THE WAR AGAINST THE RICH

Every child in my generation and from my background in rural Nigeria,was taught to work hard study in school and strive to make a great life for himself and his family.In essence,one of the early prayers you hear poured on a new born child ,is that he/she should be rich and wealthy to bring progress into the family.The source and motivation for success for most people come from this foundational concept that though your beginning may be small your later life ought not be small but progressive and innovative.

In my background and most of humanity ,we strive to progress from one lower scale of life to a better and comfortable scale of life.The United States became famous for the fact that dreams could be realized no matter what your societal scale of beginning .The entrepreneurial spirit that the founding fathers of America desired was actually inscribed in the founding documents and the constitution.

So what is all this bashing of the rich in America.I may not be rich now but by god I desire to be rich ,very rich,that is why we work and live,perhaps.The democratic party led by President Obama, have made class warfare a political strategy.The rich are the villains,they are responsible for all the ills in America's society,they oppress the poor.The middle class must be prop up to counter the rich...this goes on and on.The fact of the matter is that the so called middle class want to move from that middle class to the next class.The competitive spirits in the economic space is what separates United States from other nations.This country was not made great by politicians creating class warfare between one class against another.America was made great by creating the space for all class to compete and strive to attain their best creativity.
It does not bode well for the United States if there is a perception that the President is anti wealth,anti success and anti business.The signals coming from the white house is not encouraging to those who want to be rich tomorrow.
The political climate does not require class warfare to make ones political base energized but doing things that will improve the moral,economic and spiritual standing of ones base.
At the end of it all,ones political base should be the United States of America.

THE ISLAM I KNOW

The furor of the ground zero mosque project has mostly exposed the ignorance and confusion on what truly Islam represents.What is Islam? Is there an inherent contradiction in Islam ,as it exist in Christianity and other religion? Let us take an example here; As a christian i ponder at most times, if Christianity promotes slavery? But with teachings,discussions, and enlightenment ,I know that Christianity does not promote slavery.However,if you read Ephesians 6:5-7, "Slaves, obey your masters with deep respect and fear.Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ....", without understanding you would think that Christianity promotes slavery.There are also Christians out there who may justify their misguided conducts by claiming support from biblical verses like this.Such actions would be contrary to the Christianity i know and the United States constitution. How do we reconcile religious ideologies and tenets with secular legal realities of our present Geo-political structures.United States is a constitutional Republic,that practices democracy. Majority of the teachings we see in the Bible , Koran and other faith books CANNOT be practiced in the United States without a serious affront on the constitution of the United States.How do we judge Islam? Personally,I think Muslims should educate non adherents in a unique society like America on what Islam represents. In Saudi Arabia,Iran, Indonesia,Nigeria,Iraq, Taliban "Kingdom",Al Qaeda "Kingdom" and other countries/ political entity that Islam is practiced, fundamental and genuine concerns are raised by non adherents.Which is the proper Islam? Islamic scholars and teachers must come out vividly and put doubts and confusion to rest.Do we use Saudi Arabia or Iran as a case study of what Islam is? So how do we strive a balance,so that we live this American dream without fear of any culture derailing the Dream.

I came into contact with Islam,in 1991 ,after my law school in Nigeria.I was captivated and enticed by Islam.By providence i met a friend ,who is a Muslim.He took me as a blood brother,help me by introducing me to his family.This family showed me love,even to this day.I am from a christian family from the south of the country,while they come from the north,a predominantly Muslim region.When i did not go to church on Sundays,my friend would scold me.A Muslim,telling me to attend church? That is the Islam and Muslims I Know.They never discriminated against me but treated me as their blood relation.Whatever,i am today ,apart from my parents and family,these Muslims had positive effect on my success in life.I have gone ,this length ,to mirror that the problem may not be in the religions but with people, how they practice their religion.
So whether, you are for the mosque or against it at ground zero,it is how we practice our faith that will mirror and give meaning to what our faith represents.
The extent that we practice good,will go a long way to draw people to our faith.
There is need for practical commonsense approach for dialogue between Muslims and non Muslims in the United States .It is a fact that some members of the Muslim faith are committing criminal acts in the name of the religion.It is the responsibility of Muslims to openly and loudly condemn any acts of crime committed in the name of Islam. There should be more interfaith conferences organized to educate all Americans ,of what Islam represents.

Muslims should stand up and not allow their faith to be hijacked by Taliban,Al Qaeda and their likes.I still believe that the Islam i encountered in 1991 ,is still with us.

OBAMA'S GIFT TO REPUBLICANS:Ground Zero Mosque

What was the President really thinking?Does he think Americans do not comprehend English or that we are all disciples of political correctness.Why did he not ignore commenting during the ceremony with his Muslim brethren last Friday at the White House.
Just like the case of the white policeman and the black professor,our President seems to create an unnecessary distraction for his party.In a tough election year for the democrats,an emotional issue like the building of a mosque two blocks from ground zero in lower Manhattan should not have been his fish to fry now.After all,the white house had told us that it was a local issue for New york.

It is rather interesting that after President Obama, elaborately stated that he approved of the rights of Muslims to build a mosque in Lower Manhattan near ground zero(as if Americas are stupid not to know what the main point of disputes are),he is now walking backward and forward in a grand act of political somersault to put some spin to his misadventure.
Now republicans can go on having great political assault on the democrats,turning the issue to a national political talking point.
I wonder if the political strategist in this white house are not republicans..just thinking aloud.