Film: Men who stare at goats

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, although the person I was with thought it was just okay.  I believe I appreciated it more because of all the material we are going over in class.   Parts of the film takes place in Iran and Iraq where there is a series of funny misadventures.   The movie comically introduces a fighting force called the New Earth Army that can bring peace to the world via psychic powers and non-lethal techniques.   Mozaffar will definitely like this film because of references to “Jedi Warrior” from “Star Wars” to describe troops back in the Cold War climate where the military was anxious to try anything .  The saga of the Jedi is told in flashback. 

Supposedly the film is based on (some) truth.  “Goats” is officially “inspired” by Ronson’s book, which accompanied a three-part docu series, shown on Blighty’s Channel 4 in late 2004, called “Crazy Rulers of the World,” tracing some of the U.S. military’s more outre ideas for policing the world, terrorism in particular. Straughan’s screenplay takes many of the stories from the book — apparently true, per Ronson, who’s made a career from recounting “true tales of everyday craziness” — and, as a way into the material, invents the character of a small-time, Ann Arbor, Mich.-based journalist, Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor), who’s desperate to get into Iraq at the time of the Bush invasion.

Response to Rumsfeld – Dr. Israr Ahmad

There were three different papers which we were able to choose from to read by Dr. Israr Ahmad.  I chose The Objective and Goal of Muhammad’s Prophethood (SAW) In the light of the Holy Qur’an.  I believe Rumsfeld chose Obligations to the Qur’an, and I found his reflective thoughts honest and sincere.  Thank you.  Although I did not read the same paper he did I want to share my thoughts on the Doctrine Belief in the Life Hereafter, which I found fascinating.  

For one thing, if we consider ordinary people, from the time of the Prophet until now, as the largest group of people; who are they?  They are people who are good, God fearing, and hard working.  So think of the wisdom within the core of the Islamic belief in the life hereafter.  Here lies the assertion that the present existence or man does not constitute his total life.   However, what if we are ignorant of our true selves?  The Holy Qur’an speaks of three types of the human self, or rather three stages of spiritual development.  Again, the wisdom in recognizing the internal strife of good and evil within humans is astounding as moral righteousness and spiritual excellence is urged.

Now remember, I am in the ‘baby step’ level of learning about Islam and the Qur’an, but I find it all very interesting.

Late Response to: Is this offensive?

I finally had a chance to review some blogs from the past and came across Mozzafar Youtube of Jeff  Dunham – Achmed the Dead Terrorist 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uwOL4rB-go&feature=player_embedded#

Regarding comedy and religion, Professor Mozzafar asked “Is this offensive”?  I did not personally find it offensive at all, but rather very funny.  Sometimes it helps to laugh at ourselves and to also realize no one seems to be free from stereotypes.  I forwarded the Youtube to other friends not in class, but I also politely made sure it would not offend anyone.  You never know.  I also commented that they may be more comfortable clicking on it at home and not at work. 

When I go to the movies I go for entertainment; a comedy, mystery, drama, etc.  When I went to see the film “DaVinci Code” starring Tom Hanks I went for the mystery element of the film, and thoroughly enjoyed it, and yet I heard people refuse to see it because  of the controversial interpretation of Christian history.   Oh well, whatever, I guess we can’t be too careful in offending others.

Jihad vs Jihadism

Last week I had the opportunity to see M. Sani Umar, a professor at Northwestern University, from down the street in Evanston, talk at Loyola.   M. Sani Umar is the Director for the Study of Islamic Thought in Africa (ISITA) and the Program of African Studies (PAS) at Northwestern.  The subject was “Jihad vs Jihadism: Trends in Contemporary Islamic Discourses”.  The room at Loyola that was chosen for Umar to speak at was not set up with any technology consideration, which was unfortunate.  He had prepared a powerpoint presentation, but could not use it and he was very hard to understand.  However, the information I did walk away with expressed  by Umar are new ideas which he claims are not 100% clear in his head.  What once were Taboo ideas are now brought up and debated globally.   Topics never talked about before include Islamic Law and gender, violence, religious authority, authority of the koran, authority of the Prophet.   Some of the issues are debated in newspapers and some are debated in court rooms, where the stakes are a lot higher.  Debates are raging globally with different platforms.  In explaining the debate about Jihad and Jihadism, Umar explains we need linguistic knowledge with realizing there are different ways to read the word.  There is the dictionary meaning and the meaning of sacrifice, then technique, and logic.  Now, he explains, one starts to find different meanings that get into legal definitions that include; what is Islamic Law, what are the rules.   I would like to report more, but unfortunately like I mentioned before, he was very hard to understand and in review of my notes I do not want to report any wrong information.  He did tie in the history of the Muslim Brotherhood, which we discussed in class, that helped in connecting information he presented.

The room was packed and Dr. Marcia Hermansen provided food.  Yum!

Film from Iran: The song of the Sparrows

Film from Iran: The song of the Sparrows.  If you did not get a chance to see this film at the Gene Siskel theaters, I would highly recommend seeing this film when it comes out on DVD.   The main character, Karim, works on an Ostrich farm in the countryside, but finds himself seeking work in Tehran.  Of course one is aware of a cultural shock going from one country to another, but I found it fascinating with the cultural shock Karim experienced by traveling within his own country.  The overall human aspect of this film is thoughtfully portrayed as Karim, a husband and father, searches to find  a way to feed and care for his family.   The artistic placement of scenes added to the depth of the poetic content of this film.   I was surprised how much I learned from this film, especially about Ostriches ~.~  I was not sure what to expect when I ventured to see this film, but I clearly see why it has won so many awards.

Film: “Lawrence of Arabia”

Speaking of Iqbal, I had the opportunity to see the film “Lawrence of Arabia” the other night on regular TV (no cable).  Remember the The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam (by Iqbal)was published in 1930’s .  The film “Lawrence of Arabia”; time frame World War I, 1914-1918.  World War I was a global military conflict which involved most of the world’s great powers of the time.  By the war’s end in 1918, four major imperial powers—the  Germans, Russian, Austro-Humgarian and Ottoman Empires had been militarily and politically defeated, with the last two ceasing to exist as autonomous entities.  

In the film, Thomas Edward Lawrence was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the British military, and was in the Middle East as part of an intelligence department assembled in Cairo to assist in the conduct of the war against Turkey, now fighting on Germany’s side.  One of their aims was to see how the Arab tribes might be encouraged to rise up against the Turks.  Lawrence developed a deep sympathy for the Arabs who had lived for centuries under Turkish rule.  The start of the Arab Revolt began in June 1916.  In 1918 there were further raids and fighting.  Lawrence’s over-riding aim was to produce a military success for the Arabs that would help to win them a claim of self-government.  Arriving in London in October 1918, Lawrence immediately began to press the case for Arab independence. He received a sympathetic hearing from the Eastern Committee of the War Cabinet, but it was clear that his proposals would be rejected by Britain and her wartime ally, France. 

I highly recommend for the class to see this film. The historical reference to what was going on at that time , really puts into perspective all the great leaders reason of thought.  Besides the history, the music is outstanding!

Iqbal and Hillary

Did anyone see the picture of United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praying withPakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, at the grave of poet Muhammad Iqbal in Lahore?  I thought it was pretty interesting since we just finished discussing  his philisophical beliefs which were presented in “The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam”.   Hillary was on a three-day mission to Pakistan aimed at turning the page in United Sates and Pakistan in improving relations.

Anyway, I hope she has an opportunity to read the wisdom of Iqbal’s beliefs and hopes for the revival of true/authentic Islamic philosophical thought. 

The picture in the paper showed elaborately dressed pakistani guards at the tomb of Iqbal.  Very interesting.  I’ll bring the picture to class on Wednesday.

 

 

 

 

First Blog -Ever

okay this is ridiculous!!!  I have no idea what I’m doing or how to blog.  I cannot figure out this site.  I am frustrated.  Please someone take the time and show me how to do this.  The only reason I am here is because I just started hitting a lot of buttons and this little box showed up.  I now have a headache.  Just because one cannot blog does not mean they are not an enlightened soul.  I believe there are many individuals within their societies that are doing great things and blogging is not one of them.   Congratulations to the rest of the class who are joyfully blogging, while I am bewildered if this will even go to anyone once I find another button for sending.   If I am not in class I have been carried off to the blog asylum.