Middle Eastern Poles

Syria's Division Bell

2011-05-24T17:21:00.000+04:00

The uprising in Syria has been raging for more than two months now, and there's no sign of progress from either side of the fence.

The protesters are standing their ground, demanding the freedom and rights they believe should prevail. And the government is using any and everything necessary to quell this uprising while showing to the rest of the world that Syria is fine and that apart from a few armed gangs that are looking to destabilize the country; everything is pretty much normal in Syria.

Many have wondered: how come there aren't so many people protesting? How come we're not seeing millions filling squares all over the country or at least in Damascus, similar to what happened in Egypt and Yemen?

The answer to this is twofold:
1. Protesters are literally being shot at! There are numerous videos that clearly show security forces and army units shooting live rounds at protesters in plain site and broad day light. To make it worse, security forces are stationing at hospitals as well to make sure they prevent those who are wounded from receiving proper treatment. There is news of many doctors and nurses, especially those working in the ER who have been reprimanded, beaten up, arrested or even shot at because they were caught helping the wounded from the protests.

2. People are scared. People are very scared. They were scared before the uprising began, and they're even more scared now. They're scared because they know what this regime is capable of. What they're willing to do to stay in power. How many lives and families they're willing to take and destroy for the sake of one family clinging to the throne.
Syrians living in Syria aren't allowed to whisper anything relating to the uprising unless it is along the same lines as what the governments' media has been depicting. Anyone who says otherwise is quickly branded a traitor and an agent of the West and is immediately whiskered off to the nearest Mukhabarat (security services or CID) station for "questioning".

If two Syrians who are strangers to one another meet by chance outside Syria, chances are they will not discuss the events unfolding in Syria today because each one will be worried that the other may be Mukhabarat. Yes, Syria's Mukhabarat work outside Syria too, not as spies against foreign countries, but as spies assigned to monitor what Syrians are doing and saying. This is a well known fact from before the uprising. If a Syrian living abroad makes the mistake of speaking up in front of a Mukhabarat, a report will be written about what transpired and sent to the authorities in Syria. The person who made the statements will either be put on watch or placed under arrest as soon as he/she enters the country (depending on the severity of what was said).

People inside and outside Syria are very scared. And while we admit that there are many who would defend and fight for this regime, we can also safely say that the majority wants to live a life that is free and dignifying. Over 40 years of iron-fist rule meant that people have found ways to cope. They found the pockets that should be filled to make their lives easier, the methods to follow to stay out of trouble and what and what not to say to please the ears of the Mukhabarat. Some of these people are worried that the uprising might disrupt this unholy balance they fought hard to accomplish. They're worried about the outcome of this uprising. They're also worried about the chaos and bloodshed the country will face due to this uprising, especially since they are well aware of the madness of the regime. A madness that knows no boundaries. A madness that is being revealed day by day in the face of these events.

This is the moment of the division bell. Stability + oppression vs. instability + freedom, some are going the distance, willing to pay the price no matter how costly it may be. Some claim to be more rational, more mature, accepting the status quo as a price to pay for the stability the government has provided. For a movement that is primarily instigated by the youth, perhaps a lack of maturity is what mars it. But there's also determination and a strong will to change. Only time will tell who and what prevails. I am all for stability, but I sure hope that oppression doesn't gain the upper hand. The notion that stability and security only comes if oppression is practiced is a notion I deeply disagree with. I hope the courage of the Syrian youth braving those bullets in the streets of Homs, Hama, Daraa and elsewhere mutes the chimes of that division bell and unites all Syrians in a path towards freedom and dignity.

Syria Proclaims It Now Has Upper Hand Over Uprising

2011-05-10T18:06:00.001+04:00

This statement made by this so-called advisor is as stupid as her nose job. If gaining the upper ground is done by killing, torturing and jailing innocent civilians asking for their God given rights; then I would say it's a job well done.

How can this regime stay after what it has done! They have bred furious people throughout my country who at all costs, including their lives, still maintain the peaceful aspect of their protests.

Legitimacy is gone when you start shooting at your own people. Legitimacy is gone when you label anyone who asks for their rights as a terrorist and saboteur, equating them with common criminals who roam the streets freely, untouched by the iron-fisted security thugs who claim they've been deployed to maintain the peace.

My country is going through a very difficult time, and I believe it will be worse unfortunately. Simultaneously, we do not want Syria to turn into another Libya. And we do not want foreign intervention with its heavy financial and political costs. It's a dilemma we're facing. One thing remains...this "advisor" is a liar much like the rest of this dying regime. Their lies, deceit and crimes will spell their end, one way or another.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The Syrian Revolution Pt. 2

2011-04-26T20:05:00.001+04:00

This is my third post regarding the events unfolding in Syria and the second part of my opinionated coverage of the revolution. In my first post I wrote about the Baath party occupying Syria much like Israel occupies Palestine. In The Syrian Revolution Pt. 1 I attempted to reply to some of those in Syria and elsewhere who claim this regime is good for Syria. Things happened since that last post, treacherous things, therefore my language will be different in this post...in other words, no more Mr. Nice Guy.

Oppression and violence against peaceful protesters has taken a more violent and brutal turn. The regime has sent out animals to the streets, armed to their teeth with bullets that pierce the flesh of innocent civilians, their very own countrymen. Armies have been deployed in cities as if they were occupied by some foreign heavily armed forces. Tanks wander the streets to spread terror. Snipers and sharp shooters riddle the rooftops in anticipation of any moving soul in the empty lifeless streets. It's hunting season for them. "Shoot anything that moves" their orders are apparently. And shoot anything that moved they did. Four Hundred innocent unarmed civilians have been killed by the Syrian security forces, thugs and army since the start of this uprising. And it doesn't seem like it's letting up anytime soon.

When I replied to some of my friends and cousins in and out of Syria who were defending the Syrian murderous regime I approached the matter as a mere difference of opinion. They are supporters of a certain approach or status quo and I have reasons for that status quo to change. Now, however, things are different. When you defend this regime, you're defending the murder of hundreds of innocent civilians. You are defending the killing of children and the unjustified arrest of hundreds of innocent civilians. You are defending a lying, murdering, deceitful regime that is actively practicing state terror and actively hunting down any form of peaceful resentment and killing and/or arresting every and anyone who dares to speak up. This has gone too far.

When you support an ideology or a political party, you're practicing your democratic right and freedom of speech. When you support the brutal, inhumane and unholy murder of your own countrymen, you're committing treason.

The regime tells us these are Salafists, terrorists, infiltrators, agents of the West who wish our country harm, who wish to compromise Syria by destabilizing it from within. The regime is right...but it's only right because it believes that Syria is the Baath Party and the Baath Party is Syria.

Yes, we do wish to destabilize the Baath regime, we want to compromise its integrity, because we simply want it gone. Why? Well let's assume it was so good to Syria before, the way it's been "managing" the recent protests is reason enough for them to go.

They think they're immune to punishment. They think they can hide behind their walls and weapons and shoot at their unarmed subjects. They think the Syrian people are slaves who either obey or else. They are wrong. Bashar, Maher, the Makhloofs, Shawkat, even Rifa'at and Khaddam...it's only a matter of time.

To these thugs I mentioned above...the mafia heads who deserve to die for their treason, and to those making and executing the decisions in this dying regime I say this: Your hands are stained with the blood of your countrymen and the tears of their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and children. One day you will pay for this, in this lifetime or the next. Your ivory towers will not protect you from the wrath of people or God Almighty. One day, you will pay.

Warning: The video below contains graphic images. But if you watch it, you'll understand in what context this post was written.

The Syrian Revolution Pt. 1

2011-04-14T13:45:00.001+04:00

As many are aware the revolution in Syria is well under way now. Protests have spread in numerous cities, towns and villages with people untied in asking for freedom, civil rights and the ability to live in pride and dignity. Reform of government and other institutions, end of the corruption that has spread like cancerous cells in every corner of the country and the release of political prisoners who have been held on no or bogus charges are some of the most important of our demands. As well as, the end of 40+ year old Emergency Law that has given this mafia of a regime the license to tightly, unjustly and criminally hold 20 million people hostage in their own country.

So far there has been more than 170 people killed. Most of them were protesters marching in peaceful protests. They were killed by the government through its security apparatus.

I’ve recently engaged in small debates with friends and family on some social media forums about the sincerity of those who will this change and the validity of the governments’ claims and status. Having had debated a number of people I noticed that most of their arguments are the same. In this post, I will list those arguments and present my own counter-argument to each of them:

1. Syrians are living in peace and security under the Baath regime, we do not want another Iraq/Yemen/Libya/etc.

Citizens of any country are supposed to live in peace and security, this is not a gift from the government to the people. If the government fails to provide security to its citizens then it is regarded as a failure. Moreover, what is the price the Syrian people are paying for this “security”? Curtailing of civil rights and freedom of speech? Inability to criticize or disagree with any government decree or public figure? People living in humiliation under the mercy of a mafia that decides who gets what when? How is Europe living in peace and security?!

2. Syria’s animosity towards America and Israel is something the Syrian people are proud of, we are one of the very few countries in the region who have not given in to the colonial, imperialistic and Zionist entities of the US and Israel.

So?! Who said the alternative to the Baath mafia will be all “lovey-dovey” towards Israel and the US? If we establish democracy in Syria and the majority of the people wish to make Israel and the US their enemies, than that’s what will happen. End of story. I have a deep-seated animosity towards Israel and the American policies in the region, but that doesn’t mean that I also like having a totalitarian regime in my country which practices its iron-fist policies with the excuse that its defending me from my enemies. We have been in a technical-state-of-war for 40 years in Syria and we have not tasted the sweet taste of peace nor have we really gone to war. The status-quo is unsustainable and unbearable and must end or at least change.

3. Syria is economically self-sufficient and self reliant. Syria does not rely on foreign aid nor does it have any mentionable external debt. While all the countries in the world suffered from the recent economic crisis, Syria stood tall unshaken by it because of its economic policies.

This is a myth, no country in the world wasn’t effected by the crisis, including Syria. Syria has recently thrived on foreign (mostly Arab) investment flowing in, erecting various projects such as office, residential and commercial buildings. Syrians are happy now that we finally have malls! But the investment funds have dried up. Investors stopped pumping money simply because they don’t have it anymore. Investment in Syria has two sources, the first coming from the Baath mafia heads where most of the proceeds of their business goes back to them, further adding to the riches. The second coming from foreign and Arab investors. The world has been severely affected by the crisis, and so have the investors coming from the rest of the world. As for the mafia investors, enough said.

I cannot argue much about the foreign debt issue, partly because its true, and partly because I’m not an economist or financial expert and I can’t really analyze this particular point in a meaningful manner.

4. The protesters are nothing but infiltrators and saboteurs looking to shake the stability of the country and create chaos and havoc to benefit our enemies.

This is the same old broken record replayed by every tyrant in the world and the region directed at every or any sign of dissent and public outcries towards the autocratic nature of the regime and its criminal policies. The notion that if you don’t subscribe to the regime’s policies automatically means that you are an agent of the West and Israel is the very core of what dictatorship stands for. It’s what the Arab governments, including our own, criticized America about when Bush famously made his “you’re either with us or against us” doctrine. To those I say this:

I am Syrian as much as you all are. I love my country as much as you do, I fear for it as much as you do. I reject any foreign intervention claiming to save or help us. I believe change can and will come from within and that is more than sufficient. Israel is my arch-enemy. And so is the Baath mafia currently occupying my country, see my last post. To me they are two sides of the same coin. I do not subscribe to the totalitarian policies practiced by this government. I am for free speech, civil rights and liberties, healthy institutions and democracy. And I am for living in pride and dignity.

I look forward to the day when Syrians can hold their heads up high and feel proud of their country and what it has and stands for. When we excel in arts and sciences. When tourism becomes a huge industry. When my culture and history is exported to the whole world by the power of its richness and values, unstained by the filthy hands of this regime. The people of Syria are creative and smart, intelligent and respectful. We have the ability, the will and the resources to be one of the top countries of this world in almost every aspect. And it’s time to break the barriers and rise up.

Baath Occupation of Syria

2011-03-16T16:22:00.001+04:00

One of the pillars of the Syrian regime is its strong political, diplomatic and military stance against our arch-enemy, Israel. In light of the recent events in the Middle East as a whole, and Syria in particular I was thinking about worst case scenarios. It didn’t take me long to figure out that there are two such scenarios:

1. Civil War.

2. Israel occupying Syria (or at least large parts of it).

Since the Syrian government and its Baath party have always prided themselves for being on the frontlines of the Arab-Israeli struggle, I thought I’d concentrate on scenario 2, (while not undermining scenario 1 in any way)…so here goes:

Let’s assume the following happens:

1. Protests erupt in many parts of the country (already starting).

2. Government comes down hard on them (already happening).

3. Protests metamorphose into a revolution.

4. Regime falls, chaos ensues.

5. Israel steps in, occupies much of the country.

So once Israel occupies the country, how will it impact the daily lives of Syrians? Like this:

1. No rights, no justice.

2. Humiliation and enslavement.

3. Country’s resources stolen.

4. Activists in jails, torture.

5. Heavy handed state security, police state.

6. High levels of censorship.

7. Poverty.

But wait a minute, aren’t most Syrians living in these conditions already? Indeed they are, not only that, Corruption can be added to the list also which is probably much higher in Syria today than it is in the occupied territories of Palestine!

We have nothing against our beloved president, in fact we love him, we are confident that under different circumstances he would have been a great leader. But we do have something against the Baath party:

To us, you’re no different than our arch-enemy Israel. You do to us everyday what Israel does to the Palestinians everyday. You abused your powers, enslaved your people and stole from them for more than 40 years. You were given a very long chance to make things better and you failed, now your time is up. Now the Syrian people are saying enough. Go back to where you came from because you have clearly failed to rule a nation in every single aspect. Go home while you still can.

The Revolution - The People

2011-02-15T22:58:00.001+04:00

The Egyptian revolution is so fantastic that it sent out ripples of shock and awe, not Bush's way, but in such a civilized and positive way that it set examples and lessons to the world and generations to come.

Society functions on many levels, the Egyptian revolution is a social one and hence has many levels of its own. Ironically enough it also used Social Media as a platform to launch, promote and organize itself as well. Not entirely, but to a considerable degree.

This post is a start of a multi-leveled analysis of this epic revolution that exposed lies, disposed corrupt dictators and reflected an Arabic civilization many around the world didn't know existed.

The world was taken aback by the level of organization and steadfastness the peaceful protests depicted. Tahrir Square, the stronghold of the protesters, was a fortress of light from which the masses launched their calls and aspirations for noble values like freedom, democracy, equality and reform.

Signs of an advanced civilization could be seen in every corner of Tahrir Square. The field clinic tending to the injured and wounded. The tents erected in the middle to accommodate the garrisons. The News Wall on which newspaper cutouts were stapled for the protesters to monitor how the world and their enemy sees them. Food and drinks stands. Arts corners. A place for prayers. The list goes on.

Then there were the warriors on the front lines. The brave and free souls who fought, bled, and held on for 19 days in the face of a barbaric regime that stands for nothing but ignorance and brutality. I was glued to the television, weeping tears of pride, joy and humility, watching epic battles between the protesters and the barbaric hordes belonging to a dark yesterday. Heros fell and heros bled yet they kept going at it. Fighting for their rights. For what they believe in. Fighting for a tomorrow they can look forward to, a present they can be proud of and a yesterday they could sweep away into the dust bin of history.

The Egyptian people displayed a spirit of unity and national pride that could stand against the mightiest of tyrants. They produced a "textbook" revolution that will go down in history as probably the most successful of revolutions. One that will be studied for generations to come as an example of what people could do when united under one flag, one goal, one spirit and one cause.

I bow down in respect to the brave people of Egypt for creating their own reality, for shaping their own future and for fighting for justice and freedom in a way that will surely and ultimately transcend the value of citizens of this world. I wish I was one of you, I aspire to be one of you and I will thrive and raise my unborn children to be like you. I salute you.

Benihana & Mubarak

2011-02-14T13:19:00.000+04:00

I had a great urge to blog about the Benihana, Kuwait blunder (#BenihanaKUW on twitter) that took place a few weeks ago but I resisted doing so in fear of straying away from my political focus my blog reflects.

After witnessing what recently transpired in Egypt, I managed to see a connection: The Dictator Mentality. This is what Benihana & Mubarak have in common. They both are ultra-proud of their offering and expect people to love them no matter what. They both strike with a fist of iron those who dare to speak against them. And they both are blind to everything but what they wish to see, and deaf to anything but what they want to hear.

In fact, Mubarak seems to be better. It took him 19 days to figure out what to do. Benihana seems to remain in an utter state of denial. Well, Benihana, you served your papers to Mark, today the world of bloggers are serving you. Here's Mr. Mark Makhoul's first post which ignited this whole issue:

A few days back I posted about Benihana opening up at the Avenues and yesterday night I decided to pass by with Nat and try it out. The service wasn’t too bad for a restaurant that’s just been open for a few days and the staff were really friendly. The restaurant itself is made up of islands and bars with a grill in the middle of each one. You sit around the grill and the chef will come to your table and prepare the food right in front of you which makes things entertaining. It’s actually why I prefer sitting at the bar in Japanese restaurants in general, since you can talk to the chef and watch them put your dish together. The problem with my experience last night though was with the food, it was disappointing to say the least.

We ordered beef negimayaki for starters followed by an Orange Blossom maki and a Hibachi Chicken. The negimaki arrived looking good and was probably the best thing we had there even though I prefer Maki’s negimaki which has a richer teriyaki sauce. The Orange Blossom was very ordinary, wouldn’t order it again. Now the Hibachi chicken which is basically grilled chicken, that was the worst. The chicken was very chewy (I could swear it was undercooked if not raw) and tasted terrible. Even after I had the chef add some more teriyaki sauce in hopes of improving the taste it didn’t work. I tried to dip it into the sauces that came with the chicken but it was hard to figure out if they were actually making things worse or not. Nat only ate one piece of chicken and left the rest while I needed my protein since I’m on a strict diet and forced myself to eat my whole plate (I can do that) but the after taste was really bad. Even the rice and the veggies that came with it tasted bad AND were under cooked. Once we left I considered picking up a frozen yogurt from Pinkberry even though I hate frozen yogurts but I just needed something to get rid of the aftertaste. A few moments later we ended up at Chocolate Bar ordering the gooey chocolate cake (bye bye diet).

I shot the two videos above of the chef preparing our meal. Benihana are known for the live shows they perform when preparing your dish so I was expecting to see [This] but ended up with the above . Would I go back to Benihana? No I wouldn’t. Their sashimi and maki’s are pretty cheap (KD1.5 for 5 pieces of Salmon sashimi for example) but there are two other Japanese restaurants at the Avenues, Wasabi and Maki, and I would prefer either one of those to Benihana.

Mr. Mark Makhoul manages one of the most successful blog sites in Kuwait called 2:48AM. You can also check his original post here.

Egypt’s Day of Wrath

2011-01-29T11:59:00.001+04:00

The chants are one, the people are one, their gatherings are one and their target is one. Down with Hosni Mubarak, down with his regime. Thousands of angry protesters took to the streets on Friday January 28th in the largest and most violent protests in the modern history of Egypt.

I was glued to the television almost the entire day watching events unfold, changes rapidly flashing in the ‘Breaking News’ strip on the bottom of a dozen news channels from all over the world. I wasn’t the only one following, almost the entire conscious Arab World was watching in anticipation and anxiety, the rest were watching Arabs Got Talent. Will he step down? Will the chaos continue and escalate? Will there be bloodshed? Will someone intervene? Where is Hosni?

In the Arab World, we all understand what the Egyptian people have been going through under this regime. We all share a variance of the same experience. There are plenty of common characteristics in most of the Arab World including under-development of manpower and infrastructures, unemployment, low wages, high cost of living, lack of proper representation, democracy and freedom. These are common needs that we all ask for, and we never thought Egypt would be one of the first to go out and actively claim it.

The scenes that unfolded last night in Cairo and other major cities in Egypt had profound impact on the entire Middle East. Look at the brave Egyptians going out there and asking for their rights. Look at their steadfastness against oppression and corruption. Look at their bravery in confronting a violent and merciless anti-riot and undercover police. I saw scenes and pictures that made my eyes shed tears of an inexplicable feeling, a mixture of joy and deliverance. It was truly like a dream coming true.

I wrote a post about the events unfolding in the Middle East before Egypt protests started, predicting a systematic set of dramatic changes in the region that started with Tunisia and will be carried forward to other countries. No one could predict that Egypt was next, but we always knew that the 80 million strong will one day stand and speak up, and when 80 million speak up, the world listens.

I still insist that what’s happening is systematic and partially programmed. Tunis was a test that worked out quite well. Tunis is a relatively small country with very little Islamist influence and an army that decisively and unanimously decided to stand against their president. The Tunisian experience doesn’t have to be replicated as is. Maybe changes will come to Egypt but Mubarak will stay, maybe the same will apply in Yemen. One can’t help but ask, why would France and the US (for example) drop their support to Tunisia’s Ben Ali all of a sudden, yet not drop their support to Mubarak even though he’s just as much of a dictator as Ben Ali was? How did Tunisia’s army suddenly decide not to intervene and save the president? How long before the revolution did the army decide to take this stance? What of Egypt and other Arab countries’ armies? What would their stance be?

Perhaps it’s too early to tell. The plan is still unfolding as we speak. As far as I’m concerned there is two things I’m sure of, 1. What’s happening is not random, ‘synchronized chaos’ as I labeled it. 2. The people need to be wise as to how to deal with the events unfolding. We should not let our eagerness to see the dictators step down to accept whatever comes in their place. Now is the time when anything that ever mattered to us is addressed, now is our time as youths and men to make the changes we always asked for. Programmed or otherwise, let’s have our say in it…let’s do it right.

Is the Tunisian Revolution Made in America?

2011-01-15T02:03:00.005+04:00

Two days ago Hillary Clinton delivered a speech in Doha warning Arab leaders that "Those who cling to the status quo may be able to hold back the full impact of their countries' problems for a little while, but not forever. If leaders don't offer a positive vision and give young people meaningful ways to contribute, others will fill the vacuum."

I recommend you click on the link above and view Clinton's speech in its entirety. What I'm about to say next depends on that, and what she said is so important and explosive that it might just be a declaration of a new Middle East.

Let's look at the facts, since that beginning of the year 2011 (15 days only at the time this post is written), there has been a full fledged revolution in Tunisia, a breaking up of Sudan, protests erupting in Algeria, Egypt and Jordan, the collapse of the Lebanese government and the proper ousting of the Tunisian president. If you look at these drastic and fundamental changes in the region happening in such a short time in contrast with what Hillary Clinton said, you'll end up with a very likely conclusion that none of what's happening is a coincidence and that the all mighty ruler of the World, America, wills it.

The US Department of State spokesman said that America respects the will of the Tunisian people, which means they are not supporting the dictator Bin Ali anymore. Moreover, President Sarkozy of France rejected to host he ousted Tunisian president. Everyone seems to have pulled the rug from under this ex-president. Is that a sample of what's to come in the region? Did the US make an example out of Bin Ali to the rest of the Arab leaders? Is this an official warning that if rulers of this region do not change their ways, change will come onto them and they will be removed?

All questions I believe will be answered soon. What Clinton said might just be the declaration of the New Middle East, and we're living these fantastic transformations by the day. Tunisia will need a while to stabilize, the question is; who's next?

Israel & Iran

2011-01-11T19:45:00.003+04:00

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in the region waging diplomatic war against Iran. She's not the first, and she won't be the last.

Both Israel and the US have been screaming for sanctions, condemnation, embargoes, even military strikes against the Islamic State, and so far, they've been generally successful.

All this portrayal of Iran as a rogue state that defies the will of the International community and has appalling human rights and freedom of expression records reminds me of another state that shares the same characteristics. In fact, it is much worse...Israel itself.

Hey, don't take my word for it...let's examine the facts shall we:

1. Which country has been ignoring a plethora of binding UN Resolutions for more than 30 years with zero consequences?

2. Which country has one of the worst human rights record in modern history with its treatment of the Palestinian prisoners, Palestinian population in the occupied territory, a Nazi like separation Wall which the UN declared illegal, and the Palestinian population of the besieged Gaza?

3. Which country has a stock pile of Nuclear Weapons, WMD's, mines, cluster bombs, and depleted uranium warheads. AND has used many of them in very recent history against civilians?

4. Which country still practices spy games and illegal assassinations anywhere it pleases including in the UAE and Iran. AND has a vast network of spies and spying equipment that's been found in caught red handed in countries like Iran, Lebanon, USA, and Poland?

5. Which country practices apartheid on the very indigenous peoples that inhabit the lands it stole from them?

6. Which country has attacked a civilian ship carrying aid and medical supplies in international waters and killed 9 activists on board using multiple gunshots to the front and back of the victims, including gunshots to the head, execution style?

7. Which country bombed, without provocation or direct threat, sites in sovereign states such as Syria, Sudan and Iraq...sites which it claimed were nuclear reactors (weapons convoy in Sudan's case)? And got the US to bomb Libya for a similar reason, AND got away without even a whisper of condemnation from anyone? Hell, they even bombed the USS Liberty and got away with it!

8. Which country has more than 9,000 Palestinian prisoners in its prisons, most of which held without trial or proper representation?

9. And which country MURDERS innocent human beings on almost a daily basis as a result of its bullets, shells, incursions, bombs, siege, starvation, checkpoints, racist settlers and a trigger-happy army?

In case for some reason you've been living under a rock and you don't know, the answer to all of the above is: ISRAEL. Not Iran, but Israel. What does Iran have?

1. A president who lacks diplomatic skills.
2. An Islamic ruling regime which the West doesn't approve of.
3. A nuclear reactors program it claims is built for peaceful purposes (it doesn't even have any nuclear weapons yet, nor ever had the chance to use or threaten to use any).
4. A bad human rights record. (hey, who has a good one!).
5. Oh, almost forgot, and it supports Hezbollah...the militia which liberated parts of its homeland, Lebanon, from Israel's occupation.

So why is Iran getting all the heat and Israel isn't getting any? Why is Hillary Clinton and Co traveling all over the world to create a united front against a country that never really did much, especially when you compare it to a company like Israel? And why the hell isn't Israel being punished by the world for what it has done and continues to do every day; while Iran is already slapped with sanctions and isolation when it didn't even do half of what Israel has been doing?

September 11 & Stocks

2010-12-22T17:22:00.001+04:00

I was browsing the net today and came across an interesting article of 10 Events Surrounding September 11. It was very interesting to read, but one point in it made my eyes bulge out and jaw drop like a cartoon character. Here’s point no.7 (Abnormal Stock Trading) from that article word for word:

“In the week prior to 9/11, an “extraordinary” amount of put options were placed on United Airlines and American Airlines stocks. If you are unfamiliar with the stock market, a put option is financial contract between two parties that will offer the buyer insurance against a company’s excessive loss. Someone who purchases a put option is expecting a stock to drop or they are protecting their assets. Between September 6 and 7, 4,744 put options were purchased on United Airlines stock, compared to 396 call options. On September 10, 4,516 put options were purchased on American Airlines, as compared to 748 call options. The trading activity was 600% above the normal level. United and American Airlines were the only two companies who had planes hijacked on 9/11. There were also an abnormal number of put options purchased in companies who had a stake in the World Trade Centers.

The majority of the suspicious trading was linked to Deutsche Bank Alex Brown. On September 12, 2001, the head of the bank, Mayo A. Shattuck III, resigned from office. The previous director of the bank was A. B. Krongard, who is the former head of the CIA. Citigroup Inc and Morgan Stanley also received an abnormal number of put options, and both companies held offices in the World Trade Centers, and saw a decrease in stock price after the attacks. On September 10, 2001, Raytheon, a defense contractor, had an anomalously high number of call options traded. The Securities and Exchange Commission launched an insider trading investigation, in which Osama Bin Laden was a suspect, but no action was taken. The trading was traced to areas all over the world, with most activity occurring in the UK, Italy, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, France and the US.

In the days prior to 9/11, the Chicago Exchange saw the highest number of United and American Airlines options traded in history. The names of the investors remain a mystery, because they never claimed their money. After it was discovered that a single U.S.-based institutional investor, with no conceivable ties to al Qaeda, purchased a large amount of these options, the 9/11 Commission dismissed the importance of the events. Unfortunately, the abnormal trading did not tip off law enforcement, as intelligence agencies constantly monitor the stock exchange and the sudden rise in activity could have allowed analysts to “connect the dots” and see that a major event was about to take place involving American Airlines, United Airlines and The World Trade Centers. However, nobody could have imagined the scale of the tragedy.”

This obviously raises a million questions, not only about what, who or why; but also about the manner of which this whole issue was dealt with by the American authorities. It’s truly and utterly shocking. I’ll leave you to your own thoughts now…

No words, just smile…

2010-12-21T12:28:00.001+04:00

The West’s Potential Demise

2010-10-25T17:56:00.002+04:00

I’ve written before about the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque” in New York and the bigotry and Islamophobia practiced by an increasing number of people in America and Europe. I came across two pieces of news recently that made an interesting thought flash in my mind…
Chancellor Angela Merkel said that attempts to build a multicultural society in Germany have "utterly failed". Merkel is simply riding the wave of anti-immigrant sentiment that has been sweeping across Europe of late. By no means should this statement be taken lightly, this statement represents the spark of a “Big Bang” of anti-immigrant laws and rules and regulations that will sweep across Europe in the not so far future and its ripples will have long term and perhaps devastating repercussions for the very fabric of what is today called The West.
The other news item I came across was about a Rabbi who apparently is associated with the Tea Party in the United States. “Multiculturalists have brought us to the brink, insisting on degrading our own cultures while pandering to forces of darkness that threaten to completely transform our societal foundations.”, Rabbi Nachum Shifren said in a joint-rally with The English Defense League in the UK, a league that violently opposes the presence of Muslims in particular and immigrants in general in the UK.

One of the most notable reasons of the Islamic Empire’s expansion, power and success was due to its embrace of different peoples and cultures. Islamic scholars traveled far and wide, learning from different cultures and nations and fusing their advanced sciences with other nations' achievements, a process which lies at the heart of the Islamic scientific supremacy of that age. Peoples of other cultures also flocked toward the Empire to learn, study and sometimes settle. Until the Muslims got greedy and cocky, that’s when it all started going downhill.
History has shown us time and time again that no empire thrives unless it embraces other cultures and the peoples of these cultures. If an empire’s expansion is based on intimidation, terror, extermination and subordination, this empire will not see the light for very long. If the empire is based on openness, multiculturalism, science, the truth, justice and the preservation of human values and rights it will thrive and grow and people will embrace it left and right.

Out of the 6 billion people in this world, 1.6 billion are Muslims. Europeans fought much of the world, including each other in their attempts of occupation and expansion and failed. Their Union isn’t doing so good either. They “tried” opening up for different cultures and now it seems they’re failing as well. They’re seeing other cultures, such as that of 1.6 billion Muslims, as a threat to their identity instead of being a valuable addition. The United States is a melting pot of different cultures, yet white supremacy and rightist Christianity still makes much of today’s rules.

If Europe and the US want to close up their borders, impose their local cultures on everyone who live in those lands, that is their right…but I will never expect them to expand and become powerful this way. And I certainly will not refer to them in a block reference as “The West”. The West had the potential of becoming an Empire of its own, spreading its own sciences and knowledge and research…sharing its history and wisdom, spearheading the world into millennia to come. Instead, it chose to vilify and reject the other and close up to what it doesn’t understand.
The United States use of force and intimidation to expand and protect its interests in the world will never work out well for it on the long run. It is destined to fail. Europe’s refusal to infuse its cultures with those of others will also not allow it to expand and become wealthy and powerful. At the end of the day, such blocks really have 3 options:
1. Use force, intimidation, and occupation, achieve short term results, then ultimately fail and demise.
2. Close up and sit idle and be swept away with whatever tide that happens to be taken the world.
3. Open up and embrace other cultures through values of equality, truth, multiculturalism, science, justice and human rights… and win the hearts and minds of the masses who ultimately will become part of and the building blocks of your empire.

“The West” of today has been choosing 1 and 2, ultimately, not very wise choices I believe.

Arabs' Inability to Advance

2010-09-06T16:05:00.000+04:00

Read an article today about how Reading Arabic is 'Hard for Brain', which is a study done by Israeli scientists in the University of Haifa.

Here's what's sad about this, the Arabic language has been around for thousands of years. More than 300 million speak it on a daily basis in Arabic countries, and almost a billion people speak some of it at least in their prayers as the language of the Quran is Arabic. There's 23 Arabic countries whose official spoken and contractual language is Arabic. There's hundreds of universities and scientists and linguists scattered around in the Arab world, and elsewhere. With all of these numbers, scientists in ISRAEL make this study and publish their findings! This is shameful.

What's shameful is not that its particularly done in Israel, what's shameful is that a non-Arabic group is responsible for the study, regardless where they're from.

Arabs have been moaning for a while about how we're losing our language, and that the newer generations are getting worse at it and how we must act together to preserve Arabic. No one bothered to scientifically study why Arabic is hard to learn, and why is the new generation finding it difficult to learn it and easier to learn other languages, namely English. Especially these days when English is so widely spoken and used.

The Israelis did this study because in many schools and universities in Israel, Arabic language studies is mandatory. When they found that the Israelis are facing difficulties in learning this language, they decided to find out why...

Most Arabs go by their daily lives thinking that if it's not broken, why fix or change it. At the same time, there's constant criticism of how many things are actually broken and waiting to be fixed. Looking at the impotent governments for an answer that never came and will never come, or looking toward God for some miracle that will never come either because no one is doing anything to deserve it.

The sad outcome to all of this is what you see today. Our inability to advance, our lingering and rusting status-quo that is leading to decaying and crumbling countries and societies. The result will be us, Arabs, being swept away with a tide of developed and advanced nations in the name of progression and expansion. And when all is lost, we'll look back and we'd have nothing and no one to blame but ourselves.

The Jewish Ahmadinejad

2010-08-29T13:06:00.001+04:00

Shas spiritual leader Ovadia Yosef

Unlike my previous post, I'll make this a short one...

I came across this news item today morning: "Shas spiritual leader: Abbas and Palestinians should perish". Here's a quick reference to what Shas is, it is also important to note here that this party is actually a part of the current Israeli ruling coalition. They're in the current government

Israel has seized every opportunity to mention Ahmadinejad's rhetoric that denies or questions the holocaust and calls for wiping Israel off the map, all these opportunities were echoed throughout the Western and especially American media. In light of such a statement from a party co-ruling today's Israel, I wonder how things compare or even up! And I wonder if the Western or American media will even mention it at all! Chances are they won't, even though the actual article comes from an Israeli newspaper!

Is Israel really a sheep crying wolf or is it a wolf in sheep's clothing? Are there Jewish extremists within and outside Israel? Have these extremists hurt or murdered people before in the thousands? All valid questions, all questions I personally know the answer to, the question is: do you?

In light of the the recent Islamophobic spirit taking over the US and Europe, and the thousands of Muslims dying in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. Perhaps it's about time we ask ourselves, isn't this some sort of witch-hunt? Are Muslims really THE terrorists everyone brands as such? Who's dying and who's killing? Who's occupying and invading? Who's stopping Mosques from being built? Who's condemning an entire nation of Palestinians to death as seen above?

It's time people saw the truth of what's happening...

If you're anti-Mosque, you're anti-Islam

2010-08-23T14:34:00.000+04:00

I think it's about time we, Muslims, stepped up our efforts a little. I personally always bitched about how much ignorance we have in the Arab World, and how behind we are in so many things. Especially when compared to the Western World. But now, it's time to talk about the other side's ignorance.

There's a war that is taking place in every sense of the word. A war between haters and hated, ignorance and innocence, warmongers and pacifists, bigotry and purity.

Thanks to people like Rupert Murdoch and his Fox News as well as a majority of pathetic Republicans, including the witch/undead/bear-claw Sarah Palin. So called human beings who would jump on any wagon that gets them and keeps them in power so they can satisfy their eternal lust and thirst for blood, hatred, wars, racism, and chauvinistic tendencies. Thanks to such people now there's a nation-wide debate in the United States about a mosque. In fact, it's not even a mosque, it's a community center that has a gym, swimming pool and a mosque in it. So why the big fuss? Because it is TWO BLOCKS away from Ground Zero, the "hallowed ground" that has become sacred to New Yorkans and many Americans because of what happened on 9/11. So again, what's the big fuss about? Those opposing this community center say that building a mosque on Ground Zero is an insult to every American, as it rewards the terrorists who committed the heinous crime of 9/11. What?!

OK, let's talk about this for a minute. Let's not sugar-coat things, many Americans truly believe that Islam, as a religion, is responisble for the violence the so-called Islamist terrorists commit everywhere. Why? Well because the terrorists say so! And since when do we believe in the message of criminals and terrorists? Well since they are Muslims doing it in the name of Islam!

There was a Jewish terrorist who fired shots at innocent Palestinians praying in a mosque once in the name of Judiasm, killing 29, injuring 125. This terrorist is even called a terrorist by the US itself. Did Americans associate his actions with the entire Jewish faith? I guess not.

Here's another example, Timothy McVeigh, well known in the US for killing 168 people and injuring 450 others in the Oklahoma City bombing, he was a catholic extremist with past ties to the KKK. Did the Americans associate his actions with the entire Catholic faith? I guess not.

So why would anyone associate the actions of a handful of ignorant, criminal terrorists who think they are Muslim and that they're acting on behalf of Islam, with the entire Muslim faith? Unless they want to use the actions of a few as an excuse to hate the lot!

Here's another question, Americans have been responsible for the death of thousands of Muslims in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Do we, Muslims, have the right to hate all Americans and reject their presence everywhere then? In fact, the Muslims who died as a result of America's war on terrorism are so much more than the 3000 or so who died in 9/11 (some of which were Muslims as well)!

If you think that Americans are simply opposing the mosque's location and not the actual idea of it, think again. This isn't about this mosque, this is about Muslims and Islam as a whole. Some of these hypocrites are chanting, "take the mosque elsewhere away from Ground Zero", then they're calling the Imam who will head the mosque a terrorist and an extremist with ties to "jihadists", while also saying that the mosque will be a breeding ground to terrorists and sharia law in the US. Question...if this is the case, how is it OK to build the mosque 20 blocks away from Ground Zero then?! Is your issue really with the location or the mosque itself and the faith practiced in it. As some are saying, this goes beyond Islamophobia.

How did it all start? Here's how. Pamela Geller, a bigoted blogger from New York, who also happens to be Jewish (hey, I don't want to point fingers, but since you made this battle about faith, then I'd like to point out the faith of culprits too), has had a history of insane rants about Muslims, Palestinians and Obama to an extent that it's truly sickening to say the least. Take a look at THIS, no seriously, click on that link and see true hate! Hey, I can't make this stuff up even if I wanted to! Not only that, she is hosted by the largest networks in the US, Fox, CNN, MSNBC, you name it. And she goes on ranting unchallenged. Oh how we love America's version of freedom of speech!

I started by saying that this is a war. I'm not exagurating. Yes, the republicans are using it to win votes for the upcoming elections. However, there are alterior motives as well. Yesterday I was watching MSNBC with my cousin as they covered the rally that took place under the rain in NY by those for and against the community center. The on-scene reporter shortly interviewed two participants from both sides of the fence. The guy against the center sounded so clear and crisp, you could barely hear the background noise, but clearly hear his rhetoric and opinion, I heard every word he said. The other guy, we couldn't hear a thing of what he said, all we heard was the noise of the rally going on behind him. My cousin can vouch for this! This is not a conspiracy theory, or some mad mans' thoughts of media domination. This is real, these media campaigns are real, this negative coverage is real, all of those associations of terrorism and violence and world domination with Muslims is real...

Here's a thought, if the entire Muslim faith is violent, then you're not talking about a few thousand terrorists blowing stuff up. There are 1.5 billion Muslims in the World. Imagine they were all terrorists! Oh wait, you think they all are!! 9/11 was carried out by less than 30 people. Imagine what 1.5 billion could do! Do you think the world would be as relatively peaceful as it is now if all Muslims were really as violent and blood loving as you make us to be?!

Here's another thought, if Muslims are the one who are obsessed with world domination, then how come there are American bases pretty much every where in the world, and no "Islamic" ones? Unless, you think that our mosques are our bases! In that case, you're pretty much screwed no matter what you do, cause there's even a mosque inside the Pentagon!!

We, Muslims, have been pacifists so far. We've been apologetic for something we didn't do. Yes some terrorists were Muslims, but the vast majority of us never ever agreed with what they did, do or will do in the name of our peaceful religion. And you know what, we're kinda tired of explaining ourselves to you. We're not the ones waging two wars on Christian nations and threatening a third one at the same time (hint for the idiot, the US and its wars on Iraq and Afghanistan, and potential war with Iran). We're not the ones occupying lands in the name of our holy right to be the chosen ones and treating its original inhabitants as 3rd class citizens to say the least (hint for the idiot, Israel and the Palestinians). We are not the ones carrying bigoted signs and posting ads on buses showing a Church next to an F23 killing Muslims (hint for the idiot, watch your own news!). Guess who's doing all of the above to us, you are...idiot!

We've been super peaceful and quiet for 9 years since 9/11, and still they're hunting us down calling us the worst of names and portraying us to be animals and murderous villains. So it's time we took a different, more proactive stance. You don't want me to build a mosque here or there? BITE ME! You think Islam is a violent religion? Boo! And here's one final for those who don't agree with this blog post: Allahu Akbar you bigoted mother fucker!

Social Media, the way I see it…

2010-05-29T18:00:00.004+04:00

I have spent a considerable amount of time on particular sites, namely, Facebook and Twitter. Admittingly, I consider most of that time as wasted, having said that, I mostly didn’t have anything better to do with that time anyway. However, with a reasonably large number of friends on Facebook and a growing number of followers on Twitter, my digital “reach” is in constant growth. Which brings me to the next point…

During the War on Gaza – late 2008, early 2009 – I have found Facebook as a strong medium to reflect to the world what’s really happening there. When I say “the world” I’m of course referring to my multinational friends and acquaintances living in various parts of the world. Naturally I wasn’t the only one doing that. Overall and in a culmination of these efforts, this has enormously helped to mount a counter PR campaign to the massive one Israel launched worldwide to justify its assault. In fact, the campaign using Facebook was so successful it was covered by major channels like Aljazeera and BBC. Some anti-war Facebook groups were even hacked by some Israelis, removing all anti-war sentiment from it, displaying their own logo.

Looking at the aftermath of Israel’s war on Gaza, it is clear that Israel has undoubtedly lost the PR aspect of that war. People’s Facebook pages were bombarded with pictures of Gazan children and mothers in morgues, burnt and mutilated due to the bombing and white-phosphorus use, as well as the shelling of UN buildings and warehouses storing aide. Israel paid millions of dollars for an army of PR strategists and experts, spokesmen and representatives, all to justify, explain and make the “case”. And it miserably lost, largely thanks to hundreds of people scattered around the world posting the atrocities committed on their social media pages, sharing them with the rest of the world, for free. Then people found out that what their seeing on their local news channels and what their seeing on their Facebook pages were vastly different. People found out, some perhaps for the first time, that their being deceived.

Those in the Arab and Muslim World who oppose the use of Twitter or Facebook because of various reasons, some valid, some ridiculous, are urged to look at it from a different perspective. Instead of dubbing something you don’t fully understand as an enemy, why not understand it, harness its power, and use it for your own cause.

I do not claim that my entire interest in social media is fully attributed to our cause or is entirely politically driven. I do not claim that I, alone, can or will make a difference. I do, however, try my best to utilize these extremely powerful tools to alert as many people in the world as I can reach that something is horribly wrong with what’s happening in this conflict. This is not some form of brain washing, this is simply a shared distribution of the truth.

If, for example, I succeed in enlightening one person out of 50 of my Facebook friends about the true situation in the occupied lands, I can claim a small victory in this ongoing battle. And ultimately, this victory is not for my glory, it is for the sake of the millions in Palestine who suffer every second of every day in their open-air prisons.

The “enemy” has mastered the use of conventional printed and visual media. The problem with conventional media is that it’s unidirectional, the media provider talks to the customer in a one way stream. The information is always fed, hardly disputed. With the introduction and popularity of social media, the conventional form of media is becoming a dying breed. Not only can “customers” now read the news and get information from this media, they can actively engage it as well, commenting, posting, liking, enriching it with ideas and perspectives. Others can see this and share their own views or learn from what they’ve seen or read.

It’s a multimedia information frenzy out there saturating the insatiable minds of today’s younger generation. With a little nudge with a perspective of truth towards the right direction, this media can have uses of epic proportions.

If they have mastered yesterday’s media world, let’s master the future’s one.

UPDATE: Came across this site today, more proof of the importance of what my entry talks about.

Fear

2010-05-17T19:45:00.001+04:00

One of man’s primitive feelings is fear. Fear has protected man from predators and danger in early times. Fear has also raised and wiped out entire civilizations. No one wants to feel it, some try to abuse it, God demands it.

In today’s world, everyone shares everything, including their fears and worries. We’re afraid to eat too much to get fat, or too little to become skinny, or two wrong to have illnesses. We’re afraid of terrorists and what they stand for. We’re afraid of that creepy next door neighbor who keeps staring and never says anything. We afraid of heights. We’re afraid of countries our government says they’re evil. We’re afraid of reckless drivers. We’re afraid of our managers. We’re afraid of those invading armies. We’re afraid of our armies. We’re afraid of our security services. We’re afraid of our governments.

With all this fear going around, I wonder if there’s any room to be afraid of the only thing we should fear in the first place….God!

Clothes & Shoes: WMD’s

2010-04-13T17:44:00.001+04:00

This piece of news is actually around a week old, I’ve been wanting to blog about it since I read it with astonishment, got somewhat busy, then finally got to it now since it’s too difficult to just simply ignore.

Israel has been actively imposing a blockade on Gaza ever since Hamas was officially and democratically elected, pretty much imprisoning 1.5 million people in a 360km2 stretch of land, making it one of the most densely populated areas in the world.

Gaza is under an air, land, and sea siege from all sides of its borders. Nothing and no one goes in or out of Gaza unless Israel allows it. Since Operation Cast Lead where many buildings and homes were reduced to rubbles and around 1,385 Palestinians died (about 300 of them combatants) and 13 Israelis died (10 of them combatants), since that war, Israel has not allowed any materials which can be used in any way or form to build weapons or facilities that could manufacture weapons into Gaza. This of course rules out the most basic of building materials including bricks, cement, mortar, and glass. Effectively ruling out any chance of rebuilding any of the homes, factories, shops and mills that were also destroyed during the war.

Then comes this piece of news! Although the news that even clothing and shoes isn’t entering Gaza is not particularly new to me, it was to most of the world. Yet still, I didn’t hear a big fuss about it. Not only that, Israel only did this after immense pressuring from the US, now Israel will flaunt this ‘Gesture’ of good will to the world to see how ‘humane’ and ‘moral’ it is.

What would the world do if some women and children in a small town in the US or Western Europe were deprived of the most basic of their needs! I wonder…

Could someone please tell me how can clothing and shoes in any way be used to make weapons or weapons factories?! Isn’t this blockade a blatant and clear form of mass and collective punishment? Isn’t this blockade a blatant and clear violation of basic human rights and against the Geneva Conventions? In other words…what the fuck!!

Is Israel in trouble?

2010-03-15T16:53:00.001+04:00

If you’re a regular follower of the news you probably already read some headlines here and there about a strain in the relations between Israel and the US.

Arabs have been fighting Israel since its creation on multiple levels, politically, militarily, economically, and culturally. After numerous wars, boycotts, embargos, and complaints, it seemed that Israel is somewhat impervious to this fight. Many factors contributed to its imperviousness, namely the blind and unwavering support of the US taking forms of military and financial aid, political aid by blocking UN resolutions that condemn Israel (check Sources of Conflict). Other reasons include a strong control and influence over the worldwide media by groups that support Israel and its cause.

However, recently things haven’t been going so well for Israel both internally and internationally. Although it generally started with the war in Gaza under the previous administration, but ever since the current Prime Minister, Netanyahu, and his coalition were elected, things have been steadily going further downhill. This is generally attributed to the nature of his coalition rather than an incompetence in governance.

The Israeli right now ruling the country has done more damage to Israel, at least PR wise, than ever imagined could be done by the Arabs. Israel seems to be imploding from within; thanks to the power of the settlers and the hardliners.

What was once Israel’s source of power is now becoming a source of decay, the settlers and the hardliners of Israel are wrecking havoc all over the place. Israel is becoming what it always claimed to be fighting, a fanatic and ultra-religious entity which evidently has no place in today’s world, much like the Taliban, Al Qaeda and other fanatic entities.

I’m sure the current crisis with the US will soon be water under the bridge, Israel will make some concessions, albeit temporary ones, the US will feel motherly again and shed a tear over its crying little rogue state, and reconciliation will take place.

What is happening now proves that everyone in the world has to be held accountable by a certain measure. The more power you give a country coupled with less questions asked and less accountability, the closer the state gets to being a pariah one. Especially if the state is built on a colonial basis to begin with. Israel has gone too far with its wars, destruction, demolitions, checkpoints, humiliation, segregation, prisons, walls, and violence. Israel is an occupying force and an apartheid regime and history shows that no such state can flourish and continue to exist unless it changes its ways.

In the mean time, it seems that Arabs don’t have to do much for a change. All we have to do is just sit and watch things unfold. Wait a minute, isn’t that what we’ve been doing all along anyway?!

Terrorism, to what end?

2009-12-31T00:05:00.001+04:00

Terrorism, probably today’s number one most commonly used word in the news around the world. The perpetrators are of different nationalities, Saudi Arabian, Pakistani, Afghani, Nigerian, Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian, Iranian, etc. One thing is in common with these countries, Islam.

To the naive it seems that Islam is a violent religion that enjoys killing innocent people and thrives over the destruction of the free world. I have two arguments in this context, the first being that there are 1.5 billion Muslims around the world, if all or most of them are violent because of their religion then the world would definitely be in a far worse shape than it is in now. Another argument screams out a single word: Freedom. Something us, Arabuslims (Arabic Muslims, my own invention!), feverishly seek. So we cannot possibly hate freedom, who on earth hates freedom!!

The notion of freedom is something we cry for everyday. We have ruthless, ignorant, fanatic, unjust, totalitarian rulers backed by a policing force that is specifically built to quell any attempt of even a show of resentment almost as soon as its roots begin to develop. This, coupled with unjust wars and occupation of Arabic and Islamic lands in places like Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, is a perfect recipe to spawn individuals who have nothing to lose and much to fight for at the same time. It spawns terrorists.

Much of our problems with the West stem from this so called terrorism. The West is convinced that we’re out to ruin their way of life and superimpose ours on theirs, while taking as many of their lives as possible while we’re at it.

As my cousin and good friend put it, terrorism is a result of two interconnected factors. One is the West’s occupation of our lands and their thirst for wars in our region. Two being the failure of our governments to stand up to what’s right and what’s just. Their failure to strongly and decisively tackle major issues like invasions and bombings and civilian deaths.

If you happen to agree with that last proposition, I ask this: If terrorism is a product of those two factors, how come only the West is suffering because of their wrongdoing. Why don’t the “terrorists” punish their local leaders for their complete and utter failure. Why aren’t terrorist attacks happening in Arabic lands?

Iraq notwithstanding, there has been very little terrorist attacks in Arabic countries. This can be attributed to one or a combination of the following reasons:

The local security forces are too strong and it’s very difficult to plan and synchronize an attack.
The terrorists are a product of Arabic governments!
The terrorists are a product of Western governments and the deal is to spread fear in the Western masses while keeping the Arabic ones untouched.

Let me just come back to point 3 above. This is actually the perfect scenario. Western governments need the fear factor to win elections and use their country’s resources at their own expenses and for their own colonial agendas (i.e the banning of building minarets in Switzerland after a right wing campaign targeting Muslims’ presence in the country). And the Arabic leaders use the Western colonialism as an excuse to impose marshal laws and rule with iron fists presumably to make sure the country and public are protected from traitors who conspire with the Western enemies and want to bring the country to chaos (i.e look what’s happening in Iran).

SO….here’s my proposition:

Why don’t “terrorist” attacks happen right here in the Arab World! More should!! Seriously…I mean these idiot rulers of ours are sitting on their thrones literally all their lives, not bothered by anything because they’re too safe. Nothing ever happens! What if things start happening here and there? Attacks on police stations, government properties, government figures who support the totalitarian regime, etc. Let the local governments feel the heat. Let them know that they’ve been doing everything wrong. Let them know that the people have souls, pride, brains and the will to live in dignity and freedom, let them know that when the people choose to speak they will speak, uninterrupted, unhindered, full of resolve and force, and when the people speak, they speak high and mighty.

Let the thrones shake, let the regimes fall, let the voice of the people be heard, let our lands return to us, let our pride and dignity prevail, let the terrorists become heroes, and let our heroes set us free.

Reality

2009-11-06T13:52:00.001+04:00

We keep trying to find ways to make our lives more interesting, more eventful, and perhaps at times more dramatic. This behavior probably stems from a negative perception of the status quo, a bitter taste of life as it is, a disliked reality.

Let’s face it, reality sucks! There are mean people everywhere, life is generally hard, it’s difficult to get by, you dream & hope for beautiful things to come until you hit a dry, colorless, odorless, plain wall called reality.

The funny thing is though, isn’t reality made by us?! I mean after all, reality is how we made the world to be. We created beaurocracy, we created dictatorships, we created capitalism, we created socialism and communism. We raised a poor soul that would turn out to be mean.

Everything that happens around us is our creation. The systems, interactions, principles, doctrines, infrastructure, etc. The natural universe and the creatures it holds – including us – are of course God’s creation. Everything else is what we made it to be. And if our reality sucks, it is so because we made it so.

Unfortunately, reality sucks so much that there is very little hope that it can be changed or altered to a better form. When something bad happens to someone usually the first thing that pops in your head is: “sh*$ happens”, or “that’s life for ya”, or “life’s unfair”. Sh*$ happened because we did it! It didn’t come from outer space. And if we are the ones who do it, then it can be changed or stopped. What prevents us from stopping it is the following:

1. Greed.

2. Stubbornness.

3. Selfishness.

4. A false sense of faith.

I bet you can trace any incident where “sh*$ happened” to someone to one of the above listed reasons. Unfortunately, these reasons are imbedded in human beings. It’s not like some people have them and some don’t, we all have them but some fight them off and some don’t, and some fight and succeed and some fail. And thus the fight with our inner sense of twisted retribution rages on, it is rather disappointing though to see who’s winning.

Mind Trip

2009-10-24T00:33:00.001+04:00

Enter into my temple of solitude, a maze of superstitious conspiracies, a forest of tangled encrypted revelations. The wild raw figure prevails, survival of the fittest inscribed into a cellular crystal. A pathway seemingly leading into infinity, fenced by the security of belief, rugged and frail, dull and stale. A multitude of fireflies hovering over, they seem to have a purpose, a mission. Gates in every corner, some are dark, others are bright. Too many options, choices, consequences that follow.

Stand upon a mountain of memories, overlooking a battlefield of good versus evil. The battle never ends, no one seems to win or lose, yet they courageously and continuously charge to their death or victory. The war ensues, relentless and merciless, I am controlled by those who claim victory, only leading to either regret or joy. And even though the regretful choices are well documented, they somehow make their way again into my life, only to be canceled out by an act of good will and the cycle goes on.

Look into the orbiting neutrons, a plethora of galaxies alive and commendable. Comets carrying messages stride in the skies, supernovae dumping unwanted memories into my mental black hole. A universe within me, filled with fabulous forms of life, illuminated with hope and faith, driven by a sense of survival, magnificently grand. Ride the shooting stars through a wormhole of confusion and a vortex of illusion. What you see is real, genuine and true.

Dive into my well of words, rhyming your way into impression. Close your eyes, open your heart, and call out for inspiration. Stomp the cliches, override the obsolete and create a world of your own. Admire your own creation, breath into it the power of persuasion, watch it being adored and admired, criticized and betrayed, overlooked and ignored. The well is bottomless, it expires when my body retires, spawning a flood of images and words, swim with the current, bathe in its aura.

Have you had enough? Can your eyes soak more beauty and realism? Can your mind comprehend the ever-expanding complexities of my thoughts? Can your heart fit more love and emotions? Do you want to know the real me? Step further into my mind though be warned, the point of no return is upon you, bail out and you will walk away, delve further into it and you shall be awed beyond your wildest imagination, the choice is yours to make...

Emotional Coma

2009-10-20T13:12:00.002+04:00

This was written in the summer of 2008...

She’s inside her head.
She stares at the ceiling.
She lies on her bed.
She’s detached from her feelings.
She walks around with her whole life on her shoulders.
She breathes a sigh as I wish I could just hold her.

I’m inside my head, trying to find the answers.
I lay on my bed, wallowing in my despair.
I’m sad and confused, emotionally bruised.
Helpless and lost, self absorbed by what I have not caused.

She’s drawn the line, trapped herself in her circle of solitude.
She’s put us on hold, miscalculating the magnitude.
She says everything’s fine, as we silently dine.
Her eyes roll away into the abyss of misery.

My mind is lost searching for the way.
My heart is bleeding eroding my feelings away.
My body’s numb and my eyes are blind.
My senses are gone and now I’m all alone!

Purpose & Happiness

2009-09-13T03:08:00.003+04:00

You wake up in the morning, get dressed and head to work. Drink your morning coffee and perhaps scan through the daily paper for interesting news. Get into the whirlpool of work until the bell rings. Head back home for an evening with yourself or loved one(s).

This is a standard day for a regular person living the day to day life, earning a living, trying to be happy simply by surviving and sometimes also by making his/her loved ones happy too. In the midst of all of this you can't help but wonder, what is your purpose?

Purpose is a heavy word. I think everyone should have some sense of purpose, and if they don't, they're living an unhappy or unfulfilled life.

I had an argument once with a distant friend about the ultimate purpose of a human being. I was insisting that it should be to transcend the society we live in. To positively contribute to ourselves, our families, our community, our society, our country and consequently, our world. That, I proclaimed, should be the ultimate purpose.

She insisted, and I hope I'm reflecting her thoughts fairly here, that the ultimate purpose of human beings is to be happy. What comes after transcending ourselves, the community and so on is happiness, and that is what we ultimately seek.
I thought her argument made more sense in the grand scheme of things, and I was sensibly brought about to agree with her. However, I now have an addition to make to that...

Human beings, by nature, are social beings. We share our lives in societies where personal interactions take place on a daily basis. By choice as well as by necessity. We feel the urge to talk to people, to communicate with people, to compete with people, and to share with people. This genetically embedded characteristic inevitably led me to an important revelation: Happiness is not complete unless it's shared!

People choose partners to be with. People fall in love with these partners. True love is the most profound generator of selfless actions. Why? Because loving someone means that you want to make that someone happy. That love inspires you to do all sorts of selfless acts to put the person you love before you to reach the supreme goal of making them happy.

Looking a little deeper into things, you'll discover that maybe there's more into it. Maybe it's not so selfless after all. Making the person you love happy consequently makes you happy! The cliché phrase of “if you're happy, I'm happy” might seem selfless and profound on the surface, but perhaps it's more selfish in nature than we originally thought!

So if I'm in love with someone, I would do anything to make them happy because ultimately, if they're happy I am happy. So in transience, I'm working hard to achieve happiness for me!!

It doesn't stop there though. As it happens to be, human beings are more complicated and demanding. It's not enough for me to be happy, I have to share my happiness with my loved one so I can be fully happy, and thus the cycle of happiness ensues!

It might all seem so simple, yet so many things go wrong in relationships. Some end up bringing about more pain than joy, more tears than laughter and more sadness than happiness. The reason to that is because ultimately the driving force of the actions in a relationship is a selfish one in its core. If you break up with someone, is it because they've become unhappy or you've become unhappy? Or is it because when they became unhappy you became unhappy, so the relationship is not working for you anymore and you pull out?

People in life need a sense of purpose to survive. Once sought, this purpose leads to happiness, which is the ultimate purpose. Happiness is only complete if it's selfishly shared, and it is this very selfishness that is the reason of our superior survival as beings.

My Trip to Albania, What Went Right!

2009-08-31T15:02:00.003+04:00

This post is long overdue. As they say; better late than never.

After having experienced a failed attempt to visit Albania; I finally managed to safely and successfully land there and legally infiltrate its surprisingly rigid entry and visa regulations.

My visit coincided with a highly hyped up election campaign battle between multiple parties. Two of which being the major contenders, namely, the Democratic Party and the Socialist Party.
I was watching Euronews on election day at my beloved hosts’ crib when they quickly and briefly referenced the Albanian elections starting the piece with the following: “One of Europe’s poorest nations heads to the polls today to determine the next government…”. I’m afraid I’m going to have to disagree with Mr. Euronews commentator there.

I say that Albania is one of the richest nations in Europe, rich in culture, history, natural beauty, kindness of people and aspirations. I was bedazzled by the beauty of its nature. I know I haven’t been to Switzerland or Germany to admire their mountains, hills and lakes, but as far as my perception of beautiful nature is concerned, I received an overdose of scenic beauty in Albania!

Albania’s untouched costal highlands of Vlore overlooking a turquoise Adriatic Sea are a serene treat to any eye. I saw little villages on the way to Sarande tucked away peacefully in between the mountains, wished I lived there in such nature, such serenity, such beauty. I relaxed on top of the walls of a watchtower in Butrint, my eyes staring at the distance, as far as I could see, my thoughts followed.

In my travels to the capital Tirana and further south all the way to the Greek borders, I found the Albanian people to be very hospitable, kind and accommodating. Albania is a small nation with a population of 3 million. Perhaps its small cities, simple way of life and small population have all contributed to such positive attitudes.

I found Albanians to be full of aspirations as well. With a 98% literacy rate, the majority of Albanians are armed with knowledge and education and ready to face the world. And many do, traveling abroad for better education or better jobs and in many cases settling there. Albania is yet another example of a “poor” country exporting highly knowledgeable, highly motivated youths to the rest of the world.

My dear friends and their friends were exceptionally kind and accommodating. And being so to a “guest” is a commendable feat in people. Everyone got out of their way to make sure I was comfortable, happy and relaxed at all times. I have to stress that my trip to Albania was a great one mostly as a result of the kindness these people demonstrated.

My dear Albanians, I have eaten from your sea, drank from your Blue Eye, soaked by your rain, revived by your sunshine, remembered God by your nature, admired your history by your ruins and felt the warmth of love by your people. Thank you for such a wonderful journey.

What If?

2009-06-16T17:23:00.003+04:00

Here's a song I always loved by Creed. I think it's closely related to the topic I discussed in my previous posts.

I can't find the rhyme in all my reason
Lost sense of time and all seasons
Feel I've been beaten down
By the words of men who have no grounds
Can't sleep beneath the trees of wisdom
When your ax has cut the roots that feed them
Forked tongues in bitter mouths
Can drive a man to bleed from inside out

What if you did?
What if you lied?
What if I avenge?
What if eye for an eye?

I've seen the wicked fruit of your vine
Destroy the man who lacks a strong mind
Human pride sings a vengeful song
Inspired by the times you've been walked on
My stage is shared by many millions
Who lift their hands up high because they feel this
We are one We are strong
The more you hold us down the more we press on

What if you did?
What if you lied?
What if I avenge?
What if eye for an eye?

I know I can't hold the hate inside my mind
'Cause what consumes your thoughts controls your life
So I'll just ask a question
A lonely simple question
I'll just ask one question

What if?

What if you did?
What if you lied?
What if I avenge?
What if eye for an eye?

What if your words could be judged like a crime?

The Arab World & Our Ignorance III - Finale

2009-06-14T19:52:00.004+04:00

The is the final part of a trilogy of posts talking about the Arab World in its ignorance.

I'm tired of us Arabs blaming everything on others. We blame Israel, Zionism, Jews, the US, colonialism, the British Empire, etc. We blame every entity we find convenient to blame while ignoring the fact that even if some or all of these entities are messing things up for us they are doing it through us. Setting Palestine aside, we are not occupied, we all have countries with borders, armies, money, flags, scientists, and most importantly...people.

Japan was nuked, every brick in London was bombed, Berlin was occupied, Argentina lived under dictatorships, so did Brazil...look at all these countries/cities today.

We were 20 countries trying to fight one, Israel, and we failed! How is this fathomable?! Syria had an army that could've marched all the way to Jerusalem. Egypt could've taken control of Gaza. What happened? Betrayal happened.

In fact, Arabs have been betraying each other and others throughout time! If it weren't for Islam and oil in modern times we would literally be little tribes scattered here and there fighting each other for land, power, water and cattle!

If being an Arab today stands for indecision, inaction, cowardliness, subdue, whining, and a spirit of defeat then I am ashamed to be one. On the other hand if being an Arab means what Arabs truly were with traits of chivalry, courageousness, generosity, pride and honor, then where are these traits from the Arabs and their leaders of today?

So what do we do?

First, we have to separate the weak from the strong, those with pride with those who live as slaves, those who simply care from those who only care about themselves.

Then we rise!

We use every medium we can, the Internet, the radio, the TV, the phone, the air, the wind, the seas, the body, the mind. We spread a message of awakening, a message of rejection of what our governments stand for, a message of defiance, a message that brings power to the people who hold their heads up high and scream everyday for justice. Call it a movement, call it a revolution, call it what you will...it's the only way.

The dictators ruling us have the illusion of power, much like Israel did before it's encounter with Hezbollah in the war in 2006. They survive on that illusion, it's the fuel that feeds their thrones, it can also be the nail in their coffins. Simple random acts of defiance can slowly erode this illusion of power, stripping them from their cloaks that radiate fear and subliminal control.

People will suffer, go to jails, disappear, get tortured, lose their loved ones, and shed tears of sorrow and physical pain, but this time the tears and the pain are meaningful, the blood is shed for a valid reason, the mind will for once be on the right track.

Now call me a dreamer, tell me it's impossible, brand me crazy and illogical. If you thought any of these thoughts or anything similar to these thoughts you belong to the "First" section of "What do we do?" part above. We don't need you.

Now my dear reader you have the following very simple options to live by for the rest of your life:
1. Not do anything, I like my life being peaceful as it is. I also like living as a slave.
2. Wait, change will eventually come, maybe through my children or grandchildren or grand grand children....
3. Rise with me.
4. Fight me.

For those who are searching for a meaning in their lives...rise.

The Arab World & Our Ignorance II

2009-05-21T21:11:00.002+04:00

My last post scratched the surface of some of the ugly things we face in the Arab World, albeit in Egypt. As I promised in that post, this is a continuation, an expansion of that train of thought if you will.

Before I dive into it there's one thing I'd like to respond to first. A few people labeled my posts as too negative, too dark and full of problem listing as opposed to solution suggestion.

A have two things to say to that:
1. We've been having some deep problems embedded with every aspect of our lives in the Arab World which we fail to address. I am here to talk about them with no fear of retribution.
2. That's one of the major problems we're facing, everyone's waiting for someone with answers to come out of nowhere and solve everything! That's not going to happen. Change has to come from ourselves, for the details of our lives, our attitudes, our concepts, our premonitions and our convictions.
Even if I do write a 10 page article full of answers to our problems, then what?!! Is it like someone out there reading my post will take things into his/her hands and act on it!!!

Moving on...

Most people in the Arab World suggest that all our problems lie in our leaders. They are a bunch of dictators sitting on thrones made of gold commanding their long reach of army and security services to keep every citizen in-check with the rules they've superimposed on everyone. That's half the problem, the other being the silent masses.

We have watched these dicks (short for dictatorships!) for decades now view our countries as their own little backyards, and we did nothing about it. We barely spoke out, and those who did were imprisoned leaving the rest of us living in constant fear.

Year after year we wait for change. We wait for it to come from outside, or sometimes we wait for our leaders to "suddenly" come to their senses and decide to fix everything! Or we simply wait for some Messiah or Mehdi or Neo or some sort of savior to come along and deliver us from this life of oppression and ignorance. Well allow me to burst everyone's bubble...THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!

Egypt has had the same president for more than 40 years, Syria has had the same regime ruling for more than 50, Palestine has been occupied for 61 years, our most holy site in Mecca has been hijacked by those Saudi puppets for almost a 100 years...are we really waiting for the present rulers to die hoping the next ones would come out better, only then to find out they're the same and then we wait for another 100 years to see if the next ones come out better?!!

It's a cliche, change comes from within. We have to change and force ourselves upon them. We have to start the movement ourselves and take it to their doorsteps. It will come with pain and sacrifice, it will come with blood and tears, but when it comes it will be glorious and profound. You asked me for answers, I'll give you answers in my next post, after reading this last paragraph you probably know where I'm heading. You might not approve of it, you might not like it, you might think it's ludicrous. I assure you...it is the only way.

See you next post...

Egypt, the Arab World and our Ignorance I

2009-05-12T23:25:00.002+04:00

First let me start by showing my respect to the Egyptians as a people in general. This is not about you, this is about the idiots who rule you.

Soon after news of the Swine Flu disease becoming an epidemic spread around; some idiot who thinks he’s smart in Egypt decided to come up with a very "bright" idea of exterminating all pigs in Egypt. To help you fathom this better, that’s about 300,000 pigs!

First, unlike the Bird Flu that actually did strike parts of Egypt, the pigs of Egypt are actually Swine Flu free. They have to come in contact with an infected pig for them to become infected. That means that an infected pig from Mexico or the US has to travel all the way to Egypt and mingle with the Egyptian pigs and infect them!

Second, there is absolutely no evidence at all that suggest that Swine Flu can be transmitted by eating ham.

I am a Muslim and raising, eating, and even coming in contact with pigs is actually forbidden for me; having said that, I do not understand why someone would want to wipe out 300,000 pigs and I just can’t see the logic or righteousness of such a move.

The pig wiping out story is just an intro to what I want to talk about here.

A British family decided to visit Egypt for tourism. They were excited, happy and looking forward to have a great time with their four kids. Their trip turned disastrous as soon as the Egyptian passport control authorities found out that the family had visited Mexico 6 months ago.

My comment on what happened:

WHAT THE HELL WERE THESE IDIOTS THINKING?!

It’s not about the British family being British, it’s not about them being tourists, it’s about the functioning of a government that perfected the art of spreading fear and terror in the hearts of its citizens. What this poor British family experienced is something regular Egyptians face all the time in different circumstances and for different reasons, not only Egyptians, most Arabic countries function in the same manner.

I’ve never been to Egypt, I cannot claim I know everything or much about it. But I am Syrian and have been to Syria many times. And from what I hear and from what I’ve read in this article I think I can relate pretty well.

The way the police acted in this incident is the way they’re trained to work. The state of the hospital they stayed in is the state of most hospitals in the Arab World. The attitude shown to this family is the attitude the average Arab receives from the authorities all the time. What you consider to be shocking after you’ve read this article is something completely normal for us in the Arab World to read or hear about. That, however, doesn’t make it in any way appropriate or acceptable.

The way these authorities dealt with this matter shows how ignorant they are, it shows how brutal they are, and it simply shows how little value they give to other human beings once they dub them as a “threat”.

There’s plenty more to say, plenty more to address, that’s why I decided to split this topic into parts. This of course being part I, more parts to come later.

I’ve written a post before called Arabs Suck, this time I’m going to delve a little more into details. I’m going to show you, my dear reader, why my not so beloved Arab World lives in such ignorance. And then I will talk about how things can change. I hope you enjoy the ride!

Arabs Suck

2009-05-12T23:10:00.002+04:00

This is actually an old post I've written for Khaled's Newsletter, but I've decided to re-post it for the sake of my upcoming piece about the Arab World and its ignorance.

I'm fed up!!

Arabs are the worst people on this earth!!

Allow me to explain: I would like the reader to keep in mind that I am an Arab myself and I belong to this fiasco of a "nation", or peoples.
What were we doing before Islam came? We were living in tribes, villages and tents fighting one another, burying our own baby daughters, worshipping idols, and our best achievements were poetry and mercantile.
We were invaded by many civilizations, ruled by some, killed by others, we fought some, and we were enslaved by others. We learned to kiss ass from the early stages of our existence.

Suddenly, Islam came! We became invincible…something clicked in our bodies and heads. We saw light and happiness, we saw deliverance and spiritual power, and we saw the real heaven and worked hard to get there. We conquered and spread the message which – we felt – had enlightened us and delivered us from evil (much like Bush now and his message of Freedom and Democracy). But we didn’t bring destruction; we brought faith, science, astronomy, chemistry, medicine, and literature.

At this point I’m going to have to point out an extremely important fact. The vast majority of the great scientists who made the Islamic Empire a beacon of light onto the world were NOT Arabs! Here’s a list of some of who these scientists were, what they did (shortly) and where they came from:

Name: Jaber Ibn Hayyan, Died: 803 C.E, Work: Father of Chemistry, Origin:Iraq.

Name: Al Khawarizmy, Died: 840 C.E, Work: Mathematician, Astronomer and Geographer, Origin: Khawarizm (south of the sea of Aral – between Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan).

Name: Al Kindi, Died: 873 C.E, Work: Philosopher, Mathematician, Physicist, Astronomer, Physician, Geographer & even an expert in Music, Origin: Iraq

Name: Ibn Qura, Died: 901 C.E, Work: Mathematics and Astronomy, Origin: Turkey.

Name: Al Tabari, Died: 870 C.E, Work: Physician, Calligraphy, Astronomy, Philosophy, Mathematics & Literature, Origin: A Jew turned Muslim.

Name: Al Battani, Died: 929 C.E, Work: Astronomer, Mathematician & Astrologer, Origin: Turkey.

Name: Al Razi, Died: 930 C.E, Work: Medicine, Mathematics, Astronomy, Chemistry & Philosophy, Origin: Persia

Name: Al Farabi, Died: 950 C.E, Work: Science, Philosophy, Logic, Sociology, Medicine, Mathematics & Music, Origin: Persia.

Name: Al Zahrawi, Died:1013 C.E, Work: Medicine, Surgery, Origin: Arab born in Spain.

Name: Al Buzjani, Died: 997 C.E, Work: Mathematician & Astronomer, Origin: Persia.

Name: Ibn Al Haitham, Died: 1040 C.E, Work: Physicist, Origin: Iraq

Name: Al Biruni, Died: 1048 C.E, Work: Physics, Metaphysics, Mathematics, Geography & History, Origin: Ural (Kazakhstan).

Name: Ibn Sina, Died: 1037 C.E, Work: Physician, Philosopher, Encyclopaedist, Mathematician & Astronomer, Origin: Uzbekistan.

Name: Omar Khayyam, Died: 1131 C.E, Work: Poet, Mathematician, Philosopher, Astronomer, Origin: Persia.

Name: Ibn Al Nafis, Died: 1288 C.E, Work: Physician, Origin: Syria.

Name: Ibn Rushd, Died: 1198 C.E, Work: Phylosophy, Mathematics, Physics, Origin: Arab born in Spain.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_scientists

You’ll find listed above 16 unbelievable scientists who contributed immensely to the world’s science at their time as well as modern science of today. Only 6 of the 16 were Arabs, 3 of them Iraqi, 1 from Syria, and 2 were born in Spain (Andalusia)!

We lost Spain (Andalusia) to its original inhabitants, and look at Iraq and Syria today!

Most civilizations that conquered, occupied, or invaded us were simply fed up with our own ignorance and lack of rational thinking and decided to pack up and leave; then to return at a later stage in their history just because some ruler of theirs remembered that our lands were just too precious not to occupy.

We simply didn’t give a damn; we know our lands were rich with heritage, with history, with religion and with earlier civilizations that brought the greatest cities this world had ever seen. And we know we have oil and natural gas and human resources enough to build great nations, let alone one. Yet we conspired against each other, sought an illusion of power through the partnering of those who never meant well for us, and betrayed ourselves and our families with lies, deceit and hypocrisy.

Arabs have shamefully and dramatically failed in catching up with the modern age in all its aspects: political, social, economical, educational, etc. We lack the necessary courage and creativity to leap into the next phase of a civilized society. Here’s how:

1. We dare not question anything related to Islam…no matter how extreme, strange, out-of-this-world, baseless, or pointless it may be.
2. We clung onto our tribal system:
a. The following are ruled by families (by constitution):
i. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
ii. Kingdom of Bahrain.
iii. Sultanate of Oman.
iv. Morocco.
v. Jordan.
vi. United Arab Emirates.
vii. Qatar.
viii. Kuwait.
b. The following are ruled by families (regardless of the constitution):
i. Syria.
ii. Yemen (not the president, but Yemen still maintains a very strong tribal system. If it weren’t for the tribes of Yemen getting along together and chewing Qat, they’d still be fighting each other).
c. The following have had the same president for the past 30 years or more:
i. Egypt.
ii. Libya.

3. Our superiors are our Gods. We dare not question them (except behind their backs), stand up to them, bring them to justice, or even look at them (unless they’re not looking). And we have their pictures hung on every wall of every establishment, institution, business, organization, bureau, and office you can imagine.
4. Our judicial system is dictated by the same superiors mentioned in point3.
5. Our military is controlled by the same superiors mentioned in point 3.
6. Greed, injustice, corruption, and narrow mindedness in every corner.
7. We believe that everything we do is right and justified.

Dirty laundry all over the place, but I don’t care. We need a wake-up call, something shocking to hear and see, perhaps even something tragic.

Pan-Arabism doesn’t exist, it never did. It is the very conversion of “Muslim Countries” to “Arabic Countries” that started this whole downwards spiral into the abyss of slump. It is the thinking that a common language breeds a common ideology under which people can come together as one.

It is also the thinking that God is protecting us from harm just because most of us are Muslims. It is the thinking that whatever happens around me, as long as I’m sure I’m going to heaven nothing else matters. It is the thinking that our current practicing and understanding of Islam is flawless. It is the thinking that two wrongs can make right.

About %70 of the Arab population is under 30 years of age. We have no proper educational institutions, facilities and systems. No proper sporting arenas and clubs; and barely any art and recreational centers. The youth is discouraged to speak, contribute and freely think, yet constantly required to excel.

And most importantly, it is when we see wrong and harm being done….and we do nothing about it.

In the next article I will write about the rest of the world, excluding Arabs. What people have been doing while Arabs were crying to the world about their ruling families and Israel!

The Truth

2009-05-01T03:47:00.003+04:00

They say many things about the truth. It hurts, it’s unbelievable, inconceivable, overrated, it’s never accepted.

Despite the highly philosophical question of why does the truth have to hurt? there lies the very core of what the truth is made of, who does it concern, and what effect does it have once revealed.

Allow me to make an assumption: Once revealed; the truth only hurts if either of the following conditions was true:

1. A party did not know of it and it is not in their favor.

2. A party knew of it but was in denial about it because it’s not in their favor.

Some people in this world know the truth yet hate to admit it. Some know it yet live in some form of denial, they keep telling themselves otherwise until they bought their own made-up stories.

There are two sides to this conflict. Both sides are making claims, both sides fighting for their claims. The options are as follows:

1. Both sides are wrong.

2. Both sides are right.

3. One side is wrong and the other is right.

Without getting lost in the relativity of wrong and right, allow me to quote this wise old man’s sign he held:

“YOU, take my water, burn my olive trees, destroy my house, take my job, steal my land, imprison my father, kill my mother, bomb my country, starve us all, humiliate us all, BUT, I am to blame: I shot a rocket back”.

Simple yet powerful words indeed. Also very true, very truthful; not in my and this old man’s view, but in factual view.

The truth is that facts speak for themselves. Facts are the truth. What’s written on this sign are facts, this is the truth that so many around the world fail to see, comprehend or understand. Either that or they are in complete denial. They don’t want to see the truth as it stares them in the face, in their everyday life. They don’t want to see the truth because they want so much to believe that they’re right and everyone else is wrong. They can’t see the truth because they blinded themselves with anger, hatred, fear, bitterness, sorrow, vengeance and pain.

Fact: For 61 years now the Palestinians have been paying the price for what Hitler did to the Jews.

Fact: Palestinians are being tortured, imprisoned, stolen from, intimidated, humiliated, segregated, discriminated against, killed and forced to bow down in surrender on a daily basis.

Fact: Israel is a pariah state, an occupying entity, a violent war-mongering concept, and an apartheid state since the day of it’s creation.

Fact: The world has been supporting this state for 61 years.

Fact: 4 months on and the people of Gaza are yet to receive a single dime of the pledged billions of dollars of aid that was supposed to be given to those bereaved, homeless, jobless, starving citizens. Proof of suffering, proof of biased approach.

Fact: everyone, including you my dear reader, is guilty of this support if you don’t speak up once you know and accept the truth.

This is the truth…can you handle it?

Swine Flu

2009-04-28T21:25:00.001+04:00

This is the downside of mass transportation and globalization. Countries around the world are heavily engaged in imports/exports, technology and knowledge sharing and tourism and traveling and inevitably pandemics!

Swine flu, originating from a flu virus that infects pigs, somehow got mutated to a degree that allows it to infect humans as well. Now this is interesting on multiple levels;

Level 1: The All Mighty Virus

Flu viruses have been around forever. People have struggled with them since the dawn of time and today we still do not have an effective cure or vaccine to fully eliminate it.

In March 1918 a flu pandemic plagued our world killing between 50 – 100 million people (no mistakes in the number). The so-called Spanish Flu has the same H1N1 strain as the Swine Flu we’re fighting today. The Spanish Flu is thought to be the worst medical disaster that hit the planet Earth since the dawn of mankind. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu

With our current mass transportation systems and ease of travels; imagine how much easier it would be for a deadly virus to spread around the world. If the Spanish Flu spread around in 1918 to the extent it did, imagine what this flu can do?

Another sign of superior strength viruses have is the ability to mutate. These things will do whatever it takes to make sure that they infect as many living things as possible for them to survive, multiply, expand, and prevail. No other living organism in the world has such a strong mechanism and power to survive by mutating and infecting various other living organisms.

Level 2: Our Ignorance

It happened when HIV spread to humans arguably originating from Chimpanzees. It happened with Mad Cow disease (although not viral). It happened with Bird Flu; and now it’s happening again with Swine Flu.

When will we ever learn that viruses can mutate and enable themselves to infect humans? When will we ever learn to closely monitor the animals we live with and breed? When will we ever learn to think ahead of the virus and find cures and vaccines for animals’ diseases first before they infect us humans?

Level 3: The World Panics

As of today there are confirmed cases of Swine Flu infections in the United States, England, Mexico (presumably its place of origin), Israel, Spain and Germany with approximately 186 deaths so far (all in Mexico). Although the number of infected and dead is still relatively very low; world wide panic is starting to prevail.

The flu is probably the most easily transmitted disease ever. Coughing, sneezing, touching, even breathing are all ways to spread around the virus which is of course airborne. Imagine the possibilities of spreading if you have an infected person in a closed place like a hall, a train, a library, a plane, etc. The scenarios are frightening.

We might manage to easily control this. We might quickly manage to find a cure and nip it in the bun. But will this be the end of it? Or will viruses just evolve into something stronger, better…something incurable yet so easily transmitted!

Level 4: The Eternal Battle

The battle is far from over, and make no mistake, it is a battle of survival. Viruses need to continuously find new ways to mutate and evolve to survive the test of time. And human beings will also keep fighting it off for the sake of their own survival. The question is: who’s got the lead? who’s thinking ahead of time? and who’s one step behind the other?

We’ve been so preoccupied with our advances in technology, military and space that we neglected to remember that there are tiny little things that live among us and wish nothing but to harm us as a means for its survival.

With all our knowledge and technology, and all our mass synchronized collective thinking thanks to modern communication; I think we are still a step or several steps behind our enemy, the Virus!

To be or not to be, Gay!

2009-04-26T10:45:00.004+04:00

The US nowadays is raging with a battle for recognition. It is not about the recognition of gays as a community or a lifestyle, that has been done a while back. It is rather about the recognition of the right for same-sex marriages.

In the US, same-sex or gay-marriages are only recognized in two states, namely, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Gay-marriages will become legal in Iowa tomorrow on April 27 2009. Elsewhere in the world same-sex marriages are legal in 7 countries (Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden).

Recently an incident occurred in Miss USA pageant when the competing Miss California - and later declared first runner-up - was asked about her opinion regarding same-sex marriages. Her answer was honest, precise, dignified and honourable. She said, "We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised." http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517599,00.html

The judge who asked the question is a gay gossip blogger, clearly supporting the right of Gays to legally tie the knot. She later described Miss California's answer as, "the worst answer in the history of Miss USA pageant!" Really?!

Many argue that Miss California's answer cost her the crown. She has been receiving tons of mail congratulating her and showing support towards her stance and honesty.

Now that the issue is described, here's what I think:

WHAT THE HELL?! Firstly let me openly say that I am not only against same-sex marriages, I am in fact against the whole concept of Gays. I know I'm not being politically correct and perhaps even may sound like homophobic, but you know what? I don't care, this is my blog and I get to write whatever I want in it.

Second, in the beginning Gays were asking for their right to openly be Gay, their right to come out of the closet and be generally accepted as an integral part of society. After heavy marketing campaigns for Gays on TV shows, magazines, papers, etc. People have learnt to accept them. In fact it has become something frowned upon if you look upon them in any way that may signal disliking or disgust.
Once that achieved, they are asking to be legally recognized as Gays by being able to wed one another, with all the civil rights associated with marriage. So far they've been successful in limited places, but of course what we're witnessing now is just a start.

Now, a beautiful, smart, and deserving beauty queen lost her right to the crown because of her opposition to a concept. The gay-marriage concept. The reason that happened is because the judge is a gay-rights supporting gay!

Based on what we just read, let's examine the potential and possibilities of the future in this regard. Gay judges, gay panels, gay committees, gay ministers, gay policy makers, gay presidents?! Don't get me wrong, I accept Gay's right to exist as much as I accept Israel's right to exist! But if every Gay person holding a position of power practices that power to "punish" those who do not believe in them, then we're in for quite a treat.

The key point here is that the have-nots who come into power always support their fellow have-nots against others. The Bolshevik Revolution started like that. Are we inching towards a Gay revolution?! Maybe...

My Trip to Albania, What Went Wrong!

2009-04-21T19:45:00.002+04:00

Enthusiasm was high, expectations were exhilarating, and the potential was outstanding. The result: complete, pure, utter and unequivocal failure.

The Reason:

It all has to do with my visa. We don’t have an Albanian Embassy in the UAE, so I had to contact the one in Saudi Arabia and request my visa from there. The visa was issued on the 22nd March 2009, the validity of the visa is one month expiring on 21st April 2009, the visa allows me to stay in Albania for a duration of 30 days. It was my understanding (the reason of this whole debacle), that I have one month to enter Albania; and as soon as I enter Albania the countdown of my one month visa duration starts. I was fatally wrong!

What happened:

I was planning to stay in Albania for 10 days only, traveled there on the 20th April 2009, upon reaching there I was alerted by the passport control guys that my visa lets me stay for 1 day only!

In fact, they didn’t even want to let me in because when they found out that I was planning to stay for 10 days and I only have one day to so they were going to send me back to Istanbul (my connecting flight origin and destination). With the help of some friends we managed to convince them that I will be staying for 1 day only and I went on through inside. As I entered we (my friends and I) vowed to do all we can to extend my visit.

What we did:

The 20th April was a public holiday in Albania, Orthodox Easter, so we had to wait till the next day to approach the government. The next day, we woke up early, and headed out in the rain to visit some government offices. The beginning was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the end was the Ministry of Interior affairs, and in between a plethora of calls to friends, families, acquaintances, people in high positions, everyone…trying to get the issue resolved. Alas, the issue is irresolvable.

Time was running out, I had to make sure that I have a flight back to Istanbul and from there back to the UAE, otherwise my friends who “sponsored” me there would be in trouble with the law (if I stay an extra day). A few calls to Turkish Airlines later, and I was confirmed to a flight back to the UAE.

The result:

Now I’m writing this from the transit lounge of Istanbul Airport, I am heading back after spending 8.5 hours of flight and transit to reach Albania, stayed in Albania for 29 hours, going back takes another 8 hours.

I’m exhausted, sick (still), disappointed, sad, angry, furious, and sad!

Firstly, I would like to congratulate Albania on having a new democratic government that is free of corruption! Had it been a couple of years back a few bucks or calls would’ve sorted everything out. Apparently now people are scared to death of going through such a route, the law is vigilant, unmerciful, functional, and indiscriminative.

Second, I would like to show my utmost gratitude and thanks to Jola, Alma, and their families (especially Elvis and Mrs. Himci) for the tremendous help and hospitality they have shown in the past 24 hours or so (Elvis, so sorry about the car!). Without them I would have turned back to Istanbul as soon as I had arrived there and I wouldn’t have been able to run around those government offices, adding to that the comfortable bed and apartment I was provided. Thank you so much. Also thanks to Ujvara for doing all you can and making all these calls.

A special thanks goes out to Arjan for working hard on trying to give me an alternative to leaving. Thank you for inviting me to Pristina.

Thirdly, and this is the silver lining to this cloud:

I WILL GO BACK IN LESS THAN ONE MONTH!!! In fact, I will reapply for a new visa as soon as I reach the UAE and will schedule my flight and stay there according to the visa limits this time, duh!!! I am determined to finish this trip, and God willing I will. So guys, see you very soon again…

Facebook...an alternate reality?

2009-03-30T16:35:00.002+04:00

People are constantly looking for some sort of change. Some place, time or environment that takes them away from their everyday routine of life. A place where they feel important, cared about, loved and heard. A place where opinions and feelings are shared without fear of reprise, personal moments made universal without fear of being over-publicized, a place where friends and people can be explored with minimal interaction, and perhaps in the process explore oneself.

Some people resort to drugs. Drugs offer an alternate reality, a world within this world where everything feels pleasant, care-free life, elevated perception, eccentric interactions, a sense of elation and freedom.
Facebook has offered an alternate life to normal individuals allowing them to be "famous". Shared status, news and pictures are plastered on a hundred walls, you're famous by choice and you get to choose what to post and what to withhold. Facebook has created an alternate medium that is by far unconventional, it challenges emailing, chatting, blogging, even calling on the phone. It's like a super-image & sound-embedded-conference calling-real-time-syndicated multipurpose email! It's got it all. People are not only sharing their own news, news from around the world is also shared using Facebook.

Facebook has become a medium where a heavy user, like myself, indulges in some sort of an alternate world. I am communicating with friends who I didn't necessarily know that well when I actually knew them in person. I'm discovering also that many of these friends are rather interesting and outspoken. I have a total of 327 friends, spanning across a geographical area that is literally equal to the World! I know what they like, love, hate, feel like, live for, live by, and listen to. I know what they did last weekend even though they live thousands of miles away. I know their relationship or marital status, who they hang out with, who they have a crush on, what is their favorite drink, which country they visited or like to visit and what their interests are. The amount of information that is so readily made available on Facebook is astonishing. And I'm sure many of you would be lying if you say that you're not interested or you don't care to know.

Here's when you know that you are actually living in an alternate world when you engage Facebook:

1. When you interact with your Facebook friends more than you interact with the ones who live next door!

2. When you get all the gossip about your friends or friends of friends from Facebook and not from the daily call with your best friend.

3. When you know that your friend is attending an event in town through Facebook and decide to meet up there using Facebook to communicate.

4. When the first thing that comes to your mind when you take pictures in an outing, is which ones will be posted on your Facebook profile the next day.

5. When you get more Facebook notifications and messages than personal emails on your usual hotmail/yahoo/gmail client.

6. When the first thing that knows how you feel is Facebook!

7. When you believe and fight for a cause and you dedicate all your energy in that fight doing it through Facebook.

Even in politics, some parties are calling for strikes or demonstrations using Facebook, utilizing its reach to get the message through. Obama has a Facebook page which he extensively used during his campaign to promote his presidency bid. He still uses it today to get the people's backing to his plans and ideas. Does Obama live in an alternate reality? No, but at least he acknowledged that some people do, and he reached out to them through what seems to be their only means of communication!

Can you think of more? Now tell me, which reality do you live in? :)

Political Blackmail

2009-03-25T21:10:00.003+04:00

It is quite appalling to witness the way the world is aiding Gaza. Leaders of many countries gathered in Egypt a few weeks ago and flamboyantly declared a staggering total of 4.4 billion dollars in aid to help the people of Gaza get back on their feet again after a devastating month long war with Israel.

Three weeks have passed since then, and Gaza is yet to see a single dime of that pledge. The reason: blackmail.

Nations of the world are literally holding the Palestinian people of Gaza hostages while trying to force Hamas to accept their conditions; the recognition of Israel to name one. Hamas doesn't recognize Israel as a state. Israel doesn't recognize Hamas as a valid ruling entity even though it democratically won the legislative elections back in 2006.

The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that there will be no aid given to the suffering Palestinian people unless Hamas recognizes Israel.
Blackmail? Perhaps. Either way, the people of Gaza remain homeless, without shelters, with very little food, water and vital supplies and with demolished homes awaiting the most basic of tools and materials to rebuild them. Adding to the suffering is a land, sea, air blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza to punish Hamas. Once again the poor and helpless suffer from the complexities of political wars between sides that refuse them the right to exist.

Aid is humanitarian in nature, it should never be politicized, nor given with strings attached. A million and a half live in Gaza today awaiting a little sign that says the world cares, alas, the sign may get lost and buried in the halls of government houses and political lobbies.

Black is White, White is Black, Grey is Dead!

2009-03-08T18:19:00.001+04:00

This is a new age; an age where things are so well defined yet so vague; an age where one can so openly cheer for the enemy and get away with it; an age when the values are reversed, the norms are upside down, and logic has taken an alarming new twist of nature.

Definition No. 1: Terrorist/Terrorism

This is the word everyone keeps hearing on the news. It’s become a household name. It has also become irrevocably tied to Muslim, Islamic, Islamists, Arabs, Masks, AK47’s, and the Quran!

The media has done such a great job in creating these ties. I dare anyone reading this article now and thinking of a definition of a Terrorist to tell me what is the first image that pops in their head. I rest my case.

Moving on, this is what our dear old Wikipedia has to say about this issue:

“Terrorism, according to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, is the systematic use of terror, "violent or destructive acts (as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands."At present, there is no internationally agreed upon definition of terrorism. Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those acts which (1) are intended to create fear (terror), (2) are perpetrated for an ideological goal (as opposed to a materialistic goal or a lone attack), and (3) deliberately target (or disregard the safety of) non-combatants. Some definitions also include acts of unlawful violence or war.”

The world has many examples of different sides of conflicts. I will choose the one which I know most about, Israel and Palestine. Here are a few examples:

1. In the first few days of Israel’s most recent war on Gaza, Israel killed 167 Police officers. These are people in charge of maintaining the law and are regarded as civilians under the Geneva Convention. They are most definitely “non-combatants”. Israel referred to them as terrorists and Hamas operatives.

2. Attacks on Israeli police AND even the army is regarded as terrorism! The Palestinians seem to be called terrorists in all cases, attacking Israeli civilians, the police and the army! It’s pretty confusing to me.

3. Militants in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan who bomb funerals and market places.

4. Freedom fighters (this term for some reason does not exist anymore, are there no people who live under oppression anywhere in the world?!), are regarded as terrorists (only if they are Muslims). Fighters in Africa who fight for whatever cause or faction are called guerillas, militias, or simply fighters – even as they murder innocent women and children in villages and tribes.

5. All Palestinian individuals with weapons are terrorists, regardless of whether they may be freedom fighters, actual terrorists, members of a militia, members of the police, members of an armed wing of a faction, or simply people trying to defend their homes and farms.

6. Israeli settlers all have guns. Different types of guns. Advanced, deadly, loaded, expensive guns. And they use them every single day against the Palestinian people as means of intimidation to say the least. This is not terrorism.

7. Hezbollah’s army kidnapped two Israeli SOLDIERS = an act of terrorism.

8. In the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel, Israel lost 43 civilians in the war (4 of them died of heart attacks from the rockets!) and 121 soldiers (according to the Israeli Defense Forces IDF). Lebanon lost 1,191 civilians and approx. 500 militants (this is an average of various estimates which include deaths from the Lebanese Army, Hezbollah and other Lebanese factions who fought in the war). Notice the percentage differences between civilians and army deaths on both sides.

9. One more thing to add to point 8, Israel killed 4 UN peace keeping unarmed personnel manning an observation point clearly marked as a UN post during that war.

10. Hezbollah are terrorist according to the US, EU, Australia and Canada. Israeli president Shimon Perez won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994!

Enough examples, the picture is clear now I believe. There were numerous calls to hold a worldwide conference to explicitly and clearly define terrorism. Not a single one has ever been formed.

Today, I don’t care what we’re called. Call me a terrorist, pacifist, killer, murderer or even a homicidal maniac. In my heart, and in the heart of millions who share the same views and beliefs as mine, we fight for a just cause and I couldn’t care less what you label me.

Historically, the citizens of Western Europe who were defending their lands from the Roman expansion were called Barbarians. Today, the citizens of Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan who are defending their lands, families, crops and homes are called terrorists.

Next post will talk about the definition of Patriots and Patriotism.

2009-02-19T22:44:00.001+04:00

GAZA

The situation is too complicated to talk about.I wouldn't do the cause any justice by a mere display of emotions. The history and details of things is too much and too long. Yet, here's a few words about this tragedy:

Gaza has been under siege and a blockade restricting it from the basic necessities of human life for more than 2 years. The 1.5 million people who live in this 350 km2 stretch of land almost all live below the poverty line, are malnourished, impoverished, under educated, and left to starve die and rot.

And now Israel is fed up with Hamas' resistance to this blockade and decided to collectively punish the entire population of Gaza for resisting their blockade and exercising their most basic right to live freely and in dignity. And how does Israel show it's fed up? It kills around 400 people and injures around 2000 people in just 4 days!

Let me repeat that sentence which I'm sure you just quickly read and dismissed as mere numbers:

Around FOUR HUNDRED Human Beings have been killed by Israel and almost TWO THOUSAND Human Beings have been injured in a span of just FOUR DAYS!!!! And the assault continues as we speak.

Perhaps the Israelis have reached such an extreme case of paranoia because of the holocaust that it just mass kills anyone it regards as its enemy at will. Perhaps Israel is just the neighborhood bully. Perhaps Israel is a trigger happy little boy with weapons of mass destruction. Perhaps Israel is just simply insane.

And maybe there's a slight possibility that Israel is an extremist Jewish State that is hellbent on occupying what they believe to be their holy and promised land while displacing whatever people that already live there by any means necessary including just simply by killing them all and causing a second holocaust onto those people it deems as less human and beneath them.

Whatever the case is here's the facts. Four hundred human beings are dead so far. Some of these are children, women and elderly. Some are civilians. Some are mothers, fathers and daughters. Some are sons. Some are disabled and sick. Some are heroes, some are commoners, some are fighters.

The world sits idly as this happen. It is mind boggling. Protests are scattered in many capitals of our world. The governments of the world remain suspiciously and criminally quiet about all of this. Am I missing something? Is it suddenly OK to kill hundreds of people using superior military power which I got from the most powerful country of the world? Is it justified to take life to save life? Or in this case take hundreds of lives to perhaps safe one life? Who draws the limit? Who decides who gets to die and who lives? The more powerful does. Reason is power. Righteousness is power. Faith is power. Dignity is power. Patience is power. But in this equation; one power matters...fire power.

Let the people of Gaza die. Are they worth anything to us? Aren't they just statistics in this seemingly never ending conflict between the Arabs and Israelis? Are they even human beings with feelings and hopes and dreams?!! Do they have mothers that weep and wale and fathers that shed a tear over sons and daughters who once made them proud??!!

Around a month ago Mumbai was attacked by terrorists. 188 innocent people died. Six of them were Jews. The whole world watched in horror. Condemned and offered their condolences. The attack left the already fragile relations between Pakistan and India in shaky grounds. The US sent its Secretary of Foreign affairs to Indian as a sign of solidarity.

Let's draw a contrast between the reaction of the world to what happened in Mumbai and what's happening today in Gaza. What's missing? What's wrong?!! Is it because the lives lost in Mumabi were those of Americans, Brits, Israelis and Westerners? Is it because they're not Muslims? Is it because they're not Arabs? Can someone tell me why?!!

Please take a look at this, then continue reading this post:
http://english.aljazeera.net/Services/Gallery/Default.aspx?GalleryID=2008122715225769438

What do you feel in your gut? Put all politics and its complexity aside, and put your humanity in front for one minute. How do you feel?

Israel always preaches that the International community has a duty to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon to avoid another holocaust. You, my dear reader, now have the moral and humane duty to act in whatever way you can to stop this ugly, sadistic and beastly massacre against these people. Imagine this is your mother, father, brother, or child you see in those pictures. Imagine this is happening to your countrymen. And imagine this is happening right in front of you and you do absolutely nothing about it.

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