Comments on abufares said...the world according to a tartoussi: Changes

@jimmy Thank you for dropping by and for you heart...

2009-08-28T12:41:56.912+03:00

@jimmy
Thank you for dropping by and for you heartfelt encouragement.
I really appreciate your support for freedom of expression.

wlek yo2borne rabbak ya abu fares!

2009-08-28T09:52:30.470+03:00

wlek yo2borne rabbak ya abu fares!

Kinky?! ... mmm, I think I have not reach that sta...

2009-08-17T14:42:46.654+03:00

Kinky?! ... mmm, I think I have not reach that stage yet! : P

Carlos will be the first to find out, but I promise to let you know too. Ha, ha

w.b. yeats

@w.b. yeats Are you sure you were reading my post ...

2009-08-17T13:37:47.393+03:00

@w.b. yeats
Are you sure you were reading my post and not gazing at the girl's bum?
You're not getting kinky after all these years, are you???
lolllllll

I was re-reading your blog, and my daughters asked...

2009-08-17T02:25:37.573+03:00

I was re-reading your blog, and my daughters asked me why was I reading something that had a picture of a girl's bum so prominantly exposed... Je!

I said a I have a wierd friend, but he is a good writer.

: )

w.b. yeats

http://www.al-akhbar.com/ar/node/151933

2009-08-15T11:03:26.867+03:00

http://www.al-akhbar.com/ar/node/151933

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/82000...

2009-08-14T23:28:53.831+03:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8200001.stm

GOD WONT CHANG PEOLE IF THEY DONT WANT TO CHANG T...

2009-08-14T05:14:57.947+03:00

GOD WONT CHANG PEOLE IF THEY DONT WANT TO CHANG THEMSELVES (HOLY QURAN)

LÊ

"Take it all or shut-up" .. shut up?? NEVER!! I'm ...

2009-08-13T19:59:05.934+03:00

"Take it all or shut-up" .. shut up?? NEVER!! I'm with you Abufares!

@Karin It was inspiration more than determination...

2009-08-13T19:49:52.285+03:00

@Karin

It was inspiration more than determination really. It still is.

You know what I find strange Karin? You would expect people who are prosecuted because of their religious or political beliefs to appreciate freedom of speech and to be more open minded. It's surprising that although they are still, with the rest of society, suffering from political tyranny they are already scheming on how to implement their discriminatory policies against those who do not share the same set of values if they ever climb the power ladder.

While you and perhaps many others can relate to "my" spirituality, to them it's total blasphemy. It's a take it or leave it proposition with them. Take it all or shut-up. Their way of life, their inherited beliefs are somehow holier than the everybody's else. All by virtue of birth. Truly sad.

It takes a lot of determination and dicipline to d...

2009-08-13T19:31:45.520+03:00

It takes a lot of determination and dicipline to do what you did ... CONTRATULATION!! Just don't be too strict with yourself but I guess there's not much danger (you know how to enjoy!)

About the other issue ... I absolutely agree with you! Tolerance & freedom of speech and expression are values need to be granted in a society, anything less is unacceptable.

Spirituality is something wonderful and precious and nothing's wrong with expressing it on a blog the way you do. You said THANK GOD Syria is not Saudi Arabia nor the Vatikan ... yea - THANK GOD INDEED!!

Will you follow me to Albuquerque? I'll take off on the 21st (work-assignment) and plan to blog a LOT about my experiences. I briefly posted about it ...
:-)

@Antonio I have every intention of doing so and n...

2009-08-13T17:15:57.204+03:00

@Antonio

I have every intention of doing so and not stopping.
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement.

keep doing what you're doing, abufares - with the ...

2009-08-13T16:42:32.497+03:00

keep doing what you're doing, abufares - with the exercise and the blogging :)

teslam abufares, kelak zo2 :)

2009-08-12T18:53:13.059+03:00

teslam abufares, kelak zo2 :)

@Batoul My morals are the healthy offspring of my ...

2009-08-12T11:30:08.963+03:00

@Batoul
My morals are the healthy offspring of my human conscience and the splendor of nature. They are not the misbegotten brood born to fear and submission.

Syrian morality is a result of thousands of years of civilization. It is as varied as we are. Islamic morality is an integral and very important part of our identity but is not the only one that's all. Spirituality is a wonderful experience but has nothing to do with the running of a nation unless all constituents are of the exact same conviction (The Vatican for instance). Syria is neither the Vatican nor Saudi Arabia... THANK GOD :-)

September and October are beautiful here in Tartous. I will be more than honored by your visit. Please let me know so that I can Oum Bil Wajeb.

@Fantasia Thank you for stating the obvious (that ...

2009-08-12T11:18:44.612+03:00

@Fantasia
Thank you for stating the obvious (that I look great:-) lolllll.

Bigotry is the same everywhere. The problem with all bigots, however, is that they always think that they are unique. The most tragic manifestation of this vile human illness is when bigots from two different religious pursuits come face to face and kill each other, all in the name of God.
Should I give examples? I don't think so.

@Saint I have privately replied to your message. ...

2009-08-12T11:12:06.100+03:00

@Saint

I have privately replied to your message. Be well.

Your comment back gave me a vibe of misunderstandi...

2009-08-12T04:55:45.908+03:00

Your comment back gave me a vibe of misunderstanding. I agree to what you have said. In fact, I am not Syrian by blood. I was just born & raised there and love it with the warmth of a thousand suns. So, yes for diversity!

About morals, I never thought you deviated from them. Being expressive doesn't mean of lacking morals.

I'm coming to Syria end of September. I've only went to Tartous once in my life. I was very young and don't have much recollection. This year, I will enrich myself with the lands and sea of Tartous. "As a blogger", you've made an imprint and will definitely be on my mind :) cheers!

Ah my friend ... just went to jarofjuice (KJ's sit...

2009-08-12T03:54:33.394+03:00

Ah my friend ... just went to jarofjuice (KJ's site) to see the pic! my friend you look great!

I am a fitness "fanatic". I am at the gym twice a day 5-6 days a week. I go for cardio before work and do weights at lunch. I rock climb, am learning to scuba dive and snowshoe among other activities.

I believe very strongly that a fit physical body does help promote a healthy mind and thus, creativity. The Greeks had it right way back in ancient days when the Olympics were created.

I do ask you to please read the cover story of the times. It’s very “Michael Moore” in it’s one sided approach to the issue. I will give you my analogy that you will understand better after you read the article. I think that it’s like shampoo and conditioner. Shampoo (food) all alone will clean your hair but using conditioner (exercise) will take it to a entire new level.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914857,00.html

As for the rest … I can’t comment really. I am blessed to live in a country that - although hypocritical with regards to certain issues and hiding behind the face of political correctness to avoid facing the class problem and underlying racial issues that still exists among other things - I admit that it’s nothing compare to what you live on a day to day. The nature of my blog shows that tolerance is something we have and likely take for granted. But don’t be fooled. Bigotry in the US is a huge issue. Not long ago a friend of mine had his blog shut down by a puritanical American run company, Small minds are all over. Look at facebook … they even encourage you to report (squeal) on people. If you don’t like it? Go away! Ah - this rant my need to wait…. My date awaits!

Hey abufares, due still have the Bigfoot account?

2009-08-12T02:24:18.395+03:00

Hey abufares, due still have the Bigfoot account?

I see! I see... “Love of beauty is Taste. The cre...

2009-08-11T21:26:38.683+03:00

I see! I see...

“Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

U have evolved into a priceless art masterpiece

: )

w.b. yeats

@w. b. Yeats I'm exactly like I was 28 years ago...

2009-08-11T18:15:32.545+03:00

@w. b. Yeats

I'm exactly like I was 28 years ago except perhaps a little more handsome.
Time and love have matured me gracefully like the best of wines :-)

And Razan, whose agenda???

2009-08-11T18:12:07.986+03:00

And Razan,
whose agenda???

@Razan You're always welcome to this blog and to ...

2009-08-11T16:43:51.246+03:00

@Razan

You're always welcome to this blog and to Tartous along with your friends and the friends of your friends, Omar included.

When I assumed that Yazan was tricked or sucked in I based my assumption on my knowledge of him. There was no way on earth he would have accepted that 5th condition. As far as I'm concerned nobody who accepts/dreams of/promotes the democratic process accepts such a biased condition. I respect Omar in the sense that he went ahead and stated that he did that alone without consulting with the others. But, in my opinion, he was wrong to do so. On his blog one can write whatever one wants. It's his personal space and no one has the right to object. However, Almudawen is a public place, a civil aggregator of Syrian blogs, or am I wrong? It's for all Syrians, not for religious Syrians. Again, am I wrong? His personal belief, which I respect as long as he keeps it on his blog, has no place in a public forum.

Was I harsh when I stated that Yazan has exercised pressure on Almudawen? Yes I was. Why? because it was my opinion that (on my blog) I should challenge a "civil aggregator" which didn't abide by the rules of the game. I never attacked Omar personally since I don't even know him. You of course know me enough to realize that I'm not that kind of person.
It is my opinion that Almudawen was wrong when the 5th condition was added.

Be that as it may, I cannot harbor bad feelings toward anyone. So you can imagine my attitude toward an intelligent blogger with a blog titled "The Harbor = Al Marfa'a". Like I know Yazan, I also know you and I'm sure when you say that Omar is a "great guy" you truly mean it.

I already disagree with you on several issues (didn't you know that?) and I'm also aware that I presently disagree and will continue to disagree with Omar on other issues as well. That should not, however, be considered as an obstacle in extending our hands to each other anytime. He might think that I am a dinosaur and I might think that he has crossed the line between personal opinion and civil obligation but we can always sit down and enjoy a glass of... tea together.

He might never come over this blog again so I don't mind at all if you convey my message to him. It was never personal. He has a cause which he strongly defends and I have a different cause which I strongly believe in and would do anything in my capacity to defend as well.

The Arak, we can drink alone you and me ;-)

One last thing, about the "agenda", yes they have ...

2009-08-11T16:12:30.691+03:00

One last thing, about the "agenda", yes they have an agenda, that's why Omar asked Yaman, Yazan, Maha and a foreigner to be part of the committee ;-)