Finnpundit, we’ve got more pyramids in Sudan than in Egypt but they’re mostly smaller in size. The national museum in Khartoum has a lot of artifacts but is in bad shape.
“I wonder if the faces of the animal statues have been destroyed during the Muslim era?”
No, it’s the bloody thieves. Unfortunately the Sudanese government doesn’t care that much about the ruins or their value… Thieves break away the heads and sell them to well off Sudanese who in turn smugle them and mostly sell them for big prices to French collectors.
I just stumbled across your remarks from around May??? :
« When Will This “Pride” Stop?ENOUGH!! Qana Was NOT Nice! »
“Where I Was Before & Where I Am Today
About 6 months ago before I stumbled upon the blogosphere, I was super anti-Israeli and anti-Zionist. Now after spending time engaging in productive discussions my opinions have been refined and balanced. The reason I was super anti-Israel was because of what I believed. I believed that Israel’s goal is to expand and take away all of Jerusalem. I assumed that the Jews in Israel want to demolish Al-Aqsa mosque so that they can rebuild their ancient holy temple again. That would be to the benefit of Christians since only then will the second coming of Christ be possible. As such the Judeo-Christian alliance. Such beliefs are not so strong anymore. Instead I now believe that Jewish fundamentalists are the only ones supporting ideas like that. Same goes for Christian fundamentalists in US too. I now also believe that the majority of Jews follow Zionism simply because it’s a movement founded on their longing for Jerusalem. They simply want a home where they can be safe. Jews obviously deserve to worship and live in Jerusalem as it’s their religious right but they must keep in mind it’s the 3rd holiest site for all Muslims too. Moreover they must keep in mind Israel’s brutality in war only contributes to more negative perceptions about Zionism.
My opinion of the PLO, Fatah and Hamas has also changed. I now realize they too are responsible for the hardships of Palestinians and that the blame shouldn’t solely fall on Israel. If you’re reading this right now and you think Yasser Arafat was a hero, think again. He wasn’t. He was corrupted as hell and kept millions of dollars to himself while at the same time blamed Israel for the hardships of Palestinians and so on. Also Hamas’s attitude with ceasfire, what Arab countries did in the past etc. I could go on talking and talking about how my opinions changed and refined but I’m kinda sleepy right now so I’m going to buzz off and sleep. Anyways, I hope you get the general idea of this post. Sometimes we think we know it well when in fact we don’t really. God bless the internet and blogging. It’s certainly better learning about Israel and Judaism from Israelis and Jews themselves rather than from al-Jazeera. Before making up one’s, a chance should be first given to the other party to explain their case and defend it. Only then will you have the different relevant perspectives that certainly help contribute to a better and more balanced opinion. Washing my brain and cleaning it from stupid propaganda is fun. *Yawn… Goodnite/morning depending on whatever timezon you’re in… Peace… Sweet dreams to me…
Topics: Uncategorized”
I have to share something with you. Few people demonstrate this level of soul-searching, self-analysis and desire for truth. Most want to blame, react on pure emotion or just step in line with what they have been told. Please read a whacky little book called “Listen Little Man”. What a treasure of a book!!!
Sudanesethinker is a free man…not a slave. Not a slave to the party line.
Do the Jooz want all of Jerusalem…of course we do. Jerusalem is mentioned hundreds of times in our Bible and prayer book. It is the Mecca of our religion. Are there extremists who would love to bomb Al Aqsa and rebuild the Temple…you bet. Has there been any serious effort to do so? Nope.
Some facts…until we took back E. Jerusalem in ‘67…Jews were not allowed to pray at the Western Wall. In 67, in the fog of war, we could have blasted Al Aqsa…but it is there, the Wafq controls it, Muslims pray there daily and Jooz basically are not allowed in the area. For certain not to pray. What kind of occupation is that?
There is a real conflict between Palestinians and Israeli’s. But has this not become a conflict of Muslims against JEWS…If not…why the hell did Iran bomb a Jewish community center in freakin ARGENTINA. Where the hell did THAT come from?
I am rambling. You and I could argue about many points, but you have crossed a line that will now forever screw up your life. That line is that you have entered the very gray foggy, unclear, COMPLEX world of trying to find the TRUTH. You trade dogma for self-doubt, reflection, admitting you could be wrong, distrust of leadership, disrespect for members of your tribe and being an outcast and a misfit.
“You and I could argue about many points, but you have crossed a line that will now forever screw up your life. That line is that you have entered the very gray foggy, unclear, COMPLEX world of trying to find the TRUTH”
Hi Howie. Well, I disagree with you on that one. I hope you’re very wrong about my life getting screwed. My head sometimes certainly sure feels like it’s about to explode from all the too much thinking but the effort is so very worth it. It’s all worth it in the end. I can easily tell you that the blogosphere and being able to communicate with the “enemy” has had a profound positive effect on my life and my thinking. I suspect it will only get better and not worse. BTW check out Mideast Youth if you have time.
“They’d make more money if they made “authentic” fakes and sold them off as the real ones. Probably less work, too.”
I suspect they’re too stupid and dumb to produce any fakes. Plus breaking the heads off seems like more fun to them I guess… On the other hand the government doesn’t give a damn really and the French just illegally keep buying… There is some security present now to protect some sites but they’re hardly effective. Plus the security people themselves are corrupted too. A lot has been stolen already and I mean a lot. Sigh!
Raccoon, you should hardly be surprised by the theft of antiquities - how do you think all that Egyptian stuff made it to London and Paris (not to mention elsewhere)? The fact that it’s still going on doesn’t surprise me, although it doesn’t make it better.
Drima, thanks for posting these amazing photos. As a Jew and an Israeli (not necessarily in that order), I doubt very much that I’ll ever be allowed to set foot in Sudan in order to see it in real life. Sigh.
Of course, now doesn’t sound like an opportune time to be going there for a visit anyway, so perhaps I’m not missing too much …
“As a Jew and an Israeli (not necessarily in that order), I doubt very much that I’ll ever be allowed to set foot in Sudan in order to see it in real life.”
Not if you have another passport from let’s say Poland?
Actually, you can travel to Sudan if you have a non-Israeli passport. A friend of mine travelled all over the Muslim world with his British passport, and he’s Israeli. Not sure whether he got to Sudan, though… but it certainly should be possible.
Beautiful pics. In my eyes like taken from a fairy tale
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Name: Amir Ahmad Nasr (Drima).
Location: Deep, deep down the orgasmic rabbit hole of epistemology.
The Bio of Awesomeness: Fundamentalist Muslim, turned hippie Sufi and fan of science. Total blogging junkie since 2006. Social entrepreneur and digital media and marketing consultant. Proud Sudanese and cultural nomad. Author of upcoming book on Islam and new media. Pro-democracy guitar-strumming activist. Loud and drop dead gorgeous. Fan of integral theory and spiral dynamics. Sarcastic Afro-Arab goofy genius. The High Priest of Mischief. Welcome. You've Been Warned! ;)
SudaneseThinker
SudaneseThinker
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Wonderful pictures.
It looks like the pyramids have been partially restored in modern times, which is a good thing.
I wonder if the faces of the animal statues have been destroyed during the Muslim era?
Finnpundit, we’ve got more pyramids in Sudan than in Egypt but they’re mostly smaller in size. The national museum in Khartoum has a lot of artifacts but is in bad shape.
“I wonder if the faces of the animal statues have been destroyed during the Muslim era?”
No, it’s the bloody thieves. Unfortunately the Sudanese government doesn’t care that much about the ruins or their value… Thieves break away the heads and sell them to well off Sudanese who in turn smugle them and mostly sell them for big prices to French collectors.
Drima,
I just stumbled across your remarks from around May??? :
« When Will This “Pride” Stop?ENOUGH!! Qana Was NOT Nice! »
“Where I Was Before & Where I Am Today
About 6 months ago before I stumbled upon the blogosphere, I was super anti-Israeli and anti-Zionist. Now after spending time engaging in productive discussions my opinions have been refined and balanced. The reason I was super anti-Israel was because of what I believed. I believed that Israel’s goal is to expand and take away all of Jerusalem. I assumed that the Jews in Israel want to demolish Al-Aqsa mosque so that they can rebuild their ancient holy temple again. That would be to the benefit of Christians since only then will the second coming of Christ be possible. As such the Judeo-Christian alliance. Such beliefs are not so strong anymore. Instead I now believe that Jewish fundamentalists are the only ones supporting ideas like that. Same goes for Christian fundamentalists in US too. I now also believe that the majority of Jews follow Zionism simply because it’s a movement founded on their longing for Jerusalem. They simply want a home where they can be safe. Jews obviously deserve to worship and live in Jerusalem as it’s their religious right but they must keep in mind it’s the 3rd holiest site for all Muslims too. Moreover they must keep in mind Israel’s brutality in war only contributes to more negative perceptions about Zionism.
My opinion of the PLO, Fatah and Hamas has also changed. I now realize they too are responsible for the hardships of Palestinians and that the blame shouldn’t solely fall on Israel. If you’re reading this right now and you think Yasser Arafat was a hero, think again. He wasn’t. He was corrupted as hell and kept millions of dollars to himself while at the same time blamed Israel for the hardships of Palestinians and so on. Also Hamas’s attitude with ceasfire, what Arab countries did in the past etc. I could go on talking and talking about how my opinions changed and refined but I’m kinda sleepy right now so I’m going to buzz off and sleep. Anyways, I hope you get the general idea of this post. Sometimes we think we know it well when in fact we don’t really. God bless the internet and blogging. It’s certainly better learning about Israel and Judaism from Israelis and Jews themselves rather than from al-Jazeera. Before making up one’s, a chance should be first given to the other party to explain their case and defend it. Only then will you have the different relevant perspectives that certainly help contribute to a better and more balanced opinion. Washing my brain and cleaning it from stupid propaganda is fun. *Yawn… Goodnite/morning depending on whatever timezon you’re in… Peace… Sweet dreams to me…
Topics: Uncategorized”
I have to share something with you. Few people demonstrate this level of soul-searching, self-analysis and desire for truth. Most want to blame, react on pure emotion or just step in line with what they have been told. Please read a whacky little book called “Listen Little Man”. What a treasure of a book!!!
Sudanesethinker is a free man…not a slave. Not a slave to the party line.
Do the Jooz want all of Jerusalem…of course we do. Jerusalem is mentioned hundreds of times in our Bible and prayer book. It is the Mecca of our religion. Are there extremists who would love to bomb Al Aqsa and rebuild the Temple…you bet. Has there been any serious effort to do so? Nope.
Some facts…until we took back E. Jerusalem in ‘67…Jews were not allowed to pray at the Western Wall. In 67, in the fog of war, we could have blasted Al Aqsa…but it is there, the Wafq controls it, Muslims pray there daily and Jooz basically are not allowed in the area. For certain not to pray. What kind of occupation is that?
There is a real conflict between Palestinians and Israeli’s. But has this not become a conflict of Muslims against JEWS…If not…why the hell did Iran bomb a Jewish community center in freakin ARGENTINA. Where the hell did THAT come from?
I am rambling. You and I could argue about many points, but you have crossed a line that will now forever screw up your life. That line is that you have entered the very gray foggy, unclear, COMPLEX world of trying to find the TRUTH. You trade dogma for self-doubt, reflection, admitting you could be wrong, distrust of leadership, disrespect for members of your tribe and being an outcast and a misfit.
God bless you and keep going.
“You and I could argue about many points, but you have crossed a line that will now forever screw up your life. That line is that you have entered the very gray foggy, unclear, COMPLEX world of trying to find the TRUTH”
Hi Howie. Well, I disagree with you on that one. I hope you’re very wrong about my life getting screwed. My head sometimes certainly sure feels like it’s about to explode from all the too much thinking but the effort is so very worth it. It’s all worth it in the end. I can easily tell you that the blogosphere and being able to communicate with the “enemy” has had a profound positive effect on my life and my thinking. I suspect it will only get better and not worse. BTW check out Mideast Youth if you have time.
cheers
Thieves?!
How can these morons break up their history and sell it? Man, this is horrible… exactly what Pol Pot and Co. did in Cambodia.
*sigh*
They’d make more money if they made “authentic” fakes and sold them off as the real ones. Probably less work, too.
“They’d make more money if they made “authentic” fakes and sold them off as the real ones. Probably less work, too.”
I suspect they’re too stupid and dumb to produce any fakes. Plus breaking the heads off seems like more fun to them I guess… On the other hand the government doesn’t give a damn really and the French just illegally keep buying… There is some security present now to protect some sites but they’re hardly effective. Plus the security people themselves are corrupted too. A lot has been stolen already and I mean a lot. Sigh!
…and just to clarify something… many things have been stolen and continue to be but some have just eroded over time.
Raccoon, you should hardly be surprised by the theft of antiquities - how do you think all that Egyptian stuff made it to London and Paris (not to mention elsewhere)? The fact that it’s still going on doesn’t surprise me, although it doesn’t make it better.
Drima, thanks for posting these amazing photos. As a Jew and an Israeli (not necessarily in that order), I doubt very much that I’ll ever be allowed to set foot in Sudan in order to see it in real life. Sigh.
Of course, now doesn’t sound like an opportune time to be going there for a visit anyway, so perhaps I’m not missing too much …
“As a Jew and an Israeli (not necessarily in that order), I doubt very much that I’ll ever be allowed to set foot in Sudan in order to see it in real life.”
Not if you have another passport from let’s say Poland?
Poland would be going back about 5 generations, D. I’m not sure anyone can get a passport based on where his grandparents’ great-grandparents lived …
NC-
I think he was joking about the Pollack thing…
Actually, you can travel to Sudan if you have a non-Israeli passport. A friend of mine travelled all over the Muslim world with his British passport, and he’s Israeli. Not sure whether he got to Sudan, though… but it certainly should be possible.
Beautiful pics. In my eyes like taken from a fairy tale
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