Sunday, November 29, 2015

MUSLIM CONUNDRUM

 







How does one navigate this vast number of people who have their originated belief in the Prophet Mohammed? Mainly divided into two sects with various smaller groups, who align themselves with either of the two main entities, of which 85% are Sunni and 15% Shia. These are people who have become the center of wrath within the world community, and appear to have no central control of unity among the majority. They don’t even show or voice an opinion about these contemptible actions and behavior, taken by their own people. Does this mean the Arab nations here and abroad agree with their own people’s atrocious and vile example to the rest of the world? Or is this fragmented enormous following of 1.45 billion, believe that by standing back, and doing nothing, it will all  go away just like a bad dream, while the rest of the world has to clean up this unforgivable and tragic mess, not only to non Muslims, but to their own Muslims?  A  significant amount of these religious followers, are not all militant. What remains a mystery to the rest of the world is why this non violent majority do not stand up, stand out, and let the rest of world know that they find what their people are doing, by causing pain, death, and conflict amongst the rest of humanity, is unforgivable?

In order to understand this peculiar set of circumstances, we must take a deeper look, at this faith and belief system, which has commanded such conflict between the East and West. Who and what are these people, who seem to have no consideration for the way the world perceives them to be? To be a Muslim today in the West, must be one of the worst feelings possible. To belong and be among the most untrusted race of people on the face of this Earth. So why? Is it because they have brought this reputation upon them, or do we have a responsibility in the outcome of such outrageous behavior?

To understand the present we must take an overview of the past. When Rome split at the demise of its corrupt and failed administration from within, around 400AD, it must be remembered that the Eastern part of the empire continued to flourish, with Constantinople as its new capital, later to become known as the Byzantine Empire. Rome did not come to an end in fact it integrated into the East, which evolved eventually into the Ottoman Empire in 1453, which then lasted until the first world war. This region of the world had its ups and downs, but the lasting effect of Roman culture upon this region and beyond, is probably one of the greatest historical contributions to the modern civilized world of any nation ever! In reality this part of the world was advancing with great wealth and 
prosperity, while Europe experienced what is known as the ‘Dark Ages’.

So what went wrong? Saddam Hussein promoted to his place of elevation by virtue of his Ba’athist party over Iraq, had great dreams of a united National Islamic power. With oil in abundance and the potential of a Sunni dominated Islamic Republic, his delusions of grandeur became overwhelming, and to have superiority over the West, for him, would be a dream come true. His only problem, being a Sunni himself, and ruling over a primarily majority Shiite population in Iraq, didn’t help him defeat another Shia majority during his eight year war with Iran. This persistent minority sect of the Muslim religion stood defiant against the Sunni majority of the rest of Islam.

Ayotallah Khomeini vs. Shah of Iran


Before the West had influence and a relationship with the Shah of Iran, and Iran was fast becoming westernized, it appeared that spelled the beginning of a magnificent western relationship with this region of the world. Then the hardliners of the Shia Muslim community stirred anger among the poorer communities, and incited rebellion, which brought about the end of any hope, once the Shah was exiled. Under the strict die hard Muslim cultured Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran disrupted its relationship with the West, and there began the erosion of western influence. This distinct defiance by this Islamic region of the world, against the rest of the world, started a new era.

After the demise of the Ottoman Empire, Islam felt a need to protect its origins and culture, and saw western culture and its influence as a direct threat to the very core of its existence. At the end of WW II, the creation of the new Israel state in 1948, after the atrocities Hitler had taken against the Jews in his concentration camps, resulted in an even bigger threat to the Muslim community. The outcome, a growing hatred for the West was now being manifested from within the Muslim community.  Even Russia displayed its distaste for the West by the cold war, after WW II. Seeing the growing prosperity of the Unites States.

 With two regions of the world quietly conspiring, in their own way wanted to stop the rise of ‘Western Imperialism’, seen to be the very source of world domination. The result, indoctrination of the East began, and propaganda was spread to diminish the very essence of what the West was all about. These nations began to slip away from a prosperity that could have been shared by all. After all, the East had the oil, and the West was willing to buy?

Now look at the mess. After the ‘Viet Nam war’ the USSR bankrupted itself in helping China and the Viet Cong overcome South Viet Nam, and what for? George Bush Jr. not taking the advice of his father, had to prove weapons of mass destruction, in order to have cause to displace Saddam Hussein. The continual strife that has been a constant irritant, is the presence of Israel. Seen as the West’s watchdog on Islam, and making sure its plans for actions against the West could be kept under control.  in all reality one can only blame the West, for its inability to explain its foreign policies towards the East. However the way events unfolded certainly did not help the West’s chances for peace, glimmers of hope have existed.
Eventually the American troops left Iraq as planned, with a total lack of understanding of what the Al-Maliki regime was creating. In addition the ousting of all Ba’athists’ initially, by the American ambassador with the authority of  President Bush and the validation of the pentagon, proved to be the first biggest mistake of all. They were all Sunni and a necessary component of the Iraqi government. All were let go with their weapons to make way for a new and better to be trained Shia army. By who? Yes the American forces…. Oh but they left?

Now President Al-Maliki was ready to work toward further collusion with Iran, to bring about a more powerful Shia representation against his own Sunni nationals, and increase its power base toward the West. Understand, Iran, Iraq and Syria are, geographically splitting Turkey from Saudi Arabia! Two Sunni Muslim countries now separated by this Shia power block. Maliki completely defied the United States having been advised by General David Petraeus, to rehire the more superior Sunni forces, who were better fighters than the Shia, back into his administration. Maliki being the staunched Shia that he was, and who had helped the U.S. conspire to topple Saddam Hussein, was in no way going to allow that, also knowing this would be unacceptable Iran, would allow this. Now the U.S. not only had enemies from the Shiites of this region, but even worse, enemies from Sunni Muslims who were disenfranchised by their own people? When the U.S. troops left, this brought about an enormous power vacuum. Maliki was free to do his backdoor deals with Iran and Syria, again being Shia, and now we have the newly formed Russia as well. This was probably one of the worst political blunders in modern day history! We then ask ourselves, why do we have Al Qaeda, ISIS and a host of other factions that are so absolutely furious at the way our country has ripped asunder, a part of the world that was already sensitive to the West?

So now what you may well ask? Is the picture becoming clearer? Obviously allowing a movement of angry Sunni Muslims under the banner of trying to create a newly formed Islamic State is preposterous. Recruiting western followers, who have hatred, and indoctrination against their own kind, is the result of having their own frustrations realized, and gives them a very dangerous reason to become an ignominious hero.

It means war, and one that must be carried out with the complete cooperation of the West. It must be decisive and swift, and executed immediately. What’s done is done, we can only look forward and show the rest of the world however you may feel about the past that we will defend our way of life and in spite of the absolute stupidity of previous administrations, this matter must be ‘put to bed, once and for all’. However no half measures, all out.

I believe the western world must develop a team of soldiers that are of the highest quality, trained to an elite level. Each nation would contribute in a manner according to its size, and influence within the world. Our way of life must be defended and protected in a manner that the whole world will see that wherever situations of this magnitude may arise, there is a team on alert, ready to go anywhere in the world. I personally believe the United Nations has tried to bring countries together, but now requires complete reorganization, what’s needed is the power of diplomacy with an iron fist, backed by the ability to impose its will where needed, to protect the values and way of life that we in the west all stand for. Of course we will always attempt peace before action, but sometimes there is a time for talk to cease and action to take place!


I hope my words don’t drop on deaf ears. Let’s take action now to make our world a better and safer place. As for the Arab nations, who disagree with Islam’s example, stand up and be counted, and join those people who have honored so many of you in the West!      

Sunday, January 11, 2015

THE GLORIOUS NFL.....




 Once again we enjoy the finality of yet another great season. The winners who will bask in the sunlight of their glory, while the losers who had made their way through the ranks will return only to work upon, how and why they lost. Recollect them selves and ponder on what it will take to be the VICTOR LUDORUM, next year.


I well remember my first encounter with American football going with my father as an invited guest of General Dynamics, to watch a game at Amon Carter football field in Fort Worth. As an Englishman, it took me most of the game to even understand what was actually happening. Two teams, one comes on, and another goes off? Most peculiar? TCU was playing the Arkansas Razorbacks, and it was clear the overwhelming superiority of the Razorbacks in 1967 was far in excess of the ‘Horned Frogs.’ A very different experience to the game of Rugby, which I had played in my school years. The equipment worn by the players, gave one the impression this was a battlefield, and don’t be out there unless you know exactly what you’re doing!


In any event I became extremely intrigued with the sport. I watched and attended many games to learn and ask questions to my good friends, the Perkins family, so that I could become the ardent admirer of the sport, that I am today.




The game that inspired me the most was a match played at Lambeau Stadium on December 31st 1967. A game in which the Dallas Cowboys with only minutes to go had the game almost wrapped up at 17-14. The conditions were deplorable, players sliding about in the snow in sub zeros temperatures. After arriving in Dallas on June 9th of that year I could hardly believe the change in seasons between, summer and winter. Although I had put up with the damp and rainy winters of southern England growing up, these temperature variations were something to behold! Then in the last moments of the game Green Bay pulled out a touch down to put the score to 21-17 Green Bay. I was so mad that I got up and stomped around the room for at least ten minutes, and grabbed another beer to get over my disbelief. No wonder it became known as the ‘Ice Bowl’, playing against the great coach Vince Lombardi. I always remember his great saying, ‘I never lost a game, I just ran out of time!’ It was then I knew I was truly hooked.



Yes, you can say it again, ‘Is not over, ‘til it’s over!’ What a fantastic game. From that moment on, I have become a tremendous fan.


I so enjoyed the Landry years, his class and demeanor added to the Dallas Cowboys that extra dignity that has made them become ‘America’s team’. Revered and watched by many throughout the world especially the Brits, like myself. The great years of the 70’s, with the Doomsday Defense, of Bob Lilly, Ed ‘Too Tall’ Jones, Harvey Martin, Randy White and Leroy Jordan. The Offence, with its famous shotgun offence of Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, Mel Renfro, Drew Pearson, Billy Joe Dupree, Walt Garrison, and the list goes on.


Another team that I have been a great fan of is the ‘San Francisco 49er’s, The greatest come back quarter back ever, Joe Montana, his cool countenance worked well with the modest, but determined stewardship of coach Bill Walsh, and as for Gerry Rice, and Dwight Clark what game changers! Another great Texan, Terry Bradshaw and the Pittsburgh Steelers, also had their moments of poetry, with two great wide receivers, Lynn Swan and John Stallworth.



I searched for teams that possessed finesse. Yes, a team needs power, big players, force it’s all part of the game, or is it? Give me  fast mid sized players, who are agile and tackle low, are fit beyond belief, and I believe with a well thought out strategy you will have an unbeatable force. Okay, yes may be one or two big boys to intimidate the opposition, but to me its all about speed of execution. High tackling is necessary on occasion, but the coaches we had in Rugby would flick us with steel centered rubber flip sticks, because tackling high was considered being a ‘sissy’! The same for the Offence, one two, move the ball in the air or on the ground, when the defense doesn’t know what the offence is going to do, you win games. Anyway what do I know? Just part of the strategies we had as Rugby players.


I was proud to have my son go to TCU and pass out honorably. The ‘Horned Frogs,’ quite a different team today!


Thank you America, football has been one of the great sports to enjoy on this side of the ocean, and has gained another proud and loyal follower in both college and pro football.



Here’s looking forward to many more great and talented players, and another season!

Thursday, January 1, 2015

New Years Resolution




Each year we are faced with the challenging opportunity of making our list of resolutions! What is it we would truly like to improve about ourselves? What qualities are going to help us succeed with our goals and aspirations? For those seeking new and higher places of attainment within our circle of life, is our goal primarily material, or is there room for being a more spiritually aware and aligned person?

We must be careful to set our boundaries within realistic objectives. t Too many resolutions, we may become overwhelmed and not fulfill our goal. So let us go easy on ourselves, and prioritize. The first and most important question we should start with, is this:

1.   Are we satisfied with the direction we are headed, or do we need a new recipe for change in our life? Remember if our house is built on a strong foundation, then the likelihood of success with our plans is more achievable.
2.   To do this we must take a good look at ourselves, not change who we are, after all, we are what God made us to be, but we can improve on who we are, to become that special person God intended us to be!
3.   Yes, most of us need more. Money, and all those items that may give us a better way of life, is important, but be careful they may not bring happiness. If you are not doing what makes you happy, chances are, no one else around you is going to be happy either.

So the first rule for yourself, take care of your own needs. Then you will be in a better position, to tend to the needs of others, such as family and so on.


Remember our planet was built in six days, and God rested on the seventh. Whether that was six million years or some other form of time, the fraction clearly expresses to us a lot about our creator? To me, is that out of the seven days, our God worked six. So what does this tell us? God was a doer, a creator and over 85% of the time he was out there making things happen. Yes he took time to reflect, but the time for philosophizing is extremely small in comparison to the sweat and hard work it takes to be successful. We have an innate consciousness as to what is expected from us, and yes it’s good to take time to reflect. But in the end it’s not going to happen by thinking and talking. It’s going to happen by DOING!

At night I look up and marvel at the stars, the creations before our eyes and the wonder that this universe brings to us. If it took seven days to create this planet, then the creator has not been idle, I can only wonder at such magnificence to behold. To think we are still in an expanding universe.

Our ‘health is our wealth,’ and as the old saying goes hard work never killed anyone, but worry and stress will.

The study of our universe since my young days has always been a hobby. I’ve often laid awake at night and asked the question as a young child, what do we all do when we pass on? It’s hard for me to believe that we live in this higher existence of love and endless sunshine. As the years have pressed on I have come to the conclusion through thought and prayer, that our journey here is only one to prepare us for the greater journey of helping our creator in this unbelievable part of the universe. To look about us and see all that has been created and how little so many of us appreciate what we have, concerns me. It is my hope and wish that more of us think this way, and open our hearts and minds to the spectacular journey ahead of us.

For me science and spirituality are one, it is in their separation that conflicting debate arises. A God like the one we have, could not have accomplished so much for all of us, without the unification of all these aspects within our world. For it is said, “That I am the Alpha and the Omega, and all that has been done and is, comes from me”! As I understand these words, we in our attempt to learn, make mistakes. The endless love, compassion and forgiveness that God allows us, is in order to learn, it is this that makes us only value his work with more depth and understanding.


So God bless you all on your journey of life, and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.   

David Francis




Wednesday, November 26, 2014

THANKSGIVING




As a Brit ‘Thanksgiving’ was a new experience for me as I well learned on my first invitation to my dear friends ‘The Perkins family’.

with the Perkins family at my birthday bash



It was Christmas 1967 and I must say I had no idea how celebrated this time of year was. The only reference that I had been given about this event was that the early settlers all left from Great Britain sometime in the 1600’s from a pub in Boston, for those of you who don’t know where Boston Lincolnshire is, it is on the middle to North east side of the English coast off the North Sea. These adventurous people got on a boat, hoping to reach the new land of the Americas and ended up at another pub on the other side of southwest side of England at a place called Plymouth, in the county of Devonshire. As the crew were obviously inebriated and having never been to this region before, they naturally assumed that they had reach a different land. It was then that the guys in the pub at Plymouth decided to take the boat on to the new land, hence the famous Plymouth Rock that is now referred to!



Where these crazy stories come from, old folklore, I don’t know? I've always found an element of truth in these stories, but have yet to find anything close to establishing the fact, other than that the people telling the story have had one over the top, as well as those hearing the illustrious tale.
Anyway, the fact remains that this is a magnificent way to celebrate the ‘founding fathers’, and a time where people travel great distances to be with their relatives and catch on all the latest news. I am always impressed that people take the time to make the journey to be with the people, they love, on such a vast continent. In England we celebrate Christmas in a similar way, but the distances can’t ever be compared. 


my 3 children
Not to say that Christmas is not important as well in the States, but there is something very special about this time of year, so thank you America I enjoy be a part of ‘Thanksgiving’, and as a U.S. citizen wholeheartedly celebrate the season with my family,my grandchildren and y’all !!!    



my daughter with her mother and my sister


4 of my grandchildren
me and my brother


my son and his family







David 

Thursday, November 13, 2014

My Grandfather ..........



Victor Cook was born in 1884, the second son to a family of six, and to my Great Grandfather Leo Cook, who was a famous tailor to Queen Victoria, King Edward the Vll and many of the aristocracy of that period. He also tailored the uniforms for the British troops fighting the, ‘Boer War’ of the 1890’s, in South Africa.



My Grandfather not being the eldest, started his own business in 1917, and having developed his skills, to cut cloth for suits, transferred these abilities to the early aircraft of the day, which used material to fly planes.  In 1917 he started his own business, Hercules Engineering, in the same year my father, Francis Cook, was born.

He turned the back yard of his East London home into a factory, and was soon on his way to becoming a, ‘sort after’, master of his trade. In 1929, the banks with the onslaught of the ‘Great Depression’, failed and his hard earned savings were lost. Through difficult times he struggled, eventually taking out all of his six children, from school. It was the end on the 1930’s, and they would all have to contribute by working in his fast growing factory. This was possible to do in those days. Soon after he was hit with the traumatic loss of his beloved wife. So now in his fifties, six children and a growing business, he was delivered the most challenging fight of his life. On the edge of World War ll, after recovering from a failed bank, he was yet again hit with an insurmountable task.

Victor, took the challenge with a courage few could imagine. He trained the two eldest daughters to do all the administration in the office, and his four sons in all the practices necessary to work in his machine shop. After dinner each night, he would teach them on the blackboard at the end of the dining room table. For example, how necessary it was to learn ‘PYE’, in order to cut threads to shape material, and so much more.

His method of teaching was invaluable. In other words, do we teach a baby to speak ‘English’ with a grammar book? No we let them learn by ear and then add the grammar afterwards. More note, should be taken from this manner of teaching. His children’s accomplishments are a testimony to this. In other words, learning the practical, before applying the technical aspects of much of what we learn today. As an educated man himself, he was able to teach them about world affairs, and what England was about to encounter, with the rise of Adolf Hitler and the increasing expansion of Germany.

As a result of my Grandfathers efforts, he has helped to make our family’s credibility within the financial community, stand head and shoulders above us all. His honorable behavior in paying off all of his creditors, when the banks failed, gave my family a platform of trust and goodwill towards our future endeavors that has lasted through the generations.

In addition he was able to not only build a company, but leave a lasting legacy to all his children. His Eldest daughter, my aunt, started and built her own business, called Wilment Engineering. She became the first woman President, of the mechanical engineering institute in England. My father and his brothers all started their own businesses, and the eldest Lawrence took over my Grand- father’s business in1959, having passed on at the age of seventy five.

I always felt sad for my Grandfather, because after all the hard work and financial success he created for himself, and his dedication to his family, he had materially everything in the world anyone could imagine. Yet I don’t think he ever got over the loss of his wife. He lived in his huge mansion called Trowlocks, alone. I used to ride with my bike as a child through the large wrought iron gates to the main entrance of his home, his property extended over seven acres to the edge of the river Thames. I spent all the time I could with him, he would take me to his factories as a young child and have me learn the intricacies of what would one day become my trade. I went with his truck drivers to make deliveries to learn our customers and will never, ever forget those most precious early years.



I remember his 1951, Buick sedan, with its huge front grill, shining in brilliant chrome, and the car body in metallic burgundy. He would stop by to pick me up, and I felt like a little Lord being chauffeured to the factory in his car. American cars were rare at the end of the war. The American forces had brought them over during the war effort. It was my dream as a child to have an American car, which to my way of thinking was so much more appealing than our frumpy little English cars. Large admittedly, but I enjoyed all the people looking and pointing as we drove by. A young kid’s dream!

His many comments and wise words of wisdom ring in my ears today.

  1. ‘Please God, help me to keep my mouth shut!’
  2. ‘Don’t read too many books before learning the art of writing, in this way, you can keep your own individual opinions that God has given you. Then you will be prepared to add to them.’
  3. ‘Man proposes, and God disposes! You may not receive what you’ve prayed for, but it will be the best outcome, for the journey of your life.’
  4. ‘Remember, God’s socialism.’ You may receive a gift one way, but there is always and equalizing force and balance in another way, because to whom much is given, much is expected.

These are just a few of the many words of wisdom I received as a young man, and have now grown to know the importance they have played in the role of my own life.

My own Father, Francis Cook continued on beyond the boundaries of my Grandfather, as I too have sought to do, in the journey of my own life. Thanks to his courageous journey so many have benefited.