Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Impact of Egypt’s Referendum on General Sisi

Nervana

The Supreme Election Committee has finally announced the results of Egypt’s constitution referendum that stated a turnout was 38.6% of the 53 million eligible voters, 98.1% of whom approved the draft constitution. This result can seem perplexing to many outsiders, but it should not; it is an accurate reflection of the current trajectory in Egypt, following a painful three years of instability, polarization and the collapse of law and order. The outcome of the referendum should give all parties some food for thought, particularly, the army chief Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.  The result of the referendum indicates that his problem is not just the Muslim Brotherhood but also his weak, unsustainable coalition, particularly in the country’s much-neglected south and western regions.

The Turnout

Even the most optimistic of Sisi’s supporters admit that the turnout was less than ideal. Despite aggressive campaigning by state and private media as well as top religious…

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Egyptian Aak. Week 3 ( Jan 13 -19)

Nervana

 

EGYPT-POLITICS-UNREST-VOTE

(Photo from Egypt’s referendum via  Daily News Egypt)

 Main Headlines

 Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

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Cutting Up an Ox, Chuang Tzu, transl. Thomas Merton

Devotion

Prince Wen Hui’s cook

Was cutting up an ox.

Out went a hand,

Down went a shoulder,

He planted a foot,

He pressed with a knee,

The ox fell apart

With a whisper,

The bright cleaver murmured

Like a gentle wind.

Rhythm!  Timing!

Like a sacred dance,

Like “The Mulberry Grove,”

Like ancient harmonies!

“Good work!” the Prince exclaimed,

“Your method is faultless!”

“Method?” said the cook

Laying aside his cleaver,

“What I follow is Tao

Beyond all methods!”

“When I first began

To cut up an oxen

I would see before me

The whole ox

All in one mass.

“After three years

I no longer saw this mass.

I saw the distinctions.

“But now, I see nothing

With the eye.  My whole being

Apprehends.

My senses are idle.  The spirit

Free to work without plan

Follows its own instinct

Guided by natural line,

By the secret opening, the hidden…

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Day of service project brings groups together at Habitat for Humanity home – News – Progress-Index

Firefighters, police officers and sheriff\’s deputies had all gathered at 2026 Ferndale Ave. on Monday, but there wasn\’t an emergency.

They were there with representatives from Faith and Hope Church of God In Christ and Tri-Cities Habitat for Humanity as a day of service in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

\”The house was actually donated to Habitat by an individual and we\’re getting it ready for a family to move into sometime this summer,\” Bob Lewis, construction coordinator for Tri-Cities Habitat for Humanity, said. \”Right now we\’re in the middle of doing demolition work, tearing out all the old plaster and old wiring, and we\’re going to bring it up to code and make it a nice home for someone to buy.\”

Volunteering their time were firefighters, Petersburg sheriff\’s deputies and April Smith with Faith and Hope Church of God In Christ.

Smith said last year her church had assisted in a Habitat For Humanity build project; this year she wanted to coordinate with other city agencies.

\”We want to make Petersburg the jewel that we know it to be,\” Smith said.

She said the reason to volunteer on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is to mark the holiday as a day of service.

via Day of service project brings groups together at Habitat for Humanity home – News – Progress-Index.