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 .