In a conflict, there are, usually three types of behaviour in a politically run state. Those who run, those who turn traitors and those who chose to stand and fight.
In a decomposing democratic order as we see it in Europe, there are more traitors than people who chose to stand and fight. As a consequence, what one needs to do to survive an onslaught as the one we are witnessing by the islamists, is a strategy to counter the many, those who wish to flee or are traitors. At the same time enabling those few who are willing to stand and fight.
In the current conflict with the islamists, we see very much the same pattern in Europe as we saw in the second world war. Except for the difference, that there are more turncoats and fewer heroes. England and Britain at large are choosing to fight, Sweden has already surrendered a long time ago. The traitors and turncoats have gained new assets as the European Union, and the liberal press. Add to this both a lingering effect of the Soviet infiltration in the cultural sphere, the secret services, and academia. We have heightened odds against us. Luckily, the enemy; the islamists are much weaker than the Nazis, so all in all the pros and cons are more or less the same as in the second world war, with the same parties on each side.
So what are the added characteristics of the traitors and the heroes. The heroes are the strong, the traitors are the weak. As a consequence we see a lot of women in the traitors camp; teachers, medical personell, the feminine part of the political arena. Make no fault, the reason why so many women are supporting the islamists, is not because they really like them, who would? But because they are traitors and weak. The same goes for the secret police. The reason why they support the islamists is not because they are curropted, yes, they are also curropted, but because they are too weak to counter the threat of the islamists who are threatening them. It is, untill now, much more easy to counter the few leaders who are opposing the islamists. So they go for us, instead of the islamists.
So what would the obvious strategical consequence of this be; to be stronger than the islamists.
The Stalingrad of the Islamists has already been concluded, it was the fall of Morsi and the Moslem Brotherhood. They are now in a much weaker position than before. They have emerged with a bid to rule Iraq, but this is, in many Islamist circles, not that popular, they think it is immature. They would have opted to wait little longer. So, in a sense, the IS, is a sign of desperation. A all on the table bid, to muster strenght and show off the colours. We forced them out in the open sooner than they had anticipated.
Already the show of strenght on our side is turning turncoats our side. After mr. Putin send a few jets of Denmark, threatening to bomb the PET into oblivion, if they did not leave me alone, (thank you very, very much mr. Putin). PET has largely remained on the waiting on my side. Next time, bomb them, they need to be tought a lesson. Read more…
Culture is not theories on paper, or ideas made in heads of philosophers. Yes, sometimes we are able to contribute a bit, but culture is the living, vibrant congregation of people. When they live somewhere are happy or sad.
When I was young, my greatest fear would be to settle down, buy a house, get a Volvo. So now I am here. I dream about a house, I have a Volvo, a little wonderful daughter.
But behind that growing need for security, there is always the sincerity of being idealistic, of being young, and believing in something.
Idealism is also about being honest about where we are, and what we do. So, I suppose it is matter of keeping the young together with old, keeping ones idealism, also after the need of security is what you start thinking of.
When I was younger I lived in this amazing place called Vesterbro. It is as vibrant as Liverpool. Full of happy, weird, strong people, who have never given up.
In the last war with the Nazis, the one place that actually did not just give in as everybody else, was my neighborhood Vesterbro. We put up barricades in each end of the main road Istedgade. And the Nazis let us, because they probably thought that that little pocket of resistance was not to bother about.
But we stood our ground at that time. We still do, and all the work I have done, is in service of that spirit. We have this saying in Vesterbro, Istedgade will never surrender.
I am a romantic. I truly believe in the strength of our culture, the fearsome, vibrating, living culture that some seem to want not alive anymore.
After I listened to his excellency bishop Welbys inspiring talk about his life at BBC, there was one song that really got me stuck and started repeating itself in my head. It is so inspiring.
Liverpool is one of those vibrating cities, according to Wellby, well if they are like their anthem, they must be something special.
Looking at the future of Europe, we need to realize the advent of the war with the IS supporters in Europe. Islamic State is very strong in Europe, and if we do not recognize this, we will not be seeing things as they are.
The people who are slaugthering innocent Christians and Yazidis in Iraq will soon do the same in Europe. How are the churches to understand that challenge? By understanding it the same way as the confrontation in Iraq and Syria. By wholeheartedly condemning and speak out against the atrocities, and support all the people who will be suffering from the attacks. Already we have seen numerous unprovoked attacks in Australia, Belgium and France. This is absurd and a crime against humanity. We cannot shirk away from recognizing these attempts on a dominating and inhuman conduct, by succumbing to political correctness.
This is not about all Muslims, a majority in the Middle East defy IS and The Muslim Brotherhood, but it is about those who put the means above the aim. We should wholeheartedly condemn all these terrible actions they do, and put ourselves at the side of the victims.
I remember when I fought for the Copts, one of the things I really found uplifting and even amazing, was the positive view of the Copts. As they faced the most dangerous and possible annihilation of their congregations, what did they do? They went out in the desert, to make a music festival. Started singing and enjoying themselves. This in face of the atrocities and the danger. Read more…
After prowling around on the Internet to find some good media sources to tell me what is going on the Anglican church, I finally found church times, which gives me a bit of an insight into the discussions in the church.
It it makes me very happy to see, that his excellency rev. Welby has started a proces to figure out a way to turn the tide of the Anglican church and reverse the development from slow implosion to fruition and growth again. In a sense the entire west hinges on this process, because without a faith that is positive, deep and truly civilizing we will die. In the competition with other faiths, we will wither and die. So in a sense this process is the most pressing and most important that we win.
They say, that a carpenter is never better than his tools. The same can be said about the clerics and their job. The tools that the intellectual philosophers and theologicans mold and make, is the tools of the vicars. So the tools is the most important things to consider. As we have discussed the advent and work with the family, we need to discuss tool like these to be strong again.
I will make it no secret, I have said it before, and I will say it again. We are fighting with our backs against the wall, with our barricades crumbling under us, with ships in need of upgrading and repair, with a country and a people in dire need of our assistance. They have only us, and we must not fail them, otherwise we will not do our duty to those we serve.
It is a very interesting project with the Anglican Church, the more I think about it, the more it makes me see possibilities instead of problems. This may be the crowning project on my career. Usually philosophers have their peak at my age. So, as a servant to spirit, I believe he put me on this world to do this kind of work I am doing; giving inspiration to those who really need a helping hand in their work for G-d. It has to be given freely, and without any constraints and political considerations, so this will be my work. To help, regardless of the pay back in any way. I would really love to come to Oxford again, I truly believe, that the succes of the project rests on a sincere and deep knowledge of the church, in order for my advice to really be precise, but I will help, to my best ability, without any compensation. Because the gift of this, warrants the purety of the work.
I have been praying a lot, to find a course after the tour to Oxford, and this image of his excellency the vicar of Canterbury keeps popping up in my prayers. So this is a sign, as I see it, for the work to come. And looking at the need, it seems to me, that the need is really there.
Looking at the issues, I think it is a good idea to lift oneself up a bit, and have a look at England in a historical context. It was an island with a magical people, then it turned into a second Rome, now it is a demoralized and sulking husk of a fallen empire, with a longing for the magic.
So we need to combine these two things, the magic and the empire. Magic is revelation and redemption, a miracle one could say. The empire is still there, and needs a turning in terms of realization.
Have a look at Rome and how it came from a political, juristical and religious empire, and ended as a purely religious empire, but with law and politics as a basic point of religion.
I have been thinking a lot about the situation in England and the advent of the Anglican Church. I believe, that the odds are stacked against the Anglicans and redemption is almost impossible, but if we stick together and make a very careful development of the basic virtues of the church, we still have a good chance of turning the tide. But, it will be extremely difficult.
First of all, you need to help me as well. If I am to really support a comeback of the Anglican Church, I need a place or an office somewhere in England, preferably Oxford, and a good connection to the local clericals. Mr. Brian Mountford, the Vicar of st. Marys could be such a person, a skilled, intelligent and good man, that I really like.
Especially in the beginning, we need to be extremely careful. The overall structure of the church is in need of repair, and we are looking at a possible breakdown of the entire church, so rocking the boat too much, might just tip the scales.
The basic challenge of the Anglican church is the very structure of the church. Englishmen prefer to be free, and this attitude creates a much more individual character of the church as such. At the other hand, if a balance is reached between freedom and cooperation, it could heal the wounds that are already there. In other words, a new structure that gives the right amount of freedom and the right amount of responsability towards the motherchurch is needed. The work however has to be done very carefully and without making any more negative feelings within the church. What the Anglican motherchurch can supply in this process, is wisdom. Create a source of new ideas and replenish the toolbox of the vicars, so that they feel that Cantebury helps and it makes sense to stay in communion.
We are entering the last two years of the presidency of mr. Barack Obama. I believe the greatest part of the first part of the tenure was the rebounding of the economy. It has been done mainly by reducing the cost of the military, while exerting influence through diplomacy. If and hopefully we wil conclude this, the Iran deal materializes, this approach has served two functions; one to regain footing economically after the two expensive wars by mr. George Bush, secondly to truly make a better impression of American power through soft power. This works, today America is much more positively looked upon than before. Thanks to mr. Obamas handling of politics.
Add to this a pro American production policy, where patriotic companies are rewarded, the US has just had a comeback as a world power. It was in decline, but mr. Barack Obama just saved the US, as promised.
So now there is time for some internal community building, and building bridges. I have an idea, that I have discussed a little with a wise scholar that I met at Oxford. He is a republican, but one that leans to the middle. He is a man of the church, and a descendant of Danes. I like him, and he likes me. So we have been discussing the pro and cons, and I introduced my idea of helping and supporting the family as a good project. We both agreed, that in order to bridge the aile, we need some positive project that both sides support. After all the violence in Ferguson, and all the negative impact this has on the peace of mind of Americans, perhaps it was time to work on something that brought people together instead of making people come away.
Now, looking at the process of the catholic church that has been through the same proces, I think it is of a vital importance not to focus too much on the gay rights issue. I like gays, they are often a persecuted minority in society, but the issue raises too much animosity between left and right, and what we need to work on now, is something we all agree about. So what about making it just better to be a family in the US? Doing all the small things that makes is eaiser to make ends meet? Looking at housing, so that a family can afford a small house, strengthening the local community, so that the families have somewhere to go in times of need. Looking at the children and pull a few strings to make them having a better school or a better opportunity to do work for the local elderly. Make possible for the grandparents to help their grandsons and granddaughter. Make room for love in the close connection between man, woman, child, grandparent, sibling, cousin, aunt.
This will not only strengthen the families, but also, in the long run, strenghten America as a community itself, not to mention perhaps healing some of the rifts that has come inbetween the Republicans and the Catholic church.
I have a feeling, that many Jews are genuinly worried, that I am not truly a Jew, that I am only a soul Jew or whatever you call it. Come on, would I have defended Israel and all the Jews here in Europe, if it had not been for my Jewish history?
I will tell you where it comes from. My great grandmother on my mothers side was a refugee in Denmark, she was ferried over the small strait of Oeresund in the wake of all the Jewish persecutions in 1943. She was fleeing because she had helped Jews out of Germany, and was very vocal in the defence of Jews here in Denmark.
Her daughter Rigmor was her favourite daughter, and Rigmors daughter Sigrid, my mother was the favourite daughter of Rigmor. So the defence of Jews went from daughter to daughter in three or four generations.
This is why I care about Jews and Israel. Whenever I meet Jews who want to have some money from me, because of this or that, who are arrogant, because of this of and that. This image of my grandmother fleeing the Nazi persecution stands in my mind.
You are my family, and it has nothing to do with politics or ambition on my side. I simply chose to stand and support the Jews, because this is what my grandmother, and great grandmother did in the same situation.
I have this ability, that to scientific inquiry is hard to falsify. But I can always feel what people feel. Especially when it is some feeling they have of me. A kind of a sixth sense in a way. I use it very much in politics to get an indication of the impact I have when I write something. I have noticed, that all Jews have this sixth sense. It manifests itself in the ongoing feuds Jews have with enemies of the Jewish people or Israel. Jews generally are a very intuitive people. We use our sense of people around us to navigate.
If we then zoom in on Islam, I think we need to make a difference between Islam in a democracy, and Islam in general.
In a democracy, there are the basic rules, that all should respect; the rule of the law, and the rule of free speech, and hence free debate as the underpinning of the democratic lawgiving.
So, in consequence Islamists, that is is Muslims who do not respect democracy in a democracy are enemies. Muslims who do respect democracy are absolutely welcome, and should be given all the respect due as citizens.
If we look a the Middle East however, we cannot demand democracy from Muslims there, we can hope they will accept it, but we cannot demand it.
In the Middle East, we also have the peace project, that is beyond the democratic conflicts we have in Europe. Here it is about the peace Inbetween religion. This project is beyond politics, and has to do with a spiritual quest in the interest of G-d.
Looking a bit back on the trip to Oxford, and trying to wrap up the progress I believe I have done in relation to understanding England and thereafter try to make a plan to go ahead from here, I believe that there are a few points to consider.
I have had a pretty good influence already through EDL, but somehow Tommy Robinson seems to have lost a little steam, let us hope he will be back in business when he has caught his breath. It is a hell of a job to be a hero, no one pays you, and you live like a fugitive, but that is the business of heroism these days, you need to be strong and pay whatever it costs.
Anyway. To move forward, I think it wise to find a true balance between the different perspectives. The redemption lies in, at one hand, to strengthen traditional English values, and at the other hand to fight the true enemies of England.
Again, we should be careful. Just starting fighting in a simple way, would be wrong, and put us in the same position as our enemies. We need to keep our own values as humanism and democracy.
We also have to be honest about multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is ok, as long as it does not impede the very basis of the state. You cannot, what I think is quite obvious these days, be tolerant towards evil and intolerant nihilists, who believe that pulling us all the way back to the sixth century is some kind of blessing on the human race. It is ridiculous. There are limits to multiculturalism, and it is exactly where the limits of the state is. That is the justice of the law, and the freedom of democracy.
If we look at these two things, we realize, that they are, in themselves cultural entities. It is something of our own culture here in the West we hold dear, and believe is worthwhile. You can have other ways of running things as the caliphate or the rule of the strong, but this is the way we believe things should be run.
So in relation to our states the very idea of multiculturalism breaks down.
What should we put instead, well that is pretty obvious I think, exactly that; democracy and the justice of law. These values are universal in a western style democracy, and we do not compromise on the these values. If you do not like it, well, you are very welcome to go away. We like it this way, and we do not compromise. But if you like these values, you are welcome, and you can find a place, if you can pay for yourself, and contribute positively to the common wealth.
We need a base to make where the boundaries of the state are, and what we can tolerate.
It is a bit like living in a house together, there has to be some rules in order to make the house work. No, you cannot rape my daughter on the staircase, no you cannot make you own rules in the basement, no you cannot steal my newspaper from my doormat. There are certain rules everybody has to obey in order to make the house work.
Add to this an emphasis on the traditional English culture. Not necessarily to force immigrants to have the same rules as the English, but because English culture is worth as much as any other culture. And only with an equal footing may we live in peace.
When I went to Oxford, I did it as a representative of Denmark. Most know, that Denmark has a very harsh and confrontation discussion on religion, and especially Islam. We have been in the forefront when it comes to discuss the conflict between the West and the East.
Some of the theoretical distinctions that I have coined, as a representative of the philosophical discourse here in Denmark, has been accepted worldwide, as the distinction between political Islam and humanistic Islam. The West fighting the first, and supporting the second.
So what was really the outcome of the conference? Did we get somewhere?
Well, there was a huge interest in Islamic ideas and teaching at the conference. We were presented to a variety of very interesting ideas. There was the critical approach, the political approach by Malaysia, the Sufis and their spirituality, modern day challenges in Malaysia. All in all a variety of positive and possibly bridge building initiatives.
I personally got the best connection to a Saudi doctor, whom I discussed a bit about my proof of G-d, and he seemed genuinely interested. I felt an opening there, and I have already received a mail back from him, that I got in response from one I send to him.
So the bridge building is already starting, and I sincerely hope, that it will truly continue.
This is absolutely groundbreaking. Because one thing is to make huge diplomatic conferences, another thing is the personal connection you get to someone who seems a bit like yourself, that is truly friendship, and it is though genuine friendship that things evolve.
So, all in all I hope and believe, that some first tentative steps have been taken, that will perhaps be taken further and create a dialogue of peace.
Boris Johnson is a terrific writer and a keen analyzer of historical events. This is the impression I get from reading his magnificent biography/hagiography of mr. Winston Churchill. It is just a fast read, and I believe you get a good interpretation of mr. Churchills character and working method. The question is; what can we really learn from Churchill these days? What was it that gave him his reputation as the best politician of the 20’th century?
Today most people just know him from images and a hazy idea about his fight in the second world war against the nazis, which he won. But who was he really? You can know about a man if you know his friends, because the friends mirror a quality of the man. So who were his friends? The best friend he had, was of cause his wife, Clementine, and I believe a great deal can be said about Churchill if you know his wife, in fact a man is only truly a complete person if he really loves.
Clementine was a true liberal, she adored art, she had nothing against gays, she was in many ways the soft part of Churchill. Giving him a human understanding that I believe is not truly understood today. As when he fought in the second world war, he became agressive and sometimes comandeering on everybody, what you off cause can understand if you know the stress he was under. But she pulled out the soft in him.
I believe this is really the true story about Churchill, he managed to combine conservatism with liberalism, not only in politics, but all the way in his own most trusted circle, him and his wife. He was the genius, the orator, the shining knight on the white horse, but she was the princess with a soft heart and a strong will for those who have little. This really is the mark of a great man; to be able to win and after that hold on to the love of a great woman.
In politics this was reflected in his care for workers, his acceptance of both Jews and gays. His friendship with T.S. Lawrence, his love of painting. At the other hand it was reflected in his valorous fight for the colours of the United Kingdom, he never gave up, even after everybody else did. His ethical stance to the world, his aristocratic manners, his friendship with the house of Windsor.
Add to this a true heart for what was right and wrong, you have your person to truly admire.
He used his understanding of conservatism and liberalism to really follow the course he thought was the right course. It was not about the money or fame, yes that mattered as well, but the ethical core, what he truly believed in, was what truly mattered.
So he put ideals over career.
This is a lesson we can learn from with all the challenges we meet in Europe and generally in the West and East. To see the challenges not in the rearmirror, but as they truly are, and then find solutions to the problems we face, unconventially, but with the basic virtues of our democratic, humanistic states as the guiding stars.
We have Churchill no more, we have non of his quorrelous, annoying, far too skilled views anymore, you only have persons like me or Boris Johnson. But you will have to do with us, and only if you are strong and courageous enough will we live up to that example set by mr. Churchill.
The European nations and the United States of America is seeking to forge a so-called peace solution in and around Gaza. First of all, the very premise the so-called peace solution is made on, is the premise, that Israel is the aggressor, and the Gazans are the victims.
Come on, after all the manipulation of western media and political systems, after using their own children as cannon fodder, after attacking innocent Jews in synagogues, the Palestinians are victims?
Gaza is and will always be a proxy for the different enemies of Israel, and only if you make peace with these enemies will the conflict in Gaza stop. As with the Arab nations and Iran.
If we use all our sparse political capital on the Palestinians, how are we supposed to use it on other problems and difficulties?
Then taking Hamas of the terrorlist is just another step, that makes at least Europeans look like fools. Everybody in the Middle East knows, that they are as far from democracy as you can possibly get, and yes, they are terrorists.
There is this wonderful cinematic movie, that really describes the fallacy of Western imperialism, but also the twist of it. In the film Avatar western backed military tries to destroy an ancient civilization with no understanding of the culture it meets. The mechanical firepower is so devastating that the poor Avatars with their bows and arrows cannot defend themselves. At the same time a western warrior is accepted in the midst of the tribe, but off cause with reservation. He gains an insight into the tribal culture and manages to understand it on its own terms, and begin to see the beauty of it.
This story is a reflection of T.S. Lawrence and his deep understanding, and consecutive embedding into the Arab culture. He truly understood the Middle East on its own premises.
But all to no avail, when the Arabs had won their freedom, with the help of Lawrence, they were betrayed by the colonial forces anyway.
This is the experience the Middle East has of the West. Some truly understands them, others do not, and are just elephants in the boutique of drinking glasses.
So, they like and respect our learning, but they have the experience that learning and power seldom goes hand in hand with us.
So, how do they look upon the Middle East project that is launched by the EU right now, recognizing Hamas. Is that the mechanized brute, or the learned scholar speaking of the West?
These days there is a movement against a classical neo caliphate ideology presented by such organizations as the IS. It is the whole package of 6 century Islam with beheadings, holy war and a political order by the sword and the Koran. At the other hand there is the humanistic trend by such states as Malaysia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, among others. This trend focuses on the deeper level of religion and tries to truly connect to G-d as it or he is.
It is a matter of preference, but honestly it is also a matter of war or peace.
When I was a Oxford at the peace building convention, I was truly positively surprised to learn of the sufis and all the humanistic ideals of Islam still thriving and underpinning states. I believe, that if we are ever to have peace in the world, we need to support those who wish to build bridges, and fight those who seek uncompromising war.
These days where the caliphatists are moving in on us, as we saw in Sydney and Belgium, we need to try and discern between the two trends within Islam. Some hates our guts, some loves us. This is truly realized in the betterment the Arab world tries to get with Israel, because Israel represent the true ideal of love and peace.
Iran is trying to reach an understanding on its own terms, and is actually moving onto the path of peace. It is just we as Jews who refuse to see it. I recognize, that there is a threat, but you should also recognize the opportunity. It is exactly the same movement we see in the Sunni Muslim world, that is happening in the Shia Muslim world.
Peace requires understanding and dialogue. If we are not able to do this, as we fight those who are willing to sacrifice themselves for an archaic idea, we do not balance things off.
But, the humanistic ideas, originating from the Middle East, is also a part of the bright and creative part of the world.
T.S. Lawrence said that the desert is littered with broken ideologies, and only the best and most potent reaches the rest of the world. Well, this is a testimony to the fact, that the Middle East is very fluctuating, so why are we prone to come down on the same perspective on Iran all the time? Things change, and it is only if we seize the moment, that we will truly follow these new trends.
There is nothing wrong in Israel entering into the plethora of ideas churning around in the Middle East, in a sense, this is really what we were deprived of in the long banishment from the Middle East. But only if we truly latch on to the new trends, will we truly be Israel; embedded in the Middle East, for good or bad.
I am so inspired by my trip to Oxford, so new ideas just keep popping up in my head. At the return back, I picked up this wonderful book by mr. Boris Johnson, a great read about Winston Churchill and all what he did to the world. It really is a telling tale, and sheds light on all the occurrences of the last century, since Churchill was one of the main actors. And being a blast of a book, it makes it even more enriching, lucky me, thank you Boris.
England is in deep trouble right now; the material basis is getting a little better, but is still far from perfect, the intellectual world is still in tatters after the second world war and the loss of the empire. The Anglican Church is in a deep need of refueling with new ideas. So, that is why, I suppose England invited me to Oxford.
Well, I have been thinking a lot about it, and there is a slight danger, that I really miss the point, because England is such an ancient place, and is in itself apocryphical. You have to be there to really understand what it is all about. You can read a lot, but you have to talk to people really understand what is going on. So, as my landlord said, when I went away, and he recommended the Turf for my last visit; you will be back. I really hope I will. It is not about the money or the honor, basically I can do without it, it is about the intellectual vibe and mystery. It is so inspiring to walk the same path as J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, T.E. Lawrence, it blows my absolutely much too fertile imagination and creative fireworks of a puny brain. So I will be back.
Anyway, there is a reason why I came home and met the accusation of complicity to murder here in Denmark, and I do see it reflected in Churchill and his ideas. The moral compass, and the encyclopedic knowledge he had, made him draw conclusions that, in the time seemed strange, but in time proved to be true. As he knew the Narzies for what they were, or Stalin and his savage Communism. In his days he was either someone you hated or loved, but there is no discussion that he was ahead of his time, a prophet, an oracle. It comes down to inspiration and knowledge, a hyper wired brain, and basically a humanistic core.
Some of the problems Great Britain has now, is due to its humanistic culture, in fact all the loss of power over all the colonies and all the former territories is due to the fact, that the rulers of these areas did not wish to be too harsh. Take Winston Churchill, the man that basically managed the decline of the empire, how was he? Well he was a kind man basically, and he fought for the positive values of Great Britain, freedom, freedom of speech, law, independence. When you truly believe these ideas, being a colonial ruler is very difficult, because you do not have the impetus to really use the force necessary to quell resistance, and in a way Mahatma Ghandi is a product of this. He used the humanistic core of Great Britain to tear India away from England.
At the same time, this basic decency, is also the strength of Great Britain, because everybody still do respect the opinions of the English. Churchill was also an example of this, his moral example and will was truly why he was so decisive in his mediation in the world affairs.
I think this lesson was a bit lost on the post empirical generations. The aftermath of the second world war called for implosion and demoralization. The loss was too great to really cope with, and there seemed no path to take after the loss. Well, there is another interesting example of colonies and imperialism that could reflect the solution too England. The Phoenicians had a truly magnificient colony; Carthage. It fostered illuminaries as Zeno and Hannibal the great. Long after the colony of Carthage had gained indepence from Phoenicia, it retained good contacts, and they created a kind of common wealth; sharing of ideas and sharing of ressources, but on an independent basis.
The same is the fact today; the sharing of ideas, the cooperation between armies and so on. England has the edge, that it is the oldest or, perhaps as not really true, because originally England was a Danish colony. But in the realm of the empire, England is the oldest member, and therefor has the deepest intellectual understanding of matters.
This preemince of the commonwealth, is there already, so why the depression? England has the opportunity to thrive among its former colonies, taking not a material lead, but an intellectual lead.
In these days, where the internet broadcasts all ideas easily, it can reach all those who listen.
G-d bless England, the land of the fairies and the trolls of the great writers.
A month ago, I had this amazing encounter with a Swedish artist with the name Dan Park. As I have a name that draws me closer to England, Dan has a name that draws him closer to Denmark. The encounter in a way reflects back on my stay in Oxford, and I believe has a lesson that is important for the people of England, and of cause the people of Sweden. Dan is a street artist, and makes these horrendous little pieces of art, that kick the establishment in a certian part. Everybody have decided to hate him, but nobody cared to really try and understand his points. But, to his luck, he had the opportunity to present his criticism on the Swedish society in Denmark, and Swedes could then actually hear what he was intending. Mind you, he is radical, but there is absolutely no blood and honour in him, he as thin as a stick, and has long rufled hair.
What really felt relieving and also emancipating was when he said; quote from memory; things are going really bad, but what then or “vad da?”. Point is, what happens after we run the line from multiculturalism? Where are we actually heading? What is the plan really? Sometimes utterances become kind of metaphysical in its content, because this was the question no one has dared to ask in Sweden. Vad da?
The same question England has to ask, what happens after the we have run out of line, and multiculturalism is at the end of the dead line. Then what?
It is not about race, it is not about the opression of minorities, but it is basically the question about the identity and values of the indeginous European tribes. I mean, seen from a humanistic point of view, why are we to shed all the culture that is thousands years old? Why? Is it not something worth preserving?
I suppose martyrdom is a sign of a philosophy that is truly changing the world. I have fought for the freedom of my people, I have fought for soul of my people, I have fought like dervish for G-d, in order for him to regain some of the glory he has lost.
My main antagonists these days are not the Muslims anymore, many actually find my lamenting and fight inspiring and are devout on the same premises as I. But oh, to no gain in the eye of the corrupted Danish system.
Now what, after I returned from the wonderful tour to Oxford, I picked up a letter from the government. It simply said, in the crooked words of the state. We accuse you for murder. We think that you were related in a murder some time two years ago, therefor we tapped your phone. Ok, now that is the game? So now I am a murderer in disguise? What exactly is there of evidence of this supposed crime; nothing. There is no evidence, just the accusation.
So put me on trial, for heavens sake. Let the world know about your heinous crimes, how you have killed my mother, destroyed my family, tortured my daughter. Let them hear about that, I invite you put me on trial, so that the world will know, what a corrupt society Denmark truly is. Let the philosopher have justice!
But you will not, you craven cowards, you will only insinuate, send little letters with no prove, just try to nip at my character. You fools, and descrepite subhumans, you evil kin, you Satans. There is only darkness in your blood, only lust for war and destruction, no appetite for dialogue or compromise. Just that; the seeping evil, that goes on everywhere in these modern digitalized states. They know everything, where you are, what you do, who you talk to, even what you write on your computer.
But listen, evil stands in no good fortune to good, because everything I do is transparent. I have nothing to hide, I stand judged by my words. Everybody are able to look at them, read them as they wish, there is absolutely nothing hidden. I have no schemes going on, no hidden agenda, I stand by words. And in this I am not evil, or in any way manipulating.
Look at that you craven cowards. Perhaps it was time you yourself came out in the open, and stood judged by your own misgivings? Just perhaps it is time for the world to judge you. So begin that prosecution please, let the world see what you have of prove, or disappear like the craven, disgusting STASI goons you are.
I am at the Turf. The pub where the book the Hobbit by Tolkien was initially concieved, and supposedly the other heart of Oxford, apart from St. Marys church, where I held my lecture. Tolkien sat here with his students to have a drink and talk and be creative I suppose. They concieved the journey that ultimately led Frodo to the abyss and back again to the Shire.
In a general sense, you could say, that this is where England has been heading after the first world war and the downfall of the Empire. But it is still here, the Turf, the initial station of the journey, and the very heart of things. After a few minutes of openness, well the place is already filling up. In other words, the culture that gave us The Hobbit, the Lord of the rings, and all these masterpeices is very much alive. Perhaps a renaessance of England lies in the axiom between the Church of Mary, where I held my discourse and the Turf. Why? Because to make a comeback for England, one has to remember both the profane and the elevated.
What was it really that Bilbo somehow was snatched away from when he left the cosy ambience of the Shire. Exactly that; the Shire.
The Shire is the archdefinition of what Englishness really is; the small village community that English people really like to create when they are able to. It makes the churches cosy, and it makes the connection between people simple and sincere.
We have the same idea in Denmark, small villages where people know each other, and the stools are old, and the furniture even older. Where the community is as ancient as the buildings made by our forefathers generations ago. Where the feeling of generations of yore is still embedded in the very walls, and has seeped into the very stones that is the pillars of that sacred house.
There is an upcoming election in Israel, and just for the sake of clarification I think it is of a vital importance, that Israel sees the process with Iran as it is.
Before the last war with Gaza, we were actually on a path of peace with Iran. This lead to a serious disarmament of Iran, in return of very little reduction of the restrictions. So in the calculations of the Israeli politicians this is explained with the argument, that the sanctions really worked.
Well if you listen to what the leaders are saying in Iran, and they have no reason to lie, the actually say, that they care very little about the sanctions. Well, since the main export is oil, and it seems to me, that there is a market for it, why should Iran care so much.
No, the reason why Iran has agreed to reduce its atomic arms program, is because they are religious people and according to all monotheistic religions, peace is the aim of their religion. Because this is how the realm of G-d is.
So, I firstly stopped mr. Ahmadinejad, and then we initiated a process of peace. This is why we are where we are.
I understand it, when Israel tries to stop the peaceproces, and I really understand that the ongoing negotiations in Gaza seems fruitless. Well they have carried fruits, but very toxic fruits, and we are afraid of them.
But Iran is, so far a different case, and they have showed that with reducing their own capability to produce weapons.
Israel does not want to participate, due to fear and because basically Gaza has become a business of demoralizing the international community towards Israel.
My point is, if Israel conclude, that the status quo of sanctions towards Iran is the only way, well this is based on a false argument, and will not lead to any peace with anything.
I carry Israel on my shoulders right now, and my shoulders are not that broad, I just hope that Israel recognize this fact, and sees the situation for what it is, instead of seeing things as we wish to see them. This is too dangerous, the situation taken into consideration.
G-d bless Israel, the home and protection of Jews.
I am very lucky to be in Oxford right now, to a conference focusing on the welfare of the world. With specific focus on ecumenical work and of cause peace.
The conference is in the old church of Oxford, so there is actually a lot of ambience, and even though it is old, it is also a great and living church with a lot of interesting things happening there. I have made some new friends, especially people who are genuinely interested in spiritual and philosophical subjects.
A lot of people are coming from all around the world, among them people from Malaysia who seek inspiration for their problems of government and development.
So we are in a position to find work as philosophers and states or grand religious leaders are able to find philosophers. Good for all.
The election of Israel is starting, and a lot of hopeful contesters are jumping into the fray, some adamant at defending Israel, some adamant on finding peace.
It revolves, right now, around two issues. One is Iran the other is Palestine.
Both are actually difficult to solve right now, and will, most probably, not be solved in the near future.
But, there are movements, especially on the Iranian side, where Rouhani is the best president Israel could ever have hoped for.
We talk about understanding and truly defining the things as they are. But I think it is also a matter of the Middle East world getting used to Israel again. For two thousand years Jews have been away. It is like the great, great, great, great time two hundred grandfather moving into a house he left two thousand years ago, off cause getting used to each other takes a little time.
But, there is no doubt, that Israel and the Middle East are linked, and i hope, that the Middle East really sees Israel for what it truly is, when everybody have lowered his or her defenses against Israel. In a way, Israel also has to find its won feet in the new situation.
Israel is the heir to the tradition of defense of the Middle East. In the beginning Jews were a mix of photo scandinavians and semitic people. This gave a very hard-nosed attitude, and a lot of progress in the Middle East, and it gave Jews the banner as defender of the values of the Middle East, as in the fights against the different tribes around the first Israel, the fights against Syria, Babylon, Greece and Rome. With the intelligence of the semites, and the fighting power of the danes, an extreme mix of both intelligence and fighting prowess was created.
We were the ones everybody looked upon when someone came and tried to conquer the Middle East, add to this a very important vehicle of progress; Jews gave the world monotheism with Moses, Jews was an intricate part of the Middle East, and is becoming it again.
There is one obvious gain to the Middle East with the return of Israel to the Middle East, and that is the fact, that the progress the Middle East lost after the Romans conquered the Middle East, may return again. I know, that things happened after the Roman wars, but truly the ME, or the code of civilization that started in Eridu in Mesopotamia lost its steam when Rome conquered the Middle East. If the Middle East sees Israel for what it is; the central ingredience missing in its own development, it may start that progress again.
That is new ideas in religion, science, political order and so on. The traditions are there, so the possibility to rap up the progress again is also there.
Now, Iran has truly lowered its defences, because Iran can see, that Israel may be a part of its own development. As when Cyrus freed the Jews from Babylonian captivity, we may see the advent of that humanistic and Zoroastrian spirit again in Persia. Why? Because this is what Persia truly is; a world power when it comes to philosophy.
It used to be like that, and it should like that again. It will not be easy, but we should try, to regain the honor of Persia, Syria, Egypt, the Arab nations, Babylon and Uruk.
There is a lot of conflict within Israel, let us have a keen look on what it is all about, and to me, these conflicts are not alien, we have the same problems here in Denmark, and perhaps some of the ideas we have had here, could be used in Israel as well. After all, we are fighting the same people here as in Israel; Hamas, Hizt-ut-Tahrir, violent islamists who believe in the supremacy of the islamic state.
If we look at the theoretical and historical roots to the conflict between right and left, it all comes down to the discussions right and left had in the conflicts ANC had with the white majority rule in South Africa. De Klerck was truly a racist, he liked whites, and he despised blacks. In a world where race has become a discussion forfeit, this had no support in the international community, and was prone to fall.
It is exactly the same conflicts the right and the left are having right now in Israel. The right are working down Apartheid lines, and as in the Apartheid days, the left adamantly refused it. Mind you, it was actually many Jews who, on the liberal side, supported Nelson Mandela.
With an afroamerican/caucasian president at the helm of the US, these strategies may not be the best in the relationship between the US and Israel.
So, in effect, making a racist policy today is the same as open suicide internationally, add to this the history of Nazi Germany and the persecution of Jews due to exactly the same reasons, well the international community will be outraged if the policies are implemented.
I am a Jew by blood, ok. This is not about defending people who are not Jews by blood, it is about the political situation that simply is unviable if Israel continues with this policy. The international backlash will be too severe, AIPAC or no AIPAC.
But, we still have a really difficult problem, and that is the violence of a too open society. What happens is, that too many cultures are mixed, and eventually some culture answer to the sword or another political system rather than the democratic system we have inherited from the French revolution.
Well there is an upcoming election in Israel, that is extremely unfortunate. There are so many conflicts in and around Israel, that an election right now is not exactly the best of times, but on the other hand, it has happened. I hope the elections will be speedy and serious, so that is may be realized into something that will last.
Why have we come to here? Because the needs of the right is too long away from the needs of the left. The left sees the proces through a lense of socialism, racism, and peace. The right sees the world through a lense of protection, national unity, and gain in terms of territory.
These different perspectives are very difficult to convene, you need a true king to do that, and there is only one.
But, we need to be careful, I will try and steer the peaceprocess into a constructive stream, and supply the election with enough support, so that Israel will not enter the war while in disarray. But this will be extremely difficult, because of all the threats.
Luckily my influence is materialising, so now I am actually able to speak to people, this will hopefully enhance my ability to create a viable solution in the Middle East.
But I need to be sharp on this, otherwise things will be extremely difficult.
Right now Europe is fighting itself. On one hand we have an aging population, on the other hand we have a centralized government, that is so out of touch with its constituency, that Byzantine rulers would have been paragons of virtue compared to the enigmatic bureaucratic rule by Bruxelles. It is actually truly fighting its own voters! Have the world ever seen anything like that before? To me it has become so desperate, that it is a kind of embarrassing to use too much energy on, and, after all, all the projects that I have commenced; the rebirth of the nation, the rebirth of the church is coming around, and is slowly pushing the eurocrats over the cliff.
I am not saying that I am perfect, and I am not saying that the ideas I have are without dangers. The Ukraine conflict talks for itself. But I am saying, that my ideas are a way forward. In fact, right now, it is, more or less the only way forward.
As my project ripen and blossom, Europe will meet new dangers and new challenges, but instead of being afraid of Change, perhaps we should embrace it. Russia is pointing towards Europe to solve the upcoming cold war. Why? Because we do not have the muscle to do it, but we have some of the intellectual traditions that might do it. The Conradian humanistic tradition, the Grundtvigian tradition, all the intellectual supremacy that comes from having tradition.
We have not become a power of material virtue, we have, somehow become a power of spiritual and intellectual virtue.
We should embrace that, I believe, and pursue that path of glory, not as in olden days with deceit and cunning, but as what we can see really helps; honesty, political development and leadership in a ethical sense.
We have that potential, and honestly that would serve the legacy of ancient culture much beautifully than the corrupted eurocrats.
G-d bless the wisdom of the ancient european prophets, that cry for attention.
Considering the fact, that there is a huge gap between the liberal part of Knesset and the conservative, I should like to ask the liberal part to understand why mr. Netanyahu is doing what he is doing. The reason why he has to give the conservative part such a huge amount of realization of projects, is partly because the conflict between Gaza and Israel has entered Israel proper, and partly because he gave us a huge recognition during the war. Lieberman wanted us to enter Gaza and “finish the job”, that is use ground troops to hunt down all the factions of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Netanyahu did not do that, mostly because I really went against it. I did it, because it would have given us so much bad press, that it would have endangered the very existence of Israel. We live at the mercy of Europe and the US. That is the way it is, if we make too many enemies in this part of the world, we will seize to exist. The entire endgame for Hamas, PLO and so on, has been to make the public put so much pressure on their leaders, so that they would leave Israel.
Now, this has been changed, mainly through the work mr. Netanyahu and I have done together, to protect Israel. But it was a close call, and if we had lost the last war in the media, we would have lost the foundation Israel is built upon; the goodwill of the West.
But now, due to the acceptance of my stance, he has a lot to regain from the right. He has to pay back the debt he has, because he helped us. Now, this is why I believe we should stop all the yelling and fingerpointing. Yes the right gets a lot of things these days, but we got the largest part in the war. So he is trying to add up.
Mr. Netanyahu and I are rarely in agreement, it has come to the point, where mr. Netanyahu sometimes does things, just because I have the opposite intention, at least sometimes it seems like that. But there is no discussion, that we absolutely agree upon the goal; making a safer Irael and realizing the potential of Israel not only as the home of the Jews but also as a project of peace. Thereby striking a balance between left and right in this millenium we are living in now.
Now mr. Netanyahu is in problems, and it is, partly my fault. I recommended a strategy in the last Gaza war, that excluded total annihilation of Hamas. I did it because it would have torn the world into pieces. Stopping the onslaught gave the international public room for the acknowledgement of the problems in Iraq, and thereby buying Israel precious time to regain some support internationally, giving Israel a wide berth in actions by Europe and the US. Otherwise the International sympathy would have ended with Hamas, and we, not only Israel but also the West in general would have been doomed.
Now we still have a fighting chance.
Politics is all about balancing things. Mr. Netanyahu is doing that very well. Being a wise leader. Sometimes we disagree, as on Iran, but I think we should all recognize his skill.
Therefor I think it would be very unwise to topple him now. It is not the time, we cannot afford the turbulence, and we are still too weak after the last war to make another. We need time to regain our footing.
So I support mr. Netanyahu, not because I agree with everything he does, but because he does it very well, and we cannot afford to loose him.
I will have the supreme luck to go to Oxford in a week. I am invited by the Anglican Church, but attending the symposium, there are a number of other faiths. Muslim, Buddhist and even Jews (me).
I have been looking forward to the meeting for quite some time now, and the trip has been wellplanned.
The significance of the meeting is quite large, since it is the first of its kind, at least as what I know of.
What is really happening here, and what are the political implications?
Oxford really represents the good part of british intellectualism, stars of international academic importance are natural guests there, and off cause residents.
But what does that have to do with the peace process we are currently trying to achieve?
Well, Oxford has, for a long time, been interested in the Middle East, in a long tradition of Egyptologists and archeologists, the Middle East has had the attention of many an expedition and even adventure. It has even reached mainstream popculture through the films such as Indiana Jones. Where scholars travel to the Middle East to unravel all its treasures there.
There is one person, that kind of impersonates all this, and really gives true feeling of what all the Egyptolists have been through; Lawrence of Arabia.
To understand what we are doing today, you cannot understand anything unless you understand what Lawrence brought to the Middle East. Lawrence was a boyscout who turned into a researcher who turned into an Arab who turned into a poet.
This man was and is yet the only western who has really understood the Middle East on its own terms, and have been able to relay his knowledge to the political world.
Hence he has been the only Western who has really been accepted by the Middle East as a serious partner in all the conflicts there.
So how may we read his legacy? First of all, he was a character that people from the Middle East really liked. He was honest, skilled, learned, a true warrior and most important; a true poet. The Middle East have always had a soft spot for the warrior poets.
I have been very hesitating weighing in on the conflict between mr. Netanyahu and mr. Rouhani. Why? Because so much is at stake. But, the peace that has commenced after the negotiations failed, has a lot to tell us about how the stratifications are aligned, and what we may encounter if we go this or that way.
There is so much at stake in these negotiations, if it goes well, it will propel the world to a more positive developmental course, if it goes bad, it may solidify the negative path that the world has travelled the last few years. The positive tacts that happened in the first tenure of mr. Obama, may never be realized into peace.
First of all, the conflict seems to be totally unrealized in Israel. Israel only sees it from its own perspective. Yes it will be Israel that may get the first nuclear warhead on our heads, but after that it will be Europe and ultimately the US. It is not only about Israel, it is also about the rest of us.
If Iran really wanted, they could have made the bomb, or bought it decades ago. So why have they not? The obvious answer is; they are afraid what will happen if they get it. They are afraid someone will be so afraid of them, that they will start a war. This is also a very probably scenario, so the fear is real enough. So far, the argument of Israel holds true. But how would we make the situation better? We do it by keeping up the pressure, but giving Iran a way to truly disarm.
I mean, the pressure is not the economic strains put on Iran. They know how to get around them. It is the military threat that puts a pressure on Iran. This military pressure comes primarily from Israel and secondary from the US.
Deal or no deal, this would not change. So it does not really make sense to me, that Israel is so afraid of negating the economic pressure on Iran. If iran gets more money and more progress, would it make them more or less motivated making a bomb? Probably neither, it would not make any difference. But if Iran gets more involved in the international peace effort, would that make them more or less prone to make a bomb. Probably less. So why on earth is Israel so keen on stopping the process?
It does not make much sense to me, add the loss of political capital Israel has due to the deal, and then it makes even less sense. The most probable result of the Iranian process is the realization of a state in Palestine, because Israel has lost so much political capital on the Iranian issue, for no real gain in terms of security.
Israel is the one power that is stopping Iran making the bomb, not everybody else, so why make such a fuss about what the West make of deals?
When people get old, there is a saying, that even the devil goes into the monestary. We have the devil worshipers number one heading that way, at least as I understand what is happening.
What is happening? AC/DC the quintessential rockband with hits as highway to hell, Back in Black and Boogie man, just put out an album called; In rock we trust, its rock or bust! Something tells me, that they are moving over to our side!
Well, the master guitarist, and a hard man; Malcolm Young, lately passed away. Blessed be his soul. He had this little gem of insight to all of us, who are living in the frey, and tries to keep our heads up, despite all the difficulties we encounters. He said; you gotta keep on playing that music.
Let us do that, IN G-D WE TRUST, ITS ROCK OR BUST! 🙂
I have this friend, or rather, a friend of a friend. Here in Denmark, I am seen as a rebel and a troublemaker. This despite, that I actually, as one of the few, do have a clear and sound understanding of what Islam really is, and not a simple understanding. But, it is a dangerous thing to discuss Islam, and if the state openly support some of the worst most barbaric fighters in the world, I suppose truth is even more dangerous. Better to keep a lid, or… never mind. Redemption lies in truth, that is, at least to all the father of our religions the central point.
But, back to my friend Dan Park. Dan Park is this absurd artist. He paints, or rather makes photocopies, of immensely provocative character. Like hanging a black man, calling him this and that. Doing things with sexual undertones, making swastikas, and the like. Again, absurdly provocative. I support him, because that is the way truth travels. Is does not travel through the highway of mainstream media, not anymore, it did under the French revolution, but not today where media is too influenced by the methods of Göebbels.
So truth is put in the hands of the most extreme artist, who are under siege by everybody else. Except of cause we who really believe in freedom and hold the ideas of enlightening dear.
Behind him is however a great plethora of Swedish intellectuals and rebels. He is not alone, but due to the fact, that Sweden is one of the most opressive regimes in the world, criticism is renegated to the Anonymous. There is a huge part of the young Swedes who live their lives in front of a computer, and fight from there. Because, as always Swedes are extremely skilled, and at the same time extremely controlled. So they have to remain Anonymous, to avoid the oppression of the media elite.
Seen from an Israeli point of view, the great question is; can we trust Iran? I do trust them, to a certain point. They are not evil or deceitful or unsympathetic, they are just fighting for their own point of view, as we do. Or rather our fight is only about survival, not about any ideological stance. Yes in many other areas, but not when it comes to Iran. They are an enemy, and nobody will want to make any deals with an enemy.
You can have peace by subduing an enemy, or you can do it by building up trust.
I believe, that together with Barack, I, and the rest of the American administration, has built up trust. But that does not apply to Israel, there is no trust between Israel and Iran.
So how do we actually make some trust? Well, it is all a matter of escalation or deescalation. Do we rearm or do we watch what the other part does, and in the end disarm.
Peace has a chance now, in a kind of a weird way. Because, right now, Israel seems to be satisfied with status quo, and Iran obviously does not want to make things even worse.
So, we have two more years before the second term of Mr. Barack Obamas second tenure, to build some trust.
This can probably happen in many ways, but I will do it, or rather try to support it, by focusing on the advent of spirit on earth. What comes first, the hen or the egg? If spirit is supposed to be realized in earth, we have to have peace, these two things are interconnected.
It is a bargain we all have done with spirit, to try and work on this. Nobody will want us to be naive or stupid, we just have to take aim for all our actions. The aim should be a realistic peace.
G-d bless the will to continue, despite the differences.
So the deadline we put to ourselves regarding the peace negotiations in Austria did again not reveal any progress, why?
Because the real negotiations is not between the European and American diplomats and Iran, it is between Israel and Iran. As long as there is not a direct coordination between the two, a peace settlement will not appear. It is not a critical stance towards the output so far, it is how things are aligned in terms of power and conflicts that has passed the last sixty years.
So how do we solve this conflict? First of all, all conflicts can be stopped by understanding. How do the warring factions look on the conflict? First of all, I am as neutral anyone can be in this scenario, not because I sought this position, but because this is how things have turned out, somehow. But seen from an Israeli perspective, the conflict reveals some traits in the Jewish psyche, that even Jews did not really know was there. Jews are the most combative people in the Middle East, and has always been the most combative, since the first Israel, over the conflicts with Egypt, the Elam, then Greece and Rome. Read more…
We are closing in on the possible deal with Iran. First of all, it is not about power or personal gain. It is something on a complete other level. It is about the advent of spirit on earth.
Let us be honest about this. We are not totally sure what G-d may be, or how things are structured in the realm of G-d. We have theories, developed through millenia. In this understanding, G-d is intelligence that is inbetween matter.
We are not totally sure if this is the right theory, but with all the intelligence and thought we smallish men here on earth can muster. This is the way things are.
For a long time, we have been cast into darkness and materialism has ruled the political as well as the economical sphere. This must change, and this is really what the peace meeting is all about. It is not only a matter of bringing peace to people and man, it is more, and that is the point, much more about the absurd possibility of actually making a stand in our time, where we will put up an example for future generations to come.
At one point in history, this stroke of luck, this absolutely impossible alignment of political, physical, developmental things are occuring.
If we did not take this opportunity, would be a crime to religion itself.
The peace with Iran will last as long as this process of rebirth of religion will continue, because they are interested in the same thing as we are!
So instead of looking at our own needs, we should see the process in its historic context, and see it for what is it; the rebirth of spirit.
Happy birthday! I hope you have a good day, with friends coming over, slicing your birthday cake and sharing a good time. This is what all wish for for their friends.
One thing I really noticed with you, is the fact, that you are a good friend. I always hear a lot of negative comments on the internet about you, and I always have the feeling, that people do not really know you.
They do not know how you fought from behind for Barack, how you supported him all the way. How you always remained loyal. I did, because I really appreciate this human trait. It is the foundation of politics, you need to be able to trust those you work with and from.
I will remain your friend as well, through the next two years, at the election, after that, and perhaps we will even meet one day, face to face, and you can cut that birthday cake, and hand me a slice.
Happy birthday mr. Vice president, may you live another good year, and may we all prosper by the grace of spirit.
Working, night and day for peace, and seeing it destroyed by people with no ethical limits to their behaviour is disgusting. Like preying on the poor Yazidis. I wholeheartedly condemn the disgusting attack on the hapless people praying in the temple in Jerusalem. This is without any respect for simple decency or humanity.
Why? Why is this the actions of the Palestinians? Why is this the endgame of the socalled persecuted.
I have no words for the atrocity done, and I do condemn them with all my heart.
We have been discussing the ideas of the family from different angles; philosophical, metaphysical, ethical. But there is one angle that I have been trying to wrap my head around, and have been failing to do.
Monotheism is often traced back to the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten. The life of the sun, as his name means. He, singlehandedly got rid of all the many gods of Egypt, and made his religion a religion of one G-d. I must admit, at some point, I was a little disappointed. I could not find any reference to the metaphysical discussion that Anaxagoras is the origin of, but who knows perhaps he had a deep metaphysical philosophy. We only have fragments, his tomb and his city to tell us anything about his whereabouts.
There is, however, two things that are very obvious from the engravings of his tomb. One thing is the prominence of the sun, the other thing is the very peaceful nature of his life. There is no warfare depicted, no smiting of enemies, no heraldrics, just Akhenaten and his family. There is even an engraving where he looses his daughter, and he is obviously shattered by that happening.
When we make a fast forward to Moses, who is the other great Egyptian/Jew who had a lot to say about the family. It is really the same. Moses had other projects than just the family, he was at war with polytheism as well. But he stood very firm on the principles of the family. You can read the ten commandments, and you will find many important principles there. Like you shall honor your mother and father, you shall not covet your neighbors wife, you shall not commit adultery.
In other words, the family as an idea, and an institution is at the very heart of all the monotheistic religions. It is what we can deduce from Akhenaten, from Moses. And it is a peaceful thing. Family is not about guts and glory, it is about love and caring. About helping each other out, about loss, when that happens. But it is a vehicle for peace. Because if we are satisfied, we are less prone to take up the sword.
There is a violent storm brewing up in the horizon, and it is only if we really stay focused, that we will avoid shedding too much blood. In Ukraine, Poreshenko is threatening with the total disengagement of the two rebel republics of Lugansk and Donetsk. As I understand it, this includes cutting electricity and power. This will, in effect, leave the two republics in a very difficult situation.
It is a bait. It is all about baiting Russia into confrontation. A confrontation Russia has not wanted. But now it comes, and honestly, there is no reason why Ukraine plays hard ball. It is a frozen conflict, yes, but this escalation will lead to deeper resentment, between two peoples who are so much alike. It will be written in the history books as something terrible, and wounds are hard to heal.
In Europe, we should embrace for the impact. Be prepared. We should ask ourselves the question? How do we truly help in a very sad and devastating conflict? Where two cousins are very angry at each other. We should not, and this I think is extremely important, pour more gasoline on the pyre.
We should help, contribute with medicine, peace brokering efforts, try to see the conflict as it is.
It is not about the East and the West. It is about two very close cousins, who are afraid to release control over territory, because of the future implications of the conflicts. We should also stop seeing Putin as the big evil wolf. He is a conservative, he tries to protect his people, as he should.
It is time to help, and mediate, not confront or fan the flames.
G-d bless the will to be honest and humble in the face of this terrible conflict.
There is a lot of discussion concerning the recognition of the so called Palestinian State. So far, I have not chipped in on the discussion, because, as I see it, the discussion ended after the fall of the Oslo peace accord. I mean, if you get handed a piece of land, and you promise to make peace, because you get that piece of land, and you do not make peace. Why should anyone think you would make peace if you get more rights over that piece of land?
Add to this the fact, that Gaza is, mostly, a proxy war, it does not make much sense to discuss with the Gazans. First you make peace with Egypt, then you make peace with Saudi-Arabia, then you make peace with Iran. Then you make peace with the Palestinians.
As of now, we are only one step away from making peace with the entire Middle East. That is making peace with Iran. I recognize the hazards in this, and I do know it is risky. But, as a Kabbalist, I believe that Israel is the tool of peace. This is why we are doing all the work we are doing.
Then it does not make much sense to me, that Europe is so adamant in using their small amount of international clout on the Palestinians. What about using it in some conflict where it is in the interest of Europe? Like the conflict in Libya or Ukraine.
I think it is because Europeans are clouded in their judgement of Israel. We do not, most of us, see it as it is; another little piece of Europe. The system is European, the history behind is European, it started because of the Holocaust, even the mindset is European in Israel. We have a Kibbutzsystem with socialist communal thinking, we have a booming IT sector, we have a secular army, we have a lot of discussion between a socialist and a conservative parliament. It is European!
Imagine if we transplanted Sweden and put it in the Middle East, what would Sweden end up in of problems? Exactly the same Israel is trying to cope with.
It is only if we see things as they are, that we are able to handle the conflicts we try to solve.
There is a huge debate concerning the responsability from the UK towards the EU. It has come to the extreme, that Britain considers redrawing from the European Union. What are the default lines of the discussion, and how may we elevate the discussion in a true philosophical understanding?
So far the paradigm of globalization has ruled the skies of sociological theory. Made by mr. Anthony Giddens in the nineties and not really challenged theoretically until now. In its essense it is a true Diogenetian philosophy, claiming that we are all global citizens. Citizens of the world, and hence not a citizen of a polis or a nation.
This tradition goes all the way back to one of the most profilent pupils of Socrates; Diogenes who was quite famed in his time, on par with Plato, who were the other famed pupil of Socrates.
In a sense, there is an included balance inbetween the two philosophers; Plato being the pupil who took the ethical part of Socrates philosophy, and Diogenes the pupil who took the liberal or freedom part of Socrates philosphy and making in into a philosophy of itself.
How does this reflect on the theory of Giddens and the no border, global citizen ideology that the European Union is a realization of. Well it points to the fact, that the freedom of the citizens have been maximixed. There are no borders, there are no limits, everybody can go whereever they want. The ethical part of personal conscience and loyalty towards the nation has been completely abandoned. In theory we are talking about free market and free movement of the workforce, but in theory it is all about freedom. Read more…
We are approaching the final draft of the Iranian deal. I have no insider information about the draft, so I cannot know anything about it. But, I know the story that has lead up to the deal, and a bit about the stakes that are invested.
It all started in the first part of the presidency of mr. Barack Obama. At that time, I was a bit more free to blog, and Barack and I worked together over a range of issues, to make a comeback for the US. The economy and the strenghtening of American identity is a part of that process. In foreign policy, we were in agreement about one thing; we did not like Ahmadinejad. Why? Because he obviously hated us. He was a vily and intelligent advesary, and he had a lot of things going his way, but through a mix of diplomacy and small time investment in military expeditions, among it what we know as the “Arab spring”, we did counter his movement, and gave a chance for peace to evolve in Iran.
What really happened was, that the Iranians realized, that with mr. Barack Obama there was a kind and gentle man at the helm of the US. Someone who wanted peace, and was ready to try to understand Iran on its own terms. Add to this a good military strategy, Iran opted for peace.
In the meantime, we have had the war between Israel and Hamas including Islamic Jihad (an Iranian proxy). IS has risen, and Russia have its own problems in Ukraine. All problems that are in direct hinderance of a peacedeal.
The family as an institution under the realm and society where it resides, seems to have found a new more constructive in terms of realization of the rule of G-d on earth.
This is really what it is all about, as I see it. Metaphysics is usually a very abstract theoretical labour. Philosophers and theologicans discuss these principles of G-d, and usually it has very little to do with the day to day life of people who enter a religous house.
This has not always been so. The ancient Egyptian priests tried to emulate the realm of G-d, to be as close to G-d as possible. This is also the idea behind monastery and life in solitiude. To be one with G-d.
How do we apply this knowledge to the family as an institution? We do it by trying to understand how the realm of G-d exists, how it works.
G-d is intelligence, and the way we think it is combined is basically just based on theory. But we know, that it can have no conflicts. Because it is everywhere, and whereevere it seeps in, it is the same.
It is safe to assume, that the realm of G-d is a peaceful place. A place where love is the conceptualization of how all this intelligence interact with itself, in complete oneness.
It is a happy place, and a place where noone tries to put anyone else down, this is only when intelligence enters the material world, that the rule of the strong applies, not in the realm of G-d.
So, in the family, we need to emulate this way of doing things. By remaking a situation of complete oneness and love inbetween all who are members of the family.
This is however very difficult, because we do live in the material world. There are often conflicts, and we tend to think too much about ourselves and too little about our sisters or brothers.
The harmony we wish to make within the confinements of the family, is very difficult to make, especially if the family is under pressure. This is when we need to shed our own interests, and think about the good of the family instead. To put ourselves aside, and help and bring joy to our closests.
There will be times, when we feel threatened, afraid, alone or abandoned. But there will also be times when we are in one with the ones we loves. All the parties and traditions that surround the families; marriage, baptism, weekend holidays, birthdays are really tools to unite the family, and make, and remake the frame we all live in.
It is therefor important to understand that metaphysics is the understanding of why we need to make a happy family. Because through the understanding of G-ds realm will we able to understand what we are to remake here in the material world.
G-d bless the will to be free in the loving arms of our family.
The Middle East is again in turmoil, this time it is the sacred birthplace of the Jewish State that is at stake, and a holy site for Muslims as well. What is really happening?
To understand this you have to zoom in on the underlying parameters of the conflict.
There are many players and interests in the conflict; Israel, Jews at large, the US, Palestinians, Persia, Egypt, Saudiarabia, Quatar. Each player has its own agenda, and it is only if we bend those agendas towards a compromise, that peace will unfold. Because that is really the only goal we all share.
Let us have a look at it. First of all, we have America, specifically under the leadership of mr. Barack Obama. He, or rather the democratic leadership under him has the single agenda of making peace without too much military intervention. We believe in dimplomacy and justice as means of warfare. War is never an end in itself, only a means to use if nothing else can solve the crisis. We sincerely believe in dialogue and democracy.
Then there is the Persians. As the Americans we share the aim; peace, but for different reasons. The current ideology is not a secular order, but a religious order. In religion we believe in the advent of G-d. We believe that we have to work, tirelessly for the realization of G-ds rule in the material world. Since the realm of G-d is made in peace, this is off cause the end result. So, again, the aim is the same, but the reasons are a little different. There are some overlaying interests, since America is a very holy nation in the sense, that G-d also plays a founding role for the Americans, but it is still very secular in its ideas and manners. Read more…
Europe is heading the wrong way. Economically it is surely going the wrong way, and culturally it is definitely going the wrong way. We have been some bravehearts who have seen this development for a long time, and often tried, sometimes in vain, sometimes with some sucess, to do something about it. Mind you, the dangers are considerable. You can get shot, stabbed, put on hold, persecuted with the Capone method. That is checked and rechecked comcerning anything the state might find that they can draw from your account.
But, lo and behold, with the sure feeling of respect for yourself, and healthy attitude towards danger, you can survive, even thrive to some extent.
The European Union is a dangerous animal to fight. It will use all methods appliable to dissidents to quell your tiny voice, at least this is my experience. Add to this the added insult of having to defend European interest while having to feel the sharp end of the state system, sometimes I feel a little scizophrenic.
I wonder why they persecute me at all, and do not ally themselves with me? I mean, they want the same as I; the comeback of Europe, and wish for a more comprehensive foreign policy. Why not cooperate at some level, after all, with all respect, being a European philosopher is a much more powerful position, than trying to control a plethora of different interest. I wish for Europe to prosper, be more democratic, have finer institutions. But I think I know why. Ever since the birth in Eridu, Middle East civilization has had its supporters, its attackers and its corrupters. The supporters try to use the traditions the best they can, as the French Rennaessance philosophers (and also me). The attackers does not know much about it, and consequently destroy it, like the Islamists, and the corrupters use it to control people. They do not care to enchance justice, or give people more freedom, they use law and democratic institutions to have their way.
Perhaps European politicians could once more become bannermen of civilization? Use their time to work for peace and tolerance, and not just subdue all of us who want freedom?
Hope has the color of springgreen as we say here in Denmark, may we live to prosper.
The Middle East is waiting for the negotiations between Mr. Obama, Mr. Putin, his highness Rouhani and the Iranian parliament to conclude. There is a huge turmoil in Israel right now, because of the land annexation in the West Bank and in Jerusalem. But there will be no conclusion on these conflicts before the negotiations are finished and we know how it will fall out.
I hope, it will be a conclusion that all can agree upon, it would really strengthen all of the war torn Middle East. Add to this a peaceful relationship between the East and the West.
As time moves on, the conflict between the Palestinian state or the attempts to make one, and Israel will stop. Because the world has moved on. There are no one who are interested in the rather insignificant conflict, when the Islamic State roams and is dangerous right besides it. It will be swallowed up by IS, and stop.
So in all probability, we need to wait a little to see what happens.
Conservatives often refer to Mr. Winston Churchill a warrior of G-ds grace, and a very intelligent man. In the liberal press he is often not that positively mentioned, but everybody agrees that stopping the Nazi killing machine was a good thing.
So how are we to understand this dividing and yet prominent and positive figure.
Mr. Churchill had one thing I really liked about him; he held no illusions. You can wish the world was like that or that, and hope for at better day. But you should always plan on the reality of things. That was why he was so hated. He did not make any makebelieves, but understood things as they were. Hence his adamant defense of Britain, and his nononsence approach to the Nazis. He knew they were bad guys, and he fought them because of it. He saved Britain in that understanding and defense.
There is another side of Mr. Churchill I really like; he was, deep inside those layers of politics and fighting stance; also a soft man. Or rather, a gentleman. He fought for his country and his ideals. But he always remembered that the end result should be a positive one. As a Christian he probably held the belief, that there is a higher purpose to our being here on earth, and thus an order and civilization worth defending.
Basically this is why I believe the conservatives hold all the cards these days in Europe. Because we fight for a liberation of our countries, but we do not wish a tyrannical order to be installed after the liberation, but a good and prosperous society, where both weak and strong may find rest.
Today, there is only the rule of the strong to be present in Europe. Those who hold power, do it beacuse they can, and not because they wish for at better future for the little man, for the weak man. The weak man is not in his objective, only his own selfagrandissment. This is not a chivalric attitude. This is a selfimportant attitude, that is not in alignment with a serious conservative perspective. We fight to protect, not to subdue.
G-d bless the strong arm in protection of the weak mother or child.
When we look upon the three world religions; Judaism, Christianity and Islam. We see an image of war and conflict. For a long time it has been Christianity against Judaism, a conflict that is luckily almost over. Now it is Islam against Judaism and Christianity, a conflict I believe is difficult to solve, but at the same time a work we have to do to find a way out of.
We are all descendants of the great Jewish prophets of the late Israeli state. Daniel, Ezekiel, Elijah. So each of us dream of the realization of their dream, in each our way.
But in a strange way, right now, we actually have the possibility to realize it in a new way. By making a platform that will elevate all three religions to higher prominence and importance. To realize the advent of spirit.
When I begun my work, I put myself at the service of spirit. So in a sense, what we have done through the prayers and the inspiration that have come from my blog, have been a part of a spiritual development, that spirit wants us to do. Often the words that enter the paper seem strange even to me, and personally, I do, sometimes wonder of what actually was written.
I am not a particularly great person, in fact, I have as many idiosyncrasies and faults as everybody else. So people should not use my example, what they should do, is to listen to the words here at Rubicon, and use them to the use it was intented. Because the words that come, and enter into these pages are pure. Not contaminated by my own prejudices, not intented at least. Read more…
There has been a long discussion regarding the institution of the family. As of now, this has been, largely a failure. Why? Because most of the issues that has been discussed are difficult to be in accordance with, because they happen too fast. One thing is to root out corruption, nobody has anything against this, and I suppose everybody knew that is was appropriate and necessary. The more focus on the family is also welcomed, but it has been difficult to weather the pace.
So what do we do? We focus on the positive perspectives of the discussion we have. The family is a very, very beautiful institution, and if the principles on which it is founded on works, it can and will bring joy to many.
So instead of looking at the external rules as who and how to marry, look at the internal things. How to found the family on serious values. Values that will serve all children, father, mother, grandparents, siblings, cousins.
When I was in Bangladesh, where my father comes from, I had an insight into some of the good and bad mechanics of a larger family. There is a lot of control in such a family. Social control, this can be a burden to the more free spirits. So perhaps giving room and accepting each other in a family is important. At the other hand, we really stuck together. One of my uncles had kidney decease, and he could not really function without his kidney. So one of his brothers donated his own kidney to his brother, knowing very well, that he would have trouble without that kidney. A true act of solidarity.
In other words, the values and the way a family works is really the true discussion that would potentially bring the discussion onto a new more constructive and positive track.
Tolstoy said, that all good families are the same, and all bad families are different. Good is order, bad is chaos. Finding those principles that will lead to good order are the principles that may elevate the discussion onto a higher and more working level. If you are a good carpenter, you make good furniture. When you do this, it is because you are working methodically and according to certain principles. It is the same with the family, it requires good principles to follow and hard work to realize.
G-d bless the willingness to comply with the principles that will ultimately lead us to G-d.
When we hear about fear, angst, tragedies, we know that someone are hurt, feel threatened and afraid. This is human, and if we do not accept human insecurtiy, it will often turn into war.
Right now, Palestinians are rioting, why? Because they are afraid. Why do they show rage or anger? Because they are afraid, that the developments of the world is going the wrong way, seen from their perspective. This is not to diminish the atrocities they are doing in the name of G-d or to excuse them in any way, but to make us understand what is really happening in their heads.
I have no illusions about the nature of radical Islam, Hamas, Islamic Jihad or even Iran. I know, that they have a virulent potential for violence. They are fighters, and often in a terrible way, that has no respect for life.
But, they also have families, they also have friends they miss, and if we are able to call out the good in them, this should be done.
The deal with Iran, holds one problem, seen from a Jewish perspective with respect to Israel. It needs to be waterproof. Israel cannot afford a solution that will leave them at the mercy of Iran. This is simply not possible for Netanyahu to accept. Both because of the threat to Israel, but also because of his own voterbase. He does not have the mandate to make risks. Add to this the fact that he sees it clearly as a potential threat, I must say, that he is right, seen from his perspective.
So what do we do? We find a solution that is controlable, we setup a series of checks and balances, and most important, we put up a plan to put into action, if some of the checks and balances are overruled.
In other words, it is a matter of making the plan that all will accept.
Not an easy task, but a task that is feasible, if it is done in the interest of peace.
G-d bless the peace we should and will find, in the interest of religion.
NAME: Asger Trier Engberg
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Books
Titan
The development of Denmark has reached the shores of California, the epithets of Chicago, the halls of Oxford, but the true wisdom of Denmark were made and formulated on blogs. This book will give you an insight into the basic philosophical principles that were discussed after the Mohammed crisis. It is provocative, acidy, monumental and easy to read. (In danish)
Mod visdom og retfærdighed
According to Platon three virtues were most important to the leader of anything; courage, wisdom and justice. But how do we define these virtues today? This book will give you an insight into the virtues reflected in the wisdom of some of the most succesful leaders of modern Denmark. (In danish)
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Den gode leder
Business in philosophy, or philosophy in business? We march down the straits of Aristotle and Løgstrup, to reach port in the sense of meaning in business. This book will give you an idea of why and how you do business, based on the most profound philosophy of ancient and modern time. (In danish)
