Islam - George W. Bush - Barack Obama

The World right now continues to be focused on Haiti. The focus is so right in light of the utter devastation going on. The desparation is evident and the scenes are heart breaking. I cannot even comprehend what Kerry Sanders, the NBC News Correpodent is reporting right now:

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What I worry about is California. As a member of my local City's Public Safety and Emergency Prepardness Committee, I wonder whether we can deal with the big one. What I know is that the big one will happen in California in light of the tremendous resource challenges it has right now. As I wrote about Haiti, though, all of us will do our part. The recovery will take a long time. The whole country has to be literally built from scratch. It is great to see that this massive moblization effort is across ideological lines.

As I continued to survey the devastation, I thought about France. Despite the ugly colonial history, I commend France for stepping up as they have. For Haitians, the world will insure that there continues to be hope and the will to live has to be brought back ever more. I also commend President Obama has done in asking President Clinton and President George W. Bush to get involved as President Clinton and President George H.W. Bush did after the tragedy in Indonesia.

This tragedy needs to be a wakeup call for us all to come together as humans to realize how fragile life is. We need to overcome the prejudices in order to be able to come together. I wonder if the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan understand that. I wonder if the ubber-rich in India understand that as the untouchables in India continue to suffer. All of us must remember this admontion from Joseph Addison as quoted by Dr. Stephen Covey in his Book, the Seven Habits:

"When I look upon the tombs of the great, every emotion of envy dies in me; when I read the epitaphs of the beautiful, every inordinate desire goes out; when I meet with the grief of parents upon a tombstone, my heart melts with compassion; when I see the tomb of the parents themselves, I consider the vanity of grieving for those who we must quickly follow; when I see kings lying by those who deposed them, when I consider rival wits placed side by side, or the holy men that divided the world with their contests and disputes, I reflect with sorrow and astonishment on the little competitions, factions, and debates of mankind. When I read the several dates of the tombs, of some that died yesterday, and some six hundred years ago, I consider that great Day when we shall all of us be Contemporaries, and make our appearance together." (Covey, The Seven Habits, p. 97)

When will we all learn?

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January 15th 2010 @ 06:38

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: Christianity, Inter-Faith Relationships, Islam, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Congress

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Afghanistan's Moment of Truth

: ....Anxious!!!

At 5:00 PM EST U.S. today, Barack Obama will tell the world what he has decided to do on Afghanistan. I eagerly await his decision. But, the bits and pieces I have heard concerns me a great deal.

First of all, I understand that part of the strategy is to give up the rural areas to focus on the Cities. The problem is that Afghanistan is primarily still a rural country. Afghanistan is not Kabul. The idea of somehow 30,000 additional troops being deployed over a 2 year period seems to be frankly a drop in the bucket. Although the President has said that he intends to finish the job, the timeline is slated to go through 2011. The biggest mistake is to sustain the existing non-government that is a collection of self-serving thugs and killers. That's my biggest problem with this. Key world leaders have been briefed already.

As the world awaits the President's decision, there are already people who are speaking out against it. There is supposedly an exit strategy too. The Republicans are also interestingly circling the wagons to focus on the war and stop the key domestic initiative of the President: healthcare. The President has to make his case. I will keep an open mind.

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December 1st 2009 @ 09:14

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: Hamid Karzai, Taliban, Al Qaeda, NATO, Inter-Faith Relationships, Islam, George W. Bush, Barack Obama

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Witness to History: An Historical Inauguration

: ..and now the real work begins......

A New Dawn Has Arrived

Barack Hussein Obama is now the 44th President of the United States. Throughout my lifetime, I have had the privilege to read on the traditions and was finally able to be a true witness to this momentous transfer of power due to the power of technology. I have continued to marvel at how someone with so much power gives it up so willingly because the people are truly sovereign in America. This was quite moving when the President and the First Lady escorted Former Mr. and Mrs. Bush

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January 21st 2009 @ 04:12

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: Hamid Karzai, Taliban, Al Qaeda, NATO, The Pakistani Taliban, The Army, Kashmir, Christianity, Inter-Faith Relationships, Islam, Hydro, Nuclear, Solar, Wind, Iran, Economics, Politics, Iraq , The War, Saudi Arabia, Gulf Cooperation Council, George W. Bush, The Presidential Election, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, Brazil

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The Gaza Tragedy (Day 11...Cont'd)

: No one is safe

The war continues. From the reports I am seeing, no one is safe. No where is safe. The UN has said that all information was given to the Israelis. A school was hit and children have been killed. So, what are the ordinary Gazans to do? Israelis have noted how their strikes are "surgical". If this in fact was a mistake, it blows away all crediblity by the Israelis in this regard. So far, Israel is losing the PR war. At least, the Israelis are to be commended for allowing Al Jazeera to report.

The flurry of diplomatic activity is continuing. I commend Prime Minister Edrogan's admonition to the Israelis when he noted the suffering Israelis have undergone and what they're doing will have a bleak mark on humanity. Although I anxiously await Mahmoud Abbas' speech, nothing will happen until the U.S. tells Israel to stop. It does appears that the Bush Adminstration will let Israel to achieve its' military objectives (whatever they are). In the meantime, the suffering continues

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January 6th 2009 @ 21:35

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: Islam, Egypt, George W. Bush, Barack Obama

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Gaza......

: The Coverage Has Fallen off the Face of the Earth....

Gaza continues to be under siege by the Israelis. Israel has initiated the blockade with the support of Egypt because of the security threat from Hamas. Some have said that Gaza is the world's largest prison. I am truly trying to see and think through a solution that all can live with. Whatever ideas folks have had has only resulted in misery for all. Israelis have to continue to live in fear. Palestianians continue to suffer because they cannot simply have the basic necessities that is necessary. Israel pulled out of Gaza. But, it continues to control the Air, the Sea and Land borders of Gaza. I am sure Israel understands its' obligations. But somehow the suffering of the ordinary Palestianian that is neither a member of Hamas or any the families should never be forgotten. From what I have seen, it is in fact the case.

The plight of the Palestinians was discussed in this film showcased in Toronto last month

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November 28th 2008 @ 07:00

Posted By: Mike Pouraryan - Category: Christianity, Inter-Faith Relationships, Islam, Egypt, Iran, George W. Bush, Barack Obama

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