"the sharp sword with two edges" - (Islam & Revolution)

Around the Japan Railway's Tokyo Station
A Maru-no-uchi-side Entrance
Coin-Operated Lockers

Revolution and Religion are each the Sword with Two Edges

[Updated in Dec. 15, 2011]

It is very interesting that the Washington Monument (170-meters high) is actually an obelisk imitating those having been built in ancient Egypt.

But, more interestingly, real obelisks built in ancient Egypt were taken by Western powers to be set in their capitals, such as Rome, Paris, London, and even New York.

Not only Italy, France, and the U.K. but also America proudly exhibit Egyptian obelisks as a symbol of their power.

So, it is no wonder that they have a strong concern with Egypt. They envy 4700-year long history of Egypt.

Yet, I think there are no obelisks in Jerusalem and Israel.


CHAPTER I: The 18th Day's Revolution

As I referred to the Koran 17:71 on February 4, the showdown has come on the 18th day of the uprising in Cairo.

The Koran

The Children of Israel

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

[17.71] (Remember) the day when We will call every people with their Imam; then whoever is given his book in his right hand, these shall read their book; and they shall not be dealt with a whit unjustly.

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/k/koran/koran-idx?type=DIV0&byte=429259

http://eereporter.blogspot.com/2011/02/son-thy-sins-be-forgiven-thee.html

That is why you are very right and maybe pious to check EEE-Reporter.



CHAPTER II: Samurais in Egypt in 1864

While the Suez Canal was under construction, the last samurai regime of Japan sent its envoy to France so as to negotiate diplomatic matters with France.

They failed in diplomacy, but on their way home the samurais visited Cairo to see the great pyramids and the Sphinx. The diplomacy corps sent by the Tokugawa shogun in Edo (Tokyo) thus took commemorative photos.


http://inforyoma.com/bakumatu/sisatudan.htm

So, this is the oldest picture that shows Japanese around Cairo.


CHAPTER III: Carthage, Egypt, & Palestine

The Romans defeated Carthage around 200 BC.

The Romans occupied Egypt around 30 BC.

The Romans made war around Jerusalem around AD 60.

So, the next decisive movement following today's Tunisia and Egypt must happen around Israel.

Yet, before a big incident happens in Gaza or the West Bank, Christ Jesus might be coming back again.



CHAPTER IV: Christianity for the Poor; Islam for the Rich?

This is a very difficult theme. But, we may be allowed to think in the following way by the God and Allah.

From the beginning, Christianity was intended to help the poor.

From the beginning, Islam was intended to help the rich.

Ironically, Christianity turned to be suitable mostly for poor people working in factories and plants after the Industrial Revolution.

Ironically, Islam turned to be suitable mostly for rich merchants before the Industrial Revolution.

In fact, along with history from the Age of Geographical Discovery to the Industrial Revolution, the relative strength of Islamic states got smaller in comparison with European/American Christian countries.

Christianity emerged among poor people who were forced to sell their labor to rich Romans in Rome or peripheral cities such as Jerusalem. It could be suitable to become a religion among poor workers who had to sell their labor to rich capitalists. The religion saved poor workers, but it also helped capitalists pursue their wealth as laborers did not perish under hard work since they were supported by Christianity, very ironically.

Islam emerged among rich merchants who were living in Mecca and other cities that were prosperous owing to intermediate trade between the Mediterranean region and India and other Asian regions. Around the 7th century, as the East Roman Empire was at war with Persians, the old commercial route passing through Baghdad could not be used by merchants. So, as Mecca on the Red Sea is situated on a roundabout in the south of the old main trade route between the West and the East, it came to enjoy great prosperity. Many Arab merchants became rich. And, one of them launched Islam. Accordingly, Islam was intended to save rich merchants from falling into the hell. To be saved, they have to help the poor, though as if this good deed were a secondary matter.

This might be one of the reasons why some Arab nations and Islamic states had a friendly tie with the Soviet Union. Islam is not suitable for being a religion for poor workers in factories selling their labor to capitalists. Poor Muslims opted for socialism and communism, derivatives from European Christianity and modern Judaism.

So, after the revolutionary movement in Tunisia and Egypt, Muslims have to develop and change Islam so that they will not need another Soviet Union.

The fate of Saddam Hussein and Colonel Gaddafi, old friends of the Soviet Union, are also symbolic.

In addition, as the financial sector has grown so much today in a post-industrial trend, some Islamic merchants have found a great opportunity to be rich as observed in Dubai. Yet, Dubai cannot be another Mecca where a new religion emerges to supersede Islam and save the rich Arab bankers and investors.


*** *** *** ***


If you give freedom through a revolution to people including very bad guys, the freedom would really work as a sword with two edges.

But if you give freedom and democracy through a revolution to people including very bad guys, the freedom and democracy might become a sword with two edges less dangerous.

Yet, in the Kingdom of God, even freedom and democracy would occupy lower positions as guiding principles.

It is so, since even very bad guys can find a way for their success and prosperity in freedom and democracy.

It is said that without freedom there is no love while love is the fundamental principle in religion.

That is why people in the world, including Judaists, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, etc., have been all excited by the recent news from Egypt.

Nonetheless, till improvement of situations in Gaza is confirmed, it might be a little earlier to celebrate Egyptians and Muslims in the world fully.

Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Rev 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

"gold, and frankincense and myrrh" - (Cairo)

The Tokyo Station & Shinkansen Trains
In the Summer
On the Yaesu/Tokyo Bay side opposite to the Maru-no-uchi/Imperial Palace side(Click to enlarge)



The Cairo Day


It is now snowing around Tokyo.

A cable TV channel is reporting situations in Egypt.

Today, it is a public holiday in Japan.

And, the God has exercised His power with a miracle already today around me.



CHAPTER I: A Japanese Cameraman in Cairo

A Japanese traveling cameraman visited Cairo in 2001, or before the 9/11 Terror in the U.S.

So, he walked into an old lane deep into a residential area of Cairo.

He encountered an old woman sitting on the alley way between old residential buildings looking like a kind of ruins.

She looked up to see a camera the Japanese was carrying on his shoulder. It was the moment that she suddenly stood up, screaming loudly with full anger at him. It is as though she were saying, "I will kill you if you take any pictures here!" Though the Japanese cameraman could not understand Arabic, he could not miss her gesture with the hand moving before her neck horizontally. She must be shouting, "I will kill you if you take any pictures here!"

So, he left her and exited from the old lane, while observing other people around the old woman. They were all disabled persons, blind persons, sick persons, and very poor persons.

At the end of the day of sight-seeing Cairo, he felt that Cairo is a city that exhausts him, like Hanoi, Dhaka, and Peshawar. So, he confirmed that the reason why he continued his travel was to feel this sort of fatigue.

http://www.tabisora.com/travel/091.html



CHAPTER II: Japanese Learners in Cairo

The Japanese language department of Cairo University has a 35-years-long history. From the department, about 1,000 students have graduated. So, in last November they held a special symposium.

http://jfcairo.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/%E3%82%AB%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AD%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%A6%E3%81%A7%E5%AD%A6%E7%A7%91%E9%96%8B%E8%A8%AD35%E5%91%A8%E5%B9%B4%E3%81%AE%E8%A8%98%E5%BF%B5%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3%E3%83%9D%E3%82%B8%E3%82%A6%E3%83%A0%E3%81%8C/

Yet, it was reported once that Japanese businesses operating in Egypt were not friendly to those graduates from the Japanese language department of Cairo University. It was students who could speak English well but not Japanese that were welcomed by Japanese companies doing business in Egypt.

However, as 230,000 Japanese tourists visited Egypt in 2008 (ranked as the 23rd among all the countries), young Egyptians who have learnt the Japanese language must find a chance to live on their special knowledge.

(In 2008, the largest number of sight-seers came to Egypt from Russia with 1.83 million, followed by Germany with 1.2 million, and the U.K. with 1.2 million.)

In Tokyo, 200 Egyptians and some other Muslims living here recently marched in a demonstration against President Mr. Mubarak.

http://news.tbs.co.jp/20110205/newseye/tbs_newseye4642998.html



CHAPTER III: Muslims in Israel

One of the countries where Islamic uprising is most unthinkable is Israel.

But, Arab citizens today account for 20% of residents in Israel.

As of 2008, Arab citizens of Israel comprise just over 20% of the country's total population. The majority of these identify themselves as Arab or Palestinian by nationality and Israeli by citizenship...

Muslims in Israel have a birth rate of 4.0 children per woman and a natural reproduction rate of 3%.[46] Around 25% of the children in Israel today were born to Muslim parents. The Muslim population is mostly young: 42% of Muslims are children under the age of 15. The median age of Muslim Israelis is 18, while the median age of Jewish Israelis is 30. The percentage of people over 65 is less than 3% for Muslims, compared with 12% for the Jewish population.[44] According to forecasts, the Muslim population will grow to over 2,000,000 people, or 24-26% of the population within the next 15 years. They will also comprise 85% of the Arab population in Israeli in 2020 (up 3% from 2005).[47]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_citizens_of_Israel

So, Arab citizens might soon account for 25% of residents in Israel.

This ratios is the same as the combined one of African Americans' and Hispanics' in the U.S.

Israelis had better start to study the Koran.


*** *** *** ***


If Islam is useless to oust a 30-years-long reigning dictator from government, Muslims had better think that something is wrong on the religion side or their side.

I suppose there are two factors that have induced this revolutionary movement in Egypt: Dubai and China.

While there are no successful and competitive economic powers in the Islamic world, some Muslims in Dubai got big money. While China was just a member of developing countries a decade ago, like most of Islamic states, some American elites today praise the Chinese economic success to the extent that G2 of the U.S. and China will decide everything in the world.

Egypt has the more glorious past than Dubai and China have. Egypt should be more prosperous than Dubai and China are. But, what hinders the possible success of Egypt? It is President Mubarak! This can be their finding.

Yet, this secular revolutionary movement must be linked to the agenda of Islam.

The Vatican will also have to face a big challenge. America will also have to link its agenda in the coming 2012 Presidential Election to the American religion, since the most important difference between Republicans and Democrats is in their attitude toward the American Christianity.

What is now going on in Cairo must lead to a major change in the state of religions of mankind.

*** ***



Now, "WSJ Wall Street Journal

Breaking: Egyptian vice president says President Hosni Mubarak has stepped down
http://on.wsj.com/gPUPsP"



Mat 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

"the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins" - (Japan, Sudan, Egypt, & China)

The Great Tokyo Station
Raised platforms and
The 1F concourse




According to a recent survey, Turks who regard Islam as playing a big role in the domestic politics account for 69%, though the ratio was just 45% in 2002.

Even in Bangkok, Thailand, it looks like more and more Muslim women have come to wear a scarf on the street.

Before the Vatican faces critical moment, Muslims seem to venture into a great change, if it is pro-Western or anti-Western way of conduct.



CHAPTER I: China vs. Egypt

The Chinese Communist Government reportedly took stern action to disable some search-engine input in the Internet with terms such as "Egypt," "Mubarak," "Change," "Ben Ali," etc. in order to prevent an influence of the Islamic revolution from reaching China.

This is a real state of a country that has reportedly replaced Japan as the world No.2 country in terms of GDP.

Yet, some elites in the U.S. and the U.K. are still praising China so much, since China has reportedly replaced Japan as the world No.2 country in terms of GDP.

Chinese elites look worse than oppressive rulers in Egypt and other Islamic nations. Anglo-Saxon elites might be as bad as Chinese.




CHAPTER II: Recent News in Japan

1) Panasonic, a Japanese electronic giant, has become world No.1 in terms of the number of patent applications submitted to the patent office as a private company, though the company was No.1 in the year before last, too.

2) Japanese major car makers, Nissan, Honda, and Mitsubishi, except Toyota sold more cars in the Chinese market than in Japan last year. It is like GM that sold more cars in China than in the U.S.

3) Tomorrow full-scale snow falling is expected in the Pacific coastal areas of Japan, including Tokyo Prefecture.



CHAPTER III: The First Muslim in Japan

One Arab Muslim lived in Kyoto, Japan, 600 years ago.

He came to Japan following Japanese Buddhist monks who studied in China and then came back to Japan.

He was called "Hishiri." Hishiri married a Japanese woman to have two sons. One of them, called "Musuru" was hired by the then samurai shogun Ashikaga Yoshimochi. Musuru got in charge of trade with China, the Ming Dynasty, and navigation matters. He lived to be 93 years old and die in 1486. (http://www2.dokidoki.ne.jp/racket/isuramu_shi_01_03.html)

Today, it is believed that Hishiri is the first Arab and Muslim that has ever lived in Japan.



CHAPTER IV: JAPAN & Sudan

A Japanese foreign aid worker in Sudan has his blog site.

Last year he reported how rice farming is studied and tried in Sudan with help from the Japanese Government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA).

JAICA has been working in Sudan since 1970's.

The picture below shows a rice field in Sudan cultivated with aid from Japan.

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/sisido1124/63178876.html


*** *** *** ***


The business climate in America is always a big concern for the Japanese media and business people.

It is true that American consumers who buy Japanese goods and products are one of major factors that have a critical influence on Japanese economic conditions.

It was not failures on Wall Street that hit hard the Japanese economy but a sharp decline in sales in the American market that made Japan plunge into recession since late 2008. However, it is apparent Japan cannot rely on liberal spending of American consumers any more. Americans should not enjoy a life of luxury, and Japanese should not rely on export to the U.S.

So, Japanese export to China has surpassed its export to America, though it is a little easy change (Asia accounts for 55% among destinations of Japan's export). Yet, the state of unemployment in the U.S. is a big concern for the Japanese media and business people.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

The unemployment rate (9.0 percent) declined by 0.4 percentage point for the second month in a row. The number of unemployed persons decreased by about 600,000 in January to 13.9 million, while the labor force was unchanged.

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (8.8 percent), whites (8.0 percent), and Hispanics (11.9 percent) declined in January. The unemployment rates for adult women (7.9 percent), teenagers (25.7 percent), and blacks (15.7 percent) were little changed. The jobless rate for Asians was 6.9 percent, not seasonally adjusted.

http://www.tradingeconomics.com/Economics/Unemployment-Rate.aspx?Symbol=USD

Anyway, with less unemployment in the U.S., Mr. Barack Obama could be reelected and Japanese businesses will receive benefit, probably, as it was. I mean that everybody wants less unemployment in the U.S.




Mar 2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

Mar 2:10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

Mar 2:11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

"but the servants which drew the water knew" - (1 God & 3 Religions)

With an increase of the world population and expansion of consumption of foods and other natural resources in developing countries, the most significant agenda for mankind in the 21st century is cultivation of desert.

The Arabian Peninsula and the Sahara Desert must be turned to great agricultural zones.

My idea is, as I once proposed, to build 2,000 meters high artificial mountainous structure along the sea coats stretching hundreds of miles so as to trap vapor high in the air.

Anyway, mankind must make more progress to build the world where foods are free, a very simple target.


CHAPTER I: My Thought

When the West Roman Empire collapsed, Judaists (Jews) would not go back to Palestine, though the East Roman Empire still occupied the domains as far as Egypt through Jerusalem.

Yet, Judaists living in the territory of the ex-West Roman Empire around the 7th century should have returned to Palestine and Jerusalem. Since they would not, Islam emerged to occupy Palestine and Jerusalem eventually.

Instead, Judaists moved to the north of the Alps riding on the rising tide of hegemony of the Frankish Empire, mostly from northern Italy as evidence based on a DNA analysis tells.

Accordingly, Palestine and Jerusalem fell in the hand of Muslims, the state of which continued for the next 1300 years.

However, it might not be appropriate to say that modern Judaists have no right to claim their territorial right in Palestine and Jerusalem, since the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered around the Dead Sea after WWII as if the return of Judaists had been welcomed.

If it is the will of the God Almighty to have modern Judaists live in the holy land where their ancestors had lived and fought 1900 years ago so as to be modern Israelis, they would surely stay there.

And, Allah accepted Mecca but not Jerusalem as the holiest place for Muslims. Allah might like Judaists to come back and stay in Palestine and Jerusalem.

Nonetheless, personally, I don't want anybody to live in Palestine and Jerusalem, since the holly land has been contaminated too much with blood and tears as well as curses in these 2000 years. The area must be preserved and protected as the greatest heritage of mankind. Everybody should be off the area to express repentance of mankind before the God Almighty and Allah in addition to Christ Jesus.

This is my humble thought as I have observed history and the world.

(Click to enlarge.)



CHAPTER II: A News Report from Israel

If all the Christians should convert to Islam or a kind of Islam, Judaists and Israelis will truly repent. But, what to repent?

israel Today Magazine
Christians slaughtered in southern Egypt
Sunday, February 06, 2011 | Ryan Jones

Last week, just days after the demonstrations to reform or overthrow the Egyptian government got underway, Muslims in the south of the country took advantage of the general chaos to break into two homes belonging to local Coptic Christians and butcher every man, woman and child they could find...

Comments:
Al Salibiyyah Feb 7
Our Politicions, priests and our Bishops has Totally Failed us
and all Christian people in the World!!

http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/22645/Default.aspx

For example, if the living standards of European/American Christians get lower to the level of Muslims, there would be no global warming, crisis of scarcity of natural resources, and probably large-scale nuclear warfare.

To our surprise, the key to solutions of all the problems in the European/American Christianity-dominant world is Christians' conversion to Islam, though so unthinkable.

But, how can you accept the shout "if you want to stop global warming, convert to Islam!"



CHAPTER III: Their Choices

The state of enrollment of Judaistic (Jewish) students in the U.S. is as follows.

====
Private Universities

Rank... University... Jewish Student (est.)... % of Student body...All

1.. New York University... 6,500... 33%... 19,401

2.. Boston University... 4,000... 20%... 15,981

3.. Cornell University... 3,500... 25%... 13,515

4.. University of Miami... 3,100... 22%... 14,000

5.. The George Washington University...2,800... 31%...10,394


6..University of Pennsylvania...2,800...30%...9,718


7..Yeshiva University...2,800...99%...2,803

8.. Syracuse University... 2,500...20%... 12,500

9.. Columbia University...2,000...29%...6,819


10.. Emory University...2,000...30%...6,510


11..Harvard University...2,000...30%...6,715


12..Tulane University... 2,000...30%...6,533

13.. Brandeis University[68]...1,800...56%...3,158

14..Northwestern University[69]...1,800...23%...7,826

15..Washington University in St. Louis[70]...1,800...29%...6,097

(All: Undergraduate Enrollment)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Jews

====

Of course, if they listen to the God Almighty, I do not mind how a student identifies himself or herself based on a religion he or she thinks to have any obligation to.

Of course, if they listen to EEE Reporter, I do not mind how a student identifies himself or herself based on a religion he or she thinks to have any obligation to.

To make sure, there are 200,000 students in Cairo University, Egypt, most of whom must be Muslims.

For your reference, there are 56 Protestant universities and 20 Catholic universities among 758 universities in Japan.


*** *** *** ***

They reported in Japan that coffee prices have been steeply rising, though they enjoy full harvest of coffee beans in Brazil.

The price trend of Arabica coffee:

http://www.mongabay.com/images/commodities/charts/arabica_coffee.html
Though this can be a great business opportunity for some developing countries, this sort of economic risk can be only overcome under guidance of the God and Allah.




Joh 2:9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

Joh 2:10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

"immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit" - (Meaningful World Rankings?)

The Tokyo Station
In winter evening


The China Communist Government often says that the concept of a human right is different between China and Europe and America.

China cannot be justified by this sort of rhetoric, since there are too many reports on their cruel suppression of its citizens. But, it is true that some aspects of human right are different in Asia and Europe/America.

Nonetheless, prejudice or malicious behaviors cannot be accepted in discussing states of nations in the world, including those outside the Western Christian culture. As Japan is so remote from the European culture, especially in terms of religion, they simply do not respect Japan often times.



CHAPTER I: Happiness Ranking

An example of biased behaviors in study on the world??

Can Mexicans facing drug-related daily murders be happier and more proud than Americans?

Can Chinese without freedom in press be happier and more proud than Japanese and Taiwanese?

Global Finance
By Tina Aridas – Project Coordinator: Alessandro Magno

World Database of Happiness 2000-2010
1 Costa Rica... 8.5
2 Denmark 8.34...
3 Puerto Rico... 8.32
4 Iceland... 8.15
5 Switzerland... 7.99
6 Canada... 7.97
7 Finland... 7.9
8 Mexico... 7.87
9 Norway... 7.82
10 Sweden... 7.8

11 Panama... 7.79
12 Australia... 7.77
13 Ireland... 7.77
14 Luxembourg... 7.74
15 Colombia... 7.72
16 Austria... 7.67
17 Netherlands... 7.65
18 Dominican Republic... 7.59
19 Brazil... 7.48
20 New Zealand... 7.48

21 Belgium... 7.44
22 United States... 7.44
23 Argentina... 7.34
24 Spain... 7.3
25 United Arab Emirates... 7.3
26 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic Of... 7.24
27 Cyprus... 7.22
28 United Kingdom... 7.2
29 Guatemala... 7.15
30 Nicaragua... 7.09

31 Malta... 7.08
32 Trinidad And Tobago... 7.03
33 Honduras... 7.02
34 Germany... 6.98
35 Slovenia... 6.89
36 Singapore... 6.88
37 Paraguay... 6.87
38 Israel... 6.79
39 Italy... 6.78
40 Qatar... 6.75

41 Uruguay... 6.75
42 Jamaica... 6.72
43 El Salvador... 6.68
44 Czech Republic... 6.67
45 Belize... 6.62
46 Kuwait... 6.59
47 France... 6.58
48 Thailand... 6.58
49 Chile... 6.57
50 Malaysia... 6.55

51 Greece... 6.53
52 Guyana... 6.53
53 Saudi Arabia... 6.51
54 Bolivia, Plurinational State Of... 6.5
55 Ecuador... 6.43
56 Poland... 6.39
57 Indonesia... 6.28
58 China... 6.27
59 Lao People'S Democratic Republic... 6.24
60 Peru... 6.22

61 Taiwan, Province Of China... 6.2
62 Japan... 6.17

http://www.gfmag.com/tools/global-database/ne-data/10294-the-happiest-countries-in-the-world.html#axzz1DKrcaPHc

It rather looks like devilish amusement to put down some countries a researcher or his/her organization cannot understand or accept.

Those biased researchers might say to people living in a country without freedom of press, a full right of vote, economical independence but full of corruption, drug dealers, gangsters, clashes between poor people and the police, and racial discrimination that they must be happy, since their measure indicates so.



CHAPTER II: Peace Ranking

2009 Global Peace Index by The Economists
1...New Zealand
2...Denmark
2...Norway
4...Iceland
5...Australia
6...Sweden
7...JAPAN
8...Canada
9...Finland
10...Slovenia

Peace cannot be realized by superior military power. Peace cannot be realized by a larger amount of defense budget, either. Yet, some countries are more responsible for the world peace due to their superior military power and a larger amount of defense budget.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
The top 10 military spenders, 2009

Rank... Country Spending($ b.)...Worldshare (%)
1... USA... 661... 43
2... China...[100]... [6.8]
3... France... 63.9... 4.2
4... UK... 58.3... 3.8
5... Russia... [53.3]...[3.5]
6... Japan... 51.0... 3.3
7... Germany... 45.6... 3.0
8... Saudi Arabia...41.3... 2.7
9... India...36.3... 2.4
10... Italy...35.8... 2.3
World total...1531

CHAPTER III: Corruption Perceptions Index 2010

Even in a country with full of illegal activities and corruption by public officials, people can feel happy with dirty money earned through dirty schemes supported by corrupt bureaucrats.

The happiness index based on some biased Western concepts should not be respected more than the anti-corruption index.

Transparency International

Transparency International advocates stricter implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption, the only global initiative that provides a framework for putting an end to corruption. Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore are tied at the top of the list with a score of 9.3, followed closely by Finland and Sweden at 9.2. Bringing up the rear is Somalia with a score of 1.1, slightly trailing Myanmar and Afghanistan at 1.4 and Iraq at 1.5.

Rank...Country
1 Denmark
1 New Zealand
1 Singapore
4 Finland
4 Sweden
6 Canada
7 Netherlands
8 Australia
8 Switzerland
10 Norway
11 Iceland
11 Luxembourg
13 Hong Kong
14 Ireland
15 Austria
15 Germany
17 Barbados
17 JAPAN
19 Qatar
20 UK
21 Chile
22 Belgium
22 USA
...
25 France
...
30 Israel
30 Spain
...
33 Taiwan
33 Puerto Rico
36 Bhutan
...
39 South Korea
41 Poland
41 Costa Rica
...
50 Saudi Arabia
...
54 South Africa
...
59 Tunisia
...
67 Italy
...
69 Cuba
69 Brazil
...
78 China
78 Greece
78 Thailand
...
87 India
...
98 Egypt
98 Mexico
...
110 Indonesia
110 Kosovo
...
134 Philippines
134 Ukraine
...
143 Pakistan
...
146 Haiti
146 Yemen
146 Iran
...
154 Russia
...
175 Iraq
...
176 Myanmar
176 Afghanistan
178 Somalia

http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/cpi/2010/results

It is apparent that European Christian countries in a small or middle size can enjoy a high level of civilized living with less corruption. So, there is a fear that people wrongly assume that religions other than Christianity are useless in combating corruption. This biased thought could lead to prejudice against, especially, Islam, while North Africa and the Middle East are so near to Europe.

Put simply, is the dominance by the European Christianity ultimately good for mankind, since it looks useless for improving the society in the Islamic world?

In either case, Islam should achieve more progress to eradicate corruption.

*** *** *** ***

The Japanese people do not look devout Buddhists or shinto believers.

They do not periodically visit temples or shrines except to commemorate some anniversary of death of their family members or on the New Year holidays.

However, social traditions and commonsense based on Buddhism and shintoism confine people at a certain level of moral so that they will not fall into immorality, personally and socially.

Yet, some conservative leaders claim that a cultural and political influence of America has damaged some traditional virtue of Japan after WWII. With this complicated spiritual background, a sense of happiness Japanese people must be feeling is a little difficult to measure.




Mar 2:7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

Mar 2:8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Mar 2:9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

"And she brought forth her firstborn son" - (Egypt & Japan)

Tokyo
Not Cairo, though...


In Japan today is the day of the Northern Territory Unlawfully Occupied by Russia.

The San Francisco Peace Treaty between the Allied Powers[1] and Japan from 1951 states that Japan must give up all claims to the Kuril islands,[2] but it also does not recognize the Soviet Union's sovereignty over the Kuril Islands.[3] Furthermore, Japan currently claims that at least some of the disputed islands are not a part of the Kuril Islands, and thus are not covered by the treaty.[4] Russia maintains that the Soviet Union's sovereignty over the islands was recognized following agreements at the end of the Second World War.[5][6] However, Japan has disputed this claim.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuril_Islands_dispute

CHAPTER I: Egypt Uprising

The Egypt uprising will have a deep impact.

The fate of President Mr. Barack Obama will be decided.

The fate of the nation Israel will be also decided.

It is because the fate of 340 million Muslims in North Africa and the Middle East is at stake.

Even if President Mr. Mubarak should not resign immediately, he will rapidly loose power. It will be a threat to Israel, since its security depends on Egypt that has more powerful military than Iran. Israel also imports a great amount of natural gas from Egypt. In this context, the U.S. must support the Mubarak regime as it must protect Israel.

In a wider scope, this incident indicates another fall of the super-power U.S.

When the U.S. started to uphold the term G2, claiming that everything in the world would be decided and fixed by the U.S. and China, a fall of America started.

As Egyptians on the street do not even shout anti-American slogans, it has become more clearer that Muslims have started to advance to another era where America cannot be the sole super power and G2 cannot be the leading powers. Indeed, the issue is not on America or G2 but on Muslims themselves. America and G2 of America/China have no power to solve problems of Egypt. They have to address their agendas by themselves. And, Muslims have come to understand it.

I think this is a necessary path toward the advanced Islam which can compete with European Christianity.



CHAPTER II: Non-Racist Egyptians


A Japanese woman wrote some comments in her blog, evoking memories on her travel to Egypt.

Unlike other Arab states, she did not experience racial discrimination in Egypt.

As she is not European, in some Arab countries, especially in ex-French colonies, she felt that she was treated in an unfair manner. In a restaurant, her order was handled after Europeans or European Americans who came to the shop after her. In a hotel, a more comfortable room with a more beautiful view was assigned to Europeans or European Americans than to her paying the same charge.

But in Egypt, no such a case happened to her. So, she felt that Egyptians have ability to go along with other people beyond the barrier of religion, culture, and skin color. She even marveled at some Egyptians that have siblings whose skin color was totally different from their own. They seem not to have learnt manners of racial discrimination from the British.

So, she did not feel anything strange when she saw a mosque in the Luxor castle.



CHAPTER III: A Japanese Woman Filming Palestine

Ms. Mizue Furui visited Palestine, Uganda, Ache, and Afghanistan to take peoples and situations into her camera.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiSpwd3Vj-I&feature=related

It was 1988 that she first visited Palestine, but she was shocked to see that the military invasion by Israel upon Gaza between the end of 2008 and January 2009 took on 1,300 lives in three weeks, including 300 children. So, she decided to make her second film on Palestine.

This is one example of many Japanese who are interested in Palestine, Israel, Gaza, and Egypt.

http://huruhuru.sakura.ne.jp/contents.html


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The Buddha said:

"Do not be rejoiced at anything old.

Do not be tempted by anything new.

Do not be saddened by anything that is going to be lost.

Do not be caught by anything that is driving the world."





Luk 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

Luk 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luk 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luk 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Top Arab Universities

Tokyo
Shibuya



At the end of 2009, the whole Arab population, including the whole area from Mauritania to Oman, is estimated to reach 339.9 million, which is a little larger than America's, though the E.U. has 500 million population.

Yet, the Arab Islamic nations cannot compete well with the U.S. and the E.U., which is one of major factors of most of problems Muslims have to face today.

For example, though Saudi Arabia has the most advanced universities in the Middle East, those who graduated from universities or colleges in America account for 75% among bureaucrats of the Saudi Arabian Government.

Top Arab World Universities 1 to 100 of 100

CONTINENT RANK...UNIVERSITY...COUNTRY...WORLD RANK

1...King Saud University...S. Arabia...212

2...King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals...S. Arabia...544

3...Imam Muhammad bin Saud University...S. Arabia...998

4...King Abdulaziz University...S. Arabia...1,006

5...An-Najah National University...Palestine...1,011

6...Umm Al-Qura University...S. Arabia...1,030

7...American University of Beirut...Lebanon...1,205

8...Qatar University...Qatar...1,353

9...Cairo University...Egypt...1,405

10...King Faisal University...S. Arabia...1,433

11...United Arab Emirates University...UAE...1,522

12...American University in Cairo...Egypt...1,626

13...Islamic University of Gaza *...Palestine...1,682

14...Kuwait University *...Kuwait...1,753

15...University of Jordan...Jordan...1,823

http://www.webometrics.info/top100_continent.asp?cont=aw

Like Saudi Arabian students, many Arab students, total about 27,000, go to the U.S. for learning:

Foreign Students in the U.S. by Region of Origin, 2008-9

Asia 62%

Europe 13%

Latin America 10%

Africa 5%

Middle East 4%

North America 4%

Oceania 1%

Total 671,616

Note: Percentages are rounded and so do not add to 100 percent.
Source: Institute of International Education

...while enrollments from Saudi Arabia, fueled by a large government scholarship program, jumped 28.2 percent.

http://chronicle.com/article/Number-of-Foreign-Students-in/49142/

However, some of those Arab students candidly told their feeling:

November 3, 2005
Students visiting America from across the Arabic-speaking world share their perspectives on the misunderstandings between their home nations and the United States.


MUTASERA(ph) (Palestinian Student): Yeah, I think--my name's Mutasera. I'm from Palestine. As you know, my country's very--gives you a lot. I think--yeah, I think I'm just going to tell you a story, and I think you can conclude of it exactly what you want. In 2001 the second occupation of my city--my city is Nablus--when I go across the street with my father, just finally to get there, being shot from Israeli soldiers in my thigh. Now when I'm in the hospital, the doctor bring me the bullet and I saw on the head of this bullet 'made in USA.' I'm just--conclude the rest by yourself. This is all.

ANESSA (Palestinian Student): Hi, my name is Anessa. I'm from Palestine, Gaza Strip. For me the most important thing for the Americans and for us as Palestinians that the Americans consider anybody who's killing the soldier as a terrorist but we are not like that. We hate blood. We hate killing. We hate being under occupation. We hate terrorists. And the ones that our problem with is Israeli government and Israeli soldiers. We don't have any problem with the Israeli people. We want to live with them in peace, but when the Israeli soldiers come to our country, killing our women, our men, our youth, we have to defend ourselves. And when we defend ourselves, they consider us as terrorists. That's it.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4988062&ft=1&f=17

For your reference, top Israeli universities are as follows:

Rank of Universities of Israel

Universities 1 to 32 of 32

WORLD RANK...UNIVERSITY

192...Tel Aviv University
199...Hebrew University of Jerusalem
211...Technion Israel Institute of Technology

http://www.webometrics.info/rank_by_country.asp?country=il

Israeli youths are strongly invited by American business schools, too.

Top US business schools court Israeli students
By Karin Kloosterman
September 10, 2008
...
Israelis boost the ranking because they are easy to place after they graduate, Maskil tells ISRAEL21c. This is due, in part, to Israelis having some experience in the working world before starting their MBA.

Out of all the Middle East countries, Israel - though the smallest - has the highest number of students placed in American universities. There are more than 3,200 enrolled in academic degrees, including undergraduate and medical school programs, and among them 150 students in MBA programs.

On campus, they are often the ones organizing events and clubs, and business schools like that sort of initiative, says Maskil. But the experience is also very good for the Israeli businessperson, she says. "Most of them stay for two to three years after the degree. Going there gives them an edge for being placed in international companies... after an average of three years in the US, they come back."


http://www.israel21c.org/culture/top-us-business-schools-court-israeli-students

In summary, top students in Arabic nations, like those in Israel, go and learn in the U.S. When they come home from the U.S., they will not regard themselves as enemies of America. They will not have an ambition for making their own countries develop and compete with America. They will opt to live a rich life as pro-American Arabs.

Yet, one of 1,000 Arab students who have studied in the U.S. or Europe might carry out perverse act, since learning in a Christian country to be a member of the elite in a Islamic mother nation is not Islamic at all.


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http://www.csmonitor.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/images/2008/0306/p03s05-usgn.html/aarabstudents_g1_l.gif/5940765-1-eng-US/AARABSTUDENTS_G1_L.gif_full_600.gif