like a fish needs a bicycle...

I'm ghetto fab (see: booty) and I don't have any of [the rest of] these. Did you know "lay-c" is my ghetto name, courtesy of these ghetto-esque people I used to work with at a dot-com? Thasright. That means you under the ghetto name of me.

11.) You would support the space program if the Space Shuttle had rims. 57 inch spinners actually. And subwoofers. Have to have subs. (how about it George?)

These are DEFINITELY in the proper order.....;)

peace

George people in the ghetto already support the space program they figure someone out there has to be lives on a planet with some equality! Nas--way to represent! I miss our old home in D'ville -ghetto! Lacey trust me only booty really matters!

I was eating lunch with some coworkers today when a girl mentioned she lived "out in the booty." At first I couldn't figure out what was going on until I realized she was saying "boonies."

I was actually crawling all around Atlantis today. I spied a few places where we could install some subs (how about 46,000 pounds worth in the cargo bay?) and you wouldn't know it unless you look up, but the wheel wells are already blingin'...totally covered in shiny aluminum tape. I'll see what I can do about the wheels themselves. I'm hoping for something like Soul Plane. Maybe we can train Snoop to fly it.

Nas, this list itself is ghetto-fab. True nuff. I luv it.

this reminds me of those conversations that white people have behind closed doors when they're not in earshot of anyone who is Black. unfortunately, the web has no doors... i have a feeling this would hurt the hearts of many dear friends who already have issues connecting with white/Caucassian people in the Baha'i community. i realize no disrespect was meant here... but i don't know what's respectful about making fun of a group of people to which one doesn't belong.

i also just wanted to mention i've heard NSA members refer to their wives as their boo... should we let them know we think they're ghetto?

hmmmm... couple of things...

first, i feel like i'm fairly aware of the etymology and evolution of the term "ghetto," and i think that taking its current connotation into consideration, it's not necessarily an offensive word--not in the least. functionally, it's often casual, non-race specific, and even complimentary. when i used this term, it was not directed at anyone in particular, and it was definitely not meant to be derogatory. as i said, many of the things i listed apply to me. for instance, i routinely call my loved ones boo. i wear doo-rags all the time. people jokingly call me ghetto for doing both... doesn't bother me. and if it's a race issue that seems to be salient, there was nothing surreptitious or closed-door about this list... my black friends actually contributed to it.

second, i think that if we take issue w/ a certain term, we have to be aware of the implications of that sensitivity. how does that sensitivity circumscribe our self-expression, and does it hold true in principle? how are we to define "ghetto?" if it's only appropriate for those who grew up in the ghetto to use that term, what income bracket qualifies? can no outside that bracket use it? can people from the ghetto not refer to suburban kids, since they're not from the suburbs? can they not refer to a certain trend as suburban? trying to draw lines around such usage, especially when it's not racially slurring or malintentioned, and when it might actually highlight social phenomena, seems to be dizzying and suffocating.

third, if we're talking about ethnic dynamics, especially within the bahai community, i can say that as a persian, there are many perceptions about me. i try to be pretty fair about them--i understand that generalizations made about my ethinc group are often not baseless and that they sometimes do apply, at least to some persians. i'll acknowledge them and even acknowledge when such things apply to me, as i am sometimes a product of my culture. also, even outside of the bahai community, i've always gotten my fair share of crap for being middle eastern, especially after september 11. i don't get hypersensitive about it if someone assumes i am a certain way, and i don't take it personally, since i think that would be counterproductive--i usually will discuss the issue pretty openly and even joke about it. to me, heightened sensitivy about racial/ethnic issues can often prevent real dialogue.

finally, i think that it's often most conducive to unity if we can take ourselves a little less seriously sometimes. i think we should take into account the intentions of certain actions, and also fairly consider their actual social ramifications. my list wasn't in any way meant to be racist, economically supremacist, or socially co-opting. i don't think it detracts from my consciousness of sociological issues or my respect for all people, regardless of race or class. from what i understand, most people didn't find it offensive... if i have offended anyone, i'm genuinely sorry. i never meant to convey that i, in any way, know or understand what it is to be black in america. i was speaking more to some elements of today's popular culture, especially among youth.

i do think that as blogs are a place of personal expression, sharing this kind of material, in love and with humor, is as appropriate as sharing any other kind of content. and i think loving feedback is also appropriate--so thank you everyone for sharing it. blogs aren't exactly the ideal venue for hashing out deep moral and social problems, but i hope that, if an issue arises, we can talk about things openly and really explore the dynamics involved. because i would really hate to see that kind of well-intentioned expression limited, especially on the internet, where authenticity is becoming increasingly more difficult.

so those are just some thoughts from me... :)

i found myself agitated by this thread for a day and a half and decided the best way to release it was to say something. while it was potentially passive aggressive and detrimental to also address the subject on my own blog… i felt the need to be able to process my feelings and thoughts.

i have no intention of censoring or circumscribing free speech within the Baha'i community or inauthenticating the nature of content on our blogs. i do, however, see the content of this thread as an opportunity to dialogue about what affect words, behavior, jokes and the perpetuation (and trafficking) of stereotype have on our collective societal psyche and how the sense of self-worth and nobility of individuals can be affected or compromised by the same.

perhaps the impact of lists like these is actually a sense of pride... pehaps not.

perhaps there is validity in some of these stereotypes in that some individuals may embody them... but what came first the image that permeates our televisions and radios or the persona in the real world?

perhaps these are positive stereotypes... perhaps not.

i don't have any answers... just questions.

and to be fair... the reason these issues ARE issues for me is that there are assumptions and behaviors that i personally carry with me and constantly feel the responsibility to reflect on and deconstruct...

Dearest KARI!!!

I don't know who you are but you just called everyone who commented on Naseem's blog racist --"those discussions"! Naseem is ghetto becuase she comes from the Ghetto! She knows about the ghetto becuase grew up there -- and she was POOR!! I know becuase I am her sister. This discusion is not about race.

We are just talking about home. Please don't make assumptions about people before you anything about them. Please go take a look at where we grew up. Naseem didn't probably tell you this in the intrest of not hurting your feelings.

Hopeful you read this,
Artemis

P.S.
And most IMPORTANTLY!!!!
Also I wanted to say that I love your questioning spirit. It is a virtue to question especially in our dear Faith. To lovingly, Encouragingly, unprejudically --with our eyes fixed on the convenant and the immenint victory of Baha-- question ourselves First........and others to see what they can teach us..... so as to arive at the truth!

Also Nas --You are incredibly Awsome! Please keep being light that shines with ever exceeding mental and spirtual brightness into the world!

Artemis - you are absolutely right and I stand corrected. i know so little about where you and your sister are from, what you all have seen and experienced. My Sincerest Apologies for making assumptions based on... what?... i guess based on little or no information... other than appearances. see, i told you i carry around issues that i feel the responsibility to reflect on and deconstruct. there's one more! thanks for calling me out. i rely on people being willing to do so.

but, i do also have to say that what i saw as the thread continued was a caricature that so many people who are far removed from the experience (economically, location-wise, etc) get amusement out of. this image gets re-produced and mass marketed so much that it almost makes me think that those paying for it/perpetuating it think that:

a) these behaviors are inferior and that's where the entertainment value comes from

and

b) wouldn't want to see people who are impoverished and/or people of color in any other light...

i'm not saying that applies to anyone commenting here... these are just concerns that surfaced as i read on.

...but, again, My Sincerest Apologies for offending anyone with my questions and comments.

Dear Kari!
I was not offended in anyway. I just wanted to point out something that seemed to be missing. It warms my heart to see how eagerly you apologize though.

Now to everyone:

I have to point out that Baha’u’llah is awesome. In the Kitab-i-Aqdas He shares with us that intention (state of mind) is the most important thing in judging whatever is done in the world. Historically, no other legal system in the world has even a hint of this idea until He reveled it –now all justice systems use this idea as their essential principle.

Now comes the most incredible part…. He then turns around and tells us in the Hidden words that we should not attach intentions to the words and actions of others.

O SON OF BEING!
Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not. This is My command unto thee, do thou observe it.

(Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

I think this signifies the sacred nature of assigning intention in our Faith…only institutions of the Faith according to the Most Holy Book can attempt to ascertain these intentions. And even when they see small mistakes –even they Sacred Institutions -- are asked to overlook them

The culture of encouragement is not just some squishy thing that somebody in Israel thought of one day………. it is the Essential Fabric that weaves together our social actions and our Bahá’í scriptures . Growth and maintenance of attitudes of encouragement—one of which is the understands the sacred nature of looking at intention -- are ESSENTIAL to the Covenant.

So WE see a problem in the world and We don’t know what to do.

We know that the writing say that “LOVE IS THE SECRET!” Find a way to infuse love into the situation through encouragement. Sometimes because we live in this world we forget that the writings tell us the most powerful force in the Universe is LOVE!

This is not to preach ignorance on social issues. On page 3 of compilations of compilations on youth the Beloved Guardian says, Bahá’í youth “should study the evil forces at play” in the world. The Universal House of Justice says in the youth congress letters that we should “Invincible champions of Justice” but they point that we can only this by being channels of the sacred writing and love.

Thanks for letting me share!