Sunday, March 27, 2011

Re: Wringing-the-Neck of Empty Ritual.

Jonathan Ashley, the socialist-communist, is undeserving of a reply.
— J. A. A. —
>
On Mar 25, 2:41 pm, Jonathan Ashley <jonathanashle...@lavabit.com>
wrote:
> John,
>
> I am shocked. I am in agreement with your statement, "In the case of
> contract law, a FAIR contract is one in which both parties to the
> contract are happy with the deal." That is voluntary interaction. That
> is how things should be.
>
> However, you lose me with, "If a person thinks they have been treated
> unfairly by government or by business they can sue in civil court and
> let the jury decide." Would not a better (and less expensive) solution
> be to enter into a private contract with an arbitration firm that has no
> vested interest in the outcome of the arbitration? No one would need, as
> you have phrased it, "to go to any czar to see what the God-damned
> government has to say!" Yet, if we follow your remedy when "treated
> unfairly by government," we must seek redress from an arm of the
> government that has treated us unfairly.
>
> How can government be the problem and the solution at the same time?
> Existing tax courts are a prime example of how this does not work. How
> does one get remedy from the IRS when both the judge sitting on the
> bench of a tax court and the prosecutor are biased toward the collection
> of taxes for their very existence? A private arbitration firm would have
> no vested interest either way.
>
> Even if we accept that "sue in civil court and let the jury decide" is
> the way to proceed, it is incompatible with your want of "democracy."
> Will the population collectively sit on every jury?
>
>     *DEMOCRACY*, n. [Gr. People, and to possess, to govern.] Government
>     by the people; a form of government, in which the supreme power is
>     lodged in the hands of the people collectively, or in which the
>     people exercise the powers of legislation. Such was the government
>     of Athens.
>
> On 03/25/2011 10:36 AM, NoEinstein wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Jonathan:  You are a hopeless case.  No one is needed to explain the
> > 'Golden Rule': "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
> > And no prudent person has trouble knowing what is fair.  In the case
> > of contract law, a FAIR contract is one in which both parties to the
> > contract are happy with the deal.  If a person thinks they have been
> > treated unfairly by government or by business they can sue in civil
> > court and let the jury decide.  Those with a conscience (but not you)
> > know, instinctively, when they are being fair to others.  No one needs
> > to go to any czar to see what the God-damned government has to say!
> > Give up your hobby of replying on Political Forum.  You don't have the
> > reasoning ability of a (blind) mole.  ï¿½ J. A. A. �
> > On Mar 24, 2:40 pm, Jonathan Ashley<jonathanashle...@lavabit.com>
> > wrote:
> >> John,
>
> >> Are you serious? "Fair play and democracy shall have supremacy in the USA!"
>
> >> Who decides what is "fair play"? You? Mob rule?
>
> >> "Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting to decide what's for lunch."
>
> >> On 03/24/2011 09:36 AM, NoEinstein wrote:
>
> >>> Dear Jonathan:  If you had spent 14 years of your life writing a New
> >>> Constitution for the benefit of most Americans, you'd realize that
> >>> "ego" just wouldn't be a suitable enough motive.  Apparently, I pegged
> >>> you right that you are simply jealous that I have already accomplished
> >>> things you've only talked about.  Conservatives such as Glenn Beck and
> >>> Rush Limbaugh like to talk about this country's problems, but can't be
> >>> taken seriously that they actually want those problems to be solved.
> >>> Judge Andrew Napolitano has close to the right assessments of the
> >>> unconstitutionality of much that the WH is doing.  But he always grins
> >>> and stops short of calling for the immediate arrest of Barack Obama
> >>> for TREASON.  My New Constitution will hang any public official not
> >>> upholding this simple sworn statement: "Fair play and democracy shall
> >>> have supremacy in the USA!"  Since socialism and communism are the
> >>> anti-theses of fair play and of democracy, I highly recommend that no
> >>> socialist-communist-minded air-heads ever seek public office.  If they
> >>> do, there could become a shortage of hangman's nooses!  ï¿½ John A.
> >>> Armistead � Patriot
> >>> On Mar 23, 12:50 pm, Jonathan Ashley<jonathanashle...@lavabit.com>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>> It always comes back to John's ego: "I suspect you can't see the
> >>>> positive tone, because you are jealous of my commitment and talent to
> >>>> accomplish what I have."
> >>>> On 03/23/2011 09:05 AM, NoEinstein wrote:
> >>>>> Dear Mark:  Should I be flattered that you remember what I say from
> >>>>> one day to the next?  If indeed you can read and comprehend, you
> >>>>> wouldn't need to put those words in capitals.  Unlike you and MJ, I
> >>>>> don't depend on YELLING to make my points.  If you find what I'm
> >>>>> writing to be interesting enough to read every day, then you are
> >>>>> either very much in favor of what I'm saying or very threatened and
> >>>>> thus opposed.  The "tone" of my document is pro control of government
> >>>>> by the people; maximum civil liberties; having the most efficient use
> >>>>> of tax dollars; respect for the environment; and respect for the
> >>>>> rights of others.  I suspect you can't see the positive tone, because
> >>>>> you are jealous of my commitment and talent to accomplish what I
> >>>>> have.  If you are FOR the people, Mark, embrace my New Constitution.
> >>>>> If you are AGAINST the people, then stop replying on my posts.  No
> >>>>> socialist-communists are welcomed in the USA!  ï¿½ John A. Armistead �
> >>>>> Patriot
> >>>>> On Mar 22, 7:50 pm, Mark<markmka...@gmail.com>      wrote:
> >>>>>> The biggest problem Einstein will have with his "New Constitution" is that
> >>>>>> we CAN READ AND COMPREHEND.
> >>>>>> The other immediate problem is that he can't remember one day to the next
> >>>>>> what he says.
> >>>>>> On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 4:47 PM, MJ<micha...@america.net>      wrote:
> >>>>>>> Asked and answered -- only you tried to change the subject while pretending
> >>>>>>> it did not occur. ELSEWHERE in THIS thread: Socialism and communism are
> >>>>>>> the anti-thesis of a representative republic or a democracy.  My New
> >>>>>>> Constitution RETURNS civil liberties to the People and will fire, jail or
> >>>>>>> hang those in government who support socialism and communism.  When you
> >>>>>>> attack my New Constitution with your "include me" talk, you are attacking
> >>>>>>> THE most pro capitalism and pro civil liberties person on the planet!  Get
> >>>>>>> lost, Jonathan!  ï¿½ J. A. A. �
> >>>>>>> And now HERE in THIS thread the same person:
> >>>>>>> I am personally recommending that Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and
> >>>>>>> Unemployment Insurance ALL be privatized�while continuing to "cover" only
> >>>>>>> those older or sicker people who have no other means of surviving or of
> >>>>>>> getting first rate care.
> >>>>>>>     The implications are rather OBVIOUS, but perhaps the author fails to see
> >>>>>>> his EMBRACE of socialism.
> >>>>>>> There is ALSO this from the same person:
> >>>>>>> Businesses or professions meeting licensing standards germane to the type
> >>>>>>> and scope of work such perform, and being regularly apprised of substantive
> >>>>>>> new developments, may control their own work without governmental sanction,
> >>>>>>> nor, once licensed, being required to be other than self-trained to maintain
> >>>>>>> continuing competency for doing safe work within their chosen type.
> >>>>>>> Professionals qualified by training, testing and experience who perform safe
> >>>>>>> and acceptable work within an area of their competency shall not be
> >>>>>>> sanctioned for being unlicensed in another job class or licensing
> >>>>>>> jurisdiction�beyond fair registration cost.  No more than 25% of regulatory
> >>>>>>> board members shall have been employed in the profession or industry
> >>>>>>> regulated.
> >>>>>>> Again continuing to EMBRACE socialism.
> >>>>>>> It should no longer be a 'mystery' why this 'constitution' is NEVER fully
> >>>>>>> presented NOR that the author cannot support what drivel he presents.<sigh>
> >>>>>>> Sad.
> >>>>>>> As noted, were you to actually PROVIDE the text ... one would see MORE
> >>>>>>> examples -- one might easily conclude THAT is essentially the reason you
> >>>>>>> refuse to present and merey proclaim.
> >>>>>>> Regard$,
> >>>>>>> --MJ
> >>>>>>> Much of the intellectual legacy of Marx is an anti-intellectual legacy. It
> >>>>>>> has been said that you cannot refute a sneer. Marxism has taught many-inside
> >>>>>>> and outside its ranks-to sneer at capitalism, at inconvenient facts or
> >>>>>>> contrary interpretations, and thus ultimately to sneer at the intellectual
> >>>>>>> process itself. This has been one of the sources of its enduring strength as
> >>>>>>> a political doctrine, and as a means of acquiring and using political power
> >>>>>>> in unbridled ways. -- Thomas Sowell
> >>>>>>> At 06:43 PM 3/22/2011, you wrote:
> >>>>>>> MJ: You are a deranged, socialist-communist who is clearly LYING about
> >>>>>>> the people-oriented content of my New Constitution!  Please reference
> >>>>>>> a single location whereby intervention is allowed in how private
> >>>>>>> property is used.  You can't do that, I'm sure!  Ha, ha, HA!  ï¿½  John
> >>>>>>> A. Armistead �  Patriot
> >>>>>>> On Mar 22, 1:03 pm, MJ<micha...@america.net>      wrote:
> >>>>>>>> Capitalism is the FOUNDATION of a successful USA!  You
> >>>>>>>> aren't telling me anything that I don't tout, daily.  You are probably
> >>>>>>>> doing so to make the readers think it is you who have the right Ideas
> >>>>>>>> and I the converse.
> >>>>>>>> It only takes a cursory review of those pieces you have offered to see
> >>>>>>> how it fails to embrace capitalism -- much less utilize it as a foundation.
> >>>>>>>> Capitalism is the system in which people are free to use their private
> >>>>>>> property without outside interference.
> >>>>>>>> Your 'constitution' is filled with intervention.
> >>>>>>>> Regard$,
> >>>>>>>> --MJ "Bureaucrats write memoranda both because they appear to be busy
> >>>>>>> when they are writing and because the
>
> ...
>
> read more »

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Re: Wringing-the-Neck of Empty Ritual.

Jonathan: The only opinions of others that matter are the one-day, up
or down votes for ratification of my New Constitution. I don't have
time to explain to a naive, pesky loser like you the sociology and the
psychology of how and why people make up their minds one way or the
other. I highly recommend "The Power of Positive Thinking" to you.
"Great things are never accomplished by the skeptical." — J. A. A.

>
On Mar 25, 1:12 pm, Jonathan Ashley <jonathanashle...@lavabit.com>
wrote:
> John,
>
> You failed to address "the opinions of others are a necessary requisite
> for the passage of YOUR New Constitution." How do you envision YOUR New
> Constitution being enforced when you will never get it instituted?
>
> On 03/25/2011 09:53 AM, NoEinstein wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Dear Jonathan:  If I had wanted to have the opinions of others
> > influence anything, I would have sought public office and had my
> > insightful solutions neutered in committees and on the floor of the
> > House and the Senate.  I realized, early on, that the status quo
> > governmental processes are so screwed-up that our country has gotten
> > away from the "leave-me-alone to make-my-own-way" ideals of the
> > founding fathers.  Not a single person would have risked their lives
> > to come to America if they had supposed every hard-earned dollar they
> > make would be taxed and controlled to serve the LAZY members of
> > society who want the right to vote, but are unwilling to support their
> > own weight in society.
>
> > It was only after the Civil War that media coverage started showing
> > photographs of political candidates and of rallies and conventions.
> >  From that day forward, ego-maniacal career politicians became the
> > norm.  And those were treated like (unconstitutional) royalty by the
> > media�which is largely responsible for the long, slow decline of the
> > US economy.  My New Constitution will pin-back-the-ears of the corrupt
> > US media, and remove all undue influences by those purporting to
> > assess the events of the day.  Once John Q. Public starts watching
> > news COVERAGE rather than 24-7 news commentary, the USA will again be
> > on the path to success and prosperity for the vast majority of
> > hardworking Americans!  ï¿½  John A. Armistead �  Patriot
> > On Mar 24, 12:39 pm, Jonathan Ashley<jonathanashle...@lavabit.com>
> > wrote:
> >> John,
>
> >> I am fully aware that my opinions "are neither sought, considered, nor
> >> appreciated." It appears that no one's opinions are ever "sought,
> >> considered, nor appreciated" by you. Unfortunately for your ego, the
> >> opinions of others are a necessary requisite for the passage of YOUR New
> >> Constitution. Unless, of course, you plan on seceding from the Union to
> >> create a one-man nation.
>
> >> On 03/24/2011 09:19 AM, NoEinstein wrote:
>
> >>> Jonathan:  Judging from quick scans of two of your TOME '+ new posts',
> >>> you lack the ability to be concise in your wording of ideas.  I don't
> >>> have the time, nor the desire, to personally explain to you things
> >>> that I've already explained in detail, if you would only read back
> >>> into my thread.  Please quit bugging me to get personal with you about
> >>> my New Constitution.  I can assure you, Jonathan, that your opinions
> >>> in these regards are neither sought, considered, nor appreciated.  ï¿½
> >>> J. A. A. �
> >>> On Mar 23, 12:47 pm, Jonathan Ashley<jonathanashle...@lavabit.com>
> >>> wrote:
> >>>> John,
> >>>> If, as you stated earlier, YOUR New Constitution "defines the limits of
> >>>> both business, social, and governmental influences of our lives."
> >>>> Will it allow me the right to live my life in any way I choose so long
> >>>> as I respect the equal rights of others?
> >>>> Will it allow me to defend my right to life, liberty, and
> >>>> property-rights � rights that existed naturally before any government
> >>>> was created?
> >>>> Will it allow me the freedom to travel unrestricted � a right that
> >>>> existed naturally before any government was created?
> >>>> Will it limit government initiation of force to actions that involve the
> >>>> prior initiation of force by others � such as murder, rape, robbery,
> >>>> kidnapping, and fraud?
> >>>> Will it allow businesses to compete on equal footing � no special
> >>>> privileges to Monsanto, AT&T, Lockheed Martin, etc.?
> >>>> I could continue, but you have a tendency to not answer any questions �
> >>>> preferring instead to resort to name calling. Will this instance be any
> >>>> different?
> >>>> On 03/23/2011 08:51 AM, NoEinstein wrote:
> >>>>> Dear Jonathan:  You don't qualify to interpret even one sentence of my
> >>>>> New Constitution!  The proper function of government is to pass only
> >>>>> the minimum number of laws to be sure capitalism�the concept of which
> >>>>> has existed for millennia�doesn't become unfair or burdensome to the
> >>>>> people.  There are no "czars" or government officials required to pull
> >>>>> any of the strings.
> >>>>> Maximum civil liberties parallel having the MINIMUM of government
> >>>>> interaction with the people.  And that is NOT anarchy.  My New
> >>>>> Constitution clearly defines the limits of both business, social, and
> >>>>> governmental influences of our lives.  I recommend to others (than
> >>>>> Jonathan) my recently published book: "The Shortest Distance; Harmony
> >>>>> Through Prosperity."  from Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.  There is a
> >>>>> chapter on spheres of freedom that explains how your personal freedoms
> >>>>> are limited only when those directly and negatively impact the
> >>>>> freedoms of others.  If anyone thinks they have the "freedom" to tell
> >>>>> others how to live their lives, I would suggest you immediately moving
> >>>>> out of the USA.  No "group" nor individuals will have the power to
> >>>>> limit your personal liberties�trust me on that!  ï¿½  John A. Armistead
> >>>>> � Patriot
> >>>>> On Mar 22, 7:02 pm, Jonathan Ashley<jonathanashle...@lavabit.com>
> >>>>> wrote:
> >>>>>> John,
> >>>>>> Hopefully you realize that the term "capitalism" was non-existent when
> >>>>>> the Constitution was written. It first appeared circa 1854.
> >>>>>> Setting that aside, in pure capitalism, also called the free-market
> >>>>>> system, all economic decisions are made _without government
> >>>>>> intervention_. Yet YOUR New Constitution appears to ignore that concept.
> >>>>>> Any constitution that wants to promote free market enterprise should by
> >>>>>> necessity prevent government intervention into business.
> >>>>>> I must also point out that if one has to codify "maximum civil
> >>>>>> liberties" (as YOUR New Constitution is want to do) it implies that a
> >>>>>> government has control over ones life. Otherwise one would have complete
> >>>>>> liberty without such need.
> >>>>>>        *LIBERTY,* n. [L. libertas, from liber, free.]
> >>>>>>        1. Freedom from restraint, in a general sense, and applicable to the
> >>>>>>        body, or to the will or mind.*
> >>>>>>        CIVIL*, a. Relating to the community, or _to the policy and
> >>>>>>        government of the citizens and subjects of a state_;
> >>>>>> On 03/22/2011 03:35 PM, NoEinstein wrote:
> >>>>>>> Mark, if you feel that way, then you too are a socialist-communist�or
> >>>>>>> else you can't read and comprehend.  Attack me in any way, and you
> >>>>>>> attack fair, free-enterprise capitalism and having maximum civil
> >>>>>>> liberties for the vast majority of Americans.  Until you can recognize
> >>>>>>> those facts, I have you correctly pegged-through-the-heart with a
> >>>>>>> sharply pointed wooden stake.  ï¿½ NE �
> >>>>>>> On Mar 22, 11:55 am, Mark<markmka...@gmail.com>        wrote:
> >>>>>>>> Kinda like you and your supposed "constitution" that goes beyond the scope
> >>>>>>>> of a REAL Constitution ie.
> >>>>>>>> *The fundamental law, written or unwritten, that establishes the character
> >>>>>>>> of a government by defining the basic principles to which a society must
> >>>>>>>> conform; by describing the organization of the government and regulation,
> >>>>>>>> distribution, and limitations on the functions of different government
> >>>>>>>> departments; and by prescribing the extent and manner of the exercise of its
> >>>>>>>> sovereign powers.*
> >>>>>>>> *
> >>>>>>>> *
> >>>>>>>> ***Go, get a new life. **what you are doing is a waste of your time and most
> >>>>>>>> importantly....MINE. I have to read all the drivel (your "constitution"
> >>>>>>>> posts) as well as all the meaningful stuff every day on this forum. What you
> >>>>>>>> have written and displayed so far IS A JOKE.*
> >>>>>>>> On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 9:33 AM, NoEinstein<noeinst...@bellsouth.net>wrote:
> >>>>>>>>> MJ:  All of those quotations of others that you cut and paste aren't
> >>>>>>>>> increasing your status in the groups one bit.  And haven't you heard?
> >>>>>>>>> It isn't polite to YELL (use larger type size).  You are a pest on my
> >>>>>>>>> post, simply because you know I have a lot of things going for me.  In
> >>>>>>>>> the perhaps years you have "tooted" your one page constitution, you
> >>>>>>>>> haven't gotten many readers, have you.  Please make a "quote" of your
> >>>>>>>>> own worthy of being in Bartlett's.  If you can't do that, then you
> >>>>>>>>> should seriously consider getting another (pretend) hobby.  ï¿½ J. A. A.
> >>>>>>>>> �
> >>>>>>>>> On Mar 21, 10:11 am, MJ<micha...@america.net>        wrote:
> >>>>>>>>>> And yet AGAIN ... you offer a response.
> >>>>>>>>>> SADLY, you offer no support to your claims.
> >>>>>>>>>> Regard$,
> >>>>>>>>>> --MJMuch of the intellectual legacy of Marx is an anti-intellectual
> >>>>>>>>> legacy. It has been said that you cannot refute a sneer. Marxism has taught
> >>>>>>>>> many-inside and outside its ranks-to sneer at capitalism, at inconvenient
> >>>>>>>>> facts or contrary interpretations, and thus ultimately to sneer at the
> >>>>>>>>> intellectual process itself. This has been one of the sources of its
> >>>>>>>>> enduring strength as a political doctrine, and as a means of acquiring and
> >>>>>>>>> using political power in unbridled ways. -- Thomas SowellAt 10:06 AM
> >>>>>>>>> 3/21/2011, you wrote:Party crashers, like MJ, are undeserving of being
> >>>>>>>>> replied to.  ï¿½ J. A.
> >>>>>>>>>> A. �
> >>>>>>>>>> On Mar 19, 9:50 pm, MJ<micha...@america.net>        wrote:
> >>>>>>>>>>> It is my understanding that I am a member (in good standing?) of this
> >>>>>>>>> Group (PoliticalFo...@GoogleGroups.com).
> >>>>>>>>>>> I never claimed to be a moderator.
> >>>>>>>>>>> I did not request a 'discussion'.
> >>>>>>>>>>> I did, however,
>
> ...
>
> read more »

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Obama’s Unconstitutional War


Obama's Unconstitutional War
By unilaterally going to war against Libya, Obama is bringing America closer to the imperial presidency than Bush ever did.
BY BRUCE ACKERMAN | MARCH 24, 2011

In taking the country into a war with Libya, Barack Obama's administration is breaking new ground in its construction of an imperial presidency -- an executive who increasingly acts independently of Congress at home and abroad. Obtaining a U.N. Security Council resolution has legitimated U.S. bombing raids under international law. But the U.N. Charter is not a substitute for the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress, not the president, the power "to declare war."

After the Vietnam War, Congress passed the War Powers Resolution, which granted the president the power to act unilaterally for 60 days in response to a "national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces." The law gave the chief executive an additional 30 days to disengage if he failed to gain congressional assent during the interim.   

But, again, these provisions have little to do with the constitutionality of the Libyan intervention, since Libya did not attack our "armed forces." The president failed to mention this fundamental point in giving Congress notice of his decision on Monday, in compliance with another provision of the resolution. Without an armed "attack," there is no compelling reason for the president to cut Congress out of a crucial decision on war and peace.

This is particularly striking since, in the Libyan case, the president had plenty of time to get congressional support. A broad coalition -- from Senator John McCain to Senator John Kerry -- could have been mobilized on behalf of a bipartisan resolution as the administration engaged in the necessary international diplomacy. But apparently Obama thought it more important to lobby the Arab League than the U.S. Congress.

In cutting out Congress, Obama has overstepped even the dubious precedent set when President Bill Clinton bombed Kosovo in 1999. Then, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel asserted that Congress had given its consent by appropriating funds for the Kosovo campaign. It was a big stretch, given the actual facts -- but Obama can't even take advantage of this same desperate expedient, since Congress has appropriated no funds for the Libyan war. The president is simply using money appropriated to the Pentagon for general purposes to conduct the current air campaign.

The War Powers Resolution doesn't authorize a single day of Libyan bombing. But it does provide an escape hatch, stating that it is not "intended to alter the constitutional authority of the Congress or of the President." So it's open for Obama to assert that his power as commander in chief allows him to wage war without Congress, despite the Constitution's insistence to the contrary.

Many modern presidents have made such claims, and Harry Truman acted upon this assertion in Korea. But it's surprising to find Obama on the verge of ratifying such precedents. He was elected in reaction to the unilateralist assertions of John Yoo and other apologists for George W. Bush-era illegalities. Yet he is now moving onto ground that even Bush did not occupy. After a lot of talk about his inherent powers, Bush did get Congress to authorize his wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now, Obama is putting Bush-era talk into action in Libya -- without congressional authorization.

The president's insistence that his Libyan campaign is limited in its purposes and duration is no excuse. These are precisely the issues that he should have defined in collaboration with Congress. Now that he claims inherent power, why can't he redefine U.S. objectives on his own? No less important, what is to stop some future president from using Obama's precedent to justify even more aggressively unilateral actions?

The buck stops on Capitol Hill. As always, presidential unilateralism puts Congress in a tough position. It cannot afford to cut off funds immediately and put the lives of Americans, and U.S. allies, in danger. But it can pass a bill denying future funding after three months. This would prevent the president from expanding the mission unless he can gain express congressional consent.

The U.S. Congress should also take more fundamental steps to bring the imperial presidency under control. In the aftermath of Watergate, Congress went beyond the War Powers Resolution to enact a series of framework statutes that tried to impose the rule of law on a runaway presidency. Many of these statutes have failed to work as planned, but they were the product of a serious investigation led by Senator Frank Church and Representative Otis Pike during the 1970s. A similar inquest is imperative today. In many respects, Bush's war on terrorism was a more sweeping breach of constitutional norms than anything Richard Nixon attempted in Watergate. Yet Congress has been silent, trusting Obama to clean house on his own.

The president has shown, by his actions, that this trust is not justified. If Congress fails to respond, we have moved one large step further down the path to a truly imperial presidency.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/03/24/obama_s_unconstitutional_war?page=full

**JP** Muslims And Cyber Relationships



3/25/2011

By: Munira Lekovic Ezzeldine 
SuhaibWeb.com* 

A recent study by match.com found that 1 in 6 couples that got married in 2010 met on a matchmaking site. This is not surprising considering online dating and matchmaking websites now make up a $4 billion business worldwide. Their increased popularity over the last decade is proof that matchmaking sites will continue to grow and couples will increasingly meet for the first time through the Internet. This phenomenon is also apparent in the Muslim community. A Google search of "Muslim matchmaking" calls up over 400,000 sites. With more Muslims turning to the Internet to find a spouse, there needs to be a discussion of the positive and negative aspects of meeting people online.

Accessibility

Muslim marriages have traditionally occurred with friends and family as the intermediaries, but now the Internet has become a viable option for bringing potential couples together. Matchmaking websites have removed the "personal" connections people have always relied on when finding a spouse. Individuals can post their own profiles of who they are and what they are looking for in spouse. Meeting individuals who have no connection to family and friends can be common and finding a spouse on one's own has become a possibility.

The Internet has created a virtual network and provided accessibility to seek and meet Muslims from various regions of the world and of various origins. Online matchmaking sites have created a greater pool of people to meet and choose from; this is beneficial for new Muslims and those living in areas where there are few like-minded people, because meeting a potential spouse offline can be difficult if there is no social network established. However, with the greater opportunity of meeting someone who lives in another city or even another country, the challenges of long distance relationships becomes more common. A person who is not willing to move to another region should make this point clear at the beginning of their interactions. However, for those who are interested and willing to move to where their potential spouse lives, they will need to meet offline as soon as they determine they have a connection. They will also need to meet in person often to see if their relationship can develop into a marriage, which requires both individuals and their families to make a commitment to travel.

Anonymity

The Internet makes it very easy to be anonymous; therefore creating an online profile can become the perfect opportunity to be someone different, someone better, someone more attractive, more wealthy, more educated, etc. The biggest complaint made about online matchmaking sites is that there is a lot of exaggeration and even deception. Individuals can exaggerate or lie about everything from their age and profession to what they look like and where they are from. Some will even lie about their marital status. Because of this the Internet makes it impossible to know whether the person you are communicating with online is a "real" person at all. People who are not serious about marriage may create profiles on matchmaking sites because they enjoy perusing people's profiles and enjoy the "game" of meeting people and flirting online. For this reason, it is important that people who are serious about getting to know someone for marriage must move from the online setting to an offline meeting as quickly as possible.

Meeting in person is also the only way to confirm any initial compatibility that the individuals are feeling for each other as well as confirm their truthfulness and character. The Prophet Muhammad  advised, "When one of you asks for a woman in marriage, if he is able to look at what will induce him to marry her, he should do so." (Abu Daoud) Prolonging an online relationship can be a problem because the "connection" could be based completely on false information, which will ultimately lead to major disappointment. Therefore, remaining exclusively online to establish and maintain relationships can become a complete waste of time and even a distraction from finding a true match. Seeking to meet in person and develop a relationship that will lead to marriage needs to be the intention.

Communication

For many people, meeting someone for the first time can be awkward because both people are usually seeking to impress one another and determine if they have a connection. Meeting a potential spouse online reduces the initial anxiety and nervousness when being introduced since it removes an element of vulnerability. When people "chat" online, the computer screen reduces any personal inhibition and it becomes much easier to impress the other person. The Internet lifts real world boundaries so people fall easier into flirtatious and immodest behavior, become prone to saying things online that they normally wouldn't say to someone in person, or chat for longer periods of time than they normally would with any individual.

Online mixing also removes any exclusivity, which is why chatting with numerous people at the same time begins to resemble a season of "The Bachelor." You can never be sure that you are the only person a potential spouse is chatting with unless you ask them upfront, nor determine the seriousness of the relationship if conversations continue only online. Another obstacle with continued online communication is that real interpersonal skills are lost because subtle cues like tone of voice and body language cannot be heard or seen. Ultimately, determining if there is a real connection can only happen once the individuals actually meet in person. Communicating in person is vital to creating a real relationship through verbal communication as the couple will engage in the art of listening and speaking.

Privacy

Just as we live with boundaries in real life, we must maintain boundaries online. Safety precautions should be taken by everyone who posts a profile on a matchmaking site to ensure their privacy. Sharing private information with someone on the other side of a screen can be dangerous, since it is accessible to global viewers. Creating a separate email account for matchmaking correspondences would be beneficial in case a failed connection leads to one person stalking the other. In initial conversations with a person, you should be careful about how much personal information you share. It is best to withhold phone numbers, addresses of home, school and work places. This type of personal information should only be shared once the relationship proceeds to meeting in person and the character of the person has been determined.

The nature of using the Internet in private may also persuade individuals to hide an online relationship from their families, which will become an issue once the relationship moves offline. Secretive relationships are a major "red flag" and Islamically a serious problem. Individuals who refuse to meet offline or with family may be withholding something that may only be revealed by meeting offline. Therefore, caution should be taken if relationships remain online and are based on secrecy as these serve as "red flags" that honesty and trust have not been established, and this will lead to further problems in the relationship.

What To Do

Anyone who meets a potential spouse online must maintain appropriate Islamic and personal boundaries throughout the process. Be aware of the language you use when chatting with someone and try to speak in the same way you would in person. Stay in tune with your feelings: if something doesn't feel right or if someone seems too good to be true, it is probably your intuition telling you something is wrong. If you are chatting seriously with someone online, you should share this with your parents so they are aware and can further encourage you to meet offline. Taking time to know one another offline is critical in order to determine authentic compatibility beyond the Internet connection; this should be a goal when meeting someone online. Finally, making du`a' and istikhara prayers for guidance to what is best in your search for a spouse is essential. Maintaining a connection to Allah  and relying on Him will help give you clarity and inner peace when making the important life decision to marry or not marry someone.

As technology continues to change, how we as Muslims interact with one another will inevitably play a role in how people meet-we must be aware of the pitfalls and dangers of this medium. Online matchmaking has become a beneficial resource for Muslims all over the world seeking a spouse. The diversity of people and the potential to meet has made the internet a very attractive way to find a compatible spouse. Yet, the nature of interpersonal relationships is that they cannot remain as cyber relationships. The human touch is still necessary when it comes to a relationship with another human being. The most successful pathway to developing a marital relationship will require disconnecting from the internet and connecting with people live.

Source: SuhaibWebb - Munira Lekovic Ezzeldine


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**JP** Robert Fisk: Ottoman adventures hold lessons for our leaders


Saturday, 26 March 2011


Amid the fury of the Arab awakening – not to mention our own deepening crisis over Libya – old Constantinople is a tonic, a reminder amid minarets and water, palaces and museums and bookshops and an ancient parliament and a thousand fish restaurants that this really was the only united capital the Arabs ever had.

The sultans used to call Beirut the jewel in the crown of the Ottomans, but two days walking the streets of modern Istanbul – its tens of thousands thronging past the old trams on Independence Street – made me understand for the first time just how tiny a place Lebanon was on the great Ottoman map. Nor can you escape the Ottomans. There in Taksim are the great old embassies of the British and Americans, below them the great banks of the powers which benefited from the "capitulations", the ancient Hotel Grande Bretagne with its crazy chandeliers, brief home to both Ataturk and Hemingway. Suddenly, I am brought up sharply by a photograph from 1917 of two Ottoman Turkish soldiers. They stand in the desert – Palestine? Syria? Arabia? – in literal rags, sack-like hats above haunted faces, their trousers hanging in strips over their legs. Oddly, there appears to be an early propeller aircraft behind them. Were these the teenagers Lawrence fought against in the Arab revolt, the precursor to the typhoon now engulfing the Middle East?

And in a bookshop by the tram stop on Istiklal, I buy Andrew Mango's life of Ataturk, more than a decade old but with the freshness of original research on the founder of modern Turkey. Yes, there are the usual weasel words about Armenian massacres ("hotly disputed", of course) but also an extraordinary account of Mustafa Kemal's early military career, sneaking through Alexandria to fight for the anti-Italian Arab rebels of – well, here we go – Libya. And there are the familiar names. Tobruk. Benghazi. Zawiya. Enver Pasha, a far darker figure in Turkish history – just ask the Armenians – was Ottoman commander in Cyrenaica, besieging Italian forces in Benghazi, dedicated to unifying the tribes of the Senussi (yes, the very same Senussi who are hoping we will win their war for them against Gaddafi) against the Italians. The Senussis, by the way, were founded by an Algerian called Muhammad Ibn Ali al-Senussi who established himself in Cyrenaica in 1843. The tribe's story, which ran up to King Idris (overthrown by a certain Colonel Gaddafi in 1969), is sharply outlined when Mango points out that "Muslim solidarity (in war) was effective when it complemented self-interest and the instinct of self-defence".


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