Monthly Archives: October 2013

“Laying Down The Law” By Mubarik Ali

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A very insightful analysis of evolution of Laws and why dis-respect of the law and order in Pakistan.( F. Sheikh)

In early history, communities developed their own customs and practices to maintain law and order. Each individual in the community would observe these rules and if anybody violated them, he would be punished by expulsion from the community. Since nobody wanted to lose the help and support of the community by showing any deviation, they preferred to follow the prescribed communal way of life.

With the emergence of state, a legal system was gradually established to maintain order and discipline. As socio-economic class difference increased in the society, the ruling classes were mostly exempted from punishment for committing crimes, while common people were punished severely even for minor offences. Rulers were not only regarded above the law but the ruler’s command was considered the law for the common people.

Around 1700BC, Hammurabi, the ruler of Babylonia established a legal system known as the Code of Hammurabi, covering several social, political and economic aspects of life. His laws were based on the principle of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”. Since it was supposedly bestowed on him by Mardouk, an ancient god, the law was considered divine and unchangeable and Hammurabi was not held above the law. He carved his laws on stone tablets placed in the market where people could read them and become aware of them.

Another legal system emerged in the Greek city state of Athens in 624BC. Draco introduced a code of laws proposing severe punishment even for minor crime. Despite the severity, crime continued in the society and the term ‘Draconian’ was coined. It is used to describe harsh measures imposed by an autocratic government to crush any resistance against their rule.

The next lawmaker to emerge was Solon (d 594BC). Introducing legal reforms, he established the right of trial by a jury and the right of the accused to hire an advocate. Moreover, the judgment of court could now be challenged, These laws were inscribed on stone tablets and panels of wood and placed in the marketplace so that people could learn about their rights.

The legal system of the Roman Empire was comprehensive and covered nearly all social, political and commercial conflicts prevalent at the time; based on which the judgment was pronounced while the accused had full rights to defend himself. It created a class of lawyers who studied the legal system and appeared at the court to plead cases. Cicero, one of the famous lawyers used his outstanding rhetorical style to present legal arguments in court. Private property was fully protected by these laws, but being a patriarchal society, women were considered subordinate to men and denied full rights. Click link for full article;

http://www.dawn.com/news/1047771/past-present-laying-down-the-law

Evolution and Bad Boyfriends

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Wondering why girls chose bad boyfriends? May be evolution is playing a role. Interesting article By PIET van den BERG and TIM W. FAWCETT in NYT.

“Modern mathematical versions of this theory show how female mating preferences and male characteristics will evolve together. But when you try to apply the theory to humans, you hit a snag. In humans, there is an extra preference involved — that of the parents.”

At first sight, it might seem surprising that parents and their children should evolve to have any conflict at all. After all, they share many of the same genes, and both have an evolutionary interest in having those genes persist through the generations. Shouldn’t the preferences of parents and their children be perfectly aligned?

Well, no — not completely. Parents each pass on half of their genes to each of their children, so from a genetic point of view, all children are equally valuable to them. It is in parents’ evolutionary interests to distribute their resources — money, support, etc. — in such a way that leads to as many surviving grandchildren as possible, regardless of which of their children provide them.

Children, by contrast, have a stronger genetic interest in their own reproduction than in that of their siblings, so each child should try to secure more than his or her fair share of parental resources. It is this conflict over parental resources that can lead to a conflict over mate choice.

In our study, we built a computer model to simulate the evolutionary process. We generated a large virtual population of males and females, the males all differing genetically in their ability to invest resources in raising children. The females had a genetically determined preference for this male quality, which meant that females with a strong preference were more likely to end up with a male who invested more. Link for full article;http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/opinion/sunday/evolution-and-bad-boyfriends.html?hp

Posted by F. Sheikh

 

 

Salam and salutation to Pope Francis

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  • BY AKBAR AHMED, CRAIG CONSIDINE

The iconic spiritual leaders of our time took decades of struggle and growth before they were formed into the universally recognized symbols that we know and love. Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Nelson Mandela are universally recognized examples. Pope Francis is an exception.

He comes to us, as it were, fully formed. In terms of his tenure as popehe is in his infancy and yet Francis seems to have hit his stride.

To understand the pope’s approach, method and message, take a look at his visit to the island of Lampedusa. The small island in the Mediterranean has become a battleground of the larger ideas that are in conflict in Europe. It has been visited by rightwing leaders who denounce immigrants in crudely racist and xenophobic terms. The pope’s visit therefore became symbolic of a counter-balancing approach, one that was more welcoming, all-embracing, caring and compassionate.

The pope spoke of the “immigrants dying at sea, in boats which were vehicles of hope and became vehicles of death.” He shared his distress at the “tragedy” which has become like “a painful thorn in my heart.” He felt “shame” at the plight of those who were suffering and the indifference of the world. “The Church” he assured the immigrants, ”is at your side as you seek a more dignified life for yourselves and your families.”

The pope used the plight of the mainly African immigrants to raise larger issues that afflict all humanity in the age of globalization. He condemned what he called “the globalization of indifference.” He berated “the culture of comfort, which makes us think only of ourselves, makes us live in soap bubbles which, however lovely, are insubstantial; they offer a fleeting and empty illusion which results in indifference to others.”

The pope also embarked, again almost immediately, on reaching out to the Muslim world. Relations between Muslims and Christians had not really recovered since the time when his predecessor Pope Benedict XV1 gave a lecture in September 2006 in which he quoted a passage that described Islam as “evil and inhuman.” Even at the time the present pope, then Archbishop in Buenos Aires, registered his disagreement stating, “Pope Benedict’s statement[s] don’t reflect my opinions.” Click for full article;

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/10/08/salam-and-salutation-to-pope-francis/

Posted by F. Sheikh

 

New Jersey state troopers schooled in Muslim culture submitted by Tahir Mahmood

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If a police officer pulls over a female driver wearing a veil covering all but her eyes, can he demand that she lift the veil so he can identify her?

Before a classroom of state police recruits, Mohammad Ali Chaudry, a Muslim scholar, explained that there’s no religious reason for her to refuse. She has to obey the laws of her country “for everybody’s security,” he said.

– See more at: http://www.northjersey.com/news/New_Jersey_State_Troopers_schooled_in_Muslim_culture.html?page=all#sthash.eyewY3Ed.dpuf