As of previous semesters, history was only stories of the past, many people that died doing something remarkable, remembering dates of events, names of people, their influence, significance, contribution to society and to history that had happen years ago. Many people say that what already happen is in the past, and it does not matter anymore. But, in my own experience, being involved in history courses had help to broad my knowledge as well as o my understanding of the events that are happening on these present days. In another words, to understand where I am going I have o learn where I come from. To have a better meaning and knowledge of reasons why people around the world might love or hate each other. To understand the real reason of the many religions and beliefs, political systems, and differences amongst all cultures.
Having taken history courses had help me to learn the influence of many other events around the world over what the current life is. to understand how the political views of different nations diverge from one another based on their past. The conflicts in Middle East, reasons of WW1 and WW2, and how delicate can be to release a document such as a declaration or, in the case of Middle East events, White papers, Agreements, and reformations such as Tanzimat.
The key of the future is in the past, something that i learn in Geology class. This phrase was used a lot by my Geology professor in WCC. Nevertheless, I never thought that phrase could apply to something else, other than rocks.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Iranian Revolution
In recent days, I had experienced what might be an experiment, but it really helps to understand better the curse of history of a region that is best known for its volatile way of resolve its conflicts, that is from the international point of view. The possible experiment is the use of audiovisual material to help us to understand better the course of action and development of key points in the transformation and resistance of modernization in Iran.
The Revolution of Iran is the result of years of monarchy, imposing western ideas, transforming the traditional Islamic way of living and implementing modern techniques in the form of Iranian's way of living.
Iran inhabitants did not agree with Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ideas of nationalizing natural rsources, social and economic reforms with the intention of transforming Iran into a global power. He succeeded in modernizing the nation, and extending the right to vote to women, among other things. However, the decline of the traditional power of the Shi'a clergy due to parts of the reforms increased opposition on Iran inhabitants.
This turmoil lead to the most violent uprising protest in Iran against the Shah. He eventually departed form Iran due to the difficult time trying to restore order in Iran. While Ayatolla Khumeini arrived to Iran and declared that he will take control over Iran goverment. He then became the supreme leader of Iran proclaiming openly to recognize the new Islamic Republic of Iran. With his arrival to Iran he brought to an end more that 2500 years of monarchy.
The Revolution of Iran is the result of years of monarchy, imposing western ideas, transforming the traditional Islamic way of living and implementing modern techniques in the form of Iranian's way of living.
Iran inhabitants did not agree with Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ideas of nationalizing natural rsources, social and economic reforms with the intention of transforming Iran into a global power. He succeeded in modernizing the nation, and extending the right to vote to women, among other things. However, the decline of the traditional power of the Shi'a clergy due to parts of the reforms increased opposition on Iran inhabitants.
This turmoil lead to the most violent uprising protest in Iran against the Shah. He eventually departed form Iran due to the difficult time trying to restore order in Iran. While Ayatolla Khumeini arrived to Iran and declared that he will take control over Iran goverment. He then became the supreme leader of Iran proclaiming openly to recognize the new Islamic Republic of Iran. With his arrival to Iran he brought to an end more that 2500 years of monarchy.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Deir Yassin massacre
In history, during war time, it is common to have "casualties of war" but some of these casualties are the result of the abuse of power from the soldiers against communities and neighborhoods that are pacific and they are not involved in the armed conflict. In other words, soldiers take the upper hand in the advantage of carrying a gun. The atrocities committed during war or turmoil sometimes are guarded very secretly, so people out of the area would not know what incident had happen.
In many cases presented during the History of Modern Middle East we have seen all of the massacres, genocide, killings and eradication of human being with complete disregard of justice.
First, the Armenian genocide that happen between 1915 and 1923 killing about 1.5 million Armenians in the hand of the Turkish army. Incident that have been denied by Turks for 90 or so years and it is still refused by them. In Germany the Holocaust, this incident was carried on by Adolph Hitler an army general that was known for his determination and aspirations of world dominance, and extermination of the weak race.
Now, in Deir Yassin village about 750 Palestinian residents were killed with no reason or motive.
Ironically one month prior to the massacre the residents of the village had signed a pact of non-aggression with a neighboring Jewish village of Givat Sha'ul. But the intervention of the people from the Jewish village avoid the execution of the remaining people in the Deir Yassin village. The massacre took place in April 9, 1948, almost 51 years ago, it seems that when Jewish communities were killed in German hands and concentration campus, Jewish were likewise were killing Palestinians occupying their territory and displacing them in order to have more land to settle their communities.
The cemetery, where Palestinian people is buried, has no entrance, no importance because the cemetery is not Jewish. People can pass by and do not even know there is a cemetery.
This attack that started only to take control of the village is another part of history that from the 1900 to 1950 it seems that mass killings where a good idea for dominance and extermination of the enemy. A good idea for expansion of territory, show power to potential enemies, and very effective to drive people out of their homes.
Now Arabs have to suffer an occupation from people that do not have a home or place to go. These people,Jewish, now claim independence along the way and intentions to form a state.They are forcing people out of their land and homes violating their rights and by force to reconstruct their homes in someone else land.
IS THIS CORRECT???
In many cases presented during the History of Modern Middle East we have seen all of the massacres, genocide, killings and eradication of human being with complete disregard of justice.
First, the Armenian genocide that happen between 1915 and 1923 killing about 1.5 million Armenians in the hand of the Turkish army. Incident that have been denied by Turks for 90 or so years and it is still refused by them. In Germany the Holocaust, this incident was carried on by Adolph Hitler an army general that was known for his determination and aspirations of world dominance, and extermination of the weak race.
Now, in Deir Yassin village about 750 Palestinian residents were killed with no reason or motive.
Ironically one month prior to the massacre the residents of the village had signed a pact of non-aggression with a neighboring Jewish village of Givat Sha'ul. But the intervention of the people from the Jewish village avoid the execution of the remaining people in the Deir Yassin village. The massacre took place in April 9, 1948, almost 51 years ago, it seems that when Jewish communities were killed in German hands and concentration campus, Jewish were likewise were killing Palestinians occupying their territory and displacing them in order to have more land to settle their communities.
The cemetery, where Palestinian people is buried, has no entrance, no importance because the cemetery is not Jewish. People can pass by and do not even know there is a cemetery.
This attack that started only to take control of the village is another part of history that from the 1900 to 1950 it seems that mass killings where a good idea for dominance and extermination of the enemy. A good idea for expansion of territory, show power to potential enemies, and very effective to drive people out of their homes.
Now Arabs have to suffer an occupation from people that do not have a home or place to go. These people,Jewish, now claim independence along the way and intentions to form a state.They are forcing people out of their land and homes violating their rights and by force to reconstruct their homes in someone else land.
IS THIS CORRECT???
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Palestinian-Israeli Forum
A few weeks ago, Manhattanville College students had the opportunity to hear about the Israeli-Palestine conflict search for peace and agreement. The representatives from this region in conflict were very clear on the objectives of their reunion as well as the current position of their respective regions, and the willingness and effort to achieve the peace agreement between the two of them.
The key players representing the regions in this conflict are Saeb Erakat, Chief Negotiator for Palestine, and Avi Gil, former Director-General of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Israel's Ministry of Regional Cooperation. They talk about the sensitivity and volatile stance of their regions and accept the need of a third party involvement to set the environment for the negotiations to take place.
A very interesting topic since the history behind the players and the conflict itself is extensive, since the British Mandate and the Balfour Declaration, that has not been resolved for almost 3 generations. The Palestine negotiator project the conflict as a transition that is difficult to do and hard to achieve, but necessary for the health of the two regions. He set a sample involving the new generation and how the two of them can get along perfectly. The young generation, in the example, which were females, from Palestine and Israel, called each other regarding the welfare of the other concerning a flood that had happen a few years ago. The concern was from the Israeli friend, who was preoccupied for her Palestinian friend.
Given this information it is clear that young generations of Israelis and Palestinians can get along together, but the question is why the older generation can't accept each other???Probably the meaning of the conflict is getting lost through generations.
Well, it is a fact that peace will be here soon and according to both of the speakers the job does not end there. It fact, it is where it begins, signing a paper will mean nothing if we do not make the effort and make it happen.
The key players representing the regions in this conflict are Saeb Erakat, Chief Negotiator for Palestine, and Avi Gil, former Director-General of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Israel's Ministry of Regional Cooperation. They talk about the sensitivity and volatile stance of their regions and accept the need of a third party involvement to set the environment for the negotiations to take place.
A very interesting topic since the history behind the players and the conflict itself is extensive, since the British Mandate and the Balfour Declaration, that has not been resolved for almost 3 generations. The Palestine negotiator project the conflict as a transition that is difficult to do and hard to achieve, but necessary for the health of the two regions. He set a sample involving the new generation and how the two of them can get along perfectly. The young generation, in the example, which were females, from Palestine and Israel, called each other regarding the welfare of the other concerning a flood that had happen a few years ago. The concern was from the Israeli friend, who was preoccupied for her Palestinian friend.
Given this information it is clear that young generations of Israelis and Palestinians can get along together, but the question is why the older generation can't accept each other???Probably the meaning of the conflict is getting lost through generations.
Well, it is a fact that peace will be here soon and according to both of the speakers the job does not end there. It fact, it is where it begins, signing a paper will mean nothing if we do not make the effort and make it happen.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Islamic Religion stance in Honor Killing
Several weeks ago a classmate of mine held an interesting forum on a topic that i have not hear about it, honor killing. It is happening everywhere. it consist of the murder of the females family members who are seen as dishonoring their families through real or perceived acts of indiscretion, such as premarital sexual relations, marital infidelity, unapproved dating, elopement, divorce without consent of family and even rape. The murder act is committed and has to be supported by males in the family.
"The practice of honor killings has absolutely no sanction in the Qur'an, t he Prophetic practice or the evolved systems of Islamic law. It is purely tribal and cultural practice. It is based on ignorance and disregard of moral laws. According to Sharia, the Islamic Law, the only circumstance a person might be charged and put to death is when a married person commits adultery. It applies to male and female. It does have to be confirmed at least by four people that the intercourse occur or their testimony would be rejected. The only purpose of this is to avoid false accusations. There is no such concept in Islam as called "honor killing". "Islam holds every soul in high esteem and does not allow any transgression upon it". Islamic law, Shariah, does not justify honor killing because people are not permitted to take the law into their own hands.
"The practice of honor killings has absolutely no sanction in the Qur'an, t he Prophetic practice or the evolved systems of Islamic law. It is purely tribal and cultural practice. It is based on ignorance and disregard of moral laws. According to Sharia, the Islamic Law, the only circumstance a person might be charged and put to death is when a married person commits adultery. It applies to male and female. It does have to be confirmed at least by four people that the intercourse occur or their testimony would be rejected. The only purpose of this is to avoid false accusations. There is no such concept in Islam as called "honor killing". "Islam holds every soul in high esteem and does not allow any transgression upon it". Islamic law, Shariah, does not justify honor killing because people are not permitted to take the law into their own hands.
Monday, March 9, 2009
I am so sorry Wrong website
i recently saw i made a mistake placing a web link. please my apologies and this is the right link. again im sorry to all
http://www.terrorismawareness.org/
just click on any of the icons on the left that says CLICK TO PLAY it is interesting information
http://www.terrorismawareness.org/
just click on any of the icons on the left that says CLICK TO PLAY it is interesting information
The Hatt-i-Humayun and Hatt-i-Sharif of Gulhane
The Hatt-i-Humayun Proclamation (1856) is a confirmation of what the Hatt-i-Sharif of Gulhane established 17 years before (1839). It comes directly from the sultan’s ideas and it is directed to the inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire, Muslim and non-Muslim, man and woman. It is not like other proclamations, the ottoman document did consider woman involvement. Perhaps the sultan considered the potential that women could bring together with men to the empire’s production. Perhaps the document just reflected the fear remaining on the sultan from the powerful western European Empire influence pressing on the neighboring ottoman provinces. The Hatt-i-Humayun Proclamation is created to make sure the reinforcement of the reforms establishment, consolidation and effects and restructure of its military and social system as well as religious stability promised in previous decrees and proclamations and inclusion of these provinces.
It confirms the previous proclamations and of course promises made by the sultan’s ancestors over the Ottoman Empire. It addresses many points that the Ottoman Empire was not aware before or was simply not important to consider. The release of this document offered a religious security, for non-Muslim religions, mostly Christians and Jews, and promised equality in education, government appointments, administration of justice making people sovereign and gave them power of decision whether to participate in the reformed Ottoman military system or not.
The Hatt-i-Humayun Proclamation is the sultan’s promise to Ottoman population. It tried to create citizens and considered officially the non-Muslim religions as part of the ottoman system instead of just forcing their participation just because they were taken over by the sultan’s army. This time the proclamation includes every single person without discrimination of gender or religious beliefs, or age. The document is revolutionary for its time. It takes care of the discrimination issue and preference in between Muslim and non-Muslim religions. It promised that court disputes will no longer be Muslim-based religious legislation; instead court legislation will be directed by mixed courts, which is the inclusion of non-Muslim members into the court legislation. The proclamation gave the people the right to establish their own school system. It was more advance and covers specifically the points of religion and civic duties that, compared with the U.S. bill of rights, are just left out. This proclamation denotes the French and British influence since they helped the Ottoman Empire to fight against the European power and their modernism.
The Hatt-i-Humayun Proclamation included Christians and Jews communities giving them the choice of joining the army, instead of forcing their participation as it was done before. It was a big advance for the reformation purposes, possibly viewed by other empires. Consequently it served as a sample to neighbor governments. Leverage amongst all ottoman population was promised by the Ottoman sultan. He basically offered to treat everyone equally, not like the past emperors or like in devshirme period of time, when janissaries take the oldest son of the Christian communities that were conquered and forced them into military life style. Now new generation of janissaries were going to be a mix in religion and beliefs and not forcibly converted into Muslim religion.
The Hatt-i-Humayun Proclamation of 1856 involves all the aspects that society needed to synchronize with the new ottoman system in order to function as a whole. It promises individuality, security, ownership, opportunity to have options and choose from them respecting the individual decision without retaliation from emperor’s institutions and its members. As a result the non-Muslim religions of the Ottoman Empire were able to live and work more freely in their homelands. These reforms and freedoms promised in the proclamation made them wealthy and vital component of the Empire they lived in.
It confirms the previous proclamations and of course promises made by the sultan’s ancestors over the Ottoman Empire. It addresses many points that the Ottoman Empire was not aware before or was simply not important to consider. The release of this document offered a religious security, for non-Muslim religions, mostly Christians and Jews, and promised equality in education, government appointments, administration of justice making people sovereign and gave them power of decision whether to participate in the reformed Ottoman military system or not.
The Hatt-i-Humayun Proclamation is the sultan’s promise to Ottoman population. It tried to create citizens and considered officially the non-Muslim religions as part of the ottoman system instead of just forcing their participation just because they were taken over by the sultan’s army. This time the proclamation includes every single person without discrimination of gender or religious beliefs, or age. The document is revolutionary for its time. It takes care of the discrimination issue and preference in between Muslim and non-Muslim religions. It promised that court disputes will no longer be Muslim-based religious legislation; instead court legislation will be directed by mixed courts, which is the inclusion of non-Muslim members into the court legislation. The proclamation gave the people the right to establish their own school system. It was more advance and covers specifically the points of religion and civic duties that, compared with the U.S. bill of rights, are just left out. This proclamation denotes the French and British influence since they helped the Ottoman Empire to fight against the European power and their modernism.
The Hatt-i-Humayun Proclamation included Christians and Jews communities giving them the choice of joining the army, instead of forcing their participation as it was done before. It was a big advance for the reformation purposes, possibly viewed by other empires. Consequently it served as a sample to neighbor governments. Leverage amongst all ottoman population was promised by the Ottoman sultan. He basically offered to treat everyone equally, not like the past emperors or like in devshirme period of time, when janissaries take the oldest son of the Christian communities that were conquered and forced them into military life style. Now new generation of janissaries were going to be a mix in religion and beliefs and not forcibly converted into Muslim religion.
The Hatt-i-Humayun Proclamation of 1856 involves all the aspects that society needed to synchronize with the new ottoman system in order to function as a whole. It promises individuality, security, ownership, opportunity to have options and choose from them respecting the individual decision without retaliation from emperor’s institutions and its members. As a result the non-Muslim religions of the Ottoman Empire were able to live and work more freely in their homelands. These reforms and freedoms promised in the proclamation made them wealthy and vital component of the Empire they lived in.
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