What is love?

For millennia, people have been taking shelter in love for one reason or another. However, explaining the true rational motive behind the need for closeness and intimacy has proven difficult if not impossible.

      Essentially, the multitude of philosophers, poets , writers , directors over the years have tried so arduously to depict a portrait of love that cleanses the soul, refreshes the life , renders purpose for our existence among other things; in other words, the bulk of people are able to describe the feelings while completely unable to explicate on what love actually is.

       Nicholas Sparks in his book A Walk to Remember so aptly describes the features of love:
"Love is always patient and kind. It is never jealous. Love is never boastful or conceited. It is never rude or selfish. It does not take offense and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people's sins, but delights in the truth. It is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes."

       However, for those of you who might demand a more scientific and less abstract definition, many researches have been conveyed in order for providing a ground for this seemingly unexplainable subject. The results are quite varied to say the least, from denying the existence of love altogether, to thorough explanations via neurons and hormones.

      In the videos bellow Anthropologist Helen Fisher, who have studied gender differences and the evolution of human emotion, talks about love and intimacy along with their assorted functions as well as definition.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

And Then There Were Wars; Commemoration of 9/11 and its Respective Consequences

 Article written by Daniel Molagan

Have you ever wondered how could one hour and eighteen minutes change our lives as well as the history forever?! 

      Nine years ago at this time, the world shook as it saw civilization, no matter how advanced, can be replaced with mayhem that would be remembered by generations to come.

      It looks as if a part of our world died along with thousands of men and women, workers and managers, firefighters and police officers who lost their lives on that grim day. But the series of attacks on September 11th 2001 merely ignited the blazing fire of war that has been burning the world ever since. The fire that is prominently fueled by ignorance, hatred, and most of all, greed.Despite the magnitude of controversy that has surrounded 9/11 and its various theories from conspiratorial to patriotic, we have all been affected by that incident all the same. 

      Whether the twin towers collapsed because of the airplane crashes or planted explosives; regardless of the motivation behind such atrocious cruelty; sadly, the deed is done. Fanatics and extremists are casting the ground as well as the sky disseminating hatred and recruiting followers via falsification , the world as we know it is filled with lack of trust , hate crimes are prevalent , and earnest intentions over ceasing this maddening terror are few and far in between.

      We have to be cautioned that the very notion that brought about the fury events of 9/11 is now being practiced freely in the name of terror inhibition.Terrorism will not vanish unless the root of the issue is targeted. And that brings us to the infamous origin that has caused all this to begin with, something that is ironically quite familiar and has become part of our lives without us even noticing it. Hatred.

      How can we wish for a world where terrorists are isolated and suppressed when we give them a reason to attract newcomers by disrespecting their beliefs and violating their rights as well as our own constitution?!  

      What do you expect a young fellow in Afghanistan or Pakistan would think after witnessing the news about burning Koran by an American pastor? Why do we have to give these extremists the opportunity to mold the minds of others so they could portray America and its allies as the enemies of Islam rather than fanaticism after taking away the constitutional right of Muslim-Americans? 

      Mr. Terry Jones, if you truly long a world of abundance and successfulness where people of different faiths can coexist peacefully ; so long you honestly desire safety and security and not public attention, you would preach tolerance and acceptance instead of insulting the millions of innocent and passive Muslims who had nothing to do with the heinousness that occurred on 9/11. 

      We, as Christians and followers of Christ who said in Matthew 5:44: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”, are supposed to emanate the message of love thought the universe and not the other way around.

      Washington, if you are unwilling to see your own people embrace death without a cause; if you are taking all the measures to forestall  yet another 9/11 to strike the nation ever again you would remain faithful to the fine constitution of the United States of America and specifically the first Amendment by allowing the Muslim-minority to practice their religion peacefully .

      Mr. Feisal Abdul Rauf ,if you are sincere about your intention behind erecting the grand mosque that is aimed at bringing people closer to God and shows the world the tranquil and pious trend of Islam you would move the location of the grand mosque somewhere else if only to avoid inducing bitter memories of those who lost their loved ones on ground zero, for it is Islam, not to mention all other religions, that enunciates” do unto others as you would like to be done onto you” . After all, Allah can be reached from anywhere and not just the ground zero.

       I hereby , as a Christian and a subscriber of the first Amendment, condemn Mr. Jones’ attempt at disgracing Koran, and would commemorate 9/11 by hoping to see a morrow where people of all faiths and backgrounds can live a prosperous life in which all individuals, Christians, Muslims, Jews, Spirituals, non-believers, cooperate  to redeem the world of extremism and hatred .    

For we read on the entrance of the United Nations:
 

The children of Adam are limbs to each other,
  Having been created of one essence.

New approach towards design

Disasters do come about whether we like them or not; however, we are not destined to be demolished upon occurrence of a tragedy.

      Considering the rapidly developing infrastructure around the globe, as well as increasing population and its associated financial difficulties that favors quantity over quality, we as the occupants of earth dwell in a world that has become even more vulnerable over the years despite the new technologies.

      This issue,while present in all societies, is more evident among poor and developing nations that are struggling to maintain their pace of growth by exchanging future planning , hazard prediction,and risk reduction for more apparent, and tangible maturation.

      In response to such allegations, those involved in the process defend their initiatives by stating that tough times call for tough measures. This is while in the 21st century, the appropriate approach demands an agenda as follows:

New times call for new measures.

      The first discipline that comes to our minds when thinking about natural disasters and tragedies is architecture and design of the various infrastructures and products. The way we try to tackle the problem of designs that are immune, or at least resilient, towards hazards plays a key role towards the outcome of a turmoil  .If we are truly concerned about the toll taken on finance, human lives, and most importantly our environment,then we need to look anew at our design bearing  in the current situation. A direction that not only benefits us but also the posterity.  

The following videos address this concern by providing novel ways in which a fresh look on product design and architecture can bring about safety and security for all .

-----------------------------------------------------

“KEEP MOVING ON” by Daniel Molagan

As I go across that foggy mountain, dressed in snow,
My heart so cold,
My hands shaking, limbs fatigued,
And I stand there all alone; on my own,

The herd of questions passing through my mind,
Scarring my soul ….making me blind,

Part of me is submerged in fear,
Leaving my conscience stained and with smear,
The other side of mine thirsty for the ultimate wisdom,
Hopeful that the moment of truth is near,

I ask myself so filled with wonder,
What am I doing here? ,
Lost all that I came to know,
Yet still maintained a desire to grow,
 

“Growth hurts sometimes” said to me once a mentor,
A cell has to go through much ere becoming a spore,
Witnessing another cell’s demise,
 Is nothing but development’s central core,

Bear in mind those who are gone,
And the notion that you could be the next one,
“Life is a gift, and not a given right “,
“Live today like it’s your last”, and keep moving on.

Photography

Photos speak a thousand words. We all have heard the famous quote at one time or another in our lives, however, the fact that some photographs are capable of changing the world may be unfamiliar and surprising to you. 

      Photos are one of the few entities that are capable of being interpreted by any individual of any background without the need for a translator. Photos are the channels that narrates the tales of the past in the most vivid pattern without any exaggeration or understatement for that matter.It could be assumed by almost everyone that photos are the means of connection especially among different generations and times.

      The following videos will elaborate further on the importance of photography in the contemporary as well as ancient world.

-----------------------------------------

Sanctions Concerning Standardized English Test Removed

Diplomatic hurdles invariably strike the nonparticipants the hardest. This notion was proven to thousands of Iranian students who were initially appalled by realizing that the crippling sanctions against the Iranian regime had made the transactions of the funds required for the monetary process of Standardized English Test enrollment such as TOEFL and GRE impossible. As such the registration for the aforementioned exams was aborted until further notice. 

      Today, The New York Times reported that banks are now eligible to perform the proceedings related to S.E.T’s of all class thus bringing the joy of relief to many pupils, scholars, and academics in the country.

      “The company said two weeks ago that it was temporarily halting registrations for the English test and its graduate-school admissions exam, after its bank refused to continue processing payments from Iran amid recent sanctions by the international community taking aim at the country’s financial institutions.”reported the NYT, and then proceeded:

      “United States officials reiterated that sanctions approved by Congress last month were not intended to interfere in the business of companies with permission to operate in Iran, such as E.T.S., but rather to halt the advancement of the country’s nuclear program. At least one other company licensed to operate in Iran has reported problems arising from sanctions.  “

      The news has given back the hope of a future with unbiased and quality education to the students, many of whom are my own learners. Hopefully these efforts will act as a reminder that hard work and education are immune to any political intrusion or social prejudice for that matter. 

      Students all across the area can now resume registration .  

The eyes of insanity

I wake up in the middle of the night as my effort to sleep fails. I look outside the window without even noticing the surrounding as if the world which I knew for so long does not exist anymore. I contemplate about life as I rapidly recap my actions throughout the years.

      Who are you? What are you doing here? Are you really sure about the things you were told? Do not you suspect that things could be different than what you think? Half of me is agonized by the insecurity that is emanated by my current stream of thoughts while the other half remains hopeful to reach for the truth.

      There is nothing more ironic than to realize you have spent your whole life thinking you have figured it all out just to be proven the exact opposite by no one other than your own self.  

      There it comes that striking instant when every single being, animate or inanimate, demands a new description and the border between reality and unreality seems nonexistent.

      To make the matter worse is the constant call for socialization from your acquaintances who deem you socially sick, and would consider acculturation the sole remedy for the aforementioned malady. As if the body needs to function in a specific way and fight off a particular disease in order to become sane.  

      I have been trying to distinguish the difference between sanity, and insanity for a long time now. Is it hormonal imbalance? What about physical and mental state induced by unconventional conditions? Maybe it is in your blood?

      Hmm … what if being insane solely means being different? What if you are dubbed insane the moment you start to create the world in your own way? What if being insane means to go on the unpaved road with no signs? What if being insane means to expect the impossible? What if being insane means to make your own rules as opposed to follow the status quo blindly? What if being insane means to be the master of your own destiny than to be a slave of tradition and commonality? What if being insane means to be original instead of derivative? What if being insane means to forgive your enemies even though the scar of their hatred, envy, and hostility never truly disappears from your flesh and soul? What if being insane means to care about others as much as you can instead of being drowned in self-indulgence? What if being insane means to trust your heart and not your mind? What if being insane means chosing feeling over logic? 
 
What if …….?!

What if being insane is far superior than being sane?!

      The harder I try to resist these rambling sentiments the more I approach the conclusion that the people around you would not stop assessing you , and the only manner in which you could earn their approval is by being so-called sane.
 

Ah,..Seriously..What the heck does that mean?

       I really do not know the meaning of sanity, and am also unable to define insanity …..but I know one thing.The most significant concept in the world, true love, is in direct contradiction with survival of the fittest.

      I have already tried to see the world through the fancy lens of sanity and all I saw was war, hatred, abuse, discrimination, pain, envy and uncertainty. 

Tonight I remove that lens of saneness and try to see the world with naked eyes.

Tonight I see the world as it is,without any filters.

Tonight I see only the questions, and not a single answer.

Tonight I see the beauty of the world through the eyes of insanity.