joined on 10/17/03
last updated 08/02/11
about me
living in sf and loving it, until the time comes when the party is over. Until then dancing, picture taking, advocating, educating and flirting!
! * POLITICS * !,
! ۞ Triple ❤ Power ♥,
!!BlackSheep, Tribal Fest & Kajira D.,
<3 LOVE FEST 2007 <3,
** Art Of Loving **,
**Melodia Designs**,
-=<(((HowWeird)))>=-,
13moontribe,
911 Awareness & Inquiry,
Amnesty International SF,
an-ten-nae Presents,
Ancient Egypt,
Angels of the Playa,
Ansuya,
APSARA,
Atash Maya Dance Co.,
bassnectar,
Bay Area Bellydance,
Bay Area Sister DJs,
Bay Area Tantra,
Bay Area Trance,
belly dance and related events,
Bellydance,
bellydancesuperstars,
BellyDancing Ravers,
Breaks,
Broken Hearts,
Burning Man,
Burning Bellies,
Burning Man Photos,
Burning Woman,
Cheb i Sabbah - Thursdays at Bollyhood,
Desert Sin,
Digital Photography,
El Circo,
Electric Vardo,
Evening of Experimental Middle Eastern D,
Fans of Petite Jamilla,
FatChanceBellyDance,
Flaming Lotus Girls,
FlirtyFlirty,
Frederique: No Longer on Tribe....,
Freek Factory,
Hookahdome,
I Heart Tobias Roberson,
Infinite Kaos,
Iranian/Middle Eastern Film & More,
Joshua Tree Music Festival,
Kosmos Camp,
L.A.B.A,
...
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the only way to a better future is if and when all members of the society can participate and be part of the process.......all members of society, both male and female.
"Ansuya Show in SF and more coming"
"Ansuya photos by Michael Baxter"
"Tribal Fest, an Annual Festival for Tribal Bellydance"
"Rakkasah Bellydance Festival is fun"
"Taboo Media's pics of the Pogonometric Revue Tour, SF w. Rachel Brice, Mardi Love, Elizabeth Strong."
Timeline of some prominent women in the Muslim world.
610 Khadija bint Khuwaylid, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad, becomes the first convert to Islam.
624 Fatima Zahra, one of the daughters of the Prophet Mohammad, becomes the wife of the first Shi'a Imam. Many Mulsims regard her as the greatest woman who has ever lived. She is noted as being a devoted daughter, wife, and a sincere Muslim.
632 Following the death of the Prophet Muhammad, his third wife, Aisha bint Abu Bakar becomes one of four people to transmit the "hadiths," or the words and deeds of Muhammad considered by many Muslims to be important tools for discerning the Qur'an.
717 Marks the birth of Rabi'a al-'Adawiyya who is considered to be one of the first to practice the mystic tradition of Islam known as Sufism, and acknowledged as the most prominent Sufi poets of her time.
1067 Arwa al-Sulayhi comes to power and rules for over 40 years in Yemen. She is known for her contributions to education, the expansion of religion, and agriculture.
1236 Raziyya al-Din becomes the first female to rule over Delhi. She was chosen by her father over her brothers, due to her capacity to lead.
1250 After defeating a French invasion, ex-slave Sultana Shagrat al-Durr becomes the first leader of the Mamluk dynasty in Egypt.
1588 Queen Amina Sarauniya comes to power in her nation-state of Zazzua, located in current day Nigeria. She expands her kingdom more than any previous leader through military expeditions and trade negotiations.
1646 Sati al-Nisa dies after serving as a physician in the court of the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan.
1829 Sayyida Imam-Begum makes her first public appearance as the last famous composer of ginan, or religious hymns important among the Ismaili community.
1923 Hoda Sha'rawi becomes the founder and first president of the Egyptian Feminist Union.
1988 At age 35, Benazir Bhutto becomes Pakistan's youngest and first female prime minister as the result of the first open election in over a decade.
1993 Tansu Ciller becomes the first female to be elected as prime minister in Turkey.
2001 Megawati Sukarnoputri is elected as the first female president of Indonesia.
2003 Iranian lawyer and human rights activist, Shirin Ebadi, is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, becoming the first Iranian and Muslim woman to receive this honor. She is the founder of the Association for Support of Children's Rights in Iran.
2004 Queen Rania of Jordan received the honorary rank of colonel in the Jordanian Armed Forces.
The Koran states in the chapter called an-Nisaa (Women) in verse 34: "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (Next), refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them ; but if they return to obedience, seek not against them means (of annoyance): For Allah is Most High, great (above you all)."
My Feminist Awakening
I had experienced gender apartheid long before the Taliban made it headline news. I came to understand that once an American woman marries a Muslim, and lives in a Muslim country, she is a citizen of no country. Never again could I romanticize foreign places or peoples in the Third World—or marriage.
Once a Western woman marries a Muslim and lives with him in his native land, she is no longer entitled to the rights she once enjoyed. Only military mercenaries can rescue her. I have since heard many stories about Western women who have married Muslim men in Europe and America but whose children were then kidnapped by their fathers and kept forever after in countries such as Saudi Arabia,[2] Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan and Iran. The mothers were usually permitted no contact.
Today, women in the Islamic world are increasingly pressured into arranged marriages, forced to veil themselves, not allowed to vote, drive, or travel without a male escort, to work at all, or to work in mixed gender settings. Worse, many are genitally mutilated in childhood, and routinely beaten as daughters, sisters, and wives; some are murdered by their male relatives in honor killings, and stoned to death for alleged sexual improprieties or for asserting the slightest independence. Such violations of women's human rights are increasingly taking place among the Muslim community in Europe and in North America.
Westerners do not always understand that Eastern men can blend into the West with ease while still remaining Eastern at their core. They can "pass" for one of us but, upon returning home, assume their original ways of being. Some may call this schizophrenic; others might see this as duplicitous. From a Muslim man's point of view, it is neither. It is merely personal Realpolitik. The transparency and seeming lack of guile that characterizes many ordinary Westerners make us seem childlike and stupid to those with multiple cultural personalities.
A woman dares not forget such lessons—not if she manages to survive and escape. What happened to me in Afghanistan must also be taken as a cautionary tale of what can happen when one romanticizes the "primitive" East.
Did Ali really think that I would be able to adjust to a medieval, Islamic way of life? Or that his family would ever have accepted a Jewish-American love-bride?
There are only two answers possible. Either he was not thinking or he viewed me as a woman, which meant that I did not exist in my own right, that I was destined to please and obey him and that nothing else was really important. He certainly helped shape the feminist that I was to become.
When I returned to the United States, there were few feminist stirrings. However, within five years, I became a leader of America's new feminist movement. In 1967, I became active in the National Organization for Women, as well as in various feminist consciousness-raising groups and campaigns. In 1969, I pioneered women's studies classes for credit, cofounded the Association for Women in Psychology, and began delivering feminist lectures. I also began work on my first book, Women and Madness,[3] which became an oft-cited feminist text.
Firsthand experience of life under Islam as a woman held captive in Kabul has shaped the kind of feminist I became and have remained—one who is not multiculturally "correct." By seeing how women interacted with men and then with each other, I learned how incredibly servile oppressed peoples could be and how deadly the oppressed could be toward each other. Beebee Jan was cruel to her female servants. She beat her elderly personal servant and verbally humiliated our young and pregnant housemaid. It was an observation that stayed with me.
While multiculturalism has become increasingly popular, I never could accept cultural relativism. Instead, what I experienced in Afghanistan as a woman taught me the necessity of applying a single standard of human rights, not one tailored to each culture. In 1971—less than a decade after my Kabul captivity—I spoke about rescuing women of Bangladesh raped en masse during that country's war for independence from Pakistan. The suffering of women in the developing world should be considered no less important than the issues feminists address in the West. Accordingly, I called for an invasion of Bosnia long before Washington did anything, and I called for similar military action in Rwanda, Afghanistan, and Sudan.
In recent years, I fear that the "peace and love" crowd in the West has refused to understand how Islamism endangers Western values and lives, beginning with our commitment to women's rights and human rights. The Islamists who are beheading civilians, stoning Muslim women to death, jailing Muslim dissidents, and bombing civilians on every continent are now moving among us both in the East and in the West. While some feminist leaders and groups have come to publicize the atrocities against women in the Islamic world, they have not tied it to any feminist foreign policy. Women's studies programs should have been the first to sound the alarm. They do not. More than four decades after I was a virtual prisoner in Afghanistan, I realize how far the Western feminist movement has to go.
Based upon the Death of Feminism by Phyllis Chesler, copyright 2005 by the author, and printed with permission of St. Martin's Press, LLC.
[1] The chadari is also known as the burqa', a covering worn by Afghan women.
[2] See, for example, "U.S. Department of State, Marriage to Saudis," Middle East Quarterly, Winter 2003, pp. 74-81.
[3] New York: Doubleday, 1972.
www.frontpagemag.com/Article...icle.asp
HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Watch this movie!
www.rachelbrice.com/snakecharmer.mov
it combines two of the most fantastic artistic geniouses in my life, I am dizzy thinking about it! CHECK IT.
THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING, LETS PAY MORE ATTENTION!
How can anyone justify Islam's treatment of women, when it imprisons Afghans under blue shuttlecock burqas and makes Pakistani girls marry strangers against their will? How can you respect a religion that forces women into polygamous marriages, mutilates their genitals, forbids them to drive cars and subjects them to the humiliation of "instant" divorce? In fact, none of these practices are Islamic at all.
www.islamfortoday.com/ruqaiyyah09.htm
Music from the Arab world:
6arab.com/index-en.shtml
I love Najwa Karam!
Women in Islam Speak UP!
www.csmonitor.com/2005/0629...-cojh.html
www.wfafi.org/
Peace & Love for Iran
Pezham Akhavass presents a special concert featuring Persian mystical music and dance
by some of the foremost artist in the Bay Area including:
Musicians:
Pezhham Akhavass: Tombak, Daf, Percussion
Behfar Bahadoran: Tar, Daf
Faraz Minooei: Santour
Jesse Sheehan: Saxophone, Indian Tabla
Dancers:
Miriam Peretz,
Farima Berenji,
Hannah Romanowsky,
Leila Sadeghi
Saturday, August 1, 2009
doors open at 7:30pm, show at 8:00 pm
Brava Theater
2781 ...
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Thu, July 16, 2009 - 2:21 PM
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Dear friends, in conjunction with the annual tribal bellydance festival Tribal Fest, incredible artists are in town. Come and see a very awesome line up of bellydance and blues for a night that you won't want to miss!
Presented by Gina Grandi and Jill Parker
Jukejoint Shimmy Shake
blending blues and bellydance from all over the world for soulful night of tribal fusion bellydance and music to remember
Sunday, May 10th
At Club Mighty
119 Utah Street, San Francisco
Doors open at...
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Mon, May 4, 2009 - 2:50 PM
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Come and celebrate the season of love in a totally new
and hip, art and performance space in the Potrero of San Francisco
Hosted by Gina G & Jill Parker
Friday, February 13th
Location:
Project One
251 Rhode Island, San Francisco
$15
9pm to 2am
Bellydance Salon and Show fusing Flamenco Show, Souk, Art
bellydance*drinks*fashion*art*
friends*passion*splendor
Bellydance by:
Jill Parker, she will break your heart
Malia who will make your cat meow & a duo w/ Malia &...
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Sat, February 7, 2009 - 3:58 PM
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Wow, this is a blue moon, I can actually log onto tribe and not get the server overload message fir the first time in weeks......
Its been a long hard road, but we are there now, and the trucks are being loaded and the team is heading up tomorrow and Thursday to start unloading the 50 tons of metal and shit we have to build this project. Total details of the whole enchilada at www.opulenttemple.org
i hear its a very dusty ass year as there was no rain, uhhhhhh god no.... but its ok, bec...
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Tue, August 19, 2008 - 3:29 PM
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can you believe that we are leaving for the playa in 17 days?
Some of you might be leaving in 20 but we are early arrivers because of our production out there.
are you guys excited????
I am excited but also kinda feeling blahhhhhh about it, I am really hoping that there aren't too many weekend warriers (yea right) and that there won't be 4 days of 4 hour white outs with winds of 60 mph (yea right) and that all the fucking ravers don't leave 10 bags of trash every day on our dance flo...
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Tue, August 5, 2008 - 12:03 PM
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August 14, 2008
Gina,
My ability to describe you in words is unparalleled by your wit, beauty and generosity. You are such a blessing to the MED community. Your attitude and cooler than coolness is contagious. I hope more people can catch what you got!
With love and hopes for a glass of good wine very very soon,
Surreyya
August 11, 2007
i am your biggest fan!!!!!!!!!i love u more than words can say,you are a huge inspiration on my life!!!! you follow your biggest dreams in all angles both work and dance,you better not stop fighting for what u believe in the world needs more people who are as ambitious as you,keep up the good work!!! CANT WAIT TOO SEE YOUR CAMPSITE AT BURNING MAN!!I HOPE TOO SPEND VALUABLE TIME WITH YOU ON THE PLAYA,YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ILOVE YOU FROM HERE TOO THE ENDOF THE ATMOSPHERE!!!
November 25, 2005
What to say, what to say about Gina that hasn't been said before? She is a beacon of strength, love, integrity, passion and beauty. In this days of hopelessness and moral decrepitude, she inspires me daily to believe in a better future, and in the power of one. Her influence is felt by all that now her. She is light and love and beauty all rolled into one of the strongest, sexiest women I have ever met. I am honored to count her as my friend.
XOXO
November 16, 2005
ODE TO GINA
Gina Joon,
Your beautiful brown eyes are vast like the Desert Sands. Swirling hips, you bring dancing to a new land. Your Flowing hair, like a fairy tale, a sweet scent emmanates from every strand.
You talk, you walk, you write, you dance. When I see you I am in a trance.
Your photos bring inspiration to all who take a peek, forever after the joy they seek, in your appreciation and vision of tribal, native and Middle Eastern lands.
A joy to be told, you are my dear friend, for many days to come, to have and to hold.
I love you Virginia Anne!
Love Always True,
Sierra Joon
October 11, 2005
Gina
Beautiful in body, spirit and soul. She is one of the most dedicated, hard working, caring, amazing people that I have met. I love all that she does for the women and children of the world in her raising awareness for them through her powerful, passionate and moving words. The world is a much better place with her in it, I wish more people had the courage to step up and raise their voices about the things that piss them off as much as she does. One day she will be heard by the masses and they will listen, this is my dream for her! I'm so happy that our paths crossed and we have become friends, you are a sweetheart Gina Bina xoxo
August 12, 2005
I love Gina! Who doesn't??? She fights for what's important, is open and kind hearted, and goes out of her way to include you in her fun! I absolutely adore this woman for bringing everything she has to offer.
July 28, 2005
The root of the word courage comes from the French word for heart. Gina is all heart, and a woman with deep courage and strength and love. She is loyal to those she loves, generous with her time, idealistic to the potential for change, awake to the horrors of the world. She speaks for what is right and lets those who stand for justice know they do not stand alone. She is a tremendous friend and a bomb ass sister, a magnificent resource and jack of many trades, a dancer, photographer, networker, party planner, program director, teacher.... All done with a smile and an attitude that can't help but cheer you up. If what goes around comes around, Gina has loads of love coming her way. Thanks Gina.
Peace & Love for Iran, Saturday, August 1 at Brava Theater
( events » arts )
Peace & Love for Iran
Pezham Akhavass presents a special concert featuring Persian mystical music and dance
by some of the foremost artist in the Bay Area including:
Musicians:
Pezhham Akhavass: Tombak, Daf, Percussion
Behfar Bahado...
read more
event starts - $event.startTime
Crimson Kisss: Bellydance & Flamenco Salon Friday, 02/13
( events » arts ) Come and celebrate the season of love in a totally new
and hip, art and performance space in the Potrero of San Francisco
Hosted by Gina G & Jill Parker
Friday, February 13th
Location:
Project One
251 Rhode Island, San Francisco
$15
9...
read more
event starts - $event.startTime
Tribal Fest Photos 2008 on mvgals.net
( community » sound off ) here are a few pics of the vast and massive festival Tribal Fest, 2008 h...
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listing posted Sat, May 24, 2008 - 7:14 PM
Seeking Video Editing Help
( services » other )
Hello I need help badly to edit down a 50 minute interview to a 5 minute...
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listing posted
Tue, April 1, 2008 - 2:29 PM
Ansuya in San Francisco this weekend! 12/8 & 12/9
( events » arts ) Ansuya is in San Francisco this weekend, and there is more updates, forgive me for multiple correspondence on this topic, but need to clarify some things!
Ansuya is the most prolific bellydancer of our times, and its an honor to study with her,...
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event starts - $event.startTime
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