Ezine

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Meedan: Brotherhood slogan under fire as Egypt takes to the polls

As Egyptians head to the ballot boxes today to vote in parliamentary elections, and amid reports of a crackdown against leading opposition group the Muslim Brotherhood, Kate Goodin looks at the campaign trail debate in the Arab press, and particularly in Egypt, on the meaning of the controversial Brotherhood slogan "Islam is the Solution."

Controversy over the slogan opened up a broader discussion on the role of religion in society, the Muslim Brotherhood's history, and the right way to solve Egypt's problems.

Mahmoud Ghazlan, a Muslim Brotherhood leader, defends the slogan on the organization's website, explaining that "Islam is the solution" means that Islam is the basis for remedying human rights abuses in Egypt, and enumerates Islamic foundations for the principles of public freedoms and human rights, such as freedom of religion and freedom of expression.

Sami Al-Beheiry, however, takes the slogan as an insult to Egyptians' faith:

I would have understood the widespread of such slogan in a non-Muslim country, in order to invite its people to Islam. However, raising this slogan in a Muslim country means that whoever raised it does not consider this country Muslim.

:?? ???? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ??????? ? ???? ?? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ??? ????????

Zine El Abidine Al-Rekabi explains in Al-Sharq Al-Awsat:

There is an abysmal gap between the "Islam is the Solution" slogan and "practical solutions" that would actually be able to solve the world's problems, and Muslim's problems for that matter.

??? ???????? ??????? ?????: ?? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ???? (??????? ?? ????) ???? (???? ?????) ???? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ??? ???.

Amr al-Shobaki, writing in leading Egyptian independent paper Al-Masry Al-Youm, sees the motto as an example of the organization's stagnancy:

The Brotherhood has been using this motto since the 1987 elections and has failed to re-assess it since then. During this time, the political map of the world has changed, communism has collapsed, yet the Brotherhood--much like the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP)--have remained stationary, using the same old political discourse and offering nothing new.

Egyptian intellectual Sayed Al-Qimni argues on his blog that this slogan is un-Islamic and bad for the country:

The Prophet of Islam (PBUH) practiced politics and military strategies with worldly logic. This teaches Muslims a great lesson; achieving worldy purposes cannot be done except through worldly methods. [...]This slogan is against science, because if, in our religion, there was the single solution for all the problems of the world, then this means that Muslims would focus solely on Islam and not investigate solutions and achievements made by other nations.

???? ??? ??????? (?) ??????? ? ???????????? ????? ?????? ? ??????? ????? ???????? ???? ????? ?? ...... ?? ????? ??????? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ??????. ? ?? ???? ?? ????? , ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ????? ? ?? ???? ?????? , ????? ??? ?? ??? ???????? ????? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ?

Bassem al-Khafagy, writing in the Egyptian paper Al-Wasat, criticises 'Islam is the solution' as a flawed idea poorly executed:

Some of those who say today that "Islam is the solution", merely use the slogan, but their political and humanistic practices do not indicate that they have chosen Islam as a solution for their own problems. I don't see how we can say something then do another thing completely, then mourn the fact that people do not believe us or sympathize with us.

??? ??? ??????? ????? ?? ?? "??????? ?? ????" .. ???????? ?????? ???? ???? ????????? ???????? ?? ????????? ?? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ??? ??????? ???? ????????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?? ????? ????? ?? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ???????? ????

Al-Khafagy summarizes Egyptian political thinking into four camps:

Some will raise the "Islam is the Solution" slogan, while others would say "Democracy is the Solution", and a third group would stress that "Stability is the Solution", but the majority would assert that "There is No Solution".

???? ????? ???? "??????? ?? ????" .. ?????? ??????? "??????????? ?? ????" .. ????? ????? "????????? ?? ????" .. ????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?? ????? ???? "?? ???? ??"

Akram Al-Qassas criticizes the MB use of the slogan in the independent Egyptian newspaper Youm7:

The Muslim Brotherhood too has found the chance to stir controversy over their ambiguous slogan that says both nothing and everything. They know very well that religion is the one thing most Egyptians can agree upon. What they fail to acknowledge is that those standing for office are human beings - not angels and certainly not gods. Accordingly, it is humans - and not the faith - which stands to win or lose.

? : ????? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????????? ????? ???????? ?? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ??? ????.

Hassan Nifaa writes in Al-Masry Al-Youm, that while he disagrees with the slogan, the ban is simply an attempt to crack down on opposition:

The slogan "Islam is the solution" may not be the solution, but it isn't the problem either. The real problem is that President Mubarak refuses to entertain the idea of change of power, insisting on remaining in charge until his "last breath," after which the top job will be bequeathed to Mubarak Jr. When the ruling elite accept the idea of alternation of power on principle, it will be a whole lot easier to adjust the relationship between religion and state!

???? ???????? ?? ????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ????, ???? ??? ??????? ????. ??????? ???????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??? ????????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ?? ????. ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ????? ????????!

The views in this post are taken from diverse sources and should not be taken as the views of Meedan. You can add your view in two languages on news.Meedan.net

Follow Meedan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/meedan

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Beyond Hiroshima - The Non-Reporting of Falluja's Cancer Catastrophe.

View the original article here

Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie Take Daughters Shopping In Paris (PHOTO)

people.com:

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie took daughters Zahara and Shiloh holiday shopping in Paris Saturday and it looks like they'll be able to check quite a few things of their gift list, including pants, pajamas, gloves, sweaters, boots, stuffed animals, knights' costumes (complete with tunics, swords and shields) and one large green plastic alligator, according to staff at the Bonpoint boutique on rue de Tournon near the Luxembourg Gardens.

Read the whole story: people.com

Get HuffPost Entertainment On Twitter and Facebook! Know something we don't? E-mail us at entertainment@huffingtonpost.com

View the original article here

Heidi Fleiss' House Ravaged By Thanksgiving Fire (PHOTO)

What's Your Reaction?

tmz.com:

Heidi Fleiss might have to break out her little black book again -- because the fire that ravaged her home on Thanksgiving is gonna set her back some serious cash.

Read the whole story: tmz.com

Get HuffPost Entertainment On Twitter and Facebook! Know something we don't? E-mail us at entertainment@huffingtonpost.com

Heidi Fleiss might have to break out her little black book again -- because the fire that ravaged her home on Thanksgiving is gonna set her back some serious cash. ...

View the original article here

Ladies Fashion Online

November 26th, 2010 | admin |

Ladies Fashion Online

Most women like to be able to access fashionable clothing, but if you work it is hard to get to the shops before closing time. That leaves the weekend which is usually taken up doing stuff with the children, catching up with the housework or going out. So one of the best ways to find something new to wear is to boot up the computer and look for women’s fashion online.

When you buy clothing online you don’t have to worry about beating the clock to closing time, rushing out to pick up the kids from school, getting home to cook tea or anything else. You have done all those things and the kids are safely tucked up in bed. You have some spare time and what better way to spend it than shopping online?

There are many clothing sites that sell ladies fashion clothing and when you shop online you can often get something that is not available in the local store. For those women who hate to see someone else wearing the same top or dress that they just bought – and don’t we all – this is a great way to avoid it.

These days of casual wear you can’t have too many women’s fashion tops – but having a lot of tops often means that you could be found wearing exactly the same top as your neighbour. But when you buy fashion tops online you will find that there are so many more styles and colours than are available in your favourite bricks and mortar store, and the customers are spread over such a wide area, that you are highly unlikely to find anyone else wearing the same top as yours.

The prices of clothing online are very reasonable too. Online clothing stores do not have the same overheads as real time stores so they can pass the savings on to you. Better still, when you shop online you can purchase clothing from the US or another country and have it delivered to your doorstep.

Fashion Boutiue is an owner of a small fashion store for men, women and children.

View the original article here

Maxine Waters Ethics Case: Email Doesn't Appear To Provide Link To Alleged Conflict

WASHINGTON — A recently discovered e-mail, which forced postponement of Rep. Maxine Waters' ethics trial, appears to bring the House ethics committee no closer to proving she tried to obtain a U.S. bailout – during the financial crisis – for a bank where her husband owns stock.

Waters, a California Democrat and a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, was to go on trial Monday before an ethics panel of eight congressional colleagues. She has maintained her innocence, and has been demanding for months that the trial be held.

The new evidence is an e-mail written by her chief of staff Mikael Moore, who also is Waters' grandson. It said Waters was closely watching the writing of bailout legislation that included a provision to help minority-owned banks. But OneUnited Bank – where Waters' husband is a stockholder – wasn't mentioned, even though it was among the institutions that could have benefited from the provision.

A key question is whether Waters instructed Moore to get assistance for OneUnited, when her husband's investment in the Boston-based institution was in danger of becoming worthless during the near-financial collapse of late 2008.

Waters has contended she was simply trying to help all minority banks in trouble – and specifically those, like OneUnited, that were hurt by their investments in the then-collapsing mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

In its public document that charged Waters earlier this year with three ethics violations, and now in the staff chief's e-mail, the ethics committee has so far failed to establish that Waters' efforts were for OneUnited rather than a larger group of banks.

Ethics trials are rare. Last week, the ethics committee recommended that the House publicly censure 20-term Rep. Charles Rangel of New York for fundraising and financial conduct that violated congressional rules. It was only the second House trial proceeding in the past two decades.

The chief of staff's e-mail was written by Moore on Sept. 28, 2008, to Financial Services Committee aides writing what became the Bush administration's controversial $700 billion TARP – Troubled Asset Relief Program – bailout for banks, insurance companies, auto companies and other financial institutions

Moore's memo was general rather than specific, saying the congresswoman was "under the explicit impression" that provisions affecting small and minority-owned banks were still in the bailout bill.

"If there is any material or technical changes to the language as last agreed upon, please alert me as soon as possible so that Rep. Waters has an opportunity to weigh in," Moore wrote.

OneUnited did end up receiving $12 million in bailout money, in December 2008. But Treasury Department officials have told House investigators that Waters was not involved in that decision.

House investigators have not revealed a direct link between Waters' conduct and the dispatch of bailout funds to OneUnited. And the ethics committee's case is not helped by survey responses from 28 banks which said they were in similar circumstances as OneUnited.

The survey was conducted by the Independent Community Bankers of America, which represents smaller banks across the country. The banks responding to the survey are institutions that could have benefited from the provision that Waters – according to her chief of staff's e-mail – was closely monitoring in the writing of the bailout bill.

Paul Merski, chief economist for the independent bankers, said the real number of banks in similar circumstances could be as high as 300, because only a fraction of the group's members responded.

"This was for more banks than just one bank," he said in an interview.

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the Financial Services Committee, said in an interview that he inserted the provision for minority banks to protect OneUnited – because it is based in his state.

But he said of Waters, "I did not know she was watching" the drafting of the section. "We never discussed it," he said. "I heard from people in Massachusetts."

The provision sought by Waters – and inserted by Frank – told the Treasury Department that it should consider – for bailout money – banks that had an asset size of $1 billion or less, and whose size dropped to a lower range because they owned devalued, preferred stock in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Asset size is the total dollar amount of everything a bank owns or controls, including loans, real estate holdings, securities and office equipment.

Another difficulty in proving the violations: the provision by itself did not qualify any bank for bailout money.

All banks applying for bailout funds had to meet a number of Treasury thresholds to get the assistance. The Fannie-Freddie section merely instructed Treasury not to overlook banks that lost money due to their investments in the mortgage companies. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were taken over by the government.

Waters has acknowledged that in early September 2008, she asked then-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to arrange a meeting between Treasury officials and a trade group of minority-owned banks. The purpose was to assist institutions harmed by the devalued Fannie and Freddie stock, she said.

While Waters did not attend, the two representatives of the National Bankers Association at the meeting were OneUnited's chief executive officer and its senior counsel – who also was chairman-elect of the association. No other bank was represented.

Waters has contended that she was acting solely on the request of the association, and argued that she never made any request to Paulson on what should be done.

According to the ethics committee charges, Waters' husband, Sidney Williams, had an investment in OneUnited that was valued at more than $351,000 on June 20, 2008. It had dwindled to $175,000 by Sept. 30, 2008, the time period when Waters was monitoring the TARP legislation.

If OneUnited had not received federal financial help, the charges said, the investment could have become worthless.

Get HuffPost Politics On Twitter and Facebook! Subscribe to the HuffPost Hill newsletter! Know something we don't? E-mail us at huffpolitics@huffingtonpost.com

View the original article here

Saturday, November 27, 2010

South Africa Rape Study: 1-In-3 Men Admit To Rape

Guardian:

More than one in three South African men questioned in a survey admitted to rape, the latest evidence in the country of a violent culture of patriarchy.

Researchers found that more than three in four men said they had perpetrated violence against women.

Read the whole story: Guardian

Get HuffPost World On Twitter and Facebook! Know something we don't? E-mail us at world@huffingtonpost.com

View the original article here

Army Awards $250 Million Contract To Tiny Firm Due To 'Alaska Native' Status

What do you get when you combine affirmative action with corrupt no-bid military industrial complex gubmint cheese?

Sean_6399: What do you get when you combine affirmative action with

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Sean_6399/army-awards-250-million-c_n_788536_68721233.html

Permalink ?| Share it

Hardly unique. The ill advised attempts by federal, state and local government to divert business to minority, women, and small business firms has resulted in the creation of pass thru entities where a person who meets the requirements skims money and the government gets it's political quota. Standard governmental nonsense.

Skeptical_Patriot: Hardly unique. The ill advised attempts by federal, state and

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Skeptical_Patriot/army-awards-250-million-c_n_788536_68721228.html

Permalink ?| Share it

Alaska has a budget surplus according to Sarah Palin, other states (primarily California and New York) do not need to be giving it more money, they have their own money. And doesn't Palin get her government healthcare through her husband being an Alaska native?

brklynivn: Alaska has a budget surplus according to Sarah Palin, other

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/brklynivn/army-awards-250-million-c_n_788536_68721161.html

Permalink ?| Share it

"I am very proud of what we have accomplished. All it took was a good plan, lots of luck, perseverance, people willing to take a chance and God's will to make it happen"

Well there you have it. Now gov't incompetence, fraud and waste is ... "God's will".

cyoohoos: "I am very proud of what we have accomplished. All

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/cyoohoos/army-awards-250-million-c_n_788536_68720944.html

Permalink ?| Share it

gman87 ? 25 minutes ago (5:59 AM)

We always joke that a company owned by a female, blind, disabled veteran Native American is the gold standard for getting a US Government contract. Under the current administration, if the female owner prefers the company of other women, that's even better.

gman87: We always joke that a company owned by a female,

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/gman87/army-awards-250-million-c_n_788536_68720909.html

Permalink ?| Share it

We always joke? Who is we, that's really a pathetic statement.

observingstupiditydaily: We always joke? Who is we, that's really a pathetic

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/observingstupiditydaily/army-awards-250-million-c_n_788536_68721039.html

Permalink ?| Share it

And it was proven that under the former administration, all you needed was to be connected to the vice President... Haliburton (cough cough)....[rolling eyes]

Toddynho: And it was proven that under the former administration, all

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Toddynho/army-awards-250-million-c_n_788536_68721132.html

Permalink ?| Share it

Was the job done well? If so, it sounds like a win win for all. I mean, the Military was able to circumnavigate officialdom because measures needed to be taken immediately, and they found a way to do that; and a small firm was given a much needed helping hand up.

Should they have waited months for three already rich and bloated firms to try and out bid one another?

Toddynho: Was the job done well? If so, it sounds like

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Toddynho/army-awards-250-million-c_n_788536_68720800.html

Permalink ?| Share it

The job was done, but at what cost? For all we know, the $$250 million dollar contract could have been worth half that allowing this "alaska native" to pocket half the money it received. There is a reason contracts are no bid, and it's not because people are interested in keeping their profit margin at 6%.

cyoohoos: The job was done, but at what cost? For all

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/cyoohoos/army-awards-250-million-c_n_788536_68720976.html

Permalink ?| Share it

"For all we know?": I'll need to go on a little more than that thank you.

Again, if the job was done and everyone was happy, what's the beef? Seems like all parties are happy, no one is accusing this "Alaskan native" (your quotations) of any wrong doing. Why presume there was some?

Toddynho: "For all we know?": I'll need to go on a

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Toddynho/army-awards-250-million-c_n_788536_68721094.html

Permalink ?| Share it

HUFFPOST SUPER USER

tinyrainbows ? 39 minutes ago (5:45 AM)

I've been in Iraq for five years. I've seen all branches of the military piss away real money.

tinyrainbows: I've been in Iraq for five years. I've seen all

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/tinyrainbows/army-awards-250-million-c_n_788536_68720735.html

Permalink ?| Share it

This Alaska Native contracting has long been known in the military as a strong mechanism for contractor "empowerment", just this side, and sometimes over, the line of fraud, waste and abuse. It's widely used by military contracting companies throughout CONUS, outside of Alaska. Contracting companies often identify themselves as Alaska Native companies on their letterhead.

agxphoto: This Alaska Native contracting has long been known in the

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/agxphoto/army-awards-250-million-c_n_788536_68719866.html

Permalink ?| Share it

maveet ? 2 hours ago (3:56 AM)

"In summer 2008, the U.S. military had a major problem. More than 2,400 service members had reported being sexually assaulted the previous year, and the number was rising. Congress wanted immediate action."

But gay service people threaten the US military?????

maveet: "In summer 2008, the U.S. military had a major problem.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/maveet/army-awards-250-million-c_n_788536_68719465.html

Permalink ?| Share it

HUFFPOST SUPER USER

tinyrainbows ? 37 minutes ago (5:47 AM)

maybe they were gay assaults. The article didn't say.

tinyrainbows: maybe they were gay assaults. The article didn't say.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/tinyrainbows/army-awards-250-million-c_n_788536_68720758.html

Permalink ?| Share it

View the original article here