p's perspective

18/08/2010

The story concerning German pop singer Nadja Benaissa from No Angels (Germany's Girls Aloud) has caught my eye. She is in court for admitting to have unprotected sex with several men - infecting one of them - without telling them she was HIV positive. The story is open for debate.

Personally, if I was one of those men I have no idea what I'd do. I cannot understand why someone would do that to another person. It's a moral and human issue. I can understand it would be difficult living with HIV, but having unprotected sex without telling someone is irresponsible and inconsiderate for someone's life and well-being.

Last week supermodel Naomi Campbell stole the headlines for her appearance at the Hague for the trial of Charles Taylor. It also saw actress Mia Farrow, and Campbell's ex-manager Carole White give evidence. Taylor is facing war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict in Sierra Leone.

But somehow it seemed the fallout from it was, did Naomi take the diamond knowingly? How many did she take? Did she lie? Did she tell everyone about it over breakfast? Were they pebbles?

The trial became a soap opera featuring Campbell's diamond. Forgetting the real issue - Taylor's crimes! I found this annoying because in order for the trial to gain coverage, it needed celebrities to bring it into the mainstream media. Taylor's alleged crimes are a larger issue. But one character I did find humorous was Taylor's defence lawyer, Courtenay Griffiths QC. The Jamaican has a Facebook following for his punch-lines and quoted Grandmaster Flash's 1982 single The Message to Ms White: “Put bluntly, for you this is all about money, there ain't nothing funny.” Priceless.

Like most Muslims, I have started to observe the fasts for the holy month of Ramadan. A time for self-reflection and spiritual healing. I also use it as a time to set myself targets. So this time next year, I want to achieve more. For those close to me, know that I can be easily irritated when I'm hungry. The first fast is always the hardest and it was a test of will power, but I grit my teeth for the last hour. The subsequent ones' have sailed by and it's easier when your time is occupied.

I've come across many stories of couples and women being stoned to death for adultery recently in places such as Afghanistan and Iran. All of them tragic in their own right. But one image that has been etched in my memory for the past month, has been the image of Aisha, the 18-year-old Afghan featured on the cover of Time. She is the girl with no nose. She ran away from her abusive husband, but the Taliban found her. They ordered her to be punished for leaving her husband. He delivered the punishment by slicing her ears and nose, and left her to bleed to death. She lived to tell the story. Tragedies like this make me reflect on how women are still struggling for equality. Still a possession. Women here are so lucky to live freely. Through Aisha's story, it's heartening to know that Afghan women are fighting for equality. 

Finally another footballer has been caught in the act, the robot dancing tower Peter Crouch has been busted. He paid for a prostitute. Crouchie, are you dumb? Abi Clancy is your fiancée, need I say more. Liverpool fans once chanted "he's big, he's red, his feet stick out of bed, Peter Crouch, Peter Crouch! Looks like his feet have stuck out of more than one bed! Forgive me, it was unavoidable.

by Pavel Choudhury

A crazed preacher in the east end

29/07/2010

Are you offended by the recent storyline in Eastenders? Is the soap’s portrayal of a pastor uncomfortable viewing for you? Well, if the answer is yes, you are not alone. Eastenders have admitted to receiving complaints from viewers who feel the Lucas storyline is offensive to Christians.

Yes, it’s just a TV show, and yes Pastor Lucas Johnson is not real. He didn’t really leave his first wife to die. He didn’t really murder the ex-husband of his current wife Denise, and lock her in the basement after attacking her. He didn’t really kill someone who reminded him of Denise. I know it’s just a TV show, a soap. But this soap deserves to get complaints as it’s sending out a message that religion is not necessary in the modern world.

Earlier this year, I stopped watching Eastenders because I didn’t like any of the characters - everyone was miserable - and the storylines were dragging on for far too long. So I decided to tune out. However, reading daily newspapers and online articles I knew what was happening. I knew Lucas was a crazed preacher and that Syed really loved Christian. Also, family and friends watch the show so it was hard not to know.

However, I was drawn back in when I discovered that Denise was not really dead. This dark storyline gripped me, but it made for uncomfortable viewing at times. Seeing a man of God commit a ‘sin’ and then quote scriptures from the Bible seemed wrong.

The BBC has defended the storyline saying Lucas was “not intended to be representative of Christians…He is a very damaged and dangerous individual who has created a twisted version of the Christian 'faith' in his mind to hide behind, and to convince himself that his actions are acceptable. As the story unfolds, we will see other characters questioning Lucas' claim to be a Christian.”

Don Gilet, who plays the murderous preacher, said he is not anti-Christian and that viewers shouldn't be offended: "I know there are a few people who are upset by it, but if you actually watch the show and invest in the story, it's not about religion…It's about one man's warped view of life and he could have chosen any view to soak his madness into quite frankly."

The defence for this story is valid- Lucas is a troubled man- but I disagree that this story is not about religion. Although I do not attend church as much I should or would like to, I believe in God and I think there is a hidden undertone to this storyline. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the soap’s two major storylines have religious elements: a murdering pastor and a Muslim fighting with his sexuality. Christianity and Islam disagree with these acts, but yet we are shown two men who play religious characters, commit these sins. So how can religious followers not be offended?

I don’t think the east end soap is purposely trying to offend Christians or Muslims, but I do think it is questioning the role of religion in a modern society and even saying that it has no place today. Whether they are right or wrong to do this, they are bound to get some complaints along the way. 

by Magic

Living a life following Jesus

23/07/2010

I am a Christian and it’s funny the reaction I get when I tell people this. Although some people have a new found respect for me, others think I’m a saint and they feel they have to act in a certain way around me or they expect me to act a certain way around them.

My mum used to take me to church most Sundays and being a child I would moan about going, but I didn’t have a choice. The funny thing was, once I got there I’d always have a good time in Sunday School and would get involved in the activities and plays. As a teenager it was my decision whether to go to church and I chose not to as I found it boring and didn’t really get the point of it; nevertheless I always believed in God.

It wasn’t until much later on in my life that I decided to take my faith seriously and have an active relationship with God. A series of things had happened to me and that’s when I turned to God in prayer. I found a church that I felt was better suited to me and because I enjoyed the worship I made the effort to attend.

Things didn’t change overnight, but the closer I got to God through prayer, worship, reading the Bible and making new Christian friends the more things got better. I experienced encounters that could only be explained by the power of God which enabled my faith to grow stronger and confirmed to me even more that He is real.

The closer I got to God, the more I saw positive things happening in my life and the more time I wanted to spend with Him. I have a unique personal relationship with God because ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son (Jesus), that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16).

Gradually, Jesus became a part of my everyday life. Throughout the day whether I was at home or walking to the tube station, I was talking and praying to God, I started to read my Bible at home, I attended Bible studies and looked at ways how I could use the skills God blessed me with to do His will.

I know now that no matter what I go through in my life the battle is not mine because Jesus is looking after me. I can praise God in the good times and the bad times. I can also ask other Christian believers to support me through prayer and advice.

Some people stay away from the Christian faith or don’t commit to it because they look at the Bible as a book of rules and things they can’t do rather than looking at all the things they can do and all the blessings that come with it. I think there’s a taboo that by being a Christian you almost have to be perfect. This is not true. Jesus says ‘come as you are’ and through Grace you shall be saved. Many prophets and people in the Bible were far from perfect, but the most important thing was that they believed in the Lord and actively tried their best to follow Him and do His will.

I would say that before I gave my life to Christ I was a moody and judgemental person, but now I’ve become more disciplined, less judgemental and I’m learning each day to love my neighbours as I love myself.

by Nicole Julien-Connage



Bring out your natural side this summer

16/07/2010

Although the rain has started to kick in, these last few weeks have offered us a lovely summer. And with hopes that more sunshine is on the way many of us will put more effort into our beauty regime as more skin is on show.

However, think twice about what you are putting on your skin. Many traditional beauty products contain synthetic chemicals and musks. Some of these chemicals are absorbed into the skin, broken down and excreted, others remain and accumulate in the body.

The long-term health effects are still being investigated, although initial studies have indicated that some of the chemicals used may disrupt our hormone systems as well as cause other health concerns. This is one reason why many women are turning to organic and natural beauty products.

I personally have always paid attention to what went into my body in terms of the food I ate, but it wasn’t until a TV documentary opened my eyes to what I put on my body. Since then I have researched this area greatly, changed many of my beauty products and I have really noticed the difference.

I, like many other women, find that organic products are kinder for sensitive skin types and help to reduce allergic reactions. Going organic is also a way to help the planet as pure organic products are grown on land with no pesticides and herbicides, plus many use green packaging.

According to the market research institute OrganicMonitor, the natural cosmetic market in particular is still going strong despite the recession. However not all organic and natural products are equal. A product containing as little as 5% natural ingredients may advertise itself as a natural product, that’s why looking out for certification is important. In the UK, the beauty standard to look for is the soil association accreditation. Any products labelled organic with their logo must contain at least 95% organic ingredients with minimum amounts of synthetic ingredients.

It is also worth bearing in mind that some beauty products are natural, some are organic and some both. So what’s the difference between a natural beauty product and an organic beauty product I hear you ask? Well one labelled ‘natural’ has ingredients that are unprocessed and extracted from a plant or animal source, items basically found in nature. An organic definition can be summed up as a product that has ingredients grown on land where no artificial fertilizers and pesticides were used and ingredients processed without chemical processing.

Parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and petrochemicals are just a few of the chemicals to avoid. You can usually tell a product contains parabens: generally ingredients ending with paraben. This chemical can be found in all sorts of products such as toothpaste, shampoo and lipstick.

SLS is an agent usually used to help products foam and acts as a cleansing agent. Studies have shown that SLS can cause rashes and irritations of the eye, scalp and skin. Some of the petrochemicals used in beauty products include benzene and ethanol. These chemicals can cause skin irritation.

Isopropyl alcohol is found in many hair colour products, body lotions and perfumes in particular, but its use is also common in anti-freeze, which gives you an idea of how unhealthy it is. It can cause headaches and nausea.

So ladies this summer it’s worth experimenting with organic and natural beauty products. They work just as well as the traditional ones, are better for the environment and better for your skin. So go natural this summer and find the one that works for you.

by A.J Darko

P's Perspective

23/06/2010

I don't like to whinge nor whine, but what is going on in Eastenders? I know it's fictional, but it's produced by the Beeb and funded by the license payer - therefore it should reflect us, right? Lucas...what have they done to this man? He arrived as a preaching, gentle and a devoted father. But in a short space of time he has blood on his hands and is now a killer. He's struck fear in that twit Ben, and is now 'cleansing' the sins of people.

This week, they showed how he revitalised a prostitute, forcefully making her embrace her faith. I found it uncomfortable viewing. The lady seemed like she was in a trance, but I'll leave that aside and get to the point. Why are the black characters historically surrounded by negativity? Lucas is now a nutcase.

Remember Paul Trueman? He became part of the gang warfare and was killed off. His brother Anthony, the doctor, was in juicy storylines and far from a bad boy. He had a good job and Kat, but he left for Cambodia. Gus was a street sweeper. Patrick has the odd tipple of rum, but his marriage broke down and he had an affair with Pat Butcher. In short, where's the entrepreneurial black Ian, Jack or Max? Is this a reflection of our society?

The World Cup is here. I'm like a kid again and I don't want to do anything but watch all of the matches. This is the first tournament where I'm working full-time and unable to watch them. This week has been dominated by the vuvuzelas (horn). Should they stay or go? It doesn't annoy me at all. It's a part of the culture and when people look back they won't forget this tournament. It has it's own identity and distinction from other tournaments. I'm with Desmond Tutu on this who argued it's part of the South African culture. He told reporters that when you go to someone's country, you don't tell them to change their language or the way they speak, so why should they ban it? Although, I don't want to hear it in the new Premier League season.

Drake's highly anticipated debut album has been released. Has it flown off the shelves or been bootlegged to the max? I don't know. What I can say, is that this is a debut I've looked most forward to since Kanye's College Dropout. I've listened to Drake for a few years now, before his mainstream success. I have to say I am impressed with his debut Thank Me Later, but at the same time I'm disappointed. He's made so many tracks and dropped vocals on umpteen remixes, thus raising his bar higher and higher. It was always going to be hard to put together a perfect LP. The standout tracks for me other than the obvious, are Fireworks, Karaoke and Light It Up, two of those featuring my favourites Miss Keys and Jigga.

Finally, and on a lighter note, the sun is out and I hope it stays...I did a spot of shopping and came across some gladiator sandals. You know what I'm talking about ladies, but, these were for men. It's common amongst the ladies', but for men? I don't think it's a good look and I'm not about to get my Russell Crowe on.

by Pavel Choudhury