The World of Ric

Just a fountain

Just a fountain

The fate of our country is a sad one

Like it or not, America has always been a country full of hate. When the first colonizers came to this land, they wanted it so badly to be theirs that they created campaigns to eliminate the natives. After rendering the natives “non-threatening”, which they never were from the beginning, by almost complete eradication, the colonizers moved on to Asians. Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian immigrants were segregated and laws were passed to limit their number, where they could live, who the could marry, etc. After feeling they’d done “a good job” of keeping Asians “in their place”, they then moved to the now-freed slaves. Laws were created that, in essence, were worse than slavery. African Americans weren’t even second class citizens. They were treated as animals, not human. Hispanics and European immigrants who came to America after the country was well established were also treated in a similar fashion. Segregation of whites and “coloreds” ended in the 60s, but the hate didn’t. Before 9/11/2001, Middle Eastern immigrants were already victims of racism, chastising, and hate crimes. Raised in an extremely conservative home, my family disliked anyone who was non-white or not American-born. All the derogatory names ever used against anyone, especially racial could be heard throughout my house, filling community centers during family gatherings, and even at church meetings…America is much like this. It is not a safe place. An African American child gets shot and killed because he looked “suspicious” and the killer is still free. Comments from both supporters of the killer and the victim are violent, racially tinged threats. While one may understand the anger and hate that may arise in a situation like this, the continuation of hate speech and racially directed threats only creates more issues. We are in a continuous cycle of hate.

This cycle of hate continues to claim lives and people turn a blind eye to it. Today, an Iraqi woman died in California from injuries suffered at the hands of those who hate people for their differences. Shaima Alawadi was a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, and aunt, a best friend. She was the world to someone, and she was someone’s world. She died for no reason. Her attackers left a terrifying note which leaves one to imagine this will continue to happen again and again unless we take control of our country and stop this madness that has become us. Because of people like Pamela Gellar, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum, just to name a few, Islam and anything associated with Middle Eastern people or their way of life is often seen as an intrusion onto our soil. The lies and hate speech the likes of these people allow to flow freely from their lips has so many people in America under the impression that others, namely Muslims, want to take over America. What people fail to realize is that if Muslims did want to take over, it would have happened a long time ago and they would still be ruling. This is just simply not the case. Just as Shaima Alawadi and her family came here decades ago searching for freedom, so have hundreds of thousands of others. However, because of the words of the previously mentioned hate mongers, white Americans see it as infiltration to take over America.

The adding to the horror of such tragedies as Shaima Alawadi’s are the comments that are left on news articles. No one cares that this woman was brutally beaten and left behind children, children who will grow up without a mother. No, instead, people focus on all the lies and distorted and inaccurate information spewed by the likes of Gellar or Santorum. They make comments similar to the note that was found by the victim’s body. They even go so far as to say that her own family did it and that “these people” cannot be trusted.

It is time we stop looking at people because of their religion or their race and we start looking at them as people. It is also time we start telling people like Pamela Gellar, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich to “Shut The Fuck Up!”

#Bahrain’s King Address On Democratic Reforms - Jan. 15th (Transcript)

In the name of the Almighty God, the Most Merciful, the Most Gracious.

Dear Citizens,

Peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you. We are pleased to address you today, as we move forward on the path of development to enable Bahrain to add further gains. This will be for the benefit of our beloved country, and in the interests of its honorable children, with the aid of Almighty God, in adherence to the values of tolerance and coexistence in light of God’s Law and Arab traditions. These are the values upon which we have all been brought up; and they have protected us against the dangers of intolerance and sectarianism. Our loyal people have demonstrated that their will, throughout all events, is devoted to continuing the reform project, to preserving the achievements of the Charter and the Constitution, and to accelerating progress and momentum through constitutional institutions. Today, we will continue this march with anyone who has genuine patriotic desire for further progress and reform in all its forms, whether it is political, economic or social, on the basis of our common convictions that reflect the spirit of the times and meet the legitimate aspirations of all citizens to achieve further development consistent with the principles of a peaceful democracy.

Brothers and sisters, there is no doubt that the National Consensus Dialogue recommendations that we have instructed the Executive and Legislative branches to call for without preconditions and which various segments of our society took part so as to move forward through comprehension and belief in the principle of national action encompassing everyone, have outlined the shape of the reforms that we are aiming to achieve, and which emanate from the solid base of our national experience, laid down by the historical consensus on the National Action Charter.

Accordingly, and in line with our mandate to propose constitutional amendments and to honor our promise, we will later issue a Royal Decree to refer to the Council of Representatives and the Shura Council, requesting the constitutional amendments as stated in the recommendations of the National Consensus Dialogue. The philosophy and motivation behind this request is to open new horizons for our democracy, based on the National Consensus Dialogue recommendations, and to reflect our commitment to the stability of the nation, the unity of its people, and the realization of their aspirations, taking into consideration the best interests of the homeland, and the interests of present and future generations of citizens to develop our democracy and our political programs.

Brothers and sisters, these proposed amendments bring greater harmony in the relationship between the Executive and Legislative Branches in order to achieve greater balance among them. The amendments add new guarantees to be applied when exercising the right to dissolve the Council of Representatives. They require and entail consultation with the Chairman of the Shura Council, the Chairman of the Council of Representatives, and the President of the Constitutional Court, while previously it required only the consent of the King and the Prime Minister. Further, in respect of the appointment of members of the Shura Council, the amendments calls for a Royal Decree to be issued by the King prior to the order of appointment setting out the method, procedures, and guidance that govern the selection process. To empower the Councils concerning preparation of the state budget and legislation, the proposed amendments extend the schedule sessions of the National Council in both its Chambers, the Shura Council and the Council of Representatives, when necessary to pass draft laws regulating economic issues urgently requested by the government.

In addition, the amendments set out the competent authority for drafting bills, raising constitutional amendment proposals, proposing laws or draft Constitutional amendments, and determining the necessary period of time to refer such bills to the Council where the proposal was originated. These amendments allow both Councils to more easily set the state budget, in a way that helps to effectuate the new budget at the beginning of the fiscal year, and preclude the announcement of a budget of more than two fiscal years. 

In line with the conclusions of the National Consensus Dialogue, these constitutional amendments aim to reflect the popular will in the formation of the government based on its program. The Council of Representatives will discuss the government program after it swears the constitutional oath. Moreover, it has the right to approve or reject the government program, and if the program is approved, the government has secured the confidence of the Council. In addition, the proposed recommendation consolidates the oversight role of the Council of Representatives as a sole monitoring Power. Thus, the recommendations grant the Council the right to end cooperation with government, and to initiate discussions on any public theme. The amendments add additional guarantees to ensure the participation of the Council of Representative collectively during the discussions of the questions addressed to Ministers, and to set a timeframe for the government to justify any rejection of the demands of the Council. Alongside this, the Council has been vested with the constitutional right to question and withdraw confidence from the Ministers, as well as to set up Committees to conduct such questioning.

While the Constitution had previously given jurisdiction to the Chairman of the Shura Council to refer the bills approved by the two Chambers to the Prime Minister to pass them, and given him priority to preside over the meetings of the National Council, the amendments have vested these jurisdictions and this priority to the Chairman of the Council of Representatives.

Brothers and sisters, we are confident the Legislative Power will resume its constitutional responsibilities to make these amendments, responsive to the recommendations of the National Consensus Dialogue. However, the historic step we make today will open doors wide to democracy and develop its exercise, enabling future generations to build on it to reach new heights. we cannot fail at this point to emphasize that democracy is not just literature, or constitutional and legislative provisions. Democracy is a culture and a practice, commitment to the rule of law, respect for the international principles of human rights, coupled with serious national political action that represents all spectrums of society without exclusion or quotas. In parallel with this crucial step that we take today, we call for other important steps to be made to reinforce the democratic culture and practice on the land of our beloved country. Furthermore, we call upon all segments of society the (tribe/community) and the family to work together to ensure that our young people respect the law. This is a responsibility that must be shouldered by all, especially when respect for the law is linked to the principle of coexistence, tolerance, harmony and love.

Today, we are passing an important era in the history of Bahrain. Constitutional and political reform cannot be attained, or continue to exist, in a vacuum, but it is in parallel and closely related economic reform, development efforts and to the social reform that takes into the account the interests of all citizens of this country. We will march together at this period of time to attain all these achievements with determination, praying to Almighty God to protect our country, our security, our stability and to bless our steps and sustain the unity of our voice, as He Who listens to our supplication. God save Bahrain and its citizens and give us His help, support and guidance, for He is the Lord and the Patron.

May peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

No to F1 in Bahrain

Say No To F1 in Bahrain

The 2011 Bahraini uprising, sometimes called the February 14 Revolution is a series of demonstrations, amounting to a sustained campaign of civil resistance, in the Persian Gulf country of Bahrain. 

As part of the revolutionary wave of protests in the Middle East and North Africa following the self-immolation of Mohammed Bouazizi in Tunisia, the Bahraini protests were initially aimed at achieving greater political freedom and equality for the majority Shia population, and expanded to a call to end the monarchy of King Hamad following a deadly night raid on 17 February against protesters at the Pearl Roundabout in Manama.

Protesters in Manama camped out for days at the Pearl Roundabout, which functioned as the centre point of protests there. After a month, the government requested troops and police from the Gulf Cooperation Council, which arrived on 14 March, and a day later, the king of Bahrain declared martial law and a three-month state of emergency.

The police response has been described as a “brutal” crackdown on peaceful and unarmed protestors, including doctors and bloggers. The police carried out midnight house raids in Shia neighborhoods, beatings at checkpoints, and denial of medical care in a campaign of intimidation. More than 2,929 people have been arrested, and at least four people have been returned dead after being detained in custody.

The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry was established on 29 June 2011 by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to assess the incidents that occurred in the Kingdom during the period of unrest in February and March 2011 and the consequences of these events. The Commission reported its findings on 23 November 2011.

Well it’s not SAFE for us and we want the world to put on the table the human rights FIRST not the money & the interests.

If the news about the return of F1 in the US passed you by, that could be because the most discussed issue of the recently released 2012 Formula One calendar was the inclusion of the Grand Prix of Bahrain.

Canceled in 2011, Bahrain is experiencing what some have called a “human rights” issue and others have leveled torture and other crimes at the hands of the ruling royal family’s government. The year 2011 has seen a series of challenges and human rights concerns in the Middle East.

The 2011 race was eventually canceled due to the political unrest in the nation kingdom but the government of Bahrain says it’s safe to come back and 2012 is looking fine. !!

1. Two protesters sentenced to death were convicted -under torture- of murdering two policemen in April. Bahrain’s state-run news agency said the Cassation Court on Monday postponed their appeals’ hearing until Jan9 2011

2. MEDICS’ APPEAL POSTPONED UNTIL 9 JANUARY
The appeal hearing before a civilian court of 20 Bahraini health professionals sentenced by a military court has been postponed until 9 January.

The 20 health professionals were sentenced on 29 September 2011 to between five and 15 years in prison, by a military court, in connection with popular anti-government protests in February and March. On 28 November they attended the second hearing of their appeal before the High Criminal Court of Appeal. An Amnesty International delegation was present in court, as were delegations of other NGOs and foreign media.

3. The movement in Bahrain on 2011 started on Feb14 and this date was chosen because it was the tenth anniversary of a referendum in favour of the National Action Charter of Bahrain.[43] Bahraini youths described their plans as an appeal for Bahrainis “to take to the streets on Monday 14 February in a peaceful and orderly manner” in order to rewrite the constitution and to establish a body with a “full popular mandate to investigate and hold to account economic, political and social violations, including stolen public wealth, political naturalisation, arrests, torture and other oppressive security measures, [and] institutional and economic corruption.”[1] They referred to the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt as motivations for their appeal.

So it’s expected to have another protests on that date again.

Finally, 
Bahrain admits using ‘excessive force’ during protests
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15825542

And after days„
Torture Used on Protesters in Bahrain, Report Says
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/24/world/middleeast/report-details-excessive-force-used-against-bahrain-protests.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone remains hopeful that the Bahrain GP will go ahead in 2012, but admits he may have to change his mind if definitive evidence of human rights abuses came to light.
http://www.planet-f1.com/driver/18227/7370398/Bernie-eyes-drama-free-Bahrain-GP

Please sign the petition

When a gov’t allows its people to be…

Some of you may not care, and you may totally disregard this. However, I cannot! Our gov’t, the US gov’t, condemns certain gov’ts for their human rights abuses while others it is completely quiet or gives minimal commentary. When someone is arrested for demanding their natural born rights, not once but four times, and tortured as well as sexually assaulted/raped/sodomized, and then sent death threats from the officer who assaulted them is the time when we have to become citizens of the world and speak out. We must show our gov’t that we do not accept their “participation” in these atrocities and that if they won’t speak up, we will. I am writing a letter to the Bahrain ambassador to the US letting him know that these actions are unacceptable and to release ALL political prisoners and place all torturers on trial for crimes against humanity. If you care, you can do the same. Write to him by email at: ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org

I will also contact the Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain himself and let him know that what he is allowing to happen in his country will not be stood for and that he must release Hassan as well as all other political detainees and bring to justice all officers accused of using excessive force, torture, and sexual abuses. We cannot allow these atrocities to continue. You also can write to him at: pr@dpmo.gov.bh 

Bahraini teen arrested after speaking with human rights group


Solidarity with Palestine

I recently received an order from Palestine Online Store that included three different kufiyehs. The kufiyeh is: 

ku•fi•yeh [kuh-fee-uh]

Noun. Arab headdress made from a diagonally folded square of cloth with a checkered pattern.

Many people nowadays see the kufiyeh as simply a trendy fashion accessory. However, it is more than that. It has become solidified as a symbol of resistance and struggle against the Zionist regime as well as a symbol of identity for the Palestinian people and solidarity with the true Palestinian cause. These particular kufiyeh come from the last remaining factory in the West Bank, the Herbawi Factory, located in Al-Khalīl.

There are many impostors out there being manufactured in China, India, and Indonesia, yet the true, authentic kufiyeh is still being produced in that one remaining factory in Al-Khalīl.

Show your solidarity with the Palestinian people by buying a few of these kufiyehs. They help to strengthen the Palestinian culture and the economy all the while showing that you support human rights.

Get your kufiyeh today.

I need to write about all this in ONLY 3 to 4 pages:

  • Describe the evolution of the reader response theory and contrasting view points.
  • Describe theories associated with learning English as a second language.
  • Compare and contrast the transmission model and the social constructivist theory

Seriously?!