Law School

I’m still going strong in law school.  I’m halfway done!  Last semester ended and the grades have all finally come in.  I’m pretty happy with where I currently stand, so no complaints there.  I literally went into hiding during exams last semester, I think it was my hardest set of exams yet.  I’ve decided that, despite popular opinion, your second year doesn’t get easier.  Believe it or not, you are supposed to remember and apply the basic concepts you learned in your first year classes, like the elements of negligence, interpretations of the Constitution, and how to form a contract. There is  a reason they make you take these classes in the beginning; everything uses them in some way or another!  It was nice to take classes that I was specifically interested in.  I had Evidence, Professional Responsibility, Immigration, Education Law and Mock Trial.

Mock trial was awesome.  My partner and I made it to the Final round and lost by just a few points.  Mock trial (called Student Trial Advocacy Program at Wayne) is a program where students compete against each other in “real” trials. We get a problem and have to argue the case for a given side in one trial, then switch to argue the other side in the next trial.  We use the Federal Rules of Evidence to argue for whether we should be able to admit or not admit certain testimony or exhibits.  We have volunteer witnesses that play the characters in the problem, who we prep as best we can so they can support our case. I thought the Wayne team did a great job of making it as realistic as possible.  During the “in-house” competition, where Wayne students in the program compete against each other, we even had a few of our trials in actual courtrooms.  We have witnesses and judges volunteer to preside as a judge over each case. They rule on any legal decisions and also score us as we go.  It is a lot of fun.  I took evidence at the same time I was in Mock Trial, so I was learning new rules and applying them to the problem at the same time.  I thought this was extremely beneficial for me, not only in my Mock Trial case but in my evidence class, the rules seemed more real to me because I had a way to use them. Of course, it’s ideal if you have already taken evidence before Mock Trial.

After the in-house competition ended, I tried out for and made one of the national competition teams.  We send teams to two national competitions, AAJ and TYLA.  I won’t say which one I got onto, since the teams are highly competitive and we are in the middle of preparing for competition.  However, it was very exciting to be invited to join one of these prestigious teams.  We will have the chance to compete against teams from other schools in a regional competition, with the winners going on to compete at a National competition. My team has put in a ton of time already, practicing two to three times a week.

Immigration Law Clinic

I was also accepted into the Immigration Law Clinic at Wayne State.  This is taken for credit but is usually difficult for 2L’s to get into because preference is given to graduating students.  Luckily, I got into the clinic and we hit the ground running in early January.  We were officially sworn in to practice last night by MI Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Young. At the clinic, we work with a partner and are assigned cases to handle for the semester.  The cases can range from asylum to family visas, departure, etc.  My partner and I have just one case, but it’s a big one.  Our client is going to have a full merits hearing on her asylum case during this semester.  This is essentially a full trial in court and at the end, the judge will decide if she will be granted asylum or not.  Obviously, I can’t get into the details of the case but it is a lot of work, not only preparing for the hearing, but managing all of the different facets that go into a case like this.  Many people don’t really know what asylum is, so maybe I will make a post about that on another day.  This clinic offers incredible experience opportunities.  Since I am interested in practicing Immigration Law, I am glad to have the chance to get some insight into what it’s like now.

Dearborn Pools

While it has been very cold the past couple of days and no one is really thinking about swimming outside, there have been a group of us working hard to figure out how to save the pools in Dearborn.  A sub-committee was formed over the summer made of people from the Recreation Department, different areas of the city, and some Save Our Pools members to find a solution. I was asked to fill in at a meeting in early December, and they haven’t been able to get rid of me since.  lol. I have been very pleased with the efforts and progress of this committee. You may have read about our presentation to the City Council about one of the solutions we discovered and agree will be a positive and possible way to keep the small pools.  At that meeting, we also got the good news that no new pools will be closing this year and that the Mayor has recommended already to open all of the pools for this summer that were open last summer. This was good news, but my excitement was tempered by the knowledge that if we can’t come to some solution for the pools, there will be pools closing next summer (2013).  The Mayor essentially said (not a direct quote here) that if it is left to the city to have to fund the pools, then they will close all of the small pools over time and eventually they will support only Dunworth and Ford Woods.  This is not ideal and so we are working very hard to make the SAD’s not only a viable option but one that people can understand and support. Much more information to come later!

American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

I began working with the ADC in October.  I have loved my time with this organization since.  I work on our cases, so when anyone has experienced discrimination, they come into the office and file a complaint.  I meet with them and help to identify ways to resolve or address the situation.  In addition to that, the ADC has a ton of events that we put on each year, so I have been helping to make these events a success as well.   I am always amazed and humbled by the strength of voice and impact that ADC can make in a given situation.  I am proud to be a part of this organization.  Like all the rest, I promise to write more on what types of things the ADC does and ways you can get involved. One easy way you can help is to donate to the cause.  ADC is a non-profit and we provide free services to those who need it.  Your help can assure that ADC is able to continue its work toward securing civil rights and liberties for all of us in America.  If you are interested in donating, click here.

That’s a quick summary of what’s been happening. Thanks for sticking with me through the past month or so of silence.  I hope you respond and let me know what you have been up to, or things you hope to see happen this year!

Obviously, the “rising tide of Islamic movement” part has put many Muslims in Michigan on alert (since removed from their website). However, the leaders of the event claim that it is open to all religions and is not anti-Islamic. Instead, it is anti-extremist and anti-terrorist.  The Dearborn Patch did a great article about this and one of the comments included multiple links to places so that people can decide for themselves what the real intention of this event is.  I have read through these links and wanted to share with you what I have found.

First of all, regardless of what you may think their position is on Islam, the website boasts an “anti-abortion” (I say anti-choice) agenda and seems to claim some pride in George W. Bush being elected president after they held a similar prayer event surrounding the 2000 election. That should pretty much inform you on my reaction as I began reading more. In addition, the way they define Detroit has put me on a bit of the defensive.  They claim it is the “place where they say there is no hope” and that through this event God will ” forgive our national guilt.” It’s as if they are blaming Detroit and Michigan for the nation’s ills, and will ride in on their white horse of prayer to save the day.  I don’t really buy it.

However, I try to keep an open mind.  It’s entirely possible for people to have this as their agenda to put that aside and truly create a space where others can freely worship, in their own style, and discuss their opinions freely – even disagree. And, maybe some good will come out of people gathering to focus on how to help in Detroit.

This took me into further research on the person behind this organization and event, Lou Engle. This link shows video of Engle discussing The Call in Detroit as an opportunity to “convert Muslims.”  It also talks about a similar event held in San Diego in 2008 where Engle claims they “transformed” hundreds of thousands of gay and lesbian men and women.  In fact, in 2010, he even traveled to Uganda to promote an anti-gay bill and encouraged people to become “God’s Avengers of Blood” to stop the “homosexual agenda” in that country.  We know of the horror and human rights atrocities that have been committed in Uganda toward gay people.  If you don’t, this is just the tip of the iceberg.  This article contains other links and information which alleges that Engle may have attempted to mask his true intention for this event in order to convince local churches and organizations to participate. In addition, here, local pastors have condemned Lou Engle and his event, but not the local leaders because they have been “tricked into believing this was a nice, goody-goody event and we’re going to sing kumbaya, and that’s really not what the situation is.”

In addition, Jerry Boykin, another lead planner for the event, is reported as saying that Islam should not be protected under the 1st Amendment and it should be illegal to build mosques in the US.  He is another strategic planner for the event in Detroit, today.

Knowing who is behind this event and the ideology of hate that drives him and the other leaders, makes it clear to me that The Call in Detroit is not at all what it seems. I am sure many people who attend will do so because they believe in the power of prayer and innocently want to join their voice and work toward a better future.  I hope they do their research, read a few of the articles, and choose to pray somewhere else.  I am concerned this event will either overtly or implicitly inculcate attendees with hate messages and encourage them to discriminate against neighbors, preaching intolerance over brotherhood.  Hopefully, the people of Southeast Michigan will see through this message and we can get on to the positive and productive efforts we have already begun, together.

What are your thoughts? Have you gone to the event? Were you thinking of going but changed your mind? Have you heard any other information that can inform the decision better?

Recently, we talked about bullying and acts of hate, related to the schools ability to step in and stop it.  I have seen the video from Jamey Rodemeyer, the student who recently contributed his voice to the “It Gets Better” campaign, then was found by his sister because the bullying he was subjected to was too much to handle.  We have read cases about how bullying gets worse and worse as technology changes, and how most states have taken active steps toward developing Anti-Bullying legislation and programs to stop bullying and help the victims.  I learned Michigan is one of the few states who had no state-wide legislation.  Without such legislation, the students have a much harder time recognizing a right and a recourse against the actions of the bullies and even perhaps a school system that might encourage it.

Then, I saw the articles about the “Anti-Bullying” bill going through the state legislature this week. I say “anti-bullying” with the greatest amount of sarcasm, because the language in this bill actually provides a shelter for bullies if they make a statement of “a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction of a school employee, school volunteer, pupil, or a pupil’s parent or guardian.” This bill is actually creating a means through which people can legally and legitimately bully others.  It’s sickening.  I’m sure it will be subject to legal challenge if passed.  It has already been through the ringer in regards to criticism for how it worked and what it says.  Did I mention the father of the child who this bill is named after, Matt Epling (the child), has loudly spoken out against this bill for exactly the language quoted above?

The sponsor of the bill, Senator Rick Jones, a Republican from Grand Ledge has been reported to say that the bill won’t be used to bully under that context and is intended to require school districts to create their own anti-bullying policies.  It is true that the bill has very specific requirements of school districts regarding the type of policy they should have, reporting methods, etc.  But the language I quoted above supersedes those policies.  It is written into the law.  What could possibly be the purpose for such language when it is obvious that people use their “religious” beliefs all the time to bully and harass people from all walks of life, with particular focus on the gay community.  But what else could it mean?  Can a Christian child tell a Muslim child he is a terrorist and deserves to die because he has a strongly held “moral” conviction that this is the truth of Islam?  Will we protect that hate then?

What if the tables are turned.  Will the sponsor of this bill stand idly by and protect the bully if an atheist child tells a Christian child that God doesn’t exist and anyone who believes that is an ignorant person who will go nowhere when they die? What if every day that atheist child stuffs pamphlets disavowing the presence of God in a Christian student’s locker because he is trying to “convert” the other?  Will then the sponsor of this bill claim discrimination based on religion and say the speech has gone too far?

We all know far worse things are said by bullies and far more serious consequences occur because of it.  Children are dying because they are living in a torturous world with only one way they can see out.  We cannot afford to provide shelters for bullies to hide under.  This language in the bill is an effective “wink and nod” at a bully, admonishing him/her to not to be a bully while at the same time spelling out exactly how to get around it.

Instead, we need to identify both the bully and the victim, and those who have the potential to become either. Or both. We need to stop what’s happening now and provide reasonable and constructive steps that everyone can take toward working together.  The beginning of this bill is a step in the right direction.  The language I have quoted here must be removed, or any potential good this bill could create will be useless before it even begins.

I just checked the state legislature site about the bill and it appears to be in committee with the state House.  I don’t know when the vote will be, but it’s critical to contact your House representative and tell them to vote NO, until this bill can actually protect victims and not bullies.

What are your thoughts?  I know usually I am much more “here are the arguments, now my editorial,” but this one hit me pretty hard. I’m interested to know your thoughts.  Is it not all doom and gloom as I say, if the bill does get passed and signed to law?  What do you think will happen?

For some other articles about the bill, click the links below:

Read the actual bill SB 137

Dearborn Patch Article with Interesting Comments

Detroit Free Press Article with the State Education Director’s Criticism

Everyone is talking about it!

The very beginning of the book places you in an interrogation room in Yemen with Ali Soufan (the author and former FBI Agent) and Abu Jandal (a senior al-Qaeda operative) just days after 9/11.  As you read, Soufan tracks back in his life to even before he joined the FBI. Soufan expertly writes about the violence that filled his youth in Lebanon during times of strife, the bet he accepted in college that brought him to the FBI, his own personal interest in Osama bin Laden based on shocking stories in newspapers from home, and the path that he walked as this hobby became his expertise, and his life.  From the very beginning of this book, it is clear that Ali Soufan is extremely knowledgeable about not only terrorism and al-Qaeda, but the Arab culture and the inconsistencies found between two.

However, it’s not a dry book about the history of al-Qaeda and the victories of the US.  While it can get overwhelming at points when many names are thrown around, especially when they are accompanied by one or more aliases, this book reveals the personal struggles Soufan dealt with when faced with the death of his mentor in the Twin Towers and his consistent criticism against Enhanced Interrogation Techniques. Soufan humbly and matter-of-factly details his successes in major wins from difficult and well-prepped interrogations that revealed information about the attack on the USS Cole, masterminds behind other potential plots, and the intricate workings of the organization we had known very little about before he came on board.

Throughout the book, you get a very clear understanding of who this man is, and what he would do or not do in the name of the United States. He believed that you have to outwit the person you are interrogating.  The only way to do that was to know as much as you could about the ideology of the organization, as well as the actual person you have in front of you.  In one instance, Soufan was able to convince an al-Qaeda operative to cooperate by calling him a nickname his mother gave him when he was young.  The operative thought that if Soufan knew about that, then he must know about everything else, and therefore would not be telling him anything new.  With other interrogations, Soufan engaged in religious debates with the operative to challenge the basic tenants of al-Qaeda and its brand of Islam.  These debates not only showed the operative how much Soufan knew, but often showed Soufan how important the operative was based on how well he could engage in the debate.  In addition, he was able to break down the operative’s arguments, pointing out the inconsistencies between the stories told to recruit the operative and how the world or the religion actually functioned.

Many times, his successes came because Soufan understood the culture.  He knew it would be embarrassing for an operative to be caught lying and that sf he showed them respect, they would feel obligated to respect him in return and cooperate.  In addition, from information they had obtained about how al-Qaeda trains its recruits, Soufan knew that they expected to be tortured in ways beyond anything we (thought) would be humanly possible.  So, Soufan talks about different interrogations where he unchained the operative, offered him tea and cookies, provided him a copy of a book he liked, or got him ice cream.  The reaction he often got was that this was not the United States they thought we were, further disproving the tenants they had learned in al-Qaeda, which caused them to question other things they had been taught.  Combining all of these tactics and more, Soufan was able to gain intelligence about the organization, its members, and missions. This not only stopped plots before they happened, but led to the prosecution of numerous members of al-Qaeda, breaking down its power with each interrogation.

A very difficult but enlightening part to read in the book is of the post 9/11 evolution of Enhanced Interrogation Techniques.  Soufan talks frankly about their ineffectiveness and the efforts by certain members of the CIA to cover up their failure and make up stories of their success.  There are a few situations where Soufan had a successful interrogation going and was receiving actionable intelligence, only to be stopped by CIA members who used EIT’s and got nothing.  Soufan talks often  about a technique al-Qaeda trains its people to use in interrogations, giving false or half-true information about pretend operations to appear to cooperate, without actually giving anything away.  His approach easily detects these lies and traps the operative in them, getting closer to the truth until the operative realizes the game is up.  Soufan talks about how operatives who were once giving real intelligence to Soufan, would then be subject to EIT’s and provide clearly false information just to make the treatment stop.  Due to the administration’s need to prove the usefulness of EIT’s and the inexperience of many of the “interrogators”, this information was often touted as real intelligence or, even worse, they would claim to have obtained the information Soufan got as obtained through EIT’s to show they were effective.  Soufan fought against this treatment, not only because it was ineffective, but he watched as we quickly evolved to using techniques less and less humane, going further and further away from the tenants of our Constitution and beliefs.  Soufan would often have to fight for access to some operatives, re-establish a connection with them after this treatment, and was still able to get information with his techniques, despite what had been done before.  I was watching the Colbert Report, when he had Soufan to promote his book.  When Colbert asked Soufan if he was calling Dick Cheney a liar for his statements about how great and effective EIT’s are, Soufan said, ” I know I was there and he wasn’t.”  He went on to say he was the only government official who took an oath to tell the truth in front of Congress and talk about these techniques and others.  It is true.  The 9/11 Commission came out with findings about these programs and the cover-up that was going on at the time to inflate their purported success so that the White House could justify their use to the American public. Soufan points out many times in the book where the 9/11 Commission found his story to be true.

Without turning this post into a book report, I will conclude by saying this book gives a real insight into the terrorist group we continue to fight, as well as the ways the US has succeeded and failed in this pursuit.  Despite those failings, this book re-inforces your belief in America as a stronghold for justice and freedom because of the men and women like Ali Soufan who stood for us in places many of us wouldn’t dream of going.  It was a fantastic book and I look forward to the release of all of the sections in the book that were redacted by the CIA, which Soufan promised he will continue to fight to have added back in.

To get more information, you can visit http://www.soufangroup.com/.  Also, there are groups on Facebook and Twitter for the book or for the author, Ali Soufan.

I am very excited about the work I am doing.  The ADC not only helps address the individual issue of discrimination with one person, it has the ability to bring a voice to the issue overall and bring about change on a greater level. It is so important for people to have an avenue to walk down and a place to go when they believe they have been mistreated.  ADC is that place for so many people in Southeast Michigan and around the country.  The techniques used and the relationships built through this process help to break down barriers, both individually and culturally, so that, hopefully, the issue before us can be prevented in the future.

I am slowly working down my own path to learning Arabic, a major disadvantage for me as most people who come into our office are bilingual.  I know this opportunity will allow me to grow personally and professionally.  In the end, I am glad to know that I am helping this wonderful organization to truly help people in my community and I can’t wait to see what happens next! To learn more about the ADC, visit their website at www.adcmichigan.org

As I exited 696, I really thought I might  not make it in time. The zoo is right there and the line of cars to get in was very long, but moving smoothly.  As I drove into the parking lot, there were people everywhere!  Most of them had their numbers on already and everyone looked like they were in a great mood. I’ve never participated in a race this huge and was astonished by how many people there were. I finally made it to the end of the lot where there were a few parking spaces left.  I booked it down to the registration table. I wasn’t sure what they would give us and so didn’t know if I needed to go back to my car to put anything away. I got in line at 7:45 and, though it was long, it moved quickly. The volunteers running the registration were happy and helpful. I got my number “2149″ and my t-shirt. I put the t-shirt on and pinned on my number, then started to make my way toward the start.

The day included a 5k, 10k, 15k, and a family fun walk. The 5k was going first. I had assumed a lot of people were just there early for other races but most of them were moving toward the start line with me! I made my way toward the front but eventually there were so many people not going anywhere that I stopped and waited. I talked for a bit with a woman waiting next to me about how many people there were. She just started running again this summer as well. But, she was running today’s 5k as part of her training for a 10k next month, then a 15k in November. I told her so far, a 5k is good for me!  The gun went off and we laughed about how slowly we all had to move to the starting line. With a quick “good luck” to each other, I started my Endomondo and crossed the start, triggering my number on the timer.

The beginning was almost silly. There were so many people we were running down 10 mile and literally packed the street, with people even running on the sidewalk just to get some space. The pace was a really slow jog and it seemed as if we would never stretch out enough to get a stride. Surprisingly, the first mile went by pretty quickly even amid the craziness.  I think mostly because I was focused on running my normal pace, which meant at times weaving around people who were slower. No one got upset about this, it seemed expected that if you just run straight and don’t get in anyone’s way, those who want to will pass you or you can pass others. We made our first turn and a water table was waiting. I didn’t get one and kept going. One mile down.

For the second mile, I got into my mind games. I had reviewed the map briefly and I knew generally that we had a few turns and would go back into the zoo from Woodward. I thought, if I just keep up the pace then I will be done sooner! The other people around me definitely influenced my speed as well. There is just something about the opportunity to pass someone right in front of you that motivates you to pick it up just that much more.  As usual, my pace did slow a bit from my first to my second mile, but I didn’t do too badly. The area was gorgeous with great houses to look at and the weather was awesome. More than once I saw a few unlucky cars trying to cross the street we were running on, only to have to turn around and try to find another way to their destination. I was still in a pretty solid pack of people but no longer had to worry about tripping over anyone. I was getting tired though. I told myself I could walk when we got water after the 2nd mile. At one point, I heard a voice to my left and I saw a woman running and just chatting on her phone. She was passing me even! I was so shocked by this that I threw my hands up and looked around to see if anyone else saw what was going on. No reaction. I just laughed to myself and kept going.

My Endomondo interrupted Pandora and told me I reached my second mile. My pace was good. But there was no water table in sight. I thought about just walking there but kept going. Finally, I saw a table. I walked for a little bit and got a cup. I drank the cup and, refreshed, kept running. I knew that I was within the 3rd mile and the table said “Finish Line Sponsors” so I knew I had to be close. We kept running down the street and I was trying to encourage myself to pick up my step.  I have noticed by now that the more tired I get as I run, the smaller my steps get. I start to lean forward and almost bend over and practically shuffle me feet in an attempt, I assume, to conserve energy and keep moving. When I noticed I was getting to that point, I forced myself to straighten up and pick up my feet. People have told me I walk with a small bounce in my step. It must be true because it’s impossible for me to walk with an open cup of liquid without spilling it! I think I have a bounce in my run too. If I force myself to get that bounce, then my pace picks up and I breathe better.

Of course, that too could be all in my head!

Regardless, I kept going. We made the turn onto Woodward and a small celebration went off in my head. I was almost there! I kept looking ahead to see where the others were turning, because that meant the finish line wasn’t far. I hit the three-mile mark. Shortly after, I turned and entered the gates of the zoo. I spotted the Finish line ahead and I picked it up. Some crazy burst of energy allowed me to sprint to the finish. It felt great! I was a sprinter in all my sports in high school and it was great to stretch out my legs and speed up. I even heard the MC say “here’s someone sprinting in to the end!” as I crossed the line.  I was tired but I was happy with my performance.

They had a tent setup with five computers where you could put in your race number and get instant stats on your time, pace, and place in the race. I checked mine. My official time was 31:48! My best yet! I couldn’t believe it. I went to get a banana and water they were giving away and generally caught my breath from the run.

The other races were getting started and people were still coming in from the 5k. People and cars were still streaming into the zoo. They had a closing ceremony scheduled and food and other events, as well as free admission to the zoo for participants.  However, I had reading to do today for school and was getting cold so I went home. The final results will be posted today on Active.com.  I’m looking forward to seeing them because I’m really curious to see just how many people actually participated!

In the end, I’m glad I was able to get myself out of bed this early morning and run in the race. I now have a new time to beat and a new goal to make. I still wouldn’t say I love running. However, I do really enjoy races like this. Next up will be the Wayne State Law School Ambulance Chase on September 27th at 5pm. It’s just 2.2 miles but it’s a fundraiser for Cass Community Social Services and a good way to push my pace. We will also have a bbq afterward for everyone to get some food. If you are interested in being a sponsor on the t-shirt and/or participating in the event, you can get information and sign-up here.

Thanks to everyone for the good luck’s and well-wishes for the race today!

It was the weekend of June 10th and I was at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Annual Convention. Imad Hamad, Director of the ADC Michigan office in Dearborn, invited me to attend with his office and I was ecstatic.

Although I didn’t know the staff of ADC Michigan very well before the trip, soon Lena Mansour, Saira Mussani, and I were chatting like old friends as the plane took us to D.C. We landed just in time for a late dinner. Over pasta at an Italian restaurant we chose at random, we had light dinner conversation that ranged from where we grew up to our deepest thoughts on the inter-relationships between religions and how they are perceived. I was delighted that the trip began with such frank and open conversations and was excited for what else was to come.

As volunteers, we were assigned to a few different tasks and then generally available to help as needed. It was clear from the beginning that the volunteers and ADC employees love their jobs and being a part of the great work of ADC. I was welcomed into the family and pointed in a direction of where I could help.

Each panel contributed a unique perspective to the convention. The Interfaith Panel discussed the intricacies of the major religions and the different efforts each has undertaken to encourage understanding and tolerance. One such effort is a multi-faith annual holiday party in which different religious groups participate to learn about each others’ practices and beliefs. We were told about a religiously segregated and suspicious community where this effort was launched and the change it has brought about.

Overall, the panels were fantastic. There were very real and immediate issues we talked about, like the U.S. Foreign policy in the Middle East, how to define what it means to be Arab, what the Palestinian struggle is about and how it is perceived, and the discrimination and impressions of Arab-Americans by others, and the uprisings in the Middle East. It was hard not to notice that I was one of a few participants who was not of Middle Eastern descent. I wanted to embrace the fact that I was different and didn’t have the basic understanding of the Arab-American struggles that one gains simply from living it. I didn’t try to pretend that I knew what people were talking about when they joked about the differences between an Iraqi and a Palestinian.

I quickly found out that I didn’t have to pretend. I didn’t have to defend or explain myself. It felt like we were all on a journey to learn from each other, share our thoughts and experiences, and come away a little better than we got there.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one of the more dramatic events of the weekend. It was all over the blogs. Malik Jindali, a well-known musician was scheduled to perform his song “I am My Homeland” at the Gala dinner on Saturday night. Rumors started circulating on Friday that the singer had been dis-invited due to the political nature of the song. Immediately, participants and panelists alike were expressing their disappointment about this decision. Regardless of the reasons why we could not hear the song live, they played the song during the Gala. Talk about leaving better than we got there. An internal debate about the purpose of this organization and its better judgment regarding how to deal with the evolving situation created an undercurrent throughout the weekend. In the end, voices from every side were heard and respected.

One of my favorite parts of the weekend was learning how to dabke, a popular Arabic dance, at the Gala. I had heard about it all day leading up to the dinner and was told I was in for a treat. The dance can start at any time with just a couple of people linking arms and establishing a few dance steps. It was so new to me that I couldn’t recognize the “traditional” steps that every dance includes, but I quickly caught on. Soon, the entire dance floor would be in the dance, spiraling around and around as more people joined in. Often, the pace sped up and people were soon out of breath trying to keep up. The people who started the dance usually threw in fancier moves as it went and the rest of us watched in amazement as we kept up the original steps.

Sunday was a short day. The convention ended with a few final panels and we flew home. On the flight home, I mostly read the new book I purchased at the convention;Barefoot in Baghdad by Manal Omar. She was a speaker on the Defining Our Role and Identity panel and I was impressed by her humanitarian work. Her book talks about her time in Baghdad from 2003-2005, where she setup aid for women and underprivileged people in the area. She wrote about the changing feelings toward Americans through this time and the internal struggle she felt as a Muslim, an American, a humanitarian, and a woman. It was a fantastic book and a frank look into this turbulent time in our recent history.

Even though we had spent three days together, it was hard to leave the group. We had become close friends fast and I was glad to have had that chance. The differences between us were less mysterious and our similarities more profound. With hugs all around and promises to see each other soon, we went our separate ways. Imad asked me to write about my experience to be submitted to the local newspapers. I knew I needed a few days to let everything sink in and soon those days slipped away from me. I never stopped thinking of my time at the convention or my assignment to write about it. But, for some reason I couldn’t form the words to adequately explain it. I know this article is far later than was expected and likely won’t be relevant as news, but it was important to me to finish it.

I hope what we can all learn is if you don’t understand a person or a culture, ask. It can be so hard to admit to not knowing something. I believe we are often afraid of being offensive or coming off as ignorant and that prevents us from learning. I know from this experience that it is worth it. You might say something wrong or get a strange response, but the effort of putting yourself forward and requesting that another person help you grow is worthwhile on its own. Besides, how can we ever really understand each other if we don’t make ourselves available to be understood just a little bit, too?

I looked around and found a few good resources online. Of course, I plan to do the Wayne Law Ambulance Chase, which is a 2.2 mile run around the Wayne State campus in September.  Since it’s not quite a 5k, I also think I will sign up for the Run Wild for Detroit Zoo 5k on September 18th. It’s just under a month away, a good cause, and a good way to keep this going.  I also found the Troop Trot on November 5, a 5k with the Metropolitan Detroit Veterans Coalition. The money for registration goes toward supporting the group’s efforts in sending care packages to our soldiers overseas.  They will also be collecting donation items the day of the race.  I think this is an awesome cause and a great event.  It will also give me motivation to improve my time and get workouts in as the Fall Semester picks up steam.

I found a good article about improving your 5k time which I think can help me bring my running to the next level.  The person who wrote the article has a website with a great training program that I can start to follow in preparation for the race in September.  It requires cross training along with running so that will keep it interesting.  I can keep swimming until the pool closes and maybe will get into biking or something after that.

We will see what happens as I go but I want to make sure to keep it going.  I’m still not in great shape and I have a few pounds I need to lose.  Most importantly, a semester of law school can be crazy and stressful, this can be a good personal goal and stress reliever, as weird as that sounds. Also, I have made getting up early to run or hitting the gym after work a habit that would be very difficult to start again if I lose it now.  I still don’t really consider myself a runner but maybe now I’m a little more athletic than I was 6 weeks ago!  I’ll make sure to keep you updated on my progress, just maybe not as often as I did for the Duathlon.

When we pulled up a few participants were already there and they were opening the doors for us to sign up.  We signed the waiver, releasing the Ford Center and DMC from any liability in the case of injury or death, then got our numbers. They wrote a “3″ on both of my arms and I was officially registered.  I made my way out to the pool to scope out how this might happen.  As I suspected, the lanes were the length of the pool.  I had never swam 50 meter lengths before, but I was certainly going to have to figure it out quickly! I started talking to some of the other participants. They made me a lot less nervous because they were there just to have fun.  No one seemed to be taking it too seriously and some people said it had been a few months since they had even swam. I told Phil this morning that I was nervous I would look so ridiculous next to everyone else that I would be the absolute last one out of the pool and come in running so far behind that everyone would be gone.  It started to look like I was among friends and that made me feel better.

I got my shoes and transition things ready on a bench and dipped my toe in the water to test it out.  It was warm!  We were told we could jump in and do a quick warmup before the race started.  Right before we did that, we were told there was going to be a mandatory 5 minute transition time and we were assigned a timer to keep track of us as we went.  Phil was ready with the camera, with strict instructions not to take pictures when it looked like I was going to drown/die.  I jumped in and did a quick few strokes down and back.  I felt ready to go.  I didn’t go the full length, so I still had not swam 50 meters at once yet.

They lined us up to call the start of the race. With one last “good luck” we were off! It was very exciting to know that I was in line with 9 other people and we were racing each other in this crazy event.  I knew I had 8 laps and would need to pace myself but I got carried away and took off way too fast. When I got halfway down the pool, where I’m used to turning, I looked ahead and saw the huge amount of space left to the wall.  I pushed ahead and successfully flipped when I hit the other end. On my way back, I got tired, quick. I started to lose my rhythm and I couldn’t breathe. I inhaled a lot of water and the side I started on seemed to be miles away. I was forced to do a breast stroke, or some weird form of it, to try to catch my breath.

My team, Phil and my timer, were cheering me on like I didn’t look like I was drowning as I got to the end. I turned around and couldn’t help but think that I didn’t know how I would get through 7 more laps of this. I tried to do freestyle but kept losing my breath and did some more breast strokes for a bit. On the third lap, I was finally catching on. I understood the length now and what to expect.  While my pace was much slower than normal, it finally evened out and I was swimming like normal again. I even was able to throw in some flip turns at the ends. The laps went by faster and I felt much more in control. On my last lap, I tried to pick up the pace. I looked around and saw that there were other people in the water.  When I hit the wall, the first thing I said was, I’m not the last one!  Phil was standing there with my towel and I caught my breath as I went through my transition, getting ready to run.

I am very glad they required 5 minutes for transition, or I don’t think I would have been ready to run and would have rushed to get out there and probably passed out or something catastrophic.  I was lined up at the start as my timer was counting down until I could go.  Then, I was off again. I always start my run off pretty strong, like I actually know what I’m doing.  I felt good, despite my abysmal showing in the pool just minutes ago.  They had us run the track around Levagood Park. We had to do 5 laps.  As I came in for the first lap, I felt pretty good still and flashed a quick smile to everyone at the starting/finish line.  My first mile was soon down in just 10:05.  Like any run, there are good parts and bad parts.  The good part was right at the beginning of the lap, it was shady and slightly downhill.  The worst part was about halfway through the lap. It was flat which is fine but right in the sun and when you get into the shade again, you start going uphill.  I had to play my mind games as I went. Once I got through the second lap, I knew there were three more to go and I was getting tired. I started to tell myself that, once I got to the light pole ahead, I would let myself walk.  Then, once I got to the pole, it was that I could walk when I hit the 2 mile mark, and so on. I was convinced that I would let myself walk around 2 1/2 miles and I slowed down like I was going to but didn’t give in and kept going. My Endomondo app told me I ran my second lap in 10:30. I was so happy with that!  Usually my second lap is much slower than the first, so I was glad to keep up my pace as I went. Everytime I rounded the top of the hill by the start/finish line, the volunteers cheered me on and I heard Phil encouraging me to keep it up.

After what seemed like forever, I was on my last lap. The landmarks of where I would let myself walk became closer and closer together. Finally, when I was halfway around the track I told myself there was no way I could walk the last half.  It was almost over and I would just have to keep moving and get there. I somehow made it! As I passed the finish line, Phil handed me a water and I was just glad to be done. It took me a while to catch my breath but soon we were talking about how I did and watching the last few participants come in. They had Panera bagels and water there for us. This was probably the first time in my life that I have turned down free Panera, but I could hardly breathe, there was no way I could eat a bagel!

They gathered everyone around and let us pick our prize. I got a $10 gift card to Buffalo Wild Wings!  Then, they read off the winners and times. The first two did awesome and won an OM spa gift package. Then they read third place. Then I heard my name…Kristyn Taylor coming in at 50:37 total for 4th place.  What! I was shocked and pleased with myself. With a “good job” to everyone and a “thank you” to the volunteers and organizers, we all went our separate ways.

On the way home, Phil and I went through the obligatory recap of the race and where it went well and where it didn’t. I was disappointed with my swimming, but happy with my run so I was happy with my performance overall. I know that if I was able to swim a 50 meter length before this, I would have done much better.  But, I couldn’t be too upset because I did it! The crazy, late-night decision to compete in a Duathlon and 6 weeks of training had paid off.

Thank you to everyone who put the Dearborn Duathlon together. I look forward to the one next year! Also, thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me as I went through this. I know I probably talked way too much about my running and swimming and I appreciate those of you who listened, as well as all of the great advice I received along the way. I could not have done it without you! Of course, thank you to my wonderful boyfriend, Phil. He was patient when I went on late-night lap swims or early morning runs. He listened to me whine about the difficulty and stress over my race-day nerves. And he cheered me on as I went through the race today. Knowing he was there and rooting for me definitely helped when I was sure I wouldn’t be able to make it.

Thank you again.  If you or someone you know competed, what did you think?

In a last ditch effort to make sure I’m ready for tomorrow, I ran this morning and then just got back from swimming this afternoon. I didn’t intend on running but I felt like I needed to. The run went ok, it was just over two miles.  I went through my same old routine asking myself for a good reason why I couldn’t just start walking at any given moment.  The swim today was terrible. It took me about 10 laps to get into my rhythm. My turns were all off and I almost drowned a couple of times when I inhaled water instead of air. I admit, I did not go to the pool enough times during my training. I did a couple extra laps to make myself feel a little better about tomorrow.

As I left, I asked the lifeguard which way the lanes will be lined.  She said it will probably be the length of the pool.  If so, that’s good and bad for me.  I have never gotten to swim a straight 50 meters because either the pools I have swam in aren’t that big or the lanes are across the width and not the length. So, I’m used to 25 meters, then turning.  The good news is my flip turns are a disaster so if the lanes are for the length then that’s fewer turns I have to make.

I looked back over my Endomondo reports and the different swim workouts I did.  While I can’t do an exact distance for swimming because I don’t have the same app, I think the number below is a pretty accurate reflection of my training.

Number of Weeks Training: 6
Number of Miles Ran: 37.01
Number of Miles Swam: 6
Best running mile time: 9:56
Best swimming 1/2 mile time: 16 minutes

I think I’m getting a bit too much into my head so I’m going to try to relax and get a good night’s rest before the race.  The good thing is that I actually completed the distance in full over a week ago.  If I could do it then, I know I can do it tomorrow.  Wish me luck and good luck to everyone else who is participating tomorrow.  Also, thanks to everyone who has asked about my training or given me encouragement along the way! In case you are wondering, the Duathlon will be held tomorrow morning at 8:30am at Dunworth Pool/Levagood Park.