Michael S Abdul-Karim, author

Tales From My Primary School

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 09:17:00 +0000

Tale 1: Abo Khasim & Co: 

That was essentially a story referred to as ‘The Three Fools’ .All three inhabitants of the same village  who each made his living and sustenance tilling and working his small parcels of land which in most cases was family inheritance. 

One day Abo Khasim left at early dawn to tend one of his small parcels of land.  Some one hour after sunrise Abo Melhim passed by walking on his way to a neighbouring village.  Abo Melhim greeted Abo Khasim and asked him what he planned to grow in his land.  Abo Khasim answered telling him that he planned to grow wheat, barley, and chick peas.  Abo Khasim asked Abo Melhim where he was going.  Abo Melhim answered that he was going to neighbouring village market to buy flock of sheep and goats.    

Suddenly heated discussion and argument ensued: 

Abo Khasim:‘Your flock of sheep and goats will more than likely trespass onto my land and eat my sprouting, or matured crop before I harvest them’. 

Abo Melhim:‘No they would not; I will tell my shepherd, and I myself will ensure they would not’. 

Abo Khasim:‘Given the proximity of your land to my land, and your stupid shepherd, and equally stupid sons am going to lose my crop’. 

As the argument became more heated and push was becoming shove and each man grappled the other; Abo Arsalan, a neighbour roamed up the hill and stumbled upon the two.  As he came closer on his mule carrying flour he screamed at both of them insisting they calm down and tell him why they were threatening to cause each other serious harm.  As Abo Arslan got the full story he told both men to take deep breath, calm down and to wait for him.  Both agreed to momentarily put their differences aside and await for Abo Araslan to return to them. Within less than an hour Abo Arslan was back with his mule.  This time without the two bags of flour.  As he got close to both men Abo Arslan took one of the two empty bags from his shoulder strap turned it upside down and came close to Abo Khasim shook the bag and said: 

  ‘Abo Khasim, hear me well your head is empty like this flour bag’, at the same time ensuring that some of the flour dust were up Abo Khasim nostrils’.  Abo Khasim opened his mouth both speechless, and stunned as he watched Abo Araslan move in the direction of Abo Melhim.   

Repeating the same performance Abo Araslan got close to Abo Melhim took the other empty flour bag turned it upside down and shook it ensuring some of the flour dust were up Abo Melhim nostrils and said:  ‘Abo Melhim your head is empty like this flour bag’.  Abo Melhim raised his eye brows, shook his head stunned and speechless.  

There was total silence for few minutes as the three men looked at each other.  Abo Melhim took a deep breath and asked Abo Arslan where he had emptied the flour bags.  The three men walked to the river and looked downstream at a distance where the river flowed into a puddle and saw it was all white!!  

There you have it -The Three Fools. 

Tale 2: The Crafty Village Milkman: 

Abo Assaf had 5 cows, 10 goats, and 3 sheep.  He was known in the village as the ‘Milkman’ supplying milk and yoghurt to two local shops.  Abo Assaf also did a milk run to few neighbouring houses. What they didn't know was that he was a crafty fellow that mixed his milk with water to make more money. He was also an opinionated individual who often volunteered his opinion not only about village matters but also about local politics, world leaders, socialism, capitalism, Karl Marx, Hagel, the Russian Tsar, and Lenin.  People often avoided the village square when Abo Assaf was narrating his opinion.   

 
One particular village man, Abo Kanj, had axe to grind against Abo Assaf and was privy to one of Abo Assaf’ secret to do with milk. The chagrin of Abo Kanj stemmed from deal to do with cutting two big trees and selling the timber from those two trees to village neighbours who would use in their fire places, and fire stoves in winter.  The deal was Abo Assaf will use his chain saw, timber cutting tools, chop down and cut the two trees ready to sell. As the trees were on Abo Kanj's land, they would split the profit of the firewood. Abo Assaf cut down the tree but the firewood money never came in the mail, Abo Assaf did however, send a messenger to Abo Kanj house with a sealed envelope.  What was in the sealed envelope was a bill for the cost of replacing two purported broken axes and a saw blade that Abo Assaf claimed to having taken place during the task.  There was also a hand written note to the effect that he will forgive Abo Kanj for the labour and toil involved in chopping down the two monstrous trees! 

For a while Abo Kanj managed to control his anger and avoided Abo Assaf often cursing his name and grinding his teeth.  He thought of reporting Abo Assaf to the village Mughtar, and the village Lord Mayor but decided not to. 

Three weeks after receiving the letter Abo Khanj heard that there was big commotion and something had happened in the village square.  The next day Abo Khanj went to inquire.  He was told that Abo Assaf came from the field to the village crying and pulling his hair, cursing his luck and the disaster that had befell him and that Abos Assaf was devastated and critically ill.   

What had taken place was that whilst Abo Assaf’ cows, and goats were in the meadows close to the river, a dam had burst upstream, the river flooded and washed down his cows and goats few miles downstream drowning all.    He decided to visit Abo Assaf at his house.  Abo Assaf was in bed as Abo Kanj knocked.  Abo Assaf’, eldest son, Assaf, opened the door and led Abo Kanj to his father’s bedroom.  Seeing Abo Kanj, Abo Assaf lifted his body up and said:  

Abo Assaf:‘I always thought you are honest man.  Are you coming to pay me the money for the broken axes and the saw blade’?   

 Raising his eye brows and doing his best to supress his delight, Abo Kanj took a deep breath and said: 

Abo Kanj:‘The water that you mixed with the milk over the years accumulated and filled the dam upstream, burst and drowned your cows and your goats and washed them to the sea with their adders full of milk. 

Abo Assaf:‘That is exactly what my three boys told me’. 

Abo Kanj:‘ I am delighted to know you have honest children and there is a hope yet for this neighbourhood’.  

Tale 3: A Foxy Tale 

At any one time most people in villages normally have their own small parcel of land from which they get their olives, almonds, grapes and figs.  They would also own small patches, the odd 100 or 200 meters, in which they till, grow their own vegetables with the odd citrus trees.  They would also have few chicken and the odd rooster.   In most case the chicken make their home in a basement under the house or in especially built hen house.  A dog or two normally keep the foxes away. 

In odd cases, a crafty fox manages to befriend a dog whilst another fox helps himself to one or two chooks.  In one particular case the fox managed to make a deal with a guard dog.  The deal was the dog will lure the chickens a distance away from the hen house and see off the fox as he takes the helpless chickens a safe distance away.   To keep this friendship with the dog the fox decided to impart and enlighten the dog with some his foxy wisdom and told him the following tale: 

One day the fox decided to go and see some fellow creatures that make up the zoological kingdom.  The fox had great joy telling his dog friend how much he enjoyed himself chatting with other animals especially telling them about his friendship with the hens dog guard.  The dog was happy having great time listening to his fox friend narrations till he told him the story about conversation he had with the lion who was resting outside his den: 

Lion:‘Hello my friend, you are looking well, and I was watching you talking to some friends here’.  

Fox:‘I love to come and have a chat but I realised that am running late I have to see my dog friend’. 

Lion:‘Am sure your dog friend can wait, please come and enter my den and let us chat’. 

Fox:‘Love to go and have a chat in your den and I will do that next time. Please tell me why the footprint of all the paws are unidirectional.  They all appears to be heading towards inside the den but not a single paw appears to having come back.  Come to think of it am in a hurry and I got to run’. 

Listening to this tale, the dog put his paws over his ears yelped few times as if in agony and walked away disgusted with himself. He then realised there were no more chickens left for this crafty fox. 

Diplomatic Immunity & The Law

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 07:53:00 +0000

Diplomatic Immunity & The Law

Whilst researching some legal issues to do with question of diplomatic immunity I remembered being briefed to represent Asian diplomat who refused to undertake random breath test claiming diplomatic immunity.   

The brief that was forwarded to me by my instructing solicitor contained copious evidence of the diplomat in question, driving erratically for a distance of some two kilometers before being stopped.  The evidence also alleged that the diplomat was abusive, and derided the two police officers in question as being ignorant.  The matter was listed in the Downing Centre Courts Complex.  There was considerable media interest in the case. 

I recall in my preparation to argue the case I did some research about the very origin of how the concept of diplomatic immunity, for foreign diplomats, as we know it today became entrenched in the Common Law, Roman Law, and other legal systems. 

In brief, before 1964, the immunity from suit was somewhat secured by the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1708 that has always been argued as being declaratory of the Common Law.  The interesting aspect that I thought appealed to the Magistrate when I argued the case was my narration of the circumstance in which this Act, that am relying on defending the diplomat came into existence: 

‘The Russian ambassador to the Court of St James was arrested and removed from his coach in London for non-payment of a debt of fifty pounds sterling.  The Czar Peter the Great resented this affront so highly that he demanded the Sheriff of Middlesex and all others concerned in the arrest should be punished with instant death. But to the amazement of the Czar’s despotic court, Queen Anne informed him:  

“I will not inflict such a punishment upon the meanest of my subject, unless it was warranted by the law of the land; and therefore she was persuaded that he (the Czar), would not insist upon impossibilities.” 

To appease the wrath of Czar Peter, a Bill was brought into Parliament and duly passed.  A copy of the Act, elegantly engrossed and illuminated, accompanied by letter by the Queen was sent to Moscow by ambassador extraordinary. 

Queen Anne’ 1708 Diplomatic Privileges Act remained operative for 256 years before it was repealed and replaced in 1964 by the Diplomatic Privileges Act which gave effect to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. 

To add to this narration of history I cited the case of Taylor v. Best (1864) that upheld the Act. This I thought sealed the case for the defense.  I was right.  The Magistrate agreed. 

To the best of my recollection the diplomat in question was recalled. 

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Unexplained Deaths, Pharmaceuticals&The Medical ProfessionPart I

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 12:38:00 +0000

Unexplained Deaths, Pharmaceuticals&The Medical ProfessionPart I

On occasions the great majority of us would have heard, and may have known someone who looked healthy, employed, and enjoying life and all of the sudden hear that he or she had passed away. Cause of death in such situations are often unknown, and if a cause is shown on the Death Certificate it would normally be attributable to the last known diagnosed condition or conditions for which he or she was receiving medical treatment in the form of prescribed Schedule 4 medications which can only be dispensed by prescription. My question is whether the deceased’ doctor prescribing the medications or the pharmaceutical company that manufacture the prescribed medication could be held liable for the supposedly and accepted unknown cause of death. Let me briefly explain exactly what l mean.

Pharmacology

The well known pharmaceutical conglomerates that manufacture the bulk of the Schedule 4, prescription only medications are in the main Swiss based. Great deal of laboratory research and testing takes place before the overseeing authorities approves the medication and that medication is listed as prescription only Schedule 4. The starting point of that medication is testing initially on mice, rats, guinea pigs, and dogs before clinical trial testing commences. Some of the testing experiments often involve what is referred to as ‘double blind study’. What that means is that a known number of the animals or human in question are given a known dose of the active test substance and a known number given placebo which is pharmaceutically inert substance such as glucose. For all intent and purposes all the tablets look the same. The results of these testing are expressed graphically and are statistically analyzed. To be statistically valid specified number of randomly select sample (animal or human) needs to be tested and are often referred to as ‘population’. Validity of the test result, that is observance of the desired effect, needs to be in the right range which could varies depending on the known pharmaceutical properties of the chemical composition of the substance subject to the test. More often than not the graphical representation of the result is ‘Bell Shaped’. What that normally means is that 75% plus of the test subjects gave positive signs, or the desired observable or measurable response to the substance tested. However, the often forgotten or statistically ignored aspects of the test results are the 25% which are more or less distributed equally on either side of the graph. On the left side of the graph are those test subjects that gave no response, or negligible response to the test substance. However, it is totally different story on the right side of the graph. These subjects gave highly sensitive reaction or what often referred to as ‘exaggerated response’ which includes death. In human trials the subject in question may had to be administered first aid and in some cases resuscitation and the odd death. Regardless, of the near ‘nil’ response and the ‘death’ response the substance tested is statistically valid and warrants mass manufacture. It is also highly likely that when the statistical data is presented to the ‘Approving Authority or Authorities’ that makes recommendations that the medication in question be placed on Schedule 4, prescription only, the subtleties of the statistical data on either side of the ‘Bell Shaped Graph’ are often overlooked. Why? Because more often than not, that data is lost in the haystack of other more interesting data, pharmaceutical jargons and references.

Medical Profession

In the pre clinical second and third years of a medical course students are thought and study the subject, pharmacology, over six or eight weeks period. What they are thought in this pre clinical subject is general knowledge about the so called ‘family of drugs’ prescribed for various clinical conditions. The subtleties of the so-called mode of action, reaction and contra indications are rarely thought, let alone stressed. In clinical practice as far as prescription is concerned a General Practitioner or a Specialist heavily relies on tried and tested medications for diagnosed conditions and it is often trial and error before specific drug becomes associated with specific patient. He or she gets the information about the prescribed medication from MIMS produced by MediMedia Australia Pty Limited. Besides giving advice about categorizations of drugs that pose risks and to be prescribed and used sparingly in pregnant patients, all of Schedule 4 drugs are indexed under proprietary and generic names. Needless to say clinical diagnostic subtleties are often missed during normal consultation especially in a busy practice. On average one in five patients exhibiting reaction to Schedule 4 medication fitting either sides of the ‘Bell Shaped’ graph will be seen in practice. Some years, or possible months later when that patient condition had improved all of the sudden that patient dies. Cause of death? Possibly that patient is a member of the sample population fitting right side of the graph? In situations where post mortem is or are performed it is highly unlikely that toxicity studies are included and the cause of death is attributable to the clinical condition suffered by that patient. Does the family of the deceased have any option other than believing the medical profession and in some cases the mortician?

Is there a role for a specialist clinical pharmacologist in this equation? If the answer is a resounding ‘YES’ the next question is the stage at which the pharmacologist role commence.

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MAGNA CARTA Myth & Law Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 12:37:00 +0000

MAGNA CARTAMyth & LawPart II

I ended Part I of the first blog on this subject by saying that in the next blog I will examine in some details the surviving three Clauses of the original Magna Carta and the writ of Habeas Corpus which requires the jailer holding a person to bring that person before the court to show his authority for detaining the person.

I will start by asking this question: ‘In light of the 11th September 2001, attack on America that focused on New York Twin Towers, America’s response based on purported ‘Axis of Evil’ knee jerk reaction that saw invasion of Afghanistan, Second Iraq War that toppled Saddam Hussein and his government, policy of pre-emptive strikes, the resulting chaos in the Middle East, the rise of Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, terrorists threat and bombings in European capitals coupled with legislative responses aimed at dealing with the perceived threat does the principle of Human Rights the likes of that enshrined the writ of Habeas Corpus still carry any legal weight or meaning in a Court of Law?

In light of the more often than not ‘knee jerk’ rush for legislative enactments after terrorist attacks (the last tragically carried out in Paris on Friday 13th November 2015), that are meant to prevent further terrorist attacks the question of one’s liberties and freedom, the likes of those guaranteed and enshrined in the Constitution of most Western Countries, does a Writ of Habeas Corpus, or a Writ based on Bill of Rights, carry any legal weight and achieve its intended purpose of bringing an individual held in custody before the Court and for the holder of that individual to justify the reason for holding the said individual? Regrettably I think not.

Before a Court of Law, if counsel representing the person in custody asks the magistrate to have the incarcerator state the reason for holding his client or the charges, if any, to be laid against his client’? A magistrate could well respond: ‘under the legislation which your client is held I do not have to give you any reason and do not ask this question again’! A Magistrate could also say he, or she will not be able to tell how long the client will be in custody before any charges, if any, will be laid! If Counsel were to respond by uttering the words: ‘Guantanamo Bay’ he or she will most likely be in contempt of Court!

It is understandable that a country can invoke or enact State of Emergency legislation's that temporarily sets aside the enforceability of enshrined legislative acts based on the principle of Habeas Corpus. An example of this was made by Britain at the outbreak of World War I in 1914, ‘The ‘Defence of the Realm Act’, entitling the Home Secretary to legally hold residents of German descent. This Act was reinstated in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II to detain descendants of German background and fascist (Italian sympathizers). Prior to the advent of the 21st century, more specifically 11th September 2001, neither the threat of terror, nor acts of terror, had ever been a reason for enactments having not only the potential, but the reality of depriving any individual’ personal freedom without excuse, legal or otherwise. Or has, or is, the 21st century world after the so called 9/11 attack

on America, is officially, or unofficially, in a state of perpetual war? More specifically, does America’ so-called ‘War on Terror’ and supporting enactments aimed at preventing terrorism equates to, or should be treated as, the equivalent of declaration of world war, World War III? If so, who is so called ‘friend’, ‘neutral’, or ‘enemy’ or may be everyone is to be treated as suspect? Is a pre-emptive strike that kills and maims countless number of civilian in a country like Afghanistan, Iraq, or Syria legal and could be legally justified on the grounds or reducing the likelihood of terror?

Should the passage of Bill allowing Britain to carry bombing raids in Iraq and Syria on so-called Islamic State equate to official reinstatement of ‘Defence of the Realm Act’ that Britain passed in 1914 and reinstated in 1939 after the outbreaks of World War I and World War II respectively?

Is it possible that another barbaric terrorist attack could result in the mass arrest and internment of residents, and non residents, of Arabic background born in say USA, Britain, and France?

Just a thought, and a frightening thought, if I may say so!

Coming back to the Writ of Habeas Corpus, and its relevance, if any, in the 21st century, let us assume that an individual had been arrested and incarcerated say for a traffic offence, under the Motor Vehicles Act. That person officially pleads not guilty, wishes to defend the charges and wants to apply for bail till the authorities are ready to proceed with the hearing. Is that individual’s chance of being granted bail under Habeas Corpus, the Bails Act, or any other relevant legislation still the same or has the pendulum swung too far against the grant of bail or grant of bail on onerous and unreasonable terms? Regardless of any statistics that may exist to the contrary, one cannot help concluding that grant of bail for any accused in custody had become more difficult, and sentences dished out on findings of guilt had been in the upper range.

It is very hard to fathom this somewhat subtle degradation of respect for human rights. The fact, and reality that substantial numbers of Guantanamo Bay detainees that had been dehumanized and held in barbaric incarceration for some 15 years without any charge; and if any country, including Congo Brazzaville, is willing to accept all or some of them. If finally to be released without any charge to their identity, being, and whatever is left of their humanity, there will always be a scar on America’s scale of justice. The pertinent question that would be on everyone’s lips, including hardcore gun lovers in America, is whether America had been safer place as a result of Guantanamo Bay.

MAGNA CARTA Myth & Law Part I

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 12:26:00 +0000

MAGNA CARTAMyth & LawPart I

In the highly successful 1997 Australian movie, The Castle, Lawrence Hammill (Bud Tingwell) who revealed himself as a retired Queen’s Counsel (QC) and offered to argue the Kerrigan appeal, The thrust of Hammill’s argument was that under section 51(XXXi) of the Australian Constitution the Kerrigans should be paid fair price for their house and that the said house should not be seen just as bricks and mortar but it is a home built with love and full of the Kerrigan’ Family shared memories and precious moments. Needless to say the argument persuaded the Presiding Justice to set aside the Lower Court judgment and find in favour of the Kerrigans. It is worth mentioning that in arguing the case in the Lower Court the Kerrigan’s incompetent lawyer, Dennis Denuto (Tiriel Mora), made reference to the ‘vibes’ all members of the Kerrigan Family felt whilst at home and to Mabo, a decision under which the High Court recognized indigenous title as bestowing good title to ownership of land to no avail.

Section 51 of the Australian Constitution gives Parliament power to make laws for peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth. Under subsection (xxxi) or (31) that power relates to acquisition of property on just terms from any State or person for any purpose in respect of which Parliament has power…

The purpose of this blog is just to highlight the genesis of power given to Parliaments to make laws in countries really has all stemmed from the works of the original Magna Carta, the Great Charter of the English liberties delivered 19 June 1215 by King John at Runnymede to placate the English Barons. This famous Charter had long been superseded by 20th and 21st century enactments such as Bill of Rights. The American Constitution did not come into official existence till 573 years later in 1787, and the Australian Constitution some 685 years later in July 1900.

The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America: “no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law” is a phrase derived from the Magna Carta. Likewise the very same Supreme Court of the United States of America referenced direct quote from Sir Edward Coke analysis of the Magna Carta as the pillar of the Sixth Amendment to do with the right to speedy trial of accused persons. Needless to say that Francis Bacon argued that Clause 39 of the Magna Carta was the basis for the sixteenth century introduction of jury system and judicial process.

Coke used the Magna Carta as political tool and Sir William Blackstone (name familiar to all lawyers) published critical three volume edition of the Magna Carta.

In my next blog I will examine in some details the surviving three Clauses of the original Magna Carta and the writ of Habeas Corpus.

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 12:46:00 +0000

OPAL TRANSPORT CARD

What does it all mean?

Part 1

Some three years ago, 7th December 2012 to be exact, the New South Wales Transport Minister, Gladys Berejiklian, traveled by ferry from Circular Quay to Neutral Bay using the Opal plastic Card. The journey was uneventful and the card worked, ie, the turnstile opened and allowed the Minister to enter and exit. Back in Sydney Minister Berejiklian said:
“I was delighted to join customers on day one of this exciting trial. Opal will transform the way people travel in NSW and mean an end to ticket queues and fumbling for coins.”
Some three years later, 1 January 2016 to be exact, paper tickets are no longer available and anyone wishing to use public transport in NSW even for one journey, will need to complete Opal card form and wait to get his or her Opal plastic card. The face to face human interaction involved in purchasing a train, or a bus ticket is gone. What does all of that mean, if anything?

Firstly, loss of jobs for ticket sellers on railway stations and to printing companies who print tickets used in railway stations and buses. Secondly, I wonder if the NSW State Government told the public the full story as to why the Opal plastic card had been introduced?

In order for a plastic card to operate lots of electronic gadgetry needed to be installed in the turnstile and on the plastic Opal Card. I imagine this electronic gadgetry to be somewhat similar to that of Automatic Teller or Banking Machines (ATM & ABM). Unless deleted, the computer registered record usage of these machines are capable of keeping any transaction. In other words, every time I travel by either train, bus or ferry in NSW there is a computer kept record of my travel. I and am told that this record is stored for some 3 years and could be used and made available to investigators. In terms of security, perceived or real on my train, bus and ferry ride, the Opal ticket might as well be a plane ticket. Why cant I use my NSW Opal ticket to travel by air? Maybe one day Opal Air will start a revolution- I could one day travel by air on a tap on and off, have a great day sir welcome to Australia?!!

I do know for a fact that there is a 1982 Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act that allows the Legal Profession, and any member of the public, access to records and information. I also know for a fact that the Act in question does have specific ‘Public Interest’ Provision. But we commuters of NSW public transport are told nothing.

Let me repeat what Transport Minister, Gladys Berejklian, said on 7 December 2012:
“I was delighted to join customers on day one of this exciting trial. Opal will transform the way people travel in NSW and mean an end to ticket queues and fumbling for coins.”

I do not know about you, but like politicians to sometimes tell the truth. The question is whether the now, State of NSW treasurer, Gladys Berejklian, knew the truth when she uttered the above quoted words. I know there are far worse things in this world than fumbling for coins.
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noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 12:29:00 +0000

Remembering & Honouring
Emir AbdelKader
(The Algerian)
Part II

Before delving into the nobility, humanity, heroism, and courage of AbdelKhadir it is worthwhile to make brief mention of the sectarian conflict that had been raging off and on in Lebanon since 1843. To my mind the very root and essence of this conflict lays in the fact that El Shihabi Family conversion from Sunni Moslem to Maronite Christian. Like El Hashemite Family that ruled Saudi Arabia before Ibn Saud, hence (Saudi Arabia) they are thought to be descendants from the Prophet Mohammad. Thus conversion to Christianity, let alone Maronite version, was nothing short of anathema. The Shihabi managed to get the blessing of the Turkish Sultan and ruled their Christian followers from Beit El Din in the Chouf Mountain in Lebanon. Beit El Din is short few kilometers away from the Druze feudal Lords, Amir El Maan in Deir El Qamar, and Jumblaat in Mukhtarah. Whenever it suited the Ottoman interest they stirred up the bee hives and ‘small scale’ massacres followed. The smallest of these massacres took place in 1843 where several hundred men, women and children had their throats slit and small exodus from several villages in the Chouf Mountains took place. The next, significantly bigger massacre took place in 1856. But the greatest massacre which almost had the effect of wiping out Christians (particularly Maronite) presence in Mount Lebanon, and the potential of wiping out Christian presence in Lebanon took place in 1860 and saw the Victorious Druze stir up the fervour of the Druze stronghold in Huran and Swaida districts in Syria. Here comes heaven sent Emir AbdelKader and his few battle hardened surviving followers.

It should be noted that despite the so called bravery, the Christian route by the Druze was only achieved by the duplicitous double-crossing by Ottoman rulers instructing their soldiers to assure the armed Christians that they guaranteed their safety thus taking away their arms, when in fact they were sending them to their slaughter. The other factors were the deliberately false assurances about fulfilling their obligation of protecting Christians, repeatedly given by Sultan Abdelhamid Mehmet II in Istanbul to the French, Russian and the British.

AbdelKadir, having few weeks earlier opened his residence as a safe house to frightened Christians in Syria and Lebanese Mountains. He warned Christian and Mulsim leaders and Heads of Christian communities of the impending massacre. Initially hundreds of Christians took up the offer of safety and as news of the marauding killers heading towards Damascus became imminent, thousands flocked to the safety quarters secured by AbdelKadir and his seasoned 29 warriors. AbdelKadir personally faced the marauding killers and addressed them in no uncertain language about the sanctity of human life and the religious tenets enshrined in the Holy Koran, other books of Islam, particularly that of Sufism and Fatimism. Perhaps the more important aspect of AbdeKadir to the marauding murders was the awareness of the likely backlash from Europe. Whilst AbdelKadir spoke his 29 warriors stood on their horses a cordon ready to take on the marauders.

Abdelkader saving Christians during the Druze/Christian strife of 1860. Painting by Jean Baptiste Huysmans.

The wisdom and influence of AbdelKadir prevented the certain outcome of a massacre that would have wiped out the Christian presence, particularly that of the Maronite community in Syria. Somewhat comparable to what 155 years later (2014-2015), is taking place to Christians and other minorities in Iraq and Syria in areas under the control Islamic State (IS).

When the facts of the Christians massacres became know in Europe France, Russia, and Britain sent troops that arrived belatedly to Beirut. The heroic deeds of AbdelKadir and his 29 Algerian worriers became known and flood of accolade followed. Amongst those accolades were the following:

On 2 August 1869 the French Age newspaper wrote:

"We were in consternation, all of us quite convinced that our last hour had arrived [...]. In that expectation of death, in those indescribable moments of anguish, heaven, however, sent us a savior! Abd el-Kader appeared, surrounded by his Algerians, around forty of them. He was on horseback and without arms: his handsome figure calm and imposing made a strange contrast with the noise and disorder that reigned everywhere."

The French government increased his pension to 150,000 francs and honoured him with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour. He also received the honour of the Grand Cross of the Redeemer from Greece, the Order of Pius IX from the Vatican. Pair of inlaid pistols from Abraham Lincoln, gold inlaid shotgun from Great Britain, and ironically, not to be outdone Order of the Medjidie First Class from the Turkish Sultan, Abdelhamid, in Istanbul!

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 12:11:00 +0000

Remembering &

Honoring

Emir AbdelKader

(The Algerian)

Part I

The word ‘Colonialism’ means a policy under which a country, the colonial power, maintains foreign colonies in order to exploit them economically. Students of modern history are often thought about the colonial rivalry between Great Britain and France in Africa the Middle East, India, and Asia in the mid nineteenth century. This dissertation is about an Algerian hero, Emir AbdelKader, whose full name is AbdelKader ibn Muhieddine born 6th September 1808 in Algeria and died in Damascus on 26 May 1883 aged 74.

Portrait of Abd el-Kader (1864) by

Stainslaw Chlebowski

In 1830 Algeria was invaded by France and when French troops penetrated the region of Ornan, AbdelKader's father led a harassment campaign and a year later he was elected Emir or Commander and asked to lead the rebellion against the French. Two years later, his 24 year old son, AbdelKader was elected to replace him. His command and skill caused the French in 1834 to sign a treaty known as "The Desmichels Treaty" (named after French General Louis Alexis Desmichels) the terms of which gave full control of the Ornan Provence to AbdelKader. France’s honour was at stake and as such France recalled General Desmichels and replaced him with General Trezel. Hostilities resumed and again AbdelKader proved his, superiority, fighting, and command skill in the field with his faithful followers prevailing against Europe’s most advanced army. Some 3 years later in 1837 seeing the futility of fighting France sent General Bugeaud with specific instructions to sign treaty with AbdelKader. A treaty known as Treaty of Tafna was signed on 30 May 1837. AbdelKadir’s followers wanted him to take the title of Sultan but he refused and continued living in a tent. Although devoutly sufi muslim, he would employ Jews and Christians and put them in sensitive positions. Yet again the French were frustrated not satisfied with the Treaty of Tafna and in November 1839 reneged on the treaty and sent back General Desmichels but this time with specific instruction of scorched earth policy and behind the scene may a deal with the Berbers who hitherto supported AbdelKader. In 1842 AbdelKadir released his French captives because he did not have food to feed them and on 21 December 1847 he saw the futility of continuing the fight he surrendered to the French on the condition that he would be allowed to go to either Alexandria or Acre. On the documents evidencing his surrender he wrote: “And God undoes what my hand has done”. Needless to say the French refused to honour the terms of his surrender. AbdelKadir, his extended family and select number of close followers were shipped to France as captives!

After some seven years under house arrest in France during which some 25 members of his family and followers died (see memorial monument), and floods of representations, which included that of the poet Victor Hugo, and Lord Londonderry, for his release on 16th October 1852, President Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte released him and gave him a pension of 100,000 francs upon promising never again to be involved in Algeria. After a short stay in Bursa, current day Turkey, in 1855 he went to Amara District in Damascus where he stayed and died in 1883 aged 74. On his way to Damascus AbdelKhadir dropped to see Charles Henry Churchill at his residence in the village of Abey in the Chouf Mountains Lebanon. Charles Henry Churchill became very close friend of Abdelkhadir and later wrote a book dedicated to the humanity, courage, and nobility of the man.

The humanity, courage, and nobility of AbdelKader ibn Muhieddine attracted the attention and the honourary awards of the entirety of Europe, that of the Vatican, and more specifically that of Abraham Lincoln who sent him a pair of inlaid pistols that are now on display in the Algiers Museum.

Abraham Lincoln's gift to AbdelKadir

What did AbdelKhader do to deserve this worldwide accolade? In 1860 he and his handful of surviving Algerian followers stood up against marauding Druse and other fanatics stirred up by the Ottoman that had nearly wiped out the Maronite Christian community in Mount, and Southern Lebanon, and were now moving to complete the job in Damascus, Syria.

This display of courage and humanity is the specific topic of the next blog (Part II).

Tomb at Chateau d’Ambois of 25 members

Of AbdelKader’s retinue who died during

imprisonment .

A Grim Tale of a Diamond Ring- based on a true story

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 00:52:00 +0000

The 1995 annual party of the directors of Broken Hill Propriety (BHP) Pty Ltd was held at the original site where the company started its business at Broken Hill, (population 18517(2011) far west of New South Wales. What the town of Broken Hill is famous for is its richness of deposits of iron ore and being the home of the world biggest producer of iron ore, Broken Propriety Company Limited (BHP Ltd) which was incorporated in 1885.

Some members of the Board wanted to celebrate their annual gathering by having some exclusive line of homemade cheeses, pate’, pickles, and other small goods delivered. Such an order was made through a catering company in Sydney with specific instructions that the ordered goods had to be delivered by 10 am on the day of the meeting. Three ladies (Jenny, Cathy, & Samantha) from the Headquarter of the catering company were entrusted with the specific task of personally delivering the ordered goodies and help in the setting up and presentation in the annex to the Boardroom where the meeting was to be held. The goodies prepared, the ladies planned to leave early afternoon the day before the meeting. The plan was to stop at Dubbo, a major central West town for an hour or two then continue the journey to Broken Hill arriving around 10 am some 2 hours before the end of the meeting.

At 3pm the day before the meeting the goodies with handpicked selection of fruits were neatly packed into near new Toyota Camry station wagon. Samantha drove to the town of Orange where the ladies stopped for little rest after which Samantha continued driving till Dubbo a major town and centre some 500 kilometer from Sydney where they arrived just after 8 pm. After some two hours rest at Dubbo and the Camry filled with petrol Cathy took over the driving with Jenny in the front seat and Samantha in the back seat. The plan was for Samantha to get some rest and take over the driving after the town of Cobar some 230 kilometers. The plan came to a catastrophic end when two kangaroos crossed over the road in front of the Camry. Swerving at a speed of 110 kilometers per hour to avoid the kangaroos Jenny lost control and collided into eucalyptus tree that saw the Camry explode in flame. Injured but still conscious hysterical Cathy managed to squeeze her way out through the window. Likewise, screaming and equally hysterical Samantha, her face and hair singed by the flame managed to get out and run from the blazing Camry. ‘Oh my God, oh my God, Jenny', Jenny screamed Samantha and Cathy looking at the blazing Camry. All they could do was to shout and hug in the hope someone will drive by in either direction and extinguish the inferno.

Some 30 minutes after the collision with Camry still in flame a farmer, Adrian, with his small pickup truck stopped to render help. Pointing in the direction of the blazing Camry both Cathy and Samantha tearfully said: ‘Jenny, Jenny, our friend in the front seat’ Adrian poured bottle of water over his head and got as close as he could to the Camry but the smoke and the intensity of the heat made it impossible for him to come closer than five feet. Adrian could see that the glass of the front passenger window had almost melted and something was burning inside the Camry. ‘I will drive few kilometers up the road where there is reception and call 000 to get some help both of you ladies are injured you need to be checked in a hospital’ said distressed Adrian. Cathy and Samantha nodded their heads and hugged screaming ‘oh my God, oh my God dear Jenny’

Exactly one hour and ten minutes after the kangaroos crossed in front of the Camry ambulance and fire brigade from Dubbo arrived. The Camry was still smouldering and small flames burning underneath the front passenger seat. After getting close to the Camry with the fire hose in their hands the two firemen could smell the burning flesh and saw the charcoal black human skull and what appeared to be body covered in molten plastic and metal. Both firemen stepped back waving to both Cathy and Samantha who were following them to get back. ‘Oh my God how intense the flame must have been for this to happen’. Trying to collect his thoughts the other fireman looked at the two ambulance officers shook his head and said: ‘I have never seen anything like it, charcoal black total incineration’. ‘We’ll take the two ladies for observation to Dubbo Hospital and get the ‘Boys in Blue’ to come with their experts this is a coronal matter’ said the ambulance officer.

At 7 am Jenny’s husband, Terry received call from Dubbo police station asking him to fly over to Dubbo for purpose of identifying deceased lady believed to be his wife.

At 12 noon after seeing Cathy and Samantha at Dubbo Hospital, at the exact time the BHP Board was due to have finished its annual meeting Terry left Matthew with Cathy and Samantha, both sedated and weeping, and escorted with the police to the accident scene. Faint smoke was still coming from the bottom front left hand side and the engine of the now unrecognizable wrecked Camry. Masked investigating police officers were taking photos and writing reports as Terry was given a mask and walked toward the front left side of the Camry. The left front passenger door and glass had melted. Jenny was totally charred beyond recognition but as the two ambulance officers were making effort to remove her remains Terry recognized the diamond that was on the ring that he gave her on their tenth wedding anniversary. The gold had melted but the diamond stone was still intact and sparkled. ‘Oh my God it is Jenny" screamed Terry.

Post Mortem Report

Within a year from the date of Jenny’s incineration Terry wanted some answers and sought legal advice. Foremost in his mind was answer to the question how could his wife Jenny became literally unrecognizable and the left front door and glass of the Camry simply melt. What sort of temperature would make glass and metal melt and mix as mould? The forensic report that was prepared for the Coroner made the observation and point that the only tissues from Jenny’s charred body that were recognizable as human tissues were samples taken deep from the liver and brain everything else including major bones were simply soot. The report made the point that Jenny’s husband recognized the diamond that was embedded in molten 18 carat gold ring as being additional factor to her recognition and identification. The report also pointed the fact that a temperature in excess of 800 degrees Celsius was required to melt steel metal and gold.

Police Report

Police engineers simply recognized that speed was not significant factor and that both Samantha and Cathy tested negatively for alcohol or illicit substances. Examination of the Camry by forensic engineers noted that other than basic faulty design factors involved in the manufacture of the Camry it was difficult to explain how the force of the impact would have caused the fuel tank to dislocate and end up under the front passenger seat. The report also pointed to the fact that Jenny must have been sleeping and would not have had any opportunity to open the door and escape the inferno. The possibility of Jenny being knocked out by the impact could not be ruled out.

Correspondence by Terry’s legal representative to Toyota Corporation Headquarter in both Australia and Japan seeking relevant design information and planning consideration that resulted in the manufacturing of the Camry fell on deaf ears. Toyota Australia purportedly relied on Japan to provide the information and answer correspondence. Responses were slow but it was apparent from the newer Camry models that came in subsequent years that engineering modifications were made to the design and stability of the fuel tank based on impact studies at various speeds conducted by Toyota engineers.

Who could imagine a decision taken by the Board of BHP to pamper themselves with delicacies especially made and delivered from Sydney to be enjoyed at the Annual General Meeting at Broken Hill would result in Toyota Corporation reviewing the design of Toyota Camry vehicle?

Needless to say no mention was ever made of the one dead and other broken legged kangaroos that were lying at the side of the road for nearly 24 hours whilst all that activity was taking place few meters away.

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Centenary Anniversary of ANZAC & The Painful Facts

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 23:56:00 +0000

Centenary Anniversary of ANZAC &The Painful Facts

Anzac day - Gallipoli 2015

Its been some time since I have blogged, I found this one I wrote on the day of the Centenary Anniversary of Anzac Day. As Australia and New Zealand commemorate and reflect on the disastrous Gallipoli campaign which saw 8,709 Australian, and population comparable number of New Zealanders dead let alone the wounded and physically and mentally scared and crippled it is high time for both countries to highlight and underline the facts and live with the unpalatable historical reality. That reality is that neither the Australian nor the New Zealand troops whose sacrifice and heroism we celebrate were destined to fight the defunct Ottoman Empire Turks (Young Turks) in Gallipoli.

The ships that carried them were destined and heading on their way to the Western Front in France to fight the Germans. Why Gallipoli? Simply some months earlier a flotilla of British ships on their way to Russia met their destiny whilst passing through the narrow Turkish Dardanelles. This knockout blow to the British caused the Westminster War Cabinet to go back to the drawing board and rethink its war strategy. The Australian and New Zealander ships were informed when they arrived to the port of Aden in Yemen. The ships were diverted to Egypt which was still British protectorate.

After some six or seven weeks in Egypt the Australian and New Zealanders were ferried by boats through the Mediterranean and given incorrect landing navigational coordinate. More than 2,000 lost their lives on the first day. They had to carry their armours and make their way up steep terrain in full view of entrenched Turkish forces under the command of the tried and proven Young Turks Officers led by Mustafa Kemal, the father of modern Republic of Turkey.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustafa_Kemal_Atat%C3%BCrk

After the initial Turkish onslaught the Australian, New Zealanders, and British troops dug trenches and gave the Turks well deserved beatings often hand to hand with bayonets and machetes. Lone Pine became a well known battle landmark. But as Australia and New Zealand commemorate the centennial anniversary 25 April 2015 what exactly are they commemorating?

Had it not been for the disastrous Gallipoli campaign it would have been highly likely Mustapha Kemal would not have become the hero and dubbed Ataturk the ‘Father of the Turks’ and the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey. So in reality the ten or fifteen thousand Australian and New Zealanders, including the Prime Minister of both countries, and numerous dignitaries and military chiefs who went on this centenary occasion to commemorate those who lost their lives and whose remains are still scattered in the neatly decorated cemeteries, plagues and ANZAC Memorials are in fact and reality commemorating Mustafa Kemal defeat of not only the ANZAC forces but also his defeat of the Greeks at Sakarya in 1921 and Dumplupinar in 1922, the abolition of the Ottoman ‘Caliphate’ (Sultanate) and the declaration on 29 October 1923 the Republic of Turkey and him as President. Needless to say plus giving sizeable boost to the Turkish economy that is comparatively doing much better than the Australian economy.

In his later days Mustapha Kemal lost lot of his popularity and became reclusive before dying in 1938 aged 57. Besides being excellent military commander who was able to use his knowledge of the region and the Gallipoli peninsula, Mustapha Kemal was also compassionate man who was well aware of the pain caused to the families of those slaughtered and never returned to either Australia or New Zealand or Britain.

In 1934 he was honoured with the title ‘Ataturk’, Mustapha Kemal made one of the best reconciliation speech ever to his Gallipoli foes, the Australians, the New Zealanders, and the British:

‘Those heroes who shed their blood and lost their lives… you are lying in the soil of a friendly country.

Therefore rest in peace.

There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us they lie side by side in the country of ours…

You, the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries, wipe away your tears.

Yours sons are now lying in our bosoms and are in peace.

After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well’.

The exact words that are carved in stone at the ANZAC Cove Memorial at Gallipoli reads:

‘Those heroes from England, France, Australia, New Zealand and India who shed their blood…’

Kemal Atatürk Memorial inCanberra, Australia.

Greece & The European Union

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Fri, 01 May 2015 01:14:00 +0000

Greece & The European Union

Whilst Greece currently struggles to put together the required sum to pay the interest on loans to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Central Bank and number of other lenders, (some of whom private lenders) decide what to do about continuing its membership of The European Union. For the purpose of this blog, I thought it would be a worthwhile exercise to briefly look at history and go back to how Greece became a member of the European Union. I will summarize with an idea on how Greece can (arguably) move past the debt they are currently in.

Geographically Greece is a gateway to the Balkans and Russia. From the Russian perspective it is a gateway to Turkey and the Middle East. Let us go back almost two centuries to 1830 when the Ottoman Empire started to lose its grip on the Balkan in countries such Serbia, Croatia, Kosovo,
Montenegro, and Bulgaria.

Russia moved to fill the gap and expand its influence. However, Russian expansion to the Mediterranean through Greece was a sort of anathema for both Britain and France who were in the midst of the industrial revolution. Each country was vying for control of the sea with Napoleon and Nelson testing their flotilla and canons in the Mediterranean. It was a period of some 25 years before the opening of Suez Canal and the Mediterranean was simply the exclusive domain for Britain’s access to India.

When Russia moved to fill the Ottoman gap in the Balkans Britain and France, plus Austro Hungarian Empire rang their alarm bells. Greece was willing to ‘talk’ to Russia and that created what is referred to as the ‘Eastern Crisis’. Sultan Mehmet II in Istanbul was willing to do a deal to avoid Russian incursion and made alliance with France and Britain. The Sultan received support from Austro Hungarian Empire. The Crisis was averted but the tension remained. Whilst the Ottoman Empire is no longer in existence, the strategic importance of Greece and the Middle East in the 21st is now even more greater than it was in the 19th century.

As a country Greece is full of ancient culture. Olympia is the site of the first Olympic Games which Greece last hosted this century for the 2004 Olympic Games. In the last half of twentieth and twenty first century, the Greek economy was always dependent on tourism and agriculture for its viability. Whilst number of major companies and multinational conglomerates moved or opened offices in Athens, Greece was no hub for economic growth. It lacked a boom in the industries like food manufacturing, agriculture, technology, equipment and machinery. This fact was well known to the major EU players the likes of Germany, and France. So one asks 'Is Greece important to the EU?'
I would say 'Yes'.

Whilst the players have changed; its neighboring country Turkey is the last remnant of the Ottoman Empire. It is for this reason, amongst others, the Mediterranean is still free from Russian navy and submarines. Now Vladimir Putin is ruling the White Bear and likely to be in the helm for some years to come, this ensures safety.On a side note, Russia is an exclusively Orthodox country likewise most of the Balkans and Greece.

The new Syriza government in Greece promised to take tough stand with EU about payment of interest on loan. This is to prevent default that could become a domino effect for other countries like Portugal, Ireland, and Spain. This feared Greek default is on interest payment only NOT on
interest and principle repayment to the IMF, World Bank and European Central Bank.

Some weeks ago in early April 2015, during IMF/World Bank spring meeting, the President of IMF/World Bank, Christine Lagarde, told the Greek Finance Minister, Yanis Varoufakis (former Economics Professor University of Sydney) that he needed to accelerate reform and that patience was running thin with the new Syriza government. Ms Lagarde wasted no time reminding Yanis Varoufakis that the European made huge commitments to supporting the Greek people and the Greek economy. In recent weeks the German finance minister had been most vocal especially when Yanis Varoufakis said that Germany still owed Greece substantial sums in reparations that date back to the damage it caused Greece during the Second World War.

Christine Lagarde- French Lawyer and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund since July 2011.

So what are the real options to make Greece economically viable? In my opinion, and am sure others, the first option is for the International Body responsible for the Olympic Games to meet, vote, and approve a motion granting Greece the exclusive rights to host all, if not all, the next 25 Olympic Games in Olympia. Far fetched? I would say No. Ideally, I would suggest for the next one hundred years Greece has the exclusive right to hosting the Olympic Games. That will certainly give Greece much needed economic lifeline. After all, the Olympic Games is the exclusive domain of Greece. If not legally, certainly morally and historically. If this fails then the next obvious option is for the Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, to become close to Vladimir Putin Russia and try to ignite the long forgotten ‘Eastern Crisis’. If that were to happen in 2015, I will be very much interested in the dialogue between Christine Lagarde when she meets Yanis Varoufakis.

As always, I'd like to hear your thoughts-feel free to comment and share your own opinion on this topic.

Remembering Second Iraq War Part2

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 10:42:00 +0000

(This is an old blog that found itself unfinished in my drafts. This morbid event of our modern history was worth a write up again so here it goes..)

President George W Bush (Junior) was formally elected a President of the United States of America on 20 January 2001 in controversial circumstance with few thousand greater votes in the State of Florida in which his brother, John Ellis ‘Jeb’ Bush was Governor. It is a testimony to the credit and statesmanship of Vice President Al Gore not to press the matter and challenge to the legitimacy of the vote to finality through the Supreme Court.

In 1990, with the collapse of the Berlin Wall and dismembering of the Soviet Union George H W Bush went to war in Iraq to liberate Kuwait from the Iraqi occupation. The relatively short war labeled Desert Storm saw American tanks and advancing army stop a short distance from Baghdad. Despite the atrocities and other heinous acts committed by Saddam Hussein, including using chemical weapons against the Kurdish population, George H W Bush knew better than going all the way to toppling Saddam Hussein at that time. Thirteen years later, his son, George W Bush and his conservative ‘Neocon’ advisors set to abolish the new world order and went all the way-topping Saddam Hussein and hanging the other members of his cabinet. This, I believe was an unforgivable mistake. A strategic blunder, one that America and its allies, NATO should have handled more carefully. History will write this mistake in bold with the header “Neocons’ Misadventure in Hammurabi’s Babylon”.

President George W Bush Junior, Tony Blair, their advisors and all those collaborators in the second Iraq war should, in my opinion, face War Crime Tribunal regardless of when that Tribunal is held. Its a bold statement- one which I hope to rationalise below.

Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD)

The pretext for going to war in Iraq was Bush Junior's indisputable evidence of a "Weapon of Mass Destruction" (WMD). Britain's popular Labor Prime Minister, Tony Blair, provided the necessary support for Bush. The man who was officially commissioned and entrusted by the United Nation with finding the WMD in Iraq was the Swedish politician and diplomat, Hans Martin Blix. He undertook number of missions and was assisted by a solid team of hand picked experts. They went and searched every corner of Iraq and reported to the UN, Bush Junior, and Blair in no uncertain language that there is no WMD in Iraq! Neither Bush, his Neocon advisors, or Blair wanted to hear what Hans Martin Blix had to say. Bush’s answer to Blix’s report was to send the Secretary of Defence to the UN to give implausible and far fetched theories as to how Saddam could move chemicals into rockets mounted on truck and possibly scud missiles and fire them into neighbouring countries including Israel. This desperate act was nothing more than an attempt to find excuse for in my opinion, the already formed decision to destroy Iraq and topple Saddam. Despite Blix’s plea on a nominated hour on 20 March 2003, the United Nation mandate and resolution over Iraq was pushed aside. On this day, wave after wave, the Americans blasted bombs from carriers in the Mediterranean and Saudi Arabia dropped their first payload over Baghdad nearly missing Saddam by a whisker. This was supposed to be a short war.

The last American combat soldiers left Iraq in 2012 some 10 years from the official start of the Second Iraq War. Many American troops died in this battle. Eleven years on,

Iraq

is a tinderbox of internecine strife, with hardly any functioning infra structure. Not to mention a melting pot of terrorists and groups with various ideologies including radical Islam. The future of minorities, such as the eldest Christian civilization, Yazidi, and little known sects still remain. It is interesting to note it is these groups who felt safe and secure under Saddam. The future for these minorities to live unharmed now remains uncertain if not hopelessly grim.

Casualties

The most conservative estimate of casualties of the second Iraq War put the death toll to over 300,000 with possibly an equal number of injured Iraqi’s. Minorities, particularly the eldest Christian sects that date their presence in Iraq to the cradle of Christianity fled Iraq and became refugees in other countries. With the number of Iraqi's killed, there are a countless number of orphaned children, a large number of whom on the eleventh anniversary of the war, are being looked after by surviving relatives, including grandparents. I cannot imagine the mental state of this young generation and if they have been given the proper care. It would take a wonderland of resources and time to repair and improve their cognitive behavioural development, broken spirit and hearts as they enter young adulthood. The same can also be said for the American soliders' children who remain fatherless and wives who have become widows as a result.

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Haemorrhoids & Toilet Seats

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 09:41:00 +0000

Is there a link between Hemorrhoids and the toilet seat of the so-called Modern West?

Instead of proffering my opinion on this most interesting question let me state some basic facts and leave that judgment to each interested subject to make his or her own mind.

Anatomy

Internal hemorrhoids or piles are symptomatic enlargement of the normal arteriovenous cushions at the anorectal junction. These vascular plexuses become congested and enlarged so that they may bleed and prolapse. They lie in the distribution of the superior rectal artery with a single left lateral and an anterior and posterior right branch with associated vein drainage to the portal system. The perianal external venous plexus drains systematically and may cause symptoms when rupture and congestion occur, leading to perianal haematoma, skin tags and may constitute the origin of fissure in ano.

The above description is unavoidable and I only quoted it verbatim to avoid any criticism from any seasoned General Practitioner or surgeon.

Angry Doctor who may or may not be mad at me personally.

Let us take a look at nature, the animals and more specifically, our nearest ancestors, the primates - and examine how they defecate: They all squat down with their knees drawn up to their chest when ‘nature calls’. The so-called modern West aside, all human beings squat when they defecate and it is a very safe bet to conclude that applies to the majority of the six plus billion human that inhabit planet earth.

It is not much different when we ‘sit down’ on a toilet to defecate then sitting down on a chair at the dining table to eat. Think about this sentence for a minute. It implies that the grand design of the posture of human body is such that the passage of food from mouth to excreta follows the same angle which almost equates to a straight line of 180 degrees! Besides the very short passage from the esophagus to the stomach the passage of food from the stomach through the small intestine, large intestine, and now waste through the colon, rectum and anus is very tortuous and often complex.

Those of us who had grown up in the Middle East, lived or visited the Middle East as tourists would note that, despite modernity in style most homes still retain the option of what is called ‘Arabic Toilet’ involving squatting, and so called ‘Western style Toilet’ where one can sit and read the newspaper or send messages or emails whilst defecating. That is so assuming the 'defector' is not exerting him or herself and does not suffer from hemorrhoids, let alone bleeding or prolapsed hemorrhoids.

Arabic toilet

The undeniable anatomical fact is that when we sit on a toilet, the lower end of the descending colon is bent, requiring expenditure of good effort and muscular exertion to evacuate the bowels. The strain caused by this effort can cause a clog or event burst capillaries that feed the anal sphincter causing the formation of hemorrhoids. When squatting as you would on an Arabic Toilet or in nature the colon aligns itself naturally with the rectum and anus which opens up completely and almost effortlessly in the squatting posture when the knees are drawn up to the chest. I would argue that the older style toilet has greater benefit to the reduction of hemorrhoids than the modern day design.

Needless to say one can still defecate squatting on a comfortable toilet. How? Simply raise the seat and stand up on the rim and squat down slowly until the knees are pressed against the chest. Just be careful not to hit your head on the ceiling and make sure you have good balance when you squat on the rim making sure the toilet roll is within level reach. Yes, I actually wrote that.

For completeness I should make a mention that the exertion involved in childbirth is often a cause for a woman developing hemorrhoids. That's a scene that's never made it to the modern day rom com movies.

One must also take note and make mention of the fact that modern technology and smart mobile, so called i-phones, had made awareness of conditions such as hemorrhoids, soft stools and the importance of high fiber diet readily accessible. But despite this easy accessibility, it is highly questionable whether the pressure of modern day living had allowed people to chew their food more leading to them actually digesting their food in a sensible manner. It's interesting how many people I have heard having actual conversations with friends whilst in the restrooms. This exchnaging of turds with friends is becoming more and more common, baffling as it is the world is literally at our fingertips on these devices, I just cant help but question the standard of acceptable restroom antics.

I think the modern day bathrooms should have the option of both toilets for individuals to decide for themselves, it may, arguably so, ease the pressure of a shitty day. Yes. I actually wrote that.

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Citizenship, Identity & Passport

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 05:01:00 +0000

Citizenship, Identity

Passport

In the next few weeks, possibly a month, Australia is likely to follow Britain lead by introducing legislations cancelling passports and the citizenship of individuals who had left to join ISIS (Islamic State Iraq & Syria).

Like their British counterparts, those individuals whose names are known to the Australian authorities would, when checking to depart from Istanbul or other airports, discover that their Australian passport had been cancelled.

Officially they are no longer Australian citizens.

Does that mean that Australia had abandoned those individuals? And if so, what are the legal and other consequences of such purported abandonment?

In short, such Legislation pose the potential for a legal nightmare both domestically and internationally. What would, or should, Turkey do with an individual at Istanbul or Ankara International Airport with a valid ticket and booking who finds his passport cancelled? For that matter, what should France do with a British jihadist returning to Britain through France that finds his British passport had been cancelled?

What does Turkey (in the case of Australian jihadist) or France (in the case of British jihadist) do with this now stateless individual? Are Turkey or France bound by international obligations towards those purported jihadist?

The chances are, whilst their passport were valid the Australian jihadist flew to Turkey and departed to Syria through the Turkish/Syrian border. Likewise, the chances are the British jihadist departed to France and from France flew to Turkey and entered Syria through Syrian/Turkish border. In other words the Customs Record of both France and Turkey would show these two jihadists had valid passports in which they legally entered the country. Why should either Turkey or France be burdened by domestic politics of Australia and Britain? Needless to say at this stage, before Australia proceeds with drafting the anticipated legislation, that is likely to receive bipartisan support, it is worth noting that the ‘constitutionality’ of the British legislation had not yet been legally challenged. Would the British legislation withstand legal challenge based on Britain international legal obligations and human rights both of which are enshrined in the British Constitution as well as International Treaties?

In Australia’s case, it is worthwhile, and indeed highly advisable, for Attorney-General, George Brandis, (and, since the anticipated legislation is likely to receive bi-partisan support, shadow Attorney-General, Mark Dreyfus) to remember that Part V of the Australian Constitution, more specifically Section 51(xxix), whilst giving Parliament the right to legislate on matters to do with foreign affairs is by no means a blank power. Any anticipated legislation the effect of which is to deprive Australian citizen of his or her passport and make that individual stateless, effectively non-existent, must be able to pass the ‘international guidelines’ and relevant guidelines of United Nations to do with human rights. Whilst Australia had thus far weathered the plethora of international criticisms to do with its treatment of the relatively miniscule number of boat refugees, it is highly unlikely it would be able to weather criticisms whereby Australian citizens are denied their human rights. Needless to say the proposed legislation surviving properly prepared and argued is Constitutional challenge for the High Court of Australia.

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Spikenard: What is it and where you may have heard about it?

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 04:49:00 +0000

Spikenard

What is it and where you may have heard about it?

It will probably be of not much help if I were to tell you it belongs to the Genus species Nardostachys Jatamonsi and it is used in Catholic iconography to represent Saint Joseph and is indeed pictured on the Coat of Aram worn by current Pope Francis. As you may have already gathered it is expensive spiced oil that is connected to both Judaism and Christianity and, to lesser extent, Islam. Spikenard grows in the Himalayas of Nepal, China, and India at altitudes of between 3,000 to 5,000 meters. It got its name from the spike like shape of the root and spiny stem of the herb plant. The Greeks and the Romans loved the smell and willingly paid the expense involved in shipping it long distance from the Himalayan Mountains through India in sealed alabaster boxes, costly containers that were open only on special occasions. The cost of the perfume was three hundred denarii at a time when a worker wage for a day was one denarii.

In other words, a vial of Spikenard would cost almost a year wage.

Religious Significance of Spikenard

Proverbs 27:9 states: “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel”.

Matthew 26:6-13 states: “Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment and pour it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it he said unto them: Why trouble ye the woman? For she had wrought good work upon me. For ye hath the poor always with you but me you ye have not always. For in that she had poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say to you wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her”.

John 12:3 states: “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with odour of the ointment”.

One should note that contrary to the other three Gospels, only the gospel of John names the woman as Mary. This act by a woman made all twelve disciples livid and may have indeed being a significant factor in Judas reason for betraying Jesus at the Last Supper. The literal meaning of the word “Messiah” is “Anointed One” in first century Judaism any and all references to the “Anointed One” is reference to the King of the Jews whom God would raise at the end of times.

It is worthwhile noting that a newly born baby is capable of detecting and identifying some ten thousand different scents and that the receptors that receptors that allow that detection to take place are much more sophisticated than those of vision and hearing. In fact the first of the twelve cranial nerves is the olfactory nerve which directly connects to the brain compared to the optic nerve, and the auditory branch of the trigeminal nerve.

It is also worthwhile noting the significance of smell as a survival factor in Darwinian evolutionary sense viz:

Smell is the principle factor that a sperm makes its way towards an egg and at the same noting that in the process sperms are competing with each other and the fastest sperm is the successful one. Smell is the principal factor a newly born finds its mother nipple. Likewise smell is the principle reason how a mother that has just given birth finds her newly born from other newly born in a hospital maternity ward. Needless to say smell is equals to if not greater factor in dating between the sexes and it is no wonder that the multi billion dollars perfume industry is in constant search for the equivalent to and perhaps the ultimate Spikenard.

In Part II of this Spikenard Blog I will discuss the aromas that are now used in alters of synagogues and churches and the significance of incense and other offerings prior to and during mass. I will also discuss the significance of smell in tribal cultures in fending off evil spirits.

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Nexus of Spelling to Income In Various Professions

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 04:43:00 +0000

Nexus of Spelling to Income

Various Professions

Is there statistically valid connection between good spellers and earnings in any profession? In general, I would say YES. Why? Because it stands to reason that a person who takes the trouble of ensuring that the application that he or she makes in applying for a job is grammatically correct and without any spelling errors is not only diligent, intelligent, observant, expressive and serious, but also respectful to his or her potential employer. Having said that, one should also add, that good spellers are more likely to be shortlisted for a job interview than less competent spellers whose applications contains spelling, grammatical and punctuation errors.

The greater the spelling errors, the less likely that person to be shortlisted.

If he or she is shortlisted and hired, the position a bad speller is likely to fill would generally involve lesser responsibility than a significantly better speller in most cases. It therefore more probable that a good speller would earn a statistically significant greater income.

Whilst as a rule of thumb that observation is generally correct, spelling is not necessarily a crucial indicator of earning in a great number of industries where commonsense, foresight, intuition, agility, dexterity and fitness are either the required characteristics, or the preferable characteristic ahead of spelling.

Grammarly’s Statistical Survey

http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2014/writing-skills-matter-infographic/

Before analyzing the statistical significance of the review conducted by Grammarly on 448 freelance professionals, one should take note and be aware that all ‘Word Programs’ on which a professional freelancer likely to complete his or her application do have number of features that allows a bad speller to present his or her articles devoid of spelling and grammatical errors. These include amongst other features a ‘Spelling Check’. Furthermore, the internet provides prolific number of ‘ideal samples’ format applications for practically all jobs, including the seven subject to Grammarly’ study namely:

Administrative Support, legal, Design & Multimedia, Engineering & Manufacturing, Sales & Marketing, Finance & Management, IT & Programming.

Whilst the total sample number, 448, is arguably statistically valid, that validity is somewhat questionable as it does not only give the specific sample number for each of the seven job categories - it only provides comparative earnings figures for four of the seven job categories subject to the survey. These four job categories are: Engineering & Manufacturing, Legal, Sales & Marketing, and Finance & Management. Whilst the study shows that applicants with the least spelling errors were the top earners in all four job categories, the relationship between ‘second best spellers’ is non linear in the Legal Profession, and Engineering & Manufacturing where employees whose spelling errors in the range of 21-30 per hundred words on average earn more than those whose spelling errors are in the range of 11-20 per hundred words. Needless to say that linearity of better spellers earning more than bad or less/ better spellers holds true in Finance & Management, and Sales and Marketing.

What is one to make of the relationship between the correlation of good spelling and earning in the professions of Design & Multimedia and IT & Programming? At first glance it would appear, given the tasks involved in good performance in these two professions and good spelling does not apply and/or is statistically meaningless.

Statistical Flaws & Pitfalls

Sampling, randomness, size of the population, age, sex, clarity of questions asked, are variables that influence the significance of any statistical study. Oral presentation, dress, confidence, eye contact, previous experience, enthusiasm, and willingness to learn and excel, and good references, are, in my opinion, significant factors that are of equal, if not of greater significance to good spelling as earning indicators. Also, lets not forget the support staff. Speaking as a former member of the Legal Profession, I can personally attest to having rarely typed out my own advice to clients. Using a dictaphone to record pleadings and correspondence, I entrusted my paralegal and secretary to such matters. In this scenario my support staffs' strength in grammar was a requisite, yet I was the higher earner. This can be said for many professionals with PA's and /or EA's who's job is to churn out professional reports, articles and correspondence.

Finally, whilst good spelling may have its virtues as indicator of earning in number of professions it should be remembered that the standard by which good spelling is often assessed is often by the Oxford and Webster English dictionaries. That said, British-English spelling often differs to American-English dictionaries. Accordingly, when one is writing an application that is likely to determine, or improve his or her chances of impressing the potential employer some research as to the background of the person or persons assessing that application may well be helpful.

Alternatively by simply downloading the Grammarly add-on to your writing program, many of the obstacles encountered with grammar, language, punctuation and spelling can be overcome.

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Death Row Inmates: Andrew Chan & Myuran Sukumaran

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 02:47:00 +0000

Death Row Inmates:

Andrew Chan

Myuran Sukumaran

The inspiration for this blog was the airing of last night Four Corners program about Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, two Australian young men who had been convicted with 7 others of trying to smuggle a total of some 8 kilograms of heroin from Bali Indonesia to Australia some ten years ago. Whilst the four others received hefty sentences that will see them spend the prime years of their lives behind bars, the purported leaders of the group, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, each received the death penalty by firing squad. All avenues of legal appeal under Indonesia's legal system having being exhausted. An appeal to Indonesia's newly elected President, Joko Widodo, to spare the lives of these two contrite and reformed young men had been flatly refused. Several rushed applications for judicial review of various legal procedures and decisions had been refused by the Attorney General thus paving the way for a black hood to be placed on the head Andrew Chan and on the head of Myuran Sukumaran and for them to be marched, possibly with others to a field where the firing squad would take aim and shoot them in cold blooded execution.

According to official Indonesian report both Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran will be executed with the next patch of executions that will take place before the end of February.

In other words both of these young men have less than 18 days left to live.

Chan & Sukumaran today

Last legal Plea

What is clear to me from last night Four Corners program is the fact that the legal defence team of both Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran may have overlooked one crucial, and to me, primary critical fact. This fact relates to the role of Australian Federal Police in the arrest.

It appears that on the evidence Indonesian police were tipped by Australian Federal Police. In other words there is in existence either a Formal Treaty, or a Memorandum of Understanding, or a Co-operation Agreement between Australian Law Enforcement Agencies and their Indonesian Counterpart.

Whatever that document might be it surely must spell out either directly or indirectly in ‘diplomatic niceties’ a diplomatic solution to that currently faced in the case of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.

Even if the diplomatic documentation does not spell out or provide avenue for a diplomatic solution, that solution arises from the implication that unlike Indonesia, Australia does not have the death penalty on its criminal law code either Commonwealth or State.

The clear implication to be drawn from this fact is that by tipping Indonesian Police about these lost young men, dubbed the Bali 9, Australian Federal Police did not sanction their execution. This must be so given the fact the drugs they were carrying were destined for the Australian market NOT the Indonesian market. Whilst I cannot claim any familiarity with the legal argument pursued by the Australian and Indonesian legal team on behalf of Andrew Chan, Myuran Sukumaran, and the others, I will certainly be interested to familiarize myself how such arguments – drugs destined for Australia and no death penalty under Australian Law – are dealt with, and presumably dismissed under Indonesia legal system.

Is it the case that the Indonesian judiciary explicitly or implicitly conveying the message that the Australian Federal Police gave its Indonesian counterpart the lives of two, and possibly 9 lost Australian young men? I find that hard to fathom!

Joko Widodo or Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono?

As previously mentioned the arrest, charge and conviction, of the Australian drug mules at Bali took place some ten years ago. The incumbent Indonesian President was Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono NOT Joko Widodo who was officially inaugurated as President on 20 October 2014. Whilst we do not know and are not privy as to whether in rejecting a plea to spare the lives of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran President Joko Widodo consulted with his predecessor, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the question arises whether the final decision is that of President Widodo or Yudhoyono.

On any view it would be of some comfort to know President Widodo's reason for rejecting the plea: Toughness on drugs, or popularity with the masses are not, in my opinion, justification to reject the plea. This is made more so given the fact that the Indonesian Law Enforcement Agencies and the Indonesian media have in recent days highlighted a poorly conducted Australian radio survey showing that a slight majority of Australian agree with the death sentence to be dished out to Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran. This poorly conducted and unrepresentative survey should not by any mean or stretch of imagination be any comfort to any Indonesian citizen or government official as some sort of justification to put these two young men to death by the firing squad.

The fact is that Indonesian Law Enforcement Authorities were tipped by the Australian Federal Police to arrest these drug mules. The fact is that the drugs that they were carrying when they passed through Bali were destined to the Australian market. The fact is that the death penalty is not on Australia’s Criminal Law. The fact is that these men admitted their guilt and on all evidence had been reformed and are begging for mercy MUST be the overriding factors in any decision.

Finally, one must remember that there are numerous International Conventions and Treaties, to some of which Indonesia is a signatory that deals compassionately with situations in which Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran find themselves. Finally, the plea of the parents and brothers and sisters of both men must surely carry some weight, if not to spare their lives, at least to afford the opportunity of a final comprehensive case and submission that takes into consideration amongst other things facts mentioned in this blog to be made on their behalf.

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Gender and Writings

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 10:25:00 +0000

Gender and Writings

If pens could speak they would be better judges of skill of the hands that handled them and expressed the power and imagination of the grey matter through the ages. However, over the last two decades perhaps the pens had given this honour to so-called keyboards to make that decision. Regardless whether it is the pen, or the keyboard expressing opinion on the question: ‘whether women are better writers than men’ the sad reality is that in today’s world the answer could only come, or more precisely is determined, through the ringing of the cash register in bookstores or sales through other means, mainly the electronic media, computers, kindles, iphones etc. If, for whatever reason, the total dollar value of the sale is not the ultimate factor determining the question, it is sure to be the factor that tipped the scale. Having said that one should be aware of the modern day fact, that the clever marketing of a book written by either a man or a woman or a hermaphrodite for that matter, especially if backed by good financial head start, could make an unknown of either gender a famous writer overnight. Needless to say ghost writers still survive.

Attempts to shed light on the question of gender and writing by undertaking surveys asking statistically valid numbers of men and women questions on various topics does not, in my opinion, enhance the discussion or the debate. If anything, those statistical figures obtained from such surveys creates barriers that may limit the scope and depth of the inquiry. So the question is; how do we enlighten this inquiry and make it meaningful?

It is my considered opinion that a good starting point for this inquiry could commence with brief review of two books that were best sellers not that long ago. One of these books is called: ‘Men are from Mars Women are from Venus’ by John Gray the other is called: ‘You Just Don't Understand’ Women and Men in Conversation by Deborah Tannen, who had written earlier book entitled: ‘That’s Not What I Meant!’ In brief, the gist of Gray’s book is that gender relationship problems could be explained or attributable to acclimatization of each gender to its planet which imprints its own psyche. In other words evolutionary and physiological factors had fixated or played dominant role in fixating both women and men psyche. The example that Gray’s give is complaint by men that if they offer solution to problems that their women folks brings up in conversation the women, more often than not, are more interested in talking about the problem than solving it. Whilst in general agreement with Gray’s reasoning, Tannen put more emphasis on the fact that from childhood girls learn different approaches to language and communication which she refers to as “rapport-talk” versus “report-talk” to describe female and male social affiliation and emotional connection. But the real question is whether either of these two learned authors and best sellers, Gray and Tannen, enlightens the debate and shed some light to the question whether women are better writers than men. In my opinion both writers do to a limited extent by focusing attention on the way each gender treat emotion and mood and how the differences in that treatment is reflected and expressed in everyday life. I will highlight this by thinking of a situation in which a brawl takes place in a class room or a lecture theatre. Police comes in and takes statement from witnesses to the brawl, from class mates or fellow students. The facts as to who commenced the brawl and who got injured are generally agreed upon but you can bet your bottom dollar statements given to the police by each gender that witnessed the same incident would be markedly different. I can only say, thank God that in such situations a panel jury of 12 decides the guilt or innocence of the accused.

I would also make this observation to do with discipline of obstetric and gynecology. Experienced clinicians who teach medical students and interns in this discipline always make a point of emphasis and that point is ‘always listen carefully what expectant mothers had to say, whether in normal birth deliveries and acute situations’. Point? A clear situation where women writing on the subject of pregnancy and childbirth would have distinct advantage than anything a man can write about the subject, even if the man in question is the head of the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in a major hospital or medical school.

It would be factually a fair comment to note that perhaps up until the middle of the twentieth century, as writers, women would have faced significantly greater obstacles than men. The simple reason is that freedom from restraint and control as a social convention, and emancipation had not taken firm hold and acceptance. At the same time it is noteworthy to mention writers like Emily Bronte’ novels: Wuthering Heights & Jane Eyre; and Jane Austen novels: Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion. Perhaps it is more noteworthy to highlight recent news item that the author who wrote the blockbuster ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’, Harper Lee, in fact put aside a book that she wrote earlier entitled: ‘Go Set a Watchman’ in order to complete writing ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’ and that book is now to be published and likely to be made into a film some 50 plus years after the classic film To Kill a Mocking Bird.

In summary, it is my opinion that both genders have the potential of churning out blockbusters on wide variety of subjects and life matters. Thus far the scale is slightly tipped in favour of the male gender but the overwhelming consensus with which I agree is that the scale will soon be tipped in favour of the female gender and may stay there for long time to come.

Neural Atrophy & Synaptic Disconnect Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 10:31:00 +0000

Neural atrophy

Synaptic disconnect

Part II

Careful Samuel L Jackson!

Whilst this series of blogs is about the forthcoming human aphasia tsunami in order to understand how the iphone will cause that tsunami it is important to understand the normal physiology of speech, and about the current state of knowledge presumably known by medical professional about non iphone related cause or causes of aphasia.

In brief sound is produced by the larynx and that sound is refined or modified by the lips, teeth, tongue, and palate. The first process is commonly referred to as phonation the modification is referred to as articulation. It is important to note that the larynx separates the upper respiratory tract from the lower respiratory tract and accordingly in normal non iphone related atrophy can be affected by disease from above or from below. Diseases can include inflammation, tumour, paralysis, singer’s nodules, and vocal cord polyp. I am not suggesting that the forthcoming iphone dysphonia tsunami is going to be caused by the common and traditional causes that are known and are included in courses thought in medical schools and the ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) specialty.

Aphasia - the future concern for neurologists

What I am suggesting is that the cause or causes of iphone hoarseness resulting from misuse of the voice that prevents the two sides of the vocal cord meeting through their entire length will initially be much harder to diagnose. Both the GP and the ENT specialist are going to shake their heads in disbelief. Why? After expensive investigation with the latest technology on offer all traditional causes of dysphonia are ruled out. The iphoned patient will most likely be admitted to hospital to be assessed by seasoned neurologist who presumably can look outside the traditional ‘diagnostic square’. If that seasoned neurologist did look outside the diagnostic square what I am suggesting he or she will be surprised to find is that the dysphonia is in fact a form of dystrophy caused by or due to lack of use of neuronal pathways gradually engulfing the area of the brain that enable the patient, that is now referred to Mr, or Miss/Mrs iphonophile, to discern speech signals and thus speak. The seasoned now fully alert neurologist will start asking iphonophile patient questions which the iphonophile patient cannot answer other than through messages or emails which are sent through the iphone! A bizarre situation in which cause of the dysphonia now controls the means of communication between iphonophile patient and the seasoned neurologist!

Asphasia

This is a situation that is not dissimilar to a robot replacing human. Regardless of the élan, fineness, and refinement with which that seasoned neurologist is held in the hospital, amongst his peers, and profession the chances are he or she will start using unkempt language with the iphonophile patient.
If he or she are visionaries the chances are he or she will realize that destiny had made them pioneers in discovering new modern day cause of dysphonia that is about to become a tsunami. The dysphonic patient is now labeled ‘dysphonic iphonophilic’ admitted and totally dispossessed of his iphone and laptop.

Dysphonic Iphonphilic sufferers of the future

His first treatment must start with learning elementary books that are thought in kindergarten including those that teach phonation of all letters of the alphabet! By necessity speech therapy will be destined to become well paid popular course on offer in tertiary institutions that will include universities and colleges.

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Human Longevity And The Health Budget

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 10:16:00 +0000

Human Longevity

And

The Health Budget

Joe Hockey

A recent comment was made by the Federal Treasurer of Australia, the Honourable Joe Hockey, to the effect that a child born in 2015 may well live to the ripe old age of 150 years. Although the primary motive of the Treasurer in making this comment was to highlight the plight of the spiraling health costs and his difficulties thus far convincing the Australian populous that unpalatable change must be made to Medicare, the comment is not as farfetched as it may sound and here is why:

Child born in 2015 will reach the age of 150 years old in 2165 or a century and half from now. If one were to look at the progress of medical science over the last 150 years and how that progress improved the average lifespan from 35 years for male 40 years for female in the late 19th century to now - 82 years for male 86 for females. Substantial part of that improvement was due to hygiene thanks to Louis Pasteur, antiseptics and washing of hands.

The next quantum leap in improving longevity came in the early part of the 20th century when microbes that cause swathe of infectious diseases such as diphtheria and whooping cough came under the focus of microscopes and researchers such as Florey and Fleming the pioneers principally responsible for the discovery of penicillin that led to the discovery of other antibiotics and vaccination:Discoveries that made significant reduction in the death toll of injured combatants in World War II.

By the mid 20th century the average lifespan was 60 for male 65 for female. However, the most significant quantum leap, more like a revolution than a leap, came in the early 1950’s when Watson and Cricks were able to decode the genetic material in cell nuclei, the so called “double helix” the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) and RNA (Ribonucleic Acid).

DNA has opened the doors for research once unfathomable

Let us stop here and think for a moment. What the Watson & Crick discovery means, at least in theory, is that sample from diseased organ or abnormal growth can be genetically understood when compared with normal healthy cell. In other words the specific site in the double helix abnormal cell can now be identified and at least in theory, modified to make it normal. The technology that enables that modification to take place is well within the realm of reality and herein is the reason for the fear and worry of Treasurer Hockey and his attempt to making the Federal Health Budget sustainable.

Within matter of 30 odd years after Watson and Crick decoded the double helix, DNA, RNA, and chromosomes thanks to ground breaking research by molecular biologist, the molecule of life revolution came into full swing and the hard disc of life became a reality. We now know that 50 trillion cells make up the human body and that for as little as $1,500 one can obtain his or her full genetic hard disc!

The potential for longevity provided by this genetic hard disc are beyond comprehension, a dream world fantasy, but in reality it could well mean kissing death goodbye! We now understand that the much feared words cancer and metastasis are uncontrolled cell growth of cells that invade healthy vital organs leading to death. But molecular research now tells us there are molecular causes for cancer in which a gene retrovirus hijacked normal health genes. This behaviour could be replicated in laboratory mice, rats and guinea pigs. This replication in laboratory mice, rats, and guinea pigs led to the discovery of new type of medications that enabled oncologists to successfully treat such conditions as chronic myeloid leukemia. In recent years newer drugs became available to treat number of other cancers. The costs of those drugs are currently prohibitive and one can fully understand treasurer Hockey fears about the explosive cost to the health budget. It is likely in a matter of few years researchers will be able to crack the genetic genomes of currently untreatable cancers such as pancreatic cancer and cancers of the brain such as glycoma. Once that genetic genome is cracked pharmaceutical conglomerates will come up with designer drug.

With this brief outline it is my opinion that Treasurer Hockey’s comment that a child born in January 2015 could well live 150 years dying in the year 2165 is by no means farfetched.

Will this process will take 150 years?

Surreal as it may sound, it is my opinion that cracking the genetic code, understanding division of cells, mutation, and genomes had opened the possibility of genetic modulation of number of yet untreatable cancers. If foresighted biotechnology companies focus attention on developing designer drugs human longevity becomes analogous to a string that in theory can be extended for as long as the eye could see.

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Forgotten Souls of the Titanic

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 11:24:00 +0000

Forgotten Souls of the Titanic

Third class passengers

It is common, indeed instinctive, and normal reaction for us to envisage scenes from the 1997 movie ‘The Titanic’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet and credible cast of other supporting actors whenever we hear the word ‘Titanic’. Spectacular as this epic movie attempted to re-create the catastrophic disaster of the maiden voyage of the Titanic when it struck iceberg on 12 April 1912 and sunk with massive loss of life. In my opinion the movie fails (in my opinion) to portrays the human element, the lives and expectations of the second and third class passengers who made up the bulk of the human cargo that is (if human were recorded as cargo not as passengers).

According to official record on board when the Titanic officially commenced its maiden journey through the Atlantic it had 337 first-class passengers with an estimated combined net worth of $500 million. The richest of all was John Jacob Astor aged 47. His father (Jack) owned very significant portion of New York and did not have to shout about it. In fact Jack was the forefather developer that started the forest and jungle of skyscrapers of today’s New York – Titanic of sort on dirt – with similar class differentiation to the Titanic on 12 April 1912. The average price for shared first-class cabin ticket is said to be in the region of 55 pound sterling.

There were only 271 second-class passengers representing forty percent of the Titanic second-class capacity which is an indication of the prevailing competition from German and Italian shipping lines. One of the second class passengers, and perhaps the only passenger on the Titanic was a black man by the name of Joseph Laroche born in Haiti in 1886. Laroche with his French wife and two children was on his way back to Haiti after experiencing intolerable racial prejudice working or studying engineering. It is noteworthy to remember that in 1912 men were the bread winners and their wives were seen and treated as human appendage. Despite their second-class passenger status on the Titanic women status did not change and were not seen or treated anything other than human appendage. The official price paid for second class ticket was 26 pounds sterling.

There were 712 third-class passengers some seventy percent of capacity. As this blog is concerned with the forgotten souls of the third-class passengers it is only pertinent to take closer look at the nationalities, embarkation, and official recorded number of those passengers. Four hundred and ninety seven (497) embarked at South Hampton. One hundred and two (102) embarked at Cherbourg and one hundred and thirteen (113) embarked at Queenstown. The estimated breakdown of nationalities of the third-class passengers were: 118 British, 113 Irish, 104 Swedes, 79 Lebanese, 55 Finns, 43 Americans, 33 Bulgarians, 25 Norwegians, 22 Belgians, 12 Armenians, 8 Chinese, 7 Danes, 5 Frenchmen, 4 Italians, 4 Greeks, 4 Germans, 4 Swiss, and 3 Portuguese. There were significant number of others which included sizeable numbers from what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Russia. The discrepancy between the official number and the number from the various nationalities can be explained by the notoriety of the practice of travel agents, middle men, bribery, and official record keeping.

This blog is intended as factual background to the human souls of the passengers who were heading in search of new life and opportunities. The next blog in this series on the Titanic I will focus on the forgotten souls of the officially recorded 79 Lebanese passengers. Why? Because the true number of Lebanese on the Titanic was significantly greater than that officially recorded and also I will try to answer the question as to why a tiny country like Lebanon, a mere spec on a world map, could have such a number of passengers on the maiden voyage of the unsinkable Titanic across the Atlantic in April 1912.

Meantime, until the next blog it is important to note and remember that in 1943 Nazi Germany made a propaganda movie called ‘The Titanic’ which was intended to depict Britain as a society ruled by greedy wealthy ruling class that sways great control and influence. It was Hitler’s way of saying he was not against the English populous before starting his bombing campaign of London. Needless to say unlike the 1997 Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet movie the German movie was not shown in Germany and despite the massive expense involved in making the movie it proved to be financial disaster. Despite all this credit must be given to men and women who undertake such challenges.

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The Father of Digital Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 10:32:00 +0000

The Father of Digital Technology

Benedict Cumberbatch as Alan Turing in the Imitation Game

(Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Nokia, Blackberry

Ericsson, Motorola, HTC, etc, etc…)

If one were to take a survey by stopping 100 people at random in any, and for that matter all of the world’ major cities and ask the following question:

“who do you think is the real inventor behind the

technology of the computer and digital phone?”

My bet will be less that 1 or 2 percent will answer: Alan Mathison Turing. Yes I have no doubt that it is the very little known genius Alan Mathison Turing. Why very little known? In a nutshell Turning was ostracized because he was gay at a time when homosexuality was a crime in the UK in 1952. Instead of serving prison sentence Turing accepted the alternative option of treatment with female hormones, alternative better known at the time as chemical castration. Thanks to the humiliation of this genius Turing committed suicide by cyanide poisoning before his 42^nd birthday in 1954. It took the British Government, current Prime Minister Cameron, close to 60 years to pass a motion annulling Turn 1952 homosexual conviction in late 2013. I wonder how Turning bones, spirit and soul reacted to this news!

Am sure that when one looks at Turing’s academic accolades and World War II contribution to Britain war effort little, if any doubt, be left in crowning Turing as the father and patriarch of modern day ‘miracles’ of digital technology that permanently changed mankind’ understanding and quality of life to a scope and destiny yet to be determined. Before embarking on specific explanation of Turing’s inventions I want to briefly raise the question of copyright. Can one imagine if Turing were to copyright his inventions and his estate claimed royalties from the likes of current Apple, Samsung, and their predecessors in the digital technology industry. There is no doubt that the entity and the beneficiaries of that entity would have been materially the richest known to the current civilization of mankind.

Academic accolades of Alan Mathison Turing

If one were to search for a hereditary root of Turing’ mathematic genius the figure that stands out is his grandfather from his mother side being chief engineer of the Madrass Railway. His grandfather from his father’s side was a clergyman. At the age of 13 he was a student at Sherborne School Manchester better known for humanities than mathematics. In a letter to his parents a teacher wrote: ‘I hope he will not fall between two stools. If he is to be scientific specialist he is wasting his time…’ After Sherborne Turing After Sherborne, Turing studied as an undergraduate from 1931 to 1934 at King’s College Cambridge from where he gained first-class honours in mathematics. In 1935, at the young age of 22, he was elected a fellow at King's on the strength of a dissertation in which he proved the central limit theorem. From King’s College he went to Princeton University where he did PhD on the subject of the Systems of Logic based on ordinals.

I will stop at this stage and leave the more interesting and better known work and contributions of Turing that took place at on 4 September 1939, the day after the Britain declared war on Germany on which date Turing reported to Bletchley Park, the wartime station better known as Government Code & Cypher School.

King’s College Cambridge where the computer room is named after Turing, who became a student there in 1931 and a Fellow in 1935

A complete and working replica of a bombe at the National Codes Centre at Bletchley Park

Britain

wartime station

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Dissertations on Justice - What is Justice ? Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 10:24:00 +0000

Dissertations on Justice

What is Justice?

Part I

If I were to stand at the centre of any busy landmark of a major city anywhere in the world and were to ask a randomly selected sample of 10 people each one individually to define his or her perception of Justice, I am sure I will get 10 different answers that may vary from one extreme to the other. This is understandable and may indeed be universal. However, if I were to ask the same question to 10 victims of crime or civil wrong (tort) again I will more likely than not get 10 different answers, but this time these answers will be qualified in accordance with the severity of the impact that civil wrong or crime had on the individual, his or her family, close friends, and his and her world at large especially financial well-being.

Where do we go to get justice? In criminal law, strange as it may sound that justice is not given to the victim of the crime! Neither is it given to his or her family. By definition any crime is a crime against the State, the Country, or the reigning King or Queen (Regina) not the victim or victims of crime. Notionally that justice is given to the governmental authorities of the State, Province of the Country in which the victim resides or where the crime is committed. The act or acts committed by the offender constituting the crime (offence/s) are generally legislated by Parliaments and slotted into Consolidated Acts with accompanying Legislation, Schedules, Procedures and Rules which the Minister of Justice in the State, Province, or Country had introduced and after whatever amendments is voted and legislated. These Acts are part and parcel of law school courses and form the tools of trade of legal practitioner practicing or specializing in criminal law.
On the other hand if the wrong committed is civil the individual can sue in his or her own capacity as a plaintiff. The wrong doer (tortfeasor) which could be individual, a company, or governmental entity is named the defendant. In some rare cases the offence in question could fall into a category of strict liability which means that in order to succeed the plaintiff does not have to prove fault or negligence by the defendant. More often than not torts falling into this category are legislated and likely to involve governmental or semi governmental institutions.

The burden of proof in criminal and civil wrongs varies considerably. In civil wrongs that burden is said to be: on the balance of probability. Imagine for a minute the blindfolded Goddess Themes carrying the evenly balanced Scale of Justice in her right hand. If you or I were to put 100 grams of gold on each side of the scale neither side tips the scale and the scale remains evenly balanced. If you were a plaintiff you will succeed in your claim but you may not get the full monetary compensation you thought. Why? The chances are in such situations you as a plaintiff carried significant share of the blame for the tort. If the tort involved and relied upon is negligence by the defendant you the aggrieved plaintiff have probably not kept proper lookout to avoid that negligence whether it be car accident or slipping on oily surface or banana skin in a supermarket. If one were to read books about award of compensation or specialized books on damages for torts the general guiding principles are based on the notion of putting the plaintiff back to the position as if that tort had not taken place. Regardless of nobleness of this thought in this guiding principle and theory more often than not that nobleness fades in practice. How does one put a monetary value on a loss of limb, sight, or bodily function? Regardless of the monetary compensation the quality of life can never be the same. In such cases a component of the monetary award will be to cover costs for provision of special help, be it machine, residential modifications such as for lift or wheelchair access or personal help.
Regardless of the totality of the monetary award the quality of the aggrieved plaintiff’ life can never be the same. I guess one aspect of relief that equates to Justice is knowledge of the fact that if that very same tort had happened to anyone in the society in which the plaintiff resides, but for the amount of monetary compensation the relief or justice is the same.

Ask any aggrieved plaintiff after settling or winning his or her case whether the amount of monetary compensation awarded had put him or her in the same position as if the tort had not taken place significant number will say NO and most likely make other comments not befitting mention in this blog. Needless to say the chances are that plaintiff had to wait years before he or she had their day in the Court. Did the process involve revelation of the truth or is the truth the quantum sum of monetary compensated? I guess what I am asking here, is: whether truth has any place in justice where money compensation is awarded.

How about a plaintiff who had lost his or her case and was ordered to pay the defendant’s legal costs? What justice did this individual plaintiff received? A legal stuff up or lack of resources to commence legal proceedings is tantamount to denial of legal justice for wronged or aggrieved plaintiff. If that plaintiff was a passenger in a train and had strained his or her back muscles, torn ligaments and developed a permanent limb as a result of the train coming to a sudden stop in which he or she fell what does justice mean to this plaintiff who had lost his or her case against the railway and is left with permanent disability? Facts and words that had been modified and slotted into legal jargons and uttered before listening and sympathetic ears tipped the scale in favour of the defendant. Is such a case tantamount to denial of justice? Clearly the railway is insured and clearly the insurance can afford to pay for the cream de le cream of the legal profession to use their élan, golden jargons and art of persuasion.

What chance does the impecunious plaintiff who cannot afford legal representation has? Buckley’s at best. Is justice denied in this situation? All plaintiffs in like situation will say a loud YES. The defendant will have you believe that the plaintiff had his or her chance and fairly and squarely lost. From the defendant’s point of view justice had been done! Really, does aggrieved plaintiff who had flinched and swore delivered justice to the corporation or the governmental entity he or she had sued?

The burden of proof for criminal offences is much higher than that of civil wrongs. Instead of ‘balance of probabilities’ it is ‘beyond reasonable doubt’. What does that means and why? In theory, and in practice, if the accused (defendant) can raise doubt he or she cannot be and should not be convicted. Why? The well established notion, quotation and belief are: ‘better to have 100 felons walk free than have 1 innocent accused convicted’. Is that so? Think of a jury deciding the guilt or the innocence of the accused. That jury of 12 is picked from a pool of potential jurors selected at random. Think of that jury as being 6 men and 6 women. The pool of knowledge and experience of 12 members of society in which the accused defendant lives presumably will level the playing field of prejudices. But does it really or do we care if it does not? Remember the victim of the crime is not the family of the person who is killed, maimed and deprived of any enjoyment of life or indeed permanently scared. It is Regina, yes it is Queen Elizabeth, the richest woman in the world sitting in Buckingham Palace or it is the King or the Country that had suffered. So the justice for the victim, if he or she is still alive, is the knowledge that the accused is convicted and will be slotted behind bars!

Appointments of Magistrates, Judges, Justices, and Chiefs to the highest Courts in the land are generally done by Parliament in consultation with Bodies having control of the legal profession in that land. Those Bodies make recommendations that Parliament generally accepts. The nominated candidate would have had years of experience practicing either for plaintiffs or defendant or if he or she had specialized in criminal law he or she would be either for defendant or prosecutor for Regina, yes Queen Elizabeth II. The presiding Magistrate, Judge, or Justice is now supposed to be impartial. He or she supposed to forget all his training and experience and art of persuasion the insurance company that had retained him or her as counsel or his or her fixed views about certain legal principles, precedents, case law, counter arguments etc … Does a jury removes the judges’ prejudice and brings the scale of blindfolded Goddess Themes to equilibrium? I suggest NO! I will take up that argument in pursuit of justice in the next blog in this series.

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Neural Atrophy & Synaptic Disconnect

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Sun, 14 Dec 2014 10:10:00 +0000

Neural atrophy

Synaptic disconnect

Am writing this blog in the hope that it will act as a wakeup call, cause a stir, or if not a stir trigger a revolution! Yes a revolution at the instigation of the medical profession, more specifically by the specialty of neurology by that profession. If the medical profession choose, deliberately, ignorantly, or otherwise to ignore the problem then by major debate, by those capable of undertaking that debate – perhaps select committee by the United Nation. Left unchecked the modern iphone, the Apple and Samsung versions 5 & 6 and planned advances on those versions are exceedingly advancing the yet to come sudden epidemic of aphasia (atrophy and death of neural connections in areas of the brain responsible for speech). Hello those who are awake, neurologists and others, take notice of the following facts and observations which are becoming universal worldwide, if not yet worldwide then the so called ‘west’.

Facts & Observations

Each day for the last 6 months whilst waiting at the platform to catch train in the morning and late in the afternoon I made a point of counting the number of commuters who were either exploring their iphones and had earplugs connected to their iphone, those talking, those playing games, and others who appear to be simply fascinated exploring the various applications, facebook and whatever else on offer. On average less than 5% of commuters were either reading newspaper or talking. This percentage dropped to 3% or less on the return journey late afternoon. I am talking about average of 100 people in the morning and 300 people late afternoon. How strange my late father would feel out of place if he were to board a train is Sydney today? To see in a carriage that seats 70 plus people each person carrying hand held gadget plugged to his or her ears and talking in the air in total ignorance to everybody not the least to the person sitting next to him or her. A scene and reality that is not only strange, to the likes of my father, but to us mere ten years ago. The greater worry to humanity and the human race is the attachment and reliance of the young of the iphone. I do mean the really young the 4 and 5 years old to the delight and encouragement of their parents are quickly becoming competent users of the iphones especially in downloading games. What effect will that knowledge and reliance on the iphone have on a young developing brain, the interconnecting pathways and the developing synaptic connections upon which the normal health and functioning of the said pathway is dependent? It cannot be anything but deleterious.

In the next blog I will look at normal neurology of speech, the area in the brain responsible to deciphering the neural message to speech and the atrophy that could result in aphasia that one sees in patients who had suffered moderate to severe stroke. I will also look at possible solutions that address the medical and legal aspect of the forthcoming aphasia tsunami.

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Human Dignity and The Market Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Michael S Abdul-Karim) — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 06:12:00 +0000

HUMAN DIGNITY AND THE MARKET

Part II

There is very old Arabic proverb that says: ‘money will buy you your favourite ice cream and desert whilst you are roasting, or being roasted, in hell’. In other words there is nothing that money cannot buy even in the celestial or hell as envisaged in Dante’s inferno. In a competitive market the price is determined by the forces of supply and demand or so we are thought in tertiary courses, and read in books. We are also thought that the utility of a commodity subject to market forces is the ability of that commodity to satisfy want. Therefore when the impoverished sells his or her kidney there is no question that want is not satisfied the real question: is he or she selling that transplantable kidney for its true market value? In this setting that market value is inseparable from the market value of the longevity to the life of the recipient and presumed ultimate source of that transplantable kidney and presumed purchaser. One’s immediate reaction is that surely such a sale cannot equate to or be comparable with one selling his or her car or used washing machine or fridge. The simple and morally painful answer is that the two sales are inseparable in the amoral eye of the market! To further erode the issue of morality and the sacrosanctity of human values instead of an individual being identified as the purchaser of the impoverished sellers’ kidney a corporate entity - totally amoral like the market - can be used to do the purchasing. In other words the recipient of the kidney need not think about the donor. The transaction is simply commercial regardless whether the donor is a prisoner, or a missing person, or an impoverished individual in the Philippine, India, or Egypt.

More and more these days corporate entities are becoming sponsors of major sporting events and the CEO’s of those companies set up their own private boxes watching those events in the comfort and luxury of nippling on caviar, and drinking champagne whilst the rest of the spectators, some of whom stood in a long line to buy ticket, sit or stand on rotting benches and get drenched! Instead of being a get together of communities to watch and cheers for their favourite team sport is becoming amoral just like the market and the corporate entity. This is especially so when we all can bet on teams and watch the odds fluctuate up to the half time break! Nowadays we can do all the betting through our iphone from the luxury of our lounge room.

In a discussion of this kind where the market is being used as means of eroding the moral fiber and ethical sanctity of human values one is reminded of the past, present and continual history of the slave trade. This trade had been, and regrettably continues to be, the hallmark of every human civilization including the 21^st century. In recent months the question of slave trade had been worldwide news item. The Charitable Australian mining magnate, John Andrew Forrest (Twiggy), decided to setup some foundation/trust committee to monitor and hopefully reduce the volume of human slave trade market. Human slave trade was a feature of Medieval Europe that peaked in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when European powers were colonizing Africa. Between the twelfth and fifteen centuries Florence and Genoa flourished on slave trade from Africa to the Arabs. Those slaves became known as the Mamlukes (owned) and after the decadence of the great Arab Empires of Umayyad and Abbasid took over as Caliphate until the last of whom, was defeated by the Ottoman in 1516. Forrest’s grandiose initiative was welcomed and warmly supported by the Vatican and the Imam of El Azhar Mosque in Cairo. A smiling, Forrest was shown with his wife signing the anti slavery document at the Vatican with Saint Peter’s Church in the background.

No discussion of slave trade (topic for next blog) is ever complete without a mention of Abraham Lincoln, and the American Civil War of 1860. Whilst to most historians the cause of the war was the desire by the Northern States to abolish slavery that ‘cause’ may well be one of many, if indeed the main cause. I guess one can take comfort in the fact that the medical profession in mid 19^th century America and Europe had not even dreamt of organ transplant.

In the last two years Slavery had been the topic of new breed of Hollywood directors with major films by Quentin Tarantino Django Unchained and 12 Years a Slave by Steve McQueen.

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Michael S Abdul-Karim, author

Tales From My Primary School

Diplomatic Immunity & The Law

Diplomatic Immunity & The Law

Unexplained Deaths, Pharmaceuticals&The Medical ProfessionPart I

Unexplained Deaths, Pharmaceuticals&The Medical ProfessionPart I

MAGNA CARTA Myth & Law Part II

MAGNA CARTAMyth & LawPart II

MAGNA CARTA Myth & Law Part I

MAGNA CARTAMyth & LawPart I

OPAL TRANSPORT CARD What does it all mean? Part 1

Remembering & HonouringEmir AbdelKader(The Algerian)Part II

Remembering & Honoring Emir AbdelKader (The Algerian) Part I

A Grim Tale of a Diamond Ring- based on a true story

Centenary Anniversary of ANZAC & The Painful Facts

Centenary Anniversary of ANZAC &The Painful Facts

Greece & The European Union

Greece & The European Union

Remembering Second Iraq War Part2

Haemorrhoids & Toilet Seats

Citizenship, Identity & Passport

Spikenard: What is it and where you may have heard about it?

Nexus of Spelling to Income In Various Professions

Death Row Inmates: Andrew Chan & Myuran Sukumaran

Gender and Writings

Neural Atrophy & Synaptic Disconnect Part II

Human Longevity And The Health Budget

Forgotten Souls of the Titanic

The Father of Digital Technology

Dissertations on Justice - What is Justice ? Part 1

Neural Atrophy & Synaptic Disconnect

Human Dignity and The Market Part II

OPAL TRANSPORT CARD

What does it all mean?

Part 1

Remembering & Honouring
Emir AbdelKader
(The Algerian)
Part II

Remembering &

Honoring

Emir AbdelKader

(The Algerian)

Part I