By Citizen A

It doesn’t matter whether you’re in Tahrir Square, in Bulaa’ or in Shebeen El Koum. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in Alexandria, in London, in Florida or in Dubai. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a businessman, student, worker, government personnel or if you’re retired. It doesn’t matter whether you drive the latest luxury car, share a microbus, ride the public bus or walk home. It doesn’t matter whether you’re Christian or Muslim, woman or man, old or young.

All that matters now is whether we care enough about Egypt to hold the truth and challenge whatever lies, backward traditions and dysfunctional behaviors that jeopardize its future; and whether we care enough about Egypt to honor our personal integrity and fight unsound, unjust and ineffective ways that had set it behind for years and is bound to destroy it?

I’m not just referring here just to the Mubarak regimen, more broadly I’m referring to the unproductive mindset and habits that is unfortunately ingrained into our culture… and which we must get rid of if we ever have a chance to turn-around this country into the great place I believe it’s destined to be and we all deserve to enjoy.

Now is the time to ask ourselves, honestly and openly, do we care enough about our and our family’s future and the future of this country to step back and make the tough choices and steps to rise above ourselves and march towards a brighter future. Do we care enough to strive to get Egypt off the status quo and rise from the dust and rebuild itself from the ground up into a safe and peaceful place, into a healthy environment, into a prosperous economy, and a respected and influential nation on the global arena?

Judging by everything I experienced and felt firsthand since January 25^th, the answer I believe is a loud Yes, we’re more than capable to take on any challenge that come our way and once and for all set a high standard for ourselves and for each other.

As a first step, to stand for and work towards our very basic (and minimal) natural, God-given rights, namely:

1. our right to free speech and free media;
2. our right to assemble peacefully;
3. our right to fair legal due process, including right against unreasonable searches and seizures;
4. our right to police protection against criminals and wrong-doers;
5. our right to nominate top government officials and leadership candidates based on whom you regard will best serve the interest of Egypt and its people;
6. our right to a fair elections that are conducted fairly and honestly, by secret ballot;
7. our right to choose your faith and practice (or not practice) your religion; and
8. our right to own and run your business and your life in without the interference of any public entity, provided you’re not a threat of harm to the public.

Do you realize how much difference YOU can make–whatever your field, your abilities, your resources, your situation; are you willing to try to make some difference, with your bare mind and heart and voice in your own way in your own style using whatever you have at your disposal in whatever venues however you can?

Can you envision building a country we’re truly all proud of; a future where our efforts do not go in vain, but also where we can’t use the system, government, or whatever as a clutch to blame for our own mistakes; a future that we all look forward to, no matter what challenges we encounter in the present.

Let’s all embrace this sacred moment in history, as for the first time in our history our past is no longer our fate. Our hopes are no longer our illusions, but real possibilities. Among the previous generations who had no hope of self-determination and progress, we are the one who stands on the cusp of this promising new age—an age where we can steer our ship and control our destiny.

Let’s also not forget, among all our past tragic losses, turmoil, and hardships, we are blessed beyond belief… to even have this opportunity to marsh for once to our drum without the shackles that tied us down for decades is blessing. So, let’s be grateful. But vow to never ever again compromise on our standards, rights and our future. Never again will we settle for anything less than what we deserve and never give up… we owe it to ourselves and our country. We were given this opportunity for a reason. Let’s use it.

I end this by simply saying it’s now or never–Now, and we either fight an uphill road to restore our country, pull ourselves with enough willpower and the shahama el Masriya and come out on top; or Never and things will only get worse and worse… the choice is ours.

This is our opportunity, this is our time… time to move forward, with all the courage, faith, and wisdom unified under Egypt.

He sees what he wants to

He feels the night when its day

What he saw was beauty

When it was ugliness

And ugliness in splendor

Coming down rough hewn steps

Into the pools of eternal night

Standing under heaven

He watches for her

Walks down for her

Drowns for her as he waits

In the water he is warmed

And can rest now

Breathing the water of life

What is my self?  It is my body and thoughts, my logic and my creativity.  It consists of all the events of my life and my memories of them.  It includes every scar, mistake, misstep and malicious action.  My self is my baggage to my practice.  My self brings in a sack of cultural as well (unfortunately mine is in a beat up WallMart bag, but who is judging?).  The spiritual development and preconceptions what I was raised on and taught to me as a … Read More

via Sweep the dust, Push the dirt

Proposed Image of Joseph Smith

Considering all the commotion over the supposed daguerreotype photo of Joseph Smith that has been going around like wildfire (which the Church has not authenticated), I thought I might post this new proposed photo of Joseph Smith. This one actually looks much more how I would imagine the prophet than the first one, considering the death mask. Historian Will Bagley apparently notes that Joseph made mention of a photograph he had taken in 1844 (does anyone have the original reference to Joseph’s statement, if it exists?). We’ll see what this turns up.

The story of how the finder acquired this image is interesting, mentioning how the Brazilian book he found it in only said that it came out of New York in 1845. When was the last time Joseph was in New York? Why would it be in New York? The photocopy is from a book. The original daguerreotype is in the Museu Paulista – Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil).

An article in the New Era a few years ago gives a description of Joseph from a combination of all the accounts:

Joseph was:

• a little over six feet tall;
• considered good looking and dignified;
• athletic and strong with long legs and large feet.

He had:

• an oval-shaped face;
• a prominent nose, long and straight;
• a rather long upper lip;
• a light complexion;
• deep-set hazel or blue eyes;
• thick eyebrows;
• long eyelashes;
• fine, straight, light brown or dark blond hair.

If this isn’t a photo of Joseph, it does helps us imagine him more closely.

[via A Soft Answer]

Update 3/27/08: Incidentally, this daguerreotype reminds me a lot of the actor who played Joseph Smith in the film Legacy: A Mormon Journey.

Update 3/27/08: Also consider this drawing of Joseph Smith by Theodore Gorka in 1982, which is now in the Museum of Church History and Art. I’m particularly interested in the way the forehead and chin are receding, and the prominence of the nose, like the death mask (which is probably where Gorka got his inspiration). The upper lip is also very defined. Most of the early images of Joseph were side profile sketches, but which clearly show just how strong his nose was on his face. See more below:

Update 3/27/08: Correction. The finder at LDSA says that the author of the bookRetratos Quase Inocentes, a Mr. Carlos Eugenio M. de Moura, acknowledges that this “daguerrotype in question is, in fact, at the Museu Paulista – Universidade de São Paulo.” We’ll see if he can track down a color hi-res of this. Maybe someone should just order the book off the Brazilian website.