Elgadi Family

Food and Cancer

2007-04-13T19:32:00.000-05:00

From The American Cancer Society Official Website:http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/
PED_3_2X_Common_Questions_About_Diet_and_Cancer.asp

Common Questions About Diet and Cancer

Because people are interested in the relationship that specific foods, nutrients, or lifestyle factors have to specific cancers, research on health behaviors and cancer risk is often widely publicized. No one study, however, provides the last word on any subject, and single news reports may overemphasize what appear to be contradictory or conflicting results. In brief news stories, reporters cannot always put new research findings in their proper context. Therefore, it is rarely, if ever, advisable to change diet or activity levels based on a single study or news report. The following questions and answers address common concerns about diet and physical activity in relation to cancer.

Alcohol
Does alcohol increase cancer risk?
Yes. Alcohol increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, pharynx (throat), larynx (voice box), esophagus, liver, and breast, and probably of the colon and rectum. People who drink alcohol should limit their intake to no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women. A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits. The combination of alcohol and tobacco increases the risk of some cancers far more than the effect of either drinking or smoking. Regular consumption of even a few drinks per week is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in women, especially in women who do not get enough folate. Women at high risk of breast cancer may want to consider not drinking any alcohol.

Antioxidants
What are antioxidants, and what do they have to do with cancer?
The body appears to use certain nutrients in vegetables and fruits to protect against damage to tissues that occurs constantly as a result of normal metabolism (oxidation). Because such damage is linked with increased cancer risk, the so-called antioxidant nutrients are thought to protect against cancer. Antioxidants include vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, and many other phytochemicals (chemicals from plants). Studies suggest that people who eat more vegetables and fruits, which are rich sources of antioxidants, may have a lower risk for some types of cancer. Clinical studies of antioxidant supplements are currently under way but have not yet shown a reduction in cancer risk from vitamin or mineral supplements (also see entries for: beta-carotene, lycopene, vitamin E, supplements). To reduce cancer risk, the best advice at present is to consume antioxidants through food sources, rather than supplements.

Aspartame
Does aspartame cause cancer?
Aspartame is a low-calorie artificial sweetener that is about 200 times sweeter than sugar. Current evidence does not show any link between aspartame ingestion and increased cancer risk. People with the genetic disorder known as phenylketonuria should avoid aspartame in their diets.

Beta-carotene
Does beta-carotene reduce cancer risk?
Because beta-carotene, an antioxidant chemically related to vitamin A, is found in vegetables and fruits, and because eating vegetables and fruits is linked with a reduced risk of cancer, it seemed plausible that taking high doses of beta-carotene supplements might reduce cancer risk. But the results of 3 major clinical trials show this is not the case. In 2 studies in which people were given high doses of beta-carotene supplements in an attempt to prevent lung cancer and other cancers, the supplements were found to increase the risk of lung cancer in cigarette smokers, and a third found neither benefit nor harm from them. Therefore, consuming vegetables and fruits that contain beta-carotene may be helpful, but high-dose beta-carotene supplements should be avoided.

Bioengineered Foods
What are bioengineered foods, and are they safe?
Bioengineered foods are made by adding genes from other plants or organisms to increase a plant’s resistance to pests, retard spoilage, or improve transportability, flavor, nutrient composition, or other desired qualities. In theory, these added genes might create substances that could cause harmful reactions among sensitized or allergic individuals. But there is currently no evidence that the substances found in bioengineered foods now on the market are harmful or that they would either increase or decrease cancer risk because of the added genes.

Calcium
Is calcium related to cancer?
Several studies have suggested that foods high in calcium might help reduce the risk for colorectal cancer, and that supplementing the diet with calcium modestly reduces the formation of colorectal adenomas (polyps). But there is also evidence that a high-calcium intake, primarily through supplements, is linked with increased risk for prostate cancer, especially for prostate cancers that are more aggressive. In light of this, both men and women should strive to consume recommended levels of calcium, primarily through food sources. Recommended intake levels of calcium are 1,000 mg/day for people ages 19 to 50 years and 1,200 mg/day for people older than 50. Dairy products are excellent sources of calcium, as are some leafy vegetables and greens. People who get much of their calcium from dairy products should select low-fat or non-fat choices to reduce their intake of saturated fat.

Cholesterol
Does cholesterol in the diet increase cancer risk?
Cholesterol in the diet comes only from foods with animal sources -- meat, dairy products, eggs, and animal fats such as butter or lard. Although some of these foods (for example, processed and red meats) are linked with higher risk of certain cancers, at this time there is little evidence that this increased risk is specifically related to cholesterol. Lowering blood cholesterol reduces heart disease risk, but there is no evidence that lowering blood cholesterol has an effect on cancer risk.

Coffee
Does drinking coffee cause cancer?
Caffeine may heighten symptoms of fibrocystic breast lumps (a type of benign breast disease) in some women, but there is no evidence that it increases the risk of breast cancer or other types of cancer. The link between coffee and cancer of the pancreas, widely publicized in the past, has not been confirmed by recent studies. There does not appear to be any connection between coffee drinking and cancer risk.

Fat
Will eating less fat lower cancer risk?
There is little evidence that the total amount of fat consumed affects cancer risk. But diets high in fat tend to be high in calories and may contribute to obesity, which in turn is linked with an increased risk of several types of cancer. There is evidence that certain types of fats, such as saturated fats, may increase cancer risk. There is little evidence that other types of fat (omega-3 fatty acids, found mainly in fish), monounsaturated fatty acids (found in olive and canola oils), or other polyunsaturated fats reduce cancer risk.

Fiber
What is dietary fiber, and can it prevent cancer?
Dietary fiber includes a wide variety of plant carbohydrates that are not digestible by humans. Specific categories of fiber are "soluble" (like oat bran) or "insoluble" (like wheat bran and cellulose). Soluble fiber helps to reduce blood cholesterol, thereby lowering the risk of coronary heart disease. Good sources of fiber are beans, vegetables, whole grains, and fruits. Links between fiber and cancer risk are weak, but eating these foods is still recommended because they contain other nutrients that may help reduce cancer risk and because of their other health benefits.

Fish
Does eating fish protect against cancer?
Fish is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. Studies in animals have found that these fatty acids suppress cancer formation or slow cancer progression, but there is limited evidence of a possible benefit in humans.
While eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids is linked with a reduced risk of heart disease, some types of fish (large predatory fish such as swordfish, tilefish, shark, and king mackerel) may contain high levels of mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and other environmental pollutants. Women who are pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning to become pregnant, and young children should not eat these fish. People should vary the types of fish they eat to reduce the likelihood of exposure to toxins.
Research has not yet shown whether taking omega-3 or fish oil supplements produces the same possible benefits as eating fish. .

Fluorides
Do fluorides cause cancer?
Extensive research has examined the effects of fluorides given as dental treatments or added to toothpaste, public water supplies, or foods on cancer risk. Fluorides have not been found to increase cancer risk.

Folate
What is folate, and can it prevent cancer?
Folate is a B vitamin found in many vegetables, beans, fruits, whole grains, and fortified breakfast cereals. Since 1998, all grain products in the United States have been fortified with folate. Too little folate may increase the risk of cancers of the colon, rectum, and breast, especially in people who drink alcoholic beverages. Current evidence suggests that to reduce cancer risk, folate is best obtained by eating vegetables, fruits,
and enriched grain products.

Food Additives
Do food additives cause cancer?
Many substances are added to foods to preserve them and to enhance color, flavor, and texture. New additives must be cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before entering the food supply. Rigorous testing in animals to look for any effects on cancer is done as part of this process. Additives are usually present in very small quantities in food, and no convincing evidence has shown that any additive at these levels causes human cancers.

Garlic
Can garlic prevent cancer?
The health benefits of the allium compounds contained in garlic and other vegetables in the onion family have been publicized widely. Garlic is currently under study for its ability to reduce cancer risk. There is not enough evidence at this time to support a specific role for this vegetable in cancer prevention.

Genetics
If our genes determine cancer risk, how can diet help prevent cancer?
Damage to the genes that control cell growth can be either inherited or acquired during life. Certain types of mutations or genetic damage can increase the risk of cancer. Nutrients in the diet can protect DNA from being damaged. Physical activity, weight control, and diet might delay or prevent the development of cancer in people with an increased genetic risk for cancer. The many interactions between diet and genetic factors are an important and complex topic, and a great deal of research is under way in this area.

Irradiated Foods
Do irradiated foods cause cancer?
No. Radiation is increasingly used to kill harmful organisms on foods in order to extend their "shelf life." Radiation does not remain in the foods after treatment, and consuming irradiated foods does not appear to increase cancer risk.

Lycopene
Will lycopene reduce cancer risk?
Lycopene is the red-orange carotene pigment found mainly in tomatoes and tomato-based foods and to a lesser extent in pink grapefruit and watermelon. Several studies have reported that consuming tomato products reduces the risk of some cancers, but whether lycopene is the nutrient responsible is uncertain. Even if lycopene in foods is linked with lower risk for cancer, it can't be concluded that high doses taken as supplements would be either more effective or safe.

Meat: Cooking and Preserving
Should I avoid processed meats?
Some studies have linked eating large amounts of processed meat to increased risk of colorectal and stomach cancers. This connection may or may not be due to nitrites, which are added to many luncheon meats, hams, and hot dogs to maintain color and to prevent contamination with bacteria. Eating processed meats and meats preserved by methods involving smoke or salt increases exposure to potential cancer-causing agents and should be reduced as much as possible.

How does cooking meat affect cancer risk?
Adequate cooking is necessary to kill harmful germs within meat. But some research suggests that frying, broiling, or grilling meats at very high temperatures creates chemicals that might increase cancer risk. Although these chemicals can damage DNA and cause cancer in animals, it is not clear how much they (as opposed to other components in meat) may contribute to the increased colorectal cancer risk seen in people who eat large amounts of meat in some studies. Techniques such as braising, steaming, poaching, stewing, and microwaving meats produce fewer of these chemicals.

Obesity
Does being overweight increase cancer risk?
Yes. Being overweight or obese is linked with an increased risk of cancers of the breast (among postmenopausal women), colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, and possibly other sites as well. Although research on whether losing weight reduces cancer risk is limited, some research suggests that weight loss does reduce the risk of breast cancer. Because of other proven health benefits, people who are overweight are encouraged to lose weight. Avoiding excessive weight gain in adulthood is important not only to reduce cancer risk but also to reduce the risk of other chronic diseases.

Olive Oil
Does olive oil affect cancer risk?
Consumption of olive oil is linked with a reduced risk of heart disease, but is most likely neutral with respect to cancer risk. Although olive oil is a healthy alternative to butter and margarine, it is a significant source of calories and should be used in moderation.

Organic Foods
Are foods labeled "organic" more effective in lowering cancer risk?
The term organic is popularly used to designate plant foods grown without pesticides and genetic modifications. At this time, no research exists to demonstrate whether such foods are more effective in reducing cancer risk than are similar foods produced by other farming methods.

Pesticides and Herbicides
Do pesticides in foods cause cancer?
Pesticides and herbicides can be toxic when used improperly in industrial, agricultural, or other occupational settings. Although vegetables and fruits sometimes contain low levels of these chemicals, overwhelming scientific evidence supports the overall health benefits and cancer-protective effects of eating vegetables and fruits. At present there is no evidence that residues of pesticides and herbicides at the low doses found in foods increase the risk of cancer, but produce should be washed thoroughly before eating.

Physical Activity
Will increasing physical activity lower cancer risk?
Yes. People who engage in moderate to vigorous levels of physical activity are at a lower risk of developing colon and breast cancer than those who do not. This risk reduction is independent of the impact of activity on weight. Data for a direct effect on the risk of developing other cancers is more limited. Even so, obesity and being overweight have been linked to many types of cancer, and physical activity is a key factor in maintaining or achieving a healthy body weight. In addition, physical activity has beneficial effects against heart disease and diabetes.

Phytochemicals
What are phytochemicals, and do they reduce cancer risk?
The term phytochemicals refers to a wide variety of compounds made by plants. Some of these compounds protect plants against insects or perform other important functions. Some have either antioxidant or hormone-like actions both in plants and in people who eat them. Because consuming vegetables and fruits reduces cancer risk, researchers are looking for specific components responsible for the beneficial effects. At this time, no evidence has shown that phytochemicals taken as supplements are as beneficial as the vegetables, fruits, beans, and grains from which they are extracted.

Saccharin
Does saccharin cause cancer?
No. In rats, high doses of the artificial sweetener saccharin can cause bladder stones to form that can lead to bladder cancer. But saccharin consumption does not cause the formation of bladder stones in humans. Saccharin has been removed from the list of established human carcinogens by the US National Toxicology Program.

Salt
Do high levels of salt in the diet increase cancer risk?
Studies in other countries link diets containing large amounts of foods preserved by salting and pickling with an increased risk of stomach, nasopharyngeal, and throat cancer. No evidence suggests that moderate levels of salt used in cooking or in flavoring foods affect cancer risk.

Selenium
What is selenium, and can it reduce cancer risk?
Selenium is a mineral that contributes to the body's antioxidant defense mechanisms. Animal studies suggest that selenium protects against cancer, and one study has shown that selenium supplements might reduce the risk of lung, colon, and prostate cancer. But repeated and well-controlled studies are needed to confirm whether selenium is helpful in preventing these cancers. High-dose selenium supplements are not recommended, as there is only a narrow margin between safe and toxic doses. The maximum dose in a supplement should not exceed 200 micrograms per day.

Soy Products
Can soy-based foods reduce cancer risk?
Soy-derived foods are an excellent source of protein and a good alternative to meat. Soy contains several phytochemicals, some of which have weak estrogen activity and appear to protect against hormone-dependent cancers in animal studies. At this time there is little data showing that soy supplements can help reduce cancer risk. High doses of soy could possibly increase the risk of estrogen-responsive cancers, such as breast or endometrial cancer.
Women with breast cancer should consume only moderate amounts of soy foods as part of a healthy, plant-based diet. They should not ingest very high levels of soy in their diet or take concentrated sources of soy such as soy-containing pills or powders, or supplements containing high amounts of isoflavones.

Sugar
Does sugar increase cancer risk?
Sugar increases caloric intake without providing any of the nutrients that reduce cancer risk. By promoting obesity and elevating insulin levels, high sugar intake may indirectly increase cancer risk. White (refined) sugar is no different from brown (unrefined) sugar or honey with regard to these effects on body weight or insulin. Limiting foods such as cakes, candy, cookies, sweetened cereals, and high-sugar beverages such as soda can help reduce sugar intake.

Supplements
Can nutritional supplements lower cancer risk?
There is strong evidence that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods may reduce the risk of cancer. But there is no proof at this time that supplements can reduce cancer risk. Some high-dose supplements may actually increase cancer risk.

Can I get the nutritional equivalent of vegetables and fruits in a pill?
No. Many healthful compounds are found in vegetables and fruits, and these compounds most likely work in combination to exert their beneficial effect. There are also likely to be important, but as of yet unidentified, components of whole foods that are not included in supplements. The small amount of dried powder in the pills that are represented as being equivalent to vegetables and fruits often contains only a small fraction of the levels contained in the whole foods.

Food is the best source of vitamins and minerals. Supplements, however, may be helpful for some people, such as pregnant women, women of childbearing age, and people with restricted dietary intakes. If a supplement is taken, the best choice is a balanced multivitamin/mineral supplement containing no more than 100% of the "Daily Value" of most nutrients.

Tea
Can drinking tea reduce cancer risk?
Some researchers have suggested that tea might protect against cancer because of its antioxidant content. In animal studies, some teas (including green tea) have been shown to reduce cancer risk, but findings from human population studies are mixed. At this time, tea has not been proven to reduce cancer risk in humans.

Trans-Fats
Do trans-saturated fats increase cancer risk?
Trans-saturated fats are made during the manufacture of hydrogenated oils such as margarines or shortenings to make them solid at room temperature. Recent evidence shows that trans-fats raise blood cholesterol levels. Their relationship to cancer risk has not been determined, but people are advised to eat as few trans-fats as possible.

Vegetables and Fruits
Will eating vegetables and fruits lower cancer risk?
In the majority of population studies, greater consumption of vegetables and fruits has been linked to a lower risk of lung, oral, esophageal, stomach, and colon cancer. Because we don't know which of the many compounds in these foods are most helpful, the best advice is to eat 5 or more servings of an assortment of colorful vegetables and fruits each day.

What are cruciferous vegetables, and are they important in cancer prevention?
Cruciferous vegetables belong to the cabbage family and include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale. These vegetables contain certain chemicals thought to reduce the risk for colorectal cancer. The best evidence suggests that consuming a wide variety of vegetables, including cruciferous and other vegetables, reduces cancer risk.

Is there a difference in nutritional values among fresh, frozen, and canned vegetables and fruits?
Yes, but they can all be good choices. Fresh foods are usually considered to have the most nutritional value. But frozen foods can often be more nutritious than fresh foods because they are often picked ripe and quickly frozen (whereas fresh foods may lose some of their nutrients in the time between harvesting and consumption). Canning is more likely to reduce the heat-sensitive and water-soluble nutrients because of the high heat used when processing. Be aware that some fruits are packed in heavy syrup, and some canned vegetables are high in sodium (salt). Choose vegetables and fruits in a variety of forms.

Does cooking affect the nutritional value of vegetables?
Boiling vegetables, especially for long periods, can leach out their content of water-soluble (B and C) vitamins. Microwaving and steaming are the best ways to preserve the nutritional content of vegetables.

Should I be juicing my vegetables and fruits?
Juicing can add variety to the diet and can be a good way to consume vegetables and fruits, especially if chewing or swallowing is a problem. Juicing also improves the body's absorption of some of the nutrients in vegetables and fruits. But juices may be less filling than whole vegetables and fruits and may contain less fiber. Fruit juice in particular can contribute quite a few calories if large amounts are consumed. Commercially juiced products should be 100% vegetable or fruit juices and should be pasteurized to remove harmful germs.

Vegetarian Diets
Do vegetarian diets reduce cancer risk?
Vegetarian diets include many health-promoting features. They tend to be low in saturated fats and high in fiber, vitamins, and phytochemicals. It is not possible to conclude at this time, however, that a vegetarian diet has any special benefits for the prevention of cancer. Diets including lean meats in small to moderate amounts can also be healthful. Strict vegetarian diets that avoid all animal products, including milk and eggs, should be supplemented with vitamin B12, zinc, and iron (especially for children and premenopausal women).

Vitamin A
Does vitamin A lower cancer risk?
Vitamin A (retinol) is obtained from foods in 2 ways: pre-formed from animal food sources and derived from beta-carotene in plant-based foods. Vitamin A is needed to maintain healthy tissues. Vitamin A supplements, whether in the form of beta-carotene or retinol, have not been shown to lower cancer risk, and high-dose supplements may, in fact, increase the risk for lung cancer in current and former smokers.

Vitamin C
Does vitamin C lower cancer risk?
Vitamin C is found in many vegetables and fruits, especially oranges, grapefruits, and peppers. Many studies have linked consumption of foods rich in vitamin C to a reduced risk for cancer. But the few studies in which vitamin C has been given as a supplement have not shown a reduced risk for cancer.

Vitamin D
Does vitamin D lower cancer risk?
There is a growing body of evidence from population studies (not yet tested in clinical trials) that vitamin D may have helpful effects on some types of cancer, including cancers of the colon, prostate, and breast. Vitamin D is obtained through skin exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and through diet, particularly products fortified with vitamin D such as milk and cereals, and supplements. But many Americans do not consume sufficient amounts of vitamin D.
The current national recommended levels of intake of vitamin D (200 to 600 IU per day) may not be enough to meet needs, especially among those with little sun exposure, the elderly, people with dark skin, and exclusively breastfed babies. More research is needed to define the best levels of intake and blood levels of vitamin D for cancer risk reduction, but recommended intake is likely to fall between 200 and 2000 IU, depending on age and other factors. To reduce the health risks linked with UV radiation exposure while getting the most potential benefit from vitamin D, a balanced diet, supplementation, and limiting sun exposure to small amounts are the preferred methods of obtaining vitamin D.

Vitamin E
Does vitamin E lower cancer risk?
Alpha-tocopherol is the most active form of vitamin E and is a powerful antioxidant. In one study, male smokers who took alpha-tocopherol had a lower risk of prostate cancer compared with those who took a placebo. But several other studies have not found the same link. While studies now under way will help clarify this, the promise of alpha-tocopherol for reducing cancer risk appears to be dimming.

Water and Other Fluids
How much water and other fluids should I drink?
Drinking water and other liquids may reduce the risk of bladder cancer, as water dilutes the concentration of cancer-causing agents in the urine and shortens the time in which they are in contact with the bladder lining. Drinking at least 8 cups of liquid a day is usually recommended, and some studies show that even more may be helpful.

The American Cancer Society is happy to address almost any cancer-related topic. If you have any more questions, please call us at 1-800-ACS-2345, 24 hours a day.

On Slavery, again...!

2007-04-08T11:21:00.000-05:00

In following up to a previous post here, The Role of Islam in African Slavery, and an ongoing discussion on Sudaneseonline Board, I wanted us to re-visit the issue of Slavery and its impacxt on our family in Sudan.

I believe we need first to admit that we, as a community especially in Northern Sudan were gotten involved in Slavery in one way or the other. all thise called themselves 'Ashraf' are actually got mixed up via marriage or outside marriage with their own enslaved population.

I believe we need an apology from all those committed the crime of slavery and other crimes of invasion to Sudan in the name of Islam.An apology from the successors of the Islamic State of Medina, i.e. the Saudi people for the crimes of Abdulahi Ibn Abi Sarh against our Nubian people in 742. The Baqt Agreement that our ancestors had had to sign on included one article that forced the Nubians to send 360 individuals every year from their own people to be enslaved by the Islamic State .

Our current identity crisis and ethnic conflicts in Sudan go back to that time, when each family naturally had tried to avoid enslavement. For fear of the invaders, the leaders of Nubia had had to go and look for slaves outside their direct relatives. The hunt went down further and further, south and west, steb by step..

Apology, and redress is highly required from representatives of those who committed the crime:
1. The Islamic State, whether it was in Median, Mecca, Baghdad, Damascus, Cairo or Istanbul.
2. Countries that was involved in the slavery trade in the past 3 centuries: US, UK, Portugal, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Turkey, Iraq, Arabian Pennisula, Yemen, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, etc
3. Sudanese Kingdoms which had actively engaged in the business of slavery.
4. The Mahdia State under Khalifa Abdulahi rule (1885-1898) for their active role in enslaving people of other tribes (including my Great aunt)
5. All other groups and tribes who were actively engaged in the slavery trade under different names...

Some may say "I wasn't there to be blamed for this crime" and the answer is simple: You are responsible if you continued to hold the values of these institutions. If current Sudanese Muslims do not condemn the invader Abdulahi Ibn Abi Sarh the same way they condemn Ottoman and British invaders; they should be responsible.

If contemporay Muslims do not feel ashamed and look critically to the history of Islamic State in regard to Slavery; they should expect to be hold responsible.

Here are few important related links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_slave_trade on Arab Slave Trade.

http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/comp/cw25slavery.htm
The Arab slave trade to the east was said to involve about 14 million blacks from the time of Muslim conquest.

http://www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news_s.php?articleid=1143950727 The Arab trade lasted 1,300 years, and the European one only 320. If only 6,000 African slaves from the whole continent a year were taken by Arabs (a very conservative estimate), that would add up to 7.8 million. Yet in 1838 it was estimated that the Cairo slave market alone traded in 12,000 Africans annually.
The Sultan of Morocco had an entire army of 250,000 African slaves.
Most scholars place the minimum number of African-Arab slave trade at between 30 and 50m and the Atlantic slave trade at a lesser ten million Africans.

http://www.malaysia.net/lists/sangkancil/2000-03/msg00055.html (President Wahid: Slavery Widespread in Saudi Arabia, Indonesian News, Indonesian Observer, March 2, 2000)

http://hrw.org/mideast/saudi/labor/
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35518 )Saudi sheik: 'Slavery is a part of Islam' )
African Holocaust (Maafa)

http://www.africanholocaust.net/news_ah/arabslavetrade.htm (very important site)

Posting video online: Thanks to Ayman!

2007-04-07T16:26:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Ayman who showed me how to upload video online!

The Party: A Sudanese Torture Story
This is the first enacted documentary from the Group Against Torture in Sudan http://GhostHouses.blogspot.com

It tells part of the story of what happening inside the government-run torture centers in Sudan...

حول نداء البشير للمصالحة وتراضي النفوس

2007-01-23T21:00:00.000-05:00

حول نداء البشير للمصالحة وتراضي النفوس

http://www.ghosthouses.blogspot.com/

في خطابه يوم الأحد 7 يناير2007 بمناسبة ذكري الإستقلال أطلق الرئيس البشير ماأسماه "نداء المصالحة الوطنية لاستعادة الحقوق والتراضي".ولم يفصح أكثر عن ماهية هذا النداء الغامض.

إن إستعادة الحقوق وتراضي النفوس التي يتحدث عنها الرئيس لن تتم في رأينا إلا وفق مبدأ الإعتراف التفصيلي بالجرائم التي أرتكبت ومازالت ترتكب في حق عشرات الألاف من ضحايا العنف والتعذيب في بيوت الاشباح علي امتداد الوطن

: إننا نري إن كان الرئيس جادآ في نداءه هذا أن يشرع في إتخاذ الخطوات التالية
1
الإعتذار العلني من قبل رئيس الجمهورية للضحايا وأسرهم وللشعب السوداني والمجتمع الدولي مع التعهد باجراء اللازم في جهاز الدولة لعدم تكرار هذه الجريمة دون حساب
2
تكوين لجان كشف الحقيقة لكشف كل جرائم التعذيب والقتل التي تمت منذ 30يونيو 1989 مهمة هذه اللجان استماع علنآ لشهادات ضحايا العنف وأن تستدعي كل المتهمين ليدلوا بحقيقة دورهم في العنف ويطلبوا العفو من الضحايا وأسرهم

3
تكوين لجان لتعويض الضحايا وأسر الشهداء وفق مبادئ الأعراف والقوانين الدولية
إن تراضي النفوس لن يتم إلا بعد ان يتقدم نافع علي نافع ; صلاح قوش; وغيرهم من كبار المسؤلين إلي لجان كشف الحقيقة ويقرواامام الضحايا ماارتكبوه من تعذيب في بيوت الأشباح

محمد القاضي
ع/ المجموعة السودانية لمناهضة التعذيب
Amherst, MA
USA
Jan 11, 2007

Interview with Mohamed & Magda

2006-12-19T22:39:00.000-05:00

By: GORDON DANIELS
Mohamed Elgadi stands in front of pictures drawn by Sudanese children depicting the horror of genocide in Darfur. The drawings were exhibited recently at Earthfoods in Amherst

AMHERST - Amherst residents Mohamed Elgadi and Magda Ahmed know firsthand the violence the Sudanese government is capable of handing down against its own people.

Twelve years ago, the couple came to the Valley as Sudanese refugees. Elgadi, 54, still bears emotional scars from the four months he was kept in a Sudanese government "ghost house," a secret place of physical and psychological torture.

His crime? Elgadi, along with an underground organization called the Democratic Alliance Group, says he was documenting the government's humanitarian abuses.

Since coming to America, Elgadi and Ahmed, 51, have worked to raise awareness about atrocities committed by the Sudanese government - and now about genocide in Darfur. Ahmed said she could not count how many times she and her husband have brought their story to classrooms, forums, rallies and panel discussions. "It's hard to count when you do this at least once a month for 12 years," said Ahmed.

Their tale includes accounts of how Elgadi was sold out by a friend's neighbor to government security agents; the hunt, with the Democratic Alliance Group, for ghost houses; Elgadi and Ahmed's journey to Yemen in search of safety, and, after civil war broke out there a year later, how they came to America.

"Being active in this way is part of my own healing," said Ahmed. "Part of the reason we are so active is closure.

"This is a way to get back at the Sudanese government," she said. "It's a way to keep us sane in an insane world, man."

Elgadi co-founded the Darfur Alert Coalition in Philadelphia while working in Pennsylvania with the American Friends Service Committee's Project Voice program. Project Voice seeks to add immigrants' voices to the discussion on American immigration policy. For a time, Elgadi was also president of GATS, Group Against Torture in Sudan, which he founded in Philadelphia.

At home in the Valley, Elgadi and Ahmed are active members of the local chapter of Amnesty International. Elgadi also serves on the advisory committee of Judgement on Genocide: International Citizens Tribunal for Sudan, a project that has created a forum for discussion of the genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Sudanese government.

Ahmed is co-founder of the Western Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur. The group seeks to raise awareness of the genocide in Darfur through education, panel discussions and petition drives. The coalition was also a driving force behind bringing a divestment resolution, which was later approved, to Amherst Town Meeting.

Life in the Sudan has gotten worse since Elgadi and Ahmed left in the early 1990s. "It wasn't as bloody as it is now," Ahmed said. "Now it's better to be a criminal than someone who is political."

The country, Ahmed said, is run by Islamist religious police. Like most people from Sudan, Elgadi and Ahmed are Muslims, but are quick to caution that not everyone who praises the name of Allah is Muslim. The Islamists, Ahmed alleges, are people who pervert the religion to satisfy their own needs. These are the people who have ruled Sudan since the 1990s, she said.

Elgadi and Ahmed believe the slaughter of people in Sudan is greater than what most politicians are willing to admit. At least 450,000 Sudanese civilians have died as a result of the government-backed genocide and 3.5 million have been turned into refugees, Elgadi said. More conservative estimates have the death total at 200,000, with 2 million refugees.

"The regime in Sudan, I don't know what people can do to escape it," Elgadi said. "They need to understand that they cannot do this ... they cannot torture and hurt their own people."

Despite the situation in Sudan a decade ago, Ahmed said leaving Sudan was difficult for her. "It was home," she said. Still, they had to leave.

After Elgadi was arrested, Ahmed was left with their two young daughters, alone and worried. Security agents began coming to the houses of Ahmed's extended family twice a day, riffling through their belongings and searching for passports. They were searching for Ahmed. The agents would pressure the family give her up.

Ahmed was working for World Education, a firm based in Boston. The company, then doing contract work for the United States Agency for International Development, was able to transport Ahmed and her children to a branch office in Yemen. Elgadi came to live with the family eight months later, after being released.

About a year after they left Sudan, civil war broke out in Yemen and the U.S. agency transported Ahmed, Elgadi and their children out of the country. They left with nothing but the clothes on their backs and a $5,000 debt for their trans-Atlantic flight.

In the Valley, Elgadi and Ahmed found a welcome home for their brand of civil activism. In 2003, they became heavily involved with raising awareness about the violence in their home country and Darfur.

"People need to take action, get angry," Ahmed said. "There are a list of actions people can do, but one of the best things you can do is talk to someone about this. It makes a difference, believe me, civil action works."

Want to write in Arabic?

2006-12-19T12:59:00.000-05:00

Go to this link: http://www.sudaneseonline.com/arabickey/index.shtml
and follow simple instruction to write in Arabic using this Arabic keyboard, then copy and paste on the place you want you message... try it

Albashir: ...مذنب ....مذنب.... مذنب

2006-11-20T23:09:00.000-05:00

شكراً لكم جميعاً، ضحايا، شهودً ، قضاة ، إتهامً، و دفاعً و محررين و ناشطين...شكراً لانتصاركم و نصركم للعدالة.

مذنب !!! بهذا الحكم قد شفيتم جراحاً كثيرة...اقله معنوياً.

لكم التحية و التجلة،

مودتي،

صديق عبد الهادي.
________
Dear family,
The above was a message from a friend of mine in Philadelphia posted in this link, which initiated by the Sudanese artist Tamador Sheikheldin who attended and covered the court in NYC last week:http://www.sudaneseonline.com/cgi-bin/sdb/2bb.cgi?seq=msg&board=60&msg=1163482988

mohamed elgadi

Senator Kerry should not apologize!

2006-11-03T21:54:00.000-05:00

after: http://www.cafepress.com/beatbushgear

Countdown show host, keith Olbermann, syas Bush not kerry should apologize to the US troops in Iraq. Watch MSNBC video here:

Nour Alsadig speech in Nyala, darfur

2006-10-28T18:09:00.000-05:00

Dear Family,
I encourage you to go to this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu_1DBl5bz0&mode=related&search=
and listen and watch the speech of ms. Nour Alsadig Alawad, a friend of mine and colleague while I was working in Darfur more than 25 years ago.

Alkattaha..!

2006-10-28T17:06:00.000-05:00

very powerful and 'beautiful' photo for a Sudanese Hurricane...!
A gift from Jan Pronk, the UN representative who was recently expelled from Sudan by al-Bashir.
Apparently he used this photo to explain the future of Sudan under the NIF regime..!

Free International Calls from the US...!

2006-10-14T15:16:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Ya Sarra

2006-09-22T12:30:00.000-05:00

Celeberate with Sarra and watch her new work and video on the following link:
http://www.alsarah.com/video.htm
If you had technical difficulties in opening the link from her website, you could access it aslo thru this one:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alsarah&search=Search

A New Face for Islam in North America

2006-09-21T16:55:00.000-05:00

A New Face for Islam in North America
September 21, 2006
By Stephanie Simon / Times Staff Writer
ROSEMONT, Ill. — Ingrid Mattson had given up God. She had stopped saying her rosaries, stopped taking Communion. She was an atheist, abroad in Paris the summer before her senior year of college. But she could not stop listening to the Koran.
read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-islam21sep21,1,7100052.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

Putting a Different Face on Islam in America
E-MailPrint Single Page Reprints Save

By NEIL MacFARQUHAR
Published: September 20, 2006
In a class on Islamic history at the Hartford Seminary some years back, the students were discussing a saying ascribed to the Prophet Muhammad that translates roughly as, “Whenever God wants the destruction of a people, he makes a woman their leader.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/20/nyregion/20mattson.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Rallies for Darfur in NYC

2006-09-19T08:53:00.000-05:00

Magda & Nahid

2006-09-16T18:47:00.000-05:00

B.B.T: Bad Breath Testometer!

2006-09-12T19:50:00.000-05:00

Until my idea of BBT get approved and patented (I got acknowlegment of receiving the idea) here is some important info on Bad Breath

Bad Breath Self-test
from: http://www.floss.com/bad_breath_self_test.htm
Many people have questions regarding their breath. Many are unable to tell if they have bad breath. Often times, you will hear a friend talk about someone else's horrible breath, yet never tell the other person. A simple technique one can perform on their own, is to take a bad breath self-test which involves a few simple steps:

A.) Take a dry, clean unscented cloth and retract the tongue with one hand and scrub the furthest part of your tongue for about 5 seconds. This should include about 4 good scrubs. Wait approximately 30 seconds and smell the cloth. If it has a bad smell, it may signify halitosis.

B.) Take a piece of unwaxed, unscented floss and floss the upper or lower posterior teeth. Usually 2 to 3 teeth should be sufficient. Wait about 30 seconds and smell the floss. Again, if it has a smell. one may have halitosis.

C.) Lick the back part of your hand ( not the palm side), for about 5 seconds. Wait about 30 seconds. If you smell a bad odor this too may indicate halitosis. These are some of the simple techniques one can use to help determine if they have bad breath. By brushing , flossing and gently brushing your tongue and visiting the dentist regularly, you may reduce the level of bad breath. If this does not help, your dentist can place you on an anti-halitosis program to help alleviate the problem.

Bad Breath Self-test
How Bad Is Your Breath? -can it be measured?
Some Tips to Combat Bad Breath
Send a Floss-o-gram
Women's Breath
Breathless: Your Practical Guide to Up-Close Fresh Breath Confidence
How to floss
Bad Breath Center
Smoking and Bad Breath

African Recipes!

2006-08-16T15:12:00.000-05:00

Check out this link: http://www.cbel.com/african_recipes/
It contains hundereds of great food recipes from around Africa... I found these links from Sudan:

Sudanese- Eating the Sudanese Way- Menus and Recipes from the Sudan- Recipe Sudani- Recipes from Around the World: Sudan- Sudan- Sudan: Menus & Recipes
Aslo, look at the Egyptian recipes, especially the vegetarians: http://www.vrg.org/recipes/egypt.htm

Let's create our own family's Recipe Book... I believe we have a lot to add here!

Our FIAT 1948

2006-08-06T19:00:00.000-05:00

Dear family,
Which one of these two models was the same model that our late father had purchased in 1948 in Khartoum?

I hope someone could shed more light on this vehicle and its life in our life.....

Darfur activism meets video gaming

2006-07-12T16:56:00.000-05:00

Play the game: www.darfurisdying.com
The ongoing violence in Sudan's Darfur region has spawned many forms of activism. The goal is to increase public awareness of the conflict, in which hundreds of thousands have died and more than two million people have been displaced.
Now, that activism is going online, in the form of a video game entitled Darfur is Dying.
The idea of a Darfur-related video game came from mtvU, the music video giant's network for university students.
The network has an ongoing campaign to raise awareness of the situation in Darfur. But last October, executives decided that they wanted to add a new component, something that would hopefully increase the level of student activism.
'Under your skin'
Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5153694.stm

الملوخية Jew's Mallow

2006-07-11T13:51:00.000-05:00

http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Corchorus+olitorius

Scientific Name: Corchorus olitorius

Edible Uses:

Leaves - raw or cooked[1, 27, 46, 61]. Young leaves are added to salads whilst older leaves are cooked as a pot-herb[2, 183, 269]. High in protein[183]. The dried leaves can be used as a thickener in soups[183].

Medicinal Uses Disclaimer
Demulcent; Diuretic; Febrifuge; Tonic.
The leaves are demulcent, diuretic, febrifuge and tonic. They are used in the treatment of chronic cystitis, gonorrhoea and dysuria. A cold infusion is said to restore the appetite and strength. The seeds are purgative. Injections of olitoriside, an extract from the plant, markedly improve cardiac insufficiencies and have no cumulative attributes; hence, it can serve as a substitute for strophanthin.

Cooking method: http://www.touregypt.net/magazine/magf4.htm

الملوخية

وهى نبات أخضر من الورقيات يتم تقطيعها إلى أجزاء صغيرة جداً ، يتميز بها الشعب المصرى ، وهى مشابهة بشكل كبير إلى الشوربة وتقدم قبل تناول الطبق الرئيسى .

المقادير :
- 2/1 كيلو ملوخية مخرط .
- 2 كوب شوربة مضاف إليه ملح وفلف .
- عشرة فصوص ثوم + الكزبرة جافة .
- 2 ملعقة سمن .

الطريقة :
- يدق الثوم مع الكزبرة ثم يحمر فى السمن .
- ترفع الشوربة على النار وبعد الغليان تضاف الملوخية ثم الثوم والكزبرة .
- تقلب جيداً ، ثم تقدم ساخنة .

The Rijjla plant (Purslane)

2006-07-11T13:07:00.000-05:00

Amazing medical facts on this famous Sudanese delicious plant: Rijjla!

Read more here: http://2bnthewild.com/plants/H186.htm

Purslane is a good edible and is eaten throughout much of Europe and Asia. It can be eaten fresh or cooked and has no bitter taste at all. Since it has a mucilaginous quality it is great for soups and stews.
Medical Uses: Purslane contains more Omega-3 fatty acids than any other leafy vegetable plant we know of. The most common dietary source of Omega-3s are cold water fish like Salmon. Omega-3s aid the body in the production of compounds that effect blood pressure, clotting, the immune system, prevent inflammation, lower cholesterol (LDL), prevent certain cancers and control coronary spasms.

In addition recent studies suggest that Omega- 3s may have positive effects on the brain and may aid in such conditions as depression, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, autism, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity and migraines. Though very beneficial, there are few good dietary sources other than seafood for Omaga-3s. (Some oils, nuts, grains and other leafy vegetables do contain Omega-3s)

Check this link for Purslane yugort salade: purslane cooking recipe

This link http://www.sweetearthorganicfarm.com/recipes.php has at least 6 different recipes you could easily follow in your kitchen. However, there is still one important recipe is missing: Purslane with Lentil (Sudanese dish). the recipe will be post here later.

NIIT in Sudan

2006-06-08T07:30:00.000-05:00

NIIT Staff including one from the family, do you know who? answer to follow...!

Agianst Islamophobia and Islamism

2006-02-28T11:11:00.000-05:00

Don't be silenced by extremists
A plea from 11 Canadian Muslim academics and activists:
The Toronto Star
http://tinyurl.com/gkxyr

Feb. 28, 2006. 10:37 AM
A curtain of fear has descended on the intelligentsia of the West, including Canada. The fear of being misunderstood as Islamophobic has sealed their lips, dried their pens and locked their keyboards.

With hundreds dead around the world in the aftermath of the now infamous Danish cartoons, Canada's writers, politicians and media have imposed a frightening censorship on themselves, refusing to speak their minds, thus ensuring that the only voices being heard are that of the Muslim extremists and the racist right.

Emboldened by the free rein they have received, Canada's Muslim extremists and their supporters flexed their muscles at Queen's Park last week, with speakers promising to drown the Danish people "in their own blood".

A protestor carried the sign "Kurt Westgaard — countdown to justice has begun ... it's just a matter of time."

Elsewhere, in Pakistan, a Muslim woman was pictured carrying a sign, "God Bless Hitler," and a Muslim cleric placed a $1 million reward for the murder of a Danish cartoonist. Embassies were burned, churches ruined and hundreds died in different Muslim countries.

Undoubtedly, Muslims were angered by the insulting cartoons. But the overblown reaction was partly due to their pent-up frustrations, and partly the result of orchestrated mischief by certain Islamist leaders.

Islamic societies, run by variances of autocratic regimes, are in turmoil. Ravaged by rampant corruption, a widening gap between rich and poor, and suppression of dissent, the people in these societies have lost hope in their own futures.

The U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, the unending occupation of the Palestinian territories and the quagmire of the Kashmiri dispute, have led many Muslims and non-religious peoples of Islamic origin, to view the West as the source of their countries' problems.

The growing popularity of the extremists in Muslim societies, the electoral success of the likes of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran, Shia radicals in Iraq, and Hamas in the Palestinian territories, rather than signifying the growing religiosity of the peoples of the Middle East, reflect political despair in the region.

In the West, people of Muslim origin, be they religious or secular, are facing growing racism, Islamophobia and discrimination reflected in immigration policies and anti-terrorist legislation.

The cartoon crisis was the straw that broke the camel's back.

The Muslim extremists seized the opportunity and added fuel to fire. The calculated role played by the two Danish Muslim extremists, backed by Islamic fundamentalist regimes, is a case in point. They not only aggravated an already inflammatory situation, but added their own infuriating images, never published in the West, as they took their case to clerics in the Middle East.

Both, Imam Abu Laban and Ahmad Akkari have escaped the attention and scrutiny their acts deserved. These two men, who now sit in the comfort of their homes in Denmark, should be held accountable for their criminal actions.

For too long the media have created an image that portrays communities from the Muslim world as a monolith entity, best represented by extremists.

The media have created a false dichotomy that pits these Muslim extremists against the West. The fact is that in all Muslim countries, progressive citizens are trying to break loose from the tyranny of the autocrats and clerics and wish to develop a civil society where citizenship is based not on inherited race or religion, but the equality of all, irrespective of faith, race, sexuality or gender.

In Tehran today, the city's bus drivers are on strike. Thousands have been arrested; entire families have disappeared. Yet, this has not made a blip in the western media. If the same bus drivers were burning books or embassies, this would certainly be on the evening news. This is an appalling example that only outrageous, violent expressions of faith by Muslim extremists are taken as the aspirations of people from Islamic societies.

It is time for Canadians to stand up for the hard-won democratic values that the Muslim extremists oppose.

By rejecting the agenda of the extremists, Canada's intelligentsia would be standing shoulder to shoulder with the Muslims and secular individuals from the region who reject both Islamophobia and Islamism. Islamism is not the new revolutionary movement against global forces of oppression, as a section of the left in this country erroneously perceives.

Today, the religious right and autocracies in the so-called Islamic world are united in their call for passing legislation to make any discussion on religion a criminal offence. This, at a time when many writers in Jordan, Iran, Yemen, Pakistan and Afghanistan are rotting in jails, facing charges of apostasy and blasphemy.

We call on Canadian politicians and intellectuals to stand up for freedom of expression. Our democratic values, including free speech, should not be compromised under the garb of fighting hate.
To fight Islamophobia and racism, we do not need to sacrifice free speech and debate.

2006-01-26T15:33:00.000-05:00

http://www.copts-united.com/sca/sca1.php?subaction=showfull&id=1137523836&ucat=7&archive

محمود محمد طه ـ " شهيد الفكر وجاليليو العالم الإسلامى "

مقالات مختاره

17th of January 2006
بقلم مسعد حجازى ـ تورونتو ـ كندا " الحرب على الإرهاب " التى شنها الرئيس الأمريكى جورج دبليو بوش فى أعقاب أحداث الحادى عشر من سبتمير عام 2001 هى حرب لن يكسبها بوش، ولن تكسبها الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، وهذا ليس كلامى بل هو كلام الرئيس بوش الإبن نفسه، ففى أحد أيام شهر أكتوبر 2004 وأثناء حملات إنتخابات الرئاسة الأمريكية الأخيرة، أدلى الرئيس بوش بحديث لــ " ماثيو لاو" مقدم برنامج " توداى شو " ـ شبكة إن . بى . سى. التليفزيونية الإخبارية قال فيه بالحرف : " إننى لا أعتقد أننا يمكن أن نكسب الحرب على الإرهاب "!!لم تكد تمضى ساعات قليلة على هذا التصريح الخطير لبوش حتى سارع البيت الأبيض ومستشارو الرئيس الأمريكى ومدراء حملته الإنتخابية الى نفى ما قاله بوش، وأنه لم يكن يقصد ذلك، فقد خشى هؤلاء المستشارون أن يصبح تصريح بوش هو " المانشيت " الرئيسى لكبريات الصحف الأمريكية فى صباح اليوم التالى، خاصة وأن منافس بوش مرشح الحزب الديمقراطى المعارض جون كيرى كان قد نجح فى فرض قضية الحرب فى العراق والحرب على الإرهاب على حملات الدعاية الإنتخابية.التصريح الذى أدلى به بوش لم يكن زلة لسان، بل كان ردا طبيعيا وبطريقة تلقائية على سؤال، إذ تصادف أن شاهدت هذا الحديث التليفزيونى الذى كان قد أذيع على الهواء مباشرة وكان بوش يتحدث مع " مات لاو " فى الباص الذى كان يستخدمه الرئيس الأمريكى ويجوب به جميع أرجاء الولايات الأمريكية فى حملته الإنتخابية.

فى الواقع أن التصريح الخطير الذى أدلى به بوش كان محصلة آراء وتوصيات العديد من الخبراء والمستشارين ومراكز الأبحاث الأمريكية المتخصصة ، ومؤداها أن التصدى لخطر ما يسمى بـ " الإسلام المتشدد " أو المتطرف Radical Islam يكون بتشجيع الإسلام المعتدل، وطرحت فى هذا السياق اسماء عديدة لمفكرين إسلاميين معتدلين من عدة بلدان عربية واسلامية، كان من بينهم اسم محمود محمد طه، وهذا الإسم يحظى باحترام وإعجاب كبيرين فى أوساط الجامعات ومراكز الأبحاث المتخصصة فى الولايات المتحدة وكندا وأوروبا طوال العقدين الأخيرين، وللأسف فإن الجيل الحالى من الشباب فى العالم العربى لا يعرف شيئا عن هذا المفكر السودانى الكبير، وأعتقد أن الوقت قد حان لتعريف القارىء العربى والمسلم بقصة هذا الرجل الذى كان بحق شهيدا للفكر، يستحق لقب " جاليليو العالم الإسلامى "، كما أعتقد أن القائمين على هذه الصحيفة الإلكترونية الغراء يشاركوننى الرأى فى أن المفهوم العصرى للحرية، وحرية الصحافة هو حرية المواطن فى الحصول على المعلومات، وهذا المفهوم الجديد أو المتطور أصبحت تكفله قوانين خاصة صدرت فى كل من الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وكندا خلال الربع قرن الأخير.

إن قصة المفكر الإسلامى محمود محمد طه وهى فى الواقع مأساة ، وعلى الرغم من أنها وقعت منذ أكثر من عقدين من الزمان إلا أنها تكتسب مغزى وأبعادا جديدة فى ظل الأوضاع المأساوية الراهنة التى يمر بها العالمين العربى والإسلامى.فى الثامن عشر من يناير الجارى سوف تحل الذكرى الـ 21 لإعدام المفكر الإسلامى الأستاذ محمود محمد طه، رئيس الحزب الجمهوري السودانى ، وأحد كبار المهتمين بشئون الدين الإسلامي، ومن أقطابه المجتهدين في تطوره، وتمشيه مع روح العصر الحديث.. وله فيه الكثير من النظريات، والتفاسير والأراء التى طالما إحتدم الجدل والنقاش حولها سواء طوال حياته التى امتدت إلى نحو ستة وسبعين عاما وحتى بعد إعدامه فى صباح الثامن عشر من يناير عام 1985 .

جاء إعدام المفكر الإسلامى محمود محمد طه إثر محاكمة هزلية وباطلة من الناحيتين القانونية والشرعية بعد اتهامه بتهمة الردة كما جاء في حيثيات الحكم الهزيل، والتي وصف الاستاذ محمود قضاتها بانهم غير مؤهلين فنياً، وضعفوا اخلاقياً عن أن يمتنعوا عن ان يضعوا انفسهم تحت سيطرة السلطة التنفيذية تستعملهم لاضاعة الحقوق واذلال الشعب وتشويه الاسلام واهانة الفكر والمفكرين واذلال المعارضين السياسين.لقد عارض الأستاذ محمود قوانين سبتمبر 1983 الخاصة بتطبيق الشريعة الإسلامية فى السودان والتى أصدرها نظام مايو بقيادة الرئيس جعفر النميرى ، أو بمعنى أدق عارض الفهم الخاطئ والتطبيق الخاطئ للشريعة الإسلامية فى وقت كان السودان الشقيق يعانى من وطأة الفقر وانتشار المجاعة ، وسادت البلاد حالة من التذمر والإستياء نتيجة لتدهور الأوضاع وانتشار المظالم والممارسات القمعية لنظام الرئيس نميرى الذى ارتأى فى قوانين سبتمبر طوق النجاة له ولنظامه الإستبدادى الفاسد ـ أو بعبارة أخرى محاولة استغلال الدين لتحقيق أغراض ومآرب سياسية وللحفاظ على السلطة والسلطان والثروة والرشوة ـ نعم الرشوة ... ثمن تواطئ النميرى ومساعداته الثمينة للمخابرات المركزية الأمريكية السى آى إيه فى عملية تهريب يهود " الفلاشا " من اثيوبيا إلى إسرائيل عبر الأراضى السودانية .

فى عام 1983 كان قد مضى على الرئيس نميرى فى الحكم قرابة أربعة عشر عاما فلماذا لم يحاول خلالها أن يطبق قوانين الشريعة الإسلامية بحذافيرها ؟!! لقد أعلن محمود محمد طه رأيه جهارا نهارا فى قوانين سبتمبر عقب صدورها ، وكرره أيضا فى محكمة الردة فى السابع من يناير عام 1985 حيث قال :(أنا اعلنت رأيي مراراً في قوانين سبتمبر 1983 من أنها مخالفة للشريعة وللإسلام. أكثر من ذلك فإنها شوهت الشريعة وشوهت الاسلام، ونفرّت عنه.. يضاف الى ذلك أنها وضعت واستغلت لإرهاب الشعب وسوقه الى الاستكانة عن طريق اذلاله، ثم إنها هددت وحدة البلاد.. هذا من حيث التنظير، وأما من ناحية التطبيق فان القضاة الذين يتولون المحاكمة تحتها غير مؤهلين فنياً، وضعفوا أخلاقياً عن أن يمتنعوا عن أن يضعوا انفسهم تحت سيطرة السلطة التنفيذية تستعملهم لاضاعة الحقوق واذلال الشعب وتشويه الاسلام واهانة الفكر والمفكرين واذلال المعارضين السياسين ومن اجل ذلك فإني غير مستعد للتعاون مع أي محكمة تنكرت لحرمة القضاء المستقل، ورضيت أن تكون اداة من ادوات اذلال الشعب وإهانة الفكر الحر والتنكيل بالمعارضين السياسين )... "انتهى"

كان ما قاله محمود محمد طه هو كلمة حق فى محكمة سلطان جائر وحاكم مستبد ، وترجمة وتطبيقا عمليا لقول رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم " خير الجهاد كلمة حق أمام سلطان جائر " . " ان الثامن عشر من يناير 1985 قد أعاد الى الأذهان احلك صفحات التاريخ الإسلامى والانساني سواداً . واخزى ايامها عاراً حينما كان القتل هو ترياق الافكار وجزاء المفكرين . في 18 يناير من عام 1985 روع العالم ، و إهتز الضمير الإنساني ، في جميع أقطار هذا الكوكب ، من جراء المؤامرة السوداء ، و الجريمة البشعة التي أرتكبت في الخرطوم حيث أغتيل الأستاذ محمود محمد طه ، على يد رئيس جمهورية السودان آنذاك جعفر نميري و بطانته المتدثرة بدثار الشريعة و التصوف ..

ولقد كان لوقفة الأستاذ الفريدة وابتسامته في وجه الموت انتصارا للحق وهزيمة لخفافيش الظلام ودعاة الهوس الديني في ذلك اليوم المشهود فاستنكر العالم الجريمة النكراء وأدان مرتكبيها ومجد الشعراء والكتاب موقف الأستاذ وبطولته الأسطورية" . ( موقع الفكرة الجمهورية على الشبكة العنكبوتية )

ويقول الدكتور نور حمد ـ الأستاذ فى جامعة واشنطن الغربية:(( " إعدام المفكرين التجديديين، في التاريخ الإسلامي، ليس أمرا جديدا. فلقد ظلت تهمة الزندقة، والخروج على إجماع المسلمين، هي التهمة المفضلة لدى القابضين على أزمة السلطة، والثروة، للقضاء على كل مفكر، وكل فكرة تعمل على تحريك الراكد، وعلى تنوير الناس بإنسانيتهم، وبحقوقهم المسلوبة. جرى ذلك، للحسين بن المنصور، المعروف بالحلاج، في القرن الرابع الهجري (العاشر الميلادي). ولقد كان الحلاج، من المتصوفة الذين لم يكتفوا بالصلاة، وبالتسبيح، وبتشقيق المعاني، وحسب، وإنما اتجه للحديث عن تفشي المظالم، وعن غرق الحكام في الترف، وإهمالهم شؤون العامة. حاول الحلاج نصرة المظلومين، من غمار الناس، فأزعج ذلك أهل السلطة، والثروة، في تلك الحقبة، فدبروا له تلك المحاكمة التي قضت بصلبه. ومع ذلك، نجحت السلطات، في تاليب العامة، وفي حشدهم، واستخدامهم ضده، رغم أنه لم يصدع بآرائه، إلا لنصرة أولئك العامة، هادفا إلى استرداد حقوقهم، وكرامتهم الإنسانية المضيعة )).(إنتهى)

لقد شهد التاريخ البشرى على مر العصور تحالفا أو تفاهما ضمنيا بين سلطة الحكم أو الدولة والسلطة الدينية على إضطهاد الفكر الحر والتنكيل به ويكمن الخلاف فقط فى الأساليب المتبعة فتجد سلطة الدولة خاصة فيما يعرف باسم الدول البوليسية الفاشية تضطهد الفكر المتجدد بوسائلها المختلفة من سجن وتعذيب وسحل وهتك عرض وخطف وقتل دون محاكمة أو بإجراء محاكمات صورية هزلية لا تتوافر فيها أبسط الحقوق والضمانات للمتهم ...الخ ، كما أن السلطة الدينية أيضا مارست الإضطهاد للفكر وتمارسه بوسائلها المتنوعة من طرد من الهيكل أو الكنيسة أو من هيئة العلماء أو الحرمان من البركة والتخويف من النار أو الحرق حتى الموت أو بالتفتيش عما فى الصدور والقلوب أوالتكفير والذندقة أو بإطلاق تهم العمالة والخيانة والتجسس... الخ هذا التحالف المشبوه بين السلطتين فى إضطهاد الفكر هو فى الواقع إرهاب فكرى وهو أخطر صنوف وأنواع الإرهاب وأخطر من الإرهاب الجسدى لأنه فى حقيقة الأمر إرهاب لضمير الإنسان ولوجوده الحقيقى ، كما أنه إرهاب يرتكب باسم الأديان والأديان منه براء ، وإن كان من يرتكبه ماهم إلا ذئاب بشرية جائعة ومتعطشة للسلطة والمكاسب الدنيوية.من المعروف للخاصة والعامة أنه لا كهنوت ولا رهبانية فى الإسلام .

، وبالرغم من ذلك قام بعض كبار رجال الدين وليس كلهم على مر عصور التاريخ الإسلامى وخاصة منذ العصر الأموى بتبرير الكثير من المظالم والتجاوزات والسياسات الخاطئة إما خوفا وهلعا أو نفاقا وتقربا للحكام وطمعا فى تحقيق مغانم ومكاسب دنيوية _ هى إذن سلطة غير أنها تابعة لسلطة الحكم أو الدولة على عكس حال سلطة الكنيسة الكاثوليكية فى أوروبا العصر الوسطى حيث كانت للكنيسة السلطة والسيادة المطلقة ، وللبابا سلطة وسطوة على الأمراء والملوك والأباطرة يمنحهم بموجبها البركة أو اللعنة.يوم الإعدام:فى الذكرى التاسعة عشر لإعدام المفكر المجتهد الإسلامى محمود محمد طه كتب الدكتور نور حمد مقالا قيما قال فيه:(( جاء في مسرحية الحلاج، للشاعر الراحل، صلاح عبد الصبور :

صفونا صفا صفاً

الأجهر صوتا، والأطول، وضعوه في الصف الأول

ذو الصوت الخافت والمتواني، وضعوه في الصف الثاني،

أعطوا كلا منا دينارا من ذهبٍ قاني براقاً لم تمسسه كفْ

قالوا صيحوا: زنديقٌ كافرْ

صحنا: زنديقٌ كافرْ

قالوا صيحوا: فليقتل،

إنا نحمل دمه في رقبتنا

صحنا: فليقتل، إنا نحمل دمه في رقبتنا

نفس هذا المشهد، وأعني مشهد هتاف العامة، في وجه مفكر محكوم عليه بالإعدام، تكرر بعد قرابة الألف، ومائة عام، تقريبا، في سجن كوبر بالخرطوم، في يوم 18 يناير 1985!

وقد وثقت بالقلم، لمشهد تنفيذ الحكم على الأستاذ محمود محمد طه، الصحفية الأمريكية، جوديث ميللر، وأشارت إلى صدمتها عند سماع من هتفوا (تحيا العدالة)، أو (أخذت العدالة مجراها)، في ذلك اليوم الأسود، من تاريخ السودان المعاصر. كانت ميللر، وقتها، مسؤولة عن مكتب صحيفة نيويورك تايمز بالقاهرة. وقد جاءت إلى الخرطوم بقصد تغطية الحدث. وبالفعل، فقد أرسلت ميللر، تقريرها الذي أعدته عن حادثة التفيذ، إلى صحيفتها في نيويورك، وتم نشره في صبيحة يوم 19 يناير، 1985.وفي عام 1996 أخرجت جوديث ميللر كتابا، أسمته (لله تسعة وتسعون إسما) God has Ninety Nine Names ناقشت فيه الحركات الإسلامية، في العالم العربي، والإسلامي.

وقد كرست الجزء الأول من الكتاب، لحادثة التنفيذ التي جرت في حق الأستاذ محمود محمد طه، في سجن كوبر، في العاشرة من صبيحة يوم الجمعة، 1985، والتي كانت أحد شهود العيان لها. جاء في وصف ميللر، للحادثة، في كتابها (لله تسعة وتسعون إسماً)، ما نصه:

(كان صباحا مثاليا. بعد سويعات، تصبح الخرطوم خانقة. ولكن عند السادسة من صباح 18 يناير من عام 1985 كان الهواء صافيا. وكانت السماء قد لبست بالفعل زرقة حمام السباحة. في غرفتي بفندق الهيلتون، كان الصوت الوحيد، هو صوت مكيف الهواء، ذي العشرين سنة، وهو يضخ هواء محتمل السخونة. شربت قهوتي، وقرأت جريدة الصباح، محاولة ألا أفكر فيما سيحدث. لقد رأيت وقمت بأشياء كثيرة، بوصفي رئيسة مكتب صحيفة نيويورك "تايمز" بالقاهرة. كما شهدت أحداثا مروعة عديدة منذ رحلتي الأولى إلى الإقليم في عام 1971، وأنا لم أزل طالبة حديثة السن. غير أني، لم أغطي حادثة تنفيذ حكم بالإعدام. بعد ساعة خرجت في طريقي إلى سجن كوبر. ساحة سجن كوبر مستطيلة الشكل، وبحجم ميدان لكرة القدم. عندما وصلت برفقة جمال محي الدين، مدير مكتب مجلة "تايمز" بمصر، كانت ثلاثة أرباع تلك الساحة ممتلئة بالناس. كنت ألبس جلبابا أبيضا فضفاضا، وغطاء للرأس، لئلا يكتشف حراس السجن أنني شخص أجنبي. لوح لنا الشرطي بيده إيذانا لنا بدخول موقف السيارات. فعل ذلك، من غير أن يلقي حتى بنظرة ثانية نحوي في المقعد الخلفي. علما بأن المقعد الخلفي هو المكان الطبيعي، لوجود امرأة في سيارة، في الشرق الأوسط. خفضت رأسي بينما سرنا أنا وجمال ببطء، وسط الحشد، نحو قلب ساحة السجن، لنجد مكانا للجلوس على الأرض الرملية. كانت المشنقة في الجانب البعيد من الساحة. مرتفعة نوعا ما، غير أنها أقل في الارتفاع من حوائط السجن المبنية من الحجر الرملي. كان المشهد في كوبر مرحا. لا شئ هناك يشبه الصور المتجهمة التي رأيتها للسجون الأمريكية حيث يحتشد أصدقاء وأقارب المحكوم عليهم بالإعدام، خارج الأسوار، وسط المتظاهرين المعترضين الذين يحملون الشموع في الليل. يبدو أنني كنت المرأة الوحيدة في الساحة. وبدا أن كثيرا من الحاضرين، الذين يقدرون ببضع مئات، يعرفون بعضهم البعض. ظلوا يحيون بعضهم البعض، بتحية الإسلام التقليدية " السلام عليكم" ويجيء الرد مرات ومرات "وعليكم السلام". الرجال ذوو البشرات الداكنة، في عمائمهم التي يبلغ ارتفاعها القدم، وجلابيبهم البيضاء الفضفاضة، يتضاحكون ويتجاذبون أطراف الحديث، حول حالة الطقس، بشائر محصول تلك السنة، والحرب التي لا تنتهي في جنوب السودان. ورويدا رويدا، جلس كل واحد على الرمل، تحت وهج الشمس، التي بدأت حرارتها تزداد قسوة مع كل دقيقة تمر. كان الموعد المعلن لتنفيذ الحكم هو الساعة العاشرة. قبل الزمن المحدد بقليل، قيد محمود محمد طه إلى الساحة. الرجل المحكوم عليه والذي كانت يداه مربوطتان خلف ظهره، بدأ لي أقل حجما مما كنت أتوقع. ومن المكان الذي كنت أجلس فيه، وبينما كان الحراس يسرعون به إلى الساحة، بدا لي أصغر من عمره البالغ ستة وسبعين عاما. سار مرفوع الرأس، وألقى نظرة سريعة على الحشد. عندما رآه الحاضرون، انتصب كثيرون منهم واقفين على أقدامهم، وطفقوا يومئون ويلوحون بقبضات أيديهم نحوه. ولوح قليلون منهم بالمصاحف في الهواء. تمكنت فقط من التقاط لمحة خاطفة من وجه طه، قبل أن يضع الحارس الذي قام بالتنفيذ، كيسا ملونا على رأسه وجسده. ولن أنسي ما حييت، التعبير المرتسم على وجهه. كانت عيونه متحدية، وفمه صارما، ولم تبد عليه مطلقا، أية علامة من علامات الخوف. بدأ الحشد في الهتاف، بينما كان مجندان سودانيان يلبسان زيا رملي اللون، يضعان عقدة الحبل على المكان المفترض أن تكون فيه رقبة محمود طه. ورغم أن ضجيج الحشد قد ابتلع أصوات الجنديين، إلا أنه بدا وكأنهما كانا يصيحان ضده. فجأة تراجع الحراس للوراء، ثم سُحبت أرضية المنصة. فاشتد الحبل، واهتز الغطاء الموضوع على جسد طه في الهواء. اشتعل الهدير في الساحة "الله أكبر". وتكثف الهتاف عندما بدأ الحشد في تكرار الهتاف بشكل جماعي، "الإسلام هو الحل". الرجال الذين امتلأوا حماسة، عانقوا وقبَّلوا بعضهم البعض. أحد الرجال الذين كانوا بجانبي صرخ، "أخذت العدالة مجراها"، ثم جثا على ركبتيه، ووضع جبهته على الرمل وتمتم بصلاة إسلامية. الحالة الاحتفالية التي جرت من حولي، صعقتني، وأصابتني بالغثيان. جذبت جمال من كم قميصه، محاولة أن أشعره بأنه يتعين علينا مغادرة المكان، فقد كنت بالفعل، عاجزة عن النطق. في حالة التوتر العصبي التي اعترتني لابد أنني قد قمت لا شعوريا بسحب الغطاء الذي كان يغطي رأسي، فانحرف عن موضعه. استشعر جمال الخطر، وجذب الغطاء على ناصيتيْ شعري اللتين انكشفتا، ودفعني بحزم صوب المخرج. وبينما كنا نشق طريقنا صوب البوابة الحديدية الثقيلة، بدأت الرمال في الثوران والارتفاع في شكل سحابة برتقالية نتيجة لجرجرة الحشد لأقدامهم على الأرض الترابية. عند وصولي للمدخل، لويت عنقي لألقي نظرة أخيرة على المشنقة. كان الكيس، وجسد طه لا يزالان متدليان على الحبل. فتساءلت في نفسي، متى سينزلونه؟. لدى كثير من السودانيين الذين هللوا لإعدامه في ذلك اليوم، فإن طه قد اقترف أسوأ جريمة يمكن أن ترتكب. لقد أدين بتهمة الردة عن الإسلام. وهي تهمة نفاها طه، الذي أصر حتى النهاية، أنه ليس مهرطقا، أو مرتدا عن الإسلام، وإنما مصلح ديني، ومؤمن وقف في وجه التطبيق الوحشي للشريعة الإسلامية، "قانون المسلمين المقدس" والطريقة التي فهمها ونفذها بها الرئيس جعفر نميري. من وحي الموقف، أحسست، أنا أيضا، أن طه لم يقتل بسبب يتعلق بنقص في قناعته الدينية، وإنما بسبب من نقصهم هم)) .. إنتهى نص ميللر. (ص. ص.11 –12). التهليل لإعدام أي إنسان، بغض النظر عن جريرته، سلوك قوي الدلالة، على سيطرة الروح الهمجية والبربرية، على وعي من يتحمس له، ويقوم به. وقد مر الغرب بتجارب مماثلة لهذه التجارب، في مسار تطوره الوئيد، نحو الديمقراطية، وترسيخ حكم القانون، ودولة الحقوق، والمواطنة. فمشهد العامة الذين تحشدهم السلطات، وتعبئهم ضد المفكرين، والعلماء، فيتوافدون على ساحات التنفيذ، مستمتعين بإعدام الأبرياء، مهللين له، مشهد قد كان شائعا، في أوروبا القرون الوسطى. ولقد عرفت المناطق الوسطى من أوروبا، حتى بداية القرن السابع عشر، محاكم الساحرات، وإدانتهن بتهمة ممارسة السحر، بل وحرقهن في أتون المحارق، وهن حيات. كما ظلت أنجلترا، تمارس محاكمة المخالفين للعقيدة الدينية السائدة، حتى القرن السابع عشر. وقد تعرض وليام بن، الذي هاجر في عام 1682 ، إلى الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، وأصبح الأب المؤسس لولاية بنسلفانيا، إلى المحاكمات، والسجن، بسبب إنتمائه إلى طائفة الكويكرز. وطائفة الكويكرز، طائفة دينية، مسالمة، لا يؤمن أتباعها بالعنف، وبالحرب. وهي طائفة تدعو إلى الإخاء، والمساواة، وكفالة الحريات. غير أن الكويكرز تعرضوا لمحاكمات مستمرة من جانب السلطات الكنسية الإنجليزية، حتى إضطروا إلى الهجرة، إلى الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، بسبب المضايقات. ولعل أكثر ما اثار حفيظة رجال الدين الإنجليز على الكويكرز، قولهم بضرورة خروج رجال الدين من بين الله، وبين الناس. ومعروف أن الكويكرز ليس لهم قساوسة مثل بقية الطوائف المسيحية. لاحقت الكويكرز المحاكمات، في أمريكا التي هربوا إليها. فقد حوكموا في أمريكا، وعذبوا، وسجنوا. وتم منعهم من الدخول إلى الأراضي الأمريكية. وقد وصل الأمر بسلطات نيو إنجلند، حد محاكمة قبطان أي سفينة تأتي إلى السواحل الأمريكية، بواحد من طائفة الكويكرز. والطريف أن أمريكا التي منعتهم من دخول أراضيها، بادئ الأمر، بل وقامت بشنق بعضهم، أسست فيما بعد، أهم سمات دستورها، وقوانينها على فكر الكويكرز. ويعتبر ويليام بن، الذي ورد ذكره قبل قليل، أحد الآباء المؤسسين للحريات الدينية في التاريخ الأمريكي. وقد أعتبرت الوثيقة التي كتبها ويليام بن، وحملت عبارة: ((ليس هناك رجال يملكون التخويل، أو السلطة، حتى يتحكموا في ضمائر الناس، في الأمور الدينية))، أول تأكيد واضح، في التاريخ الأمريكي، على هيمنة (القانون الأساس)، على كل قانون آخر، يمكن أن تتم إجازته.

كان الشعار الملازم للأستاذ محمود محمد طه، طوال حركته الفكرية، هو شعار: ((الحرية لنا، ولسوانا)). وقد قال الأستاذ محمود أيضا، في هذا المنحى، :(( ليس هناك رجل من الكمال بحيث يؤتمن على حريات الآخرين، فضمان الحرية، هو دوام سهر كل فرد عليها)).وقد انصبت كثير من كتابات الأستاذ محمود على نقد ظاهرة رجال الدين، وأنها ظاهرة دخيلة على الفضاء الإسلامي. فهي، كما يرى الأستاذ محمود، ظاهرة ذات جذور يهودية مسيحية. وقد انتقلت إلى الفضاء الإسلامي، حين تحولت الدولة الإسلامية إلى مملكة، وأصبحت لرجال الدين وظائف في بلاط الملوك، الغرض منها الحفاظ على الأوضاع السائدة، وإعطاء تلك الأوضاع سندا دينيا. وما من شك، أن تهديد افكار الأستاذ محمود لهذا الكهنوت الدخيل الذي ظل مستمرا منذ العصر الأموي، هو الذي قاد رجال الدين عندنا، إلى السعي الدؤوب لإعدامه. أردت أن أشير، بكل ما تقدم، في قصة الكويكرز، ومحاكماتهم، إلى أن التاريخ الإنساني، متشابه. ونحن لا نزال نعيش، بهذا المعنى، في المرحلة الأدني في مسار حركة نمو الوعي. خاصة، فيما يتعلق بكيفية إدارة الصراع في قضايا الخلاف الديني، وقضايا الحرية، والدستور، والحقوق. نحن لا نزال في المنطقة التي خرجت منها أوروبا، وخرجت منها أمريكا، قبل ثلاثة قرون تقريبا. ولابد أن ترسى بنا السفينة، في مجال كيفية التعامل مع قضايا الخلاف الديني، وكيفية إدارة الخلاف الفكري، في نفس المرسى الذي رسوا فيه هم قبلنا، بنحو قرنين، أو ثلاثة.

ولا يعني هذا أنه لا فكاك لنا من أن يكون الغرب، مرجعيتنا في كل شيء. وإنما يعني فقط، أن قضية الحقوق الأساسية، قضية عالمية، ولابد من أخذ المرجعية الغربية فيها، بعين الإعتبار. والمرجعية الغربية نفسها لم تأت من العدم. وإنما تعود إلى مرجعيات سبقتها، في الفكر الإسلامي، وفي الفكر الإغريقي.مشكلتنا أننا نسينا سمة التركيب في تراثنا. وأصبحنا ننظر إلى ثقافة الغير، بعين الريبة. حتى بلغنا درجة العجز عن رؤية عناصر، ومكونات ثقافتنا التي حدث أن تبناها الآخرون، وطوروها. هناك إتجاه، وسط بعض الناشطين الإسلامويين لكي يجعلوا من قضية الحقوق، قضية نسبية، تأخذ مرجعيتها، من المحيط الثقافي الخاص بالجماعة البشرية المعينة. وكأنهم يريدون بذلك أن يقولوا: ليس هناك مقياس عالمي موحد لحقوق الإنسان. ولذلك، لا يحق لبقية العالم أن يحشر أنفه في شؤوننا، فيما يتعلق بقضايا الحقوق. وكل هذه الإلتواءات التي يمارسها الناشطون الإسلامويون، القصد، الأول، والأخير منها، هو تكريس حالة مصادرة الحقوق القائمة في الفضاء العربسلامي.

وهذه النسبية، التي تبدو مثل،(نسبية بلا ضفاف)، يمكن أن تجعل ـ على سبيل المثال ـ من استخدام القانون لمنع النساء، من قيادة السيارات، في بلد مثل السعودية، عملا مبررا، دستوريا، وقانونيا. كما يمكن، أيضا، أن تجعل من قتل الناس، بسبب أرائهم عملاً مبرراً أيضا!. نعم، هناك اختلافات فيما يتعلق ببعض الحقوق، بين ثقافة وأخرى. فقضايا مثل الإجهاض، والمثلية الجنسية، والزواج من نفس الجنس، (الجندر) على سبيل المثال، ستظل قضايا خلافية. وهي محل خلاف شديد، حتى في داخل الفضاء الغربي نفسه. غير أن الحقوق الأساسية، التي لا يكون الدستور دستوراً، إلا إذا تضمنها، تبقى أمرا عالميا، لا خلاف عليه. وحقيقة الأمر، فإن الإعتراضات على (عالمية) حقوق الإنسان، لا تاتي عادة، إلا من جانب البلدان العربية، والإسلامية، التي هي صاحبة أسوأ سجل في حقوق الإنسان! من الحقوق الأساسية التي لا خلاف عليها، (عالميا) حرية الإعتقاد، وحق التعبير عن الرأي، والدعوة للمعتقد، وحق التنظيم، وحق اختيار الحاكم، وحق عزله.

قال أبو العلاء المعري، قبل قرون، وقرون: مُلَّ المقام، فكم أعاشر أمةًً، أمرت بغير صلاحها، أمراؤها ظلموا الرعيةَ، واستباحوا كيدَها، وعدوا مصالحَها، وهم أجراؤها فضرورة أن يكون للناس الحق، في انتخاب من يلي أمورهم، وحقهم في عزله، متى ما حاد عن خدمة مصالحهم، ليست مسألة غربية بحتة. كما أن حرية الضمير، والمعتقد، أمور كفلها القرآن أصلا، ولم يتركها لأهواء القابضين، على أزمَّة السلطة، والثروة. فقد جاء في القرآن الكريم: ((فذكر إنما انت مذكر، لست عليهم بمسيطر)). وجاء أيضا: ((لا إكراه في الدين، قد تبين الرشد، من الغي)). وقبل هذا وذاك فالبداهة تقول، ليس من حق كائن من كان، أن يدعي أن الله قد منحه، تخويلاً بأن يقرر في صحة وبطلان عقائد الناس، إلى الحد الذي يمكنه به إهدار دمهم، وتجويز قتلهم. نعم، لم يجر تطبيق عملي للآيات التي سبق ذكرها، في الحيز العملي، عبر التاريخ الإسلامي. فالتاريخ الإسلامي، على سبيل المثال، قد أقر الرق، الذي وجده ممارسا، كما أمر بقتل المرتد، بل وقتل تارك الصلاة. غير أن التاريخ الإسلامي، مشابه لتاريخ بقية الأديان الأخرى، على ظهر الكوكب.

فالغرب المسيحي، لم يعرف كفالة الحقوق، إلا قبل قرنين، أو ثلاثة، فقط، كما تقدم. غير أن الغرب، تجاوز تلك المرحلة. وبقينا نحن فيها. وأسوأ من ذلك، أننا بدل أن نفهم الإطار التاريخي للحقوق، ونفهم من ثم ضرورة التطوير، أصبحنا ندافع عن قيم القرون الوسطى، وما قبلها. من أميز ما جاء به الأستاذ محمود محمد طه، هو التفريق بين أصول القرآن، التي تكفل الحقوق الأساسية، ولكن لم يتم تطبيقها في الماضي، وبين فروع القرآن التي لم تكفل كل الحقوق، وتم تطبيقها في الماضي كمرحلة إعداد نحو الأصول. ودعوة الأستاذ محمود، التي سوف لن يجد المسلمون منصرفا عنها، فيما أرى، إنما تؤكد على ضرورة نسخ الفروع، التي كانت محكمة منذ القرن السابع، وإحكام الأصول التي كانت منسوخة منذ القرن السابع. وقد يحاجج هنا بعض المغالين من دعاة العلمانية، بأن فكر الأستاذ محمود، فكر جيد، في حالة أنه لا خيار لنا، إلا في إقامة دولة دينية. غير أن الدولة الدينية، مرفوضة، من الأساس، لدى العلمانيين. ومشكلة هذا الإعتراض، تكمن في كونه اعتراض صفوي محض. فهو اعتراض يفترض أن الجماهير، مؤمنة بإشكاليات الدولة الدينية، تماما كما تؤمن بها الصفوة، ذات التوجه الغربي. وظن الصفوة والنخب السياسية التي تستلهم النموذج الغربي، ظن لا سند له في الواقع العملي. وقد أثبتت التجربة العملية، التفاؤل، غير المؤسس، لدعاة هذا النهج. فالدين ظل وسوف يبقى عاملا شديد التاثير في مجريات الأمور، وفي تشكيل رؤى الناس. ولا بد من تاسيس اتجاهات التحديث من داخله، لا من خارجه.

وهذا ما وقف له الأستاذ محمود عمره، ولم تستجب له عبر أربعين عاما سوى قلة قليلة من المتعلمين. ولعل الوقت قد أزف، ليدرك المثقفون، نفاذ رؤية هذا المفكر العظيم. الإتجاه للتحديث، من غير التاسيس له من مصادر ثقافتنا، يفقد حركة التحديث كثيرا من حجيتها، وشرعيتها، خاصة في نظر السواد الأعظم من الجماهير. ومن ثم يصبح التحرك في وجهة التحديث، مثار شك لدى الجماهير العريضة. وفي الناحية الأخرى، فإنه ولو بقي الناس على قديمهم، فيما يتعلق بالمفاهيم الدينية، وظلوا يلوكون ذلك القديم البالي، ويعيدون تدويره، فإن فرص الرقي، والتمدن، والإنسجام مع المحيط الكوكبي المشرئب، كل صبح جديد، إلى التقارب، والتشابك، سوف تصبح ضعيفة جدأ. هذا إن لم نقل باحتمال أن نرتد إلى أوضاع أسوأ من أوضاعنا الراهنة، من حيث الإنغلاق، والعزلة. ومن يقرأ ما جرى لنا في العقود الثلاث الأخيرة، لابد أن يلحظ مستوى تراجع الفهوم، وتراجع الممارسة عن مكتسبات التحديث، في كثير من بقاع منطقة الشرق الأوسط. وحادثة إعدام الأستاذ محمود، نفسها، لأبلغ دليل على هذا التراجع المخيف. ))

انتهى كلام دكتور حمد وقد آثرت أن أعرض الجزء الأكبر من مقاله بنصه ودون تعليق منى لأننى أكاد أتفق معه فى معظم ما قاله .لقد نجحت المجتمعات الأوروبية والغربية فى التخلص من محاكم التفتيش وبقيت المشكلة فى مجتمعاتنا العربية الإسلامية ، والسؤال هو كيف نتخلص نحن من أصحاب محاكم التفتيش عندنا ؟!! من أولئك الذين ينصبون أنفسهم أوصياء وقضاة يفتشون عما فى القلوب والصدور مع أن رسولنا الكريم صلى الله عليه وسلم قد وضع نهاية للوصاية على العقل البشرى والضمير الإنسانى حينما قال" أنتم أعلم بشئون دنياكم " ، وأيضا عندما قال لأحد الصحابه : " هلا شققت عن قلبه؟ " وكأن هذه العبارة الوجيزة البسيطة الواضحة لم تكن كافية فيجادل الرجل رسول الله قائلا:ـ يارسول الله ، إنه يخفى فى نفسه غير ما يعلن. ويجيبه رسول الله وخاتم النبيين:" إن الله لم يأمرنى أن أشق صدور الناس لأرى ما فيها"

.وكلمات الرسول صلى الله عليه وسلم هذه رغم يسرها وبساطتها إلا أنها تنطوى على مضمون ومعان تشكل فى جوهرها دستورا هائلا يحمى الضمير الإنسانى ويصون حريته فى الفكر وإعمال العقل ، وهذا التقدير لحرمة الفكر ورعايته من جانب رسولنا الكريم هو بحق نقطة إنطلاق الضمير فى شريعة محمد بن عبد الله ودينه الحنيف ولكن أكثر الناس لا يعلمون.ويقول الله تعالى فى كتابه العزيز:

إِنْ تَكْفُرُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنْكُمْ وَلَا يَرْضَى لِعِبَادِهِ الْكُفْرَ وَإِنْ تَشْكُرُوا يَرْضَهُ لَكُمْ وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَى ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ مَرْجِعُكُمْ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ ( الزمر ـ آية 7 )ثم اقرأ قوله تعالى لنبيه الكريم: ((اتَّبِعْ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا أَشْرَكُوا وَمَا جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا وَمَا أَنْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِوَكِيلٍ)) ( الأنعام ـ آية 106 ، 107 )

لقد أصدرت المحكمة الهزلية حكمها بالإعدام على المهندس الأستاذ محمود محمد طه ... على مناضل كافح الإحتلال الإنجليزى للسودان وزج به فى سجون الإحتلال قرابة ثلاث سنوات ، على رجل مسالم لقبه معارفه وإخوانه بغاندى السودان، على شيخ كبير طاعن فى السن لم يملك من حطام الدنيا شيئا ـ ولا حتى عصا يتكأ عليها فى شيخوخته ـ إلا إيمانا عميقا وعقلا راجحا وبصيرة نافذة . ، ورفض المتصوف الزاهد الأستاذ محمود محمد طه أن يتراجع عن أراءه ويقدم إلتماسا بالعفو عنه إلى الرئيس نميرى الذى أخذته العزة بالإثم فتكبر واستكبر ورفض جميع النداءات والتوسلات من جميع دول العالم بأن يرفض التصديق على حكم الإعدام الذى نفذ فى صباح الثامن عشر من يناير عام 1985 . قتل الأستاذ محمود حتى يكون عبرة لغيره من المعارضين كما جاء فى حيثيات الحكم الهزلى لمحكمة المهداوى الهزلية .

الشيخ المتصوف المسلم المسالم قتلته السياسة .وأحدث خبر إعدام الأستاذ محمود محمد طه البالغ من العمر ستة وسبعين عاما صدمة وردود فعل مدوية فى جميع أرجاء العالم ، ولأن ربك بالمرصاد لكل طاغية جبار فهو يمهل ولا يهمل تشاء الحكمة والإرادة الإلهية أن يهب الشعب السودانى بعد مرور ستة وسبعين يوما بالتمام على إغتيال الشهيد محمود فى انتفاضة عارمة أطاحت بالرئيس السودانى جعفر النميرى ونظامه الذى استمر فى حكم السودان نحو ستة عشر عاما ويفر النميرى خارج البلاد ... إلى أين؟ إلى مصر ليعيش فيها كلاجئ سياسى ينعم بالأمن والأمان!!! ...

مصر التى رفض النميرى طلب رئيسها حسنى مبارك ونداءات ومناشدات أحزابها السياسية بالإبقاء على حياة الشهيد الأستاذ محمود محمد طه . وفى عام 1986 ترفع إبنة الأستاذ محمود محمد طه دعوة قضائية لإبطال وإلغاء حكم الردة الصادر ضد أبيها ، وتصدر المحكمة العليا فى السودان حكمها ببطلان محكمة المهداوى من أساسها ، ولكن جاء الحكم متأخرا وبعد فوات الأوان!!

ويرحم الله الشاعر الكبير صلاح عبدالصبور حين قال في "مأساة الحلاج":" ليس الفقر هو الجوع إلي اللقمةوالعُري إلي الكسوةالفقر هو القهر."نعم الفقر هو القهر . . وظلم الإنسان لأخيه الإنسان فلينكسر السيف الأموى الباطش المسلط على رقاب العرب والمسلمين . نحن ياسادة فى القرن الحادى والعشرين

*كاتب وصحفى مصرى ـ كندىMossad_Hegazy@hotmail.com

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

2006-01-19T11:54:00.000-05:00

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

By
Dr. Mohamed Magdi Elgadi
Los Angelos, CA

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in elderly people. It is a devastating disease that impairs, reasoning, motor skills, and ability to take care of oneself. Although the risk of getting the disease increases with age, it is not a normal part of aging. It is estimated that currently 4.5 million people in the United States have Alzheimer's disease, and by the year 2050 the number of Americans with Alzheimer's disease could range from 11.3 to 16 million.

History: Symptoms of Alzheimer's disease were first identified by the German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin, but the neuropathology was identified by his colleague, the German psychiatrist Dr. Alois Alzheimer. Dr. Kraepelin made a generous decision that the disease would bear Alzheimer's name.

Causes and Diagnosis:No one knows what causes Alzheimer's disease, and no definitive test to diagnose the disease in living patients. However, the disease can be diagnosed with up to 90% accuracy based on the clinical information obtained from neuropsychological tests, such as memory test, problem-solving, and language tests. Unfortunately, no blood or urine test currently known that can detect or predict Alzheimer's disease.

Risk factors:The genetic factors are now put into consideration, especially after researchers found a high incidence of Alzheimer's disease in patients with Down syndrome (or as used to be called in some countries Mongolism).
Environmental factors, though not definitive, are being looked-into as a culprit in the affected individuals, where autopsy showed that albumin, zinc and other metals were detected in the brain tissue of Alzheimer people.
However, it isn't known till now if they cause the disease or they build up in the brain tissue as a result of the disease.
Other factors being taken into consideration are viruses that might cause the changes seen in the brain tissue of Alzheimer patients, but these are not definitive and still being studied. The only known risk factors taken into consideration are age and family history.

Serious head injury may be also considered as a risk factor. Most probably several factors together may react differently in each person to initiate the disease process. The disease affects age group of 65 years or over. About 1 in 10 of those over 65 have the disease, and 50% of those over 85 have the disease of Alzheimer.

Clinical Features:The typical symptom of Alzheimer's disease is progressive and chronic memory loss. Behavioral changes my include confusion, disorientation, periods of defiance, abusive behavior, violence, etc. The course of the disease and the rate of decline varies from one person to an other, but the duration from onset of symptoms to death is 5 to 20 years.

Pathology:The major pathological changes are seen in the brain tissue, usually at autopsy. There is loss of nerve cells in the cerebral cortex, and deposition of protein outside the cells in the form of amyloid forming what is known as diffuse plaques. Accumulation of an abnormally phosphrylated form of protein inside the nerve cells in the brain as paired helical filaments known as Alzheimer's neurofibrillary tangles. Accumulation of amyloid in the walls of small blood vessels in the brain termed amyloid angiopathy. Loss of synaptic contacts between neurons due to cell adhesions with proteins. Diffuse neuropathy from death and loss of nerve cells in the brain that ends in atrophy of the affected area and enlargement of the brain ventricles.

Treatment and Prevention:There is no known cure for Alzheimer's disease, although there are some drugs used to alleviate some of the symptoms of the disease such as Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors since there is a selective loss of the cholinergic neurons in the forebrain as a result of the disease. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors reduce the rate at which acetylcholine is broken down and hence increase the concentration of Acetylcholine in the brain (combatting its loss caused by death of cholinergic neurons. Although these drugs do not prevent the disease progression but they seem to moderate the symptoms.
Example of these drugs include: Rivastigmine, Galantamine, Donepezil, and Tacril (Tacril is no longer in use).

Many studies have indicated that the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), seem to significantly slow the progress of the disease and dramatically decrease the risk of the disease in those who have not yet developed it. Aspirin in large daily doses reduce the risk of developing the disease but to a lesser degree than with NSAIDs (Motrin, Advil).
Daily use of either of NSAIDs or Aspirin can put the individual at a greater risk of developing stomach ulcer and potentially fatal bleeding.

A significant study on Alzheimer's disease in 2004, has reported that a combination of vitamins E and C, over the time, sharply reduced the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (a reduction up to 80%), but only if the dose of vitamin E is 400 IU and that of vitamin C is 500 mg or more.
Some studies suggest that the ratio of at least 1000 mg vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E are ideal. Other studies show that quitting smoking, weight reduction, regular physical exercise and avoidance of diabetes and hypertension can also reduce the risk.
In one study, dancing appeared to be the only exercise effective in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Vaccine:There are ongoing tests of a vaccine for Alzheimer disease. This was based on the idea that if we could train the immune system to recognize and attack the beta-amyloid plaques, the immune system might reverse the deposition of amyloid and stop the disease. However, when the first vaccine was used in humans, a small fraction of the participants developed brain inflammation, and so the trials were stopped, but those participants were followed up, and found to have slower progression of the disease. It is hoped that researches will provide a better vaccine in the future that can be of use for families with history of Alzheimer's disease.

Famous Alzheimer's Sufferers:- Late president Ronald Regan- Charlton Heston- Ralph Waldo Emerson- Iris Murdoch- Rita Hayworth- Barry Goldwater- James Doohan

References:- Internet resources- Principles of Internal Medicine, by Harrison- Alzheimer's Association, and periodicals

Juicy Fruiter

2005-12-30T09:57:00.000-05:00

Juicy Fruiter

A great blog about the environment... check out the tree stocks mentioned on 12/30 diary...
Mohamed Elgadi

On Torture on the Human Rights Day...

2005-12-09T17:20:00.000-05:00

"Let us be clear:
torture can never be an instrument to fight terror, for torture is an instrument of terror."

Kofi Annan,
United Nations Secretary-General

Philadelphia, PA (Dec 10, 2005) -The Group Against Torture in Sudan (GATS) is dedicating Human Rights Day 2005 on 10 December to all victims of torture and their families. We call upon human rights advocates and orgs to work harder to stop atrocities allover the world especially in Sudan.

The ongoing Darfur tragedy claimed the lives of tens of thousands and caused the forced displacement of more than 2 million civilians out of their homes.For decades, the world did not pay enough attention to the ongoing mass killing that resulted in the current situation in Darfur. More that 2 million were killed in South Sudan and the Nuba Mountains region over the last 2 decades. Thousands of peaceful Sudanese dissidents were detained and brutally tortured in secret places known as Ghost Houses.

Let us join the UN Secretary General, Kofi Anan, in his noble call against torture “Today, on Human Rights Day, let us recommit ourselves to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and let us rededicate ourselves to wiping the scourge of torture from the face of the earth.”

Human Rights Day should provide us with an opportunity to pay tribute to grassroots groups allover the world who, in formal and informal settings, in small or large communities, and often encountering difficulties and hazards, contribute to building a universal culture of human rights.

The Group Against Torture in Sudan (GATS) is a human rights advocacy group in the USA works to raise awareness about the torture worldwide and especially in Sudan.

# # #

History of our BLOG!

2005-06-09T12:29:00.000-05:00

Family,
It turned out that we created our first Blog last year in June... Unfortunately, I forgot the password at that time after publishing one or two message..... couple of weeks ago I found the password (which I misplaced it again!) and logged on and found these two messages, which i was planning to share with you during the family Retreat in Maine. I just wanted to state this for the record as one of the first Blogs on the internet (definitly the first blog in Sudan).
regards
Mohamed Elgadi
Monday, July 05, 2004

Sunday, June 20, 2004
Family Re-union in Maine (USA)

Hello family..Please add to our agenda of fun in Maine the following items:
1. Hawash 'family tree'I will bring copies of the one I created last year, to look at when we listen to the cassette tape recorded with alwalida.
2. Algadi family foundation: an idea to think about to expand our role in the communities we live in (Sudan, UK, USA)and how we become more involved in the progressive global movement.
3. Algadi Family in the new era of the internet: creating our own media outlet in theinternet.
4. Any ore fun issues...See you there in maine..

Mohamed Elgadi
posted by Darfur at 11:43 AM 0 comments

Monday, July 05, 2004

Soccer Tournament in Philadelphia

Activists,Sudanese American communities on the East Coast of the US celebrated the Independence Day (aka the 4th of July Day)of their new adopted country in a different way this year. The Annual Soccer Tournament took place this year in Philadelphia, last weekend on July 2nd and 3rd (Sat-Sun)with participation of six teams from six states (NY, OH, PA, VA, NC, MD). Two more teams from NYC and NJ could not make it for some logistic problems.

All teams were hosted at the Knights Inn in Suburbs of Philadelphia (participants appreciated the good management and logistics of the whole event).Philadelphia team proved to be the shining star of this tournament not only because they won the Cup but because of their vision of Soccer in the New Sudan era.

Ten players of their first team are from the Southern Sudan (formerly known as the Lost Boys). Thanks to the vision of some Northern Sudanese who believed in Soccer as way to help in the peace process and social justice (especially the team coach Siddiq A. Hadi and his assistants Hassan Siddiq and Essam Mahdi Himat). The Philadelphia team consisted of: Hisham Abulgasim (goalkeeper), Haitham Mosaab, M. Siddiq, Adam M. Adam, Ghazi Hamouda, Osman Germa, Omer Hamza, Haitham Mahgoub, Mamoun alSir, A.Aziz Amin, Mabiour Ajak, Abraham Yak (won best Player trophy of the tournament), James Ker, Anyar Alair, Majok Chol, and on the reserve seats: Kwal Peter, David Gajan, Danial Agaito.
The scorer (Haddaf) of the Tournament this year was Osman Germa from Philadelphia team.

One of the important scenes that represented the new multi-religions Sudan during this Tournament was when Mabior Ajak demonstrated the Holy Trinity Prayer sign before scoring a Penalty shot.
The mostly Northern Moslem audience received this in a very normal way like many other players they watched on TV (Moslems, Christians or animists).

"Playing together is not only just to have fun, but I think it has helped integrated the Sudanese Community in Philadelphia as one" said Majok Chol, one of the best playesr in the team, in an article he wrote for "Ana Al Sudan" the newsletter of the Sudanese Community in Philadelphia.

There was a big social event at the end of the Tournament with participation of a lot of Sudanese artists, which I don't have the details to report on right now.regards

Mohamed Elgadi
posted by Darfur at 3:07 PM 0 comments

Full Database on SUDAN

2005-05-30T01:05:00.000-05:00

http://africanhistory.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=africanhistory&zu=http%3A%2F%2Flcweb2.loc.gov%2Ffrd%2Fcs%2Fsdtoc.html

The Library of Congress >> Especially for Researchers >> Research Centers

Sudan
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Preface
Country Profile
Country
Geography
Society
Economy
Transportation
Government and Politics
National Security
Introduction
Chapter 1 - Historical Setting
Early History
Cush
Meroe
Christian Nubia
The Coming of Islam
The Arabs
The Decline of Christian Nubia
The Rule of the Kashif
The Funj
The Fur
The Turkiyah, 1821-85
The Mahdiyah, 1884-98
The Khalifa
Reconquest of Sudan
The Anglo-Egyptian Condominium, 1899-1955
Britain's Southern Policy
Rise of Sudanese Nationalism
The Road to Independence
The South and the Unity of Sudan
Independent Sudan
The Politics of Independence
The Abbud Military Government, 1958-64
Return to Civilian Rule, 1964-69
The Nimeiri Era, 1969-85
Revolutionary Command Council
The Southern Problem
Political Developments
National Reconciliation
The Transitional Military Council
Sadiq Al Mahdi and Coalition Governments
Chapter 2 - The Society and its Environment
Physical Setting
Geographical Regions
Soils
Hydrology
Climate
Population
Ethnicity
Language
Ethnic Groups
The Muslim Peoples
Non-Muslim Peoples
Migration
Regionalism and Ethnicity
The Social Order
Northern Arabized Communities
Southern Communities
Urban and National Elites
Women and the Family
Religious Life
Islam: Tenets and Practice
Islamic Movements and Religious Orders
Christianity
Indigenous Religions
Education
Girls' Education
Education Reform
Health
Chapter 3 - The Economy
Economic Development
Foreign Aid
Prices, Employment, Wages, and Unions
Prices
Employment
Wages
Unions
Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry
Land Use
Land Tenure
Irrigated Agriculture
Rainfed Agriculture
Livestock
Fisheries
Forestry
Manufacturing
Mining
Energy Sources and Supply
Electric Power
Petroleum Use and Domestic Resources
Transportation and Communications
Railroads
Roads
Inland Waterways
Civil Aviation
Marine Ports and Shipping
Pipelines
Communications
Finance
Banking
Islamic Banking
Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
Foreign Trade
Balance of Payments
Chapter 4 - Government and Politics
Institutions of Government
The Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation
The Presidency
The Council of Ministers
Parliamentary Government
Constitutional Development
Regional and Local Administration
The Legal System
The Courts
Human Rights
Southern and Western Sudan
Southern Sudan
Western Sudan
Political Groups
Umma Party
Democratic Unionist Party
The Muslim Brotherhood
The Republican Brothers
Secular Political Parties
Sudanese People's Liberation Movement
Information Media
Newspapers
Radio and Television
Foreign Relations
Egypt
Libya
Chad
Relations with Other African States
Relations with Other Arab States
United States
Relations with Other Countries
Chapter 5 - National Security
The Military in National Life
Development of the Armed Forces
Role in Government
The Armed Forces in Sudanese Society
External Security Concerns
Civil Warfare in the South
First Civil War, 1955-72
Renewed Civil Warfare, 1983-
The Sudanese People's Armed Forces
Army
Air Force
Air Defense Command
Navy
Personnel
Training
Uniforms, Ranks, and Insignia
Defense Costs
Paramilitary Groups
Foreign Military Assistance
The Sudanese People's Liberation Army
State of Internal Security
Internal Security Agencies
The Sudan Police Force
Security Organizations
The Criminal Justice System
Incidence of Crime
The Prison System
Appendix. Tables here -->
Bibliography
Glossary

2005-05-30T00:44:00.000-05:00

An interesting quote from Sudaneseonline Discussion Board! I was wondering why these 70,000 angels should not instead defending and stopiing me me from getting killed!

ثلاث ايات تجعل سبعين الف ملك يصلون عليك

http://www.sudaneseonline.com/cgibin/sdb/2bb.cgi?seq=msg&board=80&msg=1116782

عن معقل بن يسار رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال "من قال حين يصبح ثلاث مرات"أعوذ بالله السميع العليم من الشيطان الرجيم" وقرأ ثلاث آيات من آخر سورة الحشر ،وكَّلَ اللهُ سبعين ألف مَلَكٍ يصلّون عليه حتى يمسي،وإن مات في ذلك اليوم مات شهيداً، ومن قالها حين ُيمسي كان بتلك المنزلة

أخرجه الترمذي

The Role of Islam in African Slavery

2005-05-30T00:28:00.000-05:00

The Role of Islam in African Slavery
Part 1: Obtaining slaves on the African continent.

Slavery has been rife throughout all of ancient history. Most, if not all, ancient civilizations practiced this institution and it is described (and defended) in early writings of the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Egyptians. It was also practiced by early societies in central America and Africa.

See Bernard Lewis's work Race and Slavery in the Middle East for a detailed chapter of the origins and practices of slavery.

The Qur'an prescribes a humanitarian approach to slavery -- free men could not be enslaved, and those faithful to foreign religions could live as protected persons, dhimmis, under Muslim rule (as long as they maintained payment of taxes called Kharaj and Jizya). However, the spread of the Islamic Empire resulted in a much harsher interpretation of the law. For example, if a dhimmis was unable to pay the taxes they could be enslaved, and people from outside the borders of the Islamic Empire were considered an acceptable source of slaves.

Although the law required owners to treat slaves well and provide medical treatment, a slave had no right to be heard in court (testimony was forbidden by slaves), had no right to property, could marry only with permission of their owner, and was considered to be a chattel, that is the (moveable) property, of the slave owner. Conversion to Islam did not automatically give a slave freedom nor did it confer freedom to their children. Whilst highly educated slaves and those in the military did win their freedom, those used for basic duties rarely achieved freedom. In addition, the recorded mortality rate was high -- this was still significant even as late as the nineteenth century and was remarked upon by western travellers in North Africa and Egypt.
Slaves were obtained through conquest, tribute from vassal states (in the first such treaty, Nubia was required to provide hundreds of male and female slaves), offspring (children of slaves were also slaves, but since many slaves were castrated this was not as common as it had been in the Roman empire), and purchase. The latter method provided the majority of slaves, and at the borders of the Islamic Empire vast number of new slaves were castrated ready for sale (Islamic law did not allow mutilation of slaves, so it was done before they crossed the border). The majority of these slaves came from Europe and Africa -- there were always enterprising locals ready to kidnap or capture their fellow countrymen.

Black Africans were transported to the Islamic empire across the Sahara to Morocco and Tunisia from West Africa, from Chad to Libya, along the Nile from East Africa, and up the coast of East Africa to the Persian Gulf. This trade had been well entrenched for over 600 years before Europeans arrived, and had driven the rapid expansion of Islam across North Africa.

By the time of the Ottoman Empire, the majority of slaves were obtained by raiding in Africa. Russian expansion had put an end to the source of "exceptionally beautiful" female and "brave" male slaves from the Caucasians -- the women were highly prised in the harem, the men in the military. The great trade networks across north Africa were as much to do with the safe transportation of slaves as other goods. An analysis of prices at various slave markets shows that eunuchs fetched higher prices than other males, encouraging the castration of slaves before export.

Documentation suggests that slaves throughout Islamic world were mainly used for menial domestic and commercial purposes. Eunuchs were especially prised for bodyguards and confidential servants; women as concubines and menials. A Muslim slave owner was entitled by law to use slaves for sexual pleasure.

As primary source material becomes available to Western scholars, the bias towards urban slaves is being questioned. Records also show that thousands of slaves were used in gangs for agriculture and mining. Large landowners and rulers used thousands of such slaves, usually in dire conditions: "of the Saharan salt mines it is said that no slave lived there for more than five years.

Part 2: Using slaves on the African continent.

The most favoured of all Islamic slaves seems to have been the military slave -- although performers were the most privileged. By the ninth century slave armies were in use across the whole of the Islamic Empire. The early slave armies tended to be white, taken from Russia and eastern Europe. However, the first independent Muslim ruler of Egypt relied on black slaves and at his death is said to have left 24,000 (white) Mamaluks and 45,000 Nubian military slaves.

In north Africa the source of black slaves from Nubia and Sudan were too convenient to ignore. At the time of the Fatimid defeat, in the twelfth century, black troops formed the majority of the army. By the fifteenth century black military slaves were being favoured with the use in battle of firearms (the Mamaluks refused to use such dishonourable weapons). Slave troops in Tunisia in the seventeenth century even included cavalry, and the Sultan of Morocco is recorded as having an army of 250,000 black slaves.

Even as late as the mid-nineteenth century, Egyptian rulers actively recruited black slaves into their army -- for example, they were included in the Egyptian expeditionary force sent by Sa'id Pasha to Mexico in support of the French in 1863.
The transatlantic slave trade sent Arab slavers into overdrive, here was a new market which could be exploited. When the Europeans abolished slavery in the 1800's, the taking of slaves in Africa continued. The eradication of such practices was cited as a major justification by the Europeans for the colonisation of Africa. Certainly Britain had a significant fleet of ships patrolling the coasts against such slave traders.

Britannia.com's historical survey of slavery points out that "The European colonization movement of the second half of the 19th century put an end to slavery in many parts of Africa..." and that "the British turned their attention back to Africa. They moved onto the continent, took control of those governments that were thriving on slavery, and attempted to abolish the institution." Further "in the 1870's British missionaries moved into Malawi, the place of origin of the Indian Ocean Islamic slave trade, in an attempt to interdict it at its source... In Dahomey the French abolition of slavery resulted in the cessation of ceremonial human sacrifice."

Unfortunately this was not enough for "some parts of Africa and much of the Islamic world retained slavery at the end of World War I. For this reason the League of Nations and later the United Nations took the final extinction of slavery to be one of their obligations. The League had considerable success in Africa, with the assistance of the colonial powers and by the late 1930's slavery was abolished in Liberia and Ethiopia". The problem was such that "After World War II the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights ... proclaimed the immorality and the illegality of slavery.

Slavery was abolished in most Islamic countries,although it persisted in Saudi Arabia into the 1960's. It finally was made illegal in the Arabian Peninsula in 1962."

re-posted from http://africanhistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa040201a.htm

From Almidan website

2005-05-03T12:58:00.000-05:00

I thought these links would be of interest to you... It's from www.midan.net

Interview with Mohamed Ibrahim Nugud - Al Ayaam 3/5/05
http://www.midan.net/nm/private/news/nugud3_5_05.htm

Press release 2/5/05
http://www.midan.net/nm/private/bianat_sahafia/newbianat/r_2_5_05.htm

News Update
http://www.midan.net/nm/private/news/index_news2.htm

Regards
Mohamed Elgadi

Zeinab Aeyga: A Great Woman

2005-05-03T10:42:00.000-05:00

Dear Family,

This piece is from http://www.sudaneseonline.com/cgi-bin/sdb/2bb.cgi?seq=msg&board=6&msg=1115103524

It was written by the Bostonian popular Sudanese artist Khalid Kodi. I thought it's important to bring it to your attention to know about this great Sudanese activist Zeinab Aeyga.
______________________

د/ماجده د/محمد القاضي، زينب إييجا وفعالية نورث هامبتون عن دارفور/فيديولمشاهدة الفيديو، أقطع وألصق الرابط أدناه:rtsp://stream.bc.edu/webct/kodi/north_hampton_in_darfur.mov

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html في اللنك أعلاه تستطيع عمل داون لاوود لي Quick Time Player وهو مجاني ، ومن ثم مشاهدة العرضالشكر والتقدير لأمنستى إنترناشيونال ، ومجموعة المنظمات المنظمة والمشاركة فى الفعالية.التقدير الخاص للأخت د/ ماجده احمد على والأسرة الكريمة بامهرست،والتقدير للأخ د/ محمد القاضى، الرجل النشيط والهميم دائما وأبدا.والشكر للأخت تماضر شيخ الدين والأسرة العزيزة للمشاركة بالأعداد والتنظيم.معظم أعضاء المنبر يعرفون الناشطين د/ محمد القاضي و د/ماجدة سوى كان ذلك في العمل السياسي أو الانسانى أو في حقوق الإنسان و مناهضة التعذيب وغيرها.

وهذه مناسبة عظيمة لتقديم الأخت الناشطة زينب إييجا

.Zeinab Eyega زينب تدير منظمة .http://www.sautiyetu.org/الاخت زينب نموذج للمرآة الجنوبية الشابة و الفاعلة والمشاركة في هموم السودان بشماله وجنوبه وشرقه وغربه

.للأستاذة زينب بالأضافه لاهتمامها بالمر أه الأفريقية عموما مشاركات قويه وصارمة في محاربة العنصرية في السودان، نتمنى أن نجد الوقت لإيراد بعضها وهى مقاتله شرسة لأجل حقوق أهلها و حقوق النساء المهمشات من كل أنحاء السودان وأفريقيا بل والعالم..في هذه المحاضرة تحدثت عن وضع النساء,، كيف وأنه بقتل الرجال قد تركن وحدهن لمواجهة الكارثة بكل ثقلها،وتحدثت أيضا عن الكيفية التي تم عرض العنف تجاه نساء دارفور في الأعلام

.بدأت حديثها بكود من كوفى عنان.، شددت على انه لابد من تركيز الجهود والاهتمام تجاه النساء، تحدثت عن كيف أن أجساد النساء تم اتخاذها كعلامات للاعتداءات الثقافية في دارفور.تحدثت الأستاذة زينب اييجا عن اغتصاب النساء والفتيات.و تحدثت عن عن اغتصاب النساء أثناء النزوح وكيف ان الذين عليهم حماية النازحين قد يكونوا من المليشيا المعتدية! وكيف انهم قد يستخدموا سلطتهم في هذا الموقع الجديد.كما تعرضت إلى موقف من تم الاعتداء عليها وهى ترى من اعتدى عليها هو حارسها في المعسكر.تحدثت عن الاعتداء على النساء في هذه المعسكرات، وكيف أن من عليهم حماية هؤلاء النساء قد يمارسون العنف ضد النساء!تحدثت عن موت الرجال، قتلهم وكيف ذلك خلف وضعا جديد

.تحدثت عن قرار اى امرأة في هذه المعسكرات والذي تواجه ب:

من الذي يمكن أرسالة إلى جلب الحطب؟ابنك الذي يمكن أن يقتل، أم ابنتك التى من الممكن أن تغتصب وقد لاتقتل؟

وفى نهاية حديثها قدمت عدة توصيان منها:لابد من أجراء المزيد تجاه دارفور من قبل المنظمات الدولية.الخطابات لابد من الاستمرار في

إرسالها.التركيز على وضع النساء، أوصت بمخاطبة المنظمات العاملة في الإغاثة والعون الانسانى، بعد التقدير لكل ما يقومون به من دعم إنساني في دارفور على هذه المنظمات أعطاء اهتمام خاص للنساء ومشكلاتهن.تسجيل النساء كأرباب للأسر، وتكينهم بالمعنى المادى والمعنوى للقيام بهذا الدور.لابد من من تدريب النساء اللائي اظهرن مقدرات قيادية لكي يقوموا بمساعدة بعضهن البعض.لابد من وجود 50% من "الأمن" من أن يكونوا نساء!وهذا لضمان أن تتحدث النساء عن الاعتداءات الجنسية والتي من الصعب عليهن الحديث عنها لغير من يثقن فيه.وصت بمتابعة الجناة وضمان جلبهم للعدالة.ووصت بخلق بعض المؤسسات القومية للتعامل مع التراما!الأخت زينب اييجا متحدثة يصعب عدم التركيز فيما تقول، وقد كانت مشاركتها قويه وفاعله ومتميزه.قدمت المحاضرة الأخت د/ ماجده احمد على .الشكر لكم جميعا، وأتمنى أن يستمع الأعضاء إلى حديث الأخت زينب القيم. rtsp://stream.bc.edu/webct/kodi/north_hampton_in_darfur.mov

More on the Sudanese Hawash!

2005-05-02T21:45:00.000-05:00

http://www.hvk.org/articles/0901/181.html

apparently he was a student...
Mohamed Elgadi

Who is this other Sudanese Hawash????

2005-05-02T21:27:00.000-05:00

These scumbags were planning this 9/11 attacks in other places, too!
I believe this Scumbag was using a stolen/fake passport. As far as we know, there are no Hawash families in Sudan beside ours.
we need to investigate this case in Sudan and use our contacts to know how this person managed to steel our identity. From his features, he looks like a Ja'ali person. Please notice the 'prayer mark' on his fore-head.

Check the whole story out here: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2001/06/17/stories/02170003.htm

NEW DELHI, JUNE 16, 2001.
The two persons arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police in connection with the international terrorist, Osama bin Laden's ``plans'' to blow up the U.S. Embassy in Delhi had planned a similar strike at the American mission in Dhaka. Investigations show that the prime accused, the Sudanese national, Abdel Raouf Hawash, who was nabbed along with Shamim Sarwar of Bihar from Delhi's Nizamuddin area with 6 kg of RDX explosives on Friday had been in touch with Abdul Rehman Al- Safani, a close associate of Bin Laden.

Al-Safani, a Sudanese national, had come to India in February and, after finalising the entire operation had left the country. He was the mastermind behind the planned attacks and had promised Hawash that he would spend up to Rs. 1 crore for the job.

The lure of such a huge sum influenced Hawash that he had even written a letter to Bin Laden reaffirming his loyalty to the terrorist leader. In the letter, Hawash had eulogised ``Laden, Afghans and Mujahideens'' and stated that he was prepared to ``fight for jehad''.
Hawash had also said that he had finalised the plans. ``The job for Delhi and Dhaka is ready and 10-12 persons will be Hindi and 10-12 will be Bangla. If we include their families, they will be 200.'' He wrote that in Delhi the security vigil was heightened around August 15 (Independence Day), but ``things slow down'' during the rainy season, when it would be appropriate to strike.
Investigations show that both Al-Safani and Hawash were in constant touch with a high-ranking official of an African Embassy in Delhi who had not only paid Rs. 5 lakhs for funding the attacks but was also monitoring the developments on behalf of Bin Laden.
The embassy official's ``involvement'' is being investigated by the Intelligence Bureau - which had provided vital inputs that led to the arrest of the accused - in close coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs.

Who is Maher Hawash?

2005-05-02T20:13:00.000-05:00

Mostafa was a little concerned to use the Hawash name for our new proposed Blogger, and here is the reason after I did a little search!
Mohamed Elgadi

According to http://www.bluetriangle.org/old/id74.htm Maher Hawash lives in Hillsboro, OR!!

« Wired News On Hawash Case Main Docs To Date On Mike Hawash Case »
Free Mike Hawash
April 04, 2003

NY Times On The Mike Hawash Case
Terrorism Task Force Detains an American Without Charges
By Timothy Egan for the NY Times.
The case has drawn the attention of civil liberties groups nationwide, who say Mr. Hawash's case is an example of how the Bush administration is holding a handful of American citizens without offering them normal legal protection.
Although at least two American citizens are being held without normal legal rights as "enemy combatants," Mr. Hawash has not been categorized as such. As a material witness, he is being held to compel testimony. But supporters say he has not been told anything about what the government may want from him...
Civil liberties groups say material witness statutes are being abused by the Bush administration to hold people like Mr. Hawash indefinitely. "The government doesn't have and should not have the power to arrest and detain someone without charging them," said Lucas Guttentag, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Immigrants Rights Project. "If this kind of thing is permitted, then any United States citizen can be swept off the street and locked up without being charged."
Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the courts have made conflicting rulings on the legality of holding material witnesses without charging them. A federal judge in Manhattan, Shira A. Scheindlin, said such detentions were "an illegitimate use of the statute," but another ruling in the same court, by Chief Judge Michael B. Mukasey, said detaining witnesses to compel testimony was a legitimate investigative tool.

Here is the full text of the article in case the link goes bad:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/04/international/worldspecial/04DETA.html
The New York Times A Nation at War April 4, 2003
Terrorism Task Force Detains an American Without ChargesBy TIMOTHY EGAN
PORTLAND, Ore., April 3 — For the last two weeks, Maher Hawash, a 38-year-old software engineer and American citizen who was from the West Bank and grew up in Kuwait, has been held in a federal prison here, though he has not been charged with a crime or brought before a judge.
Relatives and friends of Mr. Hawash, who works for the Intel Corporation and is married to a native Oregonian, say he has no idea why he was arrested by a federal terrorism task force when he arrived for work at the Intel parking lot in Hillsboro, a Portland suburb. The family home was raided at dawn on the same day by nearly a dozen armed police officers, who woke Mrs. Hawash and the family's three children, friends said.
Mr. Hawash, who is known as Mike, has yet to be interrogated and is being kept in solitary confinement, his supporters say.
Federal officials will not comment on Mr. Hawash, though they have been pressed by Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, and by a group of supporters led by a former Intel vice president, for basic information about why he is being detained.
In a statement after his arrest, the F.B.I. said he was being held as a material witness in an "ongoing investigation" by the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Federal search warrants in the case are sealed.
The case has drawn the attention of civil liberties groups nationwide, who say Mr. Hawash's case is an example of how the Bush administration is holding a handful of American citizens without offering them normal legal protection.
Although at least two American citizens are being held without normal legal rights as "enemy combatants," Mr. Hawash has not been categorized as such. As a material witness, he is being held to compel testimony. But supporters say he has not been told anything about what the government may want from him.
"Our friend has fallen into some kind of `Alice in Wonderland' meets Franz Kafka," said Steven McGeady, the former Intel executive, who started a legal defense fund and a Web site for Mr. Hawash.
"You hear about this happening in other countries and to immigrants and then to American citizens," Mr. McGeady went on. "And finally you hear about it happening to someone you know. It's scary."
Mr. Hawash's family thought at first that his arrest was connected to two donations he made three years ago to an Islamic charity, Global Relief Foundation, whose assets were frozen last year when federal authorities said it was linked to terrorism. But now relatives say the contributions may not be related to his arrest, and he may be asked to testify about six people charged here last year with aiding terrorism.
Asked about the charitable donations — which totaled a little more than $10,000 — Mr. Hawash told the local newspaper, The Oregonian, in November: "We believed that they are doing good work. It's a well-known organization."
Civil liberties groups say material witness statutes are being abused by the Bush administration to hold people like Mr. Hawash indefinitely. "The government doesn't have and should not have the power to arrest and detain someone without charging them," said Lucas Guttentag, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Immigrants Rights Project. "If this kind of thing is permitted, then any United States citizen can be swept off the street and locked up without being charged."
Since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the courts have made conflicting rulings on the legality of holding material witnesses without charging them. A federal judge in Manhattan, Shira A. Scheindlin, said such detentions were "an illegitimate use of the statute," but another ruling in the same court, by Chief Judge Michael B. Mukasey, said detaining witnesses to compel testimony was a legitimate investigative tool.
Attorney General John Ashcroft has defended the tactic, saying it is "vital to preventing, disrupting or delaying new attacks."
The Justice Department has not said how many Americans have been held without charges in terrorism investigations since Sept. 11. Civil liberties groups say they believe the number is about 20, though most are not American citizens.
Mr. Hawash, who was born in Nablus in the West Bank, first came to the United States in 1984, his family said, and graduated from the University of Texas. He became an American citizen in 1988. He is married to Lisa Hawash, a native of Roseburg, Ore. The Web site set up by supporters, freemikehawash.org, founded by two former Intel executives, shows a picture of Mr. Hawash's wife and three children.
Mr. Hawash has worked at Intel since 1992, though he was laid off in 2001 and rehired as a contract employee. Mr. McGeady, his boss there, said Mr. Hawash went back to Nablus to visit his family several years ago and had trouble returning to the United States until Intel officials intervened.
Posted by Lisa at April 04, 2003 08:00 PM

Connecting the Hawash & Elgadi Families

2005-04-28T01:08:00.000-05:00

Family,
In a message I sent out today via our Topica Listserve, I proposed to start another website (blogger) to focus on the Hawash family. I hope to start this project with Mostapha Khawaga next week when I see him in Portland, Oregon during my business trip to the rainy city.
The idea is to run the page simultaneously from Oregon and Pennsylvania. I believe this would strengthen our ties with our family members in Oregon
Please send me ideas regarding the name of the page in case the Hawash name was not available. Also some ideas for the topic to be included (I'm thinking as a start to copy some items from here to the new one)...

regards
Mohamed Elgadi

A Wonderful Message from Vanessa

2005-04-24T14:49:00.000-05:00

Dear uncle Mohamed,
I want to share these health tips with other kids on the website, I found it interesting and useful. Thank you
Vanessa Elgadi

Health Tips
1) Did you know you that need at least 8 hours of night sleep for you to feel refreshed and alert during the day ?

2) Did you know that eating a heavy meal before you sleep can give you bad dreams and even nightmares ?

3) Did you know that green vegetables are very important source of vitamins and minerals that help your body perform most of the physical activities you do in your daily life ?

4) Did you know that saturated fats which are found in meats and dairy products are
harmful to your body by increasing the bad cholesterol that can block most of your arteries and can give a heart attack or stroke ?

5) Did you know that walking exercise 1 to 2 miles twice a week can help regulate high cholesterol, high blood pressure and high blood sugar ?

6) Did you know that loud music as well as loud noise heard repeatedly and regularly,
especially by ear phones, can cause a serious irreversible damage to your hearing nerves and can cause weakness of hearing ?

7) Did you know that listening to soft music while you are working or doing chores around the house, can boost your mood and your immune system ( body defense system ) ?

8) Did you know that studying in the night before you sleep can keep the information in your memory fresh and organized to use in the next day test with successful results ?

Vanessa Elgadi
12 years
L.A., California

Torture by Lethal Injection

2005-04-24T14:23:00.000-05:00

Click here: The Journal : Current Issue

Hello everyone,
Mohamed suggested that I post my comment on "the death penalty by lethal injection in the U.S." on our website, which I think is a good idea. Actually I thought of that as a human rights issue but I don't know why I was hesitant to do it. Thanks Mohamed for your encouragement. So please go ahead and post my comment that I re-wrote in more detail.

Death Penalty By Lethal Injection In The U.S.

Yesterday, as I was reading the latest online issue of " The Lancet Medical Journal ",
I bumped into an interesting but pretty disturbing article titled " Medical Collusion in the
Death Penalty : An American Atrocity ". (Collusion means association with unlawful activity,
as defined by Franklin dictionary). A disturbing thing to know is that the death penalty by
lethal injection in the U.S. is carried out by technicians, without supervision of a medical
professional to determine the sufficiency of the doses of the drugs used for the killing.

Death by lethal injection is performed as a means of execution free from cruelty compared
to other methods like hanging, shooting ..etc. However, death by lethal injection in the U.S.
may not be free from cruelty as it is claimed. As it is known, death by lethal injection is
performed by using three drugs given to stop the three major body systems successively :
the brain, followed by the respiration and finally the heart. The effectiveness of the dose of
each drug used is calculated based on parameters, factors as well as the individual's
condition physically and psychologically. Only a medical professional can correctly assess these factors to calculate the effective doses of drugs used in this method of
execution.

The first drug given is sodium thiopental to induce anaesthesia or sleep, followed by the
skeletal muscle relaxant Pavulon (pancuronium bromide) to paralyze all the muscles,
causing the breathing to stop, and finally potassium chloride injection to stop the heart.

As the Lancet article explained, post-mortem studies done on executed inmates in the
U.S. showed that the concentrations of sodium thiopental in the blood of 43 out of 49
executed inmates (or 88%) were lower than those needed to induce surgical anaesthesia.
This leads us to know that those executed inmates were awake during the process of
execution, but totally paralyzed, and in agony of not being able to breathe, awaiting the
final injection to stop the heart ending in death. This could be the most cruel way of
execution, being tortured while awaiting your death.

I recall that during my practice of anaesthesia for surgery, the most important thing that
we should avoid is " awareness under anaesthesia" that happens in practice to many
anaesthesiologists, where the patient could be awake during the surgery but paralyzed
with repeated doses of skeletal muscle relaxants, while he/she can hear everything, and
even feel the pain but unable to do anything. Fortunately, the mechanical ventilation is
a big relief from the agony of being unable to breathe.

If we claim that the execution by lethal injection is done in a humane way, the subject for
execution should be dealt-with the same humane way we deal with surgical patients,
hence, execution by lethal injection should be performed properly and with the help of
a medical professional who will decide when to interfere to support breathing manually
or mechanically till the final injection is given to stop the heart.

We should call for a Human Rights action on this important issue that requires the Human Rights Organization and its affiliates to fight for making the death penalty by lethal
injection more humane than the way it is being done here in the U.S.

Mohammed Magdi Elgadi, MD, Anaesthesiology
( To view the Lancet article click the highlighted link on top of page )

The Official Cabbage Soup Diet

2005-04-17T17:05:00.000-05:00

from http://www.aboutcabbagesoupdiet.com/

About Cabbage Soup Diet

The Soup Diet is based on a fat-burning soup that contains negligible calories. The more soup you eat the more weight you should lose. It allows people to eat as much Cabbage Soup as they want each day, which should sound appealing to dieters. After all, dieters love to hear that they can eat unlimited amounts of food and still lose weight fast.

The Diet relies on eating strange and bizarre combinations of food that nearly force you to starve each day. Dieters are allowed all the water and cabbage soup they want, plus a very restricted set of other foods.

A running myth suggests that this diet originated at any number of hospitals, but thus far, no medical facilities have claimed it as their own. Consensus is that the diet is effective for temporarily losing a few pounds. However, this is not a very nutritionally sound plan and certainly not one to live on.

The 7 Days Diet Plan
Eat as much soup as you desire for seven days and you can lose 10 to 15 pounds. The recipe varies slightly, but includes a variety of low-calorie vegetables such as cabbage, onions, and tomatoes, flavored with bouillon, onion soup mix, and tomato juice. Each day of the seven-day program has specific foods that must be eaten, including potatoes, fruit juice, many vegetables, and on one day, beef.

Cabage Soup Recipe
6 large green onions
2 green peppers
1 or 2 cans of tomatoes (diced or whole)
3 carrots
1 container (10 oz. or so) Mushrooms
1 bunch celery
1/2 head cabbage
1 package Lipton soup mix
1 or 2 cubes bouillon (optional)
1 48oz can V8%

Directions:
1. Slice green onions, put in pot and start to sauté with cooking spray.
2. Cut green pepper stem end off and cut in half, take seeds and membrane out. Cut the green pepper into bite size pieces and put in pot.
3. Take the outer leafs layers off the cabbage, cut into bite size pieces, put in pot.
4. Clean carrots cut into bite size pieces, put in pot.
5. Slice mushrooms into thick slices (otherwise they will disappear in the soup), put in pot.
6. If you would like a spicy soup, add a small amount of cayenne pepper (red pepper) now (1/3 teaspoon is quite a bit as the soup will get spicier as it cooks further).
7. You can use beef or chicken bouillon cubes for seasonings. They have all the salt and flavors you will need.
8. Use about 12 cups of water (or 8 cups and the V8 juice), cover and put heat on low. Let soup cook for a long time (two hours works well).
9. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
10. Eat all the soup you want, whenever you want.

Day One:
Eat only fruit, all the fruit you want except banana.
Drink unsweetened tea, black coffee, cranberry juice, and water.
Eat as much soup as you like.
Day Two:
All you want - fresh, raw, or cooked vegetables of your choice. Stay away from dry beans, peas, and sweet corn. Reward yourself with a big baked potato with butter for dinner. Eat as much soup as you like but no fruit for today.
Day Three:
Combine days one and two, eat as much fruit, vegetables, and soup, as you like but no baked potato.
Day Four:
Eat as many as eight bananas and drink as many glasses of skim milk as you would like on this day, along with your soup. This day is supposed to lessen your desire for sweets.
Day Five:
You may have 10-20 ounces of beef (300-500g) and a large tin or up to six fresh tomatoes. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water this day to wash the uric acid from your body. Eat your soup at least once today. You may eat broiled or baked chicken (skinless) instead of beef. If you prefer, you can substitute broiled fish for the beef.
Day Six:
Eat beef and vegetables today. You can even have two or three steaks if you like, with fresh vegetables or salad. NO BAKED POTATO. Eat your soup at least once.
Day Seven:
Eat all you want of brown rice, unsweetened fruit juices, and vegetables. Be sure to eat your soup at least once to day. No bread, alcohol, or carbonated beverages, not even diet soda.
Have questions to ask, successful stories to share...go to our discussion forum. We would love to see this diet work for you, help you lose weight, and give you a more positive self-image. Good luck.

Note: In order to loose weight you have to burn more calories then you consume. We highly recommend The Negative Calorie Diet(TM) book. This book is based on scientific research and more than 100 foods requiring hoosing your body to "BURN" more calories processing them through your digestive system than the actual calorie content of the food itself. This results in your body burning up the excessive stored fat! Learn how to eat healthy and lose weight regularly by cthe right foods with The Negative Calorie Diet™ book.

Politics in the Blogosphere

2005-04-15T07:55:00.000-05:00

The Two Faces of the Blogosphere

Originally posted on: http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/21755/
By Digby , In These Times. Posted April 15, 2005.

What most journalists and others who observe the new phenomenon of political blogging fail to understand is that the "blogosphere" is actually two rather sharply distinct spheres.
It shouldn't have come as too much of a surprise when Time named the right-wing blog PowerLine "Blog of the Year" in December 2004. After all, PowerLine had been widely read by the mainstream media because of its role in a big journalism story--the Dan Rather "Memogate" affair.

In the days after the infamous September 8, 2004 broadcast, PowerLine was among the first to point out the anomalies in the alleged National Guard memos. The notoriety stuck, although a later investigation by the Columbia Journalism Review revealed that the PowerLine bloggers--as well as others who gained national media attention, like Buckhead from Free Republic and Charles Johnson of LittleGreenFootballs--were uniformly wrong as to the details, and only right in the larger sense that the memos could not be authenticated.

Nonetheless, from that point on, the right-wing blogosphere became the go-to place for nifty blog stories, leaving the less-celebrated lefty blogs largely ignored by the mainstream media.
What most journalists and others who observe the new phenomenon of political blogging fail to understand is that the "blogosphere" is actually two rather sharply distinct spheres. These roughly mirror the country's political divide and are organized in very different ways.

The right blogosphere operates largely as part of the greater Republican message machine. Many of its bloggers are already part of that infrastructure, working as journalists for conservative publications, writing books and lecturing. Independent bloggers on the right hail from all walks of life, but the leading voices are either part of the political machine itself, like Mike Krempasky of RedState, or closely connected to the conservative media and think tank infrastructure, like Hugh Hewitt, Michelle Malkin and the PowerLine bloggers. The right blogosphere is a reflection of successful top-down Republican message control, and as such these bloggers are welcomed warmly into the fold.

As Garance Franke-Ruta writes in the April issue of The American Prospect, the right-wing blogosphere has also recently become useful to long-established political operatives such as Morton Blackwell, mentor to iconic GOP campaign strategists Karl Rove and Lee Atwater. In the recent Eason Jordan affair, the right blogosphere was credited with forcing the former chief news executive of CNN to resign over a controversial off-the-record comment. It turned out that many conservative blogs were part of this larger concerted effort. In the wake of this success, conservatives are now running what Franke-Ruta describes as "Internet Activist Schools, designed to teach conservatives how to engage in guerilla Internet activism," or what some people used to call "dirty tricks."

By contrast, the left blogosphere is populated by "citizen bloggers," who work in non-political occupations for a living and blog for reasons of personal interest. This sphere actually operates as a unique and potentially powerful political constituency rather than a part of the Democratic Party apparatus. Unlike their counterparts on the right, the lefty blogs have had to crash the party, but because they did it with energy, votes and money, they are making themselves a power in their own right.

In the last election cycle the "netroots" exerted their influence through prodigious fundraising, contributing greatly to the Democrats' fundraising efforts. Howard Dean's primary campaign also demonstrated that the Internet was a rich source of small individual donations that collectively added up to many millions. But throughout the campaign, blogs such as Daily Kos and Eschaton were able to raise the six figure sums that normally only fat cats like Bush "Pioneers" could generate. And along with that money came a large group of engaged and informed netroot activists who were able, in the weeks leading up to the election, to marshal a boycott of national advertisers virtually overnight to protest Sinclair Broadcasting's plan to air a blatantly partisan documentary about John Kerry. That action led to a precipitous downgrading of Sinclair stock, enough to cause the company to abandon its plans.

Lefty blogs also spend a lot of time discussing various ways for the party to hone its political message in the hopes that these ideas will percolate up from the blogosphere and gain the attention of the powers that be. They have found that through the amplification of many blogs linking to certain themes and concepts over time, good ideas rise to the attention of those who have the power to put them to work in the mainstream media.

Because of these sucesses, some progressives believed that the recent efforts by Republican members of the Federal Election Commission's (FEC) to regulate blogs as paid political speech may have been motivated by partisanship. As it turns out, the new proposed FEC rule changes, still subject to public comment, continue to exempt blogs from regulation.
With all of the potential for fundraising, "guerilla activism" and massaging, perhaps neither party wants to unduly inhibit their sector of the blogosphere.

Check out Digby's blog, Hullabaloo.

On Terri Schiavo

2005-03-26T15:30:00.000-05:00

Between 5,000 (Khartoum regime's count) and 400,000 persons (Africa Action's) already had perished in Darfur since the crisis become known to the world 2 years ago (notice the huge discripency, which in itself shows how the poor black Africans are so unimportant to find an org to count their death toll)... this was part of a discussion on Darfur that I had last night, in one of the prestigious 'White' colleges of suburban Philadelphia.

It struck me the hypocrisy of the mainstream US media and how it's really represents a morally corrupt system. The right-wing represented by this media (Fox et al) ruptured our ears (Guddo Adhanna) with cheap talk on the poor vegetative Terri Schiavo (talk of all media outlets here in the US, and may be elsewhere, too) yet, not a single word on these thousands who are dying every single moment in Darfur.....

But, why I'm brining this issue here in our homepage?
This sad incident of Ms. Schiavo teaches us a great lessaon, as Magda keeps telling me... the need to have our personal wills written with clear instructions to de-plug (or may be some of us want the plugging to continue) the tubes in case of 'vegetative' condition arises.

In my case, here are my 3 No's (al-La'at al-Thalath) of my will:

No plugging tubes in case of vegetating
No waiting period for donating my organs in case I'm clinically dead (I'm an organ donor).
No burying in a cemetry that does not permit secular or other faith people to be buried within its boundaries (Magda, Nageeb, and Ibrahim know what I mean)

There are many other things I would like us to start discussing here in regard to some important issues of the family future. Retirement plans; Family Trust; General Wills; Disability Trusts; etc.

I need to go now (office closes in few minutes, it's Sat)... let's start this discussion.

Hands off Ms. Schiavo! let her die the way she chose....

Mohamed Elgadi

Arkamani: Agreat e-magazine

2005-03-26T15:04:00.000-05:00

www.arkamani.org

This is a great e-magazine and the first of its kind in the whole Middle East... the founder and editor is Dr. Osama Abdelrahman Alnour, I believe a friend of either Nadir or Nageeb...

I chose this amazing piece of reserch he conducted and authored on the legendary Koshite king Arkamani, who had been the first in the human history to lead a war and defeat the religious establishment of Al-Kahhana (ancestors of the current NIF and Ikhwan Muslimeen)...
Enjoy this excellent piece of reserach and continue by visiting his site above...
Mohamed Elgadi

أركامانى- كو 270 - 260 ق.م

أحد ملوك كوش النادرين الذين ذكرهم بالاسم المؤرخون الإغريق. ذكر الكاتب أجاثارخيد السندوسي، الذى كتب فى القرن الثاني قبل الميلاد، بأن أركامانى- كو، والذى أسماه "ارجمنيس"، عاصر ملك مصر بطليموس الثاني (285- 246 ق.م.). يشرح أجاثارخيد بأنه وقبل أن يصبح أركامانى- كو ملكاً، كان لكهنة آمون دوماً السلطة فى اقصاء الملوك. كل ما عليهم أن يفعلوه هو بعث رسالة الى الملك يأمرونه فيها بالانتحار. وكانت تلك الرسائل تكتب بحسبانها صادرة مباشرة عن الإله. تسلم ارجمنيس رسالة من تلك الرسائل، لكنه بدلاً عن الانتحار، زحف بجنوده الى المعبد وقام بقتل الكهنة!

القصة غالباً ما تكون حقيقية، ذلك أن أركامانى- كو كان أول ملك يشيد هرمه فى مروى (البجراوية) لا فى نبتة (أي نوري). العديد من التغيرات وقعت خلال فترة حكمه وبعده. على سبيل المثال، بدأ الكوشيون فى تطوير أساليبهم الفنية والمعمارية الخاصة والتى كانت تختلف عن الأساليب المصرية. واخترعوا الكتابة المروية، والتى حلت محل المصرية فى تلك الفترة. وأصبح الإله المروي الأسد أبادماك بقوة الإله المصري آمون. ويبدو أن اسم الملك يعني " أركامانى ملك"، ويعتقد العلماء أنه كان مؤسساً لأسرة حاكمة جديدة. ويعتقد بأن حكمه كان بمثابة بداية للعصر المروي.

Teaching Tolerance

2005-03-25T09:48:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone,
I have this article that I was thinking of for a few days, and I think it might offer a good advise to many people. Mohamed, I tried my best to avoid mistakes in spelling, grammar and language. If you find a mistake please correct it before you post my article on thewebsite. Also, if you think you can add or change something, do it, but remember, my article is mainly about teaching tolerance. Let me know ahead if you add/change contents.
Thanks.
Magdi

Teaching Tolerance

Life gets harder every day, violence escalates everywhere, hunger, starvation, torture,
killing, and misery haunts many as a result of all this. And the question arises : Why life is a mere suffering to mankind ? Man is the only civilized species on our planet, yet, still not civilized enough to attempt to put an end to life's man-made misery. As a matter of fact, the whole idea is ignored in this busy, fast running technology.

Something must be missing here, that can turn things the other way around, and make life better for everyone. Something that should be done at early age of childhood, and should be part of our educational program at school : Tolerance. A word that has a great meaning and a great effect as well.

Why when it comes for education the government puts all the efforts toward the budget only?
We don't hear much about changing or modifying the system, adding new curriculums such as a subject that teaches tolerance at school ? Is this hard to plan for ? No, it isn't !
It isn't at all if we bear in minds the end results that we badly need to maintain our goals to keep going in the right direction.

Teaching tolerance could be the most effective way to handle crisis and violent situations arise in our busy daily life, mainly, because of cultures, ethnicity, religious and ideology differences. What does it make different if you are black or white, or whatever color of hair, eyes, or skin complexion you have? It is what ideas you have in that brain of you that might need to be corrected after all. We could have saved many lives by ending violence using the non-violent attitudes, controlling anger, forgiving mistakes and forgetting uncomfortable situations.

Sometimes forgetting is the hardest thing to try to do, but believe me, give it time, change the situation, create an other atmosphere to divert the attention. Or even move out and away, and leave the whole situation behind. Think that there must be something that you have or the other party has missed, that led to the unreasonable situation. And think that you are acting better by stopping things from escalating toward harmful results to both parties.

Life is precious and useful, every life is precious, no matter what, and we have to maintain it that way. Forgive and try to forget. Seek help if you need, talk it out before you attempt to do some drastic action. No matter who you are, you always need someone to talk to and seek advice.

Let us work together to make life better for everyone.

Mohammed Magdi Elgadi
Los Angeles, California

USA

The Fat Burning Soup

2005-03-23T10:14:00.000-05:00

BASIC FAT BURNING SOUP

Ingredients:

- 6 large green onions
- 1 or 2 cans (28 oz) tomatoes
- 1 large cabbage
- 3 cans of water
- 2 green bell peppers
- 1 bunch of celery
- 2 packages of Lipton soup (onion)
Season with salt, pepper, curry, parsley, if desired, or soup bullions or hot sauce.

Directions:

Cut vegetables small to medium pieces and cover with water. Boil fast for ten minutes. Reduce to simmer and continue cooking until vegetables are tender. This soup can be eaten
any time you are hungry. The more you eat the more you lose weight. Fill a thermos in the morning if you will be away during the day. If eaten alone for indefinite period you will suffer from malnutrition.

Day 1 :
All fruits except bananas. Cantaloupe and watermelon are lower in calories than most fruits.
Eat only the soup and fruits. For drinks, cranberry juice, water, or unsweetened tea.

Day 2 :
All vegetables. Eat until you are stuffed with all the fresh raw or canned vegetables. Try to eat green leafy veggies and stay away from beans, peas and corn. Eat along with the soup.
At dinner time this day, reward yourself with a big baked potato and butter. Do not eat any
fruits.

Day 3 :
Eat all the soup, fruits and veggies you want. Do not have a baked potato. If you have eaten for 3 days as above and not cheated, you will find that you have lost 5 - 7 pounds.

Day 4 :
Bananas and skimmed milk. Eat as many as 3 bananas and drink as many glasses of water
as you can in this day, along with the soup. Bananas are high in calories and carbohydrates,
and so with the milk, but on this particular day, your body will need the potassium, carbohydrates, proteins and calcium to lessen your craving for sweets.

Day 5 :
Beef and tomatoes. You may have 10 - 20 ounces of beef, and a can of tomatoes or as many as 6 fresh tomatoes on this day. Try to drink at least 6 - 8 glasses of water to wash
away the uric acid in your body. Eat the soup at least once this day.

Day 6:
Beef and veggies. Eat to your heat's content of the beef and the vegetables on this day. You
can even have 2 or 3 steaks if you like, with green leafy vegetables, but no baked potato.
Make sure to eat the soup at least once this day.

Day 7 :
Brown rice, unsweetened fruit juice and vegetables. Again, stuff, stuff yourself. Be sure to
have the soup at least once this day.

By the end of the 7th day, if you have not cheated on the above diet, you would have lost
10 - 17 pounds of your weight. if you lost more than 15 pounds stay off the diet for 2 days
before resuming the diet again from day one.

This 7-day eating plan can be used as often as you like. As a matter of fact, if it is correctly
followed, it will clear your system of impurities, giving you a feeling of well-being as never
before.

After only 7 days of this process, you will begin to feel lighter by at least 10 or possibly 17
pounds, and having an abundance of energy. Continue this plan as long as you wish and feel
the difference.

This diet is fast in fat burning, and the secret is you will burn more calories than you take in.
It will flush your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well-being. This diet does not
lend itself to drinking any alcoholic beverages at any time, because the removal of fat
build-up may not occur with alcohol. Go off the diet for at least 24 hours before you intake of
any alcohol.

Because everyone's digestive system is different, this diet will affect everyone differently.
After day 3 you will have more energy than when you began if you did not cheat. After being on the diet for several days, you will find your bowel movements have changed. Although you
can have black coffee with this diet, you may find that you don't need the caffeine after the
3rd day.

Definite NO NO's:
Bread, alcohols, carbonated drinks ( including diet drinks ). Stick with water, black coffee,
unsweetened tea, unsweetened fruit juices, cranberry juice and skimmed milk.

The Basic Fat Burning Soup can be eaten any time you feel hungry. Eat as much as you wish. Remember, the more you eat, the more you lose. No fried food or bread. You can
eat broiled or baked chicken instead of meat ( absolutely no skin on the chicken ).

Any prescribed medication will not hurt you on this diet. Continue this plan as long as you wish and feel the difference both mentally and physically. If you prefer, you can substitute
broiled fish for beef on only one of the beef days. You need the high protein from the beef
the other days.

I modified the soup (which is currently in use in many hospitals in the US before herat surgery) to make it have a better taste, by adding/changing in the ingredients
without compromising the results. The key factor is to maintain the increase in the body metabolic rate for fast fat burning. The main ingredients in the soup that enhance your
metabolism are, the cabbage, green onion, celery and bell pepper.

Ingredients:
- 2 bundles of fresh green onions ( 6 - 10 onions )
- 1 medium to large cabbage
- 2 green bell peppers
- 1 bundle of celery
- 10 cups of water
- 5 bullions of Maggie soup cubes ( chicken or beef flavor ). These are already with salt.
- Any kind of spice or flavor you can add that will not add much of calories.

When the soup is done, you can run it in an electric mixer turning it into a thick tasty soup
flavored with whatever you like, to meet your taste.

Enjoy !
Dr. Magdi Elgadi

Welcome to Elgadi Page!

2005-03-09T00:55:00.000-05:00

Dear Family,

In celebration of the International Women's Day we created our first Blog for the Elgadi Family... We decided last summer during our family semi-reunion in Maine (USA) on upgrading our Algadifamily Discussion group and get out on the internet highway and become a 'Number' on the Cyberspace (as Alsafalah Alkizan love to describe their impact on the life in Sudan: We become a Number in the international politics!). Any way, let's not start our first posting by talking about these scumbags!..

What is the story of the Blog?.. It's the new website design that made web building as easy as 123! No more need for those internet gurus to come and charge you a lot and then you call them (and befriend them) every time you need to add/delete/edit your page...

Now there is a blog created every 5.8 seconds, with a total of 7.1 million blogs! (including the seven blogs I helped creating)!!

Luckily the name elgadi was still available for use in the URL (www.elgadi.blogspot.com) and was not taken.. However, the Name of algadi, our first choice, was was not available.

So, welcome all of you on the real cyperspace highway... and let's publish and post here as much as we want...

For the time being, I made this page not available for comments except for invited members. Whatever is posted here could be seen by the whole world but no one could post any comment on the page without invitation. We need to be very careful before we post any comment (if you decided to remove your comment for any reason call me on my cell to delete it).

I would like to suggest inviting all sisters and brothers (and their spouces/children) to become members of this Blog

Mohamed Elgadi

Blog Maintainer

3/8/2005