The Islamic College of Brisbane held its annual fete on its
schools grounds last Sunday.
On a perfect Brisbane May day, there was standing room only
as crowds of people came to support the many food stalls and rides that were
on offer on the day.
Master of Ceremonies, Mr Zaffar Khan, held the
function together in his inimitable and trademark style as he exhorted the
patrons to "spend and enjoy for a worthy cause".
Mr Graham Perret MP, member for Moreton, opened the
fete and was followed with addresses from Ms Wendy Marx, representing
Brisbane's mayor, Mr. Mohammed Yusuf, chairman of the school
board, Dr Sadeq Mustapha of Queensland Muslim Times and Dr Mustafa
Ally, Editor-in-Chief of Crescents Community News (CCN).
Mr Hussin Goss was on hand to auction off items as
only he can.
"It was a very social and relaxed atmosphere and my family
had a wonderful day out", a parent of one of the students told CCN. "Full
marks to the PNC and the school staff for a well-organized fete," she added.
Mrs Julie Hatia of Crescents of Brisbane told CCN that
CresCafe proved once again to be a very popular "watering hole for a
cupcake, a coffee and a chat". She also wanted to thank the many ladies and
men of the community who kindly baked and donated the cupcakes at very short
notice. "We are amazed at the care and creativity that goes into making each
one of those batches of cakes - they (the bakers) seem to outdo themselves
each time".
Mr Farouk Adam, who coordinated the Kuraby Mosque and
Madressah food staff, said that his "hot deg akni" was sold out by the late
afternoon and hours before the the grand fireworks finale.
The CCN Photo Gallery
Coming up
on Q&A: Is politics working?
On
the panel this Monday night:
Former Finance Minister, Lindsay Tanner
Shadow Communications Minister, Malcolm Turnbull
Counter-terrorism analyst, Lydia Khalil
Author and journalist, Christine Wallace
Treasurer, Islamic Council of Victoria, Nazeem Hussain
So, what’s your question?
Watch Q&A live, 9.35pm on ABC 1, ABCNews24 and stream it on our website,
abc.net.au/qanda.
About Nazeem Hussain
Nazeem Hussain is currently the Treasurer and an Executive of
the Islamic Council of Victoria – the peak representative body for Muslims
living in Victoria.
In September 2010, he received the 2010 Victorian Multicultural Commision -
Ambassador Award by the Governor and Premier of Victoria for showing an
exemplary demonstration of leadership in the promotion of Victoria’s
diversity. In 2008 he was awarded the Young Australian Muslim of the Year
Award.
Nazeem is one of Australia’s most incisive and daring comedians. He's one of
the two performers from Fear of a Brown Planet - Winner of the 2008
Melbourne International Comedy Festival ‘Best Newcomer' Award. Nazeem has
performed stand up comedy in Fear of a Brown Planet to consistently sold out
audiences across Australia and abroad with trademark confrontational style -
tackling topics like race relations, the War on Terror and life being brown
and Muslim in Australia. Nazeem recently performed at the Melbourne
International Comedy Festival All Star Gala on Channel 10 and the Sydney
Comedy Festival Gala - broadcast on the Comedy Channel. He also recently
performed at the annual Falls and Southbound Festivals across Australia.
As well as stand-up, Nazeem has written and performed for television. Nazeem
co-wrote and starred on the cult-hit multi-award winning Salam Café
on SBS TV, which was nominated for a Logie Award in 2009. Nazeem has also
appeared on Network Ten's The 7PM Project, the ABC's Sleuth 101
and is currently starring on the Comedy Channel's Balls of Steel
Australia. He has also regularly featured on Nova 100, Triple J, ABC
radio, 3AW, 2UE and others.
In 2009 he was among ten writers selected for an exclusive script-writing
workshop hosted by UK indie film company Warp X (This is England, Donkey
Punch), Screen Australia and Madman Entertainment.
Nazeem and Aamer have recorded Fear of a Brown Planet's debut DVD at
the Chapel Off Chapel in Melbourne - to be released shortly.
Africa 1
Gaza Aid Convoy
Near
the end of June this year, the African continent will witness the historic
crossing of the first land-based humanitarian aid relief convoy which will
journey from Cape Town to the besieged and occupied Palestinian territory of
Gaza.
The Africa 1 Aid Convoy, an initiative spearheaded by the
South African based Al Quds Foundation and supported by a host of wishing
civil society organizations and charities will aim to gather support and
spread awareness about the plight of the Palestinian people, as it journeys
through Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Egypt and
finally into Gaza, bringing much needed aid to the region.
The convoy is the brainchild of Moulana Igsaan Hendricks,
president of the Muslim Judicial Council and director of the Al Quds
Foundation SA. He says the trip was born out of a visit he made to the Gaza
Strip in July 2010. It was during this trip that the idea of directing a
land convoy from Africa to Gaza was conceived, after consultations with the
leadership and other important role players in the territory.
The 1.5 million Palestinians who reside in the 40 km long
Gaza Strip have been made to live without access to basic
running water, adequate healthcare, medicine and other basic human rights.
For the past 43 years they have been under constant occupation and subject
to inhumanities that closely resemble South Africa’s apartheid regime. The
situation in the territory has worsened considerably since 2006 when Israel
imposed a debilitating economic siege on the strip that effectively prevents
much needed supplies from getting through. One of the most recent attempts
to break the blockade was in May last year, where Israel illegally attacked
a flotilla of ships caring aid in international waters, and caused the
deaths of several activists. It is hoped that the Africa 1 Aid Convoy will
be more successful.
The convoy is expected to carry a range of humanitarian material as
determined by the people of Gaza. This will be
made up of electrical generators, medical supplies, water detoxification
units, stationery, educational material and left
hand drive vehicles.
The Africa 1 Convoy is scheduled to leave South Africa during
the last week of June 2011.
A Johannesburg-based international satellite radio station,
CII Broadcasting (Listen
to live broadcasts of programs via the Internet) will be the official
media partner of the convoy, providing comprehensive and interactive
coverage; from the initial preparations and developments, to the actual
journey across the continent, and finally until the aid has reached its
destination. CII will provide exclusive, unfettered access for a vast
international audience, keeping them informed at every step along the unique
and remarkable expedition.
Joining the convoy will be Brisbane's intrepid traveler,
Mr. Mahmood (Twiggy) Surtie, who will add this new venture to his long
list of successful conquests that include climbing the peaks of Mt
Kilimanjaro twice, traveling the length and breadth of Australia and
prodigious peregrinations across the Namibian deserts. He will be
accompanied by his wife, Parveen.
For more information about the convoy, or how to donate or
assist, contact Twiggy on 0411172786 before he leaves for South Africa in a
fortnight's time.
Historical Society at Government House
The Queensland Muslim Historical Society Inc (QMHS) has been
invited for the second year in a row to hold a stall at Government House on
open day, 5th June from 10am to 3pm.
The theme of QMHS diplay will be Muslim Participation in Flood Relief.
To do justice to all the Muslim organisations who
participated in any way with the flood relief, the QMHS is requesting
CCN readers to send in the following information:
(a) The name of the organisation you worked under
(b) Any written media coverage you may have received
(c) Any photographs you had taken and are willing to share for this display.
The QMHS will be at Tent No 2 on the Investiture Room Lawn.
Contact Janeth Deen on 0435 086 796 regarding collection of articles you are
willing to share.
Government House is expecting about 1,500 people to attend their open day.
Sunnah
Inspirations and Australian Muslim Youth Network (AMYN)
serve up a double whammy!
The
inaugural Brisbane Islamic Convention,
featuring world renowned da'ee and Islamic
scholar, Shaikh Hussain Yee, and
our very own Brisbane scholars.
Hollywood
comedian and actor, Omar Regan, with
his inspirational (often comical) story of
his journey in Islam.
Inaugural Brisbane Islamic Convention addresses
key issues for Muslim Youth in the Online Age
In an age where lifestyle changes as rapidly as
the technology it is built on, it is an
exciting, yet sometimes challenging environment
in which Muslim youth find themselves growing up
in. With the development of the internet,
particularly social media, there are many
opportunities that open up for a young Muslim -
but at the same time there are pitfalls that
each young Muslim should be aware of. The theme
of this year's Brisbane Islamic Convention, held
on Saturday 30th April at the University of
Queensland, focused on such contemporary issues
that are so important for our generation.
Invited guest and notable Islamic scholar,
Shaikh Hussain Yee (Director of al-Khaadem
Institute, Malaysia), addressed the capacity
audience about his journey from Buddhism to
Islam. He stressed the importance of being
involved in becoming better Muslims and being
involved in community-building and humanitarian
projects. He encouraged young Muslims
especially to support such projects and
showcased
The Home of Hope a flagship orphanage
project that has opened its doors for all in
Malaysia.
Brisbane Islamic scholar and qualified dentist,
Shaikh Aslam AbuIsmaeel, shared some key
points of advice for young Muslims on how to
deal with the technology in this online age. He
introduced a unique 7-part series entitled,
7 Steps to Save and Boost Iman in the Online Age
addressing questions and situations that arise
for Muslim youth and their parents in the
internet age. More information can be found at
http://sunnahinspirations.org/iman.
The program concluded with an informative
question and answer session featuring a panel (pictured
below) of our very own Brisbane Islamic
scholars.
From right to
left:
Shaikh Akram Buksh, Shaikh Ikraam Buksh,
Shaikh Basheer Khan, Shaikh Hussain Yee,
Shaikh Ahmed Azhari, Shaikh Aslam AbuIsmaeel
Hollywood actor and comedian, Omar Regan,
thrills a capacity crowd (pictured below)
Omar Regan
A truly amazing story of how a young
Muslim black American grew up in the
ghettos of Detroit and left for the
glamour of Hollywood, only to find his
roots and happiness in his faith.
All who gathered on Friday 6th April,
were treated to an evening of
inspiration and hope with a comic
twist.
Brother Omar Regan narrated his story of
his Hollywood escapades, of how he
almost made the big time when he landed
a role as the double of Chris Tucker in
Rush Hour 2.
He told the story of how he became more
conscious of his Deen and, though he had
the chance to become a Hollywood star,
he left that and instead chose Islam.
One piece of advice that he gave to the
Muslim youth was to be themselves and
not be afraid to share Islam with their
friends and those around them.
There is a great volunteer opportunity to get various
trainings from the Queensland State Government, direct to work for ASIA
PACIFIC CITIES SUMMIT (APCS) and a possible meet with your home country
leaders. You will get professional teamwork experience that will allow you
to engage with global business and civic leaders and a special opportunity
to join and be welcomed to the international volunteer program.
Al-nisa Youth Group - Racism and Anti-Discrimination
Workshop
By Azima Omar
The workshop was held
last week Saturday at Griffith
University-Nathan Campus.
It consisted mainly of
two discussions and a practical Self-defence
demonstration.
The Al-nisa youth group’s
main purpose of the workshop was to
create awareness within the community
about their rights according to
Australian law and to assist them in
following the right pathways with
regards to racist and discriminatory
remarks.
The discussions were led
by Jenny Crisci who is a
Community Relations Officer from the
Anti-Discrimination board of Queensland,
Sabrina Rabbani who is a Police
Liason Officer in Upper Mount Gravatt in
Brisbane and Aisha Dennis who is
highly trained in Silat Perisai Diri (a
practical form of Martial Arts which
originated in Indonesia).
The Al-nisa board members
received positive feedback commending us
on having a fun, interesting and well-organised workshop.
The ice-breakers and
games that were used on the day gave all
who attended an opportunity to meet new
people as Muslims from various
backgrounds attended the workshop. A
scrumptious lunch was provided.
Keep
an eye out in the upcoming weeks for the
next Al-nisa workshop as there are
limited spaces available.
From the
desk of Sunnybank Saints
St Pauls down the Sunnybank Saints
Sunnybank Saints went down 4-1 today to St Pauls
in Mansfield in their first game back after the
Easter break.
The Saints started sprightly and were looking
strong with the ball at their feet threatening
on a few occasions. Mohammed Sabdia
eventually got the away side up 1-0 with a
blistering shot from just outside the box. The
Sunnybank Saints were looking comfortable with
their lead.
Late in to the first half though, St Pauls got
one back when a defensive lapse at the back cost
the Sunnybank Saints. The teams went into the
half time break locked at one goal apiece.
Both teams came out for the second half looking
to make their mark and it was the Saints who
were causing all the early trouble for their
opposition. Sunnybank were dealt a huge blow
however, when Kameron Dittmann was forced
to come off early with an injury to the ribs.
Saints had lost a key member of their defence
but were determined to continue. However, things
went into disarray as St Pauls found a new lease
of life and started taking the game to the
Saints.
St Pauls scored a controversial free kick to
make the score 2-1 before they extended their
lead through a corner. Sunnybank Saints were
rattled and were not looking like many any
headway in the game.
St Pauls sealed off their win with a fourth goal
late in the game to wrap up the 3 points and
give the Saints something to think about as they
look forward to their next game.
Sunnybank Saints will now look
ahead to their next game as they look to get
back to winning ways and getting their season
back on track. The Saints will return at home
against Mansfield Red at Lister Street at 7pm.
Muslim scientists and scholars have contributed
immensely to human knowledge especially in the
period between 8th and 14th century CE.
But
their contributions have been largely ignored,
forgotten or have gone un-acknowledged.
Each
week CCN brings you, courtesy of www.ummah.com,
an account of one of the many talented Muslim
scholars in history whose contributions have
left lasting marks in the annals of science,
astronomy, medicine, surgery, engineering and
philosophy.
This week's Muslim scholar, philosopher
and/or thinker is:
YAQUB IBN ISHAQ AL-KINDI (800-873
C.E.)
Abu
Yousuf Yaqub Ibn Ishaq al-Kindi was born
at Kufa around 800 C.E. His father was
an official of Haroon al-Rashid. Al-Kindi
was a contemporary of al-Mamun, al-Mu'tasim
and al-Mutawakkil and flourished largely
at Baghdad. He vas formally employed by
Mutawakkil as a calligrapher. On account
of his philosophical views, Mutawakkil
was annoyed with him and confiscated all
his books. These were, however, returned
later on. He died in 873 C.E. during the
reign of al-M'utamid.
Al-Kindi was a philosopher,
mathematician, physicist, astronomer,
physician, geographer and even an expert
in music. It is surprising that he made
original contributions to all of these
fields. On account of his work he became
known as the philosopher of the Arabs.
In mathematics, he wrote four books on
the number system and laid the
foundation of a large part of modern
arithmetic. No doubt the Arabic system
of numerals was largely developed by al-
Khawarizmi, but al-Kindi also made rich
contributions to it. He also contributed
to spherical geometry to assist him in
astronomical studies.
Al-Kindi's
Treatise on Deciphering Cryptographic
Messages which was recently rediscovered
in the Ottoman archives in Istanbul. This
text is the first known recorded explanation
of cryptanalysis based on the method of
frequency analysis.
In chemistry, he opposed the idea that
base metals can be converted to precious
metals. In contrast to prevailing
alchemical views, he was emphatic that
chemical reactions cannot bring about
the transformation of elements. In
physics, he made rich contributions to
geometrical optics and wrote a book on
it. This book later on provided guidance
and inspiration to such eminent
scientists as Roger Bacon.
In medicine, his chief contribution
comprises the fact that he was the first
to systematically determine the doses to
be administered of all the drugs known
at his time. This resolved the
conflicting views prevailing among
physicians on the dosage that caused
difficulties in writing recipes.
Very little was known on the scientific
aspects of music in his time. He pointed
out that the various notes that combine
to produce harmony, have a specific
pitch each. Thus, notes with too low or
too high a pitch are non-pleatant. The
degree of harmony depends on the
frequency of notes, etc. He also pointed
out the fact that when a sound is
produced, it generates waves in the air
which strike the ear-drum. His work
contains a notation on the determination
of pitch.
He was a prolific writer, the total
number of books written by him was 241,
the prominent among which were divided
as follows:
Astronomy 16, Arithmetic 11, Geometry
32, Medicine 22,
Physics 12, Philosophy 22, Logic 9,
Psychology 5, Music 7.
In addition, various monographs written
by him concern tides, astronomical
instruments, rocks, precious stones,
etc. He was also an early translator of
Greek works into Arabic, but this fact
has largely been over-shadowed by his
numerous original writings. It is
unfortunate that most of his books are
no longer extant, but those existing
speak very high of his standard of
scholarship and contribution. He was
known as Alkindus in Latin and a large
number of his books were translated into
Latin by Gherard of Cremona. His books
that were translated into Latin during
the Middle Ages comprise Risalah dar
Tanjim, Ikhtiyarat al-Ayyam,
Ilahyat-e-Aristu, al-Mosiqa, Mad-o-Jazr,
and Aduiyah Murakkaba.
Al-Kindi's influence on development of
science and philosophy was significant
in the revival of sciences in that
period. In the Middle Ages, Cardano
considered him as one of the twelve
greatest minds. His works, in fact, lead
to further development of various
subjects for centuries, notably physics,
mathematics, medicine and music.
Around
the Muslim World with CCN
Reflecting
on the killing of Osama bin Laden
OBL, the
West and the Spring Revolutions
Keyer Trad (Islamic Friendship
Association of Australia Inc.)
The
first week in May marked a momentous
announcement from "the president of the free
world": their number one nemesis had been
killed.
Perhaps the
spontaneity of some of the celebrations in
Washington and other US cities took the
administration by surprise. There is only
one death that is so widely celebrated in
the West. For the United States of America,
this mission is most momentous.
The first
announcement by President Obama seemed
sombre and reflective, projecting an
impression of closure and an opportunity for
conciliation, "we will never be at war with
Islam" he said. Osama Bin Laden was "not an
Islamic leader".
Picking on
the hints of conciliation, Muslim leaders
all over the world put the issue of the
world's most wanted man aside and opted to
welcome the opportunity for conciliation.
There was not one word of praise for Bin
Laden or grief over his death from any
credible Muslim leader anywhere. We thought
that this would mean the end of US
occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, that
Obama's next announcement would be "mission
accomplished" and it is time to resume our
friendship..
Full article
US must end its Muslim
'crusade'
Shameema Kollia
(President of Muslim Youth Western
Australia)
A young Perth Muslim has
called on the US president to use Osama bin
Laden's death to call a ceasefire on "the
killing of innocent Muslims" worldwide.
Placing responsibility for the future of the
War on Terror on Barack Obama, Shameema
Kollia, 29, said the milestone death - used
for a decade as a symbol of success in the
fight against terrorism - meant the US
should now end its own "crusade".
"My reaction to Osama's death is: great, but
what happens now?" said Ms Kollia, who is
president of Muslim Youth Western Australia
but was not speaking on behalf of the
organisation.
"Are we going to stop the killing ... of
hundreds of thousands of Muslims who have
been killed in the name of justice?
"We've killed [former Iraqi dictator] Saddam
[Hussein] and there were no weapons of mass
destruction, we've now got Osama bin Laden,
will we have justice for those innocent
people [killed by the US and its allies]?"
In a speech confirming the death of the Al
Qaeda leader in Pakistan yesterday, Mr Obama
said "justice has been done" but declared
the fight against terrorism would continue.
''The death of bin Laden marks the most
significant achievement to date in our
nation's efforts to defeat Al Qaeda. Yet his
death does not mark the end of our effort,"
he said.
Mr Obama said the war was not against Islam
and that bin Laden had caused the deaths of
Muslims.
''I've made clear just as president [George]
Bush did shortly after 9/11 that our war is
not against Islam," he said. "Bin Laden was
not a Muslim leader, he was a mass murderer
of Muslims.''
Terrorism experts also expressed doubt Ms
Kollia's plea would be answered, with
expectations there would be a resurgence in
violence against the West that would
presumably be countered by the US and its
allies, including Australia.
WA today
This Was Revenge: Obama
Snatches Defeat from Jaws of Victory
Yvonne Ridley (British
journalist)
As the news of Osama bin
Laden’s death filtered out onto the streets
of America it triggered unsightly scenes of
undiluted hysteria, chest-thumping and
back-slapping which has sadly become a
trademark of the vengeful ‘hang’em high’
lobby that emerged from the rubble of 9/11.
And just like George W Bush did on that
horrific day way back in 2001, US President
Barack Obama unashamedly wallowed in a
flag-waving, nationalistic wave of emotion,
crowing about national unity and everyone
pulling together as he revealed the manhunt
for the world’s most wanted man had finally
been concluded.
It mattered not the al-Qaida leader was
unarmed – that detail was kept back as
hugely distorted stories zoomed around the
globe about how the evil Arab used his wife
as a human shield while firing off rounds at
the heroic soldiers who risked their all for
Uncle Sam.
The naked display of uncontrollable gung-ho
emotion was bad enough but then a
smug-looking Obama began sounding like Glenn
Ford in a scene from High Noon as he
lectured the world about "justice being
done".
To quote my favourite journalist Gary Younge:
“This was not justice, it was an
extra-judicial execution. If you shoot a man
twice in the head you do not find him
guilty. You find him dead. This was revenge.
And it was served very cold indeed.”
Mercifully, in this sea of madness another
sane voice in America also drowned out the
hate-filled chorus and it came from an
unlikely source - 9/11 survivor Harry Waizer.
If anyone had a right to jump up and down
like a lunatic at the show of a full moon it
was him, but instead of adding to the
hatefest he said: "I just can’t find it in
me to be glad one more person is dead, even
if it is Osama Bin Laden."
I hope now that America’s Number One
Bogeyman is no more the USA returns to some
semblance of normality that has been absent
from its landscape since the now discredited
War on Terror began.
And I hope that the US Administration will
stop using the politics of fear on its own
people who have been ruthlessly hyped up in
to a state of advanced paranoia at every
opportunity. High days and holidays have
been blighted by accelerated levels of
terror alerts while the latest airport
scares and the latest suspect parcels have
brought major cities and their transport
networks to a halt.
Real justice
would not
have
involved
shooting an
unarmed man
in front of
his wife and
children –
there were
no
bodyguards
in the house
in
Abbottabad
in Pakistan.
While it is always dangerous to generalize
the American people appear to have been kept
suspended in fear ever since 9/11 – the
reality is ordinary citizens have more
chance of being shot in their backyard than
be killed by a terrorist.
30,000 innocents die every year in
gun-related crime – that’s a 9/11 multiplied
by ten - but the close relationship with
deadly weapons shows no sign of abating in
trigger-happy America.
In terms of a violent society and armed
citizens, the US is in a league of its own
and sadly the state of disregard for the law
and justice filters all the way down from
The White House.
That the most powerful man in the world can
stare straight into the cameras and say:
“Justice was done” over Bin Laden’s murder
borders on absurdity; it’s almost
Pythonesque.
Real justice would have involved an arrest,
a trial by jury and a sentence in an
international court should the thought of
holding him on USA soil prove too
frightening.
Real justice would not have involved
shooting an unarmed man in front of his wife
and children – there were no bodyguards in
the house in Abbottabad in Pakistan.
Shaul Mofaz
of the right
wing Kadima
is now
urging the
Zionist
Government
to
assassinate
Palestinian
leaders like
the “US did
with Osama
bin Laden”.
Real justice would not have involved
charging into someone else’s country with
armed forces unannounced, if indeed that was
really the case in Pakistan.
I’m surprised David Cameron, the British
Prime Minister and other political leaders
went into congratulatory mode in the House
of Commons over the whole saga.
Had it not occurred to them that if OBL had
chosen to hide out in Didsbury, Tooting or
Chipping Norton then US Special Forces would
have come into the UK all guns blazing?
I wonder would Cameron have gushed forth
with undiluted praise then?
We don’t know who America’s next Bogeyman is
going to be, but what if he does live in
Britain or chooses to hide in the UK? What
then? Do we sit back and allow America to
breach our sovereignty in the name of US
justice?
Are there any real guarantees that we won’t
have US Navy Seals bursting into our
neighbourhoods anytime soon?
OK, it’s highly unlikely but not impossible.
This is what happens when there’s total
disregard for international law, Vienna and
Geneva conventions et al.
Distinguished QC Geoffrey Robertson is a man
I’d like to lock in the Oval Office with the
Commander in Chief for maybe 30 minutes. A
renowned international human rights lawyer,
he is not at all impressed by Obama’s
interpretation of justice.
After
bringing an
end to the
biggest
manhunt in
US history,
the US
President
has managed
to snatch a
defeat from
the jaws of
victory.
Writing about the OBL killing he said the
law “permits criminals to be shot in self-defence.
They should, if possible, be given the
opportunity to surrender, but even if they
do not come out with their hands up, they
must be taken alive, if that can be achieved
without risk. Exactly how Bin Laden came to
be shot (especially if it was in the back of
the head, execution-style) therefore
requires explanation. Why the hasty “burial
at sea” without a post-mortem, as the law
requires?”
Why indeed? The trouble is various US
Administrations have lied to the world –
lied about the reasons for going to war in
Iraq, lied about the existence of WMD, lied
about Saddam being in league with al-Qaida.
And the problem with serial liars is that
when they do tell the truth no one believes
them.
Once again America has managed to shoot
itself in the foot in the name of justice –
a justice that has earned the admiration and
praise of the chairman of the Israeli
parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs
and Security.
Shaul Mofaz of the right wing Kadima is now
urging the Zionist Government to assassinate
Palestinian leaders like the “US did with
Osama bin Laden”.
He seems to have overlooked the fact that
Israel has been “doing an Obama” for years
as the leadership of Hamas can testify.
Nevertheless, it seems that even though
international law prohibits the use of extra
judicial assassination policies, various
states of terror may now starting “Doing an
Obama”.
After bringing an end to the biggest manhunt
in US history, the US President has managed
to snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory.
Matthew Rothschild
(Editor of The Progressive magazine)
I always rejoice at the death
of a mass murderer, and Osama bin Laden was
definitely a mass murderer. He killed 3,000
people here on 9/11, and he killed more than
300 in August 1998 in the bombings of the
U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
So I understand the sense of relief or
closure or even triumph that many Americans
feel today.
But it’s worth grappling with precisely what
it is that bin Laden did, and why it is that
Americans are chanting “USA, USA”.
What bin Laden did was to use violence as a
ready tool to advance his purposes.
What bin Laden did was to wantonly sacrifice
the lives of innocent people in service of
those purposes.
In this regard, bin Laden is no different a
mass murderer than William McKinley was in
the Philippines.
In this regard, bin Laden is no different a
mass murderer than Harry Truman was when he
dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and
Nagasaki.
In this regard, bin Laden is no different a
mass murderer than Ronald Reagan was when he
funded and trained the contras against
Nicaragua or backed the Salvadoran military
against the rebels there.
We’re only
against it
when
violence is
used against
us.
In this regard, bin Laden is no different a
mass murderer than Lyndon Johnson was in
Vietnam.
In this regard, bin Laden is no different a
mass murderer than George W. Bush was in
Iraq.
Oh, there is one big difference: bin Laden
killed far fewer innocent people than any of
those U.S. Presidents.
So, when you examine the righteous
triumphalism than many Americans are feeling
today, it comes down to this: We’re not
against using violence as a ready tool to
serve our purposes; we’re not against
wantonly sacrificing innocent lives; we’re
not even against mass murder.
We’re only against it when violence is used
against us.
We’re only against it when ours are the
innocent lives being sacrificed.
We’re only against it when we’re not the
ones committing the mass murder but are the
victims of the mass murder.
This understanding puts a creepy edge on the
rah-rahs of today.
Until we renounce violence as a convenient
tool, until we stop sacrificing innocent
lives, until we no longer excuse the mass
murder that our own government commits,
we’re not in much of a position to
celebrate.
And spare me Obama’s talk of “justice” being
done. That’s exactly the same phrase Bush
used after U.S. forces gunned down Saddam
Hussein’s sadistic sons, Uday and Qusay.
It’s not “justice,” as we’ve come to revere
it in this country: a system that upholds
due process and habeas corpus and assumes
the innocence of the accused and allows for
trial by jury.
No, what Obama and Bush were talking about
was rough justice or frontier justice.
The word “justice” should not adorn an
assassination.
The most successful direct
marketing campaign in the world was not
masterminded by Nike or Coca Cola but by
al-Qaeda. Despite a trillion dollars of US
spend on the war against terror, Al-Qaeda
membership continues to grow.
It was obvious really.
CEOs have only just cottoned onto the
‘relationship marketing’ thing. The concept
of ‘Tribe building’ and ‘Permission’ may
have been identified by Seth Godin but the
concept has been around since the year dot.
Our technological achievements in recent
years may be off the chart, but our
understanding of human behaviour is still at
ground zero.
2000 years ago the Jewish temple leaders and
the Roman big wigs (the CEOs of their day)
figured out that the best way to deal with
the insurgent Jesus Christ was to kill him.
The strategy behind this was that it would
‘act as a deterrent’ and serve as a ‘show of
strength’ to both secular and religious
communities. In other words obey the laws,
stop stirring up emotions, stop telling
people that they have ‘inner power’ and that
they are only answerable to God.
Imagine what
the world
look like if
that money
had been
spent on
third world
schools,
hospitals,
art
galleries,
orchestras,
dance
academies or
any scheme
dedicated to
the
celebration
of the human
spirit and
the unity of
culture.
Fast forward to the present day. Bin Laden
had no problem recruiting disciples who were
happy to die (as Jesus pointed out, no big
deal if you believe in the after life). Same
philosophy, different context. The line
between love and hate, between adoration and
abomination, is as thin as the one
separating the above pictures.
Despite the luxury of being able to observe
and reflect on 2000 years of history.
Despite the trillions of dollars spent on a
vast number of wars - we have learnt
nothing. Imagine what the world look like if
that money had been spent on third world
schools, hospitals, art galleries,
orchestras, dance academies or any scheme
dedicated to the celebration of the human
spirit and the unity of culture. Imagine the
new tribes we could have built. Imagine how
hard Al-Quada would have to work to compete
with that relationship.
Today, crowds of people rejoice in front of
the White House (reminiscent of the crowd
who chanted ‘Kill him...kill him’ in front
of Pontius Pilate’s gaff). The media is
going mad with celebration ‘We got the
bastard!
Anyone who jumps up and down with national
pride, identifying with the braggadocio of
the US marines who sorted out the situation
once and for all - ‘Yeah we nailed it’ -
better look at the piece of wood on which
they nailed the last guy.
Three billion crucifixes. Two billion brand
evangelists. No venture capital. That's the
kind of relationship marketing CEOs would
kill for. They think it's all over. In fact
it's only just begun.
Using the book club you can see what books
fellow CCN readers have on their shelves,
what they are reading and even what they,
and others, think of them.
KB SAYS: These cupcakes
were made especially for a recent royal wedding
get-together at a ladies social night out. These cakes
along with the English Breakfast tea added as much
authenticity to the occasion as did the tiaras and hats.
.
Cupcakes courtesy of Rashida Shamsoudien
Ingredients
Sift
2 ½ cups flour
½ tsp Bicarbonate
of Soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
3 tsp cinnamon powder
Beat separately
1 ½ cups sugar
1 ½ cups oil
4 eggs
Fold in
2 cups grated carrot
½ cup chopped pecan nuts
250 grams crushed
pineapple, drained
Method
1 Beat egg whites, add
sugar and then oil and the egg yolks and beat further
2 Add sifted dry ingredients and beat for 30
seconds.
3 Fold in the remaining ingredients
4 Place in cup cake or muffin pans – ¾ full
5 Bake at 180degrees for 15mins or until
light brown.
LOOKING AND FEELING GREAT WILL COST YOU
NOTHING BUT TIME
1: Drink more water
Increasing your H2O is not only the cheapest and most
effective treatment for your skin, it will keep you
hydrated and cleansed from the inside out. A good habit
is to start your day with a glass of luke-warm water
with lemon to aid cleansing and boost hydration.
2: Exercise for a better you
Get up 30 minutes earlier and go for a brisk walk. It's
a great way to 'wake up you body and mind' and feel more
energised. Use the time to breathe in the fresh air and
make the most of your natural surroundings: some quiet
time for you, free from mobile phones, emails and
demands of the day. 3: Eat smarter
A good, balanced diet will make a world of difference.
Include plenty of good oils - omega 3 (fish, raw nuts,
seeds, etc); anti-oxidant-rich foods (berries, red
capsicum, dark green vegetables, herbs, turmeric, green
tea, etc).
4: Get serious about rest
Hitting the sack before 10pm for at least 8 hours of
sleep is a great gift to yourself. It will set you up
for a great day - feeling both relaxed and energised. It
will
also help with weight-loss.
5: Take regular time-outs
Feeling stressed can drain you and make you 'less kind'
to yourself. Set aside some time for you to do something
you enjoy - take a few moments each day to focus on the
positives in your life, and just enjoy! Not only will
you feel calmer, you'll look better too.
All questions sent in are published here anonymously
and without any references to the author of the
question.
The CCN Chuckle
A few weeks
after Jalalludin had been employed; he was
called into the Human Resources administrator's
office.
"What is the
meaning of this?" the personnel officer asked.
"When you applied for this job, you told us you
had three years experience. Now I have
discovered this is the first position you've
ever held."
"True," Jalalludin answered with a smile, "in
your advertisement you said you wanted a person
with imagination."
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Events and Functions
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Algester
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The
Voter's Challenge!
Completely FREE
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Night
Be
prepared to be
ENTERTAINED, EDUCATED
and ENLIGHTENED in your
very own ELECTORATE!
Want an effective treatment to
clean out BAD CHOLESTROL and PLAQUE from your
arteries?
ArgiNox Maintain is available from Zakiya
Sacur - 0433 270 770. Book your consultation
now
Topics that
are relevant, Iman-boosting and
mind-capturing. Where: AMYN Islamic Youth Centre,
16/157 North Road, Woodridge When: Every Saturday,after Maghrib
Info:
www.AMYNweb.com Everyone is invited
Australian Muslim Youth
Network (AMYN)
Find out about the latest
events, outings, fun-days,
soccer tournaments, BBQs
organised by AMYN. Network
with other young Muslims on
the
AMYN Forum
The best ideas and the best feedback come from
our community of readers. If you have a topic or
opinion that you want to write about or want
seen covered or any news item that you think
might be of benefit to the Crescents Community
please e-mail
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Disclaimer
Articles and opinions appearing in this newsletter do
not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Crescents of
Brisbane Team, CCN, its Editor or its Sponsors,
particularly if they eventually turn out to be
libellous, unfounded, objectionable, obnoxious,
offensive, slanderous and/or downright distasteful.
It is the usual policy of
CCN to include from time to time, notices of events that
some readers may find interesting or relevant. Such
notices are often posted as received. Including such
messages or providing the details of such events does
not necessarily imply endorsement of the contents of
these events by either CCN or Crescents of Brisbane Inc.
On
the panel this Monday night:
Former Finance Minister, Lindsay Tanner 
Near
the end of June this year, the African continent will witness the historic
crossing of the first land-based humanitarian aid relief convoy which will
journey from Cape Town to the besieged and occupied Palestinian territory of
Gaza.
Abu
Yousuf Yaqub Ibn Ishaq al-Kindi was born
at Kufa around 800 C.E. His father was
an official of Haroon al-Rashid. Al-Kindi
was a contemporary of al-Mamun, al-Mu'tasim
and al-Mutawakkil and flourished largely
at Baghdad. He vas formally employed by
Mutawakkil as a calligrapher. On account
of his philosophical views, Mutawakkil
was annoyed with him and confiscated all
his books. These were, however, returned
later on. He died in 873 C.E. during the
reign of al-M'utamid.
The
first week in May marked a momentous
announcement from "the president of the free
world": their number one nemesis had been
killed.
ll
also help with weight-loss.
