln, the serum doesn't give you an
advantage over those who know how it works.'</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
End with the external scene of the cold storage room,
leaving the opportunity for someone else to play with the March and Talon toys
later on down the line – if they’re so inclined.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4477123895559849818.post-87628774667002743882012-08-16T13:50:00.002-07:002012-08-16T13:50:29.012-07:00The Women and Children<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not a violent or aggressive person – sure, I can get
angry and my being ‘slow to anger’ can make me come across as ‘very angry’ when
I’m pushed to that point, but I’m not, generally, angry or aggressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, there are two ‘types’ of people I
fear I would lose control against:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>rapists; and</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span>paedophiles</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Woe to the person I come across as they are…interfering…with
a child, let alone raping or attempting to rape them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Woe to the person I come across as they are raping or
attempting to rape someone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I honestly don’t know if I would be able to stop myself from
killing them…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11523853190786333403noreply@blogger.com0