Problems and Solutions

Our knowledge is an accumulation of experience that is reaped via: parental upbringing, siblings, traditional schooling, "school of hard knocks!", friends, work, reading, TV and, last but not least, circumstances.

Correct solutions to mathematical problems, crossword puzzles and any other form of mental challenge depends on one's education and accumulated knowledge and cannot be attained simply via intelligence or inspiration.

If you agree with the aforementioned statements, then let's together address the question: Can we resolve circumstantial challenges through accumulated knowledge?

On posing that question, I suspect you'll notice that a circular argument, similar to the unresolved question: "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?" is encountered here!

As a result of grappling with this intriguing question for some time, I arrived at the following thoughts (and I would be presumptuous if I were to call it an answer):

· As free thinkers, we naturally accumulate knowledge, and, even when our experience appears to be almost identical, we never accumulate knowledge at the same pace or in the same way

· Furthermore, as our brains are wired differently, our emotional responses in dealing with our circumstances will invariably differ

· In the process of aging we acquire wisdom but our retention of knowledge inevitably diminishes and our memory ultimately fades away

And:

· We adapt and adjust our responses to circumstances differently.

· We continue to fine tune our thoughts as time goes by

· As time is unidirectional and cannot be locked or reversed (as much as we would like it to!!) we are continuously confronted with circumstantial challenges

Inevitably and fortunately there are positive factors that we also encounter over time. Fortunately these have a tempering effect on our circumstantial challenges and allow us to proceed to the next challenge in our lives.

As the saying goes: Life Goes On!

These are my present thoughts on that matter. They may change in time as my challenges dictate!

May your circumstantial challenges always be far outweighed by the positive factors in your life!

Hani Badawi

April 12, 2017

On Judgment and Politics by BCE (Before the Common Era) Greek and Roman Philosophers

"Men of ill judgment ignore the good that lies within their hands, till they have lost it." Sophocles (496 to 406 BCE)

"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors." Plato (428 to 348 BCE)

"An orator without judgment is a horse without a bridle." Theophrastus (371 to 287 BCE)

"It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 63 BCE)

"A hasty judgment is a first step to recantation." Publilius Syrus (85 to 43 BCE)

Hani Badwi

March 25, 2017

Today's Thoughts

Anger and Arrogance are not qualities needed from leaders who are expected to care about the welfare of their nation!

Political Parties are effective in making positive changes only and only if they work towards the betterment of their country and not for their party's gains!

Some politicians seriously believe the following quote by Malcolm Forbes:
"There's nothing wrong with nepotism as long as you keep it in the family"!!!!!

Hani Badawi
March 25, 2017

Conditional and Unconditional Love

Driven by true love and care, giving advice to a family member or a friend should NOT be confused with the often misused term "conditional love".

"Conditional love", in my humble opinion, is an oxymoron.

Let me explain:

When conditions are imposed in a relationship, then it becomes more of a transaction, one that addresses the needs of the person invoking the condition(s). That, in it and of itself is a major departure from "true love".

In its simplest form: "true love" is built on mutual respect and mutual acceptance of the differences between the parties concerned. This includes differences in opinion where "agreeing to disagree" is a key cornerstone of a healthy loving relationship.

If you believe that "conditional love" is an oxymoron, then the use of the term "unconditional love" is worthy of the following consideration:

Based on the above reasoning, there's only one form of love, namely "true love". If that notion sits well with you, then perhaps you will agree that the word "unconditional" is redundant in the same way as the word "back" in the commonly misused term "returning back"! There's only one place to return to and that is "back"!

In closing, I wish to invoke one more notion for your consideration. Conditional friendship also, by and large, conforms to the above analysis about love. However, unlike the case of love, if and when the word "conditional" is used in describing a friendship it implies that before the conditions were placed the parties were adversaries as is the case of friendly and (once upon a time unfriendly) countries! Examples are beyond the scope of this note but I'm sure you can think of some!!!

I am open to comments and advice on the above thoughts because I truly love you!

Hani Badawi
February 24, 2017

Change is the only constant!

In a worldly, non-religious or spiritual sense, the notion that "There's nothing more constant than change" is often stated to reflect that change is inevitable.

In the branch of physics known as classical mechanics there are two types of energy, namely: kinetic (dynamic) and potential (static) energy. Energy spent in resisting "change" happens to be kinetically wasted and potentially damaging!

Embrace change and let it propel you into new realms that otherwise you would never discover!

Hani Badawi
February 18, 2017

Specialization and Generalization

Someone said that “specialization is the process of knowing more and more about less and less until you know everything about nothing”!

How about generalization? I say: It is the process of knowing less and less about more and more until you know nothing about everything!!!!

Perhaps the happy medium is the process of “enhancement of knowledge” whereby there is more than less a benefit gained by the learner :-).


Hani Badawi
February 17, 2017

Politicians/Actors and the Art of Deception

If you agree that most politicians are crooked, and if you agree that politics is not only exercised within and between governments, then what you're witnessing now in the USA is a play where the directors, producers, actors, lighting, prompting and stage managers are openly playing their roles without due consideration of either the script (the constitution) or the audience's (citizens of the USA and the world at large) knowledge and/or expectations.

In essence I think what we are watching is the unfolding of a Greek or Roman tragedy of biblical proportions and remember, we are only witnessing Act 1, Scene 1.

Of all the playwrights no one portrayed the ultimate fate and demise of a tragic hero better than Shakespeare. In all his plots, ambition and greed underlined the causes that led to the heroes downfall.

Let's also not forget the importance of the supernatural events and fortune tellers in Shakespeare's plays (e.g. The Soothsayer in Julius Caesar and The Three Witches in Macbeth) whose indications and forecasts were eerily realized!

In the above, my hope is that what I described is just a narration of a nightmare and that when I wake up things will be fine!

Hani Badawi
January 24, 2017