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Tides of Ideas
Note: The article is follow up to “Golden age of Muslims by Saeed Mirza” 0716 2012. Following topics are discussed: Inclusivist Progressives vs Exclusivist Orthodoxy Historical background and Tides of Ideas Proselytizers and Loss of Scholarship Cultural Wars Modern Science and Humanity Hope and Future References and notes Inclusivist Progressives vs Exclusivist Retrogressive Orthodoxy Successes and failures run in cycles depending on the maturity of political, social, cultural and economic institutions. The inclusivity accelerates human progress and retrogressive orthodoxy divides people and inhibits scholarship. The Muslim golden age was followed for 600+ years by a retrogressive political ideology by establishments of Muslim orthodoxy. Muslim dictators helped by orthodoxy of Arab tribal customs adopted discriminatory policies against women and non-Islamic followers to deny human rights, equal opportunities and equal justice in occupied lands. In such environment of exclusivity free flow of … Read entire article »
Golden age of Muslims by Saeed Mirza
I appreciated an introduction to the life of three young Pakistani women in theUS by a US based Pakistani free lance journalist (#1) (#1, etc means see references and notes). The brief stories the journalist narrated invoked many thoughts. I started with my belief that if we take away the bondage placed on women and the Miskeen (#2) by nations there is hope not only for women every where but also for humanity. In this two parts researched series first I will review Saeed Mirza’s book (#3) and then present in next part additional research that offers clues to Tides of Ideas that have benefited humanity as scholars from all across globe for 3,500+ years have continued to make progress in scientific knowledge. The second part will present my observations to explain factors that were necessary for the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Hinduism, India, Islam, Vedic Knowledge
Corruption and Social Order in South Asia
The media often presents a variety of views from seasoned journalists, bloggers, and aam admi (common man) discussions on corruption in South Asia; the tone and substance of the discussions generally have left me more confused than enlightened. We understand that corruption is not unique to South Asia; it is all across globe but at different levels. In the WASP* (#1) culture dominated nations the social order has moved on from that developed by ‘the old boy’s network’ of elites representing the traditional upper crust of society. The new elite meritocracy took over about a couple of decades after the WWII (1970 onwards). The subject was discussed by David Brooks* (#2). Brooks had based his arguments after reviewing a book by Christopher Hayes* (#3). Both author’s arguments reflected the US and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Corruption, Economy, India
Non-state Actors, Miskeen, Education, Economy and Chalta Hain
Pakistan is like an imperfectly crafted cubic zirconia diamond. It is the nation born (1947) based on religion. On global stage in last four decades it has evolved as an epicenter of too many things vile including terrorism. Its additional imperfections include a complex political reality. Politically it is managed as fiefdom of the army, the DPC (Defense of Pakistan Coalition) and elected but weak politicians. DPC is a coalition of many non-state actors cultivated by the army. Want-to-be Arabs and non-Arabs are characterized as Miskeen (poor). Given poorly educated population incapable of generating above average to high economic growth rates and preoccupation with a regional power status using non-state actors the national economy is on a slippery slope and poverty is on increase. Wide spread public cynicism is at … Read entire article »
Filed under: America, Economy, Islam, Pakistan, Politics, World
Bridging India’s skills gap with OER
A star (*) means more info is offered in References and Notes section. This blog covers following topics: INDUSAPTI* and Demographic ICT Challenges Activities List Jobs Economic System Indian Economy Imparting skills through OER References and notes INDUSAPTI* and Demographic INDUSAPTI (INDUSA Practical Technologies Institute) is described in my blog “Emerging India”*. An objective of INDUSAPTI virtual school, an Open Educational Resource (OER)* is: “to let all visitors, especially rural youth and slum dwellers to develop the habits and culture of honoring their natural skills, which are the most valuable and only truly renewable resource in the world today.” For decades, people took dynamism and economic growth for granted and saw population growth as a problem. Now we’ve gone to the other extreme, and it’s clear that young people are the scarce resource. For past few decadesIndiahas enjoyed healthy demographics. In the … Read entire article »
Special Ops Military Strategies
A star (*) after a sentence means references and notes should be consulted for additional info on the subject. The blog covers following topics. Introduction Contractors for and Goals of the US and Pakistan Armies Co-dependencies of Pakistan and the US Women Scorned The US Special Ops and the Obama Plans Concluding Remarks References and notes Introduction The blog focuses on special ops military strategies of two nations in last 50 years. A primal instinct is to dominate and for ambitious rulers and nations to dominate the world. A goal of warfare is to achieve dominance over enemy at minimum possible costs. The US special ops forces in the Af-Pak war (2008 to present) use highly skilled soldiers to conduct low cost high tech warfare to hunt down and decapitate leadership of the al Qaeda and its co-linked … Read entire article »
The US: A decade after 2001
A star (*) indicates more information is available in the references and notes. President Obama in his latest State of the Union Address reported to the US Congress that after nine years of war the withdrawal of all US troops from Iraqis completed and in more than two decades Osama bin Laden (OBL) is not around to threaten the US security. President has in three years resolved major issues related to theUS security except that associated with the Af-Pak area terrorist Taliban and intransigent warlords of Pakistan. President has asked theUS and NATO generals to set up by 2014 a 350,000 strong Afghan army capable of neutralizing threats to its sovereignty from its neighbors. The US is committed to providing necessary military and economic aid to the Afghanistan to defend and sustain … Read entire article »
Asymmetric War and Financial Bets
The blog present following topics: Introduction Asymmetric Bets The Big Short and Bubble Economies The Obama Factor Pakistan Big Short Option The Afghanistan’s Future References and notes Introduction The political soap opera now being staged inPakistanindicates that it may be plunging into one more political crisis in its short history (1971 – present). If constitutional remedies are applied for the resolution of political crisis may strengthen basic institutions of the fragile democracy. The weak government institutions continue to support army and intransigent warlords managed proxy wars even though its fragile economy lacks resources to sustain the annual costs at an estimated $1 bbl for maintaining 100,000 proxy warriors. Using the mercenary proxy warriors a goal appears to be to dominate South Asia with economic and military aid from theUSand Arabs interested in the regional hegemony. TheUSsupport for the … Read entire article »
Purpose of Life and Absolute truth
Introduction Purpose of Life and Education* Immortality and Absolute Truth References and Notes The star (*) represents more information can be found in references and notes. Purpose of Life and Education* The purpose of life, the reason to exist, from birth to death, is to learn. We are here to learn of God’s Truths in His works. We are here to learn to live in peace and in harmony with all of God’s Creation. What better way to know God than to look for His Truth in His Work. It takes very little insight to realize that all life on earth must learn and that failure to learn guarantees extinction. Although learning does not guarantee immortality, it does point in the right direction. Perhaps life created earlier in remote reaches of this universe is more advanced … Read entire article »
Filed under: Hinduism, India, Vedic Knowledge
Pakistan Palestine Sufism and Terrorism
Pakistan Palestine Sufism and Terrorism Introduction The star (*) represents more information can be found in references and notes. This blog with following topics is concerned with select Op-eds of Pakistani scholars. International Political Opportunists Hate and Intolerance Palestine State and Khilafat Movement South Asia Developments Death of Humanism Hopes for Future References and Notes for Islamic History International Political Opportunists Irfan Husain a respected Pakistani Op-ed writer in defense of a case for Palestine state presented interesting arguments based on select history to counter the firestorm ignited by a flame thrower and a want-to-be GOP nominee, American Newt Gingrich. Prof Gingrich had recently claimed that Palestinians were invented people. Before Mr Gingrich’s claim, Mr. Zuhair Mohsen stated that “The Palestinian people do not exist.”* Here are some factors and questions to consider: Prof Husain may have … Read entire article »
Filed under: America, Hinduism, Islam, Pakistan, Politics, World
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