Sunday, February 27, 2011

Poetry of the Revolution

Writing on the Egyptian revolution, Sharif S. Elmusa says (h/t Endless Further):
They [Egyptian revolutionaries] rendered acts of poetry – cleaning the streets, regulating traffic, protecting the national museum, guarding houses, breaking bread with someone – even more poetic. These mundane acts became inspiring moments, like that of a poem, spawning a new spirit, free of the dust that had settled on the conception of work and on those who perform it day after day. Writing a poem and engaging in a revolution are both acts of self-discovery.
The revolution dignifies the ordinary, and elevates it, just as poetry transforms common words into rhythms and meaning.

Wttgenstein Interpreted on Religious Harmony

From a review of Religious Beliefs, Superstitious and Wittgenstein by K. C. Pandey:
Wittgenstein’s thought again comes alive when he considers religion as transcendental and incomprehensible and the only ground of religious belief is its groundlessness and simultaneously this groundlessness or the lack of evidence does not weaken a religious belief rather it enhances its value because it is engrained in heart and soul. When a man realizes this worth of religion, he no longer remains violent against another religious believer but he creates a harmony which is natural as well as transcendental.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

City on a Hill

I believe that it is statements like these by a former President, using Christian literature to support his assertions, which must be challenged at each mention. Not only is the verse commented out of context, it is a serious question whether the President understands the meaning of the saying. It is commendable to plumb the religious direction and meaning of a society's actions. But to do this, a nation must remain vigilant that it does not mistake selfish goals for higher spiritual ends. The Christian message includes a call to universal brotherhood. To identify the United States as somehow superior spiritually and morally does not reflect this message of brotherhood since it sets up a specific, local socio-political arrangement as somehow transcendent and beyond question.

Sacrifice at the Revolution

You thugs, you ingrates. The Absolute gives the gift of freedom and you abuse it in this way. How dare you sully the purity of your newborn society this way? I can only hope that there is some policeman in Egypt who is now identifying those involved in this attack and will not rest until the perpetrators are brought to justice.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1485066/CBS-reporter-raped-in-Egypt

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Egypt Rising Like a Phoneix

Congratulations to the Egyptian people. Your hopes, dreams, and desires have spoken in peace and love. The inspiration for your revolution is brotherly and sisterly love. Steer clear of the Scylla and Kharybdis of envy and resentment. They are worms at the heart of democracy.

Your vision has spoken to all those who seek justice without revenge, love without fear of the stranger, peace without suspicion. This too will come to pass, as all comes to pass in the absolute oneness we humans find when we see our face before we were born, as well have seen it these past days in the life of the Egyptian streets.