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The English Translation by Wadad Makdisi
The English Translation by Wadad MakdisiName
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Summary Page 79
Wadad Makdisi is a true patriot who is not pleased by the assimilation or imposition of the French culture in Lebanon. He seems to love his country and believes that Lebanon’s culture and language should prevail without interference from the foreign culture and language. The author of the book is a campaigner for patriotism and independence of the Lebanese. He believed that Lebanon should make their own decisions and carry out activities in the absence of French interference especially in the education sector. The author who was a principal of a school in Lebanon experiences the impact of French culture including identifying the Lebanon’s school program with the French educational program. The French authorities wanted the Lebanese children to fall in love with the French culture by embedding their own culture in the Lebanese schools. The intention was to transform Lebanon into a French loving nation through incorporation of the French culture into Lebanese children.
Wada Makdisi is very much conversant with the French culture and he understands and appreciates French culture and language fairly yet the need for national identity and patriotism burns inside him. Makdisi was eager to speak Lebanese language and have a deeper understanding of Lebanese culture instead of being engrained into the French culture. The fact that Lebanon seemed detached from Arab roots was very frustrating especially seeing everyone in public places including shopkeepers speaking in French instead of using Arabic language, which can be identified with Lebanon. The author claims that subjects taught in Lebanon including English, Sciences were taught in French language and that French History and Geography were compulsory.
Response
Colonization had greater effect on their colonies and this is evident in Lebanon where France attempted to force itself into the Lebanese. Patriotism is very important especially the fact that every citizen would want to be identified with a particular culture, language and a country. Learning or enforcing a foreign culture into another country is undeserving move associated with selfish mind and thoughts. Although patriotism may be mistaken for revolution, it is very important for every individual to remain loyal to a country of origin. Both the Arabic text and the English translation have proved helpful in providing information regarding the need to remain patriotic and the issues regarding culture assimilation and transformation.
The English translation has pointed out at some of the activities such as introducing French culture, language and literature into the Lebanese culture, which is deemed unfair as far as patriotism, is concerned. Incorporating a foreign culture in an educational program is indeed an intention to make the learners adopt the foreign country and even love their (foreigners) culture. France’s intention was very clear, to completely turn the Lebanese into a French loving country and perhaps extend their territory. Wadad had a clear understanding of what patriotism is and was very loyal to his country. He did not like the idea that every Lebanese wanted to speak in French yet there is an Arabic, which belongs to them (Lebanese). From the education perspective, it is very clear that French wanted to incorporate their culture, history , language into the Lebanese and this would completely challenge the Lebanese culture.
President Hassan Rouhanis Speech
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President Hassan Rouhani’s Speech
Hassan Rouhani is the seventh elected President of the Islamic country Iran. The country has found itself in numerous controversies especially with regard to manufacturing and owning nuclear weapons, a fact that places it as one of the world’s number one enemy. Many countries in the world have joined hands with big nations like the United States, Russia and Japan in the fight against nuclear weapon possession. The election of President Rouhani shed some light on this issue, especially because he had headed Iran’s former negotiating team and even rose to be the country’s top negotiator with major countries like the UK, Germany and France about Iran’s nuclear program. Since the president took office on third August 2013, he has had one speech made in a UN General Assembly. This is a report of his speech, analysis of the president’s main points of his talk during the general meeting. It is one of the most awaited speeches at the United Nations because it was expected to touch one of the world’s biggest problems, nuclear weapon.
During his speech, the president started by stating it as a fact that the world is at war about many issues including religious differences, ethnic and national identities, discrimination, poverty and neglect of morality which creates a global fear. On the same note, he shed light on the new hopes as the world has come to its knees to embrace peace talks that give to the expectations for peace. He claimed to be hope for the end of political wars and the indifferences in the world today through dialogue and exchange of ideas about the control of uncompromising policies.
The president urged the world to see some change in Iran’s new perspective on international war and conflicts by taking the example of the recent elections that showed the change in people’s wise decision on their choice for leaders who would be expected to bring change. The great people of Iran, as the president referred to Iranians who elected him, have realized the importance of democracy which is very dependable on religion and how they managed to transfer power peacefully from the previous regime. The belief in the people of Iran about stability and maintaining peace because they realized how peace with other countries stabilized the whole world shows that they accepted peaceful resolutions of disputes with other countries. This positive attitude by the people of Iran has created a safe environment for everything to fall in place.
President Rouhani also acknowledges that one nation’s actions affect other nations, particularly currently when the world is trying to solve the many disagreements between countries. Any action or directive by a certain nation may have drastic damages to other countries and therefore should be considered. It is time to realize that all nations in the world have one or more things in common, thus one’s weakness means a negative effect on others. The president pokes the nations that still claim to be superior to others, the nations that insist on some policies that favor their own development, saying that their time is over and should join hands for the development of the world and peaceful coexistence. They are the same nations that choose to resolve their issues using military and other forceful means to display their might. He retorted at the constant disparity among nations, divided into superior and inferior, which hinders peace and development.
Allowing the North the position of the world superpower and position the South at the weakest level and also creating the illusion that some religion or particular country is bad causes cold war and differences between nations. The best example is how Iran has been portrayed as a threat to other nations, putting it at a world-number one enemy. An example of the cause of his imaginary Iranian-threat pushed for the arming of the Saddam Hussein era with dangerous weapons and supporting the Taliban and Al-Qaida. Violation of human rights should stop and war against Northern countries like Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Palestine and Syria should be put to an end. Iran has no negative intentions and is no threat to the world, in fact, it supports peace with other nations.
Summary
Despite the constant fights and disputes between nations in the world over decades, there are new hopes to follow peaceful negotiations and peace talks that countries, especially those under one union as the UN, have held to resolve their cases. The recent President Rouhani’s speech at the UN general assembly depicted one of the moves by one of the most prominent nations in terms of controversy and alleged dangers it poses to the world, in the fight against discrimination, political wars and the fight for borderlines and frontiers. The peaceful election of the president showed that the Iranian people had grown politically to embrace democracy which leads to peace.
Iran has had many enemies over the years especially the so-called superpowers like the US and Russia that claim the country to be a threat by supporting manufacturing of nuclear weapons. This has created more enemies for Iran and has brought many nations to war due to the claims that some support such weaponry. As a result, sanctions were imposed on Iran, no international trade and aid coming into the country, a move that has affected the nation’s economic development for a long time now. The president, however, brings to the table the real cause of the international wars, defending Iran to be a country that preaches peace. According to the president, Iran has wrongly been accused of being a threat to the world because of the availability of the expensive Uranium mined in the country, a substance use to make nuclear weapon. The giant nations who have longed played the world superpower in terms of development and their military and defensive angle, seem to have been threatened by Iranian possession of Uranium which places the would-be inferior Iran at a vantage position.
From the president’s perspective, many countries currently embrace peace and have supported other countries that chase after peace. In a bid to preach peace, countries should realize that their actions affect other nations especially their neighbors and therefore should consider their implications before actualizing any policies. This means that nations should come together as one, support those that are still lagging behind with differences that slow down the economic development. The nations should strive to maintain peace as one of the leading factors that promotes development, rather than follow on the perpetuation by superior nations that other inferior ones pose danger to the world. Such superior nations are usually at the forefront in causing wars by depicted competitive nations to be armed and dangerous, claiming that the world should shun them. Such countries are the ones which have brought about division among countries today by portraying Islamic nations to be against peace. They have long justified their war on inferior countries for the reason that they are a threat to the world.
Peaceful negotiations bring about positive ideas and changes, and encourage understanding among nations, than resorting to war and fights over land. When people learn about the benefits of peace with their neighbor countries, it makes it easier for them to coexist as one tribe within the nation, and this has a very positive impact on development. War has many side effects and most times damages a country bit by bit, and so often affects innocent civilians. The war on Northern Islamic countries like Afghanistan and Iraq does not entirely bring peace because it creates more hatred for the country declaring war. Many innocent people are killed in the process; a result which does not impress the world and humanitarian watch at all, therefore, peaceful negotiations remains the best solution.
Peace is a very essential factor in the development of a nation because it stabilizes all other aspects that support the economic growth. The imaginary threat that some countries are portrayed to be should be abolished because it affects its relationship with other nations. Every country should embrace peace for positive changes to be implemented towards the millennium development goal.
The English Colonization
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The English Colonization
The main political motivation for English imperialism was the rivalry with its European counterparts. Imperialism is a term that refers to the expansion of the influence and power of a country through coercion or military force. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the main goal of European countries was to colonize. Spain, France, the Netherlands, and England were the main contributors to imperialization. At first, the English had not considered the option of setting up a home in America. They were mainly interested in the continent’s natural resources, including farmland, beaver pelts, and fish. The Englishmen men only started considering the option of putting up colonies in North America only after a war ensued between then and Spain. It was at this point that “English leaders started to consider planting colonies in the Western Hemisphere, thereby gaining better access to trade goods while preventing their enemy from dominating the Americans.” (Cox, 107). The English were politically motivated to keep the land northern colonies from being taken by Spain while at the same time providing its people with resources.
The social pressures that contributed to English colonization in America were overpopulation and religious motivations. Overpopulation in the cities of England was common. People competed for jobs, food, and clothing. There was an increase in employees which led to reduced pay and the increased cost of rent pushed the people into poverty. Furthermore, the colonization was also motivated by religion. Studies show that “some Puritans, Separatists, Presbyterians, and Catholics decided to move to America, where they hoped to practice their beliefs freely. Some fled to avoid arrest and imprisonment.” (Cox, 102). Most of the English moved to North America in order to practice their beliefs and religion away from the England church.
Colonies Table
Social Characteristics Economic Characteristics Political Systems
Massachusetts Bay To reside here, religion was a requirement. Supporting the church was customary, and the English were required to attend services.
Large families of about 5-7 people
Father was the head of the household.
Mainly Puritans Every woman and man was given land to reside, forming a community allowing exports from seaports.
Working in fields (family labour)
Growing crops
Blacksmith, fishing, building ships. To vote, one had to be a member of the church. The Puritans controlled the government.
Laws punishable by public humiliation and fines, including cursing, sex before marriage, and dancing were implemented by the church.
Virginia Upon arrival, the English expected that Natives would take up their belief and convert to Christianity. The main source of money was tobacco.
The Englishmen came as indentured servants to Virginia to work on tobacco farms. A system of governors under the advisement of the council. The governors were elected by legislature or by men that owned property. The governor system included a judiciary. Numerous political figures such as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington emerged from the Virginia colony.
The Carolinas Women are expected to carry out household chores such as cooking, cleaning, and childcare.
Due to crime and debt, Indians were enslaved. The main crops were corn and tobacco.
They sold corn and cattle to planters located in the Caribbean.
Olives, figs, and grapes were common. Governors were elected by legislature and land owners.
Major Ideas and Events That Led to The American Revolution
Also known as the U.S. War of Independence, the American Revolution was an uprising by which 13 Great Britain North American colonies gained political independence forming the United States of America. The breakup of the British Empire in 1776 by the American colonists was not sudden. The coming together of the 13 colonies to fight for independence against the Crown culminated in a series of events that had started in the previous decade. Various pivotal movements triggered the American Revolution.
The Enlightenment philosophy was an international movement existing between the 17th and 18th century in ideas and sensibilities that emphasized critical reason rather than intellectual dogmatism. Enlightenment developed alongside the growth of scientific thinking and insisted on the importance of natural order and nature as being a source of knowledge. Enlightenment thinkers such as Isaac Newton, John Locke, and Voltaire employed the power of the press to question accepted knowledge and spread new ideas pertaining to investigation, openness, and religious tolerance across Europe and America (Orr, 904). The Enlightenment philosophy challenged traditional religious views. Enlightenment thinkers in Britain, France, and other areas of Europe asked questions about traditional authority ways. They also opined that humanity is enhanced by lucid change. The Enlightenment formed a range of laws, essays, wars, inventions, books, revolutions, and scientific discoveries.
After the war with France, an extreme debt needed to be recouped. Parliament approved the Stamp Act Law that introduced tax ranges in the colonies. Prior to this law, the government in the colonies made decisions pertaining to paying taxes. After the Stamp Act law was passed, parliament attempted to pass another law known as the Townshend Act meant to apply tax on all imported goods from Great Britain (Tomaselli, 111). Americans were unhappy with the tax increase, prompting them to fight back. They started protesting and organizing a tax boycott of British goods. The Boston Massacre of March 1770 followed soon after a disagreement arose between a British soldier and an apprentice wigmaker. There were simmering tensions between Boston residents and British occupiers as a crowd of 200 colonists surrounded seven British troops. In the altercation, the soldiers lost their cool and started firing at the crowd. The Boston Tea Party took place in December 1773 after the British withdrew their forces from Boston and repealed the Townshend legislation. They left the tea tax and enacted a new law known as the Tea Act that would boost the British East India Company, which was struggling financially.
The Effect of the Political And Social Changes from The American Revolution
The American Revolution had both long and short-term consequences and affected Native-Americans, African Americans and women differently. The most immediate and significant consequence of independence declaration was the development of state constitutions. The American Revolution unleashed powerful social, political, and economic forces set to transform society and post-revolution politics including increased participation in governance and politics, population diffusion and growth, and the institutionalization of religious tolerance.
The Native Americans experiences the effect of the changes that followed the American Revolution. The American Revolution affected the lives of Native Americans by opening up western settlements resulting to hostile governments in their territorial claims. More broadly, the Revolution put an end to the mercantilist economy, hence leading to new opportunities in manufacturing and trade. African Americans were viewed as commodities that could be bought and sold. After the Revolution, slavery died slowly in some sectors and some states abandoned it completely. As slavery died down, this encouraged some sectors to grow grain rather than tobacco, which required much less labor. African Americans could still not vote. Women were viewed differently after the revolution took place. Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams, a political figure, advocated for women’s rights. She was of the opinion that state governments should represent women. Women were also needed to instill republican values and teach them civic virtues. This was required since the sons were expected to engage in political activities as they grew up. Daughters were taught these virtues to pass on to their children in the future.
Works Cited
Cox, Jessica. “Canonization, Colonization, and the Rise of Neo-Victorianism.” English: Journal of the English Association, vol. 66, no. 253, 2017, pp. 101–23. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1093/english/efw058.
Orr, Ittai. “The Room Where It Happened: Race and the American Revolution.” American Quarterly, vol. 69, no. 4, 2017, pp. 903–15. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1353/aq.2017.0072.
Tomaselli, Sylvana. “The Enlightenment debate on women.” Mary Wollstonecraft. Routledge, 2017. 111-134. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315249575-11/enlightenment-debate-women-sylvana-tomaselli