Sunday, July 26, 2009

Negritude..

“my Negritude is not a stone..
nor a deafness flung against the clamor of the day..
my Negritude is not a white speck of dead water..
on the dead eye of the earth..
my Negritude is neither tower nor cathedral..
it plunges into the red flesh of the soil..

it plunges into the blaxing flesh of the sky..
my Negritude riddles with holes..
the dense affliction of its worthy patience..”

With these words, Amie Cesaire expressed the views that evolved within the Black university student at Paris in 1930th.. A movement that welcomed the French colonist rule, but requested equality and dignity within.. Many people rejected the call for its apparent paradoxical structure, while few supported, turning it into the greatest intellectual, philosophical and literature movement in the Africa. Négritude movement included the future Senegalese President Léopold Sédar Senghor, Martinican poet Aimé Césaire, and the Guianan Léon Damas. The Négritude writers found solidarity in a common black identity as a rejection of French colonial racism. They believed that the shared black heritage of members of the African diaspora was the best tool in fighting against French political and intellectual hegemony and domination.

The term Négritude (which most closely means "blackness" in English) was first used in 1935 by Aimé Césaire in the 3rd issue of L'Étudiant noir, a magazine which he had started in Paris with fellow students Léopold Senghor and Léon Damas, as well as Gilbert Gratiant, Leonard Sainville, and Paulette Nardal. L'Étudiant noir also contains Césaire's first published work, "Negreries," which is notable not only for its disavowal of assimilation as a valid strategy for resistance but also for its reclamation of the word "nègre" as a positive term. "Nègre" previously had been almost exclusively used in a pejorative sense, much like the English word "nigger."

Neither Césaire, who upon returning to Martinique after his studies in Paris was elected both Mayor of Fort de France, the capital, and a representative of Martinique in France's Parliament, nor Senghor in Senegal envisaged political independence from France. Négritude would, according to Senghor, enable Blacks under French rule to take a "seat at the give and take table as equals." However, France had other ideas, and it would eventually present Senegal and its other African colonies with independence.

Négritude had inspired the idea of Pan Africa, as political movement; which stormed west African states in the 1960th. The Pan-African flag was designed by Marcus Garvey and is known as "The Red, Black, and Green". This flag symbolizes the struggle for the unification and liberation of African people. The "red" stands for the blood that unites all people of African ancestry, "black" represents the color of the skin of the people of Africa, and "green" stands for the rich land of Africa.

Recently, Pan African Movement had received a great support and gear up force, by the South Africa legendary leader Nelson Mandela, and the Libyan leader Colonel Ghadafi; in addition to many new breed of politician and political leaders in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe. A formal Pan Africa Organization was announced as governing body, many groups, particularly in culture and arts had gain powers and enthusiasm, and many distinctive expressions in media and business came to surface.

The associated term of “Black Power” was very well received among the African American in USA; who went the extra mile and painted the USA map with Pan African flag colors. It is also relevant to acknowledge the negative implications of such political uprising, which created a wide spread waves of violence, armed conflicts and further unrest in many corners of the continent. However, the hard delivery came with some extra bright symptoms on fighting the chronic political corruption, namely; the 2009 presidential elections of Ghana, which was a unique event historically and globally.

For more; panafricanempowerment.blogspot.com/

Friday, July 24, 2009

Extractions on the Roma..


The exact origins of slavery in the Danubian Principalities are not known. Historian Nicolae Iorga associated the Roma people's arrival with the 1241 Mongol invasion of Europe and considered their slavery as a vestige of that era, the Romanians taking the Roma from the Mongols as slaves and preserving their status. Other historians consider that they were enslaved while captured during the battles with the Tatars. The practice of enslaving prisoners may also have been taken from the Mongols. The ethnic identity of the "Tatar slaves" is unknown, they could have been captured Tatars of the Golden Horde, Cumans, or the slaves of Tatars and Cumans.




Slavery (Romanian: robie) existed on the territory of present-day Romania from before the founding of the principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia in 13th–14th century, until it was abolished in stages during the 1840s and 1850s. Most of the slaves were of Roma (Gypsy) ethnicity. Particularly in Moldavia there were also slaves of Tatar ethnicity, probably prisoners captured from the wars with the Nogai and Crimean Tatars. The abolition of slavery was carried out following a campaign by young revolutionaries who embraced the liberal ideas of the Enlightenment. Notable among them was Mihail Kogălniceanu, who drafted the legislation related to the abolition of slavery in Moldavia. The enslavement of the Roma (often referred to as Gypsies) was still legal at the beginning of the 19th century. Abolitionism was associated with the progressive pro-European and anti-Ottoman movement, which gradually gained power in the two principalities. Between 1843 and 1855, all of the 250,000 enslaved Roma slaves were liberated. Many migrated to Western Europe and North America

Traditionally, Roma slaves were divided into three categories. The smallest was owned by the hospodars, and went by the
Romanian-language name of ţigani domneşti ("Gypsies belonging to the lord"). The two other categories comprised ţigani mănăstireşti ("Gypsies belonging to the monasteries"), who were the property of Romanian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox monasteries, and ţigani boiereşti ("Gypsies belonging to the boyars"), who were enslaved by the category of landowners.


The impact of slavery on Romanian society became a theme of historiographic interest in the decades after the Romanian Revolution of 1989. In 2007, Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu approved the creation of Comisia pentru Studierea Robiei Romilor ("Commission for the Study of Roma Slavery"), which will present its findings in a report and will make recommendations for the Romanian education system and on promoting the history and culture of the Roma. The commission, presided upon by Neagu Djuvara, will also recommend the creation of a museum of the Roma, a research center, a Roma slavery commemoration day and the building of a memorial dedicated to Roma slavery.

Wall of Time











On the Wall of Time..
Many similar and contradicting stories are written..
Regretfully, many by invisible ink..
Such a great wall belts the planet Earth..
Regretfully, many believes they are out of reach..!!
Whenever you would go, a lot is there to tell..
Regretfully, fewer ears and eyes to hear or watch..!!





Both-ways..

Everyone has seeds for both ways; subject to trigger the right one..
Unless you are truly ready, you will not be capable..
Unless you seriously want, you will never get there..
Unless you are really a match, you will never be satisfied..!!

Monday, July 20, 2009

Berlin Wall of Asia..






As a classic example of alliance between Politicians and Military, “Wagah Gate” represents an awful status of nation divide. I am not a believer nor a supporter of religious divide among the people. Religion was and will always still as a personal concern, not a basis of a political mind set.
The “hilarious” daily military ceremony accompanied with “Flag Lowering” is nothing much but putting both nations on alert of war. No wonder that unspoken unwritten deal was knitted between Delhi and Islamabad to draw those “acrobatic” military performance, which turned to be a daily entertainment event. Thousands of Indians and Pakistanis, occupy the stadium stages constructed on both sides of the gate to cheer and witness the ultra-fabricated performance from both gate-guards. As commons applauded the performance, sending patriotic slogans to the air, a deeper divide is growing between the two countries. It is a classic example of sustaining the political order by putting the commons on a standby sense of war.. and it is excellently working..


It was also “hilarious” to observe the troops of Porters who unload goods from a Pakistani trucks, handling to other Indian Porters across the white line of the boarder, to load them again in an Indian trucks..!! You may imagine impact of bilateral trade and efficiency of logistics of both country, and their merchants..
During my years in Dubai, with extended relations with Indians and Pakistanis, I can witness and report growing partitioning, which feeds the unnecessary hostile actions and policies. Despite the fact that the governing corruption in both countries is the highest worldwide, the people are prey for those politicians who manage to defrag the minds and souls since 1949. Increasingly, both people are more suspension to each other, more inpatient and more apart. Yes, they have now the second partition-generation coming to youth-hood, while the oldest who lived in the greater Indian subcontinent; is almost retiring or dyeing. New political realities survive on the grounds, with considerable cuts from national GDPs to feed political and military stand; while 70% of populations are below any acceptable poverty definition.. Nevertheless the discrimination, which both are fighting in many parts of the world

Should both countries, with their massive troops of technocrats and professionals to realize an end of the historic hatred and give away the religious-driven partition for a civilized and urban one.. Bringing down the Wagah Gate as the German did with Berlin wall..?
I do not think so, or at least within the coming 100 years..!! Those ancient Oriental cultures have a defective gene that prevent the people from realizing the true world and seriously work to be acknowledged.. Similarly in Egypt, Iraq, Turkey and Yemen.. It sounds as a “Curse” of time..!!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Iraqi Qawliya


In 7th century; Gypsies (or Urban Nomads) had mysteriously migrated from Northwest of India into the worldwide, even across the Atlantic to USA.. Along their historic journeys, they had blinded their passion to music, colors and dance, with all cultural features they passed through.. Their traditional practices of easy and all-free way of life, had enabled them filling the gaps in urban communities with entertainment, magic and fantasies.. They shared the same fate worldwide as being humiliated, prosecuted and discriminated wherever they go..!!
Apparently, the Iraqi branch had reached the plains of Euphrates much earlier after long grooming in Persia.. Comfortably, the 12th century may be consider as an early arrival date..
The Iraqi branch had solely been entertainers, while some of their clans who moved northwest been vendors.. Notably; they had heavily contributed to evolution of Oriental Dance, namely the Baladi or Bedouin type..
Generally; Gypsies are always skillful to adapt local languages, religions and traditions; while preserving their own historic cultural roots..!

Friday, July 10, 2009

English Debate in Malaysia


Malaysia’s decision to stop teaching mathematics and science in English is a new controversial topic.. It was agreed on 2003 to teach these majors in English instead of Malay Bahasa; enabling stronger qualifications for its new generations.. I can see another gravity as such a practice would allow more communications among its ethnic groups, while enforcing more alignment to global mind-set.. Yes, it is antipatriotic to abandon the national language, but let’s be frank about both advantages and disadvantages..
Building and enforcing national identity will not be by caging the teenagers within closed parameters, with certain difficulty when it comes to academic and scientific interactions with the others; or the world.. In Malaysia, and so everywhere else in the world, the growing international schooling became a favorite trend to attract back both migrating professionals and/or migration-planning ones.. One of the main concerns for graduates and their families is to secure adequate schooling for their children, which would enhance their competences and opportunities for better lives..
On Parallel, ethnic groups in Malaysia had their own languages, media, publications and schools as well.. The minorities had felt relief as domination of Malay Bahasa was somehow undermined in favor of national development and integration as well.. I had seen ethnic Malaysian communicate easily in English, or using general Bahasa vocabularies.. Also, I am sure that using such a single language in a multi ethnic nation had limited the participation of minority politicians in Assemblies, which would downgrade its governance and fair chances.. No wonder that many Malaysians are spread all over the world earning living, or earning identity..
This is no difference from marriage restrictions; which despite the religious referrals; had unnecessarily partition the nation.. I do believe that this new direction, as well as many issued earlier in the past were driven by politicians who dealt with the wealthy nation as isolated from the world around.. There are lots of political interests can be read in these directions, which establish great threats to the future of the country.. Meanwhile, Government had created units to monitor the web, claiming needs to secure national interests..
It seems an agenda was set, and released now for implementation..!!
I had repeatedly valued the Malaysian social programs; which drive the people to seek developing their competencies to earn good living.. No social allowances, aids or privileges, but employment opportunities provided by incentive to private investors.. Government successfully secured education, health care and infrastructure for the nation, in a mandate enabling the people to earn their own good living.. It is a brilliant approach in a wealth nation with hard working population.. Only lift equal and fair chances to upgrade to stronger nation..
Despite the job vacancies would be created for new English-Teachers.. I do hope either strong justification, or surrender to the common interest.. For me; Malaysia was the only Muslim country that successfully had created a balance between refarrals and modernity.. Therefore, I sincerely wish that no one would undermine, or mislead...

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Heal The World..


Throughout our recorded history, people had managed to create sets of partitions for personal gains.. I believe the whole thing had started with a joke, a jealousy or bitter loss.. Then, with aid of devil-ill minds; it turned to be bases of traditions, cultures and laws as well..

The only venue to make someone superior to others; while lacking true competencies; is to apply psychological or spiritual roles.. Therefore, seeding those partitions had consumed long time in history, to be an agreed yet unspoken roles.. Momentum of time and generations was enough to turn such joke, jealousy or bitterness into firm roles that still reviving in today’s world.. Eventually, we need a longer time, relative to their accumulations, to eliminate these awful trends..

Miraculously, Mankind is a weird species, that would react in different ways to laws of physics, time and geography as well.. This is fairly proven in inspirations and outspoken individuals; who would manage to touch our hearts and souls.. Many of those were simple and ordinary persons, who happened to have a media to transfer their visions to the public.. Many of them came from lower classes, which had united them with the commons in particular.. Great social movements were conceived within poor yet loving families; which empowered those achievers with the secret keys of hearts and souls.. There is unspoken type of love which had marked those persons: “Loving the Others..”

Such love was rarely noted or defined, as it was out of reach of theories and researchers.. It is the love that was created in the dusty allies and on the one-dish dining tables.. It is the love which poets and lyrics-writers could barely express or elaborate.. It is the love that drama works could not manage to clearly deliver to the audience.. It is the love that always shakes us and sends unpredicted waves of change and anxiety.. It is the love that would dramatically give away lives, fortunes and personal possessions.. It is the love that is ignored by law schools and political science.. Yet, it is the true driver for all major changes of our history and being..

These thought evolved as watched the skillful-delivery of Michael Jackson Memorial service.. Despite my own preservations on many of his, I can feel that he was one of those who carried that type of controversial love..!!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Malaysian Roots..


"Malaysia Truly Asia.." I believe this slogan is one of the best in the last decade, which celebrates the year around festivals and tourism attraction in within the diverse of Malaysia.. I spent lots of time visiting Malaysia, exploring its culture, people, and politics..

I was amazed with their easy-going personality, which mistakenly been read as lazy or not ambitious.. I could understand that much better, as we; as Sudanese, had been named the same.. Both Malaysia and Sudan have brilliant scientists and professionals all over the world, who would go back home, and share their native the traditional easiness and extended comfort..!! Both Malaysians and Sudanese are extremely interested in politics.. Both nations are setting on huge natural wealth and reserves..!!

Malaysia had gathered multiple ethnic groups, dominated by the Malays; who are descendents of mix of Chinese, Indians and Native Asians.. This mixing process took about 30 centuries, which later had its final flavor by migrating Arabs about 10 centuries ago.. Arabs came; empowered by authentic Islam; which attracted most of the Malays, who later adopted lots of Arabic traditions, names, and calligraphy as well.. Malays are mostly Muslim farmers with extraordinary bonds with their villages and birth places.. The great Chinese expedition in 1500th; had landed on some Malaysian ports in Sabah, Singapore, Malacca and Penang, before continuing to Bengal Bay.. They lift colonies and tied the wed-knots with local Chiefs; which had developed the current Chinese group in Malaysia, as its 2nd largest and greatly distinct with trade and industry. Fair number of the Chinese converted to Christianity in the last century.. The British had brought lots of south Indians to work in rubber fields in south Malaysia, who later became the 3rd ethnic group in the concurrent country. Most of Indians are followers of Hinduism.. The Native Asians or Aboriginals who live in high lands and jungles are comparatively few. Their skins vary from fair to dark, while mostly are believing in pagan rituals..

This histo-ethnic map would draw the economic and political one, which made Malaysia one of only two countries worldwide with ethnic based governing system.. So; no wonder the strife to establish its democracy and fair chances is greatly problematic..

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Tehran Cooling Down..


A week ago, I had predicted that Iranian Streets Drama would cool down, if no new leadership would emerge from the streets of Tehran, to keep the people’s flames on.. Exactly, this what happened.. People get back to normal life, Protesters lit off their anxiety on change to happen, and Ruling Regime extracted more powers and control..
People always need energy to continue their fight with political powers, as they quit earning living and work only on their voices to be louder.. If no one would fuel them with more energy and flame their enthusiasm, they will cool down, giving the lead to their negative implications of their frustration.. Going alive with no life or careless mixed with fear.. Same would be in any organization, the only difference that a nation is bigger and the impacts of protest or surrender are huge.. I guess any manager would know that..!!
Leadership is not only reflection of people’s needs, but also minimum level of skills to drive their energy, associated with enough intelligence to figure a way out of a situation or to draw a route of salvation; which would get them to believe in a particular leader.. This is not different in any way from a father or a teacher or even a bus driver who would make an fetal error or a notable mistake that would cost his followers (family, students or commuters) precious emotions or physical hurt..
Certainly, some faint flames are still there, awaiting a chance to ignite.. but who would create this chance?? I guess it is now a round between security service and the people, to either enable potential leaders to emerge, or suppress..!!

Friday, July 3, 2009

Arabic or "7asrah"..!!


The chaos this image express is not apart from all happenings to Arabic culture.. as people would go extreme in ways that provoke their true identity and ignored authenticity..!!
The current trend to write Arabic using Latin letters was amazingly created couple of decades ago, mostly by Moroccan cyber-chatters..

Today, it became a mainstream among most cyber-Arabs to use, regardless their age, literacy or professionalism.. I do not think it is was faster.. but certainly was a backdoor when technical platform does not support Arabic.. But, in today's world, almost all computers are equipped to support all languages.. including Far-Eastern prints..!! Kindly not that many of these Far-Eastern cultures are using images for expressions not letters or specific words..

Yes, some nations which had used Arabic litters, already changed their writing into Latin ones; i.e., Turkey and Malaysia, but they were not Arabic speaking..!! Others; like Pakistan and Iran still do..

Do you think it is a sign of weakness in Arabic literature or another of the Globalization..? Do you believe it is a progressive manner..? Can you imagine that English is written in Chinese prints..!!

Unfortunately, It is petty.. and a "confused" future; unless a "Drive" is called..!!