CONTRA EL PINGALISMO CASTRISTA/
"Se que no existe el consuelo
que no existe
la anhelada tierrra de mis suenos
ni la desgarrada vision de nuestros heroes.
Pero
te seguimos buscando, patria,..." - Reinaldo Arenas
Because it is now almost axiomatic for American school textbooks to whitewash all things Islamic (see here for example), it may be instructive to examine one of those aspects that are regularly distorted: the Muslim conquests.
Few events of history are so well documented and attested to as are
these conquests, which commenced soon after the death of the Muslim
prophet Muhammad (632) and tapered off circa 750. Large swathes of the
Old World—from the India in the east, to Spain in the west—were
conquered and consolidated by the sword of Islam during this time, with
more after (e.g., the Ottoman conquests).
By the standards of history, the reality of these conquests is
unassailable, for history proper concerns itself with primary sources;
and the Islamic conquests are thoroughly documented. More importantly,
the overwhelming majority of primary source materials we rely on do not
come from non-Muslims, who might be accused of bias. Rather, the
foremost historians bequeathing to posterity thousands of pages of
source materials documenting the Islamic conquests were not only Muslims
themselves; they were—and still are—regarded by today’s Muslims as
pious and trustworthy scholars (generically, the ulema).
Among the most authoritative books devoted to recounting the conquests are: Ibn Ishaq’s (d. 767) Sira (“Life of Muhammad”), the oldest biography of Muhammad; Waqidi’s (d. circa. 820) Maghazi (“Military Campaigns [of the Prophet]“); Baladhuri’s (d. 892) Futuh al-Buldan (“Conquests of the Nations”); and Tabari’s (d.923) multi-volumeTarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, (“History of Prophets and Kings”), which is 40 volumes in the English translation.
Taken together, these accounts (which are primarily based on older
accounts—oral and written—tracing back to Muhammad and his successors)
provide what was once, and in the Muslim world still is, a famous story:
that Allah had perfected religion (Islam) for all humanity; that he
commanded his final prophet (Muhammad) and community (Muslims) to spread
Islam to the world; and that the latter was/is to accept it either
willingly or unwillingly (jihad).
It should be noted that contemporary non-Muslim accounts further
validate the facts of the conquests. The writings of the Christian
bishop of Jerusalem Sophronius (d.638), for instance, or the chronicles
of the Byzantine historian Theophanes (d.758), to name a couple, make
clear that Muslims conquered much of what is today called the “Muslim
world.”
According to the Muslim historical tradition, the majority of
non-Muslim peoples of the Old World, not desiring to submit to Islam or
its laws (Sharia), fought back, though most were eventually defeated and
subsumed.
The first major conquest, renowned for its brutality, occurred in
Arabia itself, immediately after Muhammad’s death in 632. Many tribes
which had only nominally accepted Islam’s authority, upon Muhammad’s
death, figured they could break away; however, Muhammad’s successor and
first caliph, or successor, Abu Bakr, would have none of that, and
proclaimed a jihad against these apostates, known in Arabic as the
“Ridda Wars” (or Apostasy Wars). According to the aforementioned
historians, tens of thousands of Arabs were put to the sword until their
tribes re-submitted to Islam.
The Ridda Wars ended around 634. To keep the Arab Muslims from
quarreling, the next caliph, Omar, launched the Muslim conquests: Syria
was conquered around 636, Egypt 641, Mesopotamia and the Persian Empire,
650. By the early 8th century, all of north Africa and Spain to the
west, and the lands of central Asia and India to the east, were also
brought under Islamic suzerainty. More »
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
delivers a startling message to the people of Britain in an
"Alternative" Christmas message. Jesus WILL return , what he intentionality did not include, was that Jesus will return As a Servant to Imam Mahdi Iran Reza Pahlavi پیام شاهزاده رضا پهلوی به مناسبت نوروز ۱۳۹۰ ایران Ahmadinejad New Year Message 2008 احمدینژاد پیام سال نو Nowrūz
(Persian: نوروز, IPA: [nouˈɾuːz], "New Day", originally "New Light") is
the name of the New Year in Iranian calendars and the corresponding
traditional celebrations. Nowruz is also widely referred to as the
Persian New Year.
Nowruz is celebrated and observed by Iranian
peoples and the related cultural continent and has spread in many other
parts of the world, including parts of Central Asia, South Asia,
Northwestern China, the Crimea and some groups in the Balkans.
Nowruz
marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in Iranian
calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal
equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day
depending on where it is observed. As well as being a Zoroastrian
holiday and having significance amongst the Zoroastrian ancestors of
modern Iranians, the same time is celebrated in parts of the South Asian
sub-continent as the new year. The moment the Sun crosses the celestial
equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year
and Iranian families gather together to observe the rituals.
Originally
being a Zoroastrian festival, and the holiest of them all, Nowruz is
believed to have been invented by Zoroaster himself, although there is
no clear date of origin. Since the Achaemenid era the official year has
begun with the New Day when the Sun leaves the zodiac of Pisces and
enters the zodiacal sign of Aries, signifying the Spring Equinox.
The
Jewish festival of Purim is probably adopted from the Persian New Year.
It is also a holy day for Sufis, Ismailis, Alawites, Alevis, and
adherents of the Bahá'í Faith.
The term Nowruz in writing, first
appeared in Persian records in the 2nd century AD, but it was also an
important day during the time of the Achaemenids (c. 648-330 BC), where
kings from different nations under the Persian empire used to bring
gifts to the Emperor, also called King of Kings (Shahanshah), of Persia
on Nowruz. The significance of Nowruz in the Achaemenid empire was such
that the great Persian king Cambyses II's appointing as the king of
Babylon was legitimized only after his participation in the New Year
festival (Nowruz).
The UN's General Assembly in 2010 recognized
the International Day of Nowruz, describing it a spring festival of
Persian origin which has been celebrated for over 3,000 years. During
the meeting of The Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of
the Intangible Heritage of the United Nations, held between 28 September
-- 2 October 2009 in Abu Dhabi, Nowrūz was officially registered on the
UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity --
The
Haft Sīn items are: * sabzeh - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts
growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth * samanu - a sweet pudding
made from wheat germ - symbolizing affluence * senjed - the dried
fruit of the oleaster tree - symbolizing love * sīr - garlic -
symbolizing medicine * sīb - apples - symbolizing beauty and health
* somaq - sumac berries - symbolizing (the color of) sunrise *
serkeh - vinegar - symbolizing age and patience.
Other items on
the table may include: * Sonbol - Hyacinth (plant) * Sekkeh -
Coins - representative of wealth * traditional Iranian pastries such
as baghlava, toot, naan-nokhodchi * Aajeel - dried nuts, berries
and raisins * lit candles (enlightenment and happiness) * a
mirror (symbolizing cleanness and honesty) * decorated eggs,
sometimes one for each member of the family (fertility) * a bowl of
water with goldfish (life within life, and the sign of Pisces which the
sun is leaving). As an essential object of the Nowruz table, this
goldfish is also "very ancient and meaningful" and with Zoroastrian
connection.[62] * rosewater, believed to have magical cleansing
powers * the national colours, for a patriotic touch * a holy
book (e.g., the Avesta, Qur'an, Bible, Torah, or Kitáb-i-Aqdas) and/or a
poetry book (almost always either the Shahnameh or the Divan of Hafez).
(Yahoo! News) — A controversy is brewing over three reputable Christian organizations, which are based in North America, whose efforts have ousted the words “Father” and “Son” from new Bibles. Wycliffe Bible Translators, Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) and Frontiers are under fire for “producing Bibles that remove “Father,” “Son” and “Son of God” because these terms are offensive to Muslims.”
Concerned Christian missionaries, Bible translators, pastors, and national church leaders have come together with a public petition to stop these organizations. They claim a public petition is their last recourse because meetings with these organizations’ leaders, staff resignations over this issue and criticism and appeals from native national Christians concerned about the translations “have failed to persuade these agencies to retain “Father” and “Son” in the text of all their translations.”
Biblical Missiology, a ministry of Boulder, Colorado-based Horizon International, is sponsoring the petition.
The main issues of this controversy surround new Arabic and Turkish translations. Here are three examples native speakers give:
First, Wycliffe and SIL have produced Stories of the Prophets, an Arabic Bible that uses an Arabic equivalent of “Lord” instead of “Father” and “Messiah” instead of “Son.”
Second, Frontiers and SIL have produced Meaning of the Gospel of Christ , an Arabic translation which removes “Father” in reference to God and replaces it with “Allah,” and removes or redefines “Son.” For example, the verse which Christians use to justify going all over the world to make disciples, thus fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) reads, “Cleanse them by water in the name of Allah, his Messiahand his Holy Spirit” instead of “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Rev. Bassam Madany, an Arab American who runs Middle East Resources, terms these organization’s efforts as “a western imperialistic attempt that’s inspired by cultural anthropology, and not by biblical theology.”
What’s not to like about a guy who overthrows his father and in doing so formed an absolute dictatorship with his decisions not subjected to review.
Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the Sultan of Oman, rose to power after overthrowing his father, in 1970. The political system which Qaboos, considered a moderate Muslim, established is that of an absolute dictatorship. Unlike, the situation in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, Qaboos’ decisions are not subject to modification or review. Recently, Qaboos has allowed parliamentary elections (in which women have voted and stood as candidates) and pledged greater openness and participation in government. Oman was the only Arab state to recognize Egyptian President Anwar Sadat‘s peace agreement with Israel.
His supporters point to his relative success in governing the country. By Gulf standards, Oman boasts good public order, middling prosperity, and a relatively permissive society. Since he acceded to the throne, Oman has broadened international relations, allowed newspapers, established high schools, built highways, opened hotels and shopping malls and spends a substantial portion of its dwindling oil revenues on health care and education.
According to an unconfirmed source, Oman remains one of the 9 countries that proscribe death for blasphemy, along with: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Iran, Mauritania, Pakistan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Gaza.
Although, Omani law prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion, all religious organisations must be registered. Almost the entire Christian population is expatriates working in Oman. Foreign Christians are allowed to worship in private homes or on work compounds. Locals are strongly discouraged from visiting these compounds, since Christian materials are available there. Proselytizing Muslims (helping them leave Islam for another religion) is forbidden. Muslims that visit churches face severe persecution from family and society – and the government also take action including interning them as psychiatric patients.
The bottom line is simple, Oman’s dictator is paying for professional proselytizer positions at western universities and act that if committed in Oman would be a crime.
In an exclusive interview with CBC News, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says the biggest security threat to Canada a decade after 9/11 is Islamic terrorism.
Las autoridades alemanas han ordenado la expulsión de un imán radical que pidió la pena de muerte para los homosexuales en un vídeo colgado en Youtube, según ha confirmado la Policía federal germana.
Bilal Philips, nacido en Jamaica y educado en Canadá, tendrá que abandonar el país antes del sábado por la noche y no podrá volver a ingresar. De lo contrario, se iniciará un proceso jurídico en su contra. Las leyes migratorias alemanas permiten la expulsión de extranjeros por "incitar al odio contra parte de la población" y defender la violencia contra grupos.
La orden de expulsión se basa en unas declaraciones realizadas por el clérigo radical en las que exigía la pena de muerte para los homosexuales, y en el temor de que volviera a repetirlas.
El imán -que tiene su propia página web- despertó las protestas de grupos en defensa de los derechos de gays y lesbianas en todo el mundo al aparecer en un video difundido en YouTube defendiendo la pena de muerte para actos homosexuales probados.
Webster G. Tarpley, Ph.D.
TARPLEY.net
March 24, 2011
Washington DC, March 24, 2011 — The current military attack on Libya has been motivated by UN Security Council resolution 1973 with the need to protect civilians. Statements by President Obama, British Prime Minister Cameron, French President Sarkozy, and other leaders have stressed the humanitarian nature of the intervention, which is said to aim at preventing a massacre of pro-democracy forces and human rights advocates by the Qaddafi regime.
But at the same time, many commentators have voiced anxiety because of the mystery which surrounds the anti-Qaddafi transitional government which emerged at the beginning of March in the city of Benghazi, located in the Cyrenaica district of north-eastern Libya. This government has already been recognized by France and Portugal as the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people. The rebel council seems to be composed of just over 30 delegates, many of whom are enveloped in obscurity. In addition, the names of more than a dozen members of the rebel council are being kept secret, allegedly to protect them from the vengeance of Qaddafi. But there may be other reasons for the anonymity of these figures. Despite much uncertainty, the United Nations and its several key NATO countries, including the United States, have rushed forward to assist the armed forces of this rebel regime with air strikes, leading to the loss of one or two coalition aircraft and the prospect of heavier losses to come, especially if there should be an invasion. It is high time that American and European publics learned something more about this rebel regime which is supposed to represent a democratic and humanitarian alternative to Gaddafi.
The rebels are clearly not civilians, but an armed force. What kind of an armed force?
Since many of the rebel leaders are so difficult to research from afar, and since a sociological profile of the rebels cannot be done on the ground in the midst of warfare, perhaps the typical methods of social history can be called on for help. Is there a way for us to gain deeper insight into the climate of opinion which prevails in such northeastern Libyan cities as Benghazi, Tobruk, and Darnah, the main population centers of the rebellion?
Download West Point Study (pdf)It turns out that there is, in the form of a December 2007 West Point study examining the background of foreign guerrilla fighters — jihadis or mujahedin, including suicide bombers — crossing the Syrian border into Iraq during the 2006-2007 timeframe, under the auspices of the international terrorist organization Al Qaeda. This study is based on a mass of about 600 Al Qaeda personnel files which were captured by US forces in the fall of 2007, and analyzed at West Point using a methodology which we will discuss after having presented the main findings. The resulting study1 permits us to make important findings about the mentality and belief structures of the northeastern Libyan population that is furnishing the basis for the rebellion, permitting important conclusions about the political nature of the anti-Qaddafi revolt in these areas.
Darnah, northeast Libya: World Capital of Jihadis
The most striking finding which emerges from the West Point study is that the corridor which goes from Benghazi to Tobruk, passing through the city of Darnah (also transliterated as Derna) them represents one of the greatest concentrations of jihadi terrorists to be found anywhere in the world, and by some measures can be regarded as the leading source of suicide bombers anywhere on the planet. Darnah, with one terrorist fighter sent into Iraq to kill Americans for every 1,000 to 1,500 persons of population, emerges as suicide bomber heaven, easily surpassing the closest competitor, which was Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
According to West Point authors Joseph Felter and Brian Fishman, Saudi Arabia took first place as regards absolute numbers of jihadis sent to combat the United States and other coalition members in Iraq during the time frame in question. Libya, a country less than one fourth as populous, took second place. Saudi Arabia sent 41% of the fighters. According to Felter and Fishman, "Libya was the next most common country of origin, with 18.8% (112) of the fighters listing their nationality stating they hailed from Libya." Other much larger countries were far behind: "Syria, Yemen, and Algeria were the next most common origin countries with 8.2% (49), 8.1% (48), and 7.2% (43), respectively. Moroccans accounted for 6.1% (36) of the records and Jordanians 1.9% (11)."2
by Kathy Shaidle
In 2008, the Toronto Sunreported that “hundreds of [Greater Toronto Area] Muslim men in polygamous marriages — some with a harem of wives — are receiving welfare and social benefits for each of their spouses, thanks to the city and province, Muslim leaders say.”
“Polygamy is a regular part of life for many Muslims,” Canadian Society of Muslims president Mumtaz Ali declared bluntly. “Ontario recognizes religious marriages for Muslims and others.”
Government officials quickly denied the Muslim leader’s claims about immigration law and social benefits regulations. Only one public servant seemed sufficiently concerned. “This is wrong,” said city councilor Rob Ford. “They should put a stop to this immediately.”
Instead, welfare abuse by Muslims appears to have metastasized across the Western world. Almost three years later, news stories about radical Muslims — often immigrants — engaged in social benefits scams emerge regularly from Europe, Canada, and Australia. Even when they are not involved in fraud, Muslims frequently are overrepresented on welfare rolls, compared with other communities. The statistics from around the globe are jaw-dropping, especially in economically uncertain times.
¨Saturno jugando con sus hijos¨/ Pedro Pablo Oliva
Seguidores
Carta desde la carcel de Fidel Castro Ruz
“…después de todo, para mí la cárcel es un buen descanso, que sólo tiene de malo el que es obligatorio. Leo mucho y estudio mucho. Parece increíble, las horas pasan como si fuesen minutos y yo, que soy de temperamento intranquilo, me paso el día leyendo, apenas sin moverme para nada. La correspondencia llega normalmente…”
“…Como soy cocinero, de vez en cuando me entretengo preparando algún pisto. Hace poco me mandó mi hermana desde Oriente un pequeño jamón y preparé un bisté con jalea de guayaba. También preparo spaghettis de vez en cuando, de distintas formas, inventadas todas por mí; o bien tortilla de queso. ¡Ah! ¡Qué bien me quedan! por supuesto, que el repertorio no se queda ahí. Cuelo también café que me queda muy sabroso”. “…En cuanto a fumar, en estos días pasados he estado rico: una caja de tabacos H. Upman del doctor Miró Cardona, dos cajas muy buenas de mi hermano Ramón….”. “Me voy a cenar: spaghettis con calamares, bombones italianos de postre, café acabadito de colar y después un H. Upman #4. ¿No me envidias?”. “…Me cuidan, me cuidan un poquito entre todos. No le hacen caso a uno, siempre estoy peleando para que no me manden nada. Cuando cojo el sol por la mañana en shorts y siento el aire de mar, me parece que estoy en una playa… ¡Me van a hacer creer que estoy de vacaciones! ¿Qué diría Carlos Marx de semejantes revolucionarios?”.
Quotes
¨La patria es dicha de todos, y dolor de todos, y cielo para todos, y no feudo ni capellanía de nadie¨ - Marti
"No temas ni a la prision, ni a la pobreza, ni a la muerte. Teme al miedo" - Giacomo Leopardi
¨Por eso es muy importante, Vicky, hijo mío, que recuerdes siempre para qué sirve la cabeza: para atravesar paredes¨– Halvar de Flake[El vikingo]
"Como no me he preocupado de nacer, no me preocupo de morir"- Lorca
"Al final, no os preguntarán qué habéis sabido, sino qué habéis hecho" - Jean de Gerson
"Si queremos que todo siga como está, es necesario que todo cambie" - Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
"Todo hombre paga su grandeza con muchas pequeñeces, su victoria con muchas derrotas, su riqueza con múltiples quiebras" - Giovanni Papini
"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans" - John Lennon
"Habla bajo, lleva siempre un gran palo y llegarás lejos" - Proverbio Africano
"No hay medicina para el miedo"-Proverbio escoces "El supremo arte de la guerra es doblegar al enemigo sin luchar" -Sun Tzu
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
"It is inaccurate to say I hate everything. I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office" - H. L. Menken
"I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented" -Elie Wiesel
"Stay hungry, stay foolish" - Steve Jobs
"If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert , in five years ther'ed be a shortage of sand" - Milton Friedman
"The tragedy of modern man is not that he knows less and less about the meaning of his own life, but that it bothers him less and less" - Vaclav Havel
"No se puede controlar el resultado, pero si lo que uno haga para alcanzarlo" - Vitor Belfort [MMA Fighter]
Liborio
A la puerta de la gloria está San Pedro sentado y ve llegar a su lado a un hombre de cierta historia. No consigue hacer memoria y le pregunta con celo: ¿Quién eras allá en el suelo? Era Liborio mi nombre. Has sufrido mucho, hombre, entra, te has ganado el cielo.
Para Raul Castro
Cuba ocupa el penultimo lugar en el mundo en libertad economica solo superada por Corea del Norte.
Cuba ocupa el lugar 147 entre 153 paises evaluados en "Democracia, Mercado y Transparencia 2007"
Cuando vinieron a buscar a los comunistas, Callé: yo no soy comunista. Cuando vinieron a buscar a los sindicalistas, Callé: yo no soy sindicalista. Cuando vinieron a buscar a los judíos, Callé: yo no soy judío. Cuando vinieron a buscar a los católicos, Callé: yo no soy “tan católico”. Cuando vinieron a buscarme a mí, Callé: no había quien me escuchara.
Un sitio donde los hechos y sus huellas nos conmueven o cautivan
CUBA LLORA Y EL MUNDO Y NOSOTROS NO ESCUCHAMOS
Donde esta el Mundo, donde los Democratas, donde los Liberales? El pueblo de Cuba llora y nadie escucha. Donde estan los Green, los Socialdemocratas, los Ricos y los Pobres, los Con Voz y Sin Voz? Cuba llora y nadie escucha. Donde estan el Jet Set, los Reyes y Principes, Patricios y Plebeyos? Cuba desesperada clama por solidaridad. Donde Bob Dylan, donde Martin Luther King, donde Hollywood y sus estrellas? Donde la Middle Class democrata y conservadora, o acaso tambien liberal a ratos? Y Gandhi? Y el Dios de Todos? Donde los Santos y Virgenes; los Dioses de Cristianos, Protestantes, Musulmanes, Budistas, Testigos de Jehova y Adventistas del Septimo Dia. Donde estan Ochun y todas las deidades del Panteon Yoruba que no acuden a nuestro llanto? Donde Juan Pablo II que no exige mas que Cuba se abra al Mundo y que el Mundo se abra a Cuba? Que hacen ahora mismo Alberto de Monaco y el Principe Felipe que no los escuchamos? Donde Madonna, donde Angelina Jolie y sus adoptados around de world; o nos hara falta un Brando erguido en un Oscar por Cuba? Donde Sean Penn? Donde esta la Aristocracia Obrera y los Obreros menos Aristocraticos, donde los Working Class que no estan junto a un pueblo que lanquidece, sufre y llora por la ignominia? Que hacen ahora mismo Zapatero y Rajoy que no los escuchamos, y Harper y Dion, e Hillary y Obama; donde McCain que no los escuchamos? Y los muertos? Y los que estan muriendo? Y los que van a morir? Y los que se lanzan desesperados al mar? Donde estan el minero cantabrico o el pescador de percebes gijonese? Los Canarios donde estan? A los africanos no los oimos, y a los australianos con su acento de hombres duros tampoco. Y aquellos chinos milenarios de Canton que fundaron raices eternas en la Isla? Y que de la Queen Elizabeth y los Lords y Gentlemen? Que hace ahora mismo el combativo Principe Harry que no lo escuchamos? Donde los Rockefellers? Donde los Duponts? Donde Kate Moss? Donde el Presidente de la ONU? Y Solana donde esta? Y los Generales y Doctores? Y los Lam y los Fabelo, y los Sivio y los Fito Paez? Y que de Canseco y Miñoso? Y de los veteranos de Bahia de Cochinos y de los balseros y de los recien llegados? Y Carlos Otero y Susana Perez? Y el Bola, y Pancho Cespedes? Y YO y TU? Y todos nosotros que estamos aqui y alla rumiando frustaciones y resquemores, envidias y sinsabores; autoelogios y nostalgias, en tanto Louis Michel comulga con Perez Roque mientras Biscet y una NACION lanquidecen? Donde Maceo, donde Marti; donde aquel Villena con su carga para matar bribones? Cuba llora y clama y el Mundo NO ESCUCHA!!!