Well as ususal when I  had a free moment I went looking for something nice to look at and found this.  Now at first glance it really does look like something from Iran, a woman buried alive in a pre-stoning preparation.  However, that’s not what it is at all.  They are trying to free her from dirt that is holding her fast…. At any rate after seeing this picture I thought to myself, as a muslimah why is it i am always confronted with images of muslim women, (1) grimacing (2) crying (3) screaming (4) Looking haughty with eyes barely above a veil?  These are the four images that media allows to depict, describe and define muslimas.  I guess because we’ve denied them "sexually" explicit pictures and tawdry bathing suit snaps, they have to dig through their archives and find a woman in a Burkha for the representative photo for all Muslimahs.  To show of course how oppressed we all are, how down trodden and needing of freedom we all are.  In other words, Help us!   Then we are confronted of course with the other pics, the psudeo fashion shots.  Slim trim young (under 20) muslim girls with the newest and most stylish cover to model.  Tight fitting skirts and sweaters that, yes cover every inch, but also "cling" most suggestively to every curve.  To set them apart from those unfortunate ones who might have a bulge or two under her abaya but still be a wonderful woman.  Why can’t we have fashion? Well, if you look through history books, muslim women has always been at the height of fashion, the colors, the blends, the jewelry, the way a turban was wrapped, or the henna done, the kohl just so.  Maybe even a tatto or an armful of bangles that make music when she walks across the road to pick up those fresh eggs.   Our ancester women might not have had a loud voice to leave us reams of information on their lives, but we can  guess that no matter where they were they found their voices to sing, dance, and embellish themselves in wonderous ways.   For me, I wish the media would get over its Alladin like fantasies of bound up muslimahs or even the Jasmine with the Hammer pants, and let the real women step up.   I don’t want to see another face covered in soot, or blood, or another mouth agape crying over a matyred husband or son.   I don’t want to see another haughty face on a shopping spree in Qatr spending money us regulars can’t even image on a good day.  How about an average everyday muslim woman who smiles, laughs, cries, raises her brood of children with the help of her husband and even can go to school an be well educated and happy.