Friday, September 14, 2012

News Headlines (12) 14 September 2012




14 SEPTEMBRE

Oh, I almost forgot. It has been almost a year since Gaddafi's death on October 20, 2011. How are you Libyan? Hehehe ... Do you feel bad for America because you killed the Americans? America! America! They are the American people, Libya! Do you remember that America had helped you to depose Gaddafi? Obviously. Not only to oust Gaddafi, but he's dead now. And I still remember clearly what was reported to the public at that time. Yups. You should feel uncomfortable. Moreover, I wonder, how can (until now) your citizens have the weapons easily? Hmmm ... you should know, if the media doesn't focus on you with its lens, I will focus my mind's eye to you until the story is complete.

Let's just wait for the next story progress.



« Je préfère le voile au string ! » (Alain Soral sur OummaTV) & La vidéo de vacances d'Alain Soral, Août 2012



(ow, ow, ow, ... he's handsome. Every time I watch him talk, I can't avoid my gaze from the shape of his neck, and his chest. Mmm .. his head shape also looks sexy, good, sexy?, sexy!, what? sshhh... especially with what's in his head...)


Sam Harris: Islam Is Not a Religion of Peace



What about the future of religion? Karen Armstrong in her book, The Future of God with her optimistic tone asserted that religion has a good future. Although hijacked by fundamentalists who revealed religion in the face of a ferocious or "interrupted" by thought  of atheists leaderd like Nietzsche, Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, religion could still answer the two "bullies".

Henri-Louis Bergson, the famous French philosopher (1859-1941) once said, "It could be reduced to whatever we like about the pleasures of life, but religion is impossible to disappear from human life. It could be in the first or in the present we find people who do not know the science or art, or philosophy, but no society without religion. "

Bergson seems right. Historical facts (since thousands of years ago until now) shows how the presence of religion in the midst of humanity. With a dynamic range of social, economic, political and cultural heterogeneous society in different parts of the world, religion remains a lot of its adherents.

And no religion teaches evil to its adherents. All teach kindness toward others and the environment. All religions are also promising happiness in life, not just in the world but also in the hereafter. All religions are guiding people to the right path. Therefore, honor and respect for other religions should be emphasized. This is the most central point of similarity of these religions. Coercion of a person to follow a particular religion is a despicable act.

Appreciation and respect for other religions would be applicable if each of these faiths understands the religion's domain. There are four domains of religion. First is the Private domain. In this domain, one has the broadest freedom to believe and to develop his/her religious beliefs. In this domain sincerity and sincerity in faith is tested.

The second is Communal domain. In this domain, the notion of religion and faith is formed and nurtured effectively. In this domain, idioms and symbols of religion exclusively expressed freely, because participants are homogeneous and exclusive.

The third is Social domain. In this domain, a religious community will meet with other religious communities. In this realm of social, the state law (positive law) will apply.

The fourth is State domain. In this domain, religion often appear with double face. On one face, religion to uphold the noble values ​​in political life, but on the other face, religion looks thirsty and sometimes spooky and scary as its main agenda is to make the state as the state-religion (theocracy). If not so, then religious doctrines serve as a regulatory or positive law  that bind all.

Let us look at religion with many adherents in the various expressions of positive and critical perspective. Positive means making religious values ​​as a progressive and constructive force for the progress and welfare of mankind. Critical means addressing destructive religious expression and deviate from the noble values ​​of religion in order to return the values ​​of true religion. Religion can survive until now because of the great value contained therein.
***


Finding Allah in Unlikely Places - by Daniel Pipes | September 16, 2005 -updated Jul 27, 2012 

Like it or not, the events of September 11, or better known as "Black September" has changed world's map. Not just the map of U.S. foreign policy, but also a map of how the West view Islam.

One interesting to put forward is how the Western Orientalist divide Islam into two groups, namely radical Islam and moderate Islam. Radical Islam is represented by Muslims who tend to be textual, purists as well as militants; while moderate Islam is the opposite. Of course, the classification and definition deserves to be sued again, given that Islam is one and does not know the classification.

But apparently, the Orientalist feel the need to classify Islam into two groups. Especially considering Bush who once said, "You are either with us or with the terrorists". It gave the impression that the U.S. should identify who should be fought and who can be friends. As if the Muslim radicals are "with the terrorists" and the moderate Islam is "you are either with us." 

 Even more interesting is how Daniel Pipes, in his article "Identifying Moderate Muslims", stating, "If radical Islam is the problem, then the solution is moderate Islam." And for more convenience, Daniel Pipes identifed and distinguished between the radical Muslims Moderate Muslims with some questions as follows:

1. Are you going to give a name to the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, Al-Qaeda, etc.?
2. Do the Muslim women should have the same rights as men in all things (in this case are legacy and testimony)?
3. Can Muslims convert to another religion without any penalty?
4. Are Sufis and Shi'ites the legitimate Muslim?
5. Do you accept that Western countries are secular and majority of them are non-Muslim? Or do you try to turn them into Muslim-majority countries governed by Islamic law?

By identifying those answers then Daniel Pipes set which is the radical Muslims and which is the moderate Muslims. It is an identification that seems absurd and inconsequential and more revealing the America's fears addressed to various terror, also the arrogant attitude of the U.S. who does not want to see the origins of various terror against its self. Thus, the classification of Radical and Moderate Islam, and various effort to identify it, including Daniel Pipes thesis still will not solve the problem, even it can;t touch the outer shell of the problem.
***





14 SEPTEMBRE

Secretary Clinton Delivers Powerful Religion Speech After Middle East Embassy Attacks - By Dana Hughes | ABC OTUS News
American Killed in Libya Was on Intel Mission to Track Weapons
In lawless eastern Libya, U.S. mission just latest victim - By Hadeel Al Shalchi and Marie-Louise Gumuchian | Reuters 
EXCLUSIVE: Romney on Obama's 'Shoot First, Aim Later' Attack - By George Stephanopoulos | ABC OTUS News
VIDEO -  Libyan Ambassador: Chris Stevens a 'hero' 
VIDEO - Keeping Embassies Secure

Libyan Ambassador: Chris Stevens a 'Hero'




Obama: "No Act of Terror Will Go Unpunished"




Yemen Leader Apologizes to US for Embassy Attack




Clinton: Anti-Islam Video 'Disgusting'




Muslim Congressman Decries Libya Killings




US Sending Warships to Libya



Romney says U.S. seems "at the mercy of events" in world - By Steve Holland 
Anti-US attacks in Libya, Egypt, Yemen: Put security first 
Hezbollah condemns U.S.-made film of Prophet Mohammad - Reuters –  Wed, Sep 12, 2012 
Obama slams Romney over criticism on Mideast attacks - Reuters –  Wed, Sep 12, 2012 
Obama attacks Romney on Libya disaster for being too rash - The Daily Caller –  Wed, Sep 12, 2012 
Obama Calls Leaders in Libya, Egypt Over Protests - By Jon Garcia | ABC OTUS News 
FBI Warns of Violence in America Over Anti-Islamic Movie - By PIERRE THOMAS, RICHARD ESPOSITO, DANA HUGHES and KEVIN DOLAK | Good Morning America
Romney slams Obama's policies toward China 
Watch Curiosity Rover's Mars Descent in Stunning HD - By Stephanie Haberman | Mashable 

Mars Curiosity Descent - Ultra HD 30fps Smooth-Motion




Making of the motion-flow interpolated Mars Curiosity descent video




What NASA Is Looking for on Mars








14 SEPTEMBRE



LIVE: Violence sweeps Cairo as clashes erupt outside US embassy



Russia warns US on consequences of regime change. Published: 13 September, 2012
Govt response to religious provocation must be tough: Putin on US embassy attack in Libya. Published: 13 September, 2012 - Edited: 14 September, 2012
► 'US could drone Libya to death'. Published: 14 September, 2012  
Lebanon protesters burn US, Israeli flags (PHOTOS). Published: 14 September, 2012
At least 4 killed as Yemeni protesters clash with police outside US embassy in Sana'a - reports (VIDEO, PHOTOS). Published: 13 September, 2012 - Edited: 13 September, 2012 
Anti-US anger in the Arab world: LIVE timeline. Published: 13 September, 2012 -Edited: 14 September, 2012 
US questions Muslim Brotherhood's Twitter inconsistency over Cairo 'turbulence'. Published: 14 September, 2012 
Protests of Islam-insulting film spread to Iranian capital (PHOTOS). Published: 14 September, 2012 
'US has supported Arab uprisings, and now it's blowback time'. Published: 13 September, 2012 - Edited: 14 September, 2012 
Law enforcement confirms convicted fraudster behind anti-Muslim movie. Published: 13 September, 2012 - Edited: 14 September, 2012 

Federal Reserve announces QE3. Published: 13 September, 2012
Chinese ships breach Japan's naval border. Published: 14 September, 2012 - Edited: 14 September, 2012 
'Nuclear time bomb:' Downed K-27 submarine must be lifted out. Published: 13 September, 2012 
Runaway Russian ballerina honored by Kennedy Center along with Led Zeppelin. Published: 13 September, 2012 

The Dying Swan variation with Natalia Makarova




The Dying Swan Maya Plisetskaya




Carnival of the Animals - The Swan








14 SEPTEMBRE


Inside Story: US 2012 - The political fallout of the Libya attack




Inside Story - What now for US-Libya relations?



People & Power - Prosecuting Wall Street 



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