Dreams of Yemen

"A dreamer is one who can find his way by moonlight and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world"  Oscar Wilde

I dream of a Yemen where everyone has a roof on top of their head
I dream of a Yemen where everyone has a meal on their table
I dream of a Yemen where poverty is addressed and managed

I dream of a Yemen where electricity and water are a norm not a privilege
I dream of a Yemen where health and education are a basic right
I dream of a Yemen where infrastructure is actually built not just planned

I dream of a Yemen where a woman in labour can see her newborn *
I dream of a Yemen where an infant * can survive and grow into a healthy child
I dream of a Yemen where a child can safely go to school, instead of work or be wed

I dream of a Yemen where freedom, justice, and equality are a reality
I dream of Yemen where rights are respected, granted and opinions freely expressed
I dream of a Yemen where we can choose who represents and leads us

I dream of a Yemen where there is no North or South
I dream of a Yemen where injustices and grievances are rectified
I dream of a Yemen we all, equally strive to repair and rebuild together

I dream of a Yemen where positions are earned due to merit not family name, gender, tribe or region
I dream of a Yemen with a civil state that adheres to human rights and gender equality
I dream of a Yemen where a woman's role is not confined to her household or family

I dream of a Yemen where Qat chewing is an old shunned habit
I dream of a Yemen where water is efficiently used to irrigate crops
I dream of a Yemen where fields and valleys are filled with coffee and grapes

I dream of a Yemen with no association to al Qaeda and terrorism
I dream of a Yemen as a tourist destination for heritage and hospitality
I dream of a Yemen as a haven for tourists to admire and enjoy

I dream of a Yemen who's resources are reinstated, enhanced and generated
I dream of a Yemen who's lands and ports are respected and safeguarded
I dream of a Yemen where neighboring countries leave us alone, if not wanting our well-being

I dream of a Yemen where foreign companies are not exploiting us
I dream of a Yemen where western and regional forces can't choose our leaders, nor shape our future
I dream of a Yemen where dominant political figures empower our youth to lead

I dream of a Yemen where change yearned for, is attained and dignity restored
I dream of a Yemen where precious martyrs lives are not lost in vain
I dream of a Yemen where no further blood is shed nor homes destroyed

I dream of Yemen where the revolution albeit the longest will be the most peaceful
I dream of a Yemen who's revolution succeeds and is taught in history books
I dream of a Yemen which we struggled for, become what we want and more

I dream of a Yemen that is respected and esteemed by the world
I dream of a Yemen that can once again be called Arabia Felix
I dream of a Yemen that we can all return to and proudly say is our homeland

"Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe"- Gail Devers

Peace

Links used:
UNICEF statistics
Child Labour in Yemen

The Holy Month of Ramadan

Allow me to tell you what is Ramadan and why is it Holy to Muslims. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic Lunar Calender and the first month in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). "Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down to mankind as a guidance and judgement between right and wrong..." (2:185). The word Ramadan derives from the Arabic word "Ramida" which means intense heat and dryness, the feelings a Muslim experiences during fasting.
Ramadan is a holy month observed by more than 1 billion Muslims. It is the Islamic month of fasting in which Muslims restrain themselves in many ways, not only refraining from eating or drinking from the first ray of sunlight till sunset. By experiencing hunger and thirst a Muslim sympathizes with those underprivileged, who have little to eat every day of the year. Ramadan teaches lessons of equality, patience and humility. In this month Muslims are generally more spiritual and submissive to God, whereby they purify their behavior (practice good manners and speech), increase their good deeds, give more charity, intensify prayers and spend more time reading the Quran. Ramadan is also a festive season, where Muslims break their fast and share their meals together with family, friends and neighbors. Streets are decorated and young children go around their neighborhoods holding colored lanterns and chanting songs of Ramadan, this ritual whoever in no longer seen in many modern Islamic cities. Ramadan is an occasion to strengthen the bonds among the family, the community and the world. Hence it is a month of spirituality, mercy and compassion, charity and generosity, solidarity and joy, patience and perseverance and above all peace. 
Muslims celebrate the arrival of the holy month by greeting each other with phrases such as "Ramadan Karim" i.e Ramadan is generous or "Ramadan Mubarak" which means Ramadan is blessed. Many prefer the first phrase especially since the second one reminds them of an era they don't wish to remember! Ramadan is a special time for Muslims where great values are manifested and observed during the month and should also be present during the whole year. 
This year Ramadan will be different and particularly difficult on Arab countries struggling in the Arab Spring. Many people are fighting for their freedoms and the word mercy unfortunately doesn't register with their regimes, nor with the soldiers and mercenaries who do not hesitate to kill any time of year.
May God bless us all during Ramadan and throughout the year with his forgiveness, mercy and peace and bring us closer to Him and to each other. Peace.