The 30th Olympic games, London Olympics, officially started with a colourful opening ceremony at the magnificent Olympic Stadium. Here are some of the pictures of the spectacle witnessed during the opening ceremony.
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Saturday, 28 July 2012
PICTURES FROM THE OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY
IN GOD
I will like to make a distinction
between Islam and Islamism, just like there is a clear cut distinction between
Christianity and Christian extremism, the latter symbolized by Timothy McVeigh
and Anders Breivik of the Knights Templers.
Islam as we know is a religion
with deep and abiding appeal while Islamism as defined by Daniel Pipes demands
man’s complete adherence to the sacred law of Islam and rejects as much as
possible outside influence with some exceptions (such as access to military and
medical technology). It is imbued with a deep antagonism towards non Muslims
and has a particular hostility towards the west (read Boko Haram). It amounts
to an effort to turn Islam as a religion and civilization into an ideology. It
is a total transformation of traditional Islam.
Islamism has been thriving in
Africa in recent times especially in North, East and West Africa because it is
tapping into ideological roots that were laid down long before now (the Muslim
brotherhood in Egypt has a well cultivated pedigree that dates back to 1928)
and kept alive by failure of governments, bankrolled by offshore financiers and
inspired by the defiant (and highly successful) regime of revolutionary Iran.
It is now a language of dissent winning because it is the deepest and widest
channel into which today’s Arab discontent can flow. They have succeeded in
taking over the governments in post Arab spring North Africa (Egypt and
Tunisia) with Libya being the exception. This was probably what Hilary Clinton
had in mind when she admitted in Egypt on the 13th of July 2012 that
“things changed at a kind of warped speed”.
The success has not been so
smooth or fast in West Africa, but nonetheless there have been concerted
efforts to conquer these parts of the continent. As far back as 2008, elements
of the Trans national Islamist group, Al Shabab, attempted infiltrating post
election Kenya without success to cause dissent. To halt their continuing
effort to gain foothold in its territory, Kenya had to invade Somalia (the operational
base of Al Shabab) in October of 2011. The extent of their success in Kenya is
debatable, but what is not in doubt is their resolve. Earlier this month, the
twitterati of Kenya started blaming the Somalian refugees as culpable for a
host of Kenya’s problems.
The story is different in the
Islamic Maghreb (Mali, Mauritania and Niger). This area has gradually come to
be the operational hub of the Islamists, and with hounding of Al Qaeda
leadership in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is the new face
of terror. Al Qaeda and Al Shabab merged in early 2012. The GUARDIAN of London
in its 13th of July edition listed Ansar Dine, Boko Haram and Mujao
as the three major forces backed by AQIM. The same edition of the newspaper
quoted a Mali based western diplomat as saying “If Islamists continue to
control vast areas of Mali (equal in size to the whole of France) where they
can do what they like, then this will pose a direct threat to Europe”.
The poverty, ignorance and frustration
prevalent in the areas stretching from the peninsula in Somalia to Central and
West Africa has made the area a veritable recruiting ground for frustrated
people to rally around a single ideology not necessarily of their own making.
Boko Haram has derailed from the
original path charted by its founder. This is no surprise as a revolutions’
consequences need not follow from its causes. The movement has allowed itself
to be hijacked by Islamists who have a different agenda. The crusade they are
being used for has been planned long before and they only provided the
platform. There are powerful and influential people behind them and their
activities are thriving here because of the support they have from within. If
you have the chairman of a political party claiming they (Boko Haram) are
fighting for “justice”, and the president of the nation admitting that they
have permeated every strata of the society including his presidency, then you
know we are not in normal times. This is the same country that was predicted to
have been heading for “failure” some years back. It is the same country one of
whose topmost bankers was imprisoned in the mid 90’s (after his sojourn in
Sudan) for participating in religious extremism activities that led to death.
The Islamists in my opinion are
just about 10% of the Muslims population worldwide, but they are very active
and vocal with their reach and influence far greater than their numbers. There
is a great battle going on for the soul of the Muslim world. This is the battle
between the Khomeini and Atartuk dispositions. This is a battle that will make
an ideology encourage its adherents to seek to eliminate members of other
faiths. This is an ideology that seeks to desecrate the institution of an
Emir/Shehu. This is an ideology that encourages the killings of Islamic
scholars that do not toe its chosen path, an ideology that is attempting to
embark on a modern day crusade.
The Islamists have suffered
tremendous setbacks in the Middle East just as Boko Haram had been crushed in
Nigeria in 2009 but what we are witnessing here now is a resurgent Al Qaeda
reinventing itself in Africa and using Boko Haram amongst others as its vehicle
for achieving its goal. It is not what it seems to be at the surface and
certainly not a battle between Muslims and Christians but a more intricate and
complex battle being supported and financed by extremely powerful, wealthy and
influential forces from behind the scene.
Akpobaro Ebinum.
akposebinum@yahoo.com
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.
“Your son is here,” she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient’s eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man’s limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man’s hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.
He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital – the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
“Who was that man?” he asked.
The nurse was startled, “He was your father,” she answered.
“No, he wasn’t,” the Marine replied.
“I never saw him before in my life.”
“Then why didn’t you say something when I took you to him?”
“I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn’t here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed.”
Many times, there are opportunities presented to us through the mistakes of other people. However, we're not always able to discern, hence, the oppportunity to be a blessing and be blessed is thrown away.
I dare to say that for any man who desires success in life, the best way to achieve this is in your ability to maximize the opportunities that come your way, even if it is a product of someone else's mistake. There's someone out there who need you...please don't miss out.
BE INSPIRED.
“Your son is here,” she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient’s eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man’s limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man’s hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.
He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital – the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
“Who was that man?” he asked.
The nurse was startled, “He was your father,” she answered.
“No, he wasn’t,” the Marine replied.
“I never saw him before in my life.”
“Then why didn’t you say something when I took you to him?”
“I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn’t here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed.”
Many times, there are opportunities presented to us through the mistakes of other people. However, we're not always able to discern, hence, the oppportunity to be a blessing and be blessed is thrown away.
I dare to say that for any man who desires success in life, the best way to achieve this is in your ability to maximize the opportunities that come your way, even if it is a product of someone else's mistake. There's someone out there who need you...please don't miss out.
BE INSPIRED.
one Glass of Milk
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door 2 door 2pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, n he was hungry. He decided he would ask 4a meal at d next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened d door. Instead of a meal he asked 4a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, n then asked, “How much do I owe u?” “You don’t owe me anything,” she replied. “Mother has taught us never 2accept pay for a kindness.” He said, “Then I thank u from my heart.”
As Howard Kelly left dat house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God n man was strong also. He had been ready 2give up n quit.
Year’s later dat young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her 2d big city, where they called in specialists 2study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in 4d consultation. When he heard d name of d town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose n went down d hall of d hospital 2her room. Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in 2see her. He recognized her at once. He went back 2d consultation room determined 2do his best 2save her life. From dat day he gave special attention 2d case.
After a long struggle, d battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested d business office to pass d final bill to him 4 approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on d edge n d bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, 4 she was sure it would take d rest of her life to pay 4it all. Finally she looked, n something caught her attention on d side of d bill. She began to read d following words:
“Paid in full with one glass of milk”
Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly.
As u journey through life, u must know dat every act of kindness today is a seed sown to secure ur future. Never stop giving, even wen there's no immediate gratification.
Be a blessing 2someone today.
Dayo Nigeria
As Howard Kelly left dat house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God n man was strong also. He had been ready 2give up n quit.
Year’s later dat young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her 2d big city, where they called in specialists 2study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in 4d consultation. When he heard d name of d town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose n went down d hall of d hospital 2her room. Dressed in his doctor’s gown he went in 2see her. He recognized her at once. He went back 2d consultation room determined 2do his best 2save her life. From dat day he gave special attention 2d case.
After a long struggle, d battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested d business office to pass d final bill to him 4 approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on d edge n d bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, 4 she was sure it would take d rest of her life to pay 4it all. Finally she looked, n something caught her attention on d side of d bill. She began to read d following words:
“Paid in full with one glass of milk”
Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly.
As u journey through life, u must know dat every act of kindness today is a seed sown to secure ur future. Never stop giving, even wen there's no immediate gratification.
Be a blessing 2someone today.
Dayo Nigeria
Monday, 16 July 2012
Live Above Limitations
This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule praying or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbours together, told them what had happened, and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.
Initially the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbours continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, HE WOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!
This he did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!” He repeated it to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!
It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like what would bury him actually helped him . . . all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.
THAT’S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity, all those things that are supposed to be pull us down end up pushing us to be better.
React positively to challenges, it's your password to living above limitations.
Have a beautiful day.
Dayo Nigeria.
Initially the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbours continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, HE WOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP!
This he did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!” He repeated it to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!
It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like what would bury him actually helped him . . . all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.
THAT’S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity, all those things that are supposed to be pull us down end up pushing us to be better.
React positively to challenges, it's your password to living above limitations.
Have a beautiful day.
Dayo Nigeria.
Saturday, 14 July 2012
The Only Three Days
How many times have we wasted a whole day, thinking about what is already out of our hands? How many times do we allow regret of past actions deny us the joy and happiness of the present? Just thought I should share this story with us to encourage us understand and maximize the usage of the only three days all men have.
YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW
There are two days in every week about which we should not worry.
Two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.
One of these days is yesterday with its mistakes and cares,
Its faults and blunders, Its aches and pains.
Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday.
We cannot undo a single act we performed.
We cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.
The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow.
With its possible adversities, Its burdens,
Its large promise and poor performance.
Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.
Tomorrow's Sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds,
but it will rise.
Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.
This just leaves only one day . . . Today.
Any person can fight the battles of just one day.
It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternity's -
yesterday and tomorrow that we break down.
It is not the experience of today that drives people mad.
It is the remorse or bitterness for something which happened yesterday
and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.
Let us therefore live but one day at a time.
Have a wonderful day, week, month, and year ahead.
Dayo Nigeria.
YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW
There are two days in every week about which we should not worry.
Two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.
One of these days is yesterday with its mistakes and cares,
Its faults and blunders, Its aches and pains.
Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.
All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday.
We cannot undo a single act we performed.
We cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.
The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow.
With its possible adversities, Its burdens,
Its large promise and poor performance.
Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.
Tomorrow's Sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds,
but it will rise.
Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.
This just leaves only one day . . . Today.
Any person can fight the battles of just one day.
It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternity's -
yesterday and tomorrow that we break down.
It is not the experience of today that drives people mad.
It is the remorse or bitterness for something which happened yesterday
and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.
Let us therefore live but one day at a time.
Have a wonderful day, week, month, and year ahead.
Dayo Nigeria.
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