Whitney Houston’s tragic death on Saturday was a global event, because of the enormous popularity of American popular culture. Houston’s music was played worldwide, not just inside the US. In the Arab world, many stations mix Arabic pop music with American, and Arab youth of the 1990s grew up with her. Her film roles, in […]
Omar Khayyam (27)
That priceless ruby is from a different mine, and that unique pearl is from a different shop. Thinking about this and that is just your imagination, and mine; the story of passionate love is from a different tongue. trans. by Juan Cole From Whinfield 27.
Top Ten Catholic Teachings Santorum Rejects while Obsessing about Birth Control
The right wing Republican politicians who have been denouncing the requirement that female employees have access to birth control as part of their health benefits as an attack on religious freedom completely ignore the church teachings they don’t agree with. Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich are both Catholics, and wear their faith on their sleeves, […]
Omar Khayyam (24)
From the house of unbelief to true religion is a single breath; From the world of doubt to certainty is a single breath; Enjoy this precious single breath, for the harvest of our whole lives is that same one breath. trans. by Juan Cole from Whinfield 24
Iraq Comes to Syria
Update Brig. Gen. Issa al-Kholi who headed a military hospital, was assassinated Saturday outside his Damascus home. He is the first high-ranking officer to be killed. Because he was a physician rather than a staff or field officer, he probably lacked good security and so was a soft target. Hitting physicians and nurses is a […]
Omar Khayyam (23)
Fish said to duck, frantic, Will the water ever return if the river jumps its course? Duck replied, When you and I are skewered and kebob, let it be a river or let it be mirage. Trans. Juan Cole Whinfield 23
The Dilemma over Syria
Syria’s military continued its brutal assault on neighborhoods of Homs, a center of civil disobedience against the regime, on Thursday, killing over 100 persons, including children. This deployment of military force against civilians who were protesting is a war crime, and part of a pattern that by now amounts to crimes against humanity. The first […]
Omar Khayyam (12)
Although we partiers may have good color and smell pleasant, with cheeks like rubies; and though we’re tall as a cypress– it’s just not clear, in this earthly cabaret, why I was prettied up. trans. Juan Cole from Whinfield 12
Tomgram: Peter Van Buren, In Washington, Fear the Silence, Not the Noise
The Obama administration has already charged more people — six — under the Espionage Act for alleged mishandling of classified information than all past presidencies combined. (Prior to Obama, there were only three such cases in American history.)
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