THE COMPLETE SELLOUT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE-AMERICA HAS NO LEADERS-JUST THOSE THAT CALL THEMSELVES LEADERS

AMERICANS BY THE MILLIONS UNEMPLOYED. WHILE AMERICANS SCRAPE AND SCRATCH TO MAKE IT THE SO CALLED LEADER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PARTIES LIKE 1999

TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW CLICK HERE

TO VIEW LATEST BROADCAST ILLUSTRATIONS FOR SHOW CLICK HERE

THE GETTIN AFTER LEFTY RSS FEED CLICK HERE

TO VISIT THE GETTIN AFTER LEFTY BROADCAST HOMEPAGE CLICK HERE

PARTY LIKE 1999 TO HELL WITH FELLOW AMERICANS THAT ARE SUFFERING THEY DON’T COUNT ANYWAY

LIES LIES LIES LIES-THEY HAVE LIED TO US FOR MANY MANY YEARS

We have all by now heard of the term “GLOBAL WARMING” we all should be fairly well educated on just what GLOBAL WARMING IS, ACCORDING TO THE COMMUNIST LEFT.

WHAT THEY SAY IT IS DOING TO CLIMATE WORLD WIDE.

Now we find out that all the data,all the gloom and doom that the Environmentalist have been preaching for years and by the way we now find that all that data is BOGUS-

THEY HAVE SOLD US OUT!

THEY HAVE LIED TO US,THEY IN CONJUNCTION WITH HOLLYWOOD,PRADVDA WEST HAVE CONSPIRED TO DEVELOP AND BROADCAST LIES ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING DISGUISED AS THE TRUTH.

THEY HAVE LIED TO US AND THEY HAVE HOODWINKED MILLIONS OF AMERICANS-PLAYING ON THEIR FEARS-POLAR BEARS DYING,CITIES WOULD BE FLOODED,HUGE TORNADO’S,HURRICANES,OUR ATMOSPHERE WILL BURN UP,HOLLYWOOD HAS PRODUCED MOVIES THAT USE THOSE SCARE TACTICS-ABC-CBS-NBC-CNN-PBS HAS WENT ALONG WITH THE GLOBAL WARMING MOVEMENT-AGAIN BROADCASTING LIES AND MAKING THOSE LIES OUT TO BE THE TRUTH.

NOW WE COME TO THIS AND LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY TO WHAT I AM ABOUT TO REPORT.

No one should be surprised. The entire Democratic Marxist Party is deaf to the demands of the people who elected them to lead. Apparently political victories are far more important to Mr. Obama, Pelosi and Reid than the well being and will of the American people. Victories at any cost, regardless of the future damage they may impose.

RON PAUL INTERVIEW
CLICK HERE AND THEN SCROLL TO BOTTOM OF PAGE THEN CLICK ON PLAYER

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As the world acknowledges World AIDS Day, striker Didier Drogba and fellow philanthropist Bono have teamed up with Nike to launch the “Lace Up. Save Lives.” initiative which sells shoelaces to fight HIV/AIDS.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8388388.stm

It’s The Week We’ve All Been Waiting For

It seems like just last week the college football season kicked off, and here it is the end of the regular season.  A handful of games can potentially scramble the bowl bids that will go out Sunday.  With the holidays bringing the five PiRates together under the same roof in northwest Wisconsin for too much turkey and other booty, we stayed up late gathering information for this special bowl edition.  We think through hard work and phone calls to contacts in multiple locations, we have one of the best views of the bowl games.

This edition will not be a speculative one.  We are actually trying to use information we have gathered to report where we believe the bowls are looking with six days to go.

The BCS Bowls

National Championship Game:  Obviously the winner of this week’s Alabama-Florida game in the SEC Championship will finish number one.  If Texas wins, then everything is rather easy.  The Longhorns will finish number two.  Here’s where things get dicey.  If Texas loses, there will be controversy no matter which team makes it to Pasadena.  TCU would be the logical choice, but Cincinnati could edge ahead of the Horned Frogs with a convincing win over Pittsburgh.  And, if Alabama were to edge Florida by a point or win in overtime, there is still a possibility that Alabama and Florida could meet in a rematch.  Remember something; part of the BCS equation is human voting.  The fourth estate has never been confused for being honest and just.  All it takes is for a few voters to move TCU down one spot, and the fix would be in.

We believe Nebraska’s lack of offense will make this all superfluous.  Texas will win by double digits this week and face the SEC winner for the national championship.  We’ve taken a vote here in the Northwoods; one of us believes Florida will win this week.  One of us believes Alabama will win, and the other three consider it a tossup.  It should be the next “greatest game,” in the mold of Ohio State and Michigan in 2006, Florida State and Florida in 1996, Notre Dame and USC in 1988, and the two greatest late season matchups of #1 vs. #2—Oklahoma and Nebraska in 1971 and Notre Dame and Michigan State in 1966. 

Orange Bowl: The winner of this week’s Clemson-Georgia Tech game for the ACC Championship will automatically go to Miami.  We believe Clemson has a better than 50% chance of pulling off the upset.  In their regular season game, Clemson’s comedy of errors led to the Yellow Jackets getting a big lead.  The Tigers made a great comeback and almost pulled it off.  We thing CU gets revenge this week and heads to Miami with a weak 8-4 record.  The Orange Bowl will get the third selection in the at-large draft if Texas wins.  The Sugar and Fiesta Bowls will have already picked because they will have lost teams to the National Championship Game.  With Alabama or Florida and Iowa already taken off the board, this pick will come down to either the Big East champion, Boise State, or TCU.  If Cincinnati beats Pittsburgh, we don’t see the Bearcats being chosen even though they would be 12-0.  Cincinnati played in Miami last year.  It would come down to TCU and Boise State.  Believe it or not, Boise’s fans travel better, so we will go with Boise State here.

If Pittsburgh beats Cincinnati, the Panthers will probably wind up here, and Boise State would head to the Fiesta Bowl.

Fiesta Bowl: Assuming Texas wins, the Fiesta Bowl will get the second and fourth picks in the at-large draft.  The SEC loser will be off the table, and we believe the best choice for this bowl will be Iowa.  After the Orange Bowl picks Boise State, TCU becomes the logical choice.  If Pittsburgh beats Cincinnati, then Boise State would land here.

Sugar Bowl: Without a doubt, the loser of the SEC Championship will play here if both SEC teams don’t play again in Pasadena.  The Sugar Bowl gets the first pick to replace the number one team being lost to the National Championship Game.  The Sugar Bowl also gets the last pick in the at-large draft.  Since this cannot be a Hobson’s Choice, Cincinnati would land here as the only option if the Bearcats beat Pittsburgh.  If Pittsburgh wins this week, then TCU would land here.

Rose Bowl: Ohio State is already assured of playing here.  The winner of Thursday night’s Oregon-Oregon State game will be the opponent.  There can be no other options this year.

The Top-Tier Non-BCS Bowls

Capital One Bowl: LSU seems to be a shoo-in for this bowl after Ole Miss fell to Mississippi State.  Penn State will land here if Iowa is chosen over the Lions for a BCS Bowl.  We see no reason for Penn State fans to believe they can beat out Iowa, especially if the bowl in question is the Fiesta Bowl.

Outback Bowl: The top remaining SEC East team is supposed to play here, while the top remaining SEC West team is supposed to play in the Cotton Bowl. Ole Miss played in Dallas last year, and there was talk that there could be a trade-off with Ole Miss heading to Tampa.  However, late news seems to support the Rebels playing in the Cotton Bowl again, so Tennessee looks like the choice here.  The Big Ten representative will be Wisconsin unless the Badgers lose in Hawaii this weekend.  If that happens, it changes a lot of other bowls. 

Cotton Bowl: Oklahoma State should receive this invitation, since the Cowboys have the second best record, but Nebraska or over Oklahoma could leapfrog them.  For now, we will stick with the most politically correct pick and go with Oklahoma State.  According to late-breaking news, the SEC representative will be Ole Miss. 

Gator Bowl: Notre Dame’s fold means the Big East gets this spot.  The loser of the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati game will end up in Jacksonville.  We believe Georgia Tech will lose to Clemson this week, so the Yellow Jackets will play here.  Our pick then is Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh.  If the Yellow Jackets win the ACC, then it appears that Miami would be the ACC representative.

Holiday Bowl: Southern Cal will get this bid if Oregon beats Oregon State.  If the Beavers beat the Ducks, then Oregon will drop to this bowl.  Nebraska is the logical Big 12 choice for this game.

Chick-fil-A Bowl: Georgia’s win over Georgia Tech will put the Bulldogs at the top of the list for this game, but a second year in a row of fewer hotel rooms needing to be booked (Georgia Tech played here last year) probably sends the Bulldogs somewhere else.  The likely ACC opponent will be Virginia Tech, and the SEC will try to find the best opponent.  Auburn would be the best choice, providing a match-up of offense against defense, but most of their fans can drive to this game.  We’re going with Auburn because officials from this bowl repeatedly attended their games.  Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

The Mid-Level Bowls

Las Vegas Bowl: Even though they have been to this bowl four years in a row, it looks like Brigham Young is headed here again.  The Mountain West would like Utah to go here, but BYU will sell their allotment for this one, while the Utes will not.

The Pac-10 opponent could be a host of teams, but we think it will be either Stanford or Oregon State.  One of those two will play here, while the other plays in the Emerald Bowl.  We’ll go with Stanford here.  If Oregon State beats Oregon, then Southern Cal or California might fall to this game.

Meineke Car Care Bowl: This bowl will have a choice of Florida State or Boston College.  With Bobby Bowden announcing his retirement tomorrow, the Seminoles will jump over the Eagles.  Rutgers should get the Big East invitation in this game.

Music City Bowl: This could be an interesting rivalry game.  How about North Carolina facing South Carolina?  Since the Gamecocks joined the SEC in 1991, these two teams have played just once.

Liberty Bowl: Arkansas looks like the best option here.  The Razorbacks will fill up the stadium.  The Conference USA champion automatically plays here, so that means either Houston or East Carolina will be the opponent.  Houston and Arkansas would make this a 100-pass, 4-hour game with maybe 100+ points scored.

Sun Bowl: If Oregon wins Thursday, we believe California will be the Pac-10 representative.  Oklahoma looks like the best fit for the Big 12.

Champs Sports Bowl: If Clemson wins over Georgia Tech, Miami should fall to this bowl.  If Georgia Tech wins over Clemson, then Miami moves up to the Gator and Clemson falls here.  Northwestern should be the Big 10 opponent, but if Wisconsin loses to Hawaii, NU could move up and the Badgers could fall here.

Alamo Bowl: Texas Tech should receive this bid, and their opponent should be Michigan State.  It could take 40 points to win this game.

The Bottom Tier

St. Petersburg Bowl: This second year bowl has a chance to make a big splash by bringing together two in-state teams that played each other the last four years but not this year.  Central Florida and South Florida could sell this game out.  We think it is a strong possibility, but the chances for this dream game have dropped some the last few days.

New Mexico Bowl: Unless some back room deals are made, the Mountain West opponent will be Wyoming.  There could be some wheeling and dealing to bring an at-large team here and ship Wyoming to the Humanitarian Bowl, but for now, we’ll keep the Cowboys here.  The WAC opponent will be either Nevada or Fresno State.  If Hawaii upsets Wisconsin, then there will be one extra WAC team available.  For now, we’ll stick with Nevada.

New Orleans Bowl: Troy won the Sunbelt Conference Championship and earns the automatic bid here.  There is a rule where the SBC champion could move to a higher-paying bowl, but for that to happen, the SBC must supply two additional seven-win teams.  There are only two of these teams, so Troy will play here barring some “exception.”   The C-USA opponent should be Southern Mississippi.

Poinsettia Bowl: All signs point to BYU playing here, but we just don’t see the Las Vegas bowl passing over the Cougars for Utah.  So, we’re going against the grain and picking Utah to end up in San Diego.  Arizona looks like the Pac-10 opponent.  If the Wildcats upset USC, then there is a small chance they could move up.

Hawaii Bowl:  Here’s where a giant monkey wrench could be thrown into the bowl games.  Hawaii will get this bid with a win over Wisconsin.  We might be biased, but we think the Badgers can pull this one out.  So, in that case, Fresno State should be the WAC representative.  The hot CUSA choice is SMU, which would bring June Jones back to the island.  Since this bowl desperately wants a Hawaii-SMU game, look for this week’s Hawaii-Wisconsin game to be one of the most partially-biased officiated games.

Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl: This bowl could be in for a mess.  Central Michigan played here last year, so it looks like the Chippewas are headed to Mobile, Alabama.  A bigger problem is that there will not be a Big 10 team available for this game.  Because the at-large pool must take all the seven-win teams before any 6-6 team can be selected, this bowl might have to invite two MAC teams, neither of which are the conference champion.

Ohio U should be the official MAC selection.  This bowl would love to bring Notre Dame here, but even if one 6-6 team can be chosen, it looks like the Irish will vote not to play in any bowls.  Middle Tennessee, at 9-3, would be the best at-large option, but we believe the Blue Raiders will be invited somewhere else first.  So, this bowl will have to look for two MAC teams that have not played.  That leaves Northern Illinois against Bowling Green.

Emerald Bowl: Boston College will be the last available ACC team, and they will fortunate to sell half of their ticket allotment.  Oregon State or Stanford will be the opponent here, and since we pegged Stanford for the Las Vegas Bowl, we’ll put the Beavers here.

Independence Bowl: This bowl is tired of having teams that don’t want to be here, but it will be the case once again with the SEC.  Georgia could very well end up here if the Chick-fil-A looks elsewhere.  The Big 12 representative will come down to either Texas A&M or Iowa State.  If Georgia is chosen to play in Atlanta, then this bowl will jump at the chance to pit Auburn with Iowa State for obvious reasons (Auburn coach Gene Chizik was at Iowa State and Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads was at Auburn).  Under the assumption that Auburn will play in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, we’ll slate Georgia here against Texas A&M.

Eagle Bank Bowl: This second year bowl faces the possibility that neither of its two tie-ins will be able to supply a team.  Army has to beat Navy to earn their bid.  We believe that will happen, and the Cadets will make life easier for this bowl.  The ACC will definitely not have an available team for this bowl, so an at-large team will be selected.  Temple will be making its first bowl trip in almost two decades, so the Owls will be a good choice.  If Army loses to Navy, then a 6-6 team will end up here.  Since Notre Dame will not be available if they vote not to go to a bowl, Marshall may get this bid, even though Coach Mark Snyder just resigned.

Humanitarian Bowl: With Boise State almost assured of making it to a BCS Bowl if Texas beats Nebraska, this bowl will look to Idaho to replace the Broncos.  With TCU earning a BCS bowl, the MWC will not have an available team for this game.  With all the seven-win teams coming from over 1,500 miles away from Boise, it looks like UCLA could become the one 6-6 bowl team and play here.

Armed Forces Bowl:  The MWC team should be Air Force, as it is a no-brainer to have a service academy playing here.  The C-USA opponent should be the loser of the ECU-Houston game this week.  Houston would be a great counterpart.

Texas Bowl: Navy has already secured one of these spots.  Iowa State or Texas A&M will be the opponent depending on which way the Independence bowl goes.

Insight.com Bowl: Minnesota will be the last Big Ten team in the bowl pecking order, so the Gophers will get this bid.  Missouri is the likely Big 12 opponent.

International Bowl:  Connecticut is the logical choice as the Big East representative.  Ohio U may be shipped here, as they cannot play in the Pizza Bowl against either Bowling Green or Northern Illinois (they beat both).

PapaJohns.com Bowl: Kentucky should be the last available SEC team, and the Wildcats will travel well to Birmingham.  West Virginia would be an excellent opponent here.

I had a feeling that Carrie’s song would reach a global audience like this the first time I heard it.  It is interesting to me that CNN has brought on leading performers to share their celebratory and uplifting songs during the Heroes recognitions. These performances go to show that music is a shared experience that can be used to raise awareness, inspire, and celebrate the achievements of those committed to making a change in the world.

I am shocked that CNN has not asked Nickelback to perform “If Everyone Cared” since the music video gives a visual history of major developments in global humanitarian efforts.

From a cultural studies perspective, I’m fascinated with the large ripple effects one individual can have. For instance, look at the results from Bob Geldof’s drive to start Live Aid in 1984. I can only imagine the confusion that struck many people as they heard that a rock musician was attempting to fight world hunger.

How desperate do you have to be to come home to this at night, hiding in the shadows?

……..

And how angry at the world and yourself do you have to be for such demolishment, no matter if drug- or drink induced or just for the heck of it?…

How desperate do you have to be to come home to this at night, hiding in the shadows?

Sharad was travelling frequently across the country and many a times abroad since he has been a CEO of the company he has been working for last eight years. Right now, he was in the Mumbai international airport’s transit lounge waiting impatiently before some expected noise was due in some time. But, what can be the source of noise at international airport. In these places people try to be very quiet and sophisticated. Sometimes Sharad wondered why ? Will the aeroplane refuse to take the passengers speaking loudly or even speaking at all or will it get disturbed by people talking and will auto-pilot’s flight plan will go awry in its computer’s chip.

Never mind, he has to catch up with a business client and an important one in another country. But, still something in his sub-conscious mind was poking about a kind of expected noise because some ambient voices were now faintly audible. To his shock Sharad felt a light crawl on his leg, like some four legged thing was crawling on him. And then the expected noise came into his ears, the alarm clock was on a mission to wake up his master no matter how high it has to squeal. The four legged thing crawling on his leg came into vision, Sharad and Shikha’s ten months old daughter “Betu”, along with the alarm clock was trying to wake up her maaa. And saw towards her maaa(mother) with an expression that her maaa(father) isn’t responding. This was thing Sharad and Shikha were literally fan of. Their daughter called them both “maaa”. She was too young to utter any other meaningful voice. Also, the easiest thing to pronounce for a child is the word “maa”.

Shikha lifted up the little princess and made her sit on daddy’s chest. Betu patted Sharad on shoulders urging him to play with her. He was awake now, his CEO dream was over and there he was a Senior software engineer working in a very big and reputed Europe based MNC. His wife, Shikha, was also employed in the same company and was a level up than Sharad. She was her Team leader. They were now married for 2 years and Shikha decided to quit the job a few months back after they had the baby. Sharad was due for a promotion in a couple of days to the Tead leader’s role in his current project and was also recommended to work with the client’s team in Chicago, USA in coming 3 months. He then, will have to leave for US with his family for around three years.

Sharad carried her little princess to the bathroom and started brushing his teeth with Betu playing in his other arm with his hairs and his shaving brush he gave in her hands. Quickly he got ready for the office and came out of his flat to get into the elevator. He always felt moving in the elevator made the slowest part of his journey to office. He came out went to the parking and a very familiar and expected voice came in, “Good Morning Sahib”. Shambhu, the building’s night watchman was finishing his shift. He greeted Sharad every morning since two years. Sharad also, replied back “Kya haal chaal hain Shambhu sahab ?”.He felt kind of attachment with the old man. The old man was very compassionate and was particularily attached with Betu. He always played with her when Shikha took her for a walk in the evening or sometimes in night with Sharad also accompanied his family.

Sometimes the old watchman often adviced Sharad out of his age old  experience with this world. Sharad has lost his parents before getting  married to Shikha. First his father passed out and then her mother  couldn’t take the loss for long and she too passed away. This was also  one reason Sharad listened to the old man as there wasn’t anyone  elder than him in family who can advice him. The old man used to be a  part of the celebrations on festivals and birthdays. He was known to  the family for a long time when Sharad was in college. Sharad was now  ready in his car to jostle his way for the office through the Mumbai’s  gruff morning traffic. Sharad intended to sell off his real estate property before leaving for US because there won’t be anyone to look after as he has no siblings. Selling off the property and some land in his village will make a huge amount of money, lets say around fifty million INR.

Sharad’s day in office was an excellent one, his project manager gave him a good news that he has to leave for US in just one and a half months. That evening Sharad was very excited, he had plans to never come back once he left India. Who is here for whom he must come back ? Shambhu met him in the parking, Sharad gave in him the good news. Shambhu congratulated him but his voice was shaky. He asked whether Betu and Shikha also be going with him ? Sharad told him yes they will also be going. Shanbhu hugged Sharad tightly and went away to his small room nearby the building where he lived with his wife and son. His son worked as a taxi driver. His teary eyes left Sharad disturbed. For the first time he felt like he will be leaving behind some one on his departure from the country.

Sharad went home, played with Betu for sometime till she went to sleep. He discussed with his wife what happened in the parking today evening, his conversation with Shambhu. Shikha also felt bad thinking about how Shambhu has been the part of their family for long and he’ll left behind. But, what they can do they have to leave anyways, for their better future for their little daughter’s better future. Thinking and discussing about the same they went to sleep.

A week later Sharad’s and his family’s visa processing and other formalities before leaving started. He also called upon some of brokers to sell off his real estate property in Mumbai as soon as possible. In the mean time he and Shikha thought out something for Shambhu. One evening Sharad called Shambhu and his wife to his home and gave them the keys and registry papers of his furnished house in his village and five hundred thousand INR. Sharad and Shikha figured out this won’t be a problem for Shambhu to shift there as he was from the same village as of Shard’s father. At least he can do this much when he was ready to raise around fifty million INR by selling off his properties in India.

Shambhu broke down, his wife too, had tearful eyes with all the blessings of the world for Sharad, Shikha and Betu. Shikha too brimmed with emotions as both these old people cared for their family and her little princess. Sharad hugged Shambhu and promised to send back address and contact phone number when he will be in US. In the background Betu struggled to get off her maa’s(mother) arms for her maa(father) to play with her on the song “Lakadi ki kathi, kathi pe ghoda, ghode ki dum pe jo maara hathoda, dauda duada ghoda dum utha ke dauda”, by being her ghoda. The hard work of Sharad and Shikha paid off for their lives and life long endurance on Shambhu’s part paid off too. There were very few days left for Sharad to listen to “Good Morning Sahib” and reply back with “Kya haal chaal hain Shambhu sahab ?”.

I apologise in advance about the length of this article. I believe you will find it informative and beneficial.

«…whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus,

the son of Mary; distinguished

in this world and the Hereafter.»

(Surah Aali ‘Imraan, 3:45

If the largest and most successful American and European public relations companies convened, cooperating closely, dedicating themselves and utilizing all their human, technical, and material resources to outline a profile of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) and offer the most attractive picture of him to mankind, what would the world community say about such an undertaking? How would it describe this endeavor? Undoubtedly, it would describe it as a refined, unbiased effort, and as devotion to the revered Messiah. Many other positive and fitting adjectives could be used for it.

If this should be an imaginary proposal, then there is an actual accomplishment that surpasses it by innumerable degrees in relation to the magnitude of its presentation, depth of its content, sincerity of its style, intimacy of its description and length of its duration.

That religious, historical, humanitarian, and ethical reality is that Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) presented his brother, the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, to the world community in a most superb image. That profile and presentation was not a political campaign subject to the drawbacks and inadequacies that characterize such efforts. In presenting his noble brother, the Prophet of Islam followed a method that is not subject to shortcomings and failings. That method is through the Qur’anic text, which contains no falsehood and has been unaltered with time, and teachings of the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him), who did not speak of his own accord. The duration of this presentation is not limited to a week, month or year ,s time; rather it extends from the time of its revelation to Prophet Muhammad in the sixth century until the Day of Resurrection. The presentation of the Messiah is not through an obsolete text, or an outdated document preserved in a library or a museum. It is through the living Qur’an, which is recited in prayers, taught at schools and universities, and heard on radio and television day and night.

It is the right of every intelligent reader and researcher to ask intelligently, objectively and seriously about any statement that could be seen as a mere claim, «What is the evidence and proof supporting it?»

The answer is as follows:

First, there is presentation and introduction of the Messiah in the Qur’an:

Presentation of the miracle of his birth: «Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. O sister [i.e., descendant] of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste. So she pointed to him. They said, How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child? [Jesus] said, Indeed, I am the servant of God. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and charity as long as I remain alive and [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.» (Surah Maryam, 19:27-33)

Presentation of his beautiful character:

«[And mention] when the angels said, «O Mary, indeed God gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary – distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to God].» (Surah Aali ‘Imraan, 3:45)

Presentation of the miraculous nature of his prophethood and mission: «God will say, O Jesus, Son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother when I supported you with the Pure Spirit [i.e., the angel Gabriel] and you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity. And [remember] when I taught you writing and wisdom and the Torah and the Gospel; and when you designed from clay [what was] like the form of a bird with My permission, then you breathed into it, and it became a bird with My permission; and you healed the blind [from birth] and the leper with My permission; and when you brought forth the dead with My permission.» (Surah al-Ma’idah, 5:110)

Presentation of the fact that Gospel revealed to him: «And We sent, following in their footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.»(Surah al-Ma’idah, 5:46)

Presentation of his approach and message, which ordered the worship of God alone: «I said not to them except what You commanded me – to worship God, my Lord and your Lord.» (Surah al-Ma’idah, 5:117) This approach also taught people wisdom and pointed out to them the standard for settling differences: «And when Jesus brought clear proofs, he said, I have come to you with wisdom [i.e., prophethood] and to make clear to you some of that over which you differ.» (Surah az-Zukhruf, 43:63)

And there is proof of it from the Prophet,s sunnah (his sayings and teachings). Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) said:

«While I was asleep, I was circumambulating the Ka‘bah and there came a brown man with straight hair, between two men against whom he leaned, with water dripping from his head. I said, Who is that? I was told, He is the son of Mary.»

Prophet Muhammad also described his brother, Jesus, son of Mary, as «of medium height and ruddy as if he has just come out of a bath,» which implies purity, brightness, and radiance.

Prophet Muhammad also said, «I am nearest to the son of Mary in this world and the Hereafter. There is no other prophet between him and me. Prophets are brothers from their father,s side, having various mothers; and our religion is one.»

He also said, «Whoever testifies that there is no deity other than God, alone with no partner, that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, that Jesus is God,s servant and messenger and His word which He bestowed upon Mary and a spirit from Him, and that Paradise is true and Hell is true – God shall admit him into Paradise according to his deeds.» An-Nawawi, a well known Islamic scholar, commented on this narration, saying, «This is a statement of great significance; it is among the most comprehensive ones about belief.»

Second, there is presentation in the Qur,an of the disciples and followers of the Messiah in an image of utmost grace, perfection and spiritual refinement, for the presentation of the Messiah included the presentation of his noble and righteous disciples:

«But when Jesus felt [persistence in] disbelief from them, he said, Who are my supporters for [the cause of] God? The disciples said, We are supporters for God. We have believed in God and testify that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]. Our Lord, we have believed in what You revealed and have followed the messenger [i.e., Jesus], so register us among the witnesses [to truth].» (Surah Aali ‘Imraan, 3:52-53)

«O you who have believed, be supporters of God, as when Jesus, the son of Mary, said to the disciples, Who are my supporters for God? The disciples said, We are supporters of God.» (Surah as-Saff, 61:14) In this verse Muslims are invited to follow the example of the disciples in supporting the prophets and upholding the way of truth.

Similarly, the disciples receive God,s praise in the Qur’an because they followed Christ in all sincerity: «Then We sent following their footsteps Our messengers and followed [them] with Jesus, the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who followed him compassion and mercy…» (Surah al-Hadeed, 57:27)

Something closely connected to the above and part and parcel of it is the Qur’an,s defense of the righteous Christians who clung to their faith and were exposed to great harm but remained steadfast in their religion.

Among them are the young men of the cave, after whom a chapter of the Qur’an is named. These were upright Christian young men pursuing a sound course. The Qur’an praises and commemorates them: «Or have you thought that the companions of the cave and the inscription were, among Our signs, a wonder? [Mention] when the youths retreated to the cave and said, Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance. So We cast [a cover of sleep] over their ears within the cave for a number of years. Then We awakened them that We might show which of the two factions was most precise in calculating what [extent] they had remained in time. It is We who relate to you, [O Muhammad], their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.» (Surah al-Kahf, 18:9-13)

And among them were are those burned in the trench, also a group of Christians. The Qur’an commemorates them while condemning and denouncing their persecutors: «Destroyed [i.e., cursed] were the companions of the trench [containing] the fire full of fuel, when they were sitting near it and they, to what they were doing against the believers, were witnesses. And they resented them not except because they believed in God, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy, to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. And God, over all things, is Witness. Indeed, those who have tortured the believing men and believing women and then have not repented will have the punishment of Hell, and they will have the punishment of the Burning Fire.»

(Surah al-Buruj, 84:4-10)

In summary, we can say that evidence recurs and each proof supports the other in confirming that Islam presents Christ (peace be upon him), his Gospel, his method, his mission and his disciples in a perfect and most sublime image. It also defends the persecuted Christian believers in a manner that shows love for them and abhorrence for their tyrannical oppressors. I am pleased to offer these statements, supported by evidences, as a gift to the Christians of the world.

If there is a conclusion or statement to be added, it is this: How can Islam be condemned when it offers such a splendid portrayal of Christ? How can light be blamed for being light? Why should the presenting of Christ as sublime and dignified become a pretext to discredit Prophet Muhammad and his religion?

We believe in Christ as a prophet and a messenger of God. We love and esteem him, and we follow the light he brought. If others do not believe in our prophet – belief being a matter of free choice – let them at least respect him. Such respect is not only morally praiseworthy, but would also demonstrate a sensible attitude, for reasonable people appreciate and respect those who respect the ones they love and believe in.

Now as in the past, the intolerance of Muslims and Christians and exchanges of insults between them appears absurd. It can only be instigated by small minded people when viewed in light of the sound, sincere and honorable relationship between the two great men: Muhammad and Jesus Christ.

Do the Christians of the world know that belief in the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, as a prophet and messenger is one of the basic elements of belief for every Muslim? It is even a condition for the soundness of every Muslim,s belief in Prophet Muhammad in the sense that a Muslim,s belief in Prophet Muhammad is unacceptable and rejected unless it is combined with belief that Jesus, the son of Mary, was a prophet and messenger.

Do the Christians of the world know this fact?

Some of them do, particularly Christians of the Arab world who speak Arabic, for their knowledge of the language allows them, for example, to consider this Qur’anic verse:

«Say, [O believers], We have believed in God and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.» (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:136)

Some Christians know this fact, but the majority do not. It is most likely that, together with other factors, their lack of knowledge of this fact has caused a great deal of misunderstanding in the way they have responded to Islam.

However, he who does not know cannot be an authority over people who do know; rather, the opposite should be true.

Moreover, it is an obligation at all times to state openly that a Muslim,s belief is unacceptable unless he believes in the prophethood and mission of Jesus, the son of Mary. It is not permissible to withhold this acknowledgment just because of some people,s hostility to Prophet Muhammad. In this context a question might be raised: Why should Muslims not resort to the same tactics as the people who disparage the status of Prophet Muhammad and curse and slander him? The same tactics, of course, means disparaging, cursing, and slandering Jesus, son of Mary. But this is regarded in Islamic law as disbelief. Such an act would cast the offender out of the religion of Islam. For Muslim believers there is no difference between insulting or ridiculing Christ and insulting or ridiculing Muhammad. None would differentiate between them except a disbeliever in all the prophets and messengers. In fact, he would not be a true believer in God. The Qur,an says: «Indeed, those who disbelieve in God and His messengers and wish to discriminate between God and His messengers and say, We believe in some and disbelieve in others, and wish to adopt a way in between – those are the disbelievers, truly. And We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment. But they who believe in God and His messengers and do not discriminate between any of them – to those He is going to give their rewards. And ever is God Forgiving and Merciful.»(Surah an-Nisaa’, 4:150-152)

The essence of the above statements is that religious acceptance of all prophets without any discrimination between them is the basis of moral tolerance. The extent to which the mind, heart, and soul of an individual or a nation is broad enough in capacity to accept the whole truth is an indication of the extent of one,s tolerance.

But individuals and nations continue to exchange accusations against one another, each claiming to be tolerant and accusing others of partiality. In most cases when doing so, both sides are merely following their own whims and inclinations due to lack of a sound criterion by which to judge, one which would put a stop to such arguments and injustices. But what is the true criterion?

The best and most precise criterion that can be put on the scales of justice to measure the honesty of people, the correctness of their ideology, the soundness of their thought and the superiority of their moral standards is the extent to which their minds, hearts, and souls accept the whole truth and revere and love upholders of truth at every time and place.

Only by this criterion can a person be described as tolerant and another as biased. A person who is broad minded enough to accommodate the whole truth, unaffected by a tendency to be selective, and who acknowledges bearers of truth, regardless of when or where they might appear, is a truly tolerant person. And needless to say, one who is unable to do so will be intolerant. That is why it is one of the aims and tenets of Islam that Muslims are obliged to accept in their hearts, minds and souls the whole truth at all times and places. «[God] has ordained for you of religion what He enjoined upon Noah and that which We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what We enjoined upon Abraham and Moses and Jesus – to establish the religion and not be divided therein.» (Surah ash-Shuraa, 42:13)

Those five great men, the true leaders of enlightened human thought, who are addressed and mentioned in this verse, are the messengers of resolute purpose. They belong to different places and times as regards birth, residence, circumstances and missions, and they cover the long span of human history from Noah through Abraham, Moses and Jesus up to the time of Muhammad (peace be upon them all).

In spite of the diversity of locations and long intervals of time between them, the truth they preached and advocated is the same truth as is vividly expressed in the verse above. Thus, what can be called the «line of truth» is a permanent one, continuously extending into every time and place.

Genuine affiliation is attachment to truth and righteousness and to those who possess them. (This, however, does not imply disregard of the importance of lineage or of belonging to a homeland, for in Islam there is no conflict between these affiliations.) We have not ourselves seen Prophets Idrees, Noah, Moses, Jesus, his disciples or Elisha, but we love and revere them all. Why? Because they were good, righteous people and they had noble souls and high moral standards; and also because the truth and principles they upheld are worthy of being adhered to, and make it commendable to be associated with those great men.

The beloved Jesus is a revered prophet and messenger. Islam, both in its divine scripture and its prophetic teachings, praises, venerates and exalts the position of Jesus. Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, presented Jesus to the human community in a most affectionate, dignified, generous and exceptional way.

This is the great rank of the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, as stated in the Qur,an and in Prophet Muhammad ,s sunnah. In Islam, respect for him is one of the basic elements of the creed.

We testify that we believe in the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, as a prophet and messenger. We also testify that we love him because he is loved and was chosen by God, because he embodied mercy, peace and love. He was blessed, dutiful to his mother and a sign for the people of all times (peace be upon him).

Jesus preached many values, precepts, concepts, and moral principles. He persevered in his preaching to make sure these moral values would flow naturally into man ’s consciousness and become an inalienable part of his conscience and the life of his society. Some examples of these values may be cited:

Mercy, which is the first and noblest characteristic of Christ,s personality and of his message, as stated in the Qur,an: «We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.» (Surah Maryam, 19:21) This characteristic was instinctively very clear in his mind, and therefore he denied the existence of any vestige of haughtiness or arrogance, the opposite of mercy, in his own nature: «And [God made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant.» (Surah Maryam, 19:32) He is quoted in the Bible as saying, «Blessed be the meek and merciful. Come to me all you who are tired and burdened and you will find comfort, because my yoke is gentle and my burden is light.»

Peace, of which Jesus, the Messiah, was without doubt, an advocate. This is not strange, for there was peace upon him from his birth to his resurrection, as stated in the Qur’an: «And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive.»(Surah Maryam, 19:33)

Correct belief, as he said: «O Children of Israel, worship God, my Lord and your Lord. Indeed, he who associates others with God – God has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire.» (Surah al-Ma’idah, 5:72).

RasoulAllah. net

Ashville, North Carolina  A small town with a big message, “Don’t Postpone Joy.”

Laurey’s Catering is the example of the saying, ‘it takes a village.’  A family has been created through this business to include all of the employees, the surrounding community, young and old, the local farmers, the local artists and even the human society.

Laurey’s Catering is also supporting little Henry who is going through some serious health treatments, which recently included a bone marrow transplant.  On November 8th, Laurey’s Catering hosted a pancake breakfast to support Henry’s family.  Then on November 11, in honor of little Henry, the entire town donated 11% of the sales to support Heny’s health care costs.

When a business sets the example of how life should be a world of difference can happen.   A small child vulnerable to the world around him is teaching people how to live life.  To follow little Henry’s progress, go to Caring Bridge.

To follow an inspiring business owner, sign up for Laurey’s Cafe’s newsletter at www.laureysyum.com.  It is filled with stories on food, nature and local perspectives.  It is a glimpse into a world filled with hope, optimism, appreciation and ultimately, joy.

By Keri Douglas, writer/photographer, Washington, D.C.

Here’s an old post on Butembo I never finished back in DRC…something for my friends and colleagues currently spending much more time there than they want to, after unrest in Lubero forced NGOs to temporarily leave the area. ================================================

One morning back in DRC, I found myself trying to get passport photos taken of some of our team. It was part of the very lengthy process of opening our very own bank account. Those with DRC experience could imagine what opening a bank account with the International Bank of Congo might involve, but I’ll save that story for a very rainy day. Instead I focus on one small part of the story which captures in microcosm the more general problems of getting things done in a state such as DRC. This is the story of the Butembo passport photo experience.

Now Butembo is one of the larger, and certainly one of the richest towns in DRC. So when our team had to get passport photos taken to open our bank account, I had assumed that it might not be completely out of the question. Luckily I had some passport photos with me but some of our team didn’t, so they went off to find a photo studio while I went to do some shopping.

Our new bank manager had been very helpful in pointing them in the right direction, and a short walk down the road was indeed the one photo studio in town:

Yes the arrow on the sign may have been pointing into the street, rather than at the studio, but the fact that they had added “NB – quick & good” at the bottom of their sign suggested an establishment of rare quality.

As it turned out, the first problem was to deal with the surprisingly large crowd at the desk of the photo shop. All of the people there seemed to be customers, and they all had cameras which they were waving around vigorously, but apart from that no one seemed to be doing anything. Eventually someone in the team managed to find one person who admitted to working in the shop and duly asked for some passport photos. They had then left the shop to discuss this complicated transaction, and I found them on the street outside the shop a half hour later, when I came back from shopping.

The problem seemed to be that the shop had a new camera, didn’t know how to use it, and the instruction manual they had was helpfully written only in Chinese. So about 10 people were clustered around the camera, all trying to press the various buttons on the camera at the same time. I took a look at the chaos, and decided I was better off leaving them to sort it out, and use my time in town where there was a good mobile phone network reception to make a few work phonecalls.

15 minutes more button pressing and I saw the crowd dispersed dejectedly, the Chinese camera declared the undisputed winner for successfully having resisted all efforts to make it function. But one of our team had a great idea – she had her camera with her, so why don’t they use that. This turned out to be an arrangement that pleased everyone.

We followed the man from the shop to where the photos would be taken, which turned out to be down the street, round the corner, and through some kind of carpark. Here indeed there was a photo studio, and I watched from an amused distance as the photographer energetically tried to persuade our team members to have their bank account passport photos taken with a backdrop of Copacabana Beach, or the Eiffel Tower. I half expected them to pull out the background of a smiling Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden waving some guns around, which since they are still the most popular calendar boys of Africa (rivalled only these days by Obama) I’m sure they have stored away somewhere.

Finally the photos were done, and we all trooped back through the carpark, round the corner and down the street to the shop. At this point the photographer clearly felt we were invested enough into the process that he could inform us that, actually, they had a little problem with their printer and currently it wasn’t working. Which meant that he had spent the last 2 hours or so using our camera to take photos of us, all the while knowing that he had no means of printing them out at the end of it.

At this point, looking around me I saw that there were many other shops around us advertising passport photo services. “Let’s just give up and go to another shop” I suggested. But some more Butembo-experienced of our team quickly disabused me of this notion. These shops don’t have the capacity to take or print photos, they just lead the hapless customer back to the one “real” photo studio, the one we were currently enjoying the services of, and charge a commission for the trouble. It seemed it was game over for our bank account application for that day.

We may have wasted the whole afternoon, I thought, but at least we haven’t paid them anything, a small consolation. But of course, we were to be denied even that. “Let’s just go” I said. “But we paid in advance for 6 sets of photos”. Of course we did. And we didn’t really have any other option anyway, if we wanted a bank account opened.

To cut the final chapter of the saga short, it involved me cajoling and entreating at length the people in the photo studio to see if there wasn’t any way that the non-functioning photo printer could be encouraged to function, at least for long enough to print out our photos. This may seem unlikely, but most vehicles, buildings and machinery of varying complexity in DRC are held together by little more than hope, elastic bands and maybe a few pieces of cloth. I really have seen 20 tonne trucks in DRC with broken suspension repaired by pieces of pagne cloth, and with that level of improvisation surely fixing a photo printer is possible. And so it proved. An hour or so later, once the photo shop owner was sufficiently convinced that we weren’t leaving without either money or photos, we finally got our reward. And it was even in time to give to the bank before they closed.

One step done. Only another five hundred or so similar steps between the idea of delivering humanitarian assistance in the DRC and the end products in the hands of the people who need it.

A Book talk about Three Cups of Tea

Book Talk Card and Reflection

Book Card:

Mortenson, Greg and Relin, David Oliver (2007). Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time. New York: Penguin.

            Mortenson wrote about his experience climbing K2 and his work in Pakistan as a humanitarian building schools for girls both in small rural communities and for refugees. He also wrote about the men and women that he worked with founding the Central Asia Institute and the inspiration that his family provided for his lifestyle choice. His story will continue in his next book coming out next month.

            The story is set in both Pakistan and the United States with a brief side trip to Afghanistan and flashbacks from his time in Tanzania growing up as the son of missionaries running a hospital. The characters in his book are those in his life including family, medical and climbing friends as well as coworkers both in the U.S. and Pakistan. The story is told mostly from Mortenson’s prospective with little asides that describe him or someone who is going to be dealing with him at some point. These perspectives allow the reader a fuller understanding of the people he is dealing with and of Mortenson himself. This is a fast paced story about a man that is described as being almost superhuman in his constant energy and passion for his projects.

            This book would be best enjoyed by those interested into climbing or humanitarian efforts and I would direct it to older students and adults due to some violence and sexual references in Mortenson’s personal life though not explicit.

Reflection:

            Choosing images and compiling a book talk in a digital format using Microsoft Movie Maker was an interesting challenge as it was a program I had never used before. I wanted to get the clips right and the soundtrack to come together with the images properly. I then spent a lengthy and frustrating period trying with the aid of friends to post my talk to the internet via YouTube a feat I never succeeded in and one I will continue to work on over my break likely just so that I actually have the skill. I wish that I was better at keeping track of time. I looked at the pink sheets to keep track of assignments and forgot to go back to the blog for my deadlines. So long hours trying to get things right led to missing this deadline. I hope you enjoy the video which will be posted in the form of a PowerPoint presentation for. The video will be available on DVD to those interested. I wish to thank Greg Mortenson’s website, the Adventure blog archive entry 07/07/01, and Flickr for the images and Andi Neate for the music. The music reflects the thoughts of Mortenson’s girlfriends and some of the people that he worked with as well as the fate of the girls if he had not helped them by building the schools.

The following paper was written on October 9, 2004. It’s republished here for the readers of this blog hoping they will find it to be of some interest. 

By Con George-Kotzabasis 

A deadly Trojan horse has been placed in the midst of the metropolises of Western civilization and, like Troy, is threatening its destruction. Throughout Europe, North America, and Australia, the belly of this deadly Horse is already bursting open delivering and unleashing a horde of fanatic barbarians on the cities of the civilized world, whose holy agenda decrees the wiping -out of Western institutions and their open, tolerant and free societies, and the genocide of their peoples by the fire of Allah’s hell. This is the nightmare scenario that countries of the economically developed and free world are facing as a result of their humanitarian and generous, but replete with folly, immigration policies that allowed such vast numbers of mostly unassimilable Muslim immigrants with ‘exponential’ birth rates, to become permanent residents and citizens of their countries. (In the Netherlands almost one third of children under the age of thirteen are Muslim. No wonder that the great Islamic scholar Bernard Lewis argues, that “Europe will be Islamic by the end of the century”.) As inexorably, not an insubstantial number of these Muslims of the diaspora will become terrorist – fodder for the likes of bin Laden, as Mohammed Atta, the Western educated ringleader, as well as so many other terrorists who have been also been educated in Western universities, of the murderous group of 9/11 has shown, whose terrorist cell was hatched in Hamburg Germany. This is especially so for many young unemployed Muslims in the West, who have been brought up within the strict confines of their rigid religion and who are therefore psychologically more susceptible to the calls of their fundamentalist imams for a Jihad against the infidels, making them therefore prone to become martyrs in this holy war against them. Hence the terrorist barbarians are not at the gates of civilization but inside its gates.

September 11 was a wake up call to all governments of the democratic world to the mortal threat that Muslim fundamentalists posed to their peoples. However, despite the exploding sound of this call, only a few governments are willing to recognize this great danger -whose gathering dark clouds teeming with lightning bolts are hovering over the cities of the world threatening their peoples with total annihilation -and stand-up against it. Apparently, only a handful of them have the intellectual capacity, imagination, and historical insight to perceive this great danger, and the resolve and moral mettle to take the necessary relentless measures and actions to prevent this catastrophe of biblical proportions from happening. America, Britain, Australia, Italy, Poland and the thirty other countries who have deployed their armed forces to fight global terror in Iraq under their politically and morally strong and historically savvy leaderships, will be acknowledged and renowned by history as the countries that saved Western civilization from this lethal attack by this horde of fanatically necrophilous barbarians. The no quarter given, relentless retaliation of these governments to this existential challenge of global terrorism to the civilized peoples of the world, will be totally justified by future historians, as has been the stand of those nations who fought against Nazi and Communist totalitarianism and who made the necessary and stupendous sacrifices to save the world from these two regimes of evil in the Twentieth century.

DESPITE US ERRORS AN WITHDRAWAL IS UNTENABLE

Even if one concedes that serious mistakes have been made by the Americans post March 2003 after the defeat of Saddam, which was part and parcel of the war against global terror, such as indiscriminately disbanding all Iraqi military units, and not dealing with the incipient insurgency of urban terrorists last April by using overwhelming force against it and nipping it in the bud, instead of ceasing their military offensive, as they did in Fallujah, and passing the control of that city to a former Iraqi general, who proved to be completely inept in disarming the insurgents. The strategic goal of the military planners against the insurgency, should have been the prompt and devastating defeat of the insurgents in this city, either by their mass capture or mass annihilation, which would serve as a deadly example to all other insurgents in other hot-bed provinces in Iraq, with the high probability that this would have led to their complete demoralization and surrender, as I had suggested in a previous paper of mine last April, which was sent to the U.S. Embassy in Canberra. (It seems now that the Pentagon is using exactly this strategy, as the capture of Samarra by American and Iraqi forces and the elimination of the insurgents, has shown.) As the outcome of this erratic implementation of the Pentagon’s military plan, by starting an offensive against the insurgents and then stopping it halfway before achieving its goals, Iraq has now become “the crucible of global terror”, to quote Tony Blair. This is the glaring fact that all governments who have committed themselves to fight global terror are presently confronting.

To turn tail and run now from Iraq would not be merely foolish, it would be the greatest military error against the war on terror, as it would deliver a tremendous victory to the terrorists on a global scale. It would reinforce in the minds of the terrorists, as the withdrawal of US forces from Beirut and Mogadishu had done, as a result of the casualties Americans had suffered in these two cities, by presidents Reagan and Clinton respectively, that America and other Western nations lack the resolve to stand-up to them and fight, and will induce them to be even more lethally aggressive against the ‘cowardly’ West. Hence the critics and opponents of the war, who blame the Bush administration for exacerbating terrorism in Iraq and call for the US withdrawal from Iraq, are purblind and cannot see that such action would be the greatest error that one could commit against the war on global terror. It would surpass by a great order of magnitude all the mistakes that the Pentagon committed in Iraq. If indeed the opponents of the war are right, that the US incursion of the country and the overthrow of Saddam has strengthened and intensified terror in Iraq, then the reasonable course for nations who believe that there is no other alternative but to fight and defeat this global menace, would be for these nations to deploy their armed forces in Iraq and inflict a deadly blow on global terrorism, by defeating the insurgents decisively. Or if they are unwilling to spill the blood of their own soldiers, they should at the least support morally and politically the soldiers of the nations, i.e., the American – led coalition, who are brave enough to sacrifice their own lives in the cause of global security and freedom.

This would be the wise course to follow, to correct the mistakes of the Americans, instead of aggravating and compounding these mistakes, by running away from Iraq, and in spite of these errors (in all wars errors are made ), to unflinchingly support America in this historic and deadly confrontation with these medieval barbarians, whom only America’s military might can defeat comprehensively, among all other nations in the world.

THE ENEMY WITHIN

But the war against global terror and Muslim fanaticism will not be won, unless the governments who have pledged themselves to fight global terror also deal with and tackle the cunning and deceitful enemy that lies within their borders. To carry out this far from easy task, these governments have to realize that they can no longer be tolerant, on the basis of laws of non-discrimination on religious grounds, to the breeding grounds of terrorism that entangle, ivy-like, the edifices of Western cities, i.e., the mosques and Islamic schools, of whom a minority of, but highly influential, imams and teachers, preach hate against the mores of Western civilization and of their peoples, inciting young Muslims to enlist in a holy war against the Great Satan, America, and on all other nations that embody the cosmopolitan values of Judeo-Greco-Roman civilization.

The cardinal question therefore is, how to sterilize and make barren the breeding grounds of terrorism that are ensconced in the cities of the West whose deadly offspring are the enemy within. Since the idea of repatriation and resettlement by means of a monetary incentive for millions of Muslims, who have now made their home in Western countries, is no longer feasible – fathered by that prophet of British politics Enoch Powell, who in his Birmingham “Rivers of Blood” speech on April 20 1968, clearly and ominously predicted the deadly conflicts that would arise between Britons and British citizens of colonial background who had settled in England, and who with prescience had opposed the so called humanitarian immigration policies of both Labor and Conservative governments – one has to consider other lines of action. One of them would be the immediate cessation of funding these mosques and schools by governments, unless the former adopt in their curricula a primary undiluted course of ‘no leaks’ assimilation for their students to the mainstream culture of the nation that they have chosen freely to live in, and put an end to all ‘traffickers’ of the disastrous policy of multiculturalism, which with mathematical precision divides a nation. Another one would be the swift passing of special, indeed emergency, legislation that would make it easier for the police and for the relevant government officials to jail or deport, radical imams and teachers who propagate, either openly or cunningly and insidiously, a holy war against the West. Furthermore, to attenuate and diminish the high birth rate of Muslim families, governments should introduce a policy of negative incentives, which could stop this high birth rate such as paying to all families of the nation, children’s allowances up to the number of four children. Any children born beyond that number would not be entitled to any allowances. Nor would any allowances be paid to children born from a second marriage, whose fathers or mothers already have four children from their previous marriages. This measure would bring the birth rate as close as it is possible to the common standard of Western societies and to the ethos and aspirations of motivated modern nuclear families. It would also stop the ‘racketeering’ of phony separations and single motherhoods, whose deliberate purpose is to abuse and defraud the system of family payments, and whose side – effect is, the perennial continuation of voluntary unemployment among this group of men and women.  

Undoubtedly, these harsh measures will raise a hurricane of protests from Muslim organizations of the diaspora and from Muslim states. This will be followed by a chorus of international lawyers and of the liberal intelligentzia from the well-heeled countries of the West, who will denounce these measures as brutal and heartless to poor families, viciously racist, and chauvinistic, striking a terrible blow to democracy and opening the way to an authoritarian state and even worse. But this soft potpourri of legal and intelligence gnomes are unwilling to recognize, and it might be beyond their depth, that the grossly mistaken immigration policies of the nations of the West are now coming to haunt them with their destruction. And the only way to prevent this destruction is for the governments of these nations to take tragically severe measures to correct this gross mistake of past governments that now threatens their peoples with extinction, either by weapons of mass destruction or by the upshot of demographics.

DEFEAT OF TERROR LIES IN ITS LACK OF SUCCESS

One must recognize that the terrorists are technically educated barbarians, with PC’s in one hand and with the distorted fragments of the Koran in the other – who consider it to be the only fountain of knowledge – lacking the open- mind of a universal education; unread in the great writings and literature of all peoples and of all ages; mentally untouched by their rich Arab culture, literature and philosophy; unread in the great philosophical writings of Al-Farabi, who placed rationality above the revealed truth of the Sharia nor in the equally brilliant writings of Ibn-Sina (Avicenna ) and of Ibn-Rushid (Averroes ), who both placed human reason above religion, and of Omar Khayyam, who never believed in Providence or in any other World but this one, valuing the sensual pleasures of this world as the fill to the brim of life. Being ignorant of the existence of this great Arab intellectual treasure, that was an essential element of the cornerstone of Western civilization and of the Italian Renaissance, their minds locked in the fanaticism of fundamentalist Islam and its death-cult, they have no respect for any other peoples’ religions except their own. Instead they zealously believe that the followers of all other religions are destined to go to hell and only Muslims will enter the gates of infinite paradise, especially if they are anointed by martyrdom. It is of such stuff that these implacable enemies of Western civilization are made.

Confronting such suicidal fanatics, who fervently believe that the West and its Great Satan, America, are responsible and culpable for all the ills that have befallen upon Muslim countries; determined to destroy this source of evil by chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, as soon as they are in their possession, the political leaders of the West, and especially of America, are deprived of any soft options and are forced to take on the hard option of the “unsheathed sword”.

The art of diplomacy, the laudable deliberations of the United Nations for peace making, which could be effective when one deals with a rational foe, are totally ineffective when one confronts an irrational enemy, whose only ‘rational’ communication, in his hearing, is with God. That is why the academics who teach their students the ‘management’ of terrorism by a diplomatic demarche as the only rational way to counter and thwart it, rather than war, which is so costly in human and economic terms and without making certain its defeat, are not only starry-eyed, but also debar themselves from the disciplines of politics and of war strategy. Management presupposes and involves rational processes, which to the terrorists is terra incognita, and therefore with algorithmic precision is bound to fail.

But wherein lies the answer to this conundrum of how to defeat global terror and its state sponsors? History’s edict provides the clear and indefeasible answer to this intricate issue. When a nation fights a swarm of religious fanatics, depriving these fanatics of the ability to launch successful operations against their enemies is the most effective way to defeat them, as the terrorists, being no longer successful in their attacks against the West and in their attacks against the American-led coalition in Iraq, will find the “mouse of doubt” implanted in their hearts (a doubt whose epiphany will reveal to them, that after all they might not be in God’s favor) gnawing, slowly but surely, at their belief that they are the instruments of Allah. This, in itself, will compel them to abandon their cause.

This is why the successful outcome of the war in Iraq for the U.S. – led coalition and the introduction of democracy to its ravaged people, is of such vital importance. The decisive defeat of the terrorist insurgents will unfold a dawn of a bright future for the people of Iraq, and also commence the beginning of the quick end of global terror.

What is your opinion…

Awareness. Compassion. Tolerance

I am in love with the new International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) print campaign. It has got to be one of the most consciously aware and creative campaigns I have seen in awhile.

Definitely TEXTure worthy.

IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian organization.  Since it’s founding in 1919, IFRC’s mission has been to create a world of empowered communities, better able to address human suffering and crisis with hope, respect for dignity, and concern for equity.

This new campaign perfectly illustrates IFRC’s mission.

Love it.

Corporate Social Responsibility News: Timberland’s Climate and Haiti Help Campaigns; American Cancer Society’s Corporate Impact Awards

Today’s suggestion is about doing something about the many children throughout the world that receive no education or very limited education. This can be especially true of many girls in some countries and seems to be more so in some strict Islamic communities and regions.

It is difficult to know just what can be done in this field by the ‘average Joe,’ so to speak. Whereas individuals may not be able to do a lot personally, they may be able to contribute by being part of a larger organisation that is able to bring pressure to bear on governments around the world.

It is also possible to be part of a humanitarian organisation that seeks to assist people to receive education and/or by donating money to such a group.

For some ideas on this particular suggestion have a look at:

www.campaignforeducation.org & www.unicef.org

A response to reading ‘365 Ways to Change the World,’ by Michael Norton