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Archives for June 2012

Omar Khayyam
Omar Khayyam (145) “my bewilderment”

Omar Khayyam (145) “my bewilderment”

Juan Cole

  I was disturbed that he brought me into being, and nothing has grown  through my life like my bewilderment at it. We’re forced to depart, and don’t even know what the point is  of all this coming  and going and being. Translated by Juan Cole from Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, [pdf] Whinfield 145

Uncategorized
Tahrir Square Now

Tahrir Square Now

Juan Cole

Egypt after soft military coup: I don’t think they’re haaapy. By the way, American news channels: this is news.

Egypt
Revolutionaries Vow return to Tahrir Square in face of Military Power Grab

Revolutionaries Vow return to Tahrir Square in face of Military Power Grab

Juan Cole

Several parties, unions and organizations called for big demonstrations on Tusday in Tahrir Square in Cairo. They will be protesting the issuance on Monday by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of a constitutional ‘addendum’ that appeared to grant the military council wide powers and to whittle down those of the elected president. Former […]

Omar Khayyam
Omar Khayyam (143) “Religious zealots are all jackasses”

Omar Khayyam (143) “Religious zealots are all jackasses”

Juan Cole

Those religious zealots are all jackasses, who’re carrying a burden  of deceit.  And  most amazing of all, under cover  of their self-denial they sell their religion! They are worse than  unbelievers any day. Translated by Juan Cole from Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, [pdf] Whinfield 143

Uncategorized
Syria Spirals down into Sectarian War (Cole at Truthdig)

Syria Spirals down into Sectarian War (Cole at Truthdig)

Juan Cole

My column is out at Truthdig, “Sectarian Violence Undermines Syrian Regime” Excerpt: “The Syrian government’s resort to Alawite death squads in recent weeks, however, has threatened the big-city alliance that has allowed the Baath to survive. The sight of Sunni women and children massacred by the Shabiha in Houla and Mazraat al-Qubair drove Sunni shopkeepers […]

Egypt
Egypt:  Fundamentalist President + Junta = ?

Egypt: Fundamentalist President + Junta = ?

Juan Cole

Since December, Egypt has had as its president a military council, and as its legislature the Muslim Brotherhood. It is possible this morning that Egypt now has as its president the Muslim Brotherhood and as its legislature a military council. Thus, not everything has changed. Although it is true that the judiciary, backed by the […]

Omar Khayyam
Omar Khayyam (138) “Don’t throw your precious lives to the wind…”

Omar Khayyam (138) “Don’t throw your precious lives to the wind…”

Juan Cole

Don’t fall for this world’s  enticements, you amateurs! You know all about its tricks. Don’t throw your precious lives  to the wind. Get yourself a lover and open a bottle of wine. Translated by Juan Cole from Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat, [pdf] Whinfield 138

Uncategorized
What America would be like if it was like Afghanistan (Engelhardt)

What America would be like if it was like Afghanistan (Engelhardt)

Juan Cole

Tom Engelhardt writes at Tomdispatch [satire alert] It Couldn’t Happen Here, It Does Happen There The Value of American — and Afghan — Lives By Tom Engelhardt “Do you do this in the United States? There is police action every day in the United States… They don’t call in airplanes to bomb the place.” — […]

Uncategorized
Father's Day (Louis C.K.)

Father’s Day (Louis C.K.)

Juan Cole

Comedian Louis C.K. on Father’s Day:

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