Arab Woman Talking

Fitna.  Is an Arabic word that is most commonly translated as ‘strife.’   It could also mean 'enchantment' and even 'sin.'    In its essence, it means: To make something appear differently than its nature.   In the Quran, we are told that Moses ‘fatan’ the ropes and so they appeared as snakes. Wikipedia does a good job at dissecting the word linguistically, so why recreate the wheel.   I would however like to point here to the original meaning of the verb ‘fatana’ and that is: to burn.   Adding to Wiki that it could thus be seen as an alchemical word… the burning of metal to distinguish the gold.   Seeing through falsehood and finding the truth.     Fitna is one of the many words that has been hijacked by the modern language.   If words were to rebel, Fitna would stand in the frontlines. But in spite of the negative association of the word – or perhaps as a result of – Fitna is also a woman’s name (amongst certain gr...

The US Presidential Elections From Social media back to ranting in a blog - editing disabled. ::: Writing is therapeutic, when it's a rant and half-nonsense then better not write or print it... a waste of paper and a waste of ink.  As for the internet... it is the vuilnesbak of everything ... sometimes a composting bin... so pour it in there.  Makes no difference. There was a time when I wrote my poems and important things on this blog ... it also served as an external hardrive at times...  I might still do that ... but for today, after more than three years of not saying a word, it's just a rant. ::: Today, between Schiphol en Limurg, a long ride.  I indulged like never before in FaceBook. The time flew. Some said: "11/9 is the new 9/11"... two cursed dates (practically identical when looking at how Americans write numbers and how the rest of the world does it.) When the towers fell, I was fresh off the boat in New York city. I received the prints o...