I've had to collect several snappy answers to the "Why aren't you married yet?" question, and my grandma was sweet enough (grandmas are like that) to supply me with a great one today.

She's getting hitched!

She's 87, and marrying a guy she's dated for years. They wanted to marry a while back, but his children were very much against it. My grandma's fiance finally had enough of his kids' bellyaching, and overrode their objections. So they plan to get married as soon as the lawyer can complete the pre-nup.

Did I tell you that my grandma is totally awesome? No? Well, she is.

One common tactic to dissuade people from doing something, anything, is to argue that it's frivolous, that there are better things to do, that with all the human suffering out there, why in the world are you leading prayer/listening to music/talking about love, life, etc.?

I won't waste time talking about how idiotic that argument is, but I will ask why I've not seen that tactic used in another fashion. Why is it only used against folk who are working for more personal freedom, or simply enjoying life? Why not turn that "Don't you think you should be focused on the poor?" on the imam who screams for an hour about lipstick, MTV, or Naseeb? I don't hear anyone use those lines against the hateful characters calling for death to America/Israel/Asra Nomani/Irshad Manji/etc. We can't be pansies- I'm sick of progressives being pushed around. So, here's what I want y'all to do:

1. Next time you hear someone spouting hateful nonsense, just say: well, I'm sure that's very important, but we need to focus on poverty/public health/ education/human rights/just about anything else first.

2. As they sputter for a rejoinder, seize the reins of the conversation, and steer it towards your suggested topic, or one related. Bonus points if you can get people to donate to the charity of your choice.

3. Pass on this topic, and repeat when needed.

Good.

Now, I promised a little something on the Fashion Jihad, and I'm not one to break my promises. One of the stated goals of the Fashion Jihad was to make sure that all who participate in beautifying the believers are paid well and treated fairly. Since we're not going to get makers of "Islamic" clothing to go organic and fair trade anytime soon, I looked up a few places that do have organic, fair trade clothing, and weeded out those that lack the modest clothing us Muslims crave. I included some Islamic sites that have natural clothing, maybe we can work on them.

Key:
$ – downright cheap
$$- moderately priced
$$$ – slightly expensive
$$$$ – maybe if you mugged Madonna.

One World is Enough
http://www.one-world-is-enough.net/
Casual, some stuff for work (unless you're an accountant), some dresses for evening
$$

Mehera Shaw
http://www.meherashaw.com/boutique/HOME/cat/collections/fall-winter
Casual, some stuff for work (unless you're an accountant.), evening wear
$$$

Al-Farah
http://www.al-farah.com/
Casual, work (based in US)
$$

Primo Moda
http://www.primomoda.com/
Casual, work, formal
$$$

Artizara
http://artizara.com/webcart11/index.php
Casual, work, formal (based in US)
$$

Crescent Moon Boutique
https://www.crescentmoonboutique.com/default.aspx
Casual, work, formal based in US (they use black models!)
$$

I see asholes in the ummah; they are all around me.

So, on a particular website, there is this shrill and obscenely rude and racist commenter who has a strong streak of anti-semitism and hatred towards "white trash". He assumes I'm the latter, and likes to declare me a munafiq. What to do? The editor there edits out my comments when I call the guy a supporter of terrorism and a terrorist/insurgent sympathizer but won't edit out the ad hominem insults towards me all of which I find more than mildly offensive. WTF?

I should simply disengage, but the testosterone in me (blatant sucking up to male-haters) keeps from going since it looks like I'm surrendering to his juvenille antics. There were other times when people disgreed with me, but they kept it civil so I didn't see the need to keep responding: they have a view, they were respectful about it so let's leave it at that. But, this just grates me, because I know that the moron is just one among many who are out there holding down our communities with thier venemous hatred and simplisticly ethnically chauvenist analyses. Of course, he makes childish assumptions about his "enemies" which is probably what irkes me the most, or is it the fact that as usual, other Muslims let such people get away with it? Justice? We want justice in the Middle East, but we can't even establish justice on a single website, in a single mosque. Good luck, mofos, on that there justice project. Let's see some local results first, then talk to me about fucking justice abroad. Let's see what we can do here first before we start trying to solve other peoples' problems. Doctor, HEAL THYSELF!