Tag: violence

April 28, 2015

A YOUNG MUSLIM AMERICAN COUPLE WHO NEVER SAW THEIR WEDDING PICTURES

The couple from Chapel Hill never saw a photo,
From their wedding,
Because it just arrived,
Upon their murder.
So if you want young people to die,
shot in the head, in a grave,
keep yourselves polarized,
keep fighting for your side.
Keep up with proxy wars,
And real wars.
But if you have a tendency,
Upon the death of the young,
To feel a little sick,
To see through sleepless eyes,
Their love,
As they gaze into each others’ eyes,
For the last time,
If their religion, if their skin tone,
Matters not to you,
Then show it,
Every day, in every way,
In your empathy and solidarity,
With those who are different in your midst.
There is no other way to build the world,
And there never has been.…
October 21, 2014

Managing the Madness in the Middle East- The Huffington Post

Here is the excerpt of my new article published on Huffington Post.
Please check out the whole writing from here as well, and your comment is always welcome.

Managing the Madness in the Middle East

…in the long term, a world based on fossil fuels is completely unsustainable, and states and individuals must each take concrete steps to rapidly move away from their use. It is not the first time in history that a resource craved by everyone distorted all rational investment in and valuation of citizens. The less valuable that oil becomes, the more valuable will be the minds and hearts of every single woman, man and child in the region, every minority, and thus there will be clear incentives to invest in every citizen rather than sacrificing them to a god of war that is always insatiable. The god of war may have a religious body
…
October 17, 2014

International Relations and Human Relations

If you are in a hole with a rational actor, even if he is your adversary, help each other climb out, for the climb itself will lead to a better destination. If you are in a hole with an irrational actor, even if he is an ally, climb out yourself and let him keep digging. Why should two be buried instead of one?

(Photo: The TechBistro)…
October 16, 2014

Situation in Kobani

There are a great many Muslims who are about to be slaughtered. They are not Gazan, they are not dying at the hands of Christians or Jews. They happen to be Kurds and they are about to die at the hands of Muslims funded from the Gulf. I just need to share my outrage at how little traffic I see on this. And it dovetails the absence of traffic about Syrians dying in general. It seems that it only turns into global outrage when Western Christians or Jews are doing the killing. And that is unacceptable. The Abrahamic religions are not ready for power, nor will they ever be. The only way that any minority, anyone weaker, ever gets defended in history is by benevolent autocrats with a reason, or by pluralist democracies. Religion is great for the heart, let’s keep it away from guns and power forever, …
October 7, 2014

“Kurds Call to Arms as Islamic State Closes in on Syrian Town” -Reuters

Kurds call to arms as Islamic State closes in on Syrian town.
There is going to be a massacre in the large city of Kobani in Syria, and ISIS is closing in with tanks. Tanks! Hard to spot those with stealth fighters??? Someone please explain.

Kurds Call to Arms as Islamic State Closes in on Syrian Town, Reuters

A statement issued by the YPG, the main Kurdish armed group, vowed “never ending” resistance to Islamic State in its advance on Kobani. “Every street and house will be a grave for them.”

“Our call to all the young men and women of Kurdistan … is to come to be part of this resistance.”

(Photo: Basnews)

…
October 3, 2014

Artificial Dangers / Oil Spills

ARTIFICIAL DANGERS

Artificial sweeteners
are dangerous to your health,
whether they come
in the form of chemicals,
or disingenuous smiles
from artificial people

OIL SPILLS

Islamaphobia and jihadhysteria has become an excellent cover for the oil industry. Kill on the surface, cover up the toxic bedrock.

(Photo: Prophecy Tracker)…
September 16, 2014

Event Appearance at Johns Hopkins University

This morning, I was privileged to talk at an great event of SAIS, Johns Hopkins University, as one of the speakers.
Please check out the website and the video of this whole event.

“IS THE WORLD FALLING APART?”
September 16, 2014
Conflict Prevention & Resolution Forum
at Kennedy Auditorium, SAIS- Johns Hopkins University

…
September 16, 2014

Of Gods, Tribes, and Battles

GOD
If you cannot find God,
Find the persecuted,
Then you are home.

TRIBE
Tribalism is an infectious disease
Human rights is the antidote
But force feeding can kill the patient

BATTLES
Some battles that you want to win,
Will defeat you if you win.
Some battles if you lose,
Then you will win.
Think.
Blessed be reason.

(Photo: A Different Angle)

…
August 28, 2014

Violence: The Turning

It is a law:
Violence begets nonviolence,
Like a tulip in winter,
In all places,
In all cultures.
But only those
With eyes wide open
Can see it,
In the middle of
Winter storms.

The most important turning point
for any civilization passing from darkness into light
is every moment
that a weapon passes
from someone who has no self control
and no compassion
to someone who does.…
August 27, 2014

Thoughts on God, Human Leadership, and Mountains, upon Leaving War’s Victims, Unfinished

GOD

An atheist leader
who is rational,
Can be more a messenger,
of God’s mercy for the powerless,
than a leader,
who bows down to God,
over the dead bodies,
of his victims.

‘Less suffering’
Is the tortured scream
of God.

An authentic smile
Is the fleeting face of God,
A single act of kindness,
The touch of Her finger.

Only when you accept death,
Can you become committed
To the renewal of life.
Only when you see democracy die,
Can you plan its rebirth.…