Politics: What do you think of the Newsweek cover ‘Muslim rage’?
Picture: One year anniversary of Occupy Movement
I’m posting this picture (which was a vetted CNN iReport) to remember Occupy Dame Street (Dublin) and the one year anniversary of the start of the global Occupy Movement.
Work: Some links launching new initiative One Film 9/11
Journey into America should be required viewing for all Americans and Muslims worldwide. For this reason I have started the initiative One Film 9/11. The purpose of this initiative is to screen Journey into America in as many places of religious worship around the world on September 11th, 2013 in the hope of improving relations…… Continue reading Work: Some links launching new initiative One Film 9/11
Politics: ‘Sorry people of America …’
Gandhi’s Views on the Prophet Muhammad
Published in ‘Young India’ (1924): ‘I wanted to know the best of the life of one who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind… I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life.…… Continue reading Gandhi’s Views on the Prophet Muhammad
Poem: Divine light
The light: that spark, that thought in your head, the wisdom from without and in turn within. Give thanks for without it we’d be empty and stricken by blaze. I dream before I even dream and I think before I even think, I’m ahead even when I’m behind and I have little idea of how it happens. But it does,…… Continue reading Poem: Divine light
Music: Elvis Presley Blues
I heard this song on the radio this lovely morning. The disc jockey said that it is one of the greatest songs ever written by a human being. True story.
Work: Launching my new initiative: One Film 9/11 and ‘Journey into America’ (2009) as the counter to hateful Terry Jones film
Ladies and Gentlemen, The recent and unfortunate events in Benghazi, Libya and Cairo, Egypt were both sparked by ONE FILM. The film was created by Pastor Terry Jones and Co. Its message was disgusting. It painted Prophet Muhammad as a child rapist, among other absurdities. Annoyed that ONE FILM could have such destruction on human…… Continue reading Work: Launching my new initiative: One Film 9/11 and ‘Journey into America’ (2009) as the counter to hateful Terry Jones film
A counter to the hateful Innocence of Muslims
By now many of you have heard of the propaganda film Innocence of Muslims which led to a tragedy in Benghazi and an almost-tragedy in Cairo. For better or worse, these events proved that one film can make a huge difference, which is why I want to inform you about Journey into America (2009) by Ambassador AKBAR AHMED and its subsequent…… Continue reading A counter to the hateful Innocence of Muslims
Poem: Trace of the traceless
After Bastami, or who may have received it from Abu Ali. Here it reads in Nicholson: Creatures equal subjects to changing ‘states’, but some people have no ‘state’, because his vestiges are affaced and his essence annihilated by the essence of another. Traces lost in another’s traces.
Poem: Out of plight
After Reynold A. Nicholson * Jesus passed by three men. Their bodies were lean and their faces pale. He asked them, ‘What has brought you to this plight?’ They answered, ‘Fear of the Fire’. * Jesus said, ‘You fear a thing created, and it behoves God that he should save those who fear’. * Jesus left them…… Continue reading Poem: Out of plight
Picture: Comfortable bee in the flower
Picture: Kids these days
Shot at high school in Needham, Massachusetts on 9/11.
Articles
2014 The Problem With Banning the Burqa. Huffington Post Religion, March 12th. Revisiting the Connection Between Prophet Muhammad and George Washington. Huffington Post Religion, February 16th. Interview on Scholar’s Spiritual Journey Into Islam and the Life of Prophet Muhammad. Huffington Post Religion, February 11th. What Studying Muhammad Taught Me About Islam. Huffington Post Religion, January…… Continue reading Articles
Work: Huffington Post piece, ‘The “other” Islam’ and reflecting on religion and 9/11
A short piece I wrote about how 9/11 changed the way I looked at religion, specifically Islam, was published today (September 11th) in the Huffington Post’s article (slide 12) How 9/11 Changed Religion in America. I’m honoured to be featured alongside a Hindu Monk, a Sikh activist, an Ahmadi writer, a Jewish scholar, a Dean at USC,…… Continue reading Work: Huffington Post piece, ‘The “other” Islam’ and reflecting on religion and 9/11
Commentary: Reflecting on no-change and change on this 9/11
‘Success’ after 9-11 was measured not by what each American had to change, but rather how little one had to change anything at all. We saw this in George W. Bush’s call for Americans to ‘be American’ again by ‘going shopping’, that is, to go back to doing the kind of things that Americans enjoy…… Continue reading Commentary: Reflecting on no-change and change on this 9/11
Music: One For The Road
Poem: Pub lesson
Listen to others. Keep your mind open to new ideas. But when you know someone is wrong, pounce on that. Explain to them why they’re wrong. Don’t hold back. Show no mercy to inferior thoughts. You’ve your mind, your convictions. At the end of the day, what else do you have? No point in wasting…… Continue reading Poem: Pub lesson
Poem: The ravage of capitalism
After Marx Masses of labourers, crowded into the factory, are organized like soldiers, as privates of the industrial army. They are placed under the command of a perfect hierarchy, of officers and sergeants. Not only are they slaves of the bourgeois class, and of the bourgeois State; they are daily and hourly enslaved by the…… Continue reading Poem: The ravage of capitalism
Calls for secession in the U.S.
Last update: November 5th, 2013 New Colorado: the 51st state? Rural Coloradans feel marginalized by urban voters. So 11 counties will soon vote on a proposal to secede from Colorado. Keep reading at Al-Jazeera America. * The US government shutdown is over, but the divide between the “two America’s” continues, as the New York Times…… Continue reading Calls for secession in the U.S.
“The Forefront of Zion:” Video of Israeli Colonization of East Jerusalem
Mondoweiss writes: You will see the billboard for an Israeli settlement right below us being built inside the Palestinian neighborhood of Jebel Muhaber. The billboard features an appeal for American Jews to buy here. The colony is called Nof Zion, the vista of Zion. At 2:08 you will see the black barrels on the tops…… Continue reading “The Forefront of Zion:” Video of Israeli Colonization of East Jerusalem
Politics: The deficit as another example of the ‘alternative universe’ of the Republican Party
Here’s a brilliant idea… let’s go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan even though we don’t have the money to pay for it. We can just put the tab on our credit cards. $3,000,000,000,000 isn’t that much money anyways. No worries. Here’s another good idea. While we’re at war, let’s give tax breaks to the…… Continue reading Politics: The deficit as another example of the ‘alternative universe’ of the Republican Party
Picture: Mount Branden in Éire
Music: Aj Latha Naeeo
Politics: N.Y.P.D. now an international ‘anti-terrorist’ organization?
Wait, what? The N.Y.P.D., located half way across the world from the ‘Holy Land’, has opened its own ‘anti-terror’ office inside Israel, writes the al-monitor.com. Will N.Y.P.D. become a branch of the C.I.A.? How exactly does this legally work? I feel that this is messed up in all sorts of ways.
Politics: On these issues, there’s little difference between Obama and Bush
Think back to the election of 2008. Do you remember how one candidate had it easy? He had eight years of abject failure to run against. Eight years that included the launching of two dismal wars, the creation of a torture gulag with its crown jewel at Guantánamo Bay, the ushering in of a program of robotic assassination missions and secret spying…… Continue reading Politics: On these issues, there’s little difference between Obama and Bush
Politics: Deval Patrick’s feisty ‘backbone’ speech calls on Democrats to stop being whimps
The Republicans must be aggravated that a short black man can be so politically destructive. It must shatter the constructs that many have in their head. Patrick’s speech had very little rhetoric, which I like. He was strong and feisty and attacked. He called on Democrats to stop being such wimps. He told his party…… Continue reading Politics: Deval Patrick’s feisty ‘backbone’ speech calls on Democrats to stop being whimps
Politics: Considering questions about communism
To what extent is communism a fundamental principle of Christian theology? To what extent is the implementation of communism the correct path for the realization of republican ideals and virtues? What are the similarities and differences between communism and socialism? How could the abolition of private property and inheritance be realized? How can our needs…… Continue reading Politics: Considering questions about communism
Politics: Double standard in war crimes
From Desmond Tutu’s Why I had no choice but to spurn Tony Blair: ‘On what grounds do we decide that Robert Mugabe should go the International Criminal Court, Tony Blair should join the international speakers’ circuit, bin Laden should be assassinated, but Iraq should be invaded, not because it possesses weapons of mass destruction, as…… Continue reading Politics: Double standard in war crimes
Poem: How do you think?
After Emerson What is the hardest task in the world? To think. I would put myself in the attitude to look in the eye an abstract truth, and I cannot. I blench and withdraw on this side and on that. I seem to know what he meant who said, No man can see God face…… Continue reading Poem: How do you think?
Poem: Homeless man in Dublin
First published in Irish Independent What is it like to be homeless? Most people never even ponder such a question. Craig is a homeless poet who writes his long poems on the pavement near the Molly Malone statue outside Trinity College’s walls. I walked by Craig about one year ago. I handed him a one-euro coin…… Continue reading Poem: Homeless man in Dublin
Film-work: Obama visits Needham, Massachusetts on campaign trail
Personal: A letter I received today
Dear Craig, Greetings. Thank you for taking the time to come and visit me. Thank you for your kind note. I really enjoyed meeting you. I have a sixth sense about people. Or perhaps a visceral feeling. Even enough I met you for a few minutes, I knew you would be an interesting person. And…… Continue reading Personal: A letter I received today
Poem: The sentiment of love
After Emerson Every soul is a celestial Venus to every other soul. The heart has its sabbaths and jubilees in which the world appears as a hymeneal feast, and all natural sounds and the circles of the seasons are erotic odes and dances. Love is omnipresent in nature as motive and reward. Love is our…… Continue reading Poem: The sentiment of love
Ralph Waldo Emerson quoting the Qur’an
Politics: What Massachusetts knows about Romney’s ‘business experience’
Many people who are from or have lived in Massachusetts know that Romney, while Governor, led a state which was near the bottom of the national list for JOB GROWTH. During his administration, he also piled up more DEBT per person than any other state and CUT taxes for millionaires. Romney’s track record in no…… Continue reading Politics: What Massachusetts knows about Romney’s ‘business experience’
Commentary: Fox ‘News’ homepage reads as a tabloid, not the most ‘trusted name in news’
Today is August 30, 2012. It’s 9:00 am. Like on every other morning, I have taken a very quick glimpse at the homepage of Fox News, the ‘Fair and Balanced’ ‘news outlet’, to gage where the right and far right are basing their political arguments. Like on every other morning, I am pretty appalled. Look at…… Continue reading Commentary: Fox ‘News’ homepage reads as a tabloid, not the most ‘trusted name in news’
Quoted: Thoreau on Success
‘I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more liberal…… Continue reading Quoted: Thoreau on Success
Politics: Politics of ‘Anti-Semitic’
About five minutes ago, I had a link ready for posting on my Facebook profile. The link had to do with Eilat, Israel’s (mis)treatment of the children of African migrants. In a nut shell, the rulers of Eilat want these children to be placed in separate schools and away from the ‘real’ and more ‘authentic’…… Continue reading Politics: Politics of ‘Anti-Semitic’
Politics: Who is ‘We’ and what have they ‘Built’?
I won’t be tuning into the Republican National Convention, though last night, while eating dinner, I overheard that the theme for the first night of the Convention was ‘We Built That’. So who and/or what is the Grand Old Party (GOP) referring to with ‘We’? Who exactly is ‘We’? Is it a reference to Americans generally or…… Continue reading Politics: Who is ‘We’ and what have they ‘Built’?
Film-work: Interviews at Os Gemeos ‘boogey man’ mural
What does that thing on the wall mean to people? Is it a terrorist? The Taliban? A Muslim spy? Or is it just a piece of art? Is it a character from the Simpsons? What exactly does it mean? I head to the mural with camera in hand to gage how people interpret Os Gemeos.
Commentary: Relativity and religious hostility
This ‘study’ conducted by the Liberty Institute claims that there is rising hostility towards Christians in today’s United States. But last time I checked, Christian Americans were not seeing their churches burned to the ground. Last time I checked, non-Christian Americans were not going into churches and shooting people at random. Last time I checked, non-Christian…… Continue reading Commentary: Relativity and religious hostility
Film-work: Television as the new Gospel
Television is not the truth. It is a Goddamn amusement park.
Quoted: Solara An Ra
The great spiritual teachers who have graced your planet have spoken of beingness – the state of being fully immersed in the present, and in the world. Take note – fully in the present and IN THE WORLD. Many of you seek elsewhere for your salvation and peace of mind – seeking through meditation to…… Continue reading Quoted: Solara An Ra
Picture/Fieldwork: The Pitt
Poem: What’s out there
After Emerson When the act of reflection takes place in the mind, when we look at ourselves in the light of thought, we discover that our life is embosomed in beauty. Behind us, as we go, all things assume pleasing forms, as clouds do far off. Not only things familiar and stale, but even the…… Continue reading Poem: What’s out there
Work: Vetted CNN iReports
Picture – Call to fight in Athens (August 17 2012) Picture – Occupy Dame Street (October 18 2011) Video – Inauguration Day on Former Slave Island in Georgia (January 20 2009) Video – Islam and Hip Hop with Q-Boogie (November 20 2008) Video – Interview in Chomsky’s Office (October 23 2008) Video – Somali Muslims…… Continue reading Work: Vetted CNN iReports
Irish President Calls American Tea Partier “Wanker Whipping Up Fear”
The President of Ireland Michael D Higgins eviscerated ardent US Republican radio broadcaster Michael Graham over issues like healthcare and foreign policy. Read more here.
Music: Some soul in walking in the sun
Things have been going wrong Long enough to know everything is right Been walking in the dark, long enough to know I finally see the light I’ve been losing long enough to know When I finally won And even a blind man can tell When he’s walking in the sun Cried enough tears to know…… Continue reading Music: Some soul in walking in the sun
craigconsidinetcd.com 