The Conspiracy Theory And Arab Awakening.

By Sodium

Introduction:
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In the last essay on this website, the writer of this essay has made it clear that he believes that calling the upheavals/uprisings/revolutions that has taken place, in the last two years and is still counting,as" An Arab Spring " is a MISNOMER. A  more profound description for what has been going on in the Arab world, in the last two years is "An Arab Awakening". Therefore, the writer of this essay will use, from now on, the correct nomenclature, "Arab Awakening ",instead of " Arab Spring ".

The Wide Spread Of " The Conspiracy Theory " :
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This writer was recently involved in more than one discussion/debate about the Arab Awakening. it amuses him the fact that there are so many people who believe that there must be a conspiracy behind every political event that has happened or may happen in this world. Yes, indeed, Conspiracies do occur, like the " Sykes-Picot Accord " that took place during the First World War, between Britain and France the result of which the Arab world was divided into so many States called the Arab countries,each with its sovereignty as expressed in political, economic, financial and military terms,as well as in Passport Controls and Teriffs/Customs Controls at each other borders. The conspiracy of the " Sykes-Picot Accord " has been proven time and again that it really had taken place and there was no denying of this very fact. But that does not mean that there is a conspiracy behind every event that has already taken place or might have. That has led this writer to reject the claim that a conspiracy is behind the current " Arab Awakening " and will prove his assessment to be correct as follows:

The Arab Masses Needed A Catalyst To Start Its Unstoppable Awakening:
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It is naive to think that the Arab Awakening just happened overnight. No affect in this world may or might take place without a cause. In other words, the Principle of Cause and Affect has been in full operative capacity in translating the unjust political, economical and social disorder in the Arab world into open revolts by the young youth who were facing a bleak future in every Arab country in which they lived. This has been going on for years, if not decades. Hence, the young people of the Arab world have decided to revolt against their tormentors and hoping consequently out of their agonies. And, indeed, it has started from the streets of the Republic of Tunisia.

Muhammad Bou Azizi was the Genuine Catalyst For The Arab Awakening:
=================================================================
A university graduate Tunisian young man had tried to find a job for his lively-hood, but no avail. In order to make a living,he managed to get himself a small wagon and filled it with fruits and vegetables and started roaming some streets in Tunisia in his attempts to sell them to the public. The militia of the President of Tunisia, Mr. Zain el-Abideen bin Ali, had even prevented him from working as a vendor of fruits and vegetables, in order to make a living. It seems, at least to this writer, that Muhammad Bou Azizi gave up hope of maintaining his dignity as hard working human being, he decided to leave this world in a way that was unknown to, or never had been practiced, in Arab societies:

 He set himself on fire in one Tunisian street for his Tunisian people and the people of the world to see.

As he died, the people of Tunisia had poured into the streets, demanding peaceable change of government. bin Ali, the dictator who ruled Tunisia for more than 30 years sent his militia after the demonstrators. The more killed in the streets by his militia, the more people had decided to get rid of him for good.

The major Western Powers, namely, U.S., Britain and France had initially supported bin Ali and his rule because he was serving their interest so well. Only when bin Ali fled the country did those specified Western Powers start calling for "democracy?" in Tunisia. It was so obvious from their behaviors they really did not know what course of action to take in this brilliant Tunisian Revolution. They seemed to have been caught unprepared, as if they were caught while their pants were way way down at their ankles.

The Spark Of The Tunisian Fire Engulfed Egypt:
=========================================
Several Egyptians emulated Muhammad Bou Azizi and set themselves on fire as protestation against the dictatorship and corruption of their President, Husney Mubarak and his cohorts. The youth of Egypt poured into the great Tahrir Square in the middle of Cairo and peaceably demanded reform. Husny Mubarak sent his own mafia to dispel the demonstrators in Tahrir Square. The more some of the demonstrators were killed, the more people poured to Tahrir Square, demanding the complete removal of President Mubarak and his mafia from power.

Once again, the major Western power were unprepared by the hugeness of the crowd in Tahrir Square  and the unflinching demand of the demonstrators: a complete and total removal of Husney Mubarak and his mafia from power. They tried to place Mubarak by Mr. Omar Suleiman, Head of the Egyptian Mukhabarat, (Intelligence), who really was Israel's favorite because of his close relationship with them. That Western scheme failed by the insistence of the youthful revolutionaries in Tahrir Square that Mubark and all his regime must leave the seats of power. Period.

Again, the West was caught totally unprepared for the hugeness of the Egyptian Revolution and the firmed demands of the young revolutionaries. Again, after Husney Mubarak was forced to resign by his own people, the Western powers started calling for "democracy?" in Egypt.

Conclusion:
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It is so obvious that the loss of their "Yes-Men" in both revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt was too huge to swallow. Hence the Western major powers were very eager to decrease their losses. That is why they were happy to provide the Libyan revolution that was started from the Libyan City of Ben Ghazi, with air cover to unseat Moamer Al-Gadafi from the seat of power. Al-Gadafi ruled Libya for 40 years plus. He was a dictator like Zain el-Abideen bin Ali of Tunisia and Husney Mubarak of Egypt. The Western major powers are trying to decrease their losses due to the Arab Awakening not only in Tunisia, Egypt,, but else where in the Arab world beside what they had done in Libya.

What can be learned from the Arab Awakening are the following lessons:

~ The Conspiracy Theory had no real and actual presence in the Arab Awakening that took place in Tunisia and Egypt.

~ The Western major powers are trying to decrease their losses in the region by a hook or crook, but will fail in the long run, since the people of the Middle East and the people of the world, as a whole, reject the practice of international hegemony, where one major power dominates the policies and the behaviors of smaller powers. The gun boat diplomacy belongs to the past,not in the 21st Century.

~ Human dignity can be leashed for an unspecified length of time, but it certainly cannot possibly leashed or marginalized or undermined or exploited forever.

~ Due to the obvious attempts by certain powers to shift the consequences of the Arab Awakening to serve their own interests, instead of the interest of the people of the region, the Arab Awakening will not achieve its intent and objectives in years and possibly decades. No immediate and positive results should be expected.      

END
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Is It " Arab Spring " Or " Arab Awakening " ?

By Sodium

The various forms of main stream media, world wide, have erroneously called the upheavels/uprisings/revolutions that have engulfed the Arab World,in the last two years as "Arab Spring".  It is the wrong nomenclature/misnomer.  Reasons:

(1)  It is well known that the Spring Season lasts only three months of the year.

(2)  The Arab upheavals/uprisings/revolutions have lasted, so far, two years and still counting.

(3)  If the intent of the description," Arab Spring ", is a metaphoric intent, as in Spring Time, the earth implode from within itself the goodies of nature, it is the wrong metaphor to use, in the first place, because the Arab upheavals/uprising/revolutions implode within the Arab world with human blood, civil wars, injuries and death, as it is happening right now in Syria and as it had occurred, two years ago in Libya.

Based on the three reasons listed above, it is incorrect to call the Arab upheavals/uprisings/revolutions as an " Arab Spring ".

If  " Arab Spring " is the wrong nomenclature to use, what is then the appropriate name to describe correctly what has been happening in the Arab World for the last two years and still counting ?

In the views of the writer of this essay, it should be called an " Arab Awakening ".  Reasons:

(A)  Since the end of World War One, that took place in the early part of the 20th century, the victorious Britain and France divided the Arab world between themselves and colonized it by means of a once secret accord called the " Sykes-Picot Accord". The colonial powers had done so by their military forces and the Arab resistance to occupation had no chance, whatsoever, of expelling them from their homeland.

(B)  The victorious Britain and France picked up, as they pleased, their own " Arab Yes-Men " to rule the Arab world which they divided. Those " Arab Yes-Men " brutally ruled their own Arab people with an Iron-Fists.

(C)  Two years ago, the Iron-Fists have become very rusty, because of over use in every aspects of the social orders or disorders in the Arab World; to a point that the Arab people could no longer take it any longer and consequently rose-up in determination and vitality, to regain their freedom and human dignity, as the whole world had witnessed a genuine " Arab Awakening " in the streets of Tunisia and in Tahrir Square, in Cairo, Egypt.

As it may be seen, the description, " Arab Awakening, " fits more profoundly the current circumstances that have prevailed in the Arab world.

END.      

A Christmas And New Year Wishes.

To: The Readers of This Website,World Wide.

Dear Readers,
 
I wish the readers who adhere to the Christian Faith A Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and beyond.

I wish the readers who are non-Christians A very Happy New Year and beyond.

And may the future be kind to the human conditions,in every country in the globe.

Sincerely,
Sodium

Part Two: The Imperative Requirements Of Sufism.

Introduction:
================
In Part One a conclusion has been reached to the effect that the essence of Sufism is quite similar,if not identical, to the essence of Islam. Hence, one may consider Sufism as, at least, a "persuasion" of Islam, if not a full pledged "Order" of Islam.

In this essay, an attempt will be made to outline the imperative requirements to become a genuine Sufi. These requirements are mainly four stages or rather levels a potential Sufi has to climb and go through as climbing on a ladder having four steps. That means one cannot possibly reach at the fourth step of the ladder without passing the first,second and third step. If you want to call them steps that is fine,if that helps you comprehend what is involved in each step and finally what is really involved in the totality of the four steps. The writer of this essay prefers to call the four steps as The Four Levels of Sufism. The first level is the foundation of the second level,and the first and second levels are the foundation of the third level,and finally the first,second and third levels are the foundation of fourth level.

The main intent of the writer of this essay is to try to provide the readers,especially the novice readers,with a degree of comprehension of Sufism and what a Sufi has to go through in order to become a genuine Sufi. It certainly is not easy to reach the final level.

The Imperative Requirements Of Sufism:
=============================================
As mentioned in the Introduction above, in order to become a Sufi, one must go through and must understand the four essential levels of Sufism. Those four essential levels of Sufism are called by the writer of this essay, as The Imperative Requirement Of Sufism, for the purpose of stressing the extreme importance of understanding the four levels. The usage of the word,"Imperative" in the title seems to fit splendidly. Let us explore the four levels as briefly as possible:

Level One Is "Shari'ah" :
==========================
"Shari'ah" is an Arabic word that means a " Pathway", although most books and other essays called it "Religious Laws". Yes, the meaning of "Shari'ah" can be used to mean "Religious Laws", as long as the larger meaning of "Shari'ah" is not forgotten, but kept in mind. Since the fundamental intent of religious laws is to deal with the affairs of Muslims in justice and peaceable manners-a just and peaceable "Pathway". Such affairs can encompass a variety of human issues,ranging from marriage to divorce to burial to inheritance etc...and these affairs need some kind of an enlightenment to treat justly. Such an enlightenment is the" Religious Laws". The potential Sufi must know all the religious laws and become a reliable scholar in their interpretations. This is considered as an  external dimension of Sufism.

Level Two is "Tariqah" :
==========================
"Tariqah" is an Arabic word that means a "Method". A university student in chemistry or physics, for example, must be formally trained in a set of experiments in the laboratory to prove certain and well  specified theoretical principle or concept. The theoretical principle or concept has to stand the laboratory tests or laboratory scrutiny. Otherwise,the theoretical principle or concept will be false and consequently rejected. By a similar analogy,the potential Sufi must know his theoretical or rather the abstract values of his or her morality and ethics and spiritual belief and test them in the laboratory of the mundane world and see how strongly his inner self or her inner self can withstand the confusion,misery and entropy of humanity. In short, the potential Sufi must know his or her inner perception as he or she follows the worldly concepts of ethics,morality and justice provided by Shari'ah. This, too, is considered an external dimension of Sufism.

Level Three Is "Haqiqah" :
==========================
"Haqiqah" is an Arabic word that means the "Truth". When the word truth is written with capital "T" as such as "Truth",it means the "Absolute Truth", "The Divine" or God. As the potential Sufi passes the first two levels outlined above,he or she will know the inner meaning what he or she has experienced in Shari'ah and Tariqah. With such experiences the prospective Sufi will know the presence of God within himself or herself. In other words,the "Truth", within oneself cannot be attained without the tough experiences and test of time, as one encounters in Shari'ah and Tariqah. When that happens,the future Sufi will discover the spirit of God within his or her well being. This is considered an internal dimension of Sufism.

Level Four Is "M'arifah" :
==========================
"Ma'rifah" is an Arabic word that means, in the literal sense, "Epistemology", but epistemology has to do with the knowledge of the mundane world. It cannot be used as a meaning of "M 'arifah,since the word "M'arifah" has profound connection with the spiritual truth,not the mundane knowledge. What it really means is that the Sufi in this level has reached a level of profound knowledge characterized with
outstanding wisdom and spiritual thoughts, because of his or her inner communications with The Divine,meaning God.  Only very few, such as a Messenger of God,The Prophets,great Saints,Sages and Imams, can  reach such a level of Spiritual M'arifah . Nevertheless, genuine Sufis try to achieve communications with The Divine-God,through their own ways of Dervish dancing,music and poetry. This is considered the superior dimension of Sufism.

The Exponents Of Sufism :
==========================
The recorded history of Sufism shows so many people,Muslims and non-Muslims,who practice Sufism. It is beneficial to remember the following names as the most exponents of Sufism :

*  Al-Rumi.
*  Al-Gazali.
*  Ibn Arabi.

The poetry and prose of Al-Rumi are beautiful.  The wisdom of Al-Ghzali and Ibn Arabi are fascinating. They are worth exploring and learning from.

END.
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Part One: Is Sufism A Persuasion Of Islam ?

Introduction:
============
Although this essay was intended to be an attempt to answer the question:" Is Sufism A Persuasion Of Islam? ", the massive knowledge accumulated from reviews of, and researches about, Sufism and Sufis, had compelled the writer of this essay to divide it into two parts. Part One will be concentrated on answering the question as expressed previously and in the title of this essay. And Part Two will focus on the imperative requirements, in order to be a Sufis,since Sufism without Sufis will remain just a word, having concept and meaning,but with no adherents or practitioners. Hence, in order to develop an objective comprehension of the essence of Sufism, one must be familiar with what it really takes to be a Sufi. Hence, Part Two will show the readers the imperative levels or stages that a man or a woman must meet in order to become a genuine adherent to Sufism.  

 It has always been the intent of the writer to provide the readers with brief outlines of the subject matters he writes about; and avoid burdening the readers with unnecessary information that may confuse the novice reader.

Part One: Is Sufism A Persuasion Of Islam?
===========================================
The title of this essay is related to an essay entitled, "Sufism And Sufis", dated May 5,2012 and published on this website. Therefore, it is recommended to read it, before reading what is coming bellow in this essay. It is easy to get. Just Google the following words:

Sufism And Sufis By Reviews by Sodium.

In that essay entitled, "Sufism And Sufis" of May 5,2012, the following question has been raised:

Is Sufism an integral part of Islam?

 The answer that was given was "Yes and No". Such an answer has not been satisfactory to some readers, not even to the writer of that essay of May 5, 2012. Hence, this attempt seems to be in order:

The "Yes" Answer is based on the fact that many Islamic scholars, Imams and Historians have considered Sufism as an order of Islam. Also, many of them such as Rumi and Al-Ghazali practiced Sufism and thus considered themselves Sufis.

The "No" Answer is based on the fact that some order of Islam,such as Wahabism,one of the most conservative order of Islam, does not consider Sufism as an integral part of Islam,since it does not believe that dancing,music,poetry and the arts in general, as essentials to worship God, while Sufism and Sufis do. In fact, Sufis are proud of their Sufism. Another reason that gives credence to the "No" Answer is the fact that there are people who are not Muslims, but practice Sufism in their spiritual meditations.

As one considers the facts supporting the "Yes" Answer and the facts supporting the "No" Answer,one finds himself or herself in a dilemma and has to accept both answers until a way is found out of the dilemma and thus consider themselves Sufis.

Perhaps,one way out of the dilemma is to compare the very fundamental tenets of Islam and compare them to the very fundamental tenets of Sufism:

Fundamental Tenets Of Islam:
==================================
~ Tawheed, meaning,the belief in the Oneness of God.
~  The Qur'an and authentic Hadiths are the ultimate references,to a Muslim 
~ Adherence to ethics and morality and cleanliness in conducting one's mundane or worldly life.
~ Charity.
~ Humility in prayers to, and love of, God.
~ Adherence firmly to the Five Pillars of Islam.

Fundamental Tenets Of Sufism:
==================================
* Tawheed, meaning, the belief in the Oneness of God.
*  The Qur'an and authentic Hadiths are the ultimate references, to a Sufi  
* Adherence to ehthics and morality and cleanliness in conducting one's mundane or worldly life.
* Charity.
* Humility in prayers to, and love of,God.
* Adherence firmly to the five pillars of Islam.
* Practicing dancing, music,singing, or poetry,as tools to reach to, and communicate with, The Divine (God).

Conclusion:
================
Comparing the Fundamental Tenets Of Sufism with the Fundamental Tenets of Islam,as shown above,it is obvious that Sufism has all the six fundamental tenets of Islam. In fact,with the exception of  practicing dancing, music, singing, or poetry that Sufism embodies, all the other five fundamental tenets are identical to the fundamental tenets of Islam. Therefore, Sufism can be considered, at least, a Persuasion of Islam,if not a fully pledged Order of Islam.

Final Words:
===============
The writer of this essay has deliberately used the word "Persuasion" instead of "Order", in due respect to those who do not consider Sufism as an "Order" of Islam, for the two facts pointed out and specified in the course of discussion, in this essay.

             




           

      

A Scrutiny Of The Slogan:" A Lesser Evil Is Still An Evil.

By Sodium

The slogan, " A lesser evil is still an evil ", is morally and logically correct statement. I have no disagreement with the morality and logic of  such a fine statement. What I do have disagreement with is the intent behind using such a morally and logically fine statement in the last American Presidential campaign to defeat President Obama. During the campaign up to election day on November 6,2012, I had reviewed so many articles, columns and so many blogs that followed them; and the end result of my massive reviews had convinced me that the intent on using such a fine statement was solely used just to defeat President Obama in his bid for re-election. In fact, the voters who were Anti-Obama have changed, intentionally or unintentionally, the essence of a good and fine statement into a slogan, which is usually used in advertisement, publicity or propaganda. Some of them had even dared accusing the voters who planned to vote for the lesser evil, meaning voting for Obama, as being "dishonest? ". " Dishonest?" is my foot.

Because of all of the foregoing, I have found it compelling to write this essay, in order to expose the fallacy of turning a fine statement into a cheap slogan fits nicely for advertisement and propaganda purposes:

In our mundane world, there are only two absolute truths. They are:

~  Ceaseless Changes.
~  Death.

Since the day we are born, we go through Ceaseless Changes and finally we all encounter Death and die, as the following scheme shows:

Baby grows up to Kid----Youth---- Man ---- Middle Age ---- Old Age----- Death.

If one accepts his or her fate as the above scheme shows, he or she must also accept that every other truth in our mundane world must be relative to one other. In other words, what I see as the truth, some one else may not see it so, at all.

In short, as one accepts that the Ceaseless Changes and Death are the only absolute truths human beings encounter in their journey of life on Planet Earth, then and only then, it becomes clear that all other truths are relative, even the strength of the slogan," the lesser evil is still an evil ", is really in its relativity. In it one has "evil" and "lesser evil". Now, let us see how strong such a relativity is by examining  how a legitimate Court of Law handles and treat the following two different evils:

(1)  Deliberate Murder is evil.  Is not it?
(2)  Deliberate Theft, for the sole accumulation of wealth, is evil.  Is not it?

Both evils, listed above, are committed deliberately. Two questions:

Question One:
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Is there a legitimate Court of Law, world wide, that can pass the same punishment on the two different acts of evil committed deliberately?  No, sir, there is none, in spite of the fact there is a common denominator connecting the two acts of evil, and that is the word or adverb," Deliberately ".

Question Two:
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Since a Court of Law is made up of human beings such as the Judge, Prosecutor, a Lawyer for Defense and Jurors who, by law, are the ones whose actions determine the level or degree of punishment each of the two different acts of evil must face. Since the actors in the Court of Law are human beings who, by law, can pass judgment on two different evils differently, why it is wrong for voters, who are also human beings, cannot  do similarly in an extremely important Presidential Election, as the Jurors and Judge do finally, in a Court of Law? The similarity is truly striking !

A Metaphor:
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By way of metaphor, one may consider that the Voters, in a Presidential Election, as the Jurors in a Court of Law, which is the United States. The Voters, acting as Jurors must pass verdicts on two Presidential candidates, one seems and sounds to be more of an evil than the other one. Remember that with the exclusion of the two absolute truths,( Ceaseless Changes and Death ), all other truths are relative. Therefore, those voters who decided to pass their verdicts in favor of the greater evil could do so, since, they felt, it was their prerogative to do so. And those voters who decided to pass their verdicts in favor of a third party, could do so, since, they felt, it was also their prerogative to do so. Those voters who decided to pass their verdicts in favor of Obama were challenged by the slogan," the lesser evil is still an evil ", and even some of them accused the Independent Voters who decided to pass their verdicts in favor of Obama, as " dishonest? "  Most Unreal  !

Conclusion:
===========
Those who threw their tactical slogan," A Lesser Evil Is Still An Evil ", on the faces of Independent Voters who were in favor of Obama, in the American Presidential Election of 2012, should also throw it on the faces of the Judges and Jurors of all legitimate Courts of Law, across the United States of America. It is only fair to do so ! And then, it will be interesting to watch what would happen.

END.     
    

















 


           

A Note To The Readers Of This Website.

Dear readers,

Shortly, two essays will be posted on this Website. They are:

(1)  A  Scrutiny Of The Slogan: " The Lesser Evil Is Still An Evil ."
(2)  Is Sufism Considered A Persuasion Of  ISLAM ?

I have felt that I have to deal with the first topic (1),  due to the fact that the Independent Voters who decided to vote for  President Obama on November 6,2012 ( American Presidential Election ) were reminded mainly by the third party's (Green Party) supporters that " the lesser evil is still an evil ". It really was a challenge that was worth  exploring for the benefit of all readers who might be interested.

As to the second topic(2) listed above, I have noticed lately,while reviewing the readership of all the topics already published on this website, world wide, a lone reader was digging into the an essay entitled,"Sufism And Sufis" posted on this website on May 25,2012. I want to extend a hand to that reader,whoever he or she might be, and exploring with him or her more about Sufism that may benefit all readers who have interest to know more about the subject of " Sufism ".

Sincerely,
Sodium.