SCENES FROM OUR WORLD TODAY .....

Of course Allah , God or Elohim , are willing it all , whether in our past or actual world , whatever is taking place and happening all over, good , bad or ugly . Subsequently all performers and perpetrators are not at a real fault , and should  not share any guilt feeling , as well as their victims of all religions and their different ways . It's all godly directed and orchestrated . Only unbelievers are the total losers , as there's no place for them in this world nor the next one .


Now the obvious question that jumps to mind would be ; " Let's assume that all factions of jihadi Musslems , manage to come together and form one unified negotiating team at the table , bargaining for a truce with the other side of the world , I'm grouping here AlQaida , ISIL , AlNusra and their sisters and cousins , Taliban and Boko Haram , even some of the militant Shiite groups and factions , an unimaginable scenario , only possible for the sake of argument . They all come together and propose an indefinite or long truce , with the "us" side of the world , peace against recognition .


Provided the world community recognizes and accept to live with their areas of influence and governance , mostly in parts of Iraq , Syria and Lebanon , and as well to parts of Libya , Yemen , Central and East-Africa , Afghanistan , Pakistan , Somalia , Algeria , Tunis and the Maghreb , Sinai and some of the ex Soviet Union , and maybe more , where the Jihadies are practically in control of the territories and their people , I have to mention here ,that Israel has been doing exactly this for more than 60 years with the world's full acceptance and recognition , an excellent example and mentor to all .


Can we accept such a negotiated truce ? and maybe learn how to live with it in peace , while watching young brutal Jihadies establish their own theocracy , Ummah , caliphate or whatever they agree upon , could we really accept such a scenario a la Israeli model , or not , and why yes or no !!!  they claim and swear that their god promised them the lands as well . Maybe it's a question we should all start contemplating more seriously than it appears .


Many , if not most of us  from all sides and walks of life are , either totally silent about these issues ,  living a tacit blind folded life , or obvious and clear about defending these entities , at any price, even if not so very convinced , we surely live in a world where archaic beliefs , and thousands years old convictions and covenants are still shaping a major part of our lives . Definitely  We are not as smart and mature as we like to believe ourselves to be .


Thank you all for reading , thinking about and considering the issues  , and spreading the word .     

WEIRD & INCOMPREHENSIBLE LOGIC .....

Few days back , Jack , an American friend , sent me an article untitled  "The facts shoot holes in Obama's claim that U.S. is only host to mass killings " by a columnist for Fox News . In a nutshell the article describes how Americans were stunned by Obama's false claims about gun violence in America , when he stated after the last CA shootings that this just doesn't happen in other countries .


The writer goes on describing one by one , all recorded similar attacks to ours that took place in the last couple decades in central Europe , Scandinavia , the Balkans , Russia and elsewhere . The main aim of this article wasn't  to pinpoint or dispute the accuracy of the statement , but it was striving hard to show and stress the point , that other countries , with tighter gun control laws suffer as well from gun violence . As well to mock the president by implying that poor us here in the U.S. don't have enough guns available to adequately protect ourselves .


Let me answer briefly . First ; Thanks Jack , I will go this afternoon and buy myself an extra gun and an undetected army machine-gun , so as to sleep better and safer tonight . second ; Are we seriously striving to reach back in time , and relive our beloved old Western Cowboys movies , with their famous scenes of holsters and guns hanging by their sides , ready to draw while going from town to town and from saloon to gun shop , whereby the fastest drawer lives in eternal harmony , peace and fraternity .


This article , like many of the same type and spirit , and the last few years of U.S. politics , and the extreme right conservative re-awakening , proves that a good deal of Americans hate their president , far more than love their country and fellow Americans , they only care to prove that Mr. Obama's ideas and policies are flawed , and that he is talking nonsense while enforcing his policies of gun control or medicare , and other social issues , they hate his guts .


All fanaticism is political in its essence , and lately religious fanaticism is no different , its vengeance against all civilized societies is more of a political nature , when we succumb to fear and isolation , to panic and killings of everyone who is not like us , or strictly conforming to our views and ways , when we back presidential hopefuls in their disturbing calls , we only prepare ourselves for more brutality , more shooting of innocent people , Arabs , immigrants , visitors or citizens , Musslems or Jews , Sikh or Hindus , Atheist , gays or lesbians , yellow , black or red ..... so we can happily regain our lost purity and  harmony with our guns .


Some city Mayors are asking their citizens to arm themselves , and some university presidents are asking their students to carry guns !!! Have we reached the point whereby we're striving to reach and accomplish this base sort of scenario in our daily lives ?? And make our existence with guns an end in itself ???


As always , thanks for reading and help spread the word .         

RELATED STORIES ........

1-- Any entity , country , their leaders and rulers , when their power , wealth or sheer force grows significantly , would eventually spread themselves , and inevitably try to subvert their weaker neighbors , always under headings of self-preservation to which morality , fairness and equilibrium are irrelevant .  This is nowadays the case , clearly witnessed , of the three major theocracies in the Middle-East ; Sunni Saudi Arabia , Jewish Zionist Israel , and Shiite Iran .


2-- Many Lebanese individuals lately , after the twin bombings of one of Beirut's suburb , were complaining bitterly that Western in general , and more so American medias did not give them their fair dues on their pages and screens and their radio reports , at least in comparison to the Paris bombings few days later .
Few days earlier Benjamin Netanyahu was in Washington for an official state visit , where he was the guest of the White House and many other Jewish political organizations , whether intentionally or not , the visit was the least covered by American media , the least mentioned and talked about of any Israeli visits , especially Mr. Netanyahu's last few flamboyant visits .
Who orchestrate such media coverages , and how much coverage  certain news should get , at least in countries were the media is considered  free and independent , who gives the sign of more , or less coverage about any story or political event , involving local or international events ??


3-- One would be surprised , that the United States and the Western world , champions of human rights in all poor and weak third world countries , did not ever for the past 70 years , and presently do not mention at least once the word of human rights abuse toward Israel and its under occupation territories and peoples , its brutality , apartheid regime and evident hegemonic plans . Is the world and more so the West including the U.S. so scared and blinded by this entity and its Neocons brutal leaders ? Many Israeli columnists have strongly criticized the present heading of the Israeli politics , while not one politician or reporter here in the States dares even mention it .
Who was it that said ;" We live in a wondrous time , in which the strong is weak because of his scruples , and the brutal is strong because of his boldness and aggressivity ." Many in the Middle-East  share these traits though .


4-- Listening to Mr. Netanyahu lately , and some of his closest allies , members of his cabinet , who are openly stating , that the aim is to annex the occupied West-Bank territories , and the occupied Golan heights , expelling the remainder of their original  inhabitants . Gaza , the south of Lebanon and the Sinai peninsula would be next .
While their is no real immediate or serious connection between Palestinian youths and Islamist extremism and terrorism , if the under occupation territories are not dealt with seriously by the international community and the U.S. and given some sort of real viable independence , we will see hundreds of thousands of young Palestinian join the likes of ISIL , Al Qaida and their sisters , and literally spill over from Israel to the entire world , mostly our world though . 


As always , my many thanks for your time and help , spreading the word .             

CLEAR SIGNS OF OUR TIMES ......

The West in general , and the U.S. more particularly was always much more interested in building and preserving capitalism , even through brutal regimes and dictatorships , rather than advancing the cause and the drive to secularism and modern societies .


Most Arab Musslems , until lately , were at a cross-road and closer to accepting a fair alliance or cohabitation with secularism and modernity in most of the post WW2  countries , the recent rise of salafism and fanaticism , through groups like AlQaida , ISIS and others , were basically tolerated and often fueled by the West , headed by the U.S. for different reasons , among them few decades back the fight against the great evil ; communist Russia . Lately it was more to suit some Arab Sunni regimes against Shiite Iraq , and Assad of Syria . Not to neglect a clear Israeli influence , meddling and destroying any and every neighboring entity , allowing itself an easier take-over of more territories and wealth for their own hegemonic agendas .


Western imperialism , fueled and backed always by blind capitalism , is being paid back nowadays in grand terms . Their closest allies in the Middle-East ; the Saudi and Gulf states are being denounced daily , and weakening by the year , the West is under a constant terrorist threat that is not relinquishing , but increasing , with no stop in sight . The militarization , radicalization and brain washing of whole segments of Israeli youths , turning them systematically into religious brutal fanatics and racists , as it is happening to a lesser degree in most of the West is frightening .


The Christian West , that did it some 75 years ago to Jews , is being brainwashed to start again against Musslems nowadays , and maybe re-do the same with Jews later down the line when the big less than a century old slogan of Judeo- Christianism falls down . A Frankenstein monster is slowly waking up  in the West , as it surely woke-up in Israel and all its neighbors , and nobody is paying enough attention .


A good advise to the West in general and the U.S. , and mostly applicable to present day Israel , came from Noam Chomsky ; "Every body's worried about stopping terrorism nowadays , well ! there's a really easy and effective way : stop participating in it ."   Montesquieu thought that events were never caused by accidents , whenever a local or worldly state of affairs or regime arise or is destroyed , a cause is always existent which led to this situation or regime destruction .


My thanks for all of your patience and help spreading the word .       

ADJUSTING TO A NEW TREND ........

Suicide bombers , their explosive belts and detonators , until recently was a reduced and specialized game restricted to few areas and cities of our troubled world . Afghanistan and Iraq were the two mostly hit by this type of modern day deadly kamikazing . From  these two areas , the whole game  is now spreading exponentially to practically cover every part of the world .


Under different shapes and motives ; Syria , Lebanon , Libya , Yemen , Somalia , Thailand , France as well as many European cities , Russia and of course the U.S. were all hit in the past two decades . It is spreading further and faster with enhanced techniques of mass destruction and blind indiscriminate killing , at the hands of various fanatical sick people , and for various different motives and goals .


Of course the most spread model nowadays , are the jihadi Islamists of Al Qaida , ISIS and similar types of ultra fanatical Sunni and Shiite  groups and parties , with a different intensity depending on actual political/religious circumstances . But as we witnessed in the U.S. , Europe and Scandinavia , the trend and motives of other types of mass killers , could be very different from Islamic motives and goals , albeit they all share a certain degree of religiosity .


The Middle-East in its entirety seems nowadays destined to experiment with a multitude of historic and modern times experiences simultaneously ; from old dreams of hegemonic empires , to holy wars , foreign invasions and domination , colonialism and manipulation . Creating and enhancing a total sectarian conflict , where all are against all , fueling ethnic fervor and religious backed legal terrorism and killings. Israeli terrorism back then and under its modern forms was for a long time and still is a good model to look forward to by many aspiring sick terrorists .


The world populations are still in denial , refusing to accept that this trend is here to stay , be with us and be part of our lives , even prosper with coming generations , as it is the weapon of choice of the poorer majority and psychopathic religious minds , a very efficient use of weaponry , serving grandiose godly slogans , dreams and covenants. The world invariably is going to witness more Islamic barbarism and brutality as a result of so many brain washed young musslems , spread all over the continents . Other young fanatics of other religions and races are not in short numbers either .


No matter what we do from now on , (short of seriously solving conflicts all over , and by force when necessary)  will be efficient and capable of stopping mass terrorism and suicidal youth from blowing themselves and many others willingly , unfortunately it's a trend of our times and futures .


Yes , we all strongly agree that what happened in Paris on Friday the 13th was tragic and painful , but compare it to events in Syria , Iraq , Palestine , Yemen and Lebanon , then Paris sounds less tragic , it's all relative isn't it !!!


All my usual thanks for your patience , and help spreading the word .









   

KILLER WAVES .......

 Observing nowadays one of  modern times biggest tragedies ; the waves of immigrants of all ages , genders and different religious and ethnic backgrounds , mostly from Syria , as well as Iraq , Afghanistan , Africa and other unfortunate regions of our planet . One cannot but ponder while looking at these sad pictures and documentary clips , all over the international media .


5 years down the line in Syria , and since the absurd invasion of Iraq , men and women , especially kids and infants , would at the early stages of their conflicts fight and suffer in order not to die . Now they suffer and fight in order to live .


There is a huge difference between fighting to avoid death , and fighting to cling to life , to quote Malaparte's  words ; men  who fight to avoid death preserve their dignities and pride , men women and children fighting  in order to live hang to what remains to human life with tenacity of total desperation . At start men would fight to save their pride , freedom of conscience and dignity , later in the game , fleeing men have to fight in order to live , It's a humiliating  necessity and condition for preserving life and only to  save one's skin .


Observing the barbaric wars in Syria , Iraq , Yemen and Israel/Palestine , where civilization totally gave way , where what's left are only hungry animals , ready and willing to do anything to go on living their way .


For some in those lands , their Islamic faith , based on a total acceptance of godly providence , makes it easier to endure and go on living , accepting god's will and his wrath upon their lives . for Israelites religion renders them immune to conscience and morality questioning , for war lords on all sides , their brutality , blood-thirst and hegemonic ambitions form the supreme aesthetic experience .


Nothing makes men so mutually hostile , so barbaric in their acts , as the violence of civil religious wars . Their most primitive animalistic  impulses return to surface and all their inhibitions disappear .  Their savagery , totally eclipse the civilized , only the human animal remains , forever at war with itself and everything around it .


A better , higher and nobler order of reality must exist , for the survival of the human race on earth . We cannot , and should never accept that geopolitical chaos might be the rule , nor the finality , the world has to be a politically rational place to survive and strive . The whole of the Middle-East must sooner than later reach an equilibrium , even if it means seeking its order in diversity , or else it will be in a constant state of warfare .


The very young Syrian child or toddler , clinging to his mother's robe in an over crowded dinghy , facing killer waves , large at sea , as is the infant in an under occupation West Bank alley , only longs for some freedom , freedom from vicious inhuman situations , hunger , and a lack of livable future ,  while thinking to itself that humans are incurably irrational , ruthless and incorrigible .


My as always , many thanks for reading and sharing my words and thoughts .                

THE TRUE KEEPERS .......

Islam like practically all other religions , belong in our times to the populace , to the limited and ignorant interpreters , to the uneducated and non thinkers .  This is why it will be a very hard task for all Musslems to accept reshaping or rethinking it's laws , regulations and various metaphors , to suit modernity and the 21st century evolving mind .


All religions , especially the 3 surviving monotheistic ones in our times share this aspect , as fewer and continuously  less educated thinkers are seriously taking over in theological and historical preaching  , rendering the words , metaphors , myths and doctrines belonging to thousands of years back meaningless for modern people . Only the folklore and the primitive brutality of it all persist today .


It is a sign of our modernity whereby lower classes in education and social status as well as financial status , are the ones assuming religiosity and trying to apply its regulations to actual lives through various degrees of literalism and fanaticism . All religions come originally with a sense of supremacy , internally built with mechanisms of disdain to others , almost dehumanizing the non adherents , it's only later in their cycles that maturity and respect take hold and manage to survive along other faiths and secular institutions and laws .  This is always achieved at the hands of higher and better thinkers and not the populace .


Unfortunately neither Islam nor Judaism have in our times achieved these levels , they are both still living old dreams of hegemony , brutality and religious theocracies , at the hands of their general uneducated populace and their ignorant manipulators . Rural Arab masses are generally Musslems and will be for a long time the keepers and procrastinators of archaic Islam , so are a whole class of religious poorer Jews ,manifesting themselves in Orthodoxy or as settlers , who are de facto the custodians and promoters of old biblical supremacy , vengeance and blind brutality .


Religions in general are loosing the ability to renew themselves as the myth of progress , and in our times religions and dogmas are not identified with the increase of education , knowledge , wealth and power . The peasantry , the commoners , call them the lower castes if you will have the upper hands , by letting themselves be manipulated and brain washed by few ignorant interpreters and  profiteer  politicians thirsty for blood and power . All of course working for God's glory .


It used to be called " the tyranny of the masses" , now in modern times , religions and religiosity are practically  the only power left to the populace and masses , giving them the power of vengeance against all others and all forms of progress and modernity . The major problem with the masses and religions and their books , is that the populace can only grasp and apply the words literally , for the day to day life and its details , but fail almost totally at the metaphysical and philosophical meditative levels .  We seriously risk loosing our world to these forces by keeping our minds shut . 




My usual many thanks for your times and help spreading the blog .   

WHY DO THEY HATE US ???

Many Israeli Jews nowadays are frequently asking themselves this very question ; why do Palestinians  hate us so much ??  With the forever  re-escalating cycle of violence in Israel  and in its 50 years occupied territories .


Consequently I cannot  conceal  my anger  and bewilderment at  Mr. Netanyahu's latest speech to Jewish leaders yesterday ,  the most proven of Neocons and hating Israeli politician , falsely claimed that the back then Palestinian religious leader , inspired Hitler and instigated , even established the Holocausts . This could only come at a time like this from a totally blind hating , extremely fanatical Zionist leader .


A fanatic religious creator of the new apartheid policies and methodologies , serving only to solidify his convictions of total hegemony and annihilation of the whole Palestinian population , acquiring their lands , waters and wealth , and accommodating his own Jewish poorer immigrants as permanent illegal settlers on other peoples lands .


I wonder if anti immigration sentiments and their perpetrators in the western world nowadays can see some similarities and comic comparisons from these barbaric acts and violent pictures .  Don't Israelis in particular and Jews  in general  realize that their country , their acts , their brutal hegemony , their blunt thefts , all under an archaic colonialism and a brutal apartheid system  , renders them as the most racist and intolerant society in the world ?


Racism exist up to different levels everywhere , and the Western world is not innocent at all of its consequences  whether in the past or now , but in Israel it takes new and grave meanings and applications , as it is institutionalized , it is in the words and spirit of their laws and judiciary system , it is in their schools since the youngest ages , in their media and their social everyday behaviors and life , some know it and turn a blind eye , and some do not know and somehow honestly believe they are only defending themselves against a perpetual persecution by all others .


No conscientious normal person , whether a Jew , Israeli or citizen of the 21st century world , can be honestly proud of all of what is happening in Israel  and its military colonization of other entities and their entire population .


 The world will not solve this situation any time soon , as it is still living under its guilt feelings of the past 20th century's bad acts toward the Jews . Only Israelis themselves can put an end to this modern saga , realizing their own craze and brutality , and stopping the ever lasting continual "blame others" game , high time to put and end to this century old occupation , oppression and colonial domination , and come up with civilized solutions to a not too impossible and unsolvable on the ground dilemma .


My usual thanks for all your time and efforts , listening and propagating .                

MANIPULATION ......

----  We are experiencing nowadays in our modern times , the death of reason , compassion and tolerance . This death is being perpetrated and admitted calmly and unemotionally by the majority of humanity . Are we turning into the night of the world ?? A world where reason and tolerance are absent , where compassion and rationalism withdrew themselves and retired . As the sun sets below the horizon , the old adage "We are living in a godless world " is reversing itself  into " We live in a world of too many gods " And they surely don't like each other , on the contrary , we could safely assume that they hate each other .
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----  In my Sept. 26th  blog " Reality or fiction " I foretold a future road map for the Republican party , inspired by the surprise resignation of the house's speaker John Boehner .  This past week his likely de facto successor Kevin McCarthy , possibly the only centrist conservative member capable of reuniting the party's right , ultra right and moderates resigned in another surprise move as well , confirming a pattern initiated earlier with Eric Cantor , and now continuing with Paul Ryan .


A pattern , only deepening the divide , and hastening the moderate core caucus move facing the young and aggressive ultra conservative right ,and the Tea partier . I still see and predict a strong corrective act coming . In other parts of the world they might call it a coup , or a counter coup to regain leadership and put the party in a correct path for the future , what ever we call it , we know that all roads lead to Rome . If something of the sort doesn't start shaping up soon , the GOP and certain aspects of American life could brace themselves for chaos and dysfunction .
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---- From Hemingway's "Winner take nothing " (1933) , the finishing lines of one of his short stories,  a monologue of his hero , a waiter in a Spanish café ; " Turning  the electric lights , he continued the conversation with himself .... what did he fear ? It was not fear or dread . It was a nothing that he knew too well . It was all a nothing and man was nothing too . Some lived in it and never felt it , but he knew it all was nada y pues nada y nada y pues nada .  Our nada , who are in nada , nada be thy name thy kingdom nada thy will be nada in nada as it is nada . Give us this nada our daily nada and nada us our nada as we nada our nadas and nada us into nada but deliver us from nada; pues nada".


The playful repetition and manipulation of "nada" the Spanish word for nothing , and the transforming and mixing nothingness with the two conventional Christian prayers  I find very exciting  in Hemingway's work and brightness . He finishes his same short story with " Hail nothing , full of nothing , nothing is thee ...."  A very exciting work , as I as well believe in nothingness before , during and in the after .


The world contains plants , animals , stones and sand , planets and stars , all these are things , their existence , acts , visions , pasts/futures , sufferings , foolishness and cruelties , are all nothings and fall into the void of nothingness .    My usual thanks for your times and help spreading the word .          

THE WAY IT IS .......

Many or  most Musslems around the world , still believe or pretend that their religion is one of absolute tolerance , love and compassion .  Most Jews think in those lines as well , and do believe that the main content of Hebraism is its energy and will toward morality and tolerance .


To most adherents of both faiths and their books , this view is still prevalent today as it was falsely throughout history .The world in its entirety is still bewildered and does not dare addressing and challenging these pretensions . Both , official countries and popular groups still timidly hide behind a wall of silence , and cannot openly discredit , nor show the non validity of both religions' claims .


Christianity , ranks just behind them two in acts of brutality and barbarism , albeit mostly committed hundreds of years ago , even literally one thousand years ago during the holy crusades . The former two are reviving the original historic sentiments of brutality and hegemony .


All three Monotheistic religions are surely interacted in more aspects than each would like to admit . The  Hebraic school of thought and its offshoot Islam are far less Hellenized than Christianity , Islam more than the other two bases itself totally on faith , and places faith way above reason . Actually in all three , the man of faith is way above the man of reason , but Islam goes further in condemning and banning independent and free reasoning .


To put all this into perspective ; let's take the shrewd Christian miracle " That the son of God is born as man , dies for our sins , and rises from the dead only to come back one day for us ." For modern reasoning thinkers , it is foolishness . To the Jews on the other hand it is a blasphemous scandal with no proof what so ever . To Musslems all over it is total sacrilege and heresy . Jesus has to be a regular prophet like all others , and abide by religious accepted norms and rules . Otherwise he would be superior to all , playing messiah or son of God  is not acceptable to all others , the Musslem prophet actually shut and limited God's will and power for ever by declaring himself the last prophet to be . Of course no reasoning here is permitted , only blind faith and total submission from all .


Looking at our world today , the whole world and more so the modern Middle-East , is back into mixing politics and governance with religion , reviving the old theological adage " of blind faith against reason " unfortunately the rest of the world is only timidly watching . Catholics against Protestants recently in northern Ireland , Russian reemerging Orthodoxism , Christians versus Musslems , and Shiia against Sunni in Lebanon , Sunni mortally against Shiites and vice-versa in Iraq , Syria , Yemen , Musslems against Copts in Egypt , Jews against Christians and Musslems in Palestine and Israel , Ukraine and the ex Yugoslavia , Burma and the Philippines , the list could go on and on ....


Institutionalising religions and religious beliefs as a way of life , whether in the Saudi example or the 6th century hocus pocus Islamic models , the Hebraic or Iranian instances , are all with  no exception recipes for disaster , and a clear total bankruptcy of advanced culture , maturity and human tolerance . We cannot keep adamantly denying , that religions and their followers are behind most of the world ills , historically and in our present times . It will be very stupid indeed if a major third world war type starts because of religious fervor , fanaticism and blindness .


My usual gratitude for your time , and help propagating the blog .            

REALITY OR FICTION ..... !!!

Following  yesterday's surprise resignation by the speaker of the house Mr. John Boehner , one can not but wonder at the turn of events , I for one , do not take Mr. Boehner's resignation lightly , as I do not believe that it's a simple matter of finding another speaker to satisfy the right wing of the party and the matter would be resolved .


Let me explain myself ;  I believe the real divide within the republican party , or call it coalition , indicate that the real numbers of  Boehners like are far greater than a Mr. Boehner himself or a swift replacement . A quick educated estimate might put the actual numbers of dissatisfied members at 60 to 65 % , and possibly higher .


Many are refusing the total take over , of tactics , strategies and ideologies , by the ultra right conservative members . They are the moderates of the party , the bourgeois and intellectuals of the party , and many of the wealthier established old guard who are having some serious second thoughts about the institution's future headings .


Are Sarah Palings , Ted Cruises  or the Koch brothers likes or even the Donald Trumps , their constituencies of ultra conservatives , religious minded Tea partyers and similar dysfunctional minorities mostly from the old rural South and the Midwest , are these all going to govern and steer the party , the country and the entirety of American citizenship .


I believe Mr. Boehner's  resignation could open the doors for more than one option , whereby a comfortable majority within the party  might decide to regain control and leadership of the party , and work to lessen the direct influence of the too far to the right conservative partners . It might cost them a bit in upcoming elections , but honestly even the 2016 presidential election is already half lost  anyways with the present candidates of the party versus any of the other major two democratic candidates , and shutting down the government again and again is not helpful to the cause either .


So the thinking goes like this ; what are few years of  temporary electoral weaker success , and that's assuming the totality of the right voters , under all its different aspects and forms , will defect to some type of independent  isolation . The total partnership between the two sides didn't play well , and didn't pay much to the traditional core of the party , on the contrary it is taking  them surely and steadily to an undesirable extreme right adventurous and unpopular attitude .


Republicans in their majority , could see themselves in a few short years , being the middle ground between the ultra conservative right and the more leaning to the liberal left and to social justice Democrats . By a steady recapture of the party's  leadership , management and correct steering . Call it a corrective move , a party internal coup or a recovering of positions , it all lead to the same .


Are these issues being discussed at all ?? as real possibilities , of regaining the power by its original people and leaders ,  or am I , just  a very creative and fertile imaginative non Republican ??.


As always my gratitude for listening and helping to spread the word .           

SOME OF WHAT IS DARK AND QUESTIONABLE ....

Unfortunately , in many parts of our world today , and more so in the actual Middle-East , with all its peoples , be it the Syrian regime , ISIS and the Sunni population , countries and kingdoms , the different Shiite groups , tribes , parties and countries , and on the other side the Israeli various reemerging different fanatical groups led by their neocon politicians and leaders . All these do not allow us to discern in them any feature of the civilized man of our culture and times .


In all those primitive acting cultures , humanism has not yet come into real mature existence . Men are still too close to their totem animals , trying to reflect their mirrored gods , thus strictly reflecting brutality and bestiality . In our time in this century , by looking at events in the Middle-East , we are not so sure anymore that we know or understand what man is , whereby only his blind dark side combined with his gods are directing him and destroying every aspect of his so-called humanity .


I keep talking about the Middle-East religious fervor and their direct implications on politics , hegemony and the every day brutal events as I'm shocked at every day's scenes of hatred and a total absence of tolerance .  The reality on the one hand , and the brutal visual images we witness as a projection of it , epitomize the prevailing model of social life people are forced to live with and exist through , in all different parts of that area with no exceptions .


 In form as in content , every day life , only serves as total surrender and a reflection for the conditions and aims of the existing system , be it Islamic , dictatorial or Hebraic apartheid leaning .  instigators of the situation in  Syria , Iraq , Yemen or Sinai , Libya or Bahrain , Israel or Sudan are all but examples of  how entrenched these leaders and war lords are becoming in their own acts , drastically cutting themselves from reality and their peoples' lives .


The more we allow the creation of religious extremists and fanatics the more we condemn and eliminate moderate and enlightened people . Humanity is paying a heavy price in its strive for peace , prosperity , tolerance , wisdom and attaining the truth . Let's not allow religious craze , ancient hegemonic models and godly covenants and dreams under all their aspects , destroy it all . 


As always my thanks for listening and help propagating .     

MORE TUTTI FRUTTIES .......

---- When Constantine established control over Europe , he ordered to demolish all the idols temples , and replaced them with churches , he also erected crosses at most major intersections , with a statement saying ; "with the sign of the cross , you gained your freedom ." He declared Christianity as the only and official religion . The people referred to him as Constantine the great  or the absolute ruler of the lands . Hmmmm...   are we now comparing , juxtaposing or relating  acts and attitudes of the back then and our modern times ??


---- Donald Trump , Michel Aoun , one American one Lebanese , both madly aspiring for the presidency of their countries . Both willing to go to extremes for their purposes , both millionaires in their own contexts , both extravagant and very volatile in opinions , reactions and acts . Both great profiteers of their achieved situations , both eccentric to high degrees and both not dependable for governing their respective countries and citizens .
The other funny aspect of their temporary success is that most people behind them , are amused and mostly letting out their frustrations towards the classical order of usual politics in both countries , and most will realize the absurdity , the nonsensical and change .


---- Events in the various parts of the Middle-East and the Arab world , from the openly declared war of the Israeli Jews against all Musslems and Christians in Palestine and the occupied territories , to the total transformation of  the Syrian naïve revolt into an ethnic and religious conflict and massacre , the Iraqi fully declared absolute enmity between Shiia and Sunni , Arabs and Kurds . Yemen , Libya , Egypt and Sudan , all confirm the idea ; that history of the M-E and the region's societies , may be reduced  to a history of religions . Not one of these peoples could escape this sad conclusion .


---- I get regularly about two dozens e-mails per day , all pertinent to political messages , petitions , some just informative and most of course begging for contributions and donations of any amount .
Half of these roughly are from the right and the ultra right , while the others represent the middle (Democrats) all the way to the newly reemerging left .
An immediate observation showing itself clearly in most if not all messages belonging to the right , contains always some naïve and dramatic warnings about doomsday events whether in money and economical total collapse , terrible health conspiracies and frightening other acts , diabolical plans of our government and leaders to end life as we know it here in America , destroy our future and bring the end of times , of course all associated with the government taking all and every piece of arms available including kitchen knives .
Now  are we to assume that if and when a republican president might be elected , all these messages will suddenly and magically stop !!!!


---- How sad it is , when we observe that the stupidity that started it all , that could only been exposed and proven , might after all win by ruse , brutality , fighting and destruction .


My many thanks and appreciation for your times and help making known and spreading the blog .
      

TUTTI FRUTTI .....

--- Some of us firmly believe that we are purely physical things , evolving like any other form of life or matter in the universe , subjected strictly to rules of physics .  Some others and mostly under the influence of spiritual-religious  doctrines , are led to believe in a nonphysical entity as well , call it soul , one which is distinctly separate of the physical body .


One side make their own decisions and will their acts , while the other side are indoctrinated and trained to rely on a force or a super computer , call it god if you wish , an entity that is constantly willing and directing our other self  in every step of life , and maybe the after life .


The argument between predetermined , and free will for every conscious decision of our lives , should be settled for all on this planet and not used as an excuse or a scapegoat for various acts .


--- " In a fit of absence of mind ", that is how the whole Syrian situation started and developed . Unfortunately 5 years down the line , and more than 300.000 killed plus the millions displaced and sent into refuge , it's becoming the accepted norms , and not the momentary absence of rationality and mind . Iraq , Israel , Iran/Yemen/Saudi and Libya , all fall within the same criteria .


--- OK. so we know by now that Obama is not American at all and a Musslem . We know by now as well , that Pope Francis is not a true Catholic , and quite an extravagant anarchist . We know damn well by now that Bashar Assad , is the only intelligent and patriotic Syrian , all the way to the last remaining Syrian . all three leaders , more or less , share the deep suspicion and veneration of many people .


--- Any mature observer of American presidential candidates , can be sure that Jeb Bush's polite disassociation with his brother and Dick Cheney's policies was only temporary and played on the surface , while his association with Neocons from the same era , was never terminated , these are all facts many Americans will not forget nor forgive .  Consequently , those same people with an organized bunch of mostly Republican candidates and their sponsors are dug in institutionalizing   the fact that less than one percent of Americans , will control the bulk of wealth and the creation of manipulated public opinions through appropriate bought and forced legislation .


My usual many thanks for your time in reading and propagating our blogs .


  

ULTRACREPIDARIANISM !!!!

Or the habit of giving opinions and advise on matters outside of one's knowledge or competence . Giving opinions on subjects one knows nothing about .

Ultracrepidarians include and is not limited to ; rich people , religious figures and most politicians , even serious academicians and others , all share this bad habit of not having enough wisdom  nor being able to say " I don't know ", and maybe even listen instead . Invariably volunteering themselves with firm opinions , predictions and interruptions based on pure guesses and false pretenses and presumptions .

While in many or most occurrences , the would be answer is a plane "I don't know" , why do we keep pretending and insisting to know  when we don't !!! Maybe it is easier to fake it , rather than looking ignorant by admitting that "I don't know" does it sound more intelligent and profitable to fake it . Maybe some of us are too proud to just admit their not knowing . Maybe it's the feeling of superiority and having to have the last word , wright or wrong .

The economist Nobel laureate T. Sargent , was asked in a conference if he "could tell the panel and audience" what the CD rates will be  couple years down the line , his flat answer was ; No .

To know everything or pretend to know everything , is always a dangerous leading attitude in life , to admit to ourselves and to others that sometimes "we simply don't know" should be easier than not , at least to some of us . It's only a mature attitude and mind that could bring in us the power to admit more often than not the "I don't know" and say it .  

As always , my many thanks for your time , patience and the effort to propagate and spread the blog .  

GODLY MANIPULATION ........

The integration of certain secular norms like democracy and other modern aspects of life especially those dealing with freedom and with women issues and gender equalities , surely disturbed a certain inherited equilibrium in most Arab and non Arab countries , around the entirety of the Middle-East , whether through direct invasions ie, American invasion of Iraq , Israeli to Palestine , or via all the pseudo secular dictatorships of the area  in the last few decades .

It is a known fact that most peoples cannot tolerate existing nor conducting their lives in two different systems at the same time . In most Arab Muslim countries life to its smallest everyday detail happen because god wills it , and people are not in any role or position to argue or tamper with the will of god .

In the Middle-East Islam in its two main factions , plays a by far more pervasive role in the life of every individual and all , than any other religion does in any part of the world , only Israel might be a qualified second to this blind obedience to religious dogmas . People in the West in general have difficulty understanding or grasping the extent to which certain religions ie. Islam and Judaism infiltrate and govern all aspects of life in their respective societies .

ISIS , its sisters and all other Musslem salafi groups , are being contested in the Muslim world only for their excessive brutality , short sighted intolerance and free butchery towards Musslems and non Musslem citizens . Only if they were a little more or better tacticians and pragmatists and a little less brutal and sanguinary , they would have won the hearts and minds of most Sunni Musslems ,  not only within the Arab context but the whole world .

Historically Israelites did the same using terrorism to implement ideals and win lands and won the hearts of all  Jewry before during and after 1948 , and are still reviving these methods nowadays .

Unfortunately , I cannot but believe that the future of most of the Middle-East , will not be what we know and lived through  for the past 60 or 70 years , or even today , they will de facto be divided into many entities of different ethnic enclaves , having in most cases bad relations among each other , keeping a semi warlike  situation always followed by short periods of imposed peace .

Proving to the world that different ethnic and different religious groups cannot somehow survive together , at least not in that part of the world . and to say that it's the same god they all believe in , maybe he doesn't want it any other way !!!
 
My usual many thanks to all for reading and spreading the blog .      

AMERICAN REASONING ......

1-- If history is to repeat itself in the U.S. , and a Republican president is to be elected following a full two terms democrat president in 2016 , their should be no room for worries about hot issues like immigration , a topic that is now preoccupying every media , politician and regular voters .
If repeated history is the motto , a Republican president  would drag the country back into one or more trillion dollar war , cut dramatically taxing the very rich , Wall St. , and the corporations , all resulting in further cuts and reductions in public services and benefits to the poorer and the middle classes, (more than 90% of Americans) ,
America would become less attractive , and immigration from poorer countries like Mexico and Latin America would become less lucrative , thus becoming less of a problem for American politicians , a brilliant solution isn't it ???


2-- Earnings of thousands to one between most CEO's , bankers , traders' bonuses and lobbyists , versus their counterparts , ordinary salary earners , even within the same institutions , should never be the norm .  And if it has to be for whatever free market reasoning , why are we then resisting taxing them appropriately , in line with all of the Western world , for more equitable distribution and betterment of all , one rich candidate for the last presidential paid regularly around 14% in taxes less than half of what many of us pay , strange reasoning indeed !!


3-- Sen. Chuck Schumer , and rep. Eliot Engel and Steve Israel , who all happen to be Jewish , are tilting and leaning loudly to their Israeli affiliations and loyalties , over their assumed Americanism , I'm sure they were instrumental in staging the Congress warm welcomes and stand up applauds for Mr. Netanyahu of Israel . Let's all hope that the three politicians and some more from both sides of the isle , regain independent sanity , and only consider American interests and not anyone else . They are American reps. after all , elected by Americans for America .


4-- Why is Iran nowadays a place of evil , a place where we should not do business with , on the contrary fight them impoverish and destroy them . We used to cherish our friendship with them , work and trade a lot with them , Many Americans were happy to work in Iran as many Iranians lived and learned in the U.S. , all under an as brutal Shah regime as it is now under Islamic oligarchy .


5-- Finally and based on a personal opinion , many of our presidential candidates , but mostly on the Republican side for sure , for the 2016 election year , yes many or most ; perfectly fit the typical "asshole" definition . Is the nation and its media turning into an "asshole" Cherishing body ? Are we seriously looking to elect an asshole for the presidency , to govern our country , destinies and lives ?? and for a long 4 years or possibly 8 ??? didn't we learn anything from old  Bush/Cheney  foolish  adventurism and economical collapses ???


My usual many thanks to all for your patience and time .             

PLAYING WITH FIRE .......

As much as  one could be feeling sick and getting fed-up by what is happening in the entire Arab world , and its different countries  and entities , there is no denying , that modern Israel , in the midst of all the Middle-Eastern events, is turning as sickening , dangerous , cold and brutal .


The degree of intolerance exercised by Israel toward all its neighbors , close ones and far , is only matched by the vulgar and crazy ISIS and the Syrian regime , it is confirming  Israel as a rogue country of the third world , this Israeli arrogance toward everyone else , including its closest allies , and its insistence on creating and fueling conflicts over the whole area , plus its continual policies of apartheid and crushing the Palestinians under their control , all in an attempt to achieve and materialize an actual transfer of the entire Palestinian masses , acquiring by any means their lands and properties .


These tactics and policies , will only further inflame an eventual religious war or wars between Islamic countries themselves , and united or divided with the Jewish state, leading to many years of continual brutality and savagery . Middle-Eastern peoples in general , including Israelis , are propelling themselves on these paths , purposely kept blind-folded from other better possibilities , on the contrary a systematic energizing of hate , vengeance and the notions of "you're next" leading surely to a real religious war sooner than later , dragging the whole world in it .


As the Israeli machine keep vigorously pressuring and influencing American legislators for an anti deal with Iran , as they did with Iraq some years before , it shows the no limits Israel's semi religious oligarchy is willing to go to , in destroying the area by keeping continual war games alive .


No matter how we hide behind our Internet screens , or we mesmerize ourselves in front of erupting volcano scenes , earth quakes or floodings , even in just watching our own human craze , stubbornness and brutality , we cannot ignore what's happening in the Middle-East , destroying all its heritage and history in sheer brutality under the name of stupid religious differences or conflicting feelings , or hegemonic false superiority .


The many religions , namely Islam and Israeli Judaism  will bring the real doomsday scenarios if we are not very careful , and working to prevent it , all of us , citizens of the world . Lack of tolerance will lead Israel and the whole area to total disasters from all perspectives .


Finally and in regard to our unconditional support of Israel , in right or wrong , the world and the U.S cannot and should not conduct their political process in the twenty-first century with the fear of one state , and their one side minded lobbyists , the world has to decide in cool thinking and steady steps its future according to its own ideals . Preventing annihilation wars is a solid prerequisite of our survival through this century .


If Israelis are willingly  turning their country into a pariah nuclear state , the world has a moral obligation of stopping it , for the world's own safety at least .
 My usual many thanks for listening .      

CONSISTENTLY BAD THINKING ........

Most Arabs unfortunately , in the past and more so nowadays , fall into the grave error of mixing between Arab nationalism  and Islam , and totally misidentify the limits of Arabic Islam . They are two very distinct concepts and issues , Islam is a religion and Arabism is Nationalism . And when Islam , or any religion for that matter , is combined and blended with nationalism or vice versa , false situations and some strong conflicts are always created .


The same and a lot of antagonism would take place when trying to amalgamate nationalism and religion , as in the examples of Islamic Iran and emerging  Jewish Israel, as well taking the example of the ill fated Islamic state . In modern history many peoples attempted governing with the mix , and practically all ended up failing .


Religions  generally are not compatible with  democracy , they come and are by nature authoritarian , they tend to be exclusive in most cases and aspects , intolerant towards others is the rule . Islam is by no means different in its anti-democratic ways as is Judaism , Christianity or any other major religion . 


The religious mind and more specifically the Arab mind has to be reinvented to suit real democracy and a secular national policy , and the acceptance of a real division of state and religion . As well
The way things are shaping the Israeli political and social scene nowadays , is a bad premonition for any serious possibility of betterment , tolerance and a brighter future . As the religious is taking greater parts in the nationalism and the governance . and is gaining ground in replacing secularism and tolerance .


Everywhere in the area and some parts of the world the same archaic religious fervor is trying to take over and replace national tolerance , secular governance and real democracy . Real knowledge , betterment and higher morals start only when we learn to accept and separate between concepts , put them in perspective, facing each other, so as to analyze correctly the values and benefits , or harms of each .


Thank you all for your time and patience .        

AGAIN , WELL DONE MR. PRESIDENT .....

The fear , even paranoia  of Israeli leadership and many of its staunch supporters in the States , was steadily growing for the past year , more so now , after reaching the nuclear deal between the U.S. it's international allies  and Iran . Of course a scary affair to some as such a deal will result in a certain future rapprochement with Iran , and the most feared is the American and Western economic and political future engagements .


Many in the U.S. hide strictly behind nuclear armament possibilities and threats , their supposed danger on America itself and of course Israel , a false and totally untrue argument , as even a nuclear armed Iran will never pose any real danger to Israel nor the U.S . Historically it is proven , nuclear countries don't nuke each other , it's only and strictly a deterrence between the nuclear haves , and  these avoid and circumvent new aspiring members . Especially for Israel , as a nuclear powered  Iran  will only render the country unassailable  and indomitable .


It's the rapprochement strategy that is bothering many, mostly the neocons of both Israeli and American side , each strictly for his benefits . To look at the same scene from an Iranian perspective , will tell us immediately that Iran is in a win-win situation with the West and America , vis-a-vis its increasing partnership with Russia , China and Turkey to a lesser extent .


Iranian Musslem populations sentiments , resent a very close Russian or Chinese partnership and alliance , mostly for religious differences , as religion is of minor importance in both countries , Shiism and Turkic Sunnism divide , will always fuel a natural barrier to a strong partnership . The West in general and even the U.S are by far favored and accepted as possible partners for future prosperity and for the entrepreneurship of the Iranian people .


Provided the U.S. and its Western allies , realize and work with Iran as the descendant of Persia and not as a modern Shiite hegemonic theocratic Iran , lies the key to success of the whole plan , and the continued American domination over most of the Sunni Arab world . After all economic hardship and prosperity dreams brought Iranians to the negotiations not force .


Iran as well fears its northern borders , increasingly becoming Sunni fanatics and militant , and turning more antagonistic toward Iranian ambitions in the mostly Sunni Arab world , its policies and presence in Syria , Iraq , Lebanon and ill fated Yemen , are not helping extinguish the Sunni hatred. 


So possibly the American rapprochement with Iran , the toning down of Israeli antagonism , and the strong American ties and alliances with the Sunni countries , can facilitate defusing some of the impossible situations in the area , and help create a new order under the direct influence of the U.S.  An arrangement not necessarily beneficial to the strategic advantages of Russia , nor China , and surely not serving the present Israeli leadership's hegemonic views .


I hope that American politicians opposing  the mentioned deal , mostly influenced by Israeli short sighted policies , will not predominate our decisions , interests or foreign policies . Let us willingly give Mr. Netanyahu another one of his beloved standing ovations in our Congress , while asking him to stop tampering in our foreign policies and interests . let us keep on the track of safeguarding our future and the world's , avoiding stupid profiteering war games and tactical hegemonic policies .


Finally as a last thought , isn't it high times after the latest win for America , the West and the world , over unchecked nuclear proliferation  and dangers , to start seriously pressuring defiant Israel over its nuclear arsenal estimated at more than 300 warheads , all mounted on ready to launch missiles . The International Atomic Agency must have some access and Israel must adhere to some accountability to the world and its neighbors including Iran .    My as always many thanks for your times .                  

TWO THOUSAND YEARS OLD EPICTETUS ......

Great attention  is always given to the moral importance of our deeds , but less so to the moral power of our words and their effects . Many people feel compelled to voice any and every passing feeling , thought , or impression they have , they randomly dump the contents of their minds without regard to the consequences .


When we babble about every idea that occurs or crosses our minds , big or small , we  will easily get lost in mindless talk . We all need to be constantly on our guards for not falling into the traps of frivolous talk, Way better to be silent or speak sparingly than talking just for the sake of saying anything , we end up mostly saying trivial things , thus turning trivial and small minded ourselves.


One can not and should not strive to attain higher status in life , whether intellectually or socially by limiting most of his verbosity and speech to criticizing and demeaning all around him , these are destructive feelings , not harmonious nor adequate to anyone striving for a happier and more accomplished life for himself and those around him .


Let's not hide ourselves behind some official education and complex text books , let's not show that through these we have learned to think better , to be more discriminating and more reflective people . Books and training manuals are undeniably good training tools for our minds , they help our methodologies , but it would be a grave mistake , to consider that we can achieve goals and make good progress in life and happiness simply by having internalized and memorized their contents .


The morally trained , rather than resenting or dodging their current life situation and duties , give thanks to them , and fully immerse themselves in their duties to their families , friends , neighbors and jobs , to their universality and the world . When we succumb to whining and grumpiness , we diminish our possibilities , and live a grim life .


The over evaluation of money , status and competition , poisons our personal relations . The flourishing life cannot be achieved until we learn how to moderate our desires and realize how superficial , transient and passing they are .


Many historians , philosophers  especially  the stoic ones among them , have worked with and translated the enduring appeal and widespread works and ideas of Epictetus . I chose to rely mostly on the excellent translations and interpretations of S. Lebell , greatly inspiring my actual blog .   My many thanks to her and to all my good readers as always .        

ROOTS , BASIC CAUSES AND HERITAGE ........

Most experts of the geopolitical scene in the Middle-East  agree by now , that the establishment of the modern Middle-Eastern political boundaries , and the establishment of its different countries , started during world war I , and came about to its final shape in the few years after ; 1919 - 1922 , when winners allied countries headed by Britain and France , introduced an artificial state system into the M-E , that transformed the whole region into countries that have not become real nations even today .


Imperialism , very quickly turning into colonialism , created borders and artificial states , extending from the southern Russian frontiers to the Indian ocean in the south , and from the Caspian sea in the east to the Mediterranean in the west . All to divide , conquer and annex lands ruled until then by the looser in war , the Ottoman empire .


In  fact , Arabs from the Hijaz and Egyptians , Syrians and Iraqis , Yemenis and North Africans , were all peoples of different histories , ethnic backgrounds and outlooks . The fictitious mosaic of peoples , all in abeyance and dormant for more than 500 years under Ottoman  rule , never managed to mix well , except for Islamic affiliation and connectedness to a certain majority.


Islam had always a semblance of unification , as the nation and its peoples believed , aspired and obeyed the reigning Musslem theocracy  rather than a national Turkish or Ottoman state . The Caliph was a symbol of Islam , and accepted strictly and only as a successor to the prophet Mohammad . All this changed in a matter of some very short years , 1919 to 22 of our last century .


It took Europe more than 1600 years to come to terms with its social and political identity  after the Roman era ended , and not until recently could they determine which nations were entitled to be states . In the modern M-E , it is far from being settled , whether it's religion or statehood , dynastic family rule , national states or little enclaves and city states . Whether it is Sunni or Shi'a , Christians , Alawite , Druz or Jewish Israelites .Who would command who , and rule ? or possibly all would , each within his little fief .


States all over the Middle-East were created , and boundaries were mapped to suit British and French interests , and Israeli  Jewish  aspirations , rather than those of the real local populations . The outcome of this paradoxical puzzle throughout the modern M-E , are entities that managed to come together , while others came apart , some countries learned to accept their borders and imposed frontiers , while others do not . Some grew into accepting their neighbors as independent states , others did not .


Mostly , countries of  British and French creation , under the famous " Sykes-Picot-Sazonov " arrangements and agreements , as in Saudi Arabia , all the Gulf Emirates , Iraq , Syria , Jordan ,Israel and Lebanon , even Egypt , the Sudan and north African states , all of these provide extensive and sufficient  examples of political immaturity , incompetence , brutality and hegemony .

If the Middle-East in its entirety is ever to achieve settling down and some durable peace and democracy , the real and only question would be ; when and how ?? The sure and down to earth realistic answer would be ; Not very soon .  My as always thanks to all .             

A HISTORY OF HATE ........

Let's face it , in America many whites don't really like black people , and it's not the person himself or herself , but blacks in general , all shades of black .  Albeit  not all whites , but a good percentage share uncomfortable feelings and harbor some ill sentiments and susceptibilities to say the least .


Even whites who sincerely believe , that they are above traditional stigmatization of blacks in general , a black colleague at work , or a black neighboring  family and their kids befriending ours . There's always the little hidden feeling of discomfort , or sensitivity upon learning of a new moving and settling of a black family in one's neighborhood , and how might it influence real-estate prices .


Whites in all their aspects and variations , as in white blue eyed Anglo-Saxons , or less white Latinos , even white yellowish Asians , total off white  Indians , white Protestants , Catholics and most certainly white Jews or newly settling Arab immigrants , all harbor the same hidden sentiments and a certain lack of sympathy towards black individuals and communities .


The U.S  has of course , leaped some great deal toward maturity and civility , in its various societies , mostly in urban areas ,  where law enforcement were the major deterrent  and imposer of peace and some harmony  between the different communities .


All until we hear and see some barbaric terrorist action , albeit mostly carried out by disturbed individuals , that only reminds us all , of the still very alive and existing back ground hatred , and intolerance exercised in many communities and families in different areas of the nation , rich and poor , affluent or not .


Admittedly , and for fairness sake , a nation the size of the U.S and its populations , should not be judged nor rated by some isolated , crazy and barbaric incidents , but !!!.  Finally I should add , that our eternal obstinacy  with mad notions of  owning , displaying and using fire arms , the ease of it all , is still a major reason for most if not all crazy criminal acts , and surely not a sign of maturity or civility in American society within the modern world .


Morality , maturity and mellowness is not necessarily  the natural province of the highborn , or the professional intellectuals , or the rich , nor is it achieved by accident or luck , or by the passive passing of time , but by working constantly on ourselves , our families , neighborhoods , our backyards .


 At this point in time it is no big good to perform good deeds and say loudly good words , only to win favor with the gods , religions , or the admiration of others , but to work hard toward achieving a real and lasting inner harmony , goodness , and acceptance of all others , thus attaining a real civilized personal and societal status . As what matters most for our future , and our sons and daughters future , is what sort of persons we are becoming , and what sort of life we want to achieve .


When violence undermines civility and harmony , the limits of self denial are exposed . My usual many thanks for your time .   

IT COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT .......

Among world governments , as well as media officials and private citizens , there have been very few instances of anger at what took , and is taking place on the ground in the Middle-East in general and all its countries , populations and different ethnic and religious groups .


I'm not only referring here to Arab or Musslem regions , albeit their numerical dominance , but surely to all entities including Israel and its Jewish populations , and Christian more or less politically dominated Lebanon .


The whole of the Middle-East today is merely a fading echo of earlier ages . All the area's rulers practically from independence till nowadays were nothing but  chauvinist  groups who only thought in bald terms of grab and downright sheer brutality .


All Middle-Eastern leaders , whether political , religious ,  dictators or democratically elected , proved to be  totally incompetent to assume true responsibility for an area of such complex interests as the Middle-East . All countries with no exception had become throughout the years totally or partially dependent  and addicted upon foreign powers , politically and financially , a pattern so engrossed nowadays in every aspect of the daily life of these populations and their leaders . Putting the different donors in a position to dictate to all countries and entities .


Another of the fundamental causes of the Middle-Eastern  geopolitical ills , was that most of its countries and populations were being kept historically from achieving real  independence or unity , a situation that continues  under Israeli colonialism and declared hegemony towards all its neighbors , a policy that keeps  real peace prospects  and prosperity dead .


The intolerance of  groups different from the majority , kept most of these countries on the brink of chaos and non governance , the final implosion of most Middle-Eastern entities including the Palestinian/Israeli scene , are only real confirmations of the century long failures of leadership .


An area that lived most of its independent days , in most aspects , in a Quixotic make belief world . Hopefully coming generations might find it possible to see the situation as it really existed .


My usual thanks for listening .     

PROPOSED GEOPOLITICAL SCENARIOS .......

The continued drama of Middle-Eastern geopolitics and modern political geography , as well as the creation of political and ethnic entities , for the past century , is dulled by events covering the entirety of the Middle-East nowadays , and being reshaped by new hegemonic ambitions , mostly going through the Sunni/Shiite divide , and influencing all its various sects and ethnic populations .

No objective observer can neglect the latest quick and frightening events taking place now in the area , whether in the Qalamoun area in Syria , its bordering Arsal town and surroundings in Lebanon , and the latest entry of 20.000 Iranian and Iraqi  Shiite  fighters supposedly to save the Assad regime .

The outcome of Qalamoun and Arsal mini wars between Hizballa  and the various hordes of salafist Sunni Musslems , no matter of how its outcome might turn , and whoever might claim victory , the outcome would invariably be disastrous for Lebanon and the area .

Any strengthening of ISIS and or any of its affiliates is obviously horribly disastrous , while the further Shiite domination and isolation of  Sunni towns and areas , on the whole northern Lebanese territory , and adjacent Syrian areas , will have its impact in a continued Sunni resistance furthering terrorist acts , methods and tactics .

Hizballa is already the major political and military player in Lebanon , it attempted and practically succeeded in 2008 to stage a small scale coup , mostly in Beirut but intimidating the whole Lebanese spectrum . They were not , and are not now in denial nor hiding their hegemonic ambitions , over the entire Lebanese political and military system , of course always with a smart policy of alliances  with naive and selfish Maronite figures and other factions , mostly under the Syrian regime's direct influence .

With the undeclared Iranian recent takeover of the the Syrian capital , its corridor to the Syrian coastal areas , and a total control of more than 50 %  of Lebanese territory , all executed now through direct Iranian and Hezballa fighting forces , geopolitics as we know it could be  in real jeopardy , and in the process of being totally reshaped . The military might and hegemonic ambitions of both Hizballa and Iran is no more under disguise , imposing in Lebanon their ally as a president , a total supremacy over a deliberately weakened government and an intimidated puppet parliament would allow them and their allies the needed free hands , needed for any new scheme being drawn for the area .

The de facto divided Syria plus a controlled Lebanon all under  Iranian territorial and political sphere is an incomparable win to the Iranian regime , and indirectly its Russian ally , Assad and other Lebanese politicians will be of minor importance and influence , a fictitious preservation of  ethnic minorities , could and will be maintained , only "pour la form" and to silence international concerns and temporarily improve the image of the Shiite side vis-a-vis their Sunni opponents .

Many signs have been floating in favor of such scenarios , but the conclusions of the newly staged Qalamoun and Arsal mini wars , and the recent massive influx of Iranian elements would signal the real go ahead of this new faze for the area .

Finally , what remains to be closely observed , is the degree of involvement and interest of Israel and the US in this whole major change for the  area , and if one or both countries are seriously involved in directly influencing and/or  negotiating this modern reshaping of borders and geopolitical new entities and realities .


My as always , many thanks for your time and patience .         

SOME GODLY INSPIRATIONS .......

Scientific truths do not rest on the  word of their discoverer ;  gravity  does not function   because  Newton said so . The same would be true of all Godly religious doctrines . Confirm them by experience , by rationality and sound discussions , and not by whether Jesus insinuated  acted or spoke them , or the followers of the Kor'an  recited them and later put them down in a book , nor  because the old  Hebraic Bibles writers imagined and  inscribed  rules , doctrines , covenants and promises .

Religious doctrines and Godly rules should therefore not only bring and repeat fixed  ideas of ancient times , rather the sentiments and actions of our times , reflect the nowadays perceptions , reflections and needs . And judge them by modern universal standards . Any God , king or ruler who is responsible for everything , is in most cases if not always , a God or ruler of violence , pain , misery , injustice and cruelty .

If everything must have a cause , then God too must have one ,  if there is anything without a cause , it might very well be " us/me  as gods , or in his image ."  Early  metaphysical  and theological thinking and behavior , was done at a time when rulers , kings or their equivalent , ruled  with despotic authority  over property , behavior , ideas and all practical  aspects of life . Consequently  people thought about  absolute doctrines , always reigned  by a male and an almighty .

 The most obvious actual neighbors of mine nowadays to come to mind and who answer those archaic modalities and applications of governance tactics , are clearly, The Syrian regime , and Israel's neo-cons orthodox  rulers , today's Syria looks as if out of place in the modern world , like a ruined temple of classical antiquity , with some of its shattered columns still erect and visible to outside viewers , exactly as does most parts of the Palestinian  under occupation West-bank  and Ghaza .

As the good old saying goes ; " If  God  is  God , then God is not good , if  God  is  good ,  then  God is  not  God . he  can not  be  both  God  and  good ."

Indeed , from  the  lands that  invented and promoted the Gods and the one and only God , one has to observe , admit  and  conclude .

My usual  many  thanks for your patience and time.    

GOING AT IT WITH A VENGEANCE ....

Many or most dictators and their regimes , are permanently reborn with some of the darkest legacies of the human character . Narrow mindedness , provincialism , anti-intellectualism , cold heartedness , bigotry and a false continual feeling of supremacy . Surely all leading to cruel oppression and suppression  of any type of liberty or democracy . The Syrian scenario is definitely no different .

Arab populations in general and more so Syrian people , lost forever  the confidence in their capacity to govern . The notion of government itself  has turned into an eternal enemy of the republic  and its citizenry , a notion very familiar nowadays in modern Syrian history .

The Syrian leader , its regime , armies and security apparatus , versus their adversaries from the different factions of the opposition , mostly scattered  in all parts of the country and the world , plus the many turned speechless in the various jails and dungeons , do not share any common language or future view .

Both sides with time , proved mistaken in their predictions , false in their analysis , wrong in their advise , that led through the results of their interests and  armed conflicts , to highly injurious and deadly scenes to the country and its people .

The unmendable policies and interests of both the regime , its leader and his thugs , and the different opposition factions , is taking the country into the abyss of small enclaves , totally run by their local warlords . Where no government exist , no law , and definitely no freedom or democracy will ever be achieved .

Leading us into a situation where , all the politics of our times  including the politics of war , be it in Syria , Iraq and many other Arab countries , and for decades to come , will only be the politics of the crises . No one side or party can safeguard the interests , needs and rights of the entire population .

Of course external forces and influences are there to arm , inflame and  strengthen all these destructive internal forces , Saudi and Gulf , plus nowadays Sunni Turkey are a side , hopefully declining due to their internal fears , problems and worries , plus on the other camp , the growing tensions and changes between liberal and conservative factions , becoming more acute in Tehran , these internal disputes could dampen Iran's foreign aspirations , as it could happen on the Arab and Sunni side .

Hopefully this alleged fatigue , could affect directly the progression of the Syrian war , and others as well , and the fate of their ill-fated regimes .

Sad , sad situations indeed , only benefiting greed , hegemony and colonialism , and of course the international arms dealers and cartels . My as always , thanks for listening .         

THE POLICE FORCE .......

In fact today's writings could be the perfect sequel to my previous " law enforcement " on Feb 12- 2015 , we hear nowadays more of police activities and ..... , lately an almost daily news event .


The police !!  Almost a sacred institution , an untouchable one , and surely rarely if at all scrutinized ,  that is in most of the world's countries on all continents . But the words sacred or untouchable etc... have different meanings to different geographical areas of the globe .


All dictatorships , absolute rulers , Musslem monarchs  and emirs ,  and many other wealthy and industrial countries like  China , Russia and Israel  and many others , understand  these words as total , literal , absolutist , only applicable through ruthless apparatus , violence and brutality are  always the only hand to play , and surely no questions ever to be asked .


The same words to a European , and more so to a western European , ultimately to a Nordic or a UK ear , have a different interpretation , civility , less or no brutality , and more interest in the people's social problems . Canada is a slightly modified version of the European West in general .


The US , has always taken a much stronger , and more rigid attitudes in applying the rules and tactics of law enforcement , use of arms has of course always been with the forces , the sacredness and untouchability were always present , albeit in semi hidden ways , but American police were never far from brutality and homicide in their history, and more so in the past century , on the contrary it's a  constantly  increasing  trend  with the years , and lately to alarming levels .


Some funny statistics came up lately whereby the American police killed more people in one month than the entire UK police have killed since 1900 , in March of this year 111 people were killed by police . Funny heh.... I have to admit though , and very openly , that the country is turning into a more brutal , weaponised , and ruthless , at all aspects and echelons of the population , the younger ones are more prone to gangs and drug distribution circuits  , the Black youth even more so than others , but everyone is following including Whites .


Could it be now the awakening call , coming through this spree of killings writely and wrongly , meditated or not , against special races or not . The call for more scrutiny , transparency , and humanity in the training at all  police academies , a half way of meeting our European counterparts , surely not our greatest  Allie though . we could start by applying some more efforts of limiting the militarization of our law enforcement's agencies , of easing the racial tendencies of most of our law enforcers , and modifying the processes of  training and indoctrination at all levels of police forces .




Thanks as usual to all for your good monitoring , and propagating my writings .








         

A GOD CALLED JESUS ......

How do we know really , who was Jesus , the answer must be found in writings about him , mostly such writings if not exclusively are the Gospels , and the letters of Paul .


What Paul wrote was more interpretational  than first-hand knowledge , as he admits himself that he never knew Jesus in the flesh , John's Gospel was even further detached from describing the real Jesus , his life or personality .


So we are left with the other three Gospels , Matthew , Mark and Luke . We know very little about these authors , and about the circumstances  surrounding their writings , except the very general traits . The three Gospels are more or less identical , most scholars nowadays believe that Matthew and Luke copied extensively from Mark , this would strongly suggest that the two mentioned authors had no first-hand knowledge of Jesus . Even Mark's knowledge of Jesus personally is marginal and distant at best .


There is not any mention in Mark of the appearance or mannerism  , of the daily life and habits of Jesus , a bit strange if the man knew and lived around the very vivid and magical Jesus . He could only have known people of the same epoch who knew Jesus personally .


My guess is that Mark could have been a much younger contemporary , who influenced Matthew and Luke to write their books only a full generation or more later , and John nearly a full century down the line . So the immediate thought that comes to mind would be , how can we be so sure , so adamant in our judgment and considerations , when there is no real first hand information or writings.


Kierkegaard  put it this way, "God can lift humans to the level of God , or God has to accept the debasement of becoming human ."  According to him " the human mind is affronted ; as Jesus claim, or is made to be Christ/God is odiously offensive to human reason . It is an attack on human reason to expect that God would dream of becoming human , of coming to earth as a carpenter and dying on a cross as a common criminal at the hands of the marginal and insignificant people of his lands ."


The whole very disputed theory of Jesus/God was only imposed by high coercion and use of extensive force some 325 years later at Nicea , and only enforced and adopted  after 384 C.E. for theological and political purposes . We all have our minds and intellect , we need to be convinced rationally  and not blindly accept leaps of faith . It is alright for all of us to be intellectually interested in rational studies and interpretations of religions , all religions . They  still  do influence and govern most of our thinking and affairs in these sad and crazy times .




Again and as usual my many thanks for your time .       

FANATICAL OBSTINACY ......

THE  stubborn , intractable observance by all Hebraic tribes and most of their descendants , follows the original patterns of Israeli peoples scattered all through the Middle-East for more than a thousand years B.C. and most of Europe through the first millennium of the Christian era , one common trait dominating their lives would be ;  Isolationism .


Jews in general considered themselves intellectually and socially superior and more advanced to all other  neighboring people and kingdoms around them . Jewish tribes whether in Israel itself or in any neighboring lands i.e.  Egypt , Canaan , Melkite , Phoenicians , Assyrians or Persians , compared poorly in power wealth or commerce, they never possessed meaningful armies , nor very impressive castles and palaces , no major metropolis or anything of the sort that defined higher societies and kingdoms of the time .


These simple people were no match at all to , Greeks , the Persian empire , and later the Romans , even Arabs 600 years down the line of the Christian era , under the new leadership of Muhammad , his Islamic messages and his friends , who managed relatively in very short times , to build themselves powerful armies and strong hegemonic tendencies .


Jewish tribal isolationism and arrogance was self justified by the so called superiority of intellect , strict inherited social rules , and continued discussions and studies of Cabalistic notions , turned later to social and monetary applied philosophies and self governing doctrines , thus their historical refusal of any other cultural system and an obstinacy in continued resistance of mixing and melting with other cultures .


Greek philosophy , though by far greater than theirs , never could set a foot in tribal Jewish lands , Romans only difficultly and by force only could impose their superior rules of law , and were never really accepted . Their relations with the Arab Mohammad was based on somehow similar non-trust , devious and deceitful acts , leading their relatively powerful tribes in and around Medina  to reject and betray the aspiring Musslem forces . Labeling them among their rising Arab neighbors as eternal traitors and enemies of their own pledges and words .


History tells us that their leaders could never , 2000 years ago or in our modern times , accept one of their own sons i.e. Jesus , who did not really during his life advocate an independent state or different political establishment , only to rectify some of their rules and come up with different and more universal commandments , they ended up  betraying  and killing him , for fear of impurity , contamination and universality .


These same grandiose self beliefs of superiority and exclusivity , these beliefs of owning god and being absolutely under his grace , all bonded with special covenants led them to isolate themselves literally everywhere , from Arabia to Eastern and Western Europe , from antiquity to middle ages and further to modern times . Ghettos and walls were not in most cases imposed on them , but self installed by their community leaders . Mostly to preserve their purity , superiority and hidden arrogance vis a vis local populations around them .


This same refusal of melting or accepting , still living today in many Jewish communities around the world , and their isolationism felt more so in modern Israel through their very harsh brutality and apartheid treatment of every non Jewish person , be it him/her a citizen or not , even against their own black Jews , considered minor or lower cast Jews at best .


Trying to resemble them to other Arab Semites , whether Musslems or Christians , from their historic surroundings , gives them literally the shivers , they are continually trying to distance themselves from the same original Abrahamic cousins and neighbors , exactly as their later historical existence and behavior , led them to their isolationism and life of intrigue throughout the world .


My as always many thanks for patiently listening .