Afghan New Years-Nowrooz

My favorite festival is called Nowrooz: meaning New Day is the traditional ancient Afghan festival that celebrates the start of the Afghan New Year. Nowrooz is celebrated and observed by  afghans and has spread in many other parts of the world with Islamic religions. Nowrooz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in Afghan calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually occurs on March 21.       

                                         

The celebration of Nowrooz lasts several weeks. It involves many traditions and rituals. One of the traditions is house cleaning and involves the preparation of special foods, and the cooking begins several weeks in advance.  Women clean and prepare special meal for the men of the house. During the nights, all the family gets together and have dinner. After dinner each person lights up a candle in their name and making a wish. After that music starts and 

everyone dances until they pass out.       

Transgender Discrimination

Growing up as a child in India, I always learned from my peers to stay away from transgender people. I was taught to never talk to them, always ignore them because they are not equal and they steal children away from their parents. I always had a very negative image of transgender people on my mind because of how the Indian society portrayed them. It was injected in my mind that transgender people are bad, so I was always scared of them.

 When I came to US in the summer of 2000, I realized that hatred towards transgender people occur here as well. I saw that same discrimination is going on in America towards transgender people. People look at transgender identities and think that why would anyone ever want to do that. When they look at Trans women, they wonder being a man is the best thing in the world then how can anyone not want to be a man. 

Or when they see Tran’s men, they wonder how a beautiful woman can do that to herself.  

They wonder why she wants to grow a beard in her face and have muscles. People don’t understand about transgender identities because they are ignorant and that’s how hate and discrimination follows. These discriminations need to stop! Everyone should be treated equally!

Facebook-A way to connect

Facebook is taking over the world! What’s the big deal?  Some say, people are constantly interacting with their Facebook “friends” but are forgetting to interact with their friends who are sitting right in front of them. But I don’t agree with this.

Although Facebook has become an essential part of everyday lives of people, but people use it for good reasons. People use Facebook to connect with their family and friends. Through Facebook people can keep in touch with family across other parts of the continent. Facebook helps people find their lost old friends. People get their everyday news from Facebook. Facebook gives everyone something to play with from updating their status and pictures to playing online games and chatting. Every average college student uses Facebook to connect with their family back home, but it is not only for college students. People of all ages can use Facebook’s service and get connected with their loved ones.

So those who are scared that Facebook will end socialization, they must think again!