Author: Afif Tabsh

Secret Societies: Jesuits

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Name of Organization: Jesuits ( Society of Jesus)

Date of Origin: August 12, 1534 AD – Present

Motto: Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam (For the greater glory of God)

Historic Significance: Diminishing of religious dominance in Europe and major shift of power to finance and military.  Dominance of Britain and France over major parts of the world through colonies. The Vatican was searching for ways to get back in power.

Founder: Ignatius of Loyola

Origin & History: Male Catholic Religious Order that does missionary work in Jerusalem or wherever the Pope requests after noticing the decrease of enthusiasm and commitment to religion in Europe. Started work in Italy and spread throughout Europe and the world. Currently headed by a religious figure, called the Black Pope for several reason one of which is that they grew strong enough to be as strong as the Vatican itself in terms of finances and affiliated institutions. It was suppressed by the Vatican on 1773 and restored on 1814. Currently has its biggest membership and power in India, surprisingly the biggest Islamic groups are also currently situated in India.

Current Work:
– Education(Colleges, Secondary Schools, Seminaries, Research Centers…)
– Missionaries (Transforming non Christians into Catholics, preventing the spread of Protestantism)

Secret Societies: Knights Templar

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Name of Organization: Knights Templar

Date of Origin: 1199 AD – 1314

Historic Significance: Crusades from 1095 – 1314

Motto: Not for self, but for God

Founders: Christian French knight Hugues de Payens & his relative Godfrey de Saint-Omer

Work: Western Christian military order said to be nine in number at the beginning– had the mandate of protecting Christian pilgrims who were en route to the Holy Land to visit the shrines sacred to their faith.

Somewhere between the years of AD 1118 – 1120, King Baldwin II granted the group quarters in a wing of the Royal Palace on the Temple Mount (the Al Aqsa Mosque).

End: King Philip IV had the Templars arrested on October 13, 1307 for becoming corrupt, misusing their wealth and power, and for blasphemy.

In 1312 the Templars were officially dissolved by Pope Clement V at the Council of Vienne. Although the Templars were not found guilty of the crimes they were charged with, it was felt that the reputation of the Order had fallen to so low a state as to warrant dissolving the Order.

On March 18th, 1314 the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Jacques de Molay, was burned at the stake, for having recanted his earlier confessions of guilt.

The remaining Knights Templar after the suppression joined the Hospitallers and changed the naming to Knights of Rhodes or also known as Knights of Malta* which still exist until today as a philanthropic organization that focuses on medical assistance.

(*) Information about the Knights of Malta are given in a previous post.

Secret Societies: Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem / Knights of Rhodes / Knights of Malta

Afif Tabsh1 Comment
Ok so now for the second organization, and here I’d like to clarify why it is considered “secret”. Namely, no one is allowed to know from times of its initiation until today, the ongoings inside the society, the decisions, the plans nor the affiliated members unless they disclose it.
Name of Organization: Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem / Knights of Rhodes /  Knights of Malta
Date of Origin: 1099 AD – Present
Historic Significance: Crusades from 1095 – 1314
Founder: Thomas Gerald
Motto: Pro Fide, Pro Utilitate Hominum (For the faith, in service of mankind)
Origin & Work: The Hospitallers were a military/religious order founded to protect religious pilgrims from Europe to the holy land. They initiated and managed hospitals in Jerusalem during& after crusades to provide medical care for the injured and the needy. They took care of Christian knights, warriors and followers in times of war and peace as well.
Following the liberation of the Holy Land by the Islamic forces, they departed out of Jerusalem by Saladin. They moved to Rhodes in Cyprus and changed many of there name, tactics and field of work entirely from protecting Christian pilgrimages and warriors to fighting against Islam .
Later, the Knights of Rhodes were kicked out of Cyprus by a wave of Islamic forces and the remaining knights were allowed to withdraw to Sicily. After few years, the king of Sicily gave the knights Malta as a headquarters for a certain fee in return, from there on they were known as Knights of Malta. In Malta again the knights changed their tactics and field of work from fighting on the ground to protecting the Christian sea trade routes and navies from and too the Levant(today known as Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Jordan).
Later on Malta was overtook by Napoleon and the knights were dispersed into Europe loosing much of their income and power due to the many political/religious changes in Europe.  Early 1800’s the knights gathered themselves in Russia and from there tried to re-establish the links in Europe.
In WWI and afterwards the resumed their activity mainly focusing on medical care and found themselves in much need in Europe.
Today, the Knights of Malta, known as the Sovereign Order of Knights of Malta (SMOM) holds a sovereign status, has diplomatic relations with more than a hundred countries, an observer position in the UN, issues its own passports, has its own rules..etc.

Secret Societies: House of Wisdom – دار الحكمة

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The first thing I will be talking about is Secret Societies and so I will start with the first documented society and move forward in chronological order.
Note that I would like to repeat and stress on the fact that what I will be presenting is informational and aims at giving a quick glimpse about the numerous societies and clubs that I will be skimming through. The aim is not to promote or demote any society/club.

Name of Organization: House of Wisdom (دار الحكمة)

Date of Origin: 1004 AD – mid 1060s

Historic Significance: Reign of Abbasids over the Arab/Muslim world from 750 – 1258. Specifically Al Qadir was ruling during 991 – 1031.

Founder: Hassan Al Sabbah

Origin: Hassan Al Sabbah, after learning the secrets of the Ismaili faith (a sub-sect of Shia) in Egypt, returned to Persia to take his revenge from Omar El Khayyam after  he was disgraced by Omar infront of the Sultan who dismissed him from his governmental position. Hassan worked in secrecy to re-attain power by spreading his Ismaili beliefs in secret, gathering followers and building a stronghold in Mount of Alamut where Dar Al Hikmah produced “Assassins” that terrorized the government of Persia.

Work: The Assassins (or what was then the Asaseyoun). It is claimed that modern word of “Assasin” comes from that time, yet others some people claim that hey were called Hashasheen due to wide spread rumors that those individuals were drugged with Hasheesh(marijuana) to brain wash them and motivate them to do the assassinations.
PS: For further info, feel free to research on the keywords/tags I have on this post.
Enjoy!

Secret Societies & International Clubs – 1 of ??

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In an attempt to shed light on the not-so-well-known side of civil society in the world and to give a different perspective of who are the “players” on the field in our community I will be writing a series of small posts about the various secret societies and international clubs in the world.

The information that will be presented is a compilation of interviews, readings from books/articles about the mentioned times and personal research online. It is important to specify that many of the details and issues have been excluded to simplify the concepts and to make it clearer to understand the picture without having to dwell into intensive explanations nor expecting any prior knowledge of history and details of such times.

All that will be presented is to be thought of critically and further researched if interested in understanding it in more details, and I’m more than ready to discuss any issue in more details and to give further explanations.

I hope you find the information presented interesting, eye-opening, and useful yet I hope no one becomes paranoid about the world and what is going on in life. The more we know the more powerful we are, the clearer we can plan and the better we can understand the world around us…and its always important to weigh all the odds before coming up with decisions, or stating opinions or stances towards any person, idea or organization.

In terms of secret societies, I prefer to start with the historical societies up until today so that my beloved readers get to understand more the context of how and why this society started and whether it is still there… (yes that ironically conflicts with it being “secret” ..don’t worry this too will be explained in the posts)

As for the international clubs, I will give just 4 or 5 examples of the most prominent ones…the rest I can give more details on if requested.

At this point I want your opinion …shall I start the posts with the secret socities or the international clubs? Which would you like to read about first?…one society/club at a time 🙂

————–

Defining Secret Society
An organization that conceals all or part of its internal activities, ceremonies, beliefs, membership.
An organization which membership is exclusive, claims to have hidden truth that are gained gradually.

Defining International Club
An organization that has membership and operates in more than one country. Its activities, membership and beliefs are open to the public. The name “club” is from the structure of the organization and the type of projects/activities it does.

Redefining Social Relations

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On a daily basis we see ourselves competing with one another, we see ourselves fighting for the biggest piece of the pie, we see ourselves not building on each others’ efforts but rather starting from scratch here and there. This is due to many factors, some of which are in the human nature others are in the system itself.

But human nature is bigger than just competition, greed, jealousy, and fear of failing… It’s more about compassion, sympathy, love, ethics, morality, motivation, pleasure and happiness.

We have the ability to change the way we interact, the way we view each other, the way we go through our day…but not everyone is yet willing to change. But what many don’t realize is that together we’ll grow bigger, better and faster. They don’t realize that if we cooperate rather than compete, if we work together rather than against one another we’d both become happier. They don’t realize that money, power and resources are not what it’s all about…but rather are tools to get what we ultimately want…happiness.

Yes we can simplify it to that extent…happiness…one word that sums it all. But what a lot of people miss out on is that every day they compete, everyday they wage war, every day the make a fight with someone, every day that they hold a grudge, they are pulling us all back.

Consider your surrounding from coworkers, friends, family, loved one…etc. and think for minute about how the happiness of those around you affects you. Think of a time when one of those was depressed, stressed out, afraid, exhausted…and think how did that reflect on you? Think for a minute how could you have felt if that person was in fact happy, relaxed, feeling safe, and refreshed? Well…you can do that…you can be that change in others’ lives… you can be that inspiration, that savior, that cushion that softens the fall.

I ask you to consider all your competitors and enemies, and think for a minute on how you could redefine your relation with them. Think of how you can promote more partnerships, more allies, more supporters rather than growing competitors and enemies. Think of win-win situations that you and others can all benefit from.

The world’s resources, if managed properly, are more than enough to satisfy everyone’s needs. In fact with the technology, tools and knowledge we have, we can actually create enough resources to last us for centuries ahead, while at the same time securing that the environment can sustain us without draining it, corrupting it, or exploiting any of its resources.

Think of it on the micro and macro levels…think of it for a minute and start redefining the relations you have with others…it all starts in the mind…but mustn’t end there but rather should perpetuate to reach out not only to you and your community but rather the world at large.

So start redefining your relation with others…

Other Interesting Posts:

Google, Cloud Computing & Web Apps

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———– Michael Liedtke – Associated Press———–

SAN FRANCISCO: Google Inc. will sell the online services of other business software makers in an effort to fill its own product gaps and persuade more companies to rely on applications piped over the internet.

The online store that was announced late Tuesday marks another step in Google’s crusade to convert the world to “cloud computing,” the idea of running applications in web browsers instead of installing them on individual hard drives. The information entered in the programs also is stored in data centers run by third parties such as Google.

More than 50 software makers have agreed to sell their Internet programs through Google, which will keep 20 percent of the sales. The prices are expected to range from $50 annually to several hundred dollars annually per user.

All the applications sold in Google’s store can be melded with Google’s own cloud-computing services, said Vic Gundotra, the firm’s vice president of engineering.

Google views cloud computing as a way to deepen people’s dependence on its services and generate more revenue beyond the internet search advertising that provides virtually all its income.

Cloud computing also provides Google with a weapon that could weaken one of its biggest rivals, Microsoft Corp.

Although it’s introducing more online alternatives, Microsoft still makes most of its money from individual computer licenses of its Windows system and software programs.

The applications store could also provide fodder for the low-cost computers that will run on a Google system called Chrome. The first computers using Chrome OS won’t have a hard drive, meaning they will need Internet access and cloud-computing services to perform the tasks routinely done on Windows-powered machines.

Google began offering a free online suite of e-mail, word processing, spreadsheet and calendar applications in 2006.
It has been selling a more sophisticated package of online services for $50 per user for the past three years.

Cloud computing can be a tough sell to corporate-decision makers worried about security and uninterrupted access.
Google has invested billions of dollars during the past five years to keep its systems up and running.

Nevertheless, Google’s applications users occasionally have been cut off from their e-mail accounts and other services.
According to the firm, some 25 million people working for over 2 million businesses, state agencies and schools use Google’s online applications.

The firm’s revenue from software licensing and other non-advertising sources totaled $762 million last year.

Amazing What They Get Away With

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Question:        Which country alone in the Middle East has nuclear weapons?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        Which country in the Middle East refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and bars international inspections? ?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        Which country in the Middle East seized the sovereign territory of other nations by military force and continues to occupy it in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        Which country in the Middle East routinely violates the international borders of another sovereign state with warplanes and artillery and naval gunfire?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        What American ally in the Middle East has for years sent assassins into other countries to kill its political enemies (a practice sometimes called exporting terrorism)?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        In which country in the Middle East have high-ranking military officers admitted publicly that unarmed prisoners of war were executed?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        What country in the Middle East refuses to prosecute its soldiers who have acknowledged executing prisoners of war?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        What country in the Middle East created 762,000 refugees and refuses to allow them to return to their homes, farms and businesses?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:       What country in the Middle East refuses to pay compensation to people whose land, bank accounts and businesses it confiscated?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        In what country in the Middle East was a high-ranking United Nations diplomat assassinated?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        In what country in the Middle East did the man who ordered the assassination of a high-ranking U.N. diplomat become prime minister?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        What country in the Middle East blew up an American diplomatic facility in Egypt and attacked a U.S. ship, the USS Liberty, in international waters, killing 34 and wounding 171 American sailors?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        What country in the Middle East employed a spy, Jonathan Pollard, to steal classified documents and then gave some of them to the Soviet Union ?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        What country at first denied any official connection to Pollard, then voted to make him a citizen and has continuously demanded that the American president grant Pollard a full pardon?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        What Middle East country allows American Jewish murderers to flee to its country to escape punishment in the United States and refuses to extradite them once in their custody?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        What Middle East country preaches against hate yet builds a shrine and a memorial for a murderer who killed 29 Palestinians while they prayed in their Mosque.?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        What country on Planet Earth has the second most powerful lobby in the United States , according to a recent Fortune magazine survey of Washington insiders?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        Which country in the Middle East deliberately targeted a U.N. Refugee Camp in Qana , Lebanon and killed 103 innocent men, women, and especially children?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        Which country in the Middle East is in defiance of 69 United Nations Security Council resolutions and has been protected from 29 more by U.S. vetoes?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        Which country in the Middle East receives more than one-third of all U.S. aid yet is the 16th richest country in the world?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        Which country in the Middle East receives U.S. weapons for free and then sells the technology to the Republic of China even at the objections of the U.S. ?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        Which country in the Middle East routinely insults the American people by having its Prime Minister address the United States Congress and lecturing them like children on why they have no right to reduce foreign aid?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        Which country in the Middle East had its Prime Minister announce to his staff not to worry about what the United States says because “We control America ?”
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        What country in the Middle East was cited by Amnesty International for demolishing more than 4000 innocent Palestinian homes as a means of ethnic cleansing.
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        Which country in the Middle East has just recently used a weapon of mass destruction, a one-ton smart bomb, dropping it in the center of a highly populated area killing 15 civilians including 9 children?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        Which country in the Middle East routinely kills young Palestinian children for no reason other than throwing stones at armored vehicles, bulldozers, or tanks?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        Which country in the Middle East signed the Oslo Accords promising to halt any new Jewish Settlement construction, but instead, has built more than 270 new settlements since the signing?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        Which country in the Middle East has assassinated more than 100 political officials of its opponent in the last 2 years while killing hundreds of civilians in the process, including dozens of children?
Answer:         Israel .

Question:        Which country in the Middle East regularly violates the Geneva Convention by imposing collective punishment on entire towns, villages, and camps, for the acts of a few, and even goes as far as demolishing entire villages while people are still in their homes?
Answer:         Israel .

1…2…3…Let’s Go!

Afif Tabsh8 Comments

So why is everyone so afraid of change?…

Come to think about it …life is changing from around us every minute of every day…and we’re still so stiff and worried.

Here’s a thing to think about… we get born, get to school, graduate, get to uni, graduate, go to work, get engaged, make a family, get children…and the cycle reruns….

So what’s soo surprizing? why are we all so confused? why the worrying? we know the big picture, we know the time frame….we know most of it…the rest are details…

I personally have graduated from uni few weeks ago, was very worried about what job i’ll take, now I’m working and suddenly I’m starting to worry what future shall i have…how am I gonna buy that car and the right house and will i meet the right person and perhaps willl i stay in my job and for how long and and and….

But hey…wait a minute…enough worrying! for God’s sake let us just enjoy it for a while! take it easy and chill…

Plan your life…do your best at everything…be sincere and honest with the people around you…be trust worth, caring and hard working….treat others fairly and be just…don’t take whats not yours and do give to others something from what you have…always give something back to the world…its a gift to know that you can give…especially when others need.

So take a deep breath…sit down…relax…look around you…list all the good things that are in your life at the moment …put a special list of the things you are proud of achieving in the past…and dwell on it for a while..

Enjoy your life…and when you are happy and content…you’ll be more than ready for the journey ahead…count till 3 and let’s go! 🙂

Other Interesting Posts:

Succeeding First…

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I felt like sharing some thoughts about success and one’s journey in life…so here it goes…

Many of the people around me, especially from the civil society entourage, have that savior complex, or the martyr complex for the sake of human kind, world peace, environment, human rights, justice…etc but I believe they are forgetting one basic thing before getting to all that….and its succeeding first.

I mean succeeding in one’s life, whether academic, career-wise, family, social life..etc before being able to save the world or save anyone or anything for that matter. If one cant stand on his own feet, he wont be of much help to anyone…because he’ll probably be unstable and dependent on others and thus will in turn need someone to support and “save” them beforehand.

Yes I feel I have that moral obligation towards my community and my environment to assist it, to serve, to change things in a positive way….but I don’t put that before my own self…

Perhaps some people share that moral obligation, others simply work for the community or environment to enrich their resume, others for the financial income they might get…but never the less…its counter productive for anyone to start dreaming of saving anything in this world before having his/her feet strongly rooted in the ground or else the sheer weight of the responsibility will throw him/her off balance….crumbling under the endless initiatives/program/project/campaigns needed to achieve any tangible change…any sustainable endeavors.

So take this simple advice from a simple person…succeed first and then do your best to save the world….

A tree to grow successfully needs strong earthed roots…

 

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