Recent reports on Syria have claimed that we may have very well witnessed the turning point in the civil of Syria. On July 18th, General Dawoud Rajiha (Syrian Defense Minister) among other officials of the Ba'ath Party in Syria were assassinated likely by members of their inner circle (bodyguards, etc.) in cooperation with the Free Syrian Army (FSA), though the Islamist Liwa al Islam did also claim responsibility.
With fighting have now spread into Damascus, it seems likely that these reports can be true. And with it we can move closer into examining what the inevitable post-Assad Syria will look like. What tensions will exist? How complex will the power vacumn be? What will happen with the ruling Alawi community? And also what will the situation be like for the Christian community in Syria? For the time, if Syria's Christians have not been neutral, they've sided with the regime. Gen. Rejiha is a Christian. Could this fact create reprisals and be used as a call to violence by extremist Islamists in the present as well as in the post-Assad Syria? I don't entirely know, but I do feel nervous for the minorities of Syria. For now, Arab/Syrian nationalism has remained the catalyst for the revolution. Syria to me is one of the last bastions of this way of thought that up until the 1980s was widespread across much of the Middle East. But could we see an abandonment of this ideology as we've seen with Lebanon and the Palestianin Territories? Radical Islamist thought hasn't seemed to infect the revolution in Syria to much of an extent, but neither had it initially in Egypt until the Salifists had shown up.
While Syria shares more in common with Libya in terms of duration and violence and perhaps even conclusion of hostilities, I have to mention Egypt in this post. Mainly because I do feel like Morsi can be an effective leader IF he sticks by what he has said up to this point. Easing of tension with the Coptic community could go a long way. For years now, Copts have been harassed by both the civilian Muslim community as well as by Egyptian military and police forces (sometimes by direct action and at times by inaction). I haven't honestly heard much about the successes of post-Qadaffi Libya, but thus far Eygpt shows some promise. It may even show that the Arab Spring was a success. I would certainly love to see my initial conclusions on these events proven wrong. But time will answer all of our questions.
But back to the topic of Syria. I do wonder why we haven't seen more high-level defections. We've yet to see many (or rather any) defections from Assad's actual inner circle. But perhaps with the recent bombing and fighting reaching Damascus, we will see such defections. I'd also like to know of what course of action we in the West can actually expect from our governments. Russia seems to be relenting somewhat from their policy so far of support for the Syrian government. But I have no idea if there's been any change in China's policy. Until we can get either support from those two nations in the UN Security Council, I expect much of the same.
With Assad still in power and with much of the military intact and loyal to him, I also have to wonder how desperate he may become to hold on. I remember hearing of reports of Assad moving the stockpiles of chemical weapons to new locations. Could we expect to see deployment of these weapons? The tactics used thus far have been ruthless enough, so I feel if the situation became dire enough we could see them deployed. I do know though, that if that were to happen, we could definitely expect some type of intervention from the West or NATO, if it hasn't already been implemented. Something along the lines of what we saw in Libya by way of no-fly zones and aerial bombings of pro-government facilities and attack launch sites.
Syria has a long road ahead of it until we see the end of this bloody conflict. But I hope that it ends sooner than later. Assad seems determined to remain and with that, we can only expect more attacks on civilians and more deaths. I wish them all the best and steadfastness. Eventually, a free Syria will prevail. So, please, keep running towards that light at the end of the tunnel. And then we can see what type of Syria we will witness grow from the rubble. I hope for a more prosperous, a more just, a more free Syria that can truly transform the Syrian people and perhaps even trasnform the entire Middle East. We have seen several successful revolutions thus far and I know the Syrians are determined to shed the Assad's from power. Keep up the fight.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
I am big, for I am small...
I've been on a bit of a Neil deGrasse Tyson kick as of late. I can admit to not fully understanding everything he says, but he has a way of explaining attributes of space and existence that makes you at least grasp some basic knowledge from it. The last video I've watched contains his bit on the "most astounding fact about the universe," and it really is eye-opening, just amazing.
I cannot fully explain the feelings it brought out. I cannot explain why I never grasped the concept of being comprised of the universe. Maybe because I've always thought too big. When all along it's all those individual atoms which make us. Those atoms that make everything around us and beyond. "The knowledge...," to understand that really is the most astounding part. The universe IS in us. Maybe it is just the way he explains it that makes it so extraordinary. But the message gives existence that added advantage. It gives that extra boost to look into the skies and see those distant stars. The stars essentially made of what makes us. And most of all, it brings out our dreams. To possibly dream of what truly lies out there or just to dream about the plain on which we live. To dream of how we can we make our lives better.
I cannot fully explain the feelings it brought out. I cannot explain why I never grasped the concept of being comprised of the universe. Maybe because I've always thought too big. When all along it's all those individual atoms which make us. Those atoms that make everything around us and beyond. "The knowledge...," to understand that really is the most astounding part. The universe IS in us. Maybe it is just the way he explains it that makes it so extraordinary. But the message gives existence that added advantage. It gives that extra boost to look into the skies and see those distant stars. The stars essentially made of what makes us. And most of all, it brings out our dreams. To possibly dream of what truly lies out there or just to dream about the plain on which we live. To dream of how we can we make our lives better.
"Be humble for you are made of dung. Be noble for you are made of stars."
Serbian proverb
Sunday, March 11, 2012
A Quick Thought
For some time now, I've caught myself often driving by parks and playgrounds and for that brief moment in passing being mesmerized by the spirit of those children playing. And with it comes the thoughts of innocence. And also when do we lose it? That joy which makes our existence whole.
Perhaps it's the burden of responsibility that comes with adulthood. When your niche in the world is carved by whatever it may be; credit, career, and so on. Or perhaps it's when you realize that the world is truly a dark place. When you hear far too often about the evils of man. When pessimism becomes almost a norm.
I know quite damn well that I'm a realist and inherit its pessimism. I have no joys of ideas of some utopia that is never to come. Yes, I'd like to see our world become something better, but I know that we will never find some world free of what ails us. Human nature prevents us from doing so.
That has essentially been my existentialist take on things. We do what we can to make our existence enjoyable. And we ponder on every aspect of the human experience possible. I enjoy just letting my mind go free to do as it pleases. The places and ideas that I've had (and more often than not lost moments later) have been quite the experience. The emotions brought out have been staggering. And all it takes is that late night drive on some back road or the notes of music to let my mind ride upon. Usually, it's a combination of the two.
But as I asked earlier, where is that we lose our innocence? Perhaps it's a never-ending journey. And you know...maybe it's for the best. I surely don't mind keeping one eye over my shoulder, watching what lay behind me. But I keep my other eye directly on the future. My feet will keep moving. So let's see what we can experience in this moment, today, this week, this month, this year.
Perhaps it's the burden of responsibility that comes with adulthood. When your niche in the world is carved by whatever it may be; credit, career, and so on. Or perhaps it's when you realize that the world is truly a dark place. When you hear far too often about the evils of man. When pessimism becomes almost a norm.
I know quite damn well that I'm a realist and inherit its pessimism. I have no joys of ideas of some utopia that is never to come. Yes, I'd like to see our world become something better, but I know that we will never find some world free of what ails us. Human nature prevents us from doing so.
That has essentially been my existentialist take on things. We do what we can to make our existence enjoyable. And we ponder on every aspect of the human experience possible. I enjoy just letting my mind go free to do as it pleases. The places and ideas that I've had (and more often than not lost moments later) have been quite the experience. The emotions brought out have been staggering. And all it takes is that late night drive on some back road or the notes of music to let my mind ride upon. Usually, it's a combination of the two.
But as I asked earlier, where is that we lose our innocence? Perhaps it's a never-ending journey. And you know...maybe it's for the best. I surely don't mind keeping one eye over my shoulder, watching what lay behind me. But I keep my other eye directly on the future. My feet will keep moving. So let's see what we can experience in this moment, today, this week, this month, this year.
Monday, March 5, 2012
This Is Why They Can't Have Nice Things
So, I'm sitting here reading the reports of an Islamic mob rampaging through a British war dead cemetery, knocking over headstones and destroying crosses. I've watched the video (that one the vandals themselves filmed) and listened to the basic Islamic supremacist rhetoric ("They are dogs" - referencing to the British and/or crosses on the tombstones; as well as having some choice words for one tombstone that had a star of david on it). It's a sizable crowd running amok and in plain daylight. These people that plead for help last year as they were murdered by the forces of The Man Of Many Different Spellings (Col. Qaddafi) have now gone about in the most disgusting display of their sick ideology. I know it's not a reflection of the majority of the population, but in all these instances, where are the moderates to challenge these people? We're told it's retaliation for the Koran burnings in Afghanistan, but it all boils down to excuses, excuses, excuses.
I supported the ousting of Qaddafi, and of the West openly helping in doing so. I wanted to believe in the Arab Spring. But it was soon realized that it was an Arab Winter. Dictators will be traded for dictators, or theocrats. There will not be democracy, there will be Allahocracy. We see it in Egypt with the massive support for the Muslim Brotherhood (and how did people not see this; they were the best established parties in the region). The opposition stood no chance, especially when the Salafists decided to hijack the revolution. And we've seen it elsewhere. We shall more than likely see it Libya. But it has reached a point where I find myself really questioning whether we should intervene in the bloodletting going on in Syria. It has to stop, but will we see anything different afterwards? I weep for the Syrian people. For how callous their government is. For how brutal it is against them. It doesn't need them and will go to no ends to eliminate the tiniest voice of dissent. But if the West were to help, how would we be received? Thus far, it's not as liberators and friends, but as "dogs".
It's quite a dilemma. It truly is. When they are weak, they are the weakest of the weak and plea for help. But when they gain an ounce of strength, they boast and brag and spit on the kuffar of the world. I really do not wish to come across as 'islamophobic', but eventually you reach a point where you just grow sick of it ("islamonausea" - a more honest word). You grow sick of hearing about some fanatic blowing himself up in a crowd of his co-coreligionists and innocent people. You grow sick of the violence. Of the rhetoric. You just grow sick of every ounce of it. And most of all, you grow sick of how much louder and stronger those fanatics appear over the majority of Muslims.
I wish I could say all major religions had their evil. In a lot of cases, they did. But that's not entirely what's important. It's now what major religion has evil. And the statistics show what it is. They show what region it is and who dominates that region. It's a sad fact of life. That stain that continues to live on something that could be decent. I wish I could say I hope for peace in the Middle East. I really do. War is nothing good. It never was and never will be. It'll grow more proficient and lethal, as it has done, but there's nothing inherently good about it. It takes away intellect and has stolen from us some of the greatest poets and thinkers of the modern age. I cannot be totally anti-War, because let's face it, evil men come into power and do evil things and must be stopped with the only force that will, violence. But too often there's never a line to be drawn and violence spills over into senselessness. And it's in the Middle East that we far too often have seen this over the past century. And it's for this, that they can't have nice things.
I supported the ousting of Qaddafi, and of the West openly helping in doing so. I wanted to believe in the Arab Spring. But it was soon realized that it was an Arab Winter. Dictators will be traded for dictators, or theocrats. There will not be democracy, there will be Allahocracy. We see it in Egypt with the massive support for the Muslim Brotherhood (and how did people not see this; they were the best established parties in the region). The opposition stood no chance, especially when the Salafists decided to hijack the revolution. And we've seen it elsewhere. We shall more than likely see it Libya. But it has reached a point where I find myself really questioning whether we should intervene in the bloodletting going on in Syria. It has to stop, but will we see anything different afterwards? I weep for the Syrian people. For how callous their government is. For how brutal it is against them. It doesn't need them and will go to no ends to eliminate the tiniest voice of dissent. But if the West were to help, how would we be received? Thus far, it's not as liberators and friends, but as "dogs".
It's quite a dilemma. It truly is. When they are weak, they are the weakest of the weak and plea for help. But when they gain an ounce of strength, they boast and brag and spit on the kuffar of the world. I really do not wish to come across as 'islamophobic', but eventually you reach a point where you just grow sick of it ("islamonausea" - a more honest word). You grow sick of hearing about some fanatic blowing himself up in a crowd of his co-coreligionists and innocent people. You grow sick of the violence. Of the rhetoric. You just grow sick of every ounce of it. And most of all, you grow sick of how much louder and stronger those fanatics appear over the majority of Muslims.
I wish I could say all major religions had their evil. In a lot of cases, they did. But that's not entirely what's important. It's now what major religion has evil. And the statistics show what it is. They show what region it is and who dominates that region. It's a sad fact of life. That stain that continues to live on something that could be decent. I wish I could say I hope for peace in the Middle East. I really do. War is nothing good. It never was and never will be. It'll grow more proficient and lethal, as it has done, but there's nothing inherently good about it. It takes away intellect and has stolen from us some of the greatest poets and thinkers of the modern age. I cannot be totally anti-War, because let's face it, evil men come into power and do evil things and must be stopped with the only force that will, violence. But too often there's never a line to be drawn and violence spills over into senselessness. And it's in the Middle East that we far too often have seen this over the past century. And it's for this, that they can't have nice things.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Obligatory Explanation's and What Not's
I have a lot of ideas for this posting. No, a lot is a fair underestimation. I often try and find the right ways to describe who I am, where I'm going, my goals, my general outlooks and philosophies. And just as often I find it difficult if not impossible to do any justice to those questions with answering. My words become ramblings, my thoughts incoherent. But I shall give it a try...
Despite all the difficulty I may have in describing myself, there really isn't a whole lot that forms my being. Or rather, there isn't a lot that ever sticks around. My views are as ever-changing now as they've ever been. I identify myself, in political terms, as being nearer conservative. Though I share a heavy disdain towards politics. It scratches away at my sanity, yet I find my attention constantly aroused by it. So tolerate it, I do. I do feel myself to be more-so conservative in the European sense. I've known for many years that I've often thought in more Eurocentric ways, than American ones, and I guess it's no different today.
I'm an animal-lover, a total softie, a lyricist (I could say poet, but everything I ever end up writing takes on a more lyrical format than anything else), a dreamer and a pessimist/realist, an atheist. I've got trouble forming goals. I feel as if I lack work ethic, though once I get going, it's hard to stop myself. And I'm in love with the most amazing girl who hasn't lost a single fiber of what has always captivated me for all these years I've known her. Hell, I love her more now than I have ever before. I had to throw this last bit in, just to give myself at least some outlet to express it.
I've used this blog name ("In Search of the Sun") with a previous attempt that failed. I still find the name meaningful and is why I find myself resurrecting it in a sense. For many years, I've felt myself on a journey (I suppose we all have). I've always imagined this new horizon somewhere in the distance. My soul and my mind has ached for it. That hill that it rises it over, the stream that it warms and that tree that provides shade and shelter. It's always been in my dreams. Whatever those metaphors is to symbolize, I have yet to find. So my search goes on. But I feel like I'm closer than ever to realizing it.
I wrote a short lyric a few years back that (like so many others) used this theme and ended with:
I want to reach the sun
... But I just don't have the strength
That was definitely the pessimist talking. But on my good days, I do feel I have the strength. But moreso, like I must have the strength. I need to hold my head high and keep my eyes ahead. No matter how much the world tries to knock me down. I find motivation to be so difficult at times, but eventually it kicks in.
Well that's enough rambling from me for one day.
Here's to the night. Bring on the day.
Despite all the difficulty I may have in describing myself, there really isn't a whole lot that forms my being. Or rather, there isn't a lot that ever sticks around. My views are as ever-changing now as they've ever been. I identify myself, in political terms, as being nearer conservative. Though I share a heavy disdain towards politics. It scratches away at my sanity, yet I find my attention constantly aroused by it. So tolerate it, I do. I do feel myself to be more-so conservative in the European sense. I've known for many years that I've often thought in more Eurocentric ways, than American ones, and I guess it's no different today.
I'm an animal-lover, a total softie, a lyricist (I could say poet, but everything I ever end up writing takes on a more lyrical format than anything else), a dreamer and a pessimist/realist, an atheist. I've got trouble forming goals. I feel as if I lack work ethic, though once I get going, it's hard to stop myself. And I'm in love with the most amazing girl who hasn't lost a single fiber of what has always captivated me for all these years I've known her. Hell, I love her more now than I have ever before. I had to throw this last bit in, just to give myself at least some outlet to express it.
I've used this blog name ("In Search of the Sun") with a previous attempt that failed. I still find the name meaningful and is why I find myself resurrecting it in a sense. For many years, I've felt myself on a journey (I suppose we all have). I've always imagined this new horizon somewhere in the distance. My soul and my mind has ached for it. That hill that it rises it over, the stream that it warms and that tree that provides shade and shelter. It's always been in my dreams. Whatever those metaphors is to symbolize, I have yet to find. So my search goes on. But I feel like I'm closer than ever to realizing it.
I wrote a short lyric a few years back that (like so many others) used this theme and ended with:
I want to reach the sun
... But I just don't have the strength
That was definitely the pessimist talking. But on my good days, I do feel I have the strength. But moreso, like I must have the strength. I need to hold my head high and keep my eyes ahead. No matter how much the world tries to knock me down. I find motivation to be so difficult at times, but eventually it kicks in.
Well that's enough rambling from me for one day.
Here's to the night. Bring on the day.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
A Fresh Start
So I've decided to give this whole blogging expenditure another go. I made a vain attempt some years ago that didn't really manage to accomplish much of what I had intended for it, so it goes without saying that I am hoping and quite optimistic that this one is far more successful.
I do not have any real plans set for this. Just a place to get my thoughts down and for those all-too uncommon bursts of creativity that are known to appear. There may even from time-to-time be some political-leaning rants/ramblings, but I do believe this shall just be an aid to keep track of myself and what might be weighing me down on some day or another.
I feel as if I may have some goals already in mind for this project. But if these goals are too last, that I am not so sure of. I sincerely hope to progress as a person during my time. I feel like I've made leaps and bounds in the last couple of years, but I still have a feeling of disappointment in myself. This may just be stress weighing me down, as it has done previously. I've been in search of some hobby to engross myself in. I've had some ideas floating around, but am not sure which direction to throw my weight into. I'd like to develop something musically-inclined. I played the saxophone in middle school and am interested to see if there's anything from those years that may still be worth uncovering. I do not have any particular interest in picking up my old instrument at this time, but would like to move into the stringed-world. Guitar and violin at this point. Then move onto something else some years into the future.
I have many ideas for the future, but unfortunately at the current moment am no where set where I need to be to fulfill them. At least that's how I feel. It may be a mental block. I've always done my best to prepare myself, or at least try, but at times I wonder if all I had really accomplished was stressing or psyching myself out.
Well, that's all I have to say for this moment. In time, maybe this will be something others will read. But for now, it's just a fresh start. So I'm taking a deep breath and setting my sights ahead. I only hope my feet will follow my eyes and I don't watch the distance become further distant still.
I do not have any real plans set for this. Just a place to get my thoughts down and for those all-too uncommon bursts of creativity that are known to appear. There may even from time-to-time be some political-leaning rants/ramblings, but I do believe this shall just be an aid to keep track of myself and what might be weighing me down on some day or another.
I feel as if I may have some goals already in mind for this project. But if these goals are too last, that I am not so sure of. I sincerely hope to progress as a person during my time. I feel like I've made leaps and bounds in the last couple of years, but I still have a feeling of disappointment in myself. This may just be stress weighing me down, as it has done previously. I've been in search of some hobby to engross myself in. I've had some ideas floating around, but am not sure which direction to throw my weight into. I'd like to develop something musically-inclined. I played the saxophone in middle school and am interested to see if there's anything from those years that may still be worth uncovering. I do not have any particular interest in picking up my old instrument at this time, but would like to move into the stringed-world. Guitar and violin at this point. Then move onto something else some years into the future.
I have many ideas for the future, but unfortunately at the current moment am no where set where I need to be to fulfill them. At least that's how I feel. It may be a mental block. I've always done my best to prepare myself, or at least try, but at times I wonder if all I had really accomplished was stressing or psyching myself out.
Well, that's all I have to say for this moment. In time, maybe this will be something others will read. But for now, it's just a fresh start. So I'm taking a deep breath and setting my sights ahead. I only hope my feet will follow my eyes and I don't watch the distance become further distant still.
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