The Friday, June 10, 2022 edition of The Economist World in Brief contains the story of two madmen simultaneously in a row. I found it sobering, depressing and frightening.
First was our anti-hero Trump. “America’s Congress began hearings about the riots of January 6, 2021. A bipartisan committee set out to prove that the supporters of Donald Trump who stormed the Capital were a part of an ‘attempted coup’. Investigators argued that the Proud Boys, a far-right group, co-ordinated the attack against the Capital police. And they demonstrated that Mr. Trump, still the president at that time, had been advised by his daughter Ivanka and other close aides that he had lost the election fair and square. Separately, the FBI arrested Ryan Kelley, a Republican standing for governor in Michigan, on charges connected to the riot.” I intend to read the more detailed article about the matter at a later time.
But the next paragraph contained horror from another part of the world. “Vladimir Putin said it was his “destiny” to “return and fortify” lost Russian territory, just as it had been Peter the Great’s. Russia’s 21st-century president lauded the tsar’s conquest of the Baltic coast in the 18th century: “he wasn’t taking anything away-he was returning it”. Moreover, Mr. Putin said, “when Peter the Great founded St, Petersburg, “none of the countries of Europe recognized it as Russian.”
I have a brilliant idea for world peace, unity, ending the strife. ME, provided with a private jet. I land in Moscow and meet with Putin.
Me: Vladimir you may think that is your destiny to return Russian territory HOWEVER Allah disagrees totally and whole-heartedly and he is in charge, not you. I would not like to be you on the Day of Judgment. You must repent, believe and perform a charitable act. The charitable act would be to stop this ridiculous war and return the Ukraine to its people and pay substantial reparations.
I would have done my job – clearly communicated. I would jump on my jet and go to Washington, appearing before Congress. I would put my hand on my hip, assume a superior stance, speak out saying:
Me: Okay you Republicans. I do not think these hearings are going to convince you of anything because your minds, your brains, do not operate. I do know what male Republicans think with but no idea what female Republicans think with.
Now that will bring great laughter, at least amongst those who are not Republicans. Laughter is unifying and Republicans would say.
They: Alexis, you are right! Engage brain, disengage penis. Trump is a bad guy and we would hate to be him on Judgment Day. He did not even have the brains to leave gracefully. He needs to disengage the portion of his anatomy that he thinks with as well. He might find peace and happiness.
Then we would have a great big bipartisan party.
They: Alexis, you have an American passport.
Me: Indeed I do! Became a citizen during the 70s but now I choose to live in Canada as there is less strife in these parts it seems. Clean up your act and I might be back.
Let us define two words at this moment. Strife which is angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict. Used in a sentence: There is strife within the world, both ethnic and civil strife. The synonyms are scary: friction, discord, disagreement, dissension, dispute, argument, quarreling, wrangling, bickering, controversy, contention; disharmony, ill feeling, bad feeling, bad blood, hostility, animosity; falling-out. The United States of America is, at this point in time, full of bad blood, falling out, wrangling and bickering. To day there is disharmony, hostility and animosity. What it so desperately needs is harmony, peace, cooperation. Who could possibly disagree with this? Well Republicans and others not thinking with their brains but some other part of their anatomy. Again, unclear what non-thinking women use in substitution for their brains. Incidentally The Economist reported that Sarah Palin is running for the Alaska congressional seat. What does that woman think with? Perhaps her hair, it is rather bouffant. Wikipedia tells us that bouffant is a type of puffy, round hairstyle characterized by hair raised high on the head and usually covering the ears or hanging down on the sides.” It also informs us that Marie Antoinette was the first to wear her hair in that style, making her hair appear thick. I do wonder what Sarah and Marie have in common, other than their hair. Sarah’s head is still firmly attached to her body – even though she does not use the brain portion of her skull.
Reparations, the other word to be defined, making of amends for a wrong one has done, by paying money to or otherwise helping those who have been wronged. Putin has absolutely wronged the Ukraine and must make amends. Best you get around to it Vladimir before you die, and your time of death is something else you are not in control of either, my dear.
If the world takes my advice and makes me the good will ambassador then all will be well. But perhaps not – this also from The Economist: NASA, America’s space agency, said it will launch a nine-month study of UFOs or, beg pardon, “UAPs”: unidentified aerial phenomena. Whether caused by Martian flying saucers or something more mundane, the boffins intend to study such data with an open mind reasoning that any results may prove useful. Last summer the Pentagon came clean about 16 years of its pilots’ sightings.”
Yikes! I rush about on my private jet settling strife on earth and then have to make peace with aliens? I am 79 years old, for goodness sakes. Perhaps I can take on the world, but not outer space as well. I need reinforcements please, Allah.
Today is a lazy Saturday with no plans for the weekend. It is a pajama day – days spent in pajamas usually writing. They are absolutely necessary for my mental health, for my creativity, for my peace of mind.” Goodby world” say I.
Decided to spent the day in gratitude. It is considered to be one of the highly esteemed virtues in the Islamic faith. It is praised n both the Holy Quran and Sunnah (sayings from Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him). It is the Islamic belief that Allah’s blessings should be recognized in Amy situation, whether it be desirable or undesirable. There are three components or dimensions of Shukr to be considered: Shukr bi’l-qalb (gratitude expressed by inner feelings), Shukr bi’l-lisan (gratitude expressed by tongue) and Shukr bi’l-badan wa’l-arkan (gratitude expressed by body and limbs). If one is grateful, then it protects your blessings: Al-Hasan al-Basri said, “Surely Allah grants favours as He wishes, but if it is not acknowledged by giving thanks, He returns it into torment.”
The Qur’an says: “And whatever of blessings and good things you have, it is from God” (16:53).
If you Google Gratitude in the Islamic faith many articles are found therein, all with a different approach. One is a speech given at the South Bay Islamic Association in 2017, which told two important stories. Links were provided for the stories. One can be found at: : https://shortislamicstories.wordpress.com/category/virtuous-actions/gratitude/. The other is found at: http://understandquran.com/a-story-of-gratitude-and-islam-cc.html.
Follow the links as they are both inspiring stories – reading them will be rewarding, they were to me.
Another article discusses 7 Ways to be Grateful. It may be helpful to many but not to me. I am spending the day being specifically thankful for all things both great and small, for example.
Me: Thank you Allah for this coffee pot and the coffee grounds from Starbucks so I can make a great espresso at home when I want peace and quiet.
Have to admit that at this point in time I am not grateful for the five months spent in Abu Dhabi – it resembled the worse form of incarceration as it stripped me of my identity and its censorship precluded my speaking out against injustices heaped upon others. But if I had not spent so much time there under those conditions I would not be so intensely grateful to be back n the land of my birth, Neither would I have been able to take the three photographs that will be attached to this blog. One photograph is of me with arms outstretched, so obviously I did not take it. It is the screen saver on my computer All praise to Allah.
