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Re: Meet the Arabic Blogosphere: Read The Comment Section

Ghassan Yonis — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 03:39:09 -0000

Hi, my blog is:

http://www.gyonis.com

I'm also an activist and a freethinker, and I usually write on politics, philosophy and sociology. I haven't been blogging a lot lately due to number of reasons, but the blog is being renovated and it should come back strongly in early 2010, you can subscribe for now to stay updated with any new articles:
http://feeds.feedburner.com...

Or on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/gyonis

Sorry if my comment is longer than it should be :)

Re: Dear Jordanian Blogger, Don’t Change—Not yet at least!

Ghassan Yonis — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:50:23 -0000

Agree that we shouldn't change, but the thing is, there is (aside from the court ruling) a new cyber law being drafted.. and it's not that much of a difference from the press and publication law, that's why people SHOULD worry, and mobilize against such actions, here's what I suggested as a practical solution to this issue:
http://www.gyonis.com/2010/...

Re: Dear Jordanian Blogger, Don’t Change—Not yet at least!

Ghassan Yonis — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:29:32 -0000

Eyas, email me and let's see how can we work together.

Re: World Day Against Cyber Censorship – Jordan: Transparency, not Censorship

Ghassan Yonis — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:12:38 -0000

"I feel betrayed each time I hear some of our leaders talking ideals to the west while we live in an autocratic environment." Exactly!

Re: Jordan, In The Year 2040

Ghassan Yonis — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:51:02 -0000

Questions to the new appointed (or is it elected?!) Interior Minister:
1. How's tribalism doing then, still alive and kicking?
2. Ho democratic is Jordan then? no details from me on that question, but would appreciate the details from you since you are there.
3. Can all citizens enjoy the exact same right in 2040 Jordan? Just wondering!

Dear; censorship, prisons, or political parties are merely symptoms. The problem in Jordan is way bigger than those. Maybe by the time Rana is 55 she will realize that. Unless of course you're saying it's a step on the right direction, and we need another 50 years to get to the “right destination”, or maybe 75% of the road this time.

And I see this is beyond Jordan, and even talking about Islam. So, from what I understand, Islamic hypocrisy will only increase? So not that people will stop being Muslims, they'll just become more selective about it?

Re: Jordan, In The Year 2040

Ghassan Yonis — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:25:59 -0000

Allow me to add one thing if I can; there is always the assumption that being young, female, educated in the finest academic institutes in the west, means being on the good side of change. In reality, I've seen more racism among the young and well educated more than I saw 5 years ago. As always, I'm neither pessimistic nor optimistic, I'm just stating the facts on the ground that I've experienced for the last 20 years of trying to make a change here.

So, what's the solution; I think the solution is by being brave enough (not talking about you in specific rather on the general "progressive"/activists masses) to admit that we have problems in the core of our mentality that we need to work on first. Laws can always change, and it can easily be changed back, there can easily be a female Interior Minister tomorrow, I don't think that will solve anything. There's deep racism in Jordan that no one is talking about, there's so many red lines in religion and politics that everybody trying to be politically correct about, and avoid to discuss.

In my opinion and from my experience, that just won't work, it won't make any real change. Not now, not 30 years later.

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 09:48:45 -0000

I think the biggest problem we have here is Islam. People will disagree to avoid being confrontational or not to eliminate the conservative Muslim majority in our socities. But the truth is, Islam is biggest opstical on this matter.

I wrote little something way back about the hypocracy in our society regarding sex:
http://gyonis.com/2009/03/b...

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:06:11 -0000

1. "low self-esteem, regret, stress" Are we talking about the same masturbation? That's because of the religiously conservative culture people have been brought in, because they brought up to feel it's a wrong thing.
2. What is "human-nature"? And who to define it? If it's enjoyable to some and not directly hurting you, why stop it?

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:47:12 -0000

Then I would suggest you know Islam more

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:53:09 -0000

Who decide that I have intimacy problems, you? A total stranger who knows completely nothing about me.

What are we talking about here regarding Islam, homosexuality? If it's masturbation, then here is some links:
http://www.islam-qa.com/ar/...
http://www.islamweb.net/ver...

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:38:10 -0000

I don't think the article was only about sexual education. There for, I wasn't talking about only sexual education, rather than sexual-related freedoms in general.

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 05:22:24 -0000

Islam is a set of rules, not just faith.

I agree with you on the second paragraph, so I'm not sure how you "totally disagree", unless it makes you happier to think so.

And I wasn't only talking about sexual education (as I previously cleared on a previous comment), but on sexual-related freedoms in general.

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:11:25 -0000

Dull? What kind of argument is that!

Actually, that's exactly what those rules are meant to be for in Islam.

I give you the same advice that I give everybody who defend Islam or try to make it prettier than it already is, know Islam more.

"I was not talking about sexual education only"
I was talking about paragraphs 3/4/5 of your first comment, you ere talking exclusively about sexual education.

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:28:14 -0000

"with all do respect .... if masturbation gives YOU those feelings you have some intimacy problems dude !!!"

I'm chilling, "dude". but seems you have either a problem writing or remembering what you wrote earlier.

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:31:22 -0000

Again, the article was talking more than just sexual education. It mentioned many things like homosexuality, masturbation, and sex outside marriage. That, what I was referring to when I stated my comment about Islam. Hope it's clearer this time

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:36:20 -0000

My whole point is: Islam is the problem because it does not allow sexual freedom. Not only for it's followers who choses to, but for everybody. That's what the problem is. I have no problem with people believing in what ever they want, nor conservative people and their values, as longest they don't try to force their values on the rest of the community. Which is exactly what Islam is doing the whole time.

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:47:14 -0000

1. The article mentioned Islam more than once, hence my first comment.
2. I know the points you just mentioned (the three no no's)
3. Masturbation was mentioned in the 'Hadith', which is the second source of legislation in Islam.
4. I'm not asking for Islam to change neither do I care. I'm asking it to stop trying to force it's values on the rest of the community.

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:01:34 -0000

1. I disagree with some of the points on your comment, but I actually love it :D
2. About STD's and teen pregnancy; there is dangers to almost everything in life, but here comes the awareness and "eduction" part. It's like telling people to cross the streets from the pedestrian bridge, but some will still choose to ignore that. Stop traffic?

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 22:06:52 -0000

In this case, I apologies. I'm kind of used to the @person rather than this threaded style commenting.

But my comment remain the same, avoid personalizing, you don't know the person. People feel about things differently. Some enjoy one night stand over and over, some prefer relationships. Doesn't mean that the first is a jerk with intimacy issues and the second is more mature. Hope I made my point, and sorry for the confusion with the commenting thing. :)

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 15:23:04 -0000

You don't have to say "I respect your thought but ...", I hate that. Be practical and objective and it's fine (by me at least).

1. If religion is not an obstacle, then why did you say "Islam has banned certain practices, for Muslims and non-Muslims alike"?

2. Regarding masturbation (that became a bigger topic than homosexuality in this discussion for some reason): Sure, what links from what sources from what year? Here's some links that proves my point:
http://www.foxnews.com/stor...
http://www.betterhealth.vic...
http://www.menshealth.com/m...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/...
http://menshealth.about.com...
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u...

3. Islam and sexual education:
3.1. I wasn't talking exclusively about sex-ed, but about sexual behavior and expression in general.
3.2. There are yet some sex-ed related issues that cannot be discussed in Islam, or at least, discussed from Islam point of view, not from scientific point of view (like the previous topics of masturbation and homosexuality for example).

4. I agree that masturbation is not allowed ('haram') in Islam, and provided links to prove it.

5. "the real question is not to go-into if this is imposing or not" This is actually a question that concern a lot, because not everybody is Muslim or practicing Muslim in this society. So the idea of imposing Islamic values on other who don't believe in them or just simply don't want to obey by them is a matter of concern for many.

6. "it goes against the principle upon which Allah ,our creator" Again, not everybody believe or care for what the 'Allah' of Islam say. That's why to should be a matter of choice for only who believe or want to follow what 'Allah' said.

7. "enjoying it is not a good-enough-reason to execute it G. Younis" I think it is. If you're not directly hurting anybody else; we do most things in life out of enjoyment, including spiritual enjoyment.

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:18:34 -0000

Hazem habebe, You didn't make one logical argument. Instead, you started making personal assumptions with no evidence. If you bothered to read my comments on this blog post, you would have seen that I attached proves for everything I said. ya hala

Instead of giving me advices, make a logical argument, and if you want to say something about my logic, bring evidence. Talk is cheap, mr. ftf

Re: Let's Talk About Sex

Ghassan Yonis — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 10:47:43 -0000

1. I've mentioned many points replying to your argument, but you failed to answer most of them (including masturbation and health, and Islam and sex-ed/sexual behaviors). At least, state that you were wrong.

2. Regarding your last comment, didn't get the point that you are trying to make. It's either:
A) Islam forces its values on others.
B) Islam does not forces its values on others, but just give a friendly advice for those who want to take it.
And from there, we can continue the discussion.

Re: Facebook Faux Pas

Ghassan Yonis — Sun, 09 May 2010 11:21:27 -0000

Some things may apply now to Twitter more than Facebook; either ways, it's a tool, it's what you make of it.

Nevertheless, it does get annoying sometimes with all the meaninglesss bullshit some people post and tags you get in videos and photos got nothing to do with you (at least, that happens with me all the time). Which is why I'm starting new Facebook account with new setting from the start. I kept deactivitating my account every now and then, but I kept getting back. I use it for networking (not only in Jordan, but with activists from all around the world), and to stay updated on events going on otherwise I wouldn't know about.

As for groups and other social media tools, you can't deny it helped activism a lot. I did campaigns and initiatives before the social media era and after, social media (which is the group facebok belong to) helped a lot and made a lot of things possible.

Re: طريق إلى التطرف؟

Ghassan Yonis — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:25:20 -0000

لا أعتقد أن المشكلة هنا هي التطرف، بل الجهل. هناك كثير من "المتطرفين" لديهم علم كافي بالموضوع الذي يدعون من أجله، و كثير من "المعتدلين" لا يعرفون شيئاً عن المواضيع التي يتكلمو عنها.

رفض طرح الأسئلة المنطقية ناتج بالدرجة الأولى عن الجهل الذي ورثناه الأجيال الجديدة بخصوص الكثير من القضايا الدينية و السياسية. فمثلاً، بموضوع فلسطين، أكبر حجة لدى الناس لدعمها هي الحجة الدينية بين الإسلام و اليهود، أو الحجة القومية. لكن عندما يجادل صهيوني أخر عربي أو فلسطيني مؤيد لحق فلسطين بمملكة إسرائيل، أو أنه لم يكن هناك دولة فلسطينية من قبل، أو أن أسم فلسطين نفسه هو لقوم أنو من جزيرة كريت و أستقرو في غزة القديمة، لا يعرف الفلسطيني ماذا يجاوب.. لأن كل المعلومات التي علموه أنه يحتاجها هي من الدين أو القومية. و إن لم تكن تلك المعلومات صحيحة، فإن لا شيء صحيح.

Re: Jordanian Smiles, Courtesy of Elections '10 | ابتسامات أردنية، مع تحيات انتخابات ٢٠١٠

Ghassan Yonis — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 10:31:22 -0000

LOOL :D