Justice and Humanity

O People of the Book - have you no fear
That you spill blood of those who we hold dear
While you bomb them with all your might
and expect them not to put up a fight

And O people who claim to follow Jesus Christ
Can you really support those who took the land in a heist

Where is your sense of justice and humanity
is it too much too ask you to think and come back to your sanity

We understand what it is like to be oppressed
and to restore justice certainly we will not rest
We fear no one except Allah, Our Lord
In His path we strive and die, be it by bullet or sword

The call is to the people of truth, the people who care
to show their support for Palestine if they dare
Your silence is your consent for the people to be oppressed
You too will be judged for God does not rest.

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We applaud the peace-loving Jews and salute you!
We applaud the peace-loving Christians and salute you!
We live for peace and wish peace upon all the nations of the world
But we love justice more - for peace without justice is nothing but fear, slavery and oppression

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#gazaunderattack
 

Ways to fight CRIME

This is not the first time I am writing about crime and it is unlikely to be the last time I write about it.

Recently, the area I live in and its surrounding neighbourhoods have lived under the fear of spiralling crime. The police (SAPS) and all the armed response units have been unable to track down the criminals or have been unable to keep the criminals behind bars. Much speculation exists about who the perpetrators are, their backgrounds and even to the extent of thoughts of a conspiracy. There may yet be some truth in what everyone thinks or says. Sadly, we have become weak such that we blame the government for everything and, in this case, a lack of attention to our problem. Rightly so, there should be no place for crime at any level and we should not tolerate this.

Every government is caught up in its own agenda and often that does not coincide with the wish and will of the people. Before getting carried away, the few thousand people that we are, we are really fairly insignificant in the bigger scheme of the entire population of this country whose needs are as much as ours or more. I wish to bring a little perspective to the problem rather than siding with government because it is the role of government to protect its citizens. There is no contradiction to what I am saying, rather I believe ultimately we will have to find solutions for ourselves.

The dilemma will be such that government will claim a lack of funds and we will hold tight onto our wallets lest they take more and we shout "corruption". Now that is an ugly word. If truth be told, every organisation is tainted by corruption. Why, even our own households might be tainted by it.

We don't need to form another organisation such that we are targeted ourselves by criticism but yet we have to be organised. Did I hear someone shout PAGAD or anyone thought of starting PACQ(man).

Perhaps on a different slant the solution to most of our problems, be it crime at any level, is simple.

The following steps need to be taken by me (yes as you read the word - each and everyone is "me")

1.               Clean up our own act - that pen you took from the office belongs to the office, your levels of productivity in the workplace, etc 

2.               Culture of honesty in the home - make it a priority to speak the truth and hear the truth. The value system is important lest our own homes become breeding grounds for criminals and corrupt officials and business people.

3.               Become selfless - care about the next person, your family members, neighbours and colleagues and even those you don't know

4.               Be God-conscious - a clean act involves knowing who is your Provider and Protector.

5.               Community structures - build strong community structures - networks, neighbourhood watches, etc

6.               Serve the community - in whichever way, be it the leader or the follower. March also if you wish but there is much to be done. Making a cross on the ballot paper is not community work.

7.               Stay vigilant - ok, don't be too nosy about the neighbours visitors but good neighbourly interaction will make it easier to spot unwanted "guests"

We will only start making a difference when we within ourselves make a difference and help the next one to achieve the same. When we are a strong community, the likelihood of the criminals claiming the freedom of our areas will not be possible.

We have to do more and the buck stops with every person in this community. When we become God-fearing then we will put the fear of God in the criminals.

Please, I too need this crime to stop. Let's help each other.

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* The help of Allah is near but we need to turn to Him

** This is a test for us and we pray that the Almighty Allah grants us the strength and wisdom to pass this test

*** Let him who has no sin caste the first stone - let us be clean to cleanse and help our      community

**** Other communities are facing wars and famine,etc - We are facing crime - our should be easier to deal with - O Allah we turn to you in repentance and pray that we may overcome this scourge of crime.

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Media

There are generally three types of people who read the news.  I guess “read” may also mean hear/overhear and watch. These all being forms of getting information. We will disregard those who dream about the news.

The first type or category of people is the one that media people love. It is this group who readily suck up every little bit of information being fed as being holier than the gospel. They cannot or will not discern what is written and will not consider what is being written as perhaps biased, sensationalist and/or twisted. The journalist will no doubt argue that what is being written is the truth and they are not lying. You are thinking that perhaps I am contradicting myself. And maybe I want you to think that. But really what I want you to consider the way in which the story is being presented, be it in print or audio or visual newsclips. Presentation is such that the desired outcome is achieved by being selective and/or economical with the truth.

The second group of people are those that are phlegmatic in their approach. They are agreeable to what is being presented will not at first question a news article unless confronted by someone who object to the same article. These people have no clear views or perhaps have a problem making their views known. They too help sales and viewership because they are unlikely to challenge the status quo.

It is this third category which treats the main media with at least scepticism but most likely find it revolting. These people have an alternative media and sources. Do they not also have their own agendas? We live in a time where everything is an agenda item so it is perhaps derogatory to question their motives in the same light. But they too have an obligation to publish the truth. Unfortunately the world populace are like sheep and are gullible to the bigger money spent by mainstream media to get their point across and the bigger propaganda machine. Thus whatever is presented by the alternative media is viewed as conspiracy theory. So instead of the case being made for a conspiracy, the word theory is added as if it unlikely that a certain “crime” could have been committed.

I remember in the lead up to the Gulf war or what we more commonly call the “Iraqi invasion” how many backed a war to topple Saddam Hussein. For the record, none of these people looked at the bigger picture but gulped up everything that was fed to them of propaganda. They certainly believed every word and there was no alternative or to put it more accurately their sense of justice failed them. One cannot have a complete picture from a few printed words or a few visual clips. So in accepting everything from the media, one assumes that the media is fully informed and is the torchbearers for justice.

Each one has a choice to make, and if you believe blindly then that is your choice. Apathy is a choice. Whatever choice you make regarding the media, unless it is informed by more than just the media, it is best to keep quiet for truth in all probably will evade you.

 

 

Zuma will not survive second term

2014 is the likely to be the worst year, in many ways, since South Africa became a democracy. The economy, too put it mildly, does not look good and there is much discontent with the President, Mr Jacob Zuma, if not with politics in general. Yet it is highly unlikely that the ruling party will be toppled or will lose too many votes.

The fiasco around the merger of Agang and the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the DA’s initial publicising of its presidential candidate did these parties no good and indeed did South African politics no good. The reality is that such a merger was not going to garner too many new votes from the black electorate. The liberal white voter thought that this was a good move to get someone like Dr Ramphele into the DA set-up. This is not uncommon for liberals to think in a way to always protect themselves and their base while supposedly being welcoming of others. To be truly meaningful to their aspirations and be part of a real solution, white liberals will have to move beyond their “race”. This is the only way to create a truly non-racial platform where the policies of the party attract people from a wide range of backgrounds. The DA is generally seen as a “white” party  which makes it extremely unlikely that they will ever topple the ANC. For the latter to happen, another broad-based party of strength has to emerge and then perhaps, if the DA survives, they can form some form of coalition.

Considering all of this, the only concern the leadership of the ANC has to maintain power is the challenge from within, i.e. the ANC is likely to remain in power for some time, but the leadership will change with the challenge from the various factions that exist.

Mr Jacob Zuma is not the popular choice for president of South Africa, but the voters will give little indication of that later this year with general elections take place. There is a level of politics that is not always easy to analyse because like good strategists these things are kept tight, but one thing is for certain that people within the ANC are plotting the downfall of JZ – how soon remains to be seen but I would hazard a guess that he too is unlikely to serve a full second term.


http://www.news24.com/Elections/News/SA-voters-to-make-their-mark-on-7-May-20140207

No to Random Violence

I was reading with total amazement the comments (on a certain forum ) relating to the suspects in the Boston bombing.

People call for tolerance generally except when their minds become warped. Sadly, even intelligent people are easily influenced by the media and few dare to question. As to the facts, most disregard applying intellect, but rather every word uttered, every letter printed and every visual shown is believed to its fullest extent and beyond. Then it becomes time for the peanut gallery to comment and speak without knowledge and due consideration for the views of others.

There is no doubt, that whatever the circumstances, we cannot condone random violence and it is tremendously hurtful that a Muslim might commit such a crime. Islam permits acts of war and no Muslim will disagree on this. But war has rules of engagement and that therefore cannot be compared to random acts of violence. The further examples of acts of terror or violence in countries such as Syria and Iraq cannot be equated without applying some understanding (the details are for another time). But what is happening in the Middle East needs be understood for what it is while the Boston bombing, being perpetrated by a Muslim is merely co-incidental.

Islam does not condone random violence and war is never the first option. Those who claim that Islam was spread by the sword have conveniently taken a view without having any detail about such happenings. At the same time the carnage sewn by the Crusaders are not mentioned.

The first world war was started by which terrorist? The second war was started by which terrorist? Were they Muslim by any chance? The raping of women and the humiliation of men who were prisoners of war in the Iraq were perpetrated by whom? And one can go on and on about acts that are and should be against our moral compass. But amazing how easy it is to jump on the bandwagon on blame everything on Muslims. Some Muslims have overstepped the line, but then to totally brand Islam as the violent religion is more than a little off the mark.

Before I conclude, just a comment on the laws of each country. You may be happy or even ecstatic with the laws in your country. But the laws of another country are for those living there. You don’t have to ever visit there or live there. Those people may think the laws in your country are sick. So act mature and if you like your meat well-done, allow the other to have their meat medium rare. You do what you are allowed to do in your house and your country. But if you have enough time and energy to write your thesis on world religions or regional cultures, then by all means do your research. Take a lifetime to do it while we have some peace from the drivel every time you need to be an expert on Islam

In conclusion – we need to educate ourselves rather than comment blindly. We may even be amazed that there may be a difference between culture and a religion and at times the religion can be the culture.

If you are going to comment on Quran, then please read it first and then ask someone knowledgeable what you may not understand or any concerns of what you read.

 

 

 

 

 

Freedom of Cape Town

Dear  Alderman De Lille ...

I too seek the freedom of the city

so if you give it to him it will be a pity

was not his contribution to the city nil?

Perhaps you did not really notice

He continued a war never well liked

And with it we found the petrol price hiked

Of their many atrocities there are photos

Africa his land of birth he has forgotten

His memory is short reminds a roman poet

He has ignored Africa as if he does not know it

His record for this continent is truly rotten

So perhaps my own ancestry is lesser known

But there are books that document this all

My ancestors, their actions set in motion the ball

No doubt their contribution to the city can be shown

I therefore humbly ask you Alderman De Lille

To please reconsider the award to this man

Don’t do something just because you can

I believe my will is also the people’s will

He has forgotten Africa

My land and your land

I urge you to understand

His Love is only America

Robbing others of Dignity

The world is sinking. Values gone out the door. It is one way traffic. We are warned to be careful of the one who wears the turban, the one sporting a beard and not forgetting the dreaded burqah. Yet we open ourselves to immorality, falsehood and Godlessness.

Back home in lovely South Africa, we wish to honour one who leads a nation into war upon war, one who who leads a nation to accept another country, one who leads a nation whose army has been guilty a gross human atrocities. The Mayor of Cape Town wishes to honour such a man.
This lovely nation at the tip of Africa finds it fit to revile its leader to become the laughing stock of the world using immoral means. How is it that we can laugh at such a vile act demeaning the character, whether that person be guilty or not, to place it on display. Where is our moral compass.
How easily we call for patriotism when supporting the national sports teams, yet how easily we demean each other, even a leader. How would you feel if it was your father or grandfather being demeaned, even with his shortcomings. How would you feel if your shortcomings were exposed - no pun intended. If you don't respect the man then respect his family for they don't have to be humiliated like this.

Neither honour, nor humiliate - take the middle path. Let's get on with it. Be responsible.

Those who freely copy such demeaning pictures - consider your own morality, those of your family and those around you. Children are exposed to newspapers, the Internet and other media - this is too much information for children - keep it clean.

We protest crime, yet we slander and defame and call it satire. We complain about robberies, yet we so easily rob others of their dignity. And we wish to also honour those guilty of such crimes.