Economist: likelihood of ban on Turkish ruling party is a disastrous mistake.

The likelihood of a ban on the ruling party is growing. It would be a disastrous mistake.

The economist makes a long list of convincing reasons why banning the AKP would be very bad for Europe. It predicts disorder and a strengthening of islamic parties and disquiet over much of the Turkish nation. The secularist elite, the economist points out, is shrinking. The question is, is there outside meddling. Is it a neocon manipulation? Are forces of industry and finance desiring a ‘regime change’. Judging from the economist we can expect it all to go haywire. It all seems similar to the PA challenging Hamas in Gaza or the Leb. government taking on Hizbollah. The AKP just won 47% of the vote, and have ruled for 6 years. The economist does not mention the size of Turkey’s military (it is huge), nor the repercussions for the west if the judiciary and military become discredited, through a failed policy. The panic amongst the secularists and the military is that the government could move towards Iran. Turkey has refused to accept any more hospitality from the IMF and the government feels it can succeed without the loans and subsequent policing of them. So we know the IMF is upset (and that includes their friends, other private and institutional investors). It smells like turmoil is on its way, and the irony is this is the government that started talks with the EU. Maybe Iran can act as peacemaker? It has a good record in Iraq and Lebanon. And Iran is cooperating with Turkey on Kurdish issues. BTW the auhoritative economist has its own intelligence unit. If this is a NeoCon triggered plan, how can they imagine to succeed when nothing else they have done has worked? From another Economist opinion piece on the same issue: To many the case is like a judicial coup: a last-ditch attempt to cling to power by an elite that refuses to share wealth and social space with a rising class of pious Turks, symbolised by the AKP. It may also further discredit the constitutional court. And this article ends on this sentence: … the threat of radical Islam in Turkey may have increased thanks to the secularists’ attack on the AKP.

The above text is from here:
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11541234&CFID=9707135&CFTOKEN=42981181

Einstein: Nothing ‘chosen’ about the Jews, Bible ‘childish’ legends

Last update - 19:02 13/05/2008

Einstein: Nothing ‘chosen’ about the Jews, Bible ‘childish’ legends

EXTRACTS:
By Bradley Burston, Haaretz

Einstein said he saw nothing “chosen” about the Jews, and that they were no better than other peoples “….

“The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish,” the letter was quoted as saying. “No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this.”

The letter, written in German in January, 1954 to philosopher Eric Gutkind, is to be auctioned in London on Thursday, the paper said. ….

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/983001.html

Don’t say ’secular’

Spirituality is our only hope, to see the spirit in life itself.
And this is what religion is about.
And it is a high crime to make a racial slur, or to be anti-Islamic (as in the current Dutch film], or to deny the holocaust.
Iran and Israel are both nonsecular countries. As are Hezbollah, Hamas, Saudi Arabia and surely many others.
The gravest crime in any of these territories is to be critical of the religion. So don’t! Become aware of just how powerful the religions are! It would seem their power starts in the family and extends into foreign policy.
Re the former, a heretic will live a life of suffering, re the latter: a collective sacrifice is necessary.
‘Divided we fall, united we stand’. And any religious criticism would be seen as divisive. But just in case you are naive, you should know these days you are being judged not on your talents or abilities, but on your family values and loyalty to the faith.

Are you proud of your ancestry? Of course you are.

If you are interested in the middle east, or if you have lived in Israel, then one becomes aware of culture, religion and ancestry.
To be fair it is in all of us.
The Chinese I have met are proud of their country’s success.
The Iranian news Agency, Presstv quotes the success of Iranians, who don’t even live in Iran.
And the Indian’s are proud of their rise as well.
In post imperial Britain there seems to be more self deprecation.
And in Israel, everything is referenced to Judaism.
There is very little room for John Lennon types seeking a world without borders.
Yet the ancient Indian scriptures do make it clear that all of humanity is one family.
We can all draw on our romantic notions of our ancestry and culture, but it is very dangerous, and to try and insure that everyone else is drawn to it is equally dangerous.