Criticism

Whereas it is important to criticize what you don't like, it is more important to have an objective and responsible plan to demonstrate a process and action for overcoming what you are objecting to.

Subjective and irresponsible criticism is like a "hit and run" accident!

Hani Badawi
June 28, 2012

Theories and Theorists

Information for consideration if and when you devise a theory:

In the field of Natural Science theories are devised and tested and only the viable ones stand the test of time. Theories in that field (within its diverse disciplines) are proposed by specialized professionals after they conduct their research and provide proof in the form of technical publications. The technical publications, in turn, before they are accepted and before they finally find their way into the public domain, are rigorously examined by other experts in the pertinent fields.

Such is the way in the field of Natural Science!

Hani Badawi
June 27, 2012

Egyptian Presidents

Here is a fact that is worth reflecting on:

In the USA, in addition to the President in office (Barak Obama), there are 4 living ex-Presidents, namely: Jimmy Carter, George W. H. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.  When George W. Bush became president in 2001 there were 5 living ex-presidents, namely: Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

In Egypt after it became a republic in 1952, there were only 2 occasions when a President in office had one ex-President alive at the same time.  The first occasion was during Gamal Abdel Nasser's presidency when Mohamed Naguib was alive (albeit under house arrest!).  The second time was during Anwar Sadat's presidency when Mohamed Naguib was still alive. The third time may happen soon if when Mohamed Morsy is sworn into office the deposed Mubarak remains alive (albeit incarcerated)!

It is conceivable that, after the inclusion (in the constitution) of a maximum limit of 2 terms in office for the President, the future Egyptian generations will look back at history and wonder what happened to Egypt during the 60 years when the President served for life whilst imposing a life sentence on the population!!!

Hani Badawi
June 27, 2012

A couple of muses of the day

Muse 1:

Propaganda very often replaces information in the news media.
Politicians very often use propaganda for their personal benefit.
Question: Does the media serve the masses or the politicians????

Muse 2: 

When an education system fails to fulfill its role, self-appointed preachers and teachers will sprout like mushrooms!

Subjectivity and Objectivity

My definition of subjectivity and objectivity:

When subjectivity replaces objectivity in analyzing matters one should expect a subjective result to which an objection will invariably be refuted!!

When objectivity replaces subjectivity in analyzing matters one should expect an objective result to which an objection will be subject to further objective analysis!!

In politics, unlike science, it is apparent that that subjectivity rules supreme!!

Future Attire!

Based on lore that was passed on to us over the past several millenniums, the earliest human attire consisted of plant leaves (and I leave [excuse the pun] the details to your imagination!).
As the human race continued to evolve, the element of style and comfort in the clothing evolved too. Evolution of clothing from primitive fibers and plant leaves to today's synthetic fibers (which I don't endorse) reflects a multitude of innovations and inventions.
Heaven only knows what will happen in the next 100 years, let alone in one millennium or more from now, especially with the resources that are being rapidly depleted.
Perhaps plant leaves will become en vogue again!

Ghazal/Gazelle and Bias

In the Arabic language the use of the word "ghazal", meaning gazelle, is used as a simile for beauty (amongst other things).
Quoting a common Arabic proverb: Elqerd fi 3ein ommoh ghazal, meaning: In his mother's eye, a monkey appears to be a gazelle.
The equivalent English language proverb is: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
There are more common things in different cultures than people care to believe!
There are also differences between cultures that, if mutually accommodated and respected, the world understanding would be so much better!