“Merely complaining without posing an alternative offers nothing.”
“لا قيمة للشكوى دون تقديم بدائل”
Interest: Taibah Al-Ibrahim طيبة الإبراهيم
April 3, 2013 by 8 Comments
Back in 2005, a few months after it was announced that women can both vote and run in elections, Taibah took the chance to run in her district in the up coming elections in 2006. Her platform was the separation of state and religion to the shock of many people at the time. Brushed aside and discredited for her views during the elections, what Ms. Al-Ibrahim achieved in her stance was opening the door for some of the tolerance of differing views we have today. Even though she knew she would not win, she knew that her message had been heard. She is one of my idols, one of the few Kuwaiti females with fearless courage to express her views openly, relentlessly and without censor. In my opinion, she is the female version of Christopher Hitchens, but in a much milder manner. I wish I had the chance to get to know her more before she passed away in 2011. This is the only picture I took of her during the election campaign and the internet has no images at all.
عندما حصلت المرأة الكويتية على حقوقها في التصويت والانتخاب في عام 2005، اختارت طيبة الإبراهيم الترشّح في أول انتخابات تشريعية للمرأة بحماس انعكس على رسالتها التي حملت شعار فصل الدين عن الدولة والتي كانت بمثابة الصدمة للمجتمع آنذاك. ورغم كل ردود الفعل السلبية التي أثارتها الحملة، لم تكترث طيبة بل استمرت بنفس الجرأة بما يشير أنها لم تنوي الفوز بمقعد المجلس بقدر رغبتها بكسر الاحتكار الثقافي للتيارات الدينية. تفوقت طيبة بشجاعتها ووعيها على مجتمع لا زال يعالج مشاكل اليوم بحلول الأمس. في رأيي، طيبة الإبراهيم قد تكون المثال الكويتي الأقرب لكريستوفر هيتشنز، وإن كان الاختلاف في النمط والطابع موجود. لم تسنح لي الفرصة للتعرف عليها قبل أن ترحل بكل هدوء عن عالمنا الذي هو بأمس الحاجة لمن هو في طرازها
حاولت أن أجد لها صورة مناسبة من أرشيف الإنترنت دون جدوى، لذا أرفق هنا الصورة الوحيدة لدي والتي أخذتها أثناء حملتها الانتخابية في عام ٢٠٠٦
Video: Jacque Fresco on Larry King
April 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Jacque Fresco is an inspirational man. He is very well spoken, and his words and ideas are very clear. To me, he is the definition of a natural leader, and how I wish every politician or person with power shares views like those of Mr. Fresco. The world would be a better place. “I believe they [people] can change quickly if the information is presented to them clearly.” I recommend watching this interview, especially if you are pursuing architecture and engineering or have an interest in these fields. For more information on Fresco’s designs click here.
Video: Lawrence Krauss vs. Hamza Tzortzis: Islam or Atheism – Which Makes More Sense?
April 2, 2013 by 4 Comments
Finally this debate is available online, after some controversy at the commencement of the seminar when Professor Krauss realized the audience was to be segregated (Professor Krauss’ protestations here). This is not one of my favorite debates, as it was infuriating at times, especially when you listen to an obnoxious speaker such as Hamza Tzortzis. He emphasizes the use of sophisticated and complicated words and portrays that he is well-read, but the end result is that his arguments are useless. For instance, his example of linking the Arabic language to the language of the Quran and then suggesting that they are not the same! This makes no sense at all!! What do you mean exactly? Are you saying that no one who speaks Arabic can understand the Quran, or no one actually has properly interpreted it? Does your argument lead to the conclusion that each individual person will have his or her own interpretation of it? He depends on the same argument over and over in most of his other talks such as the infinity argument, which Professor Krauss painted out as “wrong science”. Krauss, who was confident, blunt and strong in making his case (from the start of the debate before it even began) pointed out that the actual question of the whole debate is inappropriate. And this is, that unlike Islam, Atheism is not a belief system, it is common sense. If you have the patience, I recommend watching the whole debate. Enjoy!
Video: Richard Dawkins and Ricky Gervais on Religion
April 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment
THE GENERALIST 