Of service and humanity: A message to all doctors

Being a doctor requires a certain degree of social and communicative skill, after all, as a specialist friend says, you are not a doctor without your patients. But truth be told many of our doctors assume a 'god-sent' status and forget how to relate to their patients as fellow human in need of health care. Many of us are able to share stories about certain doctors who have forgotten the beauty of service and the reason they are doctors that they treat their patients with little or no humanity, like to one my mother recently met when she had her knee looked at by a specialist who has lost the love for the profession that he would dismiss a patient’s concern by not addressing it. But then again, thankfully, there are those, like my daughter's pediatrician, who despite seeing over 20 patients in one session, can still speak with care and courtesy to the 23rd patient who comes into her office. I truly wish whoever considers this crucial profession takes into consideration the demands of service in its true sense. Otherwise go make money in some other profession.

Written in response to Che Det's blog entry on DOCTORS

Life and living: Part 1

Having a sense of faith, in this day and age, is not an asset, but at times appears to be a liability. We live in an age that sees the strong tension played out between having an unquestionable sense of faith in the unseen and needing a strong rational scientific explanation to anything and everything. we also live in an era that resists an acceptance of the another life after this and urges the best living of the here and now as it is the only life we've got. But once in awhile we need to be reminded that albeit today is important as it gives an opportunity to live out another day the best we can, we also, i feel, need to remember that today's actions feeds into tomorrow's possibilities and that tomorrow can be lived in this life or another, upon death.

Watching the African American Muslim actor-comedian Omar Regan’s interview on youtube recently i am reminded of the importance of taking the demands of this life in one's own faith-filled stride. I love the way Omar Regan appears to take the demands of living as a Muslim in Hollywood in his own Muslim-stride. He does not become someone else but as he says tries to live life with good manners and good character, which are the essence of Islam. Added to which, a strong sense of humor is crucial in such a chaotic world. In a nutshell, yes, one ought to live the best life today. But as I see it that day becomes a lot more positive when lived not just for the day but for the future possibilities it hold when lived with awareness of one’s connection to a higher being.


check out the youtube clip when he was interviewed during hajj season by AlJazeera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3epjNnT9K_E