It is vengeance in Gaza, Syria and Iraq. Turkey is waiting to reclaim its power as the Empire and Qatar continues to fund extremist Islamists.The Islamic "Caliphate" claims it will advance all the way to the West, occupy Rome, and will surpass Al-Qadea in its hatred for the Western Christian values.
But the shock came today when the Pentagon admitted that the U.S. has attempted to rescue an American journalist caught by ISIS since early Summer but who was killed by ISIS in revenge for the recent air strikes the Americans launched in Iraq to help free lands and people of several religions from ISIS attacks. The American President Barack Obama spoke too. CNN reported the news:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/20/world/meast/isis-james-foley/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
See also the challenge of ISIS to President Obama here:
http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/The-Islamic-State-sends-a-bloody-ransom-to-President-Obama-371572
But there is more - much more...It appears also some European nations have paid many millions of dollars as ransom for their citizens caught in Syria and other places by Islamists. A real story is reported in the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/world/africa/ransoming-citizens-europe-becomes-al-qaedas-patron.html?_r=0
And here:
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/07/29/bankrolling-terror-european-countries-reportedly-paying-millions-in-ransoms-to/
Most were reportedly liberated and sent safely to their European countries. But all those thousands of innocent citizens of the Middle East countries and Africa that lost their lives in massacres in Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Nigeria, Libya, Sahara and the rest in Africa did not matter! The millions there that lost their homes and belongings did not matter! Human rights seem to be enforced only when it suits the political leaders to take action.
For over three years, Fr. Henri Boulad, S.J. has been warning the West that it lost its soul, but did anyone listen? Read here his address to the Americans in the Capitol in Washington this past June.
And the American well-known Fr. Robert Barron spoke here on the persecution of Christians in the Middle East.
And since the formation of the Constitution of the European Union in the 1990s, the Church tirelessly sought its leaders to recognize the Christian contribution to the roots of Western civilization, but her claims fell on deaf ears.
In my opinion, no one of moderate people in any religion is inherently against the West, but it looks that there are political goals that sometimes blind its leaders. Atheism is pervasive. Materialism is undermining the Gospel message to care for the needy and to give priority to the poor. The Western leaders seem to be looking for selfish gains at the expense of poor countries.Many so-called Christians in the political leadership of the Western nations do not mind to sell out their Christian brothers in the Middle East to terrorists. Leaders of the West, whether Church leaders or political leaders may have to look again at the thrust of civilization, adapt and collaborate with people of good will, and save those who are in need in the Middle East, Africa, and Ukraine.
And now we ask what is democracy? Is it democratic to support the so-called Arab Spring that got the Muslim Brotherhood to govern or at least contest government in countries of the Arab world? Many Christians and moderate Muslims paid their lives when they opposed this organization of Islamic terror. When will the West ban the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist network?
But the greatest fear remains in the possibility of hell for every individual who did not repent before death. Although God in his ultimate generosity and mercy may forgive all sinners at the end, the possibility of hell is real because if I continue to reject another person and hate him, I simply reject God's offer of love. It is not only Obama nor the European political leaders that need to be fair, but we all need to love each other or at least stop preaching hatred of others.
When will the West wake up? When will Christians in the West wake up? And when will all Christians and non-Christian humans wake up?
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Monday, July 28, 2014
The Much-Needed Courage of Joseph Ratzinger
There is no doubt in my mind that we live in dangerous times...
The blame-game in Ukraine continues to play between Russia and America...More victims every day...But radical fundamentalism polarizes the world. At the end we do not know who is right!
On Sunday July 27, 2014, Boko Haram, the militant terrorist group, continuing its Islamist challenge of Christianity and other religions in Africa, kidnapped the wife of Cameroon's Vice PM and killed at least 3 more people...Reuters reported it here. It seems that not any powerful nation could face it while the world is on-edge watching the on-going battles of Israel and Hamas. Had Hamas agreed to the Egyptian proposal advanced almost two weeks ago which Israel accepted for a ceasefire, they would have spared the loss of hundreds of lives in Gaza and Israel. But it appears that they wanted time to allow more construction or protection of their tunnels from which the terrorists emerge to launch attacks into Israel while America and France are dragged into the negotiations for a ceasefire together with both Qatar and Turkey who fund Hamas and smuggle weapons to terrorists and Obama raises his concerns when he had not set foot in Gaza. It is interesting that Hamas leaders make the decisions for their suffering people while they are enjoying themselves away from Gaza. And Israelis hawks continue to bombard civilians...Pope Francis appealed to all sides to seek peace, a repeated plea hardly heard. But at what price? Everyone I know wants security in this life and beyond.
It is absurd in that fiasco that nobody wishes to defend the defenseless Christians and Shiite Muslims in Mosul Iraq who had been persecuted by ISIS (DAECH), the new terrorist group emerging from Al-Qaeda while Qatar funds them with billions of dollars. Neither Russia nor America dared to stop them as if words were sufficient. Iraqi News reported that the Vatican sent only $40,000 to all the broken Christians of Iraq, many of them already killed or deported to the North (See here) while the government of France announced later that they are ready to receive the deported Christians in exile.
Why do we need to worry about threats to peace and security? In 1998 Harvard Professor Samuel Huntington published his study "The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order" reprinted in 2011. In his book he identifies 8 civilizations that are reshaping or have shaped the world along religious lines. For him radical Islam represents the highest threat to civilization and security of America and Western nations. Why is the West sleeping?
In February 2014, an article by Tom Wilson titled "Jews and the Persecution of Christians" was published in the First Things (See here) where the author recounts a recent interview by The Times of Israel with Malcolm Hoenlein, Chairman of American Jewish Organizations. In the interview, Chairman Hoenlein demanded American and European governments to reverse their current stand and instead take actions and impose sanctions on Islamists that are killing Christians in Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Egypt. For him, given the Jewish experience of persecution, it is important that Jews should lend their support to protect Christian minorities. "A century ago Christians constituted 20 percent of the population of the Middle East; Today that number stands at just 4 percent." In the same article Wilson made reference to The 2013 Erasmus Lecture by Jonathan Sacks published in First Things in January 2014. In it, the former chief rabbi forcefully declared "This is the crime against humanity of our time...And I, as a Jew, want to say that I stand solidly with Christians throughout the world to protest against this crime. And I am appalled that the world is silent." Bernard Lewis, the American scholar of Oriental Studies and a specialist in history of the Middle East at Princeton, has since 1976 predicted "The Return of Islam" (See Commentary here). The moderate Muslim and author, Mohammed Hassanein Heikal, read history of Islam in the Middle East and showed his admiration of the studies made by Bernard Lewis. Heikal was read by President El-Sisi of Egypt so we can finally put our fingers on the moderate views of Egypt's new President and his latest proposal for a cease fire between Israel and Hamas. Why is the Arab world in turmoil? In a New York Times, David Brook expressed his opinion "No War is an Island" (here). Does he make sense?
Very recently we received a request from Fr. Henri Boulad, S.J. urging us to seek assistance for the defenseless Christians in Iraq through contacts with good-hearts in America and Europe. Fr. Henri Boulad, S.J. spoke in the Capitol, Washington on June 26, 2014. His speech emphasized the humanistic and spiritual roots of the West that the Western governments seem to be shedding today for petro-dollars. His full speech can be found here.
Lastly, as I have been reading Joseph Ratzinger, I remembered his lecture at the University of Regensburg in September 2006. There, Professor Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) exposed militant Islam. Speaking about reason, he gives the historical debate between the Christian Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an educated Muslim Persian around 1393 on the subject of Christianity and Islam. Edited by Professor Adel Theodore Khoury, a Melkite Catholic priest and professor at Munster University, the seventh conversation cites the emperor's point: "Show me just what Mohammed brought, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." Professor Ratzinger continues quoting the emperor "God is not pleased by blood - and not acting reasonably (according to reason) is contrary to God's nature."
Any reasonable person can follow what Joseph Ratzinger said and read the rest of his lecture (See the full lecture here).
Eight years later, while we recognize the peaceful attitude of the vast majority of Muslims and with the fathers of Vatican II praise with them the one God (see Nostra Aetate), we recognize the truth in Joseph Ratzinger's (or Pope Benedict XVI) address for we need his courage.
Yet, we never know how Providence works. As on the night of the arrest of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago, Caiaphas predicted, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the imminent death of Christ to save the whole people of God, it is possible that the appeal of Pope Francis for global peace is probably ushering the convening of Vatican III that restores unity among Christians or the unity of nations or better yet the Pope may have ushered the Second Coming of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, who is the Truth.
The blame-game in Ukraine continues to play between Russia and America...More victims every day...But radical fundamentalism polarizes the world. At the end we do not know who is right!
On Sunday July 27, 2014, Boko Haram, the militant terrorist group, continuing its Islamist challenge of Christianity and other religions in Africa, kidnapped the wife of Cameroon's Vice PM and killed at least 3 more people...Reuters reported it here. It seems that not any powerful nation could face it while the world is on-edge watching the on-going battles of Israel and Hamas. Had Hamas agreed to the Egyptian proposal advanced almost two weeks ago which Israel accepted for a ceasefire, they would have spared the loss of hundreds of lives in Gaza and Israel. But it appears that they wanted time to allow more construction or protection of their tunnels from which the terrorists emerge to launch attacks into Israel while America and France are dragged into the negotiations for a ceasefire together with both Qatar and Turkey who fund Hamas and smuggle weapons to terrorists and Obama raises his concerns when he had not set foot in Gaza. It is interesting that Hamas leaders make the decisions for their suffering people while they are enjoying themselves away from Gaza. And Israelis hawks continue to bombard civilians...Pope Francis appealed to all sides to seek peace, a repeated plea hardly heard. But at what price? Everyone I know wants security in this life and beyond.
It is absurd in that fiasco that nobody wishes to defend the defenseless Christians and Shiite Muslims in Mosul Iraq who had been persecuted by ISIS (DAECH), the new terrorist group emerging from Al-Qaeda while Qatar funds them with billions of dollars. Neither Russia nor America dared to stop them as if words were sufficient. Iraqi News reported that the Vatican sent only $40,000 to all the broken Christians of Iraq, many of them already killed or deported to the North (See here) while the government of France announced later that they are ready to receive the deported Christians in exile.
Why do we need to worry about threats to peace and security? In 1998 Harvard Professor Samuel Huntington published his study "The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order" reprinted in 2011. In his book he identifies 8 civilizations that are reshaping or have shaped the world along religious lines. For him radical Islam represents the highest threat to civilization and security of America and Western nations. Why is the West sleeping?
In February 2014, an article by Tom Wilson titled "Jews and the Persecution of Christians" was published in the First Things (See here) where the author recounts a recent interview by The Times of Israel with Malcolm Hoenlein, Chairman of American Jewish Organizations. In the interview, Chairman Hoenlein demanded American and European governments to reverse their current stand and instead take actions and impose sanctions on Islamists that are killing Christians in Iraq, Syria, Iran, and Egypt. For him, given the Jewish experience of persecution, it is important that Jews should lend their support to protect Christian minorities. "A century ago Christians constituted 20 percent of the population of the Middle East; Today that number stands at just 4 percent." In the same article Wilson made reference to The 2013 Erasmus Lecture by Jonathan Sacks published in First Things in January 2014. In it, the former chief rabbi forcefully declared "This is the crime against humanity of our time...And I, as a Jew, want to say that I stand solidly with Christians throughout the world to protest against this crime. And I am appalled that the world is silent." Bernard Lewis, the American scholar of Oriental Studies and a specialist in history of the Middle East at Princeton, has since 1976 predicted "The Return of Islam" (See Commentary here). The moderate Muslim and author, Mohammed Hassanein Heikal, read history of Islam in the Middle East and showed his admiration of the studies made by Bernard Lewis. Heikal was read by President El-Sisi of Egypt so we can finally put our fingers on the moderate views of Egypt's new President and his latest proposal for a cease fire between Israel and Hamas. Why is the Arab world in turmoil? In a New York Times, David Brook expressed his opinion "No War is an Island" (here). Does he make sense?
Very recently we received a request from Fr. Henri Boulad, S.J. urging us to seek assistance for the defenseless Christians in Iraq through contacts with good-hearts in America and Europe. Fr. Henri Boulad, S.J. spoke in the Capitol, Washington on June 26, 2014. His speech emphasized the humanistic and spiritual roots of the West that the Western governments seem to be shedding today for petro-dollars. His full speech can be found here.
Lastly, as I have been reading Joseph Ratzinger, I remembered his lecture at the University of Regensburg in September 2006. There, Professor Ratzinger (Benedict XVI) exposed militant Islam. Speaking about reason, he gives the historical debate between the Christian Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus and an educated Muslim Persian around 1393 on the subject of Christianity and Islam. Edited by Professor Adel Theodore Khoury, a Melkite Catholic priest and professor at Munster University, the seventh conversation cites the emperor's point: "Show me just what Mohammed brought, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." Professor Ratzinger continues quoting the emperor "God is not pleased by blood - and not acting reasonably (according to reason) is contrary to God's nature."
Any reasonable person can follow what Joseph Ratzinger said and read the rest of his lecture (See the full lecture here).
Eight years later, while we recognize the peaceful attitude of the vast majority of Muslims and with the fathers of Vatican II praise with them the one God (see Nostra Aetate), we recognize the truth in Joseph Ratzinger's (or Pope Benedict XVI) address for we need his courage.
Yet, we never know how Providence works. As on the night of the arrest of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago, Caiaphas predicted, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the imminent death of Christ to save the whole people of God, it is possible that the appeal of Pope Francis for global peace is probably ushering the convening of Vatican III that restores unity among Christians or the unity of nations or better yet the Pope may have ushered the Second Coming of the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, who is the Truth.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Challenging the Pope
It s with bewilderment that I write these words. Christians in the globe are faced with much challenges. Yet, the action of Christian leaders of Churches seem to be slower than the pace at which these challenges are taking place. In my lecture on Pope Francis last November, I spoke about them and again here before his visit to Jerusalem in May, I urged archbishops to speak to him to use his powerful ministry for a just peace. Only this week, I also sent an email to archbishops in Israel and Egypt of my concern about the challenges facing Christians in the lands of the Middle East from which emerged the early missions of Christianity.
Challenges
1. The challenge of extremism which does not seem to abate whether in persecution of Christians in the Arab world (particularly by extremist Islamists in Iraq and Syria whose goal is to remove Christians and Jews from the entire region) or in divisions of Christians in Eastern Europe, (particularly in Ukraine). In my 2011 letter to Pope Benedict XVI, I also proposed some measures of helping Christians achieve some form of unity in face of this challenge. But in spite of Pope Francis' efforts in the footsteps of his predecessors, the challenge of division between liberals and conservatives within the one Catholic Church has appeared more emphatically in recent months. Hoaxes and claims from conservative groups or atheists travel the Internet. Agnostics may also be invited to speak about their versions of Christianity in Catholic parishes. The vast majority of people do not really want to be part of any religious conflicts or debates on religious differences. They only want to live in peace. But if they have to hear new claims to the truth, should not Christians be prepared in study of the Catechism?
Two very recent violent events are still enraging in hearts. The first is the violent War between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza - It is particularly heart-breaking to the many families who lost members or children only because Israel and Hamas terrorist leaders want to claim victory or seize land. Hamas does not care about how many Palestinians die - Their leaders, so desperate, will not quit until they all die and they call it martyrdom. Obviously they did not hear the wisdom spoken by Christ (Luke 14, 31-32).
The second event was the shooting down yesterday of a Malaysian airplane carrying 298 passengers over East Ukraine by terrorists believed to be Pro-Russia separatists while the Russian leader Vladimir Putin continued his rhetoric in Moscow. Not only is this a new threat to Ukraine's fragile economy but also another chapter in the increasingly dangerous political game between the powers of the world to control more resources and lands. The lives of victims obviously did not matter to the criminals.
2. The challenge of materialism that threatens the global Christian presence. Materialism, which started as a philosophical atheistic question over a 100 years ago (e.g. Nietzsche, Sartre, Carnap...etc.) has used economic capitalist globalization over the past 30 years to spread its consumer-oriented economic propaganda. Pope Francis condemned excessive capitalism in his exhortation "Evangelii Gaudium" last year. The Pope precisely sees excess in materialist acquisition as fundamentally a new slavery of the human person. He recalls the Gospel beatitudes that give the blessings of Christ to the poor in spirit while he condemns the ones who accumulate wealth for themselves (See Matthew 5, 3-12; Luke 12, 13-21; Acts 4, 32-35).
Following a global financial crisis, the G7 governments and other governments attempted to regulate the financial banking transactions for a sustained economic recovery, but as the CEO of the IMF explained in February this year, recovery is a long process that has just started. Collaboration between stakeholders and governments is needed. However, it is widely recognized that the gap between the rich and the poor has dramatically increased and the Middle Class has virtually disappeared. Today the CEO of the IMF warned that the financial markets are perhaps too upbeat on Europe. In a separate analysis by MIT economist Andrew McAfee, he repeated the challenge by Thomas Edsall, reported in New York Times in June, which is faced by university and college graduates that their prospects of finding quality jobs could be a dream. This is a global concern. Every young adult and teenager needs to be informed and assisted where possible.
The above two challenges can be addressed by the Pope. Prayer and the Sacraments definitely help, but I suggest too that the rich Catholic Churches in North America and Europe contribute to the relief of those in need. The Pope may be able to redistribute large donations from such charitable large Catholic organizations as the Knights of Columbus to Christians in need in the Middle East and other countries in the globe. The poor are always with us as Jesus said.
It is not only the intention that matters. Action too is required by all people of good will.
Challenges
1. The challenge of extremism which does not seem to abate whether in persecution of Christians in the Arab world (particularly by extremist Islamists in Iraq and Syria whose goal is to remove Christians and Jews from the entire region) or in divisions of Christians in Eastern Europe, (particularly in Ukraine). In my 2011 letter to Pope Benedict XVI, I also proposed some measures of helping Christians achieve some form of unity in face of this challenge. But in spite of Pope Francis' efforts in the footsteps of his predecessors, the challenge of division between liberals and conservatives within the one Catholic Church has appeared more emphatically in recent months. Hoaxes and claims from conservative groups or atheists travel the Internet. Agnostics may also be invited to speak about their versions of Christianity in Catholic parishes. The vast majority of people do not really want to be part of any religious conflicts or debates on religious differences. They only want to live in peace. But if they have to hear new claims to the truth, should not Christians be prepared in study of the Catechism?
Two very recent violent events are still enraging in hearts. The first is the violent War between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza - It is particularly heart-breaking to the many families who lost members or children only because Israel and Hamas terrorist leaders want to claim victory or seize land. Hamas does not care about how many Palestinians die - Their leaders, so desperate, will not quit until they all die and they call it martyrdom. Obviously they did not hear the wisdom spoken by Christ (Luke 14, 31-32).
The second event was the shooting down yesterday of a Malaysian airplane carrying 298 passengers over East Ukraine by terrorists believed to be Pro-Russia separatists while the Russian leader Vladimir Putin continued his rhetoric in Moscow. Not only is this a new threat to Ukraine's fragile economy but also another chapter in the increasingly dangerous political game between the powers of the world to control more resources and lands. The lives of victims obviously did not matter to the criminals.
2. The challenge of materialism that threatens the global Christian presence. Materialism, which started as a philosophical atheistic question over a 100 years ago (e.g. Nietzsche, Sartre, Carnap...etc.) has used economic capitalist globalization over the past 30 years to spread its consumer-oriented economic propaganda. Pope Francis condemned excessive capitalism in his exhortation "Evangelii Gaudium" last year. The Pope precisely sees excess in materialist acquisition as fundamentally a new slavery of the human person. He recalls the Gospel beatitudes that give the blessings of Christ to the poor in spirit while he condemns the ones who accumulate wealth for themselves (See Matthew 5, 3-12; Luke 12, 13-21; Acts 4, 32-35).
Following a global financial crisis, the G7 governments and other governments attempted to regulate the financial banking transactions for a sustained economic recovery, but as the CEO of the IMF explained in February this year, recovery is a long process that has just started. Collaboration between stakeholders and governments is needed. However, it is widely recognized that the gap between the rich and the poor has dramatically increased and the Middle Class has virtually disappeared. Today the CEO of the IMF warned that the financial markets are perhaps too upbeat on Europe. In a separate analysis by MIT economist Andrew McAfee, he repeated the challenge by Thomas Edsall, reported in New York Times in June, which is faced by university and college graduates that their prospects of finding quality jobs could be a dream. This is a global concern. Every young adult and teenager needs to be informed and assisted where possible.
The above two challenges can be addressed by the Pope. Prayer and the Sacraments definitely help, but I suggest too that the rich Catholic Churches in North America and Europe contribute to the relief of those in need. The Pope may be able to redistribute large donations from such charitable large Catholic organizations as the Knights of Columbus to Christians in need in the Middle East and other countries in the globe. The poor are always with us as Jesus said.
It is not only the intention that matters. Action too is required by all people of good will.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
A Personal Hymn to God on the Anniversary of My Mother's Departure
How Can I Thank You?
How can I thank you? Twelve years ago today, Your mercy took my mother to You; she who suffered immensely to deliver joy to her sons, husband, brothers and sisters.
How can I thank you? You gave me life when in your foreknowledge you knew I did not deserve a second of it.
How can I thank you? You formed me in the womb of my mother when I was only a prayer in her heart.
How can I thank you? You proved that love is stronger than life itself when my parents sacrificed much for me and my brothers. How is it that my mother sold jewels to only satisfy my request to be with me before my heart surgery? How is it that they listened to my little voice of a 7-years old child saying "Mass" at home imitating your priests? How is it that my dad asked me to read him from the Bible while he was suffering before his death? How is it that you made them trust in the prayer of a great sinner?
How can I thank you? When my mother of blessed memory and my dear wife were nearly heart-broken in the longer-than-expected 6-hours heart surgery that I underwent, you brought us back together that my mother-in-law of blessed memory bowed and kissed the ground when she saw me back home.
How can I thank you? You formed me in the womb of my mother when I was only a prayer in her heart.
How can I thank you? You proved that love is stronger than life itself when my parents sacrificed much for me and my brothers. How is it that my mother sold jewels to only satisfy my request to be with me before my heart surgery? How is it that they listened to my little voice of a 7-years old child saying "Mass" at home imitating your priests? How is it that my dad asked me to read him from the Bible while he was suffering before his death? How is it that you made them trust in the prayer of a great sinner?
How can I thank you? When my mother of blessed memory and my dear wife were nearly heart-broken in the longer-than-expected 6-hours heart surgery that I underwent, you brought us back together that my mother-in-law of blessed memory bowed and kissed the ground when she saw me back home.
How can I thank you? I did not love my mother first. She loved me from the time she saw me a little baby in her arms. Her beauty, joy and smiling face -in spite of her many difficulties- still shone in her person to the last day she was aware.
How can I thank you? You allowed us to immigrate to this land of freedom through the generosity of my aunt and her husband who dearly loved my devout dad. Do I ever forget their sacrifices as they, without children, considered us their children?
How can I thank you? In the past years since my illness, You sent me brothers and sisters, everyone in the extended family, friends; close and far from Toronto, Cairo, Paris, Alexandria, Montreal, Jerusalem, Belgium, and Beirut - All asking and praying for me.
How can I thank you? I, the son of earth: this is my name - can receive You the Son of the Most High in the Eucharist.
After my recovery from stroke in 2007, my wife said to me "How is it that you are still worried? If I were you I would dance of joy."
In my daily prayer I only say one "Hail Mary..." and the rest I leave it to You since, after all what You did with me O Love Eternal, You cannot reject me, nor anyone for whom the beloved Mother of God prays.
How can I thank you? In the past years since my illness, You sent me brothers and sisters, everyone in the extended family, friends; close and far from Toronto, Cairo, Paris, Alexandria, Montreal, Jerusalem, Belgium, and Beirut - All asking and praying for me.
How can I thank you? I, the son of earth: this is my name - can receive You the Son of the Most High in the Eucharist.
After my recovery from stroke in 2007, my wife said to me "How is it that you are still worried? If I were you I would dance of joy."
In my daily prayer I only say one "Hail Mary..." and the rest I leave it to You since, after all what You did with me O Love Eternal, You cannot reject me, nor anyone for whom the beloved Mother of God prays.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
The Marvels of God in the Human Mind
"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change" -Max Planck, Father of Quantum Physics
Before you read the rest of this post, you may wish to watch this recent brief talk by Ray Kurzweil on "hybrid thinking"
http://www.ted.com/talks/ray_kurzweil_get_ready_for_hybrid_thinking
Or watch MIT's Nicholas Negroponte on history of computing and the future here:
http://www.ted.com/talks/nicholas_negroponte_a_30_year_history_of_the_future
You may wish to read too this opinion written in June by Thomas Edsall and titled "The Downward Ramp" in the New York Times where you will find reference to a study by Paul Beaudry and David Green of the University of British Columbia and Ben Sand of York University - The entire economic research is worth reading since it deals with the future of young generations:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/opinion/the-downward-ramp.html?_r=0
As I continue my online free study in some MOOCs courses of interests (https://www.coursera.org/) I have enrolled in a new course on (Algorithms - Design and Analysis - Part II) given by Dr. Tim Roughgarden at the eminent Stanford University (see an introduction here https://www.youtube.com/
Anyone in the globe with access to the Internet can enroll in free courses of interest which may be a step forward in learning, collaboration, and getting a better job. Over 8 million persons have taken one or more of 688 free courses offered through Coursera alone. They may help teenagers in high schools and young adults in colleges decide which careers would be of interest and in demand. The limit is the sky? Not really. Parents know that learning costs money - lots of money in some cases. But, thank God, we have choices.
What interests me is the level of specialization that has taken place in most sciences to the point that students remain busy studying one or two disciplines for much of their time at the expense of enjoying outing with friends. No wonder then that many students get low marks and some opt out of school to their own career failure. Thanks to the Internet too there is a global entertainment industry such as sports - Teams from different countries, supported by their fans, are competing to win the World Cup in football/soccer in Brazil this month and a few ones have made it to the short list. But interest in sports will not land you a career unless you are a young gifted person and well-trained player. The same point can be made for careers in the movies industry. Local libraries are downsizing since most of the knowledge can be accessed online.
Questions:
1. What moral impacts do the above developments have on lives of individuals and societies?
2. What practical suggestions do you think will help society and individuals?
Before you read the rest of this post, you may wish to watch this recent brief talk by Ray Kurzweil on "hybrid thinking"
http://www.ted.com/talks/ray_kurzweil_get_ready_for_hybrid_thinking
Or watch MIT's Nicholas Negroponte on history of computing and the future here:
http://www.ted.com/talks/nicholas_negroponte_a_30_year_history_of_the_future
You may wish to read too this opinion written in June by Thomas Edsall and titled "The Downward Ramp" in the New York Times where you will find reference to a study by Paul Beaudry and David Green of the University of British Columbia and Ben Sand of York University - The entire economic research is worth reading since it deals with the future of young generations:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/11/opinion/the-downward-ramp.html?_r=0
As I continue my online free study in some MOOCs courses of interests (https://www.coursera.org/) I have enrolled in a new course on (Algorithms - Design and Analysis - Part II) given by Dr. Tim Roughgarden at the eminent Stanford University (see an introduction here https://www.youtube.com/
Anyone in the globe with access to the Internet can enroll in free courses of interest which may be a step forward in learning, collaboration, and getting a better job. Over 8 million persons have taken one or more of 688 free courses offered through Coursera alone. They may help teenagers in high schools and young adults in colleges decide which careers would be of interest and in demand. The limit is the sky? Not really. Parents know that learning costs money - lots of money in some cases. But, thank God, we have choices.
What interests me is the level of specialization that has taken place in most sciences to the point that students remain busy studying one or two disciplines for much of their time at the expense of enjoying outing with friends. No wonder then that many students get low marks and some opt out of school to their own career failure. Thanks to the Internet too there is a global entertainment industry such as sports - Teams from different countries, supported by their fans, are competing to win the World Cup in football/soccer in Brazil this month and a few ones have made it to the short list. But interest in sports will not land you a career unless you are a young gifted person and well-trained player. The same point can be made for careers in the movies industry. Local libraries are downsizing since most of the knowledge can be accessed online.
Questions:
1. What moral impacts do the above developments have on lives of individuals and societies?
2. What practical suggestions do you think will help society and individuals?
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