Crowning Moments-Sonia Audhali

Welcome to the first addition to the "Queens of Islam-Crowning Moments" collection.  The reason I have titled this blog "Queens of Islam" is because I feel that all believing women who follow Islam and apply it's guidance to their daily lives are true "Queens". "Queens" are royalty, guarded and valuable, just like our Muslimahs.  Whenever another Muslimah makes the decision to apply Islam in all aspects of her life, she is crowned a "Queen of Islam" and joins the ranks of pious, strong, and successful women.  


I would like to highlight different stories in this collection that share the beauty of truly living with God as the center of your world, and still enjoying life as God intended.  These are stories to inspire and motivate the "Queen" in all of us!

British Fashion Photographer Sonia Audhali talks fashion, life, and her growing relationship with Allah.
Nicole Queen
November 17, 2010

"Don't ever be afraid to do anything that you strongly believe in!"-Sonia Audhali

So tell us about yourself!  Where is our first newly crowned "Queen of Islam" from?
I am Sonia Audhali, 21 years old, born and brought up in Warwickshire, UK. My father owns a halal abattoir, so I grew up on the farm and would never want to change that for the world, as life was just a big adventure growing up. I still dread to think that one day I may have to end up living in a city. I love the fact that out here we learnt to drive on our land before having lessons on the road! We grew up playing in the fields, hide and seek behind hay bails and playing on quad bikes. We had all kinds of animals on the farm, lambs, cattle, goats, chickens, rabbits, horses, etc! My hobbies as a child grew to be horse riding, trampolining, badminton and fishing. It's lovely growing up in the beautiful British countryside, even if it is miserable weather in the winter!

My parents are Yemeni but my mother is half Omani as well. I head over to the countries as often as possible as i hold strong family values and I also find the culture fascinating. I love traveling and photographing culture that is different to what I'm used to seeing everyday.


I know your a professional photographer, how does a farmer's daughter go into such an artistic field of work?

I realized I wanted to be a photographer when I was 16 and worked in a studio. I helped out on wedding shoots and in the lab, developing film. As I was growing up, I was always the one with the camera! My parents would get really angry with the amount of film they would have to get developed, especially after holidays, and not one family member would be in the images! It would almost always be landscape photography!



I aspired to be a wedding photographer, but soon found that my passion swayed towards fashion photography. Within the fashion industry, I made a lot of connections through social networking sites and worked along side a modeling agency. I worked with some amazing people within the 4 years and I thank everyone who has been a part of it.  I now intend to expand into documentary photography, taking my developed skills to provide a scenic stage to what is happening around the world. 

I found that the fashion industry made me care about looks more than anything else. I'd walk down the street judging people on their looks and whether or not they would work well on a shoot! Don't get me wrong, being a fashion photographer is an amazing career to pursue. You get the opportunity to create photographic pieces based on complete fantasy scenarios, ending up with images revolved around your imagination! However, I felt the industry can be too ruthless for my personal preference. 

You have really grown closer to God, Islamically. Can you tell us about your relationship with God, as a Muslim, and how you decided to publically display your love for God by wearing Hijab?

I was brought up as a Muslim, although I wouldn't say I practiced the religion as much as I should have. I was pretty westernized with my thoughts and was extremely lazy when it came to religion. I was never forced to wear a headscarf and if the conversation was ever brought up my parents would just say, "Wear it when you feel you are ready."

Just before Ramadhan this year I started feeling I needed to be closer to Islam. I started praying Salat Al Istikhara for something that would have been a huge mistake if I had gone through with it. The way things panned out was amazing, SubhanAllah, as I was doing it for about a month. It made me realise that God is watching us and no matter what, He will guide us if we ask Him for help. I felt the magnitude of the saying, "one step taken in the sake of God will give you two steps in return from God."

Sonia crowned in hijab!

I am a strong believer that everything in this life happens for a reason, good or bad! I also love the fact that no matter what we do in life, God is merciful and will forgive us, inshAllah. Around this time was when my cousin Mustafa showed me some links on Youtube about Nicole Queen. I found her story really inspirational. This was also the time I felt I needed to get out of the fashion industry and start helping people with my talent. As a couple of months before that I started feeling really unmotivated when it came to my photographic work. I needed a different type of satisfaction and to figure out what this life is actually about!



A girl I grew up with, decided to wear the hijab and I was so proud of her for not caring about what people thought by just doing it. She has known me since I was born and we grew up like sisters. Also, two sisters, who are my best friends started wearing a headscarf before that. I wanted to, but never thought I would have had the guts. I live in an extremely English area, no ethnic minorities really. When my friend wore it, I felt if I don't do it now, I will never do it and at least we can support each other.

Sonia & her Mother

 They all gave me so much confidence and were extremely supportive! Before hand, I was worried that I could give a bad example of Islam if I wore one as I'd have to watch everything I do and be careful with what I say when speaking about Islam. But in reality wearing a headscarf makes you more peaceful as I do have to watch what I do, but in a good way, as I want people to see Islam for the peaceful religion that it is! No one is perfect and in Islam we believe no one can judge except Allah, right? But obviously we have to try our best to spread true Islam. The media make us out to be women with no say, men ruling our worlds, and that all Muslims are extremists. We need to be the true examples, showing the real meaning of Islam. We all know the actual meaning of Islam is Peace! If I am totally honest, I mostly feared my siblings and what they would say. Wearing a headscarf, the public won't really say anything, but family will say exactly what they think. Some hiccups did occur, but once they passed I felt much happier as I was doing what I believed was right.

When I put the headscarf on, I automatically felt protected. Anyone who approaches me actually wants to get to know me for me, my mind, not for how I look! Anyone who judges you for it clearly is ignorant and not worth knowing! I actually get a whole different level of respect wearing a headscarf. People who know me, know that I could never be forced to wear it, so clearly it is something I strongly believe in and I am not oppressed like some people think Muslim women are! I have had really thankful support from my Muslim friends, along with non-Muslim friends. I love the fact that when wearing a headscarf people say they see nour (light) in my face. And even non-Muslim friends have said the new me clearly has meaning to life and that I seem like a much better person. Obviously, no one is perfect and I have so much I still need to improve on. Alhamdulillah I am so happy wearing it and haven't really experienced any trouble. Obviously, with the media and, for example, the 'Muslims Burning the Poppy' stories, people ask or say hurtful things against the whole Islamic religion. But with the people who I actually know, when they say things, I explain to them what Islam is really about and on a few occasions they have actually turned and started sticking up for the true Muslims out there!

Sonia & Family

One of my closest friends altered her religion about a month ago. She has been there constantly supporting me through all the changes I have made. She was actually one of the people I never thought would ever change her religion. She is a very strong minded woman and surprised us all with her change. MashAllah, it shows that if you educate yourself with Islam, in the way it is supposed to be studied, then you will believe, even if there are certain parts of Islam that hold you back, usually if you read about it, those points aren't usually Islam but tend to be culture! I truly thank her for all her support and I am so proud of her for doing what she believes in, no one told her anything, she educated herself! Knowledge truly is power and following what you believe in is even more powerful! 

Sonia & Friends\Family

My cousins daughter is only 15 and she is a huge inspiration to young girls. (She is in one of the images, wearing blue/purple/leopard print scarves, in between me and another girl who recently started wearing a headscarf.) She has worn a hijab, by her own choice, since the age of 11 or 12 and hasn't let it stop anything she wants to do in life. She is a youth politician, head girl of her school and loves sports such as basketball. She is also part of Muslim Scouts so travels to all sorts of countries. I am very proud of her! She, her Mother, and Uncle, have supported me so much and I am truly grateful to have a loving family motivating me so much into doing what I believe is right.

The only frustrating thing about putting on a headscarf is that I had a lot of images online from interviews and behind the scenes videos of shoots, which i had to discard. Such as the animal shoot and shoots that I had done with a modeling agency. I felt that changing from fashion would be a good move Islamically, as everyone knows within that kind of industry, sex sells. This seemed like the right change as coincidentally I was becoming less motivated towards the work anyway. Changing to documentary actually became exciting as I want to help people and teach people what is happening in this world. I basically changed fantasy to reality.

What do you hope to contribute to Muslim women, by being a professional photographer?

I would like to show that Muslim women can be strong and influential, especially with their talents and personal beliefs. I want to show people who aren't Muslim that we are not oppressed and actually can follow our hearts, doing whatever career we choose to follow, and no one can stop us!

Being a Muslim woman gives me an automatic advantage amongst other photographers, as I understand that women should not be photographed if the imagery can be seen by the wrong people. I can definitely make sure that these women can enjoy themselves in front of a camera without headscarfs on, making them feel like a model, and assure them that the images will not be seen by anyone except myself and give them total control of their portraits!

I don't see myself helping just Muslim women, but inshAllah all people. I have done a little bit of volunteer work, helping organize images for Islamic Relief Worldwide, in Birmingham. This has made me more passionate about wanting to work alongside smaller charities, who will actually need help with publicity, needing creative imagery in order to get noticed. Whilst doing this I hope to inspire Muslim women to achieve their goals, just like I am aiming to achieve mine!

What advice can you give other Muslimahs who are afraid to commit to Hijab, because of their careers or other "worldly" concerns?

The decisions you may feel will effect your life drastically will almost certainly unravel themselves to be the simple steps towards spiritual wellbeing. You may get some hurtful comments thrown in your direction, but it is rare and you just have to take it as some people are truly ignorant, especially if they don't even want to understand what you strongly believe in. They are really not worth knowing. If it is someone close to you who throws the comment, sit them down and talk to them about why it is you believe in what you believe. With Islam we have the beauty of Quran and Hadith to back up everything we come across in life, so it actually makes life easier when discussing anything at all! Islam is a way of life which, if followed properly, makes us better people due to the respect we give others. It's a heartwarming feeling that no matter what, we always have direction in life! 

In Western society, we are given freedom to dress how we want. We as Muslims have a right to dress fashionably and in a way that will get us noticed as trendy Muslims, not oppressed women who never leave the house! If visiting Yemen I wear an abaya, but when in England, as I was a fashion photographer for 4 years, I do love fashion and love to wear hijabs to suit! What does intrigue me is the fact that women who do wear an ebaya or even a niqab actually care more about fashion and their looks underneath the black, than women in the West!

Sonia Style!

We have a right to dress how we want and how we feel comfortable. At the end of the day, if in your job, people are targeting you for wearing a hijab, you have a right to speak up for what you believe in, just bare that in mind! You can most definitely stand your ground. I have a friend who got treated differently in her place of work and she just covered up with hats and scarves, rather than a headscarf - that is an alternative. I also know a girl who was told to take off her headscarf by a teacher at school, she was humiliated in front of her class mates! I couldn't believe it! I am so proud of her for having the guts to wear one into school at the age of 13, but it was totally out of line for the teacher to humiliate her! The teacher was then asked to apologise and the headmaster actually told her she looked nice in a headscarf! She was then told to just wear headscarves that match the uniform, and asked to wear tight fitted ones for sport and practical science lessons, which is understandable! So there is always a way around everything, especially in this day and age. 

"Don't ever be afraid to do anything that you strongly believe in!"-Sonia Audhali

Congratulations Sonia!  

Your Crowned a "Queen of Islam"

Check out more of Sonia's work below!

You can follow more of Sonia's work at these links:

Skinhead slideshow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OGhzJcarig

Website: www.soniasphotography.com 

Blog: www.soniasphotography.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/soniasphotography

Twitter: @soniasphoto

Disney Unveils Hijab!

Throughout this month, my goal is to promote Positive Public Relations pertaining to Muslims!  I am hoping to publish quite a few great articles shining some warm light on Muslims and their lives here in the US. As always I am and I am sure that you are very grateful for the beautiful life we live as an American Muslim and the strong independent voice you are inspired to share!  Here is a great story I read today, where a young hijabi intern exercises her American right to perform her job, while still maintain her status as a crowned Queen of Islam...

Disney Unveils Hijab-
Included Costume for a Muslim Intern
By Lindsay William-Ross in News on September 28, 2010 8:30 AM 1 Comment 0 Likes 1575 Views


Costume designed for a Muslim intern (AP Photo/Disney) 
Disney intern Noor Abdallah, 22, has a new specially-designed costumed that incorporates the head-covering she wears as a part of her Muslim faith, according to the AP.
Abdallah had been working as a vacation planner for the Disneyland resort, but took a job in the stockroom when her head scarf, or hijab, became an issue. "Vacation planners are costumed employees, whose outfits include an optional baseball-style cap," explains the LA Times.


A group intervened on behalf of the intern when they learned of her job re-assignment. Disney agreed to design a special costume for Abdallah, but said it would take five months--the same amount of time as her internship was expected to last.  Now Disney has restored Abdallah to her "front-stage job" and has provided her with a costume that includes a beret and a scarf. However, Abdallah "will not have the option to take off her hat while wearing the scarf-type covering," says Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Suzi Brown.


Abdallah is the second Muslim woman to make headlines in recent months for her struggles with Disneyland and her wish to wear her religious head-covering while on the job. Imane Boudlal, a hostess at a restaurant at a Downtown Disney venue, was removed from the work schedule after continuing to show up to work wearing her hijab, which is not permitted as part of her position's mandatory costume.
Boudlal wore her hijab to work despite being told it was not acceptable, and after refusing to accept a reassignment to a position with less public interaction. The Council on American-Islamic Relations say Boudlal's case with Disney remains ongoing.


Nicole Queen- On a side note, after further research into Boudlals case with Disney. She did not wear Hijab when she was hired. Then after working there for a while, decided to start wearing it, which is great...but was not discussed with her employers, she just showed up one day with it on.  I have worked as a non-Muslim, then a Muslim, then as a Muslim wearing Hijab...it is important to have as much respect for your employer as you demand they have for you. If your employed in a public position, like the service industry, it is a must that you have a respectful conversation with your employer about your decision and talk about what options you have for making it work.
  After they offered Boudlal a less public position so she could keep her Hijab, Boudlal refused. Then Disney had a designer create a cute look for her, that would still coordinate with her costume, and allow her to maintain her Hijab. 



















She again refused, unlike Noor in the story above, and complained that the hat looked "silly".  I personally no longer see this as a case of Disney not honoring her right to wear hijab, but now as a case of a girl who is hoping to win a law suit.  


Thank you Disney for trying to accommodate our girls...and the 200 other faiths that Disney has made exceptions and costume alterations to accomodate.

A Mothers Tears of Joy

Please enjoy this article, shared from www.hijabitopia.com!

Elif writes below about the joy she feels as she learns that over the summer her beautiful daughter Jannah has decided to make one of the biggest and most beneficial decisions of a young girls life. Elif is one of 3 sisters, raised by her amazing parents to love allah above all else. Her mother, a teacher and hafiz of quran and her father, the imam of Richardson masjid, raised all of their daughters to be strong, pious, intelligent leaders of women in islam. elif in turn is passing that torch, spending her nights helping her daughter memorize quran, teaching her daughters about the beauty of islam and most importantly the strong chaste role of women in islam. Jannah practices memorizing quran while most other girls her age are watching tv after school and now at her mothers surprise and amazement read below as jannah makes another grand leap towards allah on her own free will. there is nothing more important and rewarding than raising your daughter the proper way, always having time for them, and putting education of allah and society before things like television, toys, and whatever else most parents throw their children in front of, just to QUIET them. always remember, children are given to parents with a blank slate, clean and pure, and what they become is completely molded by their parents. If you want your children to follow islam, have strong independence, and make the right choices as muslims...you must raise them within this type of atmosphere now...not later after they have developed their own bad habits, or yours. Raise them close to Islam now, for their own sake and for yours. congratulations elif, on being a successful hijab wearing woman, with amazing pious daughters who dream to follow in their mothers footsteps straight to allah.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2010

Tears of Joy

Tonight I'm awake. 



I'm awake in New York, the city that never sleeps.

It's unlike me to stay up so late, but I'm overflowing with emotions. It seems impossible to put my head down on the pillow and fall asleep. I have no control over the tears that fill my eyes. I have no control over the excitement, the joy and the worry all at once.


In New York, schools start tomorrow. I feel like the young child that I once was, staying up with excitement the night before school starts. Worrying about new friends, new teachers and a new year of homework, tests and projects.


Yet, I'm not that child. I'm a mother whose daughter will start school tomorrow. Going on to 4th grade. 


I'm up because I feel like tomorrow will be the beginning of a new life for my daughter. I'm up because I don't know what tomorrow and the days to come will bring for her. 


My 9 year old daughter, Janna has decided to start wearing Hijab!!! She decided to start wearing it on the first day of school!


Why am I so shocked? I'm shocked because as a mother I can't remember how and when she grew up. I remember her as a baby, I remember her as a toddler, but as a young girl so determined to start wearing hijab? I thought that day was far away.


Interestingly, I'm also shocked about her decision to start wearing the Hijab so young, so soon! 


This summer in Dallas, she asked me so many questions about the hijab, read books and articles. She heard me speak with my new convert friends about Hijab. I discussed with her when a young girl becomes responsible for her actions in Islam, and when it would be required for her to start wearing hijab. But I still didn't think she would start so soon.


I've asked her over and over again. Had long mother and daughter talks. Long discussions, with lots of questions to see if this was just a phase. But every time I got the same smart answers. 


She said " I want to start wearing it at the beginning of the school year mom!" in a tone that merely translated into "Duh! Don't you get it mom? If I become responsible in the middle of the school year, that would be way more difficult!"


Well, I got it alright. But it just didn't register. During all of the discussions I had with my friends, about beginning to wear hijab, Janna would eavesdrop into our conversations, while she seemed to be playing. Afterwards in a casual tone, she would ask me questions about wearing the hijab.

When she first told me she wanted to start wearing it, casually sitting at the breakfast table, I sat there not knowing what to say. Just sat and listened. "Aren't you happy for me Mom?" she asked. 

"Well, of course dear, but do you realize that this isn't like getting a new pair of glasses that you are excited about every single day till it wears off? Do you comprehend what you are committing to? This is a serious decision you know! I just want to make sure this is not a childish phase you are going through."


She would roll her eyes at me, like I was the one being childish. 


But of course, she was right!


Think about it. When is it too early to follow Allah's orders? Is piety for the elderly? Isn't it more precious and more rewarding when we are young? 


You might think, she's just a kid, what does she know? To that I say that she is a courageous kid, who loves Allah and wants to please Him, and only Him. She is a mature girl who knows that she will soon need to take this step and is taking control and making her own choice with the timing.


I'm awake with tears, because I'm so proud of her. I look at her and think, WOW, when did you become so mature and smart. I want her to enjoy this journey. I want her to know that each and every struggle will make her a stronger Muslim. Being the only hijabi, the only Muslim girl, in a school of 500, standing up for what she believes, in order to only and only please her Lord, is what makes her special!

May Allah keep all our children on the right path, and let them become good, strong Muslims.

With lots of tears of joy, I'd like to welcome my own daughter Janna to HijabiTopia!!!

Elif Kavakci for HijabiTopia

Elif Kavakci and her daughter Jannah

Courtesy of QueensImage Photography
http://www.queensimage.com/

To Wear…or Not to Wear?…That is the Question.

 
The following is an article from my dear friend Elif Kavakci.  I thought this was a great article to share during the blessed month of Ramadan.  You can check out more of Elif’s articles on her blog:
click to see:
 
 

 
I wanted to share with you a few thoughts...  First of all, we formed this blog so that it could provide a support system and a fun environment for hijabis and those who choose to dress modestly. 

Over the years, through my writing, I have been able to reach millions of readers.  Before I started writing for HijabiTopia, I was a fashion writer for ZAMAN - the Turkish daily news, and then transfered over to Kadinhaberleri.com, where now I have a weekly column.

Also being an Islamic Fashion designer, I've had many ladies contact me about changing the way they dress, and leading a more Islamic life style.

Writing has allowed me to get to know so many new faces, and beautiful ladies, some who wear hijab, some who are in search of how to wear hijab, and others who know exactly what to do but can't take the first steps.

It has been fun to share experiences and support each other through spiritual changes in our lives.
I will now share with you some of my thoughts on hijab. For those of you who may not personally know me, I am not an extremist Muslim, and could never be one. I like to follow the sunnah of our Prophet (peace be upon him) about having balance in my religion. So therefore when I tell you my thoughts on this topic, I don't want you to think that I am some fundamentalist. I'm just sharing my thoughts on the way I feel.
I feel very passionate about hijab.  Alot of Muslims will state that it is an option to wear hijab. I am not one of those Muslims. I believe it is Fard (obligatory), because it is clearly written in the Qur'an that believing women must dress Islamically.

When people say it is a choice, it makes my blood boil. There is no question! To wear or not to wear hijab is not an option. If you love Allah and want to please him, you wear it. If you don't wear it, that is a decision you make as a Muslim, not a choice.

Now having said that, you are probably thinking "she hates all non hijabis, she sounds so extreme". Absolutelly not. I have many friends, those who wear hijab and those who don't.  Those who are Muslim, and those who are not.  I love them all equally. Whether they wear hijab or not does not affect my friendship with them.  But my closest friends are always the ones whose lifestyles, goals, and dreams are closer to mine.  I am encircled by those friends.


I'm not going to tell you that wearing hijab is easy! Untill it becomes a complete part of you, it's difficult to carry. Yes, we get hot! Yes, it gets itchy. Yes we would love to just tie our hair in a pony tail, throw on a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and flip flops and walk out the door. But do we, NO! And why don't we? To please Allah!
This Ramadan, I would like for you to think about that. If you haven't started wearing hijab, just imagine yourself in hijab. Imagine how happy it would make you feel to submit to an obligatory rule from the Qur'an.
Ramadan uplifts our spirits. It's the same kind of feeling when you wear hijab, except it's on a daily basis. Imagine what you would feel like in the beauty of hijab. When you close your eyes, try to get beyond your image, and how other people might react to it,  try to think of Allah, and try to think of all of us who are right there with you. Just like when you fast. You do the act  yourself, but millions of Muslims are doing it as well.
I could go on and on about this topic. We will have many discussions, and I would love to hear your comments, and your stories, whether you wear hijab or not. We love to have you as readers. Anybody and everybody is welcome.


Elif Kavakci for HijabiTopia

America the Beautiful

  Here in America, we are very privileged to live with so much freedom, wealth, and endless resources.  We are a nation that moves faster, works harder, and demands perfection right now.  These are the things we instill in our people. Be faster, smarter, better...right now. So we raise our children for this grande society. They are prepped for our demanding lifestyle...but no matter how much prepping you do, it will never be enough.

Women in today's society are not pretty enough, not smart enough, not talented enough.  We are not thin enough, not natural enough, and not plastic enough. 












 Everything about us needs to be replaced, smoothed over, tucked under.  You need to study more, love less, and sacrifice your soul to our society or you will never be "good" enough.  Sad...

What is "beautiful" any more?  Beauty has a new meaning now. You can purchase it, sell it, and recreate it.  Beauty is meaningless, worthless and yet everything.  What is the first thing we look at in a person?  We look for beauty, whether it be in their appearance or if you don't see them, then do they have a beautiful voice?  It's ok if you are not very beautiful on the outside, but if you have a beautiful voice, well that will make up for it. If you have a combination of both...well then you are a celebrity...Beauty will give you everything you want in this world, but will take it all away from you.  It's the ultimate indulgence for our society, this is what "beauty" has become.

I used to also be a slave to beauty...as most girls my age are.  Hell, it starts younger and younger as generations develop.  What will we become soon?  The far reaches we will go to obtain perfection grow further and further, until soon we will disappear as humans all together.  We will discard clothing all together, because if we analyze how much we have removed in the past 100 years, then it's a very short time before clothing is all together, "out".   

Lets take a look at how much beauty has changed over the years...and how much our self-dignity and respect as become as small as the clothing we wear today.   

  There was once a time, when women didn't leave their homes without covering their bodies and their beauty, such as their long hair, was never displayed for strangers to gawk at. They were truly respectful to themselves, and at this time in society, they had very little to be respected about, besides their virtuosity...They hoped to one day earn their place and their rights as equal to men, if they could only see what we have done with those rights...

A decade later, we see a beautiful Bride.  Brides used to show very little on their wedding day, saving their beauty for their soon to be husbands eyes...Well now we cover very little.

  

Style continued to evolve in the 50's, 60's 70's...I say evolve, but it was more like evaporate...

Skirts get shorter...

as we become more free, we become more of a slave to our new role as Women...

Show me everything you have and then I will decide if I love you...
This is the natural "rule" of things now, if your looking for love.  First you have to "hook em" and then you reel them in...what do we use as bait?  Oh just our flesh...nothing important.  Since when, do we consider our bodies and our self-respect unimportant?  When did we become just pieces of meat and why hasn't anyone noticed?  Are we so used to this way of life that it's just normal now?  Since I became a Muslim, and living my life in dignity, it feels like I woke up from this nightmare where women on a daily basis just walk around half-naked, clueless, and snarling as they lash out to lunge at the next mindless Man who looks like he has a couple of bucks.  

WOW...it has become normal now...so normal that the type of clothing that used to be worn by "loose women" is now the normal attire a Mother wears out to do some shopping...WOW...that little girl looks pretty mortified...




This new found "self-expression" is happily passed on to our daughters at a very early age.  Little girls learn to judge each other based on appearance very quickly and sadly they are very talented at bringing on this kind of pain.  Forget about Barbie dolls...now at age 5, daughters across the US are more interested in the latest "teen sensation".  When I was 5, I didn't even know what a teen was.  




Innocence is something society urges out of their children all too quickly.  Hurry and grow up, be independent so that I don't have to pay as much attention to you, and I can pay more attention to myself. 




Children are thrown into dance classes to teach them to move their bodies in "desirable" ways, ...but awwwe, it's so cute...They are shoved in front of our satellite TV's, so they can watch "Toddlers & Tiara's" and beg their own Mommies to ruin them like those little girls Mommies do. "Gee officer, I don't understand why a pedophile would go after my daughter?"  

Go play "play station", instead of go play outside. Go play on the internet, instead of play with "real" friends.  Why is there a huge spike in Autism? Hmmm...I don't know?  For your 6th birthday lets have a party where you dress up like a street-walker and ride around in a pink limousine so you can pretend your shallow and famous, while scantily clad...like your favorite pop star.


Happy Birthday Mommies little "Lolita"...


So what do we do about this?  All I can say is look around you, look in front of you, look behind you. What do you see? Are you a part of what is described above? Are you a contributor to this type of existence?  If you are, it's OK. You can stop anytime...just find something better to live for. Like maybe God? 


 Developing a better relationship with God leads to looking at life through a different pair of eyes.  Learn how to feel shame in displaying yourself, like your something for sell.  Remember what it used to be like when a Man stepped out of a Woman's path, tipped his hat to her and greeted her formally?  Of course you don't remember, it's been too long! Now the greeting you will get today is based on who you present yourself. Either you will get "Damn Girl!", or "Whats up sexy?"...or if your lucky he will just eye-ball you up and down as you walk by and not voice  his thoughts out loud.  Why can't we have a modern society where Men treat you the respectful way again? The reason you do not have this anymore is because of how many Women have "given it up".  Women who don't have God in their lives, seem to only live for the "worldly things". They don't have much value for themselves and treat others accordingly.  We have to get back our sense of CLASS.  Value yourselves, know that you are worth more!  You don't need someone to tell you this, or to make you feel this...God thinks your worth more. This is why God told Women to have shame for their bodies. Guard themselves, keep themselves pure and chaste until they marry.  
God thinks your worth it, not Loreal.  God commanded Men to lower their lustful gazes...He knows how they look at His beautiful Women.  If that Man doesn't think your beautiful, guess what! God does! He thinks your so beautiful that it's dangerous. He warned us all, that beauty is dangerous to society and wow, it looks like He was right again! Women...you can do this! You can realize your true nature is that of epic royalty and that of a diamond buried in the rock.  Work on it! Make that rock harder to break, in order to get to the diamond inside.  Do it for the Women before our time, who sacrificed so much for the rights we toss out the window today.  Do it for your Grandmother who never thought you had enough clothing on. Not to mention, do it for your daughters, give them the most beautiful gift of all, VALUE.  





Sure it doesn't happen immediately, but one day you can "wake up" too. I did...